by Kitty Neale
‘Bessie’s been good to me and I’m fond of her. Where are you going?’
‘I’ve got someone to see – a bit of business to sort out.’
‘Oh, is it to do with a job?’
‘Yeah, you could say that,’ Kevin said, smiling enigmatically as he threw back the blankets, heading for the bathroom.
Johnny finished his feed, and after Pearl had winded him he contentedly drifted off to sleep. She gently placed him in the cot, smiling down at him for a moment before leaving to rinse out his bottle. Dolly was in the kitchen now, making a fresh brew, but she totally ignored Pearl. The atmosphere was awful, tense, and when Kevin finally showed his face, he received the same treatment.
Dolly continued to bang around, slamming doors, driving them out of the kitchen and, soon after, the house, earlier than they’d anticipated.
‘We might be in for a bit of a rough ride,’ Kevin said as they left the café. ‘My mother can sulk for England, but she can stew in her own juice as far as I’m concerned.’
Pearl grinned. ‘Any more metaphors before we part company?’
‘You cheeky bitch,’ Kevin said, but his smile took the sting out of his words. He leaned over to give her a swift kiss on the cheek, gave Johnny the same, calling, ‘See you later,’ as he sauntered off.
Pearl pushed the pram across the road, feeling that something had shifted in their relationship. Kevin seemed warmer, more relaxed, his nerves completely gone and a swagger back in his step.
‘Hello, ducks,’ Bessie said as she opened the door. ‘Come on in.’
Pearl lifted Johnny from his pram and followed the old woman upstairs, but her nose wrinkled as she walked into the living room.
‘Get that sour look off your face,’ Bessie said. ‘I know the place is a mess, but after running the shop all week, I’m too knackered on my day off to worry about housework.’
Pearl took at good look at the old woman and didn’t like what she saw. Bessie looked pasty, her eyes hooded with tiredness. ‘You look awful.’
‘Thanks and it’s nice to see you too,’ she retorted, flopping onto a chair and holding out her arms. ‘Blimey, he gets bigger every time I see him.’
When Pearl laid Johnny in Bessie’s arms, the old woman tickled him under the chin, but he remained undisturbed, sleeping soundly. ‘He sure likes his kip.’
‘Yes, he’s a contented baby,’ Pearl replied before turning on her heels to head for the scullery. ‘I’ll make us a drink.’
The room was in an awful state, dishes piled in the sink, all her work when she had lived with Bessie undone. She shook her head and set to, but it was some time before she returned to the living room.
‘Here,’ she said, placing a cup of tea beside Bessie.
‘Blimey, it’s about time. What have you been doing out there?’ Before Pearl had time to reply she sailed on, ‘Huh, I can guess. You’ve been cleaning up. It’s good of you, but I’d have got round to it eventually.’
‘You said you’re worn out, and I think a rest is more important.’ She took Johnny from Bessie’s arms, laying him gently on the sofa. ‘While he’s sleeping, I’ll tidy up in here.’
‘Leave it, love. Other than the occasional card reading, you’re the only person who visits me, so what does a bit of mess matter?’
‘It won’t take long.’
‘What is it with you and housework? I’d rather you sat down for a chat.’
‘We can talk while I’m working.’
‘How are things over in the café?’
Pearl paused, a pile of old newspapers in her arms. ‘You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.’
‘For Gawd’s sake, you’re making my neck ache. Leave the bloody tidying up and sit down.’
Returning the newspapers to where she had found them, Pearl flopped beside Johnny. ‘I don’t know where to start really but, as you know, I haven’t been hearing the baby at night.’
‘Yeah, and I know it’s upsetting you.’
‘It was, but not now. I couldn’t sleep last night, and Johnny wasn’t crying, but it didn’t stop Dolly from sneaking into our room to take him.’
Bessie straightened in her chair. ‘Bloody hell, and do you think she’s been doing that every night?’
‘Yes, I’m sure she has.’
‘Huh, with the way she’s been trying to take him over, I should have guessed.’ Bessie chuckled. ‘Blimey, you’ve got Dolly well and truly scuppered now and I bet she doesn’t like that. I hope you gave her what for.’
‘Er … not really, but I didn’t let her take Johnny and she wasn’t too happy about that.’
Bessie’s brow lifted. ‘In other words, you’re letting her get away with it.’
‘Oh, Bessie, the atmosphere is awful now and there’s no point in making it worse, especially as Kevin is getting a job and we’ll be in our own place soon.’
‘Huh, I wouldn’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Look, it’s nothing. Forget I said anything. I’m just annoyed that you’ve let Dolly get away with it but I should have kept my mouth shut.’
The old woman had her head down, and Pearl looked at her worriedly. She’d heard metaphors from Kevin, but Bessie’s felt somehow prophetic. ‘I can’t just forget it. You inferred that something is going to stop us from getting a place of our own. Have you had another vision?’
‘I told you, it’s nothing. It happened a while ago, after I gave someone a reading, but it was just a flash.’
Bessie was still avoiding eye contact so Pearl didn’t believe her. She had seen something bad, Pearl was sure of it, and her heart began to thump.
‘Bessie,’ she begged, ‘you can’t leave me up in the air like this. Please, please, tell me what you saw.’
A sigh escaped Bessie’s lips and finally she turned her head. ‘Christ, me and my big mouth, but I can see you ain’t gonna leave me in peace until I tell you. All right, if you must know, I saw Kevin in some sort of trouble.’
‘What sort of trouble?’
‘I told you it was only a flash. All I saw was Kevin surrounded by policemen.’
‘Oh God! Was it an accident or something? Was Kevin all right?’
‘I don’t know! It was unclear and, if you ask me, best left alone.’
‘You don’t know!’ Pearl shrieked. ‘But you must have seen if he was all right.’
‘Bloody hell, why do you think I didn’t want to tell you? I knew this would happen and that you’d want answers I can’t give you.’
Pearl’s cries had disturbed Johnny and he awoke, squalling. She picked him up, rocking him in her arms. ‘When is this going to happen?’
‘I don’t know, but I think soon.’
Pearl closed her eyes. Bessie had seen Kevin surrounded by policemen. What did it mean? Oh God, she prayed, please let him be all right.
The road was quiet, few people around early on a Sunday morning. Kevin stood in the opposite doorway, gazing across at the shop. When he’d first considered this job, he’d thought about ambushing the old man when he took his takings to the bank, but after following him a few times he’d seen there were always a lot of people about, making it far too risky.
His eyes took in the alarm box above the jeweller’s. He’d foolishly hoped to get in that night, but the system was state of the art and too hard for him to crack. Kevin scowled. He didn’t want to bring Nobby and Dick in on the job, but what was the alternative?
Kevin emerged from the doorway and walked across the road. The only alternative would be to hit the shop when it was open, a risky move but, thinking of the mass of gems inside – which he didn’t want to share with Nobby and Dick – he licked his lips. If he covered his face and got in and out quickly, maybe he could get away with it.
Kevin peered through security grids on the windows, seeing large displays of jewellery, and knew that even if he managed to get only the stuff on show, it would fetch a pretty penny. He moved into the deep ent
rance now, taking in the side windows. To the right he saw watches and clocks, and to the left more fine jewellery. The door was covered by another thick grid and, hearing a key turning in the lock, Kevin’s eyes widened as it slid back. The door then opened, an old man emerging.
As their eyes met, both froze for a moment, but it was Kevin who moved first. Bloody hell, it was fate, it had to be. He shoved the old man back into the interior, kicking the door closed with his heel. Christ, who’d have thought the jeweller would be in the premises on a Sunday. Talk about luck!
Kevin took in the shop, seeing that, like outside, the internal windows were covered by security grids. He pointed at them, voice thick with menace as he growled, ‘Give me the keys.’
The old man was trembling. ‘I’ll get them for you, but please, don’t hurt me.’
‘If you do as I say, you’ll be fine. However …’ Kevin left the threat hanging in the air.
‘Th … they’re behind the counter,’ the jeweller muttered, and Kevin pushed him roughly forward.
The old man shuffled behind the counter, fumbling underneath whilst Kevin’s thoughts raced, his adrenalin high. This was great and he still couldn’t believe his luck. It was so easy, the geezer obviously terrified and under his control.
At that moment an alarm sounded, jangling loudly in Kevin’s ears. He looked around in panic, his eyes wild as they turned to the jeweller.
‘You bastard! You set off the alarm!’
‘I … I know you. I’ve seen you somewhere before,’ the old man spluttered, unaware that his words sealed his fate.
With a cry of rage Kevin swept up the only thing to hand, a heavy chair in front of the counter. He lifted it high before swinging it down with all his might, smashing it on to the old man’s head.
The bastard had recognised him! His rage now out of control, Kevin ran behind the counter, hitting the man again with the only thick piece of wood left in his hand.
The alarm still sounded, jangling loudly, but Kevin hardly heard it now. He couldn’t leave the man alive – he had to silence him – and seeing only a wall of red before his eyes, he smashed into the jeweller’s skull over and over again.
Blood spurted from the old man’s head, but mindlessly Kevin carried on, only stopping when a hand seized his arm from behind.
The grip was vicelike and, looking over his shoulder with sweat pouring down his face, Kevin saw the hand belonged to a policeman.
33
Dolly was in deep shock – Pearl too, but somehow she had to keep going for Johnny’s sake. For the first time in the living memory of most locals, the café was closed, and had been for a week.
Bernie threw yesterday’s newspaper to one side with disgust. ‘I don’t know how they got hold of Kevin’s photo, but his face is plastered all over the front page again.’
‘I don’t care what they say. It was self-defence, it had to be. My son would never do something like that.’
‘I don’t think the jeweller could have put up a fight. He’s an old man and lucky to be alive.’
‘There must have been someone else with Kevin and he did it.’
‘Not according to the police. Christ, Dolly, he was caught in the act, and he was the only one there.’
‘Shut up, Bernie! Instead of standing up for Kevin, it sounds like you’ve already decided he’s guilty.’
‘I’m just facing the facts.’
‘I’m telling you he didn’t do it!’ Dolly cried, but she remained seated, for once not lashing out at her husband.
Pearl had been surprised by her father-in-law’s reaction to the news. He’d shown no sympathy for his son, his thoughts for the poor old jeweller, whom Kevin had bludgeoned almost to death. She shuddered, still hardly able to believe that her husband was capable of doing such a thing.
Someone was banging on the front door. Seeing that both her in-laws were ignoring it, Pearl made her way downstairs. Tentively she opened the door.
‘Mrs Dolby?’ a man said. ‘I’m a reporter from the Sketch and—’
‘Go away!’ Pearl screamed, cutting off the man’s words as she slammed the door in his face.
The letterbox lifted. ‘Have you any comment about the new accusations against your husband?’
New accusations! What new accusations? For a moment Pearl stood rooted to the spot, but then she turned, racing back upstairs. ‘Bernie! There’s a reporter outside and he said something about Kevin facing new accusations.’
‘Christ, that can only mean the jeweller’s snuffed it. Kevin must be facing a murder charge now.’
‘No. Oh, no!’ Dolly sobbed.
They soon found out when, following another loud banging on the door, Pearl went to the window to see a costermonger walking away. She crept downstairs to find that today’s newspaper had been shoved through the letterbox.
After reading it they were all stunned. A young woman had seen Kevin’s photograph in the paper, coming forward to accuse him of rape and battery.
‘I don’t believe it,’ Dolly cried. ‘She’s telling lies, she must be, and how come we’re the last to hear of it?’
‘Why would she lie about something like that?’
‘I don’t know, Bernie, but it ain’t true. Maybe she’s jumped at a chance to make money by selling a trumped-up story to the newspapers.’
‘That seems a bit unlikely.’
‘My son is not a rapist,’ Dolly snapped. Her eyes flicked to Pearl and she added venomously, ‘Kevin was all right before he married you.’
Pearl had been reading the report again, but now she dropped the newspaper before rushing, gagging, from the room.
It wasn’t long before Bernie heard Pearl being sick and looked at his wife with disgust. Dolly was grasping at straws, and rather than face the truth about Kevin, she was using Pearl as a scapegoat. She had to find an excuse for her precious son’s behaviour, but to lay the blame on Pearl was bloody ridiculous. With a small shake of his head, Bernie went after his daughter-in-law, finding her just leaving the bathroom. The poor kid looked awful, ashen, as she dragged a hand across her mouth. ‘Are you all right love?’
‘I … I’ve been sick.’
‘Yeah, I know, but listen, don’t take any notice of Dolly.’
Pearl nodded sadly and he saw a tear rolling down her cheek. ‘I … I think I’ll go to my bedroom for a while.’
Bernie returned to the living room, his mouth set in a grim line. ‘Dolly, I don’t think it’s fair to blame Pearl. She’s really upset.’
‘It’s no more than she deserves. Kevin changed when he married her. He became a nervous wreck and hardly left the flat. God knows what that girl’s been doing to him.’
‘You’re mad, woman! Read the newspaper report again and check the dates. Huh, Kevin’s nerves! It all makes sense now. He did it, Dolly. He raped that woman, and was scared of being caught. That’s why he’s been staying in so much. He was too bloody frightened to show his face!’
Dolly reared to her feet and Bernie stiffened, expecting a clout. ‘Why do you always think the worst of him?’ she yelled. ‘He didn’t do it! That woman’s lying. I know she is.’
Bernie kicked off his slippers and reached for his shoes. ‘All right, I’ll go down to the station and we’ll see what they’ve got to say about it.’
‘We’re going to see Kevin tomorrow and we’ll hear the truth from him.’
As Bernie finished tying his laces he felt something snapping inside. Kevin had been caught almost beating an old man to death and he had no doubts about these latest accusations. ‘No, Dolly, you’re going to see him, not me. I never want to set eyes on him again.’
‘But he’s your son!’
‘I was only there at the conception. I’ve had no hand in bringing him up. You saw to that.’
Dolly raised her hand but this time Bernie didn’t flinch. For the first time in years he felt no fear, and uncaring of the consequences his voice rose. ‘I’ll tell you something else. Pearl has just been sick and if you ask
me that girl deserves an apology.’ And on that note he strode from the room.
When Bernie left the café he saw that the market was thronging with life, and there was no way he could avoid being seen. Someone shouted his name but he ignored it, keeping his head down until he was out of sight. Christ, he’d known his son had a weak character, but had never dreamed he was capable of such violence. If anything, he had thought him a coward, a mummy’s boy, and his stomach twisted. Had his home environment caused it? Had Kevin seen too much and it had somehow turned his mind? Bernie shook his head, refusing to believe it. He’d heard of worse parents, ones that neglected, starved or beat their children, yet none had turned out like Kevin. No, the boy must have been born like it, he and Dolly bringing a monster into the world.
Pearl heard Bernie going out, but remained sitting on the side of the bed, her hands clutched between her knees. It wasn’t her mother-in-law’s accusation that had made her sick. Like Dolly, she couldn’t believe that Kevin had raped and beaten a woman, but as she read the newspaper report, a memory surfaced. Before their marriage, when Bessie had been ill in bed and they were alone, Kevin had virtually attacked her too, the sex violent. She remembered how frightened she’d been, Kevin calming her fears with excuses, ones that she had believed … until now.
She groaned, rocking back and forth. It was as if her eyes had opened and she was seeing Kevin for the first time. The man she thought herself in love with didn’t exist. Yet even as these thoughts crossed her mind, Pearl knew she was fooling herself. There had been many times when she had worried about his Jekyll and Hyde character but, loving him, she had chosen to dismiss her fears.
Pearl had no idea how long she sat there, her thoughts twisting and turning, but then Bernie poked his head around the door.
‘Come into the living room, Pearl. I’ve been down to the police station and I’ve got some news.’
She rose to her feet, following Bernie into the living room.
Dolly’s head snapped up as soon as she saw her husband. ‘What did the police say?’
‘They wouldn’t tell me much, but one copper was a nice bloke and took me to one side. He said that so far there’s lack of evidence to support the young woman’s story.’