It's Now or Never

by June Francis

  ‘Brothers!’ exclaimed Jeanette, placing the receiver on the cradle. ‘What would you do with them!’

  The other typist smiled across at her. ‘You know you love your Sam. What’s he up to now?’

  ‘I’m guessing he’s on the trail of a killer but I’d best keep that under my hat.’ She glanced at the clock on the wall and then reached for the cover for her typewriter. ‘I’ll have to get a move on. I’ve a lot to do before I meet Davy.’

  Lynne opened the door and to her surprise found Jeanette standing on the doorstep. ‘Hi, Jeanette! What can I do for you?’

  ‘I’ve brought a request from our Sam, although you mightn’t want to do what he asks. Truthfully, I think he’s got a nerve asking you.’

  ‘You’d best come in,’ said Lynne, holding the door open wider.

  ‘I’d best not,’ said Jeanette, grimacing. ‘I’m tied for time and if I wasn’t, I’d be keeping Aunt Ethel company. That’s what he wants you to do. Neither he nor I can, and Dad’s gone to work.’

  ‘Where is Sam?’

  ‘He’s at headquarters but has had to go to that shop in Prescot Road where that shopkeeper was murdered.’

  Lynne’s jaw dropped and then she took a deep breath. ‘Did he say why?’

  ‘No, just that I was to do some research for him and I was to ask you to keep Aunt Ethel company until he gets back. I wouldn’t blame you if you said no. It’s such short notice.’

  ‘It’s OK,’ said Lynne, smiling. ‘I don’t mind. I’ll just leave a note for Bobby, so she’ll know where I’ve gone when she comes in. Then I’ll get my coat and I’ll be with you.’

  Lynne was as good as her word and soon they were both on their way to Jeanette’s old home.

  It was not the first time Lynne would be meeting Ethel but when they came face to face, it was like speaking to a stranger.

  ‘You’re a new face here,’ said Ethel, hunched in a chair in front of the fireplace.

  ‘Yes, I am, but we did meet at Hester’s wedding,’ said Lynne.

  Ethel jutted out her bottom lip. ‘She had no right to get married and leave me. All the years I’ve looked after her – and the other ones are as bad. Grace’s mother went to prison, you know? Had Grace there. They force fed her. I told that other one all about it. Now what was her name? Where did she go? Pretty kid, had a magic box that took pictures.’

  Lynne wondered if she meant Dorothy.

  Ethel glanced around the room. ‘There’s no one here except us. That’s the trouble. They come and they go, they never stay.’ She stared at Lynne. ‘Who are you? I don’t suppose you’ll be staying either.’ And tears welled in her eyes.

  Lynne was glad when the telephone rang. It was Sam’s father and he wanted to speak to him. ‘He’s not here,’ she said. ‘Can I take a message?’

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘It’s Lynne Donegan. I’m sitting with your aunt because Sam had to go somewhere.’

  ‘Well, tell him there’s been a lad here asking after him but when told he wasn’t here, the lad vanished. He looked familiar to me. Fair haired, brown eyes.’

  Lynne felt a stir of excitement. ‘I’ll see that he gets the message.’

  No sooner had she put down the telephone than there came a knock on the front door. Lynne excused herself, wondering if it was Sam, but it was her daughter.

  ‘I found your note,’ said Roberta, smiling. ‘So I thought I’d come and keep you company. I brought my sketch pad with me. How is the old woman?’

  ‘Confused and in need of company,’ said Lynne, pulling her inside. ‘You can do me a favour. Make her a cup of tea and sit with her until I get back. I need to go to the hardware shop where the murder took place and take a message to Sergeant Walker.’

  Roberta’s eyes widened. ‘Is he on the trail of the murderer?’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Then hurry up,’ urged Roberta. ‘But be careful, Mam!’

  Lynne lifted her coat from a hook in the lobby and left before her daughter could delay her further.

  Sam was gazing out of the upstairs front window while spooning baked beans out of a tin when he heard a sound below. He put down the tin and spoon and headed for the stairs. His descent was brought up short by the sight of the youth who had begun to climb up. Sam knew the moment when Nick caught sight of him and stopped in his tracks.

  ‘Don’t be frightened,’ said Sam, raising both his hands so the palms faced outwards.

  ‘I’m … I’m not frightened. How … how did you know I’d come here, Sergeant?’

  ‘Guesswork! I went to the house in Shotton today.’

  Nick stiffened. ‘You spoke to him?’

  ‘If you mean your uncle—’

  ‘He’s not my uncle and Dad wasn’t my real dad!’ Nick’s voice broke on the last two words.

  Sam’s face softened. ‘I know. I discovered you were adopted from Mrs Donegan. I think you know her daughter, Bobby, and she had the information from your friend, Chris.’

  ‘I see. So is that why you went to Shotton today?’ said Nick. ‘To see me?’

  ‘Look,’ said Sam. ‘Let’s not stand here on the stairs but go up and sit down. We can talk more comfortably there.’

  Nick nodded and followed Sam upstairs. They sat across from each other at the table in the kitchen. ‘I was told your uncle intended sending you to South Africa.’

  ‘That’s right! I pretended to fall in with his plan to allay his suspicions. I think he … he did Dad in and I was scared he’d kill me too, so I ran away!’ Nick’s voice shook.

  Sam reached out and patted his hand. ‘It’s all right, Nick. I’ll make certain he doesn’t harm you, although I have a feeling he’s more concerned about protecting his own skin. According to the neighbour, Mrs Williams, he disappeared shortly after you left, and there’s a debt collector on his tail. I think it’s possible that once he knew you were at large, he decided to make a run for it.’

  Nick’s fair head shot up and he stared at Sam from damp brown eyes. ‘Where d’you think he’s gone?’

  ‘I honestly don’t know. It could be that he headed for Holyhead and took the ferry to Ireland or maybe he decided he would be safer as far away from this country as possible.’

  ‘South Africa or Australia, maybe!’ exclaimed Nick.

  ‘Could be. It’s possible that he’s still in Britain but somehow I think not,’ said Sam. ‘D’you have any idea of the kind of money he might have on him? Mrs Williams thought he was hard up but it could be that it was he who emptied your father’s till and any other cash he had hidden away. Your father’s solicitor was obliged to advance him some money on your behalf because Dennis Rogers was named as your guardian in the latest will he had.’

  Conflicting emotions showed in Nick’s face. ‘So why murder Dad?’

  ‘Tell me a bit about Dennis and Kenneth. Why do you think he could have killed him?’

  Nick told him everything he had overheard of the brothers’ conversations and of the relationship between himself and Dennis, ending by saying, ‘I knew Dad was seeing a solicitor and I did wonder whether he planned to have a new will made. Whether that was to do with the proposed sale of the house or me, I don’t know.’

  ‘Most likely it could have been a bit of both,’ said Sam. ‘Your adopted father must have known his brother could be violent when crossed and perhaps decided he wasn’t suitable to be your guardian if anything happened to him.’

  Nick took a deep breath. ‘Maybe Dad told him of his plans and Dennis lost his temper and picked up the weapon nearest to hand. I can’t prove it but I feel it in my gut.’ He swallowed and tears filled his eyes.

  Sam nodded and patted his shoulder. ‘My superior spoke to your father’s solicitor today and he seemed to be of the opinion that your father was considering making a new will but he never finalized it.’

  ‘And that’s why he killed Dad. He wanted him dead before he could do so.’ Nick frowned. ‘It doesn’t make sense. Uncle Dennis would have still had h
alf of the proceeds from the house coming to him.’

  ‘Maybe your father knew something that his brother didn’t? I brought a pile of papers back with me from the house in Shotton. Perhaps I’ll find something there.’

  Nick nodded and then a thought occurred to him. ‘There was this piece of furniture that my grandfather had left Dad. We were going to fetch it just after Easter. I wonder if there was anything in that which could shed light on all this?’

  ‘Maybe. If you could describe the furniture we could have a look inside it,’ said Sam.

  Nick nodded. ‘It’ll be in Grandfather’s will but I don’t know if that’s still around.’

  ‘Maybe that’s what Dennis was searching for?’ said Sam softly.

  ‘You think he found it?’

  Sam shrugged. ‘I can’t say but presumably your grandfather had a solicitor and we can ask him.’

  Nick nodded. ‘So what do we do right now?’

  Before Sam could make a suggestion, there came the noise of someone hammering on the door below.

  They looked at each other.

  Sam thought he could guess what was on going on in Nick’s mind. ‘Don’t you worry. Everything’s going to be all right.’

  He headed downstairs but Nick was not letting him go on his own and followed close behind. Sam looked out of the side shop window and his heart lifted when he recognized Lynne and he opened the door to her. ‘It’s good to see you but what are you doing here? Has something happened to Aunt Ethel?’

  ‘My daughter’s sitting with her. Your father phoned. He had a message for you about a youth wanting to speak to you …’ Lynne paused as she caught sight of a shadowy figure. ‘Who’s that?’

  ‘Lynne, meet Nick,’ said Sam.

  The youth moved out of the shadows and the light from a street lamp fell on his face.

  ‘Oh,’ she said, her eyes widening. ‘We’ve met before.’

  Sam looked at her in surprise. ‘When?’

  ‘When I found Nan dead in the park.’ She smiled at Nick. ‘I never had a proper chance to thank you but I’d like to thank you now. I thought I recognized you then, although we’d never met before, but I remember now, I’ve seen a drawing of you that my daughter sketched.’

  ‘That would be at the coffee bar.’ He looked embarrassed, jerking the fingers of one of his hands backwards and forwards with the other. ‘I was glad I was able to help you.’ He glanced at Sam. ‘I went to the nearest police station and spoke to the sergeant there. He gave me a funny look and I just got scared because I’d only just escaped from Uncle Dennis. Seeing the dead old lady reminded me of finding Dad and I wasn’t reasoning sensibly. I thought Uncle Dennis might have got in touch with the police and told lies about me. I even thought he might be having a watch kept on Chris’s parents’ house and the coffee bar, so I stayed away from both places. I reckoned he wouldn’t come here because he told me he hated the place.’

  ‘But what are you doing here, Nick?’ asked Lynne. ‘I presume it was you who wanted to see Sam at police headquarters earlier.’

  ‘Yes, but I started feeling sick and they didn’t seem to know for sure where he was.’

  Sam said, ‘Let’s not worry about that now. We’ve found each other.’ He stifled a yawn. ‘Beg pardon! I’m feeling a bit tired as well as hungry. Let’s get out of here.’

  ‘Where are you taking me?’ asked Nick.

  ‘I suggest that you come home with me. I bet you’re as hungry as I am,’ said Sam, smiling faintly.

  Nick nodded.

  They all left the shop and Sam locked up.

  Once in the car and on the way home, Sam told Lynne about his trip to Shotton and after that he asked Nick why he had wanted to speak to him specifically.

  ‘I decided, after being unable to make up my mind what to do, that you had looked like you understood what I was going through the night of the murder,’ said Nick hesitantly. ‘I made up my mind I could trust you to take my suspicions seriously. Grown-ups don’t always listen to what us young ones have to say.’

  Sam felt touched and slightly guilty at the same time, knowing that what Nick said was often true. At last he brought the car to a halt outside the family home and the three of them got out. Sam opened the front door and they went inside to be immediately greeted by Roberta.

  ‘You’re back and you’ve Nick with you,’ she said delightedly, putting down her drawing pad. ‘Am I glad to see you, Nick. Chris will be made up, too.’ She glanced at her mother. ‘I’ll go and put the kettle on, shall I? By the way, don’t make too much noise, everyone. The old woman is asleep.’

  Sam told Roberta to leave putting the kettle on for the moment and gave her a ten-shilling note and asked her to go and buy some fish and chips from Garnett’s chippy. ‘Perhaps you can go with her, Nick?’

  Nick nodded and the two teenagers left the house.

  Lynne and Sam looked at each other and smiled. ‘It’s been quite a day,’ she said softly.

  ‘You can say that again.’ He ran a hand through his tawny hair. ‘I’m glad Nick managed to escape dear Uncle Dennis.’

  ‘D’you think he would have hurt Nick if he hadn’t done?’ asked Lynne, dropping her voice, aware of Ethel stirring.

  Sam hesitated. ‘We’ll never know. If he believed Nick was prepared to go to South Africa, most likely he wouldn’t see any reason to do so. I’m of the opinion Dennis didn’t come over to Liverpool with murder on his mind the night his brother died. He probably hoped he could get him to lend him some money until the sale of the house was completed.’

  ‘D’you think you’ll be able to trace him?’

  ‘I hope so,’ said Sam, sitting down wearily. ‘I’m going to have to go along to headquarters.’

  Lynne was startled. ‘You mean this evening, after the day you’ve had?’

  He grimaced. ‘There’s stuff I need to sort out.’

  She was disappointed but told herself that a man had to do what a man had to do. She put the kettle on and cut some bread and butter to have with the fish and chips. ‘I presume you will eat first?’

  He rose from the chair and came over to her and placed both his hands on her shoulders. ‘Yes. By the way, I really do appreciate all your help, Lynne. Especially when you’re going through a bad time yourself at the moment with losing your gran.’

  She reached up a hand and placed it over one of his. ‘I know you do.’

  ‘If there’s anything I can do for you …’ His voice trailed off.

  ‘Dancing lessons?’ she suggested, tossing a smiling glance over her shoulder at him.

  ‘Will do,’ he said, managing to resist a sudden urge to kiss those smiling lips. ‘No time like the present,’ he added, sliding a hand down her arm and taking hold of her wrist.

  Slanting him a bemused look, she allowed herself to be led over to the wireless. He fiddled with the knobs until he found some dance music. Then he slid an arm around her waist. ‘Now just follow my lead and go with the music,’ he said, a twinkle in his eyes.

  She giggled and then nodded obediently. ‘I’ll do it, though I think you’re crazy, risking your toes like this.’

  The music, ‘The Trish, Trash Polka’, was fast and lively. Ethel had her eyes open and was staring at them as if she had never seen anything quite like them before as Sam began to whirl Lynn around the room, narrowly avoiding chairs and table and sideboard and steering her out into the lobby. They danced its full length before he danced her into the parlour and back into the kitchen in time to hear the music come to an end.

  Lynne was breathless and clung to the front of his shirt. ‘Thanks for that,’ she gasped.

  ‘See, you can dance,’ said Sam, his hands clasped behind her waist. ‘You only trod on my toes about a dozen times.’

  ‘You’re underestimating my talent,’ said Lynne, her eyes smiling into his.

  ‘Who’s that woman, George?’ asked Ethel.

  Sam pulled a face and released Lynne. ‘I’m Sam, not Dad, Aunt Ethel. You need gla
sses.’

  The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the knocker sounded. Lynne hurried to open the front door and welcomed the two youngsters with the words, ‘I’m glad you didn’t waste any time. Sam is starving and he has to go back to headquarters.’

  The three of them hurried into the kitchen.

  The smell of fish and chips had Sam salivating and he wasted no time, grabbing hold of the parcel and unwrapping it. He told Lynne not to bother with plates so she didn’t, thinking it would save on the washing-up.

  The four of them sat round the table and the two males ate greedily with their fingers, making no effort at conversation, while Lynne made chip and fish butties and Roberta picked up her pencil and pad and began to sketch swiftly. Lynne handed a butty to Ethel who wolfed it down. While Lynne watched with amused tolerance, Sam and Nick demolished the food in front of them much more slowly but with obvious enjoyment.

  When he had finished every last crispy bit, Sam rose from the table and looked at Lynne. ‘I’m going to have to go. Will you be all right with Aunt Ethel?’

  She nodded. ‘You get going. I’ll stay here until you or your dad gets back.’

  ‘Thanks. You’re the best and so is your daughter.’ He smiled at them both and then turned to Nick. ‘There’s two spare bedrooms that used to be my sisters’. Use whichever one you want and if you feel like a bath, don’t hesitate. There’s towels and bedding in the airing cupboard on the landing. Tomorrow you’ll have to come with me to headquarters but don’t be worrying, I’ll see to it that nobody forces you to do anything you don’t want to.’

  Nick stumbled to his feet. ‘I don’t know how to thank you.’

  Sam touched his knuckles lightly under Nick’s chin and then left.

  After he had gone, Lynne poured herself another cup of tea and made Ethel one as well. Then she stared at Nick for at least a minute until he shifted uncomfortably on his seat and then glanced at Roberta. ‘You didn’t tell me that there’s something wrong with my face,’ he joked.

  ‘There isn’t anything wrong with your face,’ said Lynne.

  ‘Then why are you looking at me the way you are, Mrs Donegan?’