A Daughter's Journe

by Anna Jacobs

  One quick glance out of the back bedroom window showed him two figures, one actually in the backyard, the other sitting on the top of the gate. They seemed to be arguing about something.

  ‘Let’s see if they still hang around when we switch on lights everywhere.’ He didn’t wait for the two women’s agreement but started doing that.

  ‘Come on, Jo. We’ll do the same downstairs.’

  She’d grabbed her dressing gown and didn’t wait to get dressed but followed him down the stairs, calling over her shoulder, ‘Stay back, Tess. If they see you clearly in the kitchen, they’ll know they’ve found out where you are, which is probably what Rathley is looking for. If they see only me downstairs, they’ll probably recognise me.’

  ‘If they try to break in, you must phone the police station for help, Jo.’ Nick picked up a heavy walking stick that had been in the hall stand. He’d kept it handy to help defend himself, if need be, when he was living here alone. You couldn’t be too careful in town centres, with valuable cars parked just underneath your bedroom window.

  ‘I’m not leaving you to fight on your own. I can fight alongside you.’

  He spun round. ‘No!’

  She looked very determined. ‘Dad always insisted I know where a man’s weak spots are. I haven’t forgotten what he and the stockman taught me about defending myself. We lived in the country, remember, and there were no police nearby.’

  Another voice said, ‘I can help, too.’

  They both turned to look at Tess, who had followed them down and was standing in the kitchen doorway.

  Nick sighed. ‘Please go back, Tess. The one thing we’re agreed on is that we don’t want them seeing you.’

  ‘I think they’ve seen me clearly enough to recognise me already.’

  ‘What? How did that happen? Surely you didn’t put the bedroom light on?’

  ‘No, but I was still half asleep and didn’t realise how brightly the moon was shining on that side of the house, so I pulled the curtain to one side to peep out. If I could see them clearly, they must have been able to see me equally well, don’t you think? Anyway, one of them looked across from the top of the gate and pointed towards me, then they started to argue.’

  ‘Do you really think they could see you clearly enough to recognise you, though?’

  ‘Probably. I could see them clearly enough to describe them and recognise them if I met them again.’

  ‘Oh, hell. We’ll have to find you somewhere else to hide, then.’ He turned back to the kitchen window, half expecting it to be smashed at any moment. But nothing happened. He couldn’t see clearly with the kitchen light on so called out, ‘Switch the light off again, Jo.’ When she’d done that, he moved across to the window and peered out.

  There was definitely no one in the yard now.

  ‘They seem to have gone.’

  ‘Do you think they’ll come back?’

  ‘They may do. I wasn’t worried about security before but I am now. There’s hardly anyone living in this street, if we have to call for help. It’s mostly shops. We’d better contact Deemer straight away, not wait till the morning, and get his help to keep you safe. I’ll go into the office and phone him.’

  ‘I’m sorry!’ Tess looked distressed. ‘It’s all my fault for being so stupid. I wasn’t thinking clearly when I went to look out of the window.’

  Jo put an arm round her shoulders. ‘It’s done now.’

  They heard Nick’s voice coming from the office.

  ‘Let’s go and eavesdrop,’ Jo said, but before they could do anything, there was the sound of a phone being put down and footsteps coming along to the kitchen.

  ‘He’s on his way,’ Nick said.

  ‘Just Sergeant Deemer?’ Tess asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Won’t he be bringing anyone else with him? What if several men come back to capture me?’

  ‘You’ve been watching too many American gangster movies. Where will anyone find a group of villains at this hour of the night in Rivenshaw? I reckon those two were it.’

  ‘I’ve hardly watched any movies. People didn’t like associating with me because of Mam, so I only went out to go to school or do our shopping. Most of the time I stayed at home.’

  Jo could have wept at what a dreadfully limited life the poor girl had led. ‘That’s going to change once we’ve caught your mother’s killer, Tess. I’ll take you to Australia and no one there will know anything about your background. You can make a fresh start, have friends, do what the other girls do.’

  ‘Would you really do that?’

  ‘Definitely. Would you come?’

  ‘Yes.’ Tess’s gulp was audible and they could both see how hard she had to struggle not to cry.

  Jo’s eyes met Nick’s and she tried to show him how sorry she was to have to offer to do this. But from what the girl had said, she was afraid there was no way Tess could make even a half-decent life for herself in any part of the valley.

  Nick moved to put an arm round each of them. ‘Since Jo and I are planning to get married, we’ll all go to Australia together, if it’s the best thing for you, Tess. But first we have to help Sergeant Deemer catch a murderer.’

  Jo looked at him, couldn’t help asking, ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course I am.’ His smile was tender and warm in spite of the problems they were facing, and she felt unable to protest further. Why should she? Marrying him was what she wanted most in the world.

  Tess was watching them again. ‘I love the way you two are with one another. Your love shines out. It makes me feel there’s good in the world as well as bad.’

  They all fell silent for a moment, then Tess said, ‘Yes. We must help the sergeant catch him. For Mam’s sake. I won’t feel right if he gets away with it.’

  Jo tried not to show it, but it was she who had tears in her eyes now. How wonderful that Nick was prepared give up everything to be with her. How wonderful what Tess had said!

  They had to make things come out right, of course they did. But afterwards she wanted to spend her whole life with this man.

  27

  S ergeant Deemer put down the phone and went next door for a quick check of the one and only cell in the police station attached to his house. Big Donny was sleeping as peacefully as the child he still was mentally. The poor fellow had given them no trouble, didn’t seem at all violent.

  On the rare occasions when the cell was occupied, Deemer’s wife took the prisoner’s meals through from the house. She felt the same about this poor chap, couldn’t see him starting trouble.

  But although the sergeant felt quite sure Donny wasn’t the one who’d killed Moira, he was keeping him here for his own protection. And his dog always slept in the police station at night or when it was unattended, so he had no doubt anyone trying to get in would be noticed and stopped, one way or the other.

  He drove to the car yard and saw Nick open the front door to him. He glanced round before getting out of his vehicle, wondering if anyone was still hanging around. He hadn’t seen anyone lurking in the streets on his way here. In fact, the town seemed unusually quiet, yet it felt as if something terrible was hovering, ready to erupt. Or was he letting his imagination run riot about this?

  He followed Nick quickly inside and listened to him and the two women explaining exactly what had happened, then he and Nick went outside at the back to look round the yard. There were scratch marks on the gate, which Nick said hadn’t been there before, probably from where the intruders had clambered over, but the padlock was still intact.

  ‘I’m a bit old to climb over gates,’ Deemer said.

  ‘I brought the key.’

  Nick unlocked the padlock then the two men went out to have a look along the laneway.

  As they were standing there, someone made a faint hissing noise nearby, where a row of dustbins was standing in deep shadow.

  Deemer spun round. ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘It’s only me, sarge. I don’t want to show myself, th
ough. Me an’ Piper was following them men tonight, keeping an eye on them, like you said we should.’

  He recognised the voice at once. His informer. ‘Did you see who they were and where they went, Larry?’

  ‘Yes, we saw who they were. And since they were on foot, Piper’s following them. I said I’d keep an eye on this place. He’s coming back here to tell us where they went. He might be away a while if they’ve gone up the valley, though. He knew one of them, you see, said the chap’s called Hobbs and lives in Backshaw Moss. He does jobs for Rathley sometimes, but never says what, but Piper says everyone knows he’s paid to go after people who’ve upset Rathley.’

  ‘That doesn’t surprise me. Seen anything else?’

  ‘No, sir.’

  ‘Mr Howarth and I will go back into the kitchen and wait for him.’

  ‘Right. I’ll stay here.’

  ‘You don’t want to come inside to wait?’ Nick asked. ‘You’re welcome.’

  ‘Not yet. I’ll keep watch here. Me an’ Piper will slip inside when we’re sure he’s not been followed back. Can’t be too careful if that Rathley sod’s involved.’

  ‘You’re doing exactly what I wanted, Larry lad. Well done, both of you.’

  There was a snigger from behind the dustbin. ‘Fancy me being praised by a policeman!’

  ‘Fancy me having something to praise Flash Larry about,’ Deemer muttered as he followed Nick into the house. ‘He’s a cheeky devil, that one.’

  Further up the hill, Piper was following the two men towards Birch End, and doing it well, he thought. Suddenly someone jumped out and grabbed him as he passed a gateway in the drystone wall that edged the fields. He yelled out in shock and struggled hard, trying desperately to get away.

  He would have managed it, only another man grabbed him from behind and they were both big chaps. So Piper tried cunning instead.

  He stopped struggling and as they stepped cautiously back a little to stare at him, he held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘Hey up, lads! No need to thump me. It’s only me, Piper.’

  ‘I can damn well see who it is. What I want to know is why you were following us.’

  ‘I was on my way home when I saw you and wondered what you were doing. If there’s anything profitable going on, I thought I could maybe help. I’m a bit short of money at the moment, you see.’

  The man he didn’t know said doubtfully, ‘Do you really know him, Hobbs?’

  ‘Yeah. He’s all right. Not on the side of the law that I’ve ever seen.’

  Piper held his breath, beginning to feel hopeful.

  ‘Should we take him with us, see what Mr Rathley wants to do with him?’

  Hobbs punched his companion in the arm. ‘Shut up, you idiot. You’re not supposed to mention that name. We found out what our man wants to know, which is where the girl is, and we’re not sharing the reward for that with anyone.’

  For a moment, Piper’s fate hung in the balance and he waited, wondering whether these idiots would give him any other useful information.

  ‘I reckon we’d best let him go and say nothing. Rathley’s a chancy sod and he might not pay us because we got seen.’ Hobbs turned back to their captive. ‘But if you try to follow us again, Piper, or whisper one word about who we’re working for, I’ll make sure you regret it.’

  ‘I’d never go against you, Hobbs. You know me.’

  ‘It’s a good thing for you I do. Now get off home and don’t come following me again.’

  Piper didn’t wait but set off running down the hill as fast as his legs would carry him. But once he was out of their sight and sure they weren’t following him, he couldn’t help smiling. He knew who they were working for now, and they could be forced by the police to answer questions about him. Deemer really wanted to find proof if Rathley was involved in something against the law. ‘If!’ Piper sniggered as he hurried along. Quite a few people were aware of the way Rathley did things. It was proof that was lacking.

  He frowned for a moment. Would Hobbs really come after a chap he’d grown up with and hurt him on Rathley’s say-so? Nah, he didn’t think so. But he wasn’t risking it. People did all sorts of things when desperate for money, as he’d had to do himself. Though he drew the line at beating people up.

  As he reached Rivenshaw, he couldn’t help smiling again. Money for old rope, this little job was, and all on the side of the law.

  He and Flash Larry would laugh about that for years. Good money it was, too, considering.

  It was a full hour after he’d left before Piper returned to the alley, moving cautiously along it till Larry hissed to warn him he wasn’t alone.

  ‘I wasn’t followed. I made sure of that.’

  His friend stepped out from behind the dustbins, grinning so broadly his teeth showed white in the moonlight.

  ‘Everything all right here?’ Piper asked.

  ‘More than all right, it’s going fine. The folk here called in the sergeant because they saw Hobbs and his mate, so I told Deemer what we’d seen. He said he was pleased with what we were doing.’

  Both men sniggered as they always did at the thought of a policeman being pleased with them.

  ‘Deemer’s gone inside and I said we’d join them there once you got back. They offered us a cup of tea an’ I could murder a hot drink.’

  ‘Do you think he’s trying to trick us?’

  ‘Nah. I sneaked into the yard now the gate’s unlocked and listened at the kitchen window. He’s desperate to find out what’s going on and to nab Rathley.’

  There was dead silence for a minute or two, then Piper whispered, ‘Do you think Rathley killed her?’

  ‘Who else would have wanted to? She was all right, Moira was. No enemies that I knew of. I reckon he was after that girl of hers.’

  Piper whistled softly. ‘I been wondering about that sort of thing.’

  ‘Yeah. Stinks, doesn’t it? Now, tell me exactly what you found out before we go in. I don’t want any surprises once we’re with Deemer.’

  When he heard, he whistled softly. ‘Come on. He’ll give us extra for that, I reckon.’ He hesitated then added in an even lower voice, ‘I’d be glad to see that Rathley fellow locked up, as long as I’m not known to be involved. I don’t like chaps that go after children, either. It fair sticks in my gullet.’

  ‘Only you can’t turn Rathley down when he asks you to do something, can you? He’s got too many friends in high places.’

  ‘I don’t think Deemer is a friend of his.’

  ‘No, but he’s not in a high place, is he? Anyway, come on. I’m looking forward to a warm drink.’

  Deemer looked up as he heard the click of the back gate opening. ‘Here they come. I hope Piper’s discovered something. Tell Tess to stay upstairs and not make a sound.’

  He watched Jo slip out, look up towards the landing and signal to Tess by putting one finger to her lips, then he went to open the door. ‘Easier to come in this way, isn’t it, lads? Want that cup of tea?’

  ‘If there’s one going.’

  ‘You play fair with me and there’ll be more than tea going.’

  The two men grinned at one another and followed the sergeant into the kitchen.

  When Piper went through what he’d found out, the sergeant let out a satisfied grunt. ‘You did well.’

  Jo had a sudden idea and said, ‘I think those men you followed, Mr, um, Piper, saw Tess at her bedroom window. Is it possible … could we persuade them to capture me, thinking it’s her? I know we don’t look a lot alike, but if it’s in the dark and it’s someone who doesn’t know us well, we could maybe fool them for a short time.’

  Nick shot her a quick look, as if he didn’t like where she was going with this, as did the two men.

  Deemer shook his head. ‘Very kind of you to offer, but we don’t use innocent people as bait in traps. And I’d not let any young woman fall into Rathley’s hands.’

  ‘But it might take you ages to trap him, and if they take me and tell him the
y’ve captured her, he’ll have to show his hand to get her, won’t he? Then you can pounce.’

  ‘No!’ Nick exclaimed. ‘The sergeant’s already told you it’s too dangerous.’

  ‘Not if someone keeps watch on me from a distance.’

  Deemer’s voice was very firm. ‘No. Definitely not. I’ll ask you two men to keep an eye on him and if you help me prove Rathley murdered Moira, I’ll give you a tenner each.’

  Their mouths fell open in shock at this generous offer.

  ‘Why are you so sure it was him as killed Moira, sarge?’ Piper asked.

  ‘I’ve got other information. He was seen going into Packman Alley that night at the right time. No one else was around. No one else had time to visit Moira before my constable took Tess home. But he’s wriggled out of trouble before, so we have to prove it beyond doubt.’

  ‘Now you’re talking, sarge.’ Larry turned to Jo. ‘I think better after a nice cup of tea, if you don’t mind, an’ I like it with three spoons of sugar, please missus.’

  She only just managed not to smile at his cheekiness and pushed a plate of biscuits across the table to them before pouring the tea. They were both thin, looking as if they hadn’t eaten well for years.

  When the men had left, Nick asked why Deemer was so sure of these two and the sergeant spread his arms in a helpless gesture. ‘I reckon in better times, those chaps wouldn’t have been crooks. They’re decent in their own way, keep their word and if they take on a job, they do it. An’ they’re not violent, that I’ve ever heard.’

  28

  O n the Saturday afternoon, Enid washed the two children, then dressed them in their best clothes, wishing aloud that they had better things to wear. She brushed their hair that morning and plaited Peggy’s, tying a red ribbon near the end of the plait. Standing back, she smiled down at them.

  ‘You look lovely. You’ll be good today, won’t you, my darlings?’

  They nodded, then Enid turned to Wilf, who was dressed in his best suit. She sighed and brushed a few specks of fluff off the front lapels. ‘You need a new suit. This one is literally threadbare. I’ll ask Vi to look out for one about your size being pawned.’