Tanner Trilogy 02 - The Girl from Cotton Lane

by Harry Bowling

  Billy took a deep breath. ‘I ain’t seen yer about lately,’ he said with forced bravado.

  ‘I’m like a bad penny. I keep turnin’ up,’ the policeman said with a sneering smile. ‘I asked fer this beat again. I like this area, an’ I’m familiar wiv all the little toe-rags. Besides, people round ’ere got ter know me, an’ they’re aware that the rogues don’t get any leeway wiv me.’

  ‘I bet they don’t,’ Billy said sarcastically. ‘Well, yer got no worry wiv me, officer. I’m in full-time work now.’

  The big policeman slipped his thumbs into his belt and swayed back and forth on his heels. ‘All yer pals ’ave bin put away fer a long time, Sullivan,’ he announced self-importantly. ‘It was lucky fer you yer didn’t get picked out on that I.D., but I tell yer now, I know you should ’ave gone down wiv the rest of ’em an’ I ain’t fergettin’, d’yer ’ear?’

  Billy felt his neck hairs rising and he struggled to keep calm. ‘I wasn’t involved in that ware’ouse job an’ I ain’t bin near Rovver’ithe fer ages,’ he said quickly, screwing up his mouth in anger. ‘I got a decent job, an’ I’m lookin’ after it.’

  PC Copeland prodded the young man rudely in the chest. ‘People like you don’t go straight, Sullivan, they only pretend to. If any opportunity comes their way they grab at it. So be warned. I’m back ’ere now an’ yer can tell yer little pals ter beware. Give me one chance an’ yer nailed.’

  Billy stepped back a pace as he felt his anger rising to boiling point. ‘Now listen ’ere,’ he grated, ‘I ain’t scared o’ threats, an’ I certainly ain’t scared o’ the likes o’ you. Yer’d be no better than me inside a ring. It’s that uniform that makes all the difference.’

  The policeman’s face had become dark with anger. ‘’Ow would yer like ter step round the corner? There’s a nice bit o’ wasteground there. I’ll take me coat orf an’ we’ll soon see who’s the best. Yer don’t ’ave ter worry about me uniform, sonny.’

  Billy realised that if he did the sensible thing and just turned and walked away the policeman would consider him a coward, and that was unthinkable. He decided to have it out with him there and then. ‘Anywhere yer like,’ he said, staring up at his large antagonist.

  Just then Billy saw the young woman approaching them. She was smiling at him and as she drew level she looked at the policeman.

  ‘Hello, constable. I hope Mr Sullivan’s not in any trouble,’ she said sweetly.

  The policeman shook his head. ‘We’re just ’avin’ a friendly chat, miss,’ he said flatly.

  Annie McCafferty looked at Billy. ‘I wanted a quick word with you, if you can spare me the time,’ she told him.

  ‘I was jus’ goin’,’ Billy said with a grin, and as he turned to the policeman his face changed. ‘I’ll remember what yer said, officer. Any time I can oblige.’

  Annie gave him a quizzical look as he walked along beside her and then a smile lit up her face. ‘Mr Smedley seems rather flustered,’ she remarked.

  Billy winced noticeably. ‘Oh. So yer ’eard about me comin’ ter the clinic,’ he replied.

  Annie put on a stern face. ‘Nurse Carmody followed up the information you supplied and as it happened the couple she called on were very upset. They were in their sixties. She wanted to inform the police of your visit but luckily she talked to me first. When she described this Mr Smedley I knew it was you. What made you do it, Billy?’ she asked him.

  ‘I wanted ter see yer,’ he said simply. ‘I thought it was you who looked after this area.’

  Annie felt her cheeks glowing and she tried to remain serious. ‘Well, it’s fortunate Nurse Carmody is a good sort,’ she told him. ‘I told her you were a little backward and imagined a lot of things, and I said I would have a word with you and make sure you never tried anything like that again. Anyway, what was it you wanted to see me about?’

  ‘I wanted to ask yer ter walk out wiv me, Annie,’ the young man replied. ‘I was ’opin’ I’d see yer around the streets but I never did, an’ I was gettin’ desperate.’

  Annie felt her stomach churning and she swallowed hard. ‘Well, you could have dropped a letter into the clinic addressed to me, instead of playing such a trick on everybody - and nearly getting yourself arrested,’ she told him.

  Billy stopped and turned to face her. ‘Look, Annie, I know it was stupid, but I really was desperate. Will yer be my girl? Will yer walk out wiv me?’

  Annie McCafferty nodded, a smile breaking out on her pretty face. ‘I’d be pleased to, Billy,’ she said.

  Chapter Seventeen

  As the year slipped by things were happening in Bermondsey, not all of them apparent to the regular group of women who stood chatting on their front doorsteps in Page Street. The fact that Billy Sullivan and Annie McCafferty were walking out together was apparent to everyone, however, and Sadie Sullivan was very pleased that her eldest son was now keeping company with a nice Catholic girl.

  ‘She’s made all the difference ter that boy o’ mine,’ she remarked to Florrie Axford. ‘I was in despair of ’im at one time. Since ’e’s bin wiv Annie though I ain’t ’eard a peep out of ’im about that bloody gymnasium.’

  Florrie reached for her snuffbox and tapped on the lid with her first two fingers. ‘She seems a very nice young lady,’ she said, ‘an’ I’ve noticed ’ow Billy’s spruced ’imself right up since ’e’s bin courtin’ ’er.’

  ‘I see your Danny’s goin’ steady too,’ Sadie remarked to Nellie Tanner, who had just joined them. ‘Are we gonna ’ear weddin’ bells soon?’

  Nellie shrugged her shoulders. ‘My Danny don’t give much away, Sadie, but I reckon ’e’ll be namin’ the date soon. She’s a nice gel is that Iris. Shame about ’er farvver though.’

  ‘What’s wrong wiv ’im?’ Maisie Dougall asked.

  ‘’E’s a bit of a piss artist,’ Nellie told her. ‘’E’s as good as gold till ’e gets a skinful, then ’e’s very nasty. Mind yer, ’e don’t say anyfing ter my Danny, ’cos ’e knows ’e’d come unstuck if ’e did, but ’e’s prone ter knockin’ ’is ole woman about, none the less. ’E threatened young Iris once but my Danny ’ad a quiet word in ’is ear. ’E told ’im that if ’e laid ’is ’ands on that gel ’e’d ’ave ’im ter deal wiv. Caused a bit o’ friction between Danny an’ young Iris, but it all worked out all right, I’m glad ter say.’

  Florrie sniffed up the snuff and stood swaying gently until the sneeze came, then the tall, gaunt woman wiped her nose on a brown-stained handkerchief and blinked the tears from her eyes. ‘Did yer ’ear they’ve got anuvver yard?’ she asked, jerking her thumb in the direction of the Galloway firm.

  Nellie nodded. ‘My ole man told me it’s in Wilson Street. ’E said they’ve got a new fleet o’ lorries an’ they’ve bin doin’ grain work fer the brewery as well as machinery an’ the like.’

  ‘It’s a pity ole Galloway don’t spend a bit of ’is money on doin’ our places up,’ Florrie remarked. ‘My bedroom ceilin’s soakin’ wet every time it rains, an’ me copper’s leakin’.’

  ‘Trouble is, every time yer get the lan’lords ter do any repairs they put the bloody rents up,’ Maisie cut in. ‘D’yer know, ole Temple’s place is really bad. I don’t know ’ow ’e ain’t caught pneumonia. I went in there the ovver day ter take ’is clean washin’ in an’ I could smell the dampness. Mind yer though, yer can’t say anyfing to ’im lately. ’E jus’ sits in that front room of ’is an’ stares out the winder. I’m sure the poor bleeder won’t see anuvver winter out.’

  Nellie shook her head sadly. ‘Aggie would turn in ’er grave if she was alive ter see it.’

  ‘’Ow’s your Carrie’s cafe gettin’ on now?’ Maisie asked her cheerily.

  Nellie’s face brightened. ‘Since those workmen finished the alterations she’s bin doin’ very well. The place is always packed an’ she said there’s a meetin’ of one sort or the ovver goin’ on nearly every night. I’m pleased for ’er. That gel does work ’ard.’

  ‘’Ere, I k
now what I was gonna ask yer, Nellie,’ Florrie said quickly. ‘Did yer see that bit in the paper the ovver day about a club or somefing openin’ up in Rovver’ithe?’

  Nellie nodded. ‘It’s only talk yet, but apparently there’s a group o’ the local businessmen puttin’ money up ter start a nightclub or somefing. They say it’ll be a real posh place. It won’t be fer the likes of us, but it’ll attract a lot o’ moneyed people. My Will said ’e don’t fink it’ll come orf though.’

  ‘Oh, an’ why’s that then?’ Florrie asked.

  ‘Will wouldn’t say too much, but ’e reckons the police might put their oar in,’ Nellie told her.

  ‘I wonder if that ole goat Galloway’s put money in it?’ Maisie asked, looking from one to the other.

  ‘I would reckon so,’ Nellie remarked. ‘That ole bastard’s got ’is finger in everyfing. I ’ear tell ’e’s after the rest o’ the ’ouses in this street. Gawd ’elp us if ’e gets ’em. We can’t get the repairs done as it is, wivout ’im ’avin’ more ’ouses ter look after.’

  Maisie noticed the tall figure of the local policeman turning into the street. ‘’Ere ’e comes,’ she alerted the other women. ‘Lookin’ fer ’is ’andout from the bookie no doubt.’

  Florrie pulled a face as she looked along the turning. ‘’E ain’t a patch on ole Buller who used ter be on this beat. ’E was a nice man was ole Sid Buller. Always good fer a chat, an’ ’e never got smutty like that dirty ole goat comin’ along now.’

  Sadie nodded. ‘That git tried ter get my Billy in trouble. ’E swore ’e was wiv that ware’ouse robbery downtown that time. ’E wouldn’t leave ’im alone. ’E fancies ’imself too. One o’ these days ’e’s gonna pick on the wrong bloke, mark my words. My Billy would ’ave give ’im what for if it wasn’t fer the fact that ’e’s still got that black mark against ’im down the police station.’

  ‘I wonder what ’appened ter that Sid Buller. ’E left all of a sudden, didn’t ’e?’ Maisie enquired.

  Florrie leaned towards the others as the large policeman approached them. ‘Sid got in trouble fer drinkin’ on duty,’ she whispered. ‘The sergeant come roun’ the turnin’ lookin’ fer ’im an’ silly Maudie Mycroft told ’im she see Sid goin’ in the Kings Arms. ’Im an’ Alec Crossley were in the back room drinkin’ whisky. Mind yer, Sid wasn’t the best copper. The kids was gettin’ away wiv blue murder. It’s different wiv this one though. ’E’s scared the livin’ daylights out o’ the youngsters. It’s all right bein’ strict, but I don’t ’old in wiv ’im treatin’ Billy the way ’e ’as.’

  PC Copeland reached the women and nodded briefly to them. ‘G’day, ladies,’ he said in a loud voice.

  ‘Nice day, ain’t it?’ Maisie remarked in a quiet voice.

  Florrie gave her a stern look and took out her snuffbox once more, while Sadie Sullivan mumbled an obscene remark under her breath and turned her back on him.

  Keen to retrieve the situation Maisie Dougall motioned the women to gather round and then looked up the turning as though someone might be watching her. ‘Alice Johnson an’ that totter bloke are ’avin’ it orf again,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I see ’im come out o’ there before nine this mornin’. ’E was in there all night.’

  ‘’Ow d’yer know?’ Florrie asked.

  ‘’Cos I see ’im go in there last night when I was comin’ back wiv me faggots an’ pease pudden,’ Maisie told her. ‘’E ’ad a couple o’ bottles o’ stout under ’is arm an’ I could ’ave sworn ’e ’ad a bunch o’ flowers under that rotten ole coat ’e wears. I reckon there’ll be anuvver weddin’ down the turnin’ before long.’

  ‘The woman’ mus’ be mad ter fink o’ gettin’ ’erself ’itched to a bloke like ’im,’ Florrie said shaking her head.

  ‘Well, she ain’t everybody’s cup o’ tea ’erself, is she?’ Maisie remarked. ‘She’s chased two ole men away, an’ now it looks like Broom’ead’s gonna be number three.’

  ‘Nah, she’ll ’ang on ter this one,’ Florrie said quickly. ‘’E’s got a few bob, ’as Broom’ead.’

  The women were soon joined by Maudie Mycroft, who put down her shopping bag and proceeded to rub her shoulder. ‘It’s me sciatica playin’ me up,’ she told them with a grimace. ‘I’ve ’ad it fer a week now an’ I can’t shift it.’

  ‘It’s sittin’ in that draughty church, that’s what’s caused that,’ Florrie told her. ‘Yer wanna get some o’ that there ’orse liniment. That’s the finest stuff fer aches an’ pains.’

  ‘’Orse liniment?’ Maudie repeated.

  ‘That’s right, ’orse liniment,’ Florrie told her. ‘Ask Nellie if I’m tellin’ a lie. ’Er Will used it on ’er when she got that bad back. It was right as rain in no time at all, wasn’t it, Nell?’

  Maudie looked disbelievingly at Nellie Tanner who nodded her head vigorously.

  ‘That’s right,’ she said positively. ‘Mind yer, it stinks the place out but it’s werf it. Get yer ole man ter warm it up an’ rub yer shoulder wiv it night an’ mornin’.’

  Maudie looked unconvinced. ‘I do believe it’s the worry that brings this on,’ she said, raising her painful shoulder and wincing.

  ‘Is it that ole man o’ yours?’ Maisie asked.

  Maudie nodded. ‘’E’s back wiv ’em again,’ she replied. ‘I did fink ’e’d got fed up wiv it all but I was wrong. The ovver night ’e went over ter that there Speaker’s Corner an’ ’e come ’ome wiv a black eye. I told ’im then that if ’e didn’t give it up I’d leave ’im.’

  ‘What did ’e say ter that?’ Florrie asked, hiding a grin.

  ‘’E told me ’e wasn’t gonna do no such fing an’ ’e said ’e’d ’elp me ter pack if I liked,’ Maudie said, sniffing tearfully. ‘’E’s not bin the same since ’e joined that evil lot. I told ’im so too.’

  ‘I fink yer makin’ too much out of it, if yer ask me,’ Florrie remarked. ‘Yer need people like your Ernest ter stir fings up a bit, even if they are a bit bolshie.’

  Maudie looked worried. ‘I don’t know what people would say if Ernest got arrested. They’re arrestin’ Communist people now, yer know. They arrested some over at Speaker’s Corner. That’s ’ow Ernest got that black eye.’

  ‘What, resistin’ arrest?’ Florrie asked.

  ‘No. ’E was standin’ near the platform listenin’ ter this bloke talkin’ an’ when ’e clapped at the end ’o the speech the man next to ’im punched ’im in the eye.’

  ‘What did ’e do that for?’ Florrie asked.

  ‘Gawd knows,’ Maudie replied. ‘I do wish ’e’d get right out of it an’ take up somefing else. I mean ter say, ’e could keep pigeons, or rabbits, or even chickens. We’ve got plenty o’ room in our back yard fer a few ’utches. Ovver men ’ave fings like that fer an ’obby.’

  ‘I don’t fink your Ernest joined the Communist Party fer an ’obby, luv,’ Florrie told her. ‘That’s a belief, jus’ like goin’ ter church. You go ter church. What would yer say if Ernest asked yer ter give it up. I know. Why don’t yer pretend yer got a fancy man? That’ll keep ’im ’ome. If ’e finks yer playin’ about when ’is back’s turned ’e won’t be too keen ter go on all them there meetin’s, it stan’s ter reason.’

  Maudie shook her head vigorously. ‘I couldn’t,’ she almost shouted. ‘I jus’ couldn’t.’

  ‘Well, please yerself,’ Florrie said offhandedly. ‘If yer won’t do anyfing about it yer deserve all yer get.’

  Maudie picked up her shopping bag and said her goodbyes, and when she had left Florrie turned to the others. ‘I got an idea,’ she said mysteriously. ‘See what yer fink o’ this . . .’

  For a long time Carrie had been bargaining with the local catering suppliers and comparing their prices, much to her advantage, and when she was talking with her father one Friday evening he let slip that Joe Maitland was dealing in tinned food.

  ‘I’ve a good mind ter go round an’ see ’im,’ she said. ‘Tinned food would keep an’ if the price is right I could buy
in bulk.’

  William was sorry he had mentioned the cases of foodstuffs he had been stacking for most of the morning. ‘I’d be careful wiv Maitland, gel. Yer never know if it’s come the ovver way,’ he warned her.

  Carrie was keen to find out more, however. ‘When can I find ’im in?’ she asked. ‘We’ve got a phone in now, I could give ’im a ring.’

  ‘Monday mornin’s ’e’s always there, an’ Friday afternoons when ’e pays me an’ Sidney Coil our wages,’ William told her.

  Carrie was quick to phone Joe Maitland and arrange a meeting, but Fred was less than enthusiastic.

  ‘I dunno. Yer said yerself ’e’s a bit of a shady dealer. If we buy ’ooky stuff we could be in trouble, Carrie,’ he fretted.

  ‘Look, I won’t buy unless the price is right an’ the goods are straight,’ she assured him.