by Joan Jonker
‘George won’t know that, girl, and what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.’ Nellie legs were swinging fifteen to the dozen. ‘I’ll get one blue one, and a pink. Then I can swap them every day. D’yer know, Molly, this is turning out to be a good day. When our Paul and Phoebe get married I’ll not only have a big hat on, I’ll have a necklace to show off as well. People will think me and George have come into money.’
‘If George ever came into money, he’d never even have time to count it before you had it off him. It would be cream slices every day after breakfast, dinner and tea. And morning coffee would be served with a selection of biscuits with cream in.’
‘Mmm,’ Nellie cupped her chin. ‘I could even have a maid to do all me cleaning and cooking.’ Her chins anticipated her nod and they started a slow foxtrot. ‘After giving it some thought, girl, I think I’d offer you the position of maid. After all, you know all me likes and dislikes, so I wouldn’t have to train yer. Don’t yer think that’s a belting idea, girl? I mean, I wouldn’t be mean with the money, I’d pay yer a decent wage.’
‘I don’t know how to answer that, sunshine, but I do know I want yer to toddle off home now, while I prepare the dinner. If the ribs are left to simmer for a few hours they’ll be so tender they’ll melt in the mouth.’
‘Yeah, I better make a move.’ Nellie lumbered to her feet. ‘I’ll come about seven o’clock. Corker should be here by then. Ye’ve got everything written down, haven’t yer, girl?’
Molly smiled. ‘Every single thing, sunshine. I haven’t left anything out. I’ve even put the colour of the filthy curtains down, and the crack in the bedroom window pane.’
Nellie looked pleased. ‘That’s real detective work for yer, girl: never miss the little details.’
‘I won’t forget to tell Corker that you played the biggest part in this operation, sunshine. He’ll be really delighted with yer.’
Pushing her chair under the table, Nellie’s chest swelled with pride. But she wasn’t going to exclude her friend from the success they’d had. ‘It was team work, girl. We make a good team.’
Chapter Sixteen
Nellie was sitting by the table in her carver chair when Corker called. And he didn’t come alone, which was a surprise, for Ellen was with him. ‘I’ve come to keep an eye on my feller, to make sure there’s no dirty work at the crossroads.’ Ellen slipped her coat off and draped it over the arm of the couch. ‘Yer don’t mind, do yer, Molly, having an extra one for a cup of tea?’
Nellie got in before Molly had time to answer. ‘This is a private meeting, Mrs Corkhill, and what we’ll be discussing is not for the ears of outsiders.’
Molly winked at her next door neighbour. ‘I’ll get some cotton wool so yer can plug yer ears, sunshine, then there’ll be no complaints from the chairman of the committee. She’s afraid that if any information we’ve got falls into the wrong hands, it could start World War Three.’
‘Then my wife should use the cotton wool so she can’t hear what’s being said.’ Corker lowered his huge frame on to the couch. ‘How about blindfolding her, Nellie? D’yer think we should, just to be on the safe side?’
Nellie pretended to give this some thought. Then she said, ‘I think my partner and I should confer on this. It has to be a joint decision.’
Molly gawped. ‘In the name of God, sunshine, have yer swallowed a dictionary? Or have yer been practising with George?’
Ellen pursed her lips. ‘No, I blame that chair. I’ve always thought she looked like a court judge sitting in it. All she needs is a red robe, white curly wig, and one of those wooden gavels they have. They bang them down when they want silence.’
Nellie brought a curled fist down on the table. ‘The prisoner has been warned. One more outburst, while the court is in session, and I’ll have her removed.’
‘Tell the truth and shame the devil, sunshine,’ Molly said. ‘Yer’ve been practising those big words, haven’t yer?’
The legs of the table left the floor when Nellie’s tummy began to shake with laughter. ‘Yer should see the faces on yer. Oh, dear, oh, dear! It was worth getting George and our Paul to fight with each other over who could come out with the most words used by a judge in court. They didn’t realize I was egging them on, and although it started off as a joke, the two of them got serious. Neither of them wanted to be the loser, so they went through all the police and detective films they’d seen.’
‘You mean they didn’t twig yer were having them on?’ Molly tutted and raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘I’m surprised at George. He should be used to your tricks by now.’
‘Plug me ears with cotton wool and blindfold me,’ Ellen said. ‘But do it right away, and get this committee meeting over with as soon as possible, ’cos Corker has promised to take me to the second house at the Atlas. June Allyson is on, and she’s one of me favourite film stars. She’s not as glamorous as some of them, more the girl next door type.’
‘Oh yeah, I like her as well,’ Molly said, keeping her eyes away from Nellie. She knew the chubby legs were swinging faster and faster, and could guess her mate was losing patience. ‘Let’s know if it’s any good, and I’ll try and coax Jack into taking me tomorrow night.’
That was the last straw for Nellie. ‘Bloody hell! Have you two got nothing better to do than natter about a ruddy film star? I’ve got vital information on this piece of paper in front of me, and while I was under cover, getting this information, me life was in danger. I could have been bumped off any time, but it didn’t stop me carrying out the orders I’d been given.’ Her beady eyes covered the room. ‘No detective worth their salt would leave his mission to go to the ruddy pictures! So tell me, girl, how can yer be a good detective in the morning, then in the evening start playing silly buggers?’
‘When yer have a visitor, sunshine, who happens to be a neighbour, then yer make her welcome. That makes yer a well-mannered hostess. To make her feel unwelcome, and not wanted, well, that makes yer ill mannered and a lousy hostess.’
Jack and Corker had listened in silence to the dialogue. And now they looked at each other and winked as they each lit a cigarette. What would Nellie’s reaction to that be? If she stuck to form, it would be hilarious.
‘I didn’t say she wasn’t wanted, girl. I wouldn’t say that to Ellen, she’s our mate.’ Nellie forced her face to look innocent and hard done by. ‘What I said was that she shouldn’t be here. She’s barged into a private meeting what has nothing to do with her.’ She held out her hands, palms up. ‘Now I ask yer, that’s not the same as saying she’s not welcome, is it?’
There was so much laughter, Nellie had to wait for it to quieten down before saying, ‘I think the best way to solve this is for Molly and Ellen to go to the pictures to see June Allison, and Corker and Jack to stay here and listen to what has been written down on this piece of paper, by a senior member of the detective agency.’
Ellen feigned horror. Both hands to her cheeks, she cried, ‘I’m not leaving me husband with a man-eater who has a voluptuous body. Heaven forbid. I’d probably never see him again.’
‘Oh, yer’d see him again, girl, I promise yer that.’ Nellie was having the time of her life. ‘I can’t say he’d be any good to yer when I’ve finished with him, though.’
‘The time has come to get down to business,’ Molly said, knowing her mate was in a cheeky mood now, and would have them blushing with embarrassment if they weren’t careful. ‘Bring that spare chair to the table, Jack, please, and we’ll start getting serious. I’m taking it for granted that yer had no intention of going to the pictures, Ellen, am I right?’
Ellen grinned. ‘Corker said we’d get more of a laugh off you and Nellie, and I agreed with him. But I’ll not interfere while ye’re talking business, and I promise that not one word I hear will be repeated.’
When they were all seated round the table, an ashtray placed between the two men, Molly smiled across at Nellie. ‘Well, at long last, sunshine, the floor is yours. And we’re all eager to hear what yer h
ave to say.’
‘And I should bleeding well think so! The next time I get asked to do some detecting work, I’ll ask for me wages in advance.’
‘What makes yer think yer deserve a wage, sunshine? What yer’ve done today didn’t cost yer anything. In fact yer gained from it, ’cos yer met a long-lost friend.’
‘I know all that, girl, but what about compensation for wear and tear?’
Molly raised her brow. ‘Oh, and what wear and tear was that?’
‘Me shoe leather, girl, that’s what. And what about the hole in me stocking, made by me shoe?’
‘Nellie, yer had that hole in yer stocking when yer left the house, I saw it with me own eyes. And yer shoes have been down at heel for months. Didn’t I say to yer last week that if yer gave up cream slices for three days yer’d be able to have yer shoes heeled?’
Nellie nodded. ‘Yes, yer did, girl, I remember. And I also remember telling yer to mind yer own business.’ The chuckles and guffaws egged her on. ‘If I’d tripped up and landed on me backside, girl, yer’d have had the good fortune to see that the hole I had in me knickers matched the other hole in me stocking. Some women have matching scarves and gloves, but I like to be different.’
‘You’re full of holes tonight, sunshine,’ Molly said. ‘Has that piece of paper in front of yer got a hole in? Just out of curiosity, like.’
‘No, of course it hasn’t, soft girl. It’s just as it was when yer wrote it out and gave it to me.’
‘Then I suggest yer pass it over to Corker. That’s what he came for, and he’s heard about everything under the sun but that. So be a good girl, and while you’re explaining the whys, hows and wherefores, I’ll put the kettle on before Ellen dies of thirst. I’d hate her to leave here tonight thinking we’re mannerless and pig ignorant.’
‘Oh, Ellen won’t think nothing of the sort. She knows anyone who uses words with twelve letters in isn’t pig ignorant.’
Molly leaned across the table and picked up the paper in front of Nellie. She did it in a flash, too fast for her mate to stop her. ‘Here yer are, Corker, you read what we’ve written and then we’ll answer any questions yer might have.’
Jack leaned sideways so he could read at the same time as Corker. And like his neighbour, he was amazed at how clear the details were.
Corker held the paper between his thumb and index finger. ‘I can’t believe yer’ve found all this out, it’s more than I ever expected. I only asked yer the other day, and I thought with a bit of luck yer might find out the address. Yer’ve done wonders, and the pair of yer never cease to amaze me. I’d never have found all this out, not in a million years.’
‘We wouldn’t have done, either, only for a stroke of luck. But that was Nellie’s doing, so I’ll leave her to tell yer. That is as long as she doesn’t stretch it out by adding things that don’t really matter. Like how many cakes were on the tray in the shop. Ruthie will be in at ten o’clock, and the less she knows the better.’
‘Blimey! You’re a fine one to talk, girl! I could have told Corker everything in the time it’s taken you to tell me I talk too much.’
Corker held up an open hand. ‘Now, ladies, we don’t want any fighting or falling out.’
Molly and Nellie burst out laughing. ‘Corker, this is normal for us,’ Molly told him. ‘Never a day passes that we don’t argue and insult each other. But we never fall out, not ever.’
‘And the last time we had a fight was about twenty-four years ago,’ Nellie said. ‘That was over the kids fighting, and me and Molly faced each other and rolled our sleeves up, ready to do battle and knock spots off each other. But instead of a boxing match, we ended up with our arms round each other, laughing our bleeding heads off. The neighbours weren’t half upset, ’cos they were hoping for high ding-dong. A bit of excitement to brighten up their day. They were disappointed, but that was the day me and Molly made friends, wasn’t it girl? Do you remember?’
‘Of course I do, I’ll never forget that day no matter how long I live. It wasn’t that I was frightened of getting a black eye, I was more worried about making an enemy. But, thank God, I made a good pal. We’ve stuck together through thick and thin, hard times and good times.’
‘You don’t have to tell me that, me darlin’,’ Corker said, ‘because don’t forget I was living in the street when you arrived. Neither of yer had any children then; yer’d just been married. Molly was very slim, with long blonde hair, and Nellie was a slip of a girl with dark hair, all curly.’
‘My God, Corker, yer’ve got a good memory, lad,’ Nellie said. ‘I can’t remember ever being a slip of a girl. And I bet me hair has forgotten how to make a curl.’
‘I bet George still sees yer as yer were then, Nellie,’ Jack said. ‘I know Molly hasn’t changed in my eyes since the first day I saw her.’
Corker glanced at Ellen, who was sitting quietly listening. He’d known her for as long as he’d known Molly and Nellie, had even thought of her as his girlfriend all those years ago. But he’d never told her that in so many words for he was away at sea more than he was home. And when he landed after a long trip, he was devastated to learn she’d married a man he knew to be a rotter. Much water had flowed under the bridge since then, and he’d finally claimed her as his wife after her husband died, taking over as father to her four children. They were one big, happy, much loved family now, but Ellen had no happy memories of the days Molly and Nellie were talking about. She and her four children had never known the love and warmth of a caring and happy home. They did now, though: Corker made sure of that.
‘My wife hasn’t got much to say for herself.’ Corker put a hand on Ellen’s arm. ‘But I remember the first time I saw her. It’s a picture in my mind of a very pretty girl with a lovely slim figure, wonderful dancer and a smile to make yer heart turn over. And she still has the power to do that.’
Nellie snorted. ‘Sod that for a lark! All this sloppiness is enough to make yer want to vomit. If ye’re going to carry on, I’m going to fetch my George. And if he doesn’t beat you two for compliments and say I was the loveliest girl in the whole of Liverpool, I’ll break his bleeding neck.’
‘Stay where yer are, sunshine, ’cos we’re getting down to business now. George can tell yer how beautiful you are when ye’re in bed tonight.’
‘You don’t think we waste time by talking in bed, do yer? God didn’t invent beds to talk in, He invented chairs and couches for that. And come to think of it, if He hadn’t invented beds, there wouldn’t be anyone to sit on the chairs and couches.’
Even Molly couldn’t stop a smile coming to the surface. Was there anything Nellie didn’t have an answer to? And she could carry on all night, without repeating herself, if she was allowed. But time was marching on, so the subject had to be closed.
‘Corker, has the information on that paper given you any ideas?’ Molly asked. ‘Will it help yer at all? Me and Nellie will dig a bit deeper, if need be.’
‘No, you and Nellie have done very well. Saved me a lot of time. In fact I would never have been told half of these things, for people would be suspicious of a bloke my size asking questions. I could never make meself inconspicuous, I’d stick out like a sore thumb. But to answer yer question, yes, this information will be a big help. I can’t tell yer how, ’cos I’ll need to give it a lot of thought first. But I will definitely make use of it.’
Nellie was all eyes and ears. ‘Yer will keep us in the picture, won’t yer? After all, Flora Parker is my adopted mother, so I have more than an interest. You could almost say I’m one of her family.’
Molly and Jack looked at each other and burst out laughing. It was a few seconds before Molly could get control of her voice. ‘Nellie, don’t yer think Flora Parker has suffered enough, without being adopted by you?’
‘It was your idea, girl, so yer can’t blame me.’
Corker stood up, folded the piece of paper and slipped it into his pocket. Then he bent down and put his face close to Nellie’s. ‘Listen, me da
rlin’, yer’ll make as good an adopted daughter to Flora as yer do a detective. You and Molly would be top of my popularity list any day.’
Nellie’s face was a picture of happiness. ‘Ah, that’s nice, Corker. Did yer hear that, girl?’
‘Yes, I did, sunshine, and it’s high praise indeed. We’ll have to make sure we’re deserving of it. A good start would be a visit to Flora’s in the morning before we start our shopping. But not a word about the robbery, what we’ve found out, or that Corker is involved. All right?’
‘Me lips will be more sealed tomorrow than they’ve ever been, girl. I’ll be so quiet yer’ll think I’ve lost me voice.’
Molly was helping Ellen on with her coat. ‘What d’yer think of the chances of that happening?’
Ellen grinned. ‘I’ve heard of miracles, Molly, but I wouldn’t rely on it. Don’t hold yer breath.’
Instead of going down Spencer Street, Corker walked down the back entry until he reached the road that cut across the street, dividing it into two halves. He’d planned to follow the young Blakesley boy, but he’d have to keep out of sight, and that wouldn’t be easy. He had a cap pulled down over his eyes, and a scarf round his neck which he’d pulled up to cover part of his moustache and beard. But he couldn’t do anything about his height except try to hunch his shoulders. It would only be for the one night, to confirm what Nellie’s friend in the corner shop had told her. That the Blakesley lad had a routine every night. During the day nobody knew where he got to, but at night he stuck to the routine. Sometimes he left the house on his own, other times he was accompanied by his mother and father. But he always, without fail, ended up at a certain pub on the main road. The one Corker had been told was run by a crooked landlord, name of Les Simpson.
Corker had been leaning back against a wall, out of sight, but his eyes had never left the front door of number twenty-seven. And when he saw it open, and heard loud voices as three figures stepped on to the pavement, his mind and body became alert. He would give them a few minutes and then follow them. He had to be careful they didn’t see him, especially the father, who would recognize him. Ted Blakesley hadn’t lasted at the docks for longer than a few weeks, but he would remember his gaffer – Jimmy Corkhill.