Tom chuckled, which irritated her even more. ‘I’m used to women speaking their minds, and that’s how it should be. My sister has certainly drilled that into me.’
How could he take it so lightly? ‘This isn’t funny.’
‘No, you’re right. But as for my illness, I’m not completely well.’
‘Of course you are! Even fifteen-year-old boys are running off to enlist and do their bit. So what are you going to do, Thomas Meredith?’
‘Who knows, perhaps I will enlist.’
‘What, when it’s all over? In the meantime, maybe you could help in the next field.’
The jocular grin had finally left his face. ‘Yes, I can do that.’ He marched swiftly in the direction of Edward Street.
That was the only way to deal with him, directly and with firmness. Perhaps he’d stop bothering her now.
Anwen’s sense of relief was short-lived when she spied three figures striding up Alexandra Street. Even at a distance Anwen could recognise the tall, thin silhouette of Harries the Police. With him were PC Probert and an even older policeman. She watched with growing unease as they got closer.
* * *
Idris threw the clothes and tins down on a chair. ‘You daft bugger, what the devil do you think you’ve been playing at?’
Jenkin ducked down, covering his head with his hands.
‘Idris! Hush your cursing. Your brother’s home and that’s cause for celebration, not harsh words.’
Jenkin peeped through his arms. ‘I’m sorry, Idris. Mam told me how you all searched for me, especially you.’
The heat fizzled out of Idris’s anger. Jenkin was pale, thin in the face, as if he hadn’t eaten for days. ‘Where did you go?’
‘We went to Tredegar first, to enlist, but got sent away. We spotted Pastor Richards there so went to the Ebbw Vale office, thinking it was less likely someone would recognise us. They turned us away too.’
Ebbw Vale: he hadn’t thought to go there.
‘You left six days ago. Where have you been staying?’
Jenkin pulled his arms round his body. He looked like a five-year-old again, who’d fallen over but was trying not to cry. Idris felt fiercely protective towards him.
‘We used a bit of money we’d saved from doing jobs, bought a bit of bread, slept in the woods, but it wasn’t that warm. When the money ran out we had a whole day without any food. Didn’t want to come home for a telling off, see. Then Cyril ate some berries and was sick.’
‘You fool, Jenkin, you fool.’ Idris scooped his brother up from his seat and hugged him, covering him with a sooty film. ‘Don’t you ever do anything like that again, you hear, bach.’
The back door opened and a voice called, ‘Hello!’, before Isaiah ran into the kitchen, throwing his hands up with joy. ‘Jenkin, you’re home!’
Idris let his brother go seconds before he was scooped up once more, this time by his father.
‘Anwen and Violet ran to tell me as I approached the Institute.’
That must have been what they were trying to convey to him, Idris realised.
Isaiah held onto Jenkin, unwilling to let him go. ‘What’s for tea, Meg?’ he called out, clearly excited by his son’s return.
‘Mainly vegetable stew with just a little cheap ham, but at least the veggies will be good. Home grown in Dorcalon.’
‘It’ll have to do for a celebration. And I am mighty hungry, especially now.’
‘The bucket of water’s boiling for the bath. Now put the poor boy down before he needs another wash. He’s already had one today.’
‘I’ll get the tub in,’ said Idris. His step was lighter than it had been for months as he entered the scullery. Could he be coming out of the despair he’d been plunged into with his discharge? Jenkin disappearing had given him a new perspective on what was important in life.
There was a hefty knock at the front door that he heard from the scullery as he dragged the bath along the floor. It would be neighbours and friends, sharing their relief at Jenkin’s arrival home.
He had the bath almost at the kitchen door when Isaiah entered, his face solemn. ‘Leave that, bach, and come in here. Harries the Police wants to speak to you. Cadoc Beadle’s been attacked.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘But you don’t deny you were at Mafeking Terrace two days ago.’
‘No, I’ve told you that.’ Idris shifted uncomfortably on the kitchen seat. Sergeant Harries was sitting opposite him, taking notes.
Constable Probert stood in front of the fireplace, bouncing awkwardly on his heels. Meg and Isaiah positioned themselves by the front room door, his arm around her shoulders. Jenkin had been sent to his bedroom.
‘It was tipping it down on Monday. Where were you going?’
‘Just to Rhymney and back. Needed to clear my head. My brother had gone missing—’
‘Went to enlist, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right. My search for them had got nowhere. I needed to be on my own.’
Harries sat back judging Idris with narrowed eyes. ‘In the pouring rain, lad?’
‘Why not in the pouring rain?’ Meg interrupted with some vehemence.
‘Mrs Hughes, if you can’t keep quiet, I’ll have to ask you to leave,’ said Harries.
‘This is my house!’
The sergeant ignored her. ‘You could easily have made your way up the path between Mafeking Terrace and Gabriel Street, onto Islwyn Street, where Mr Beadle lives.’
‘Did this mystery person who claims they saw me on Mafeking Terrace say I did this?’
‘No, but the facts add up. You were seen threatening Mr Beadle six days ago, on Thursday fifteenth June. Do you deny it?’
‘No. Though threatening would be overstating it.’
‘His neighbours believed that was the case.’
‘I was there as well,’ said Isaiah. ‘Are you going to question me too, and Gwilym Owen?’
‘You weren’t seen out by yourself two days ago.’
Isaiah let go of Meg and moved towards the table. ‘You only found him this morning. How do you know he wasn’t beaten up yesterday?’
‘We don’t know exactly when he was assaulted,’ said Harries. ‘I’m weighing up the evidence I have. Mr Beadle is still unconscious in Dorcalon Hospital so can’t help us clarify the time. So, Idris, what were you doing before you went for this walk?’
‘I went with my mother to visit Enid Rhys.’
Meg cut in with, ‘Except that bully Madog wouldn’t let us in. If Idris were going to beat anyone up, it’d be that good-for-nothing Madog Rhys!’
‘Mam! I’m not about to beat anyone up. You’re not helping.’
‘Now there’s a point,’ said Meg. ‘It’s Madog who’s capable of beating Cadoc Beadle up.’
Sergeant Harries surveyed her with interest. ‘And what reason would he have for doing that?’
‘Because he’s a tyrant who hits his girls and terrorises his wife. Have you ever questioned him on how his wife fell down the stairs?’
‘I’m here to investigate an assault on Cadoc Beadle, not Mrs Rhys.’ He studied Idris once more. ‘You blamed Beadle for encouraging the lads to sign up, according to the neighbours.’
‘Yes, I think he was partly responsible. It’s not something that would encourage me to assault him though.’
‘What would encourage you to assault him?’
Idris tapped his fingers on the table in rhythm, biting his lip. He was tired of going over and over the same points.
‘You had training to fight at the camp. Kinmel Bay then Winchester, wasn’t it?’ said Harries.
‘Yes, but with guns, not bloody fisticuffs. And even the guns were props most of the time.’ Idris got up and stood behind his chair.
‘Mind your language, lad. And sit down.’
He leant over the table instead. ‘You know what I was discharged from the army for? How did they put it? Not likely to become an efficient soldier. I have a rapid heartbeat and I tire easily.’
He hated to admit it but at least he might use it now to his advantage.
‘You’re a coal hewer though, aren’t you?’
‘I was. I’m an examiner now. Mr Meredith found me a job that wasn’t so arduous.’
‘That was nice of him.’ He didn’t quite sound like he meant it. ‘Was this because of your intended, who works for the Merediths?’
‘She is not my intended anymore.’ How did Harries even know these things?
‘Calm down, lad. You’ve quite a temper on you, haven’t you?’
‘You’d be angry too if you were being accused of something you hadn’t done, and after several days of worrying about your brother.’
‘I think we’ve done as much as we can here,’ concluded Harries. ‘Probert?’ He nodded to his colleague, who nodded back.
Idris breathed out a long sigh of relief. He couldn’t take much more of this.
‘Come along, then.’ The constable was trying to take his arm.
Idris nudged it aside. ‘What do you mean?’
Sergeant Harries brushed some dust off his uniform. ‘We’re taking you along to Rhymney for questioning.’
‘But you’ve already questioned me.’
Meg surged forward, jabbing Harries in the chest. ‘You can’t take him. He’s not done anything!’
‘You can prove that, can you? And I wouldn’t poke me again else I’ll be taking you to the station for assaulting a policeman.’
‘Some policeman you are! Can’t even find the people who wrecked the allotments, or the people stealing from the grocery vans. You’re a disgrace!’
Isaiah took her arm, leading her away to the edge of the room.
‘Very wise, Mr Hughes,’ said Harries. ‘We wouldn’t want any more trouble, would we?’
‘Oh there’ll be trouble all right, once Beadle wakes up and tells us who really assaulted him,’ said Isaiah. ‘Then we’ll see who’s in trouble.’
‘Handcuff him, Probert. Then take him out.’
‘There’s no need for that, I’m not resisting,’ said Idris.
‘Do it anyway,’ said Harries. ‘Then join Pugh outside.’
Idris held up a hand and Probert cuffed it, placing the other cuff round his own wrist. A moment of panic engulfed him, causing a kind of claustrophobia born from there being no escape. But he couldn’t let himself start thinking like that if he was going to keep his sanity in the next few hours.
Probert led him outside to meet another constable. Several neighbours had gathered on the street, along with a number of people who weren’t neighbours. Idris started sweating once more as his heart pumped harder. Soon the whole village would know. He might even lose his job at the mine. Edgar Williams would have a field day. When Harries joined them, they set off on the journey to Rhymney police station. The gawkers, as he thought of them, pointed, whispered and tutted.
A shrill holler had everyone looking back at the house, agape. Idris and the policemen spun round to see Jenkin leap onto the street, face infused with blood, shouting, ‘Leave my brother alone, you bastards!’ in a voice that hadn’t quite found its adult pitch.
Isaiah was quick on his heels, pulling him back into the house. Some in the crowds clucked their disapproval of Jenkin’s language. What do you expect? He’s out of control, running away like that. Others shouted variations on, leave them be, hasn’t the family suffered enough?
The last person Idris noticed was Anwen, her expression filled with… what? Horror? Disgust? He looked away, not wanting to dwell on her reaction.
* * *
Anwen’s first instinct was to run after Idris and the police, ask where they were taking him and why. Sense prevailed: it wouldn’t help. She watched Isaiah, still trying to drag Jenkin indoors while answering people’s questions. Meg spotted her and ran over.
‘Anwen, I’m so glad I’ve seen you. O Duw! What’s to become of my poor Idris?’ She burst into tears.
Anwen placed her arms around Meg, clutching her small body to her own. ‘Have they arrested him for Cadoc Beadle’s assault?’
‘Yes! Oh, my poor boy. Someone reported seeing Idris on Mafeking Terrace on his own two days ago, and now they’re saying it must be him what did it.’
‘What about the other boys’ families?’ said Twm Bach, coming up beside them. ‘Have they questioned them? I bet they haven’t. Just an easy target, is Idris.’
‘You’re right, Twm, you’re right,’ cried Meg.
Anwen led Meg, the woman who’d been for years her future mother-in-law, back to her front door, bestowing a series of comforting phrases in response to her repeated laments. As they were about to enter, they were approached by Elizabeth.
‘Is there anything I can do to help? The motorcar is at your disposal.’
‘That is so kind of you, Miss Meredith,’ sobbed Meg. ‘Anwen, please, would you go to Rhymney police station and find out what’s happening? Be a character witness. Do something?’
‘I’m not sure what I can do. I wasn’t there when he was at Mafeking Terrace.’
‘I wish I knew who’d told them that. Just troublemakers!’
‘Perhaps we could find out,’ Elizabeth suggested. ‘I’ll take Anwen in. We’ll see what can be done.’
Meg grabbed her hand while still clinging to Anwen. ‘Thank you, Miss Meredith.’
Isaiah came to the door to bring his wife in as she explained in a rapid babble Anwen and Elizabeth’s mission.
Anwen considered her old skirt and blouse, spattered with soil. ‘I’ll have to change first, if that’s all right?’
‘So will I. I’ll bring the motorcar to your house in around forty minutes. Or would you rather meet me on the main road?’
‘The sooner we get to Rhymney, the better. So yes, bringing the motorcar to the house will be fine, thank you.’
* * *
At the police station in Rhymney they had to wait twenty minutes before Sergeant Harries appeared at the front desk.
‘Jones, you didn’t tell me it was Miss Meredith who had asked for me.’
The policeman on the desk looked up at the two women, apparently none the wiser as to who that was. That Anwen hadn’t figured in Harries’ statement didn’t surprise her in the least.
‘How can I help you, Miss Meredith?’
‘Miss Rhys and I have come to find out what has become of Mr Idris Hughes, who you arrested this afternoon.’
The sergeant scratched his ear. ‘Well Miss, it’s not long ago we brought him in, so there’s a good deal of questioning to do yet.’
‘And I understand the only evidence you have is that one person saw him walking down Mafeking Terrace two days ago. Is that right?’
‘Weren’t any other people there, as far as we could tell.’
‘Except the person who reported seeing Mr Hughes, of course.’
This hadn’t occurred to Anwen. She was so glad Elizabeth had accompanied her as it was clear she was going to be much better at cross-examining the sergeant.
‘It most certainly wouldn’t have been them.’
‘How can you be sure?’ said Anwen.
When he failed to reply, Elizabeth said, ‘Miss Rhys asked you a question.’
‘Because… because they are an upstanding member of the community.’
‘So is Idris Hughes,’ said Anwen. ‘He’s never before been in trouble with the police.’
‘He was seen threatening Cadoc Beadle. He’s also been known to argue with Edgar Williams and threaten Madog Rhys.’
‘Madog Rhys is my father, as I’m sure you are aware. And the only time Idris has used any threatening language towards him was when he suspected him of hitting me and my sister.’
‘Idris Hughes hit you and your sister?’
‘That is not what Miss Rhys said,’ said Elizabeth, getting impatient. ‘I was present at that incident, before Christmas. I saw Mr Rhys raise his hand to Sara, a sick girl. Mr Hughes came on the scene and rightly told Madog Rhys that there would be consequences if he raised his hand agai
n.’
‘I see.’ Sergeant Harries pondered this for a while, rubbing his chin. ‘Not good, hitting an ill child, and that’s all Sara ever was, as I recall. But that doesn’t have any bearing on what’s happened here.’
‘Have you interviewed the other families whose boys went missing?’ said Elizabeth.
’They all have alibis for the whole period of time in which the attack could have happened. Idris Rhys is the only person without one for part of that time.
Their reasoning was weak, but Anwen could see no point in carrying on the argument, Elizabeth, however, had other ideas. ‘My understanding is that Mr Beadle lives on Islwyn Street. That isn’t Mafeking Terrace.’
‘It’s only one street up from there, Miss, easy enough to divert off up the path.’
’And he was seen doing this?
Manager’s daughter or no manager’s daughter, the sergeant’s brief huff of breath made it obvious he’d had enough. ‘I cannot discuss this with you anymore, Miss Meredith, as it’s still under investigation by the police here. And I’m due back in Dorcalon.’
‘Very well. I will have to speak to my father about this. It’s difficult enough keeping men working in the mine to provide the coal needed, without them being arrested with no real evidence.’ Elizabeth tapped her umbrella on the ground, bringing a full stop to the proceedings. She marched straight out.
Anwen glanced from Harries to Elizabeth’s retreating back. Harries trudged away next, giving her no option but to follow Elizabeth out onto the High Street. It was busy, the Rhymney occupants bustling around the pavements, where it had started to rain.
‘I’m sorry we’ve had a wasted journey,’ said Anwen.
‘On the contrary, I think it was very informative.’
‘You do?’ Anwen went over the conversation in her mind, not able to pull out anything of much use.
‘It’s regretful I had to bring my father into it, but sometimes using his position is useful in getting things sorted out. At least, I hope it will make the police more vigilant in their investigation. It worries me that Idris is simply a scapegoat.’
Heartbreak in the Valleys Page 27