Frank sat down in the chair facing him. ‘Surely Jackman can handle a breakdown or two without everything having to be spelt out to him,’ he replied irritably.
‘I’m not so concerned about Jackman,’ George growled. ‘I’m more concerned about this bloke who keeps on comin’ in ’ere askin’ fer yer. ’E won’t give ’is name or anyfing. Phelps told me ’e’s a nasty bit o’ goods. Yer better tell me, Frank, I can’t do anyfing if I don’t know the score.’
Frank sighed deeply. There was nothing the old man could do to help him. No one could. This was one mess he would have to sort out for himself, and if that Bradley woman had acted on his last phone call to her then everything might be all right. She had been less difficult than he had expected, and although she was now going to take the information he had given her to the police she had said she wouldn’t divulge the source. She had also told him that she had proof of Talbot’s whereabouts on the night of the fire and that would help speed things up. The sooner Theo was behind bars the better for him, and Peggy. She was becoming a nervous wreck.
‘This character who keeps asking for me is deranged,’ Frank told his father. ‘He’s labouring under the misapprehension that I had something to do with luring his wife away. Good Lord, I’ve only met the woman once, and that was on business.’
‘Well, yer wanna chuck ’im out the yard next time ’e calls,’ the old man said sharply. ‘Tell ’im that if ’e shows ’is face ’ere again yer’ll phone the police. If I see ’im ’e’ll feel the weight o’ me stick over ’is ’ead.’
Frank prayed that Theo would not make an appearance while his father was in the yard. ‘Don’t get yourself upset, Dad,’ he replied. ‘Let the yard man handle him. Now what about a drink? I’ve got some good news. I think we’ll get that brewery contract. My contact tells me our tender was the best.’
George Galloway looked relieved as he took the glass of Scotch from Frank and sat fingering the gold medallion on his watch chain. ‘So we bettered that Bradley woman?’
Frank nodded. ‘She won’t get this contract, and you can take that as definite,’ he said, smiling smugly.
George Galloway stood up wearily and took hold of his stick. ‘I’m orf ter see somebody,’ he said in a tired voice. ‘I take it yer gonna be in fer the day?’
Frank nodded, but as soon as the old man had left he went out to talk to Jackman the yard man. Ten minutes later he left the yard, glancing about to left and right as though expecting to be followed. When he reached the end of the turning he glanced behind him quickly, and after reassuring himself that there was no one dogging his footsteps he crossed the road and hurried along to London Bridge Station.
Harold Simpson was no novice when it came to the intricacies of following people around. He had spent many years in the police force and the last four years with a firm of enquiry agents who specialised in obtaining evidence in divorce cases, and as he stepped from a doorway and watched Frank Galloway cross Jamaica Road Harold smiled to himself craftily.
Danny sat together with Billy Sullivan in the changing room at Murphy’s Gym, eyeing the wall clock anxiously. Both men wore heavy woollen jumpers and their fists were strapped with bandages.
‘The kids won’t be arrivin’ till eight so we’ve got an hour, providin’ Talbot an’ that ovver dopey git arrive on time,’ Danny said, looking up at the wall clock once more.
Billy grinned evilly. ‘Yer sure we ought ter deal wiv Bennett first?’ he asked.
Danny Tanner nodded. ‘I fink Bennett’s the best bet. Besides, ’e was the one who actually set fire ter the place. Once we get ’im babblin’ we’re ’alfway there wiv Talbot. That one won’t be so easy. ’E looks ’ard, an’ ’e won’t panic too quickly. After all, ’e did front it out in the witness box.’
At five minutes past seven Talbot and Bennett walked up the path and knocked on the oaken front door. Billy slipped the bolts and pulled the heavy door open. ‘Come in, gents, we’ve bin waitin’ fer yer,’ he said, hiding a grin.
The two men walked into the hallway, looking around curiously as Billy led the way into the main hall. ‘In ’ere,’ he said, pointing to the changing room.
Danny got up and held out his hand. ‘Glad yer could come,’ he said cheerfully. ‘I’ve got a list o’ some prices ’ere.’
Talbot ignored the outstretched hand. ‘Right now, I’ve . . .’
‘Look, while we’re talkin’ my pal’s gonna take the covers off the stuff. Can yer mate give ’im an ’and?’ Danny interrupted him.
Talbot glanced down at the sheaf of papers in Danny’s hand. ‘Yeah, all right,’ he replied.
Billy led the way out of the changing room, closing the door behind him, and led Bennett towards the centre of the gymnasium, stopping beside the ringed area. ‘Ever bin in a ring?’ he asked, grinning wickedly.
‘Where’s the stuff?’ Bennett asked, looking around.
Suddenly Billy swung a hard punch into Bennett’s stomach and the man doubled up, gasping for breath with his eyes popping. Billy followed with a downward punch to the side of his head that flattened the bulky man. He rolled on to his side, pain and shock showing on his flushed face as he tried to stagger to his feet. Billy brought his knee up sharply and caught him full in the face, throwing him backwards. Blood ran from his nose and he was gasping for breath.
‘What d’yer start that fire for?’ Billy asked, his clenched fist poised in front of Bennett’s bruised face.
‘What fire?’ Bennett spluttered.
Billy hit him full in the face and the man’s head jerked back.
‘Now look, I can go on like this all night,’ he growled. ‘I’m gonna ask yer once more. Why d’yer start the fire at the sorters’ yard?’
Bennett shook his head and suddenly made a dive for Billy’s legs. Billy’s kick landed on his ear and he fell sideways clasping his head.
‘I don’t know nuffink about a fire,’ he groaned.
Billy took him by the coat collar and dragged him towards the wall. Bennett lay in a heap, fearfully watching while his tormentor took down a stretching spring from a hook and unclipped one of the handgrips.
‘Now I’m gonna give yer one last chance,’ Billy snarled, holding the remaining handgrip tightly in his clenched fist. ‘This spring’s gonna strip the flesh from yer back an’ I’m gonna take no notice o’ yer screams.’
‘It was Talbot, not me!’ Bennett whined.
Billy brought the steel spring down hard and drew a scream of agony as the back of the man’s coat ripped. He lifted the spring again and Bennett rolled over on to his side.
‘It was Talbot! ’E told me ter do it,’ he groaned. ‘Ask ’im, can’t yer?’
When Billy had left the changing room Danny threw down the papers and stood between Talbot and the door. ‘Right, now you an’ me ’ave gotta ’ave a little talk,’ he said between clenched teeth.
Talbot saw the look in Danny’s eyes and stepped back a pace. ‘What d’yer mean?’ he asked, surprise showing on his face.
‘There’s a good friend o’ the people round ’ere who’s rottin’ in ’Olloway because you told a pack o’ lies at ’er trial,’ Danny snarled. ‘Right now my pal Billy’s sortin’ out yer mate. What I’m gonna do is knock the livin’ daylights out o’ yer unless yer come up wiv the trufe.’
Talbot backed away from him, realising that he had been lured into a trap. ‘Yer not gonna touch me,’ he said, his voice shaking.
‘Oh, is that so?’ Danny growled, moving forward.
Suddenly Talbot produced a long, thin-bladed knife from the back of his belt and held it menacingly in front of him. ‘Come any nearer an’ I’ll put this in yer,’ he snarled.
A scream sounded from outside and Talbot backed against the wall. ‘Yer not touchin’ me,’ he said in a dry voice.
Danny moved forward slowly, his eyes never leaving the knife. ‘Put that down, Talbot, or I’ll take it off yer an’ cut yer froat wiv it,’ he growled.
For a few minutes the two glared
at each other, like two animals about to lock into a fight to the death. Suddenly there was a scuffling sound outside the room and then the door burst open. Billy had the terrified Bennett by the coat collar and when he saw Talbot holding the knife he pulled Bennett in front of him and held him with his arm curled around the man’s throat.
‘Stand back, Danny,’ he said urgently, slowly advancing on the snarling Talbot.
‘Mind ’im,’ Danny warned, but at that moment Billy pushed his human shield straight at the knife-wielding thug.
Bennett fell forward, then with a groan reeled back and collapsed, holding his midriff. Blood oozed from between his fingers as he lay groaning and for a second or two no one moved. Then Talbot was on his knees, the knife forgotten as he cradled the injured man’s head in his arms.
‘It was an accident, Kenny, I swear! I wouldn’t ’urt yer, yer know I wouldn’t,’ he groaned.
Billy picked up the knife while Danny bent over the ashen-faced Bennett. ‘It’s bad. We’ll ’ave ter get ’im ter the ’ospital,’ he muttered to Billy. ‘Lock Talbot in the cupboard an’ then phone fer an ambulance. I’ll see what I can do ter stop the bleedin’.’
Chief Inspector Green sat at his desk studying a pile of papers while the two young men sat in front of him, solemn-faced and silent. Presently he looked up and eyed the two in turn.
‘Well, it seems that Kenneth Bennett is making a good recovery,’ he said, a smile breaking out on his wide face. ‘The wound was serious enough, but he’ll live. Bennett’s given us a full statement which implicates Talbot and in which he says that the injury was purely accidental. For that you can thank your lucky stars, both of you.’
‘Even if it wasn’t accidental, we didn’t do it,’ Billy said quickly.
The inspector locked his fingers together and rested his elbows on the desk. ‘Supposing Talbot had said you stabbed Bennett and Bennett himself had corroborated his testimony?’ he said. ‘Where would that leave you two? In the mire, I should think. You see, that’s the danger of playing coppers. What you two should have done was to hand them both over to us after apprehending them with the minimum of force. As it happens, Bennett looks like he walked out in front of a train. As for Talbot, he’s so remorseful for injuring his pal that he made a statement without any form of pressure on our part. Now with those statements and the information about Talbot’s whereabouts on the night of the fire I should think we can start to set the ball rolling to get Mrs Roffey released from prison.’
‘Billy won’t get charged fer beltin’ Bennett, will ’e?’ Danny asked.
‘Belting? Is that what you call it?’ the inspector said sarcastically. ‘I would have thought hammering would have been a more apt description. But no, to answer your question, he won’t. Bennett made no complaint, and by the time his stomach wound is healed there won’t be any facial marks left to influence a judge, other than a slightly crooked nose.’
‘What about the factory owner?’ Danny asked.
‘Ah, yes, our Mr Harrison,’ the inspector replied, looking down at his notes for a few moments. ‘Well, I can tell you that we are looking for him. We will be able to cope by the way, thank you very much. Harrison will be charged, of course. The rest is up to the court. However, there is one thing I’d like to ask before you gentlemen leave. You stated that it was you who apprehended Bennett, Mr Sullivan?’
‘That’s right,’ Billy replied, frowning.
‘Well, I got some dirty looks from the surgeon. I believe he felt that we inflicted the injuries. What exactly did you hit him with, a girder?’
‘Nah, ’e slipped over,’ Billy replied, a smile playing around his mouth. ‘’E must ’ave caught ’imself on somefing or the ovver.’
Harold Simpson had done his job well, and after reporting back to his client was rewarded with a fat bonus. Theo now felt ready to exact his revenge on the man who had stolen his wife’s affections. He shut up the house and went to his garden shed before he departed, taking up a sharp axe which he tucked into the back of his belt. Ilford was unfamiliar territory to him but he was certain that he would soon find the man and deal with him, once and for all. Later there would be time to deal with his fickle, lying cheat of a wife, he vowed.
Theo boarded the train at Broad Street and as he leaned back in his seat he could feel the comforting pressure of the sharpened axe against his back. What pleasure it would give him to sink it into the skull of that no-good cheat he had once thought was his friend. It would be in all the papers but no one would suspect him, except maybe the investigator, but then he would respect a client’s confidence, Theo thought. No doubt the police would be baffled, and they would most probably seek a local maniac. It would be exciting reading the account of the Ilford axe murder in the Sunday papers. He would have to remember not to leave the axe in Galloway’s head though. Better to yank it out and throw it in the river.
The train jerked to a halt at Ilford Station and Theo stepped down, walking swiftly to the exit. There was no time to lose if he was going to do the deed properly. He had to find Primrose Gardens and then return via the river before it got too late.
‘Primrose Gardens? Yessir. Take the road ter yer left an’ after about a mile or so you’ll see it. There’s a church on the corner.’
Theo thanked the porter and suddenly felt a little uneasy. It wasn’t a good omen to have a church nearby, he thought, but never mind, it couldn’t be helped.
Primrose Gardens was a quiet suburban avenue with well-tended front gardens before gabled houses. Theo held his head low as he passed the church and walked into the leafy turning. Towards the end of the avenue he counted the numbers along to a smart house a little way ahead, and when he drew near consulted a slip of paper which he took from his top pocket. Yes, number 20. Mustn’t make a mistake, he thought. Wouldn’t be very nice if some old gentleman opened the door and got chopped up. That fornicating excuse for a man was going to get his comeuppance though.
Theo was about to step on to the path when a police officer seemed to appear from nowhere behind him. ‘Evenin’, sir. Lookin’ fer somebody, are we?’
Theo cursed his luck. ‘It’s that church,’ he muttered.
‘I beg yer pardon, sir?’
Theo looked at the police officer. He looked a kindly soul. I bet he never had any trouble with his wife, he thought. ‘I’m visiting a Mr Galloway,’ he said, feeling the axe against his spine.
‘Are yer, sir? And what is your name, may I ask?’
‘Theodore P. Harrison.’
‘And what is the purpose of your visit?’ the constable asked, swaying back and forth on his heels.
‘I’ve come to kill him,’ Theo said quietly.
The police officer eyed him suspiciously. ‘And ’ow d’yer propose ter kill ’im?’ he asked a little patronisingly.
‘With this,’ Theo replied, taking out the sharp axe from his belt.
The policeman stepped back a pace. ‘Now let me have that instrument, if yer please, sir.’
‘Why? Would you like to kill him for me?’ Theo asked.
‘I don’t think so, sir. Now come along,’ the policeman said, holding his hands out to placate him. ‘We’ll take yer down ter the station. Yer’ll get a nice bed fer the night, an’ if we ’urry there’ll be some supper too, I’ve no doubt.’
Theo slowly handed over the axe and allowed himself to be taken by the arm. ‘Tell me, officer. Is your wife true to you?’ he asked.
‘I’m not married, sir,’ the constable replied, feeling suddenly sad for the strange character with wide, staring eyes.
‘I’m married,’ Theo told him. ‘My wife’s been seeing another man. I was on my way to kill him when you stopped me. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to do it for me? I could pay you well.’
‘No, I’d sooner not, if yer don’t mind.’
They reached the police station in time for supper, and one hour later Theo Harrison was sleeping like a baby in a police cell.
On a mild evening during the first
week in April a car drove into Wilson Street and pulled up outside Murphy’s Gym. Ellie Roffey looked pale and drawn as she stepped out to loud cheering and was embraced by the aged Florrie, who handed her a large bouquet of roses. Inside the hall more people had gathered and when Ellie walked in she was mobbed by many well-wishers, all eager to shake her hand. The boxing ring had been taken down and high on the far wall a bunting read, ‘Welcome Home, Ellie’.
The piano was playing and Maisie got up to dance the jig with Broomhead Smith, much to the annoyance of Alice Johnson who sat biting the inside of her cheek. Florrie was feeling tired. She sat for a while talking to Ellie about the campaigner’s time in Holloway, while Maudie sat with Sadie and some of the street women sipping beer and munching cheese sandwiches, all of which had been supplied by Father Kerrigan.
Tanner Trilogy 02 - The Girl from Cotton Lane Page 55