by Mark Timlin
‘No,’ I replied. ‘That’s your lot for tonight. How much do I owe you?’
He shrugged. ‘My usual fee for a call at this time is twenty-five pounds.’
I took out my depleted wad of notes and peeled off five twenties. ‘There’s a ton,’ I said. ‘Not a word to anyone.’
He smiled. ‘My confidentiality is assured.’
‘Good.’ And I wished him a very pleasant night as he left the room.
‘I’m going to stay with Judith tonight,’ I said to Dawn. ‘You stop here with Paula and I’ll get Laura another room. OK?’
Dawn nodded and Paula sneered again, but not with the same vehemence as earlier, and I left, going downstairs to reception again to use the public phone.
I dialled the number of Gipsy Hill police station from memory and asked for Inspector Robber. He was in. I’d’ve been surprised if he wasn’t. ‘Robber,’ he barked as he picked up the phone.
‘Sharman,’ I said.
‘There’s still no news –’
‘I’ve found them,’ I interrupted.
‘What?’
‘I’ve found them,’ I repeated.
‘How the hell did you do that?’
‘I got a call,’ I lied.
‘Where were they?’
‘They’d run off to join the circus.’
‘Are you taking the piss?’
‘It’s a long story. I’ll explain later. I just wanted you to know so’s you could call off the hunt.’
‘Where are you?’
‘Banbury.’
‘What the hell are you doing there?’
‘I told you, I’ll explain when I get back to London.’
‘And when’s that?’
‘Tomorrow probably.’
‘Are they all right?’
‘Just about. Can you get word to Paula’s mother? She’s not on the phone. There’s a copper named Todd, an inspector who’s been dealing with the case in Aberdeen. I don’t want Mrs McGann worried another night.’
‘I’ll see to it,’ said Jack Robber.
‘Thanks.’
‘And you’d better come in and see me when you get back.’
‘I will, Jack,’ I said, and put down the phone on any more questions.
I went back to Laura’s room, where Judith seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
‘I’ve called the cops,’ I said. ‘Someone I know in London. He’s going to get Todd to let Mrs McGann know we’ve found them.’
‘What did he say?’
‘Not a lot. I didn’t let him. Have you spoken to Louis?’
She nodded. ‘I called him from here.’
‘What did he have to say?’
‘Not a lot. Just like your friend. But unlike you I gave him every chance.’
I looked at her. ‘It’s not working out, is it?’
She shook her head. ‘Just my luck,’ she said. ‘I go from one husband who never grew up to another who was born with a pension book in his hand.’
I shrugged. What was there to say? We stood together looking at our daughter’s sleeping form and eventually I said, ‘Shall I see if there’s another room free for tonight?’
‘I want to stay with Judith.’
‘You need some sleep,’ I said. ‘I’ll stay here. If there’s any change I’ll let you know.’
‘Where’s Paula?’
‘With Dawn in our room.’
‘I’d rather stay here with you two.’
‘Please yourself,’ I said.
She sat in the single armchair provided, and I found a spare blanket in a cupboard and put it around her, and as I stood at the window looking out at the lights of the town as they winked out one after another, her breathing became more regular as she dozed off, then I went and made myself as comfortable as possible on the edge of the bed, where Judith’s steady breathing gradually lulled me to sleep too.
When I woke up it was light and I was lying stretched out on top of Judith’s bed with one arm round her. As I opened my eyes, so did she, and I saw the look of amazement in them as she saw me.
‘Daddy,’ she said. ‘What are you . . .?’ She looked round the room. ‘Where am I?’ Then she saw Laura, still asleep in the chair at the bottom of the bed. ‘Mummy . . . oh God.’
‘Ssh,’ I whispered. ‘Relax. It’s all right.’
‘But where am I?’
‘In a hotel room in Banbury.’
‘Banbury,’ she repeated, and I saw it all flood back. ‘Oh, Daddy, I took something.’
‘You did. You had us all very worried. How are you feeling?’
She thought about it for a second. ‘Fine,’ she said.
‘Thank God. We had the doctor in.’
‘Did you? I’m sorry, I don’t remember.’
‘Listen, Jude,’ I said. ‘I’m not the greatest example to you as a father, I know, but you’ve got to be careful with that sort of thing.’
‘It was the first time,’ she protested.
I had to smile. ‘I’m sure it was.’
‘They said it would be all right. Eno and Spider.’
‘They probably thought it would.’
‘But what happened? Where did you and Mummy come from?’
‘And Dawn too,’ I said.
‘Dawn. Great. I like her. Where is she? And where’s Paula? Is she all right?’
I put on my Max Bygraves voice, which always made Judith laugh, and said, ‘I’m going to tell you a story.’ And I did. Everything from Laura’s first frightened phone call until the present. The sun rose over the town as I told it, and Laura still slept the sleep of utter exhaustion in her uncomfortable chair.
Not that I was that comfortable myself, so I made it short, and when I’d finished Judith said, ‘I’m sorry, Daddy, I didn’t realise we’d cause such a fuss.’
‘Why did you do it?’ I asked.
‘It’s been awful at home this last year. Mummy and Louis aren’t getting on and Mummy takes it out on me. She won’t let me wear what I want, or see who I want. Everything I do is wrong.’
Blimey, I thought, I could remember saying exactly the same things when I was her age about my mum and dad.
‘Are you cross?’ Judith asked shyly.
I shook my head. ‘No. I’m just glad to see you.’
She gave me a kiss on the cheek. ‘Good. Will Mummy be cross?’
‘No.’
‘Will Louis be cross?’
‘God knows. If he is, just let him be. There’s nothing much any of us can do about that.’
‘He’s horrible.’
‘I’m glad to see we still agree on certain basics even though you’re getting older.’
‘I’ve got to pee.’
‘Bathroom’s in there,’ I said and flipped my thumb over my shoulder at the bathroom door.
Judith pushed back the covers, jumped out of bed and ran for it. I got up, stretched the kinks out of my neck and back, and went and woke Laura.
She came awake with a start, and her eyes went straight to the empty bed. ‘Where is she?’ she asked, fear in her voice.
‘In the loo.’
‘Is she all right?’
‘As bright as a button.’
‘Thank God.’
‘We were lucky.’
‘I know.’
‘But keep an eye on her. Those pills can do strange things to the brain.’
‘You should know.’
‘Laura?’
‘Sorry.’
Right then the door to the bathroom burst open and Judith flew in wearing a huge white bath towel wrapped around her. ‘I took a quick shower,’ she said. ‘I felt yukky.’ She stopped dead when she saw that her mother was awake. ‘Hello, Mum,’ she said.
‘Hello, darling,’ said Laura, who got to her feet, and, after a split second, went to Judith and put her arms round her.
‘I’m all wet.’
‘I don’t care,’ said Laura, and held her tighter.
Judith started to cry. ‘I’m sorry, Mummy,�
�� she sobbed.
Laura started to cry too, and I wasn’t far off it myself, but was saved by the phone ringing. I went and picked it up. It was Dawn.
‘Hi. Are you awake?’
‘Yes.’
‘How’s Judith?’
‘Weeping in her mother’s arms.’
‘I mean how is she?’
‘I know what you mean. She seems fine.’
‘We’re going down to breakfast. You coming?’
‘Sure,’ I said. ‘See you in a minute,’ and put down the phone.
‘Who was that?’ asked Laura.
‘Dawn. She and Paula are going for something to eat. I’ll join them. You coming?’
Laura peered into the mirror and pulled a face. ‘I look a sight,’ she said. ‘I’ll have to do something to myself.’
In fact she looked better than I’d seen her in years. Gone was the grand lady, as Spider had called her, and in her place was a human being.
‘You look all right to me.’
‘That’s a nice thing to say,’ she said, and reached over and took my hand.
‘I’m a nice person. Or trying to be.’
‘I think you’re succeeding.’
‘Thank you.’
‘No. Thank you. I haven’t said thank you properly for all you’ve done for us.’
I was embarrassed. ‘There’s no need,’ I said. ‘Look, I’m going to the loo. I’m dying for a pee too.’
I went in, took a piss, used the toothbrush that was in a glass on top of the washbasin and looked at myself in the mirror. ‘Not too bad,’ I said to my reflection. ‘You’ve done good, son.’
When I came out, I left Laura and Judith together to mend what fences they could, and went down to the restaurant. Dawn and Paula were sitting at a table by the window. I buttonholed the waitress and ordered coffee and Dawn asked if I wanted juice.
‘I’ll get it for you,’ volunteered Paula, and went off to a table on the far side of the room where a cold buffet was set up.
‘She seems in a better mood this morning,’ I said, as I studied the menu.
‘We had a long talk last night,’ said Dawn. ‘She’s all right. She just needs a little attention.’
‘Don’t we all?’
‘Some more than others. She’s the eldest of a large family without a father. She thinks she’s put upon. She saw the way that Judith lived and got jealous.’
‘Is that why she took Judith with her? Jealousy? Trying to get her into trouble?’
‘I don’t think so. They’re friends. Good friends. Opposites attracting. You know the sort of thing. Paula looks after Judith. She really cares. Aberdeen can be a tough town apparently. I know this is corny, but what Paula did was a cry for help.’
‘Like attempted suicide?’
‘No. Paula’s too tough to take that way out. She wanted to give everyone a shock.’
‘She certainly did that,’ I said.
‘So it worked.’
‘And now?’
‘Who knows? You talk to her.’
Paula and the waitress arrived at the table simultaneously. I poured coffee and ordered a full English breakfast. When the waitress left I sipped at my icy juice and looked at Paula. ‘How’s it going?’ I asked.
‘Not too bad,’ she said in her soft accent. ‘I didn’t mean any harm to come to Jude.’
‘I know.’
‘Is she all right this morning?’
‘Seems to be.’
I saw Paula relax. ‘Good. I mean it, Mr Sharman –’
‘Nick,’ I interrupted. ‘Call me Nick.’
She smiled. She had a lovely face when she wasn’t trying to be the toughest kid on the block. She’d be a real beauty in a couple of years. ‘Nick,’ she said. ‘Judith thinks you’re so cool.’
‘And you?’
‘You sorted that lot last night, though I wish you hadn’t hit Eno. He wasn’t so bad.’
‘I was angry. I’m sorry.’ And I was.
‘He’ll survive,’ she went on. ‘Is Jude coming down?’
‘She’s getting dressed.’
‘And her mum?’
‘She’ll be down too. She’s going to be harder to convince that you meant Judith no harm.’
‘I know.’
‘But she’s not too bad when you get to know her.’
‘Is that why you’re divorced?’ The iron wasn’t too far beneath the velvet.
‘No,’ I said. ‘It was my fault. Judith probably told you something about it.’
‘She said that you were a copper.’
‘I was.’
‘That you got into trouble.’
‘I did.’
Thankfully, we were interrupted when Laura and Judith came through the door of the restaurant and made for our table.
‘Hello, Jude,’ said Paula. ‘How’ya feeling?’
‘OK,’ said Judith.
‘Hello, Mrs Rudnick.’ Paula again.
‘Hello, Paula.’ Laura was cool, but not as icily cold as I’d feared.
‘I’m sorry we caused so much trouble.’ Today young Paula was the soul of contrition.
‘It could have been worse,’ said Laura, and took a seat opposite me.
‘So what happens now?’ asked Dawn.
‘I get these two back up to Scotland,’ said Laura, as she poured herself a cup of coffee. ‘There’s a small matter of school to be considered. Nick, can you drop us at Heathrow?’
‘Sure,’ I replied.
‘Is Paula coming with us?’ asked Judith.
‘Of course,’ said Laura. ‘We’re hardly going to leave her down here.’
‘In a plane?’ said Paula. Suddenly fourteen again. ‘I’ve never been in a plane before.’
‘Then it’ll be a treat,’ said Dawn. ‘By the way, has anyone thought to inform the police that we’ve found these two?’
‘I called Robber last night,’ I said. ‘He’s a copper,’ I explained. ‘He’s letting your mother know you’re safe, Paula.’
‘Good,’ she said, but her mood had changed. ‘I suppose I’ll be in for a row when I get home.’
‘I don’t think so,’ I said. ‘Not much of one, anyway. When I saw your mum she just wanted you back.’
‘You’ve been round there?’ said Paula.
‘Yeah. When I was up in Aberdeen.’
‘I didn’t know you’d seen my mum. How was she?’
‘Like I told you last night. Upset. But like you told me, she’ll get over it.’
‘I didn’t mean all that.’
‘I know,’ I said. ‘Forget it.’
Paula smiled at me.
‘I’m surprised the police haven’t been round here,’ said Dawn.
‘I didn’t actually tell them where we were. Just the town. I didn’t fancy being interviewed this morning. Robber wants me to pop in when we get back to London.’ I looked at Paula and winked. ‘I think it’ll be me that’s in for the biggest row. I was warned to keep out of it.’
‘If it hadn’t been for you, we might never have found them,’ said Laura, springing to my defence for the first time in years.
‘How did you find us?’ asked Paula.
I winked again and laid my finger against my nose. ‘Ask no questions . . .’ I said, ‘and you’ll be told no lies.’
She smiled again. ‘It doesn’t matter anyway,’ she said. ‘I’m glad you did.’
We left the hotel straight after breakfast. Whilst Dawn packed my stuff and settled up our bill, I went to check the Range Rover. It was a mess. There was a big hole where the rear window had been, the offside back light and indicator cluster were history, the paintwork on the tailgate and flanks of the car was pitted with buckshot scars and the crash cage at the front of the car was buckled from where we’d taken out the fences escaping from Hangman’s Field. Plus there were all sorts of assorted scratches on the body that I’m sure hadn’t been there when we’d borrowed the motor. Charlie was going to have a cow. Luckily I had enough money in the bank to bu
y a couple of Vogues, but it was still annoying. On the plus side, all four tyres were hard, so at least we could get home. When our little party gathered in the car park I saw Laura blanch at how close we’d been to disaster.
‘How’s that cut on your neck?’ I asked Paula, to forestall any hysterical reaction from my ex.
Paula touched the plaster that the good doctor had put on the slight wound and said, ‘Fine.’
‘Good,’ I said. ‘All aboard then. Next stop Heathrow.’
We slung the baggage in the back, everyone piled in and I headed out of Banbury in the direction of the motorway south. I put my foot down on the thinly populated road, took the M25 turnoff and we were at the airport by eleven. Laura, Judith and Paula hopped out at the terminal, and under the eagle eye of a turbaned traffic warden we made our farewells.
‘Call me when you get home,’ I said to Laura. ‘And keep Louis off Judith’s back.’
‘I’ll try,’ she said. ‘Thanks again, Nick. You’ve been marvellous. And you’ve got a good woman there,’ glancing at Dawn who was busy hugging the two girls. ‘Treat her better than you treated me and you might have someone to take care of you in your old age.’
‘No worries,’ I said.
Whilst Laura said goodbye to Dawn, I gave Judith a hug. ‘Take care,’ I said. ‘And watch those mother’s little helpers. They bite.’
‘I will, Daddy,’ she said. ‘Thanks for coming to our rescue. No one’s going to believe it.’
‘Then keep shtoom.’
I turned to Paula. ‘No more weekend breaks on your own,’ I said. ‘Next time Judith comes down to visit, you come too, all right?’
‘Do you mean it?’
I nodded, and she surprised me by jumping up, putting her arms round me and kissing me full on the mouth. There was some tongue in there too and I felt myself blush. At my age. What a tough guy.
I untangled myself from her embrace and said, ‘Go on. There’s a plane in a few minutes. If you hurry you’ll catch it.’
Paula smiled, and I clocked Dawn looking at us and I swear I blushed again.
After we’d waved the trio off, got back in the Vogue and headed for the tunnel back to the motorway, Dawn said, ‘You’ve got a fan there.’
‘Who?’
‘Come on, Nick, don’t act the innocent. Paula of course.’
‘Get out of it.’
‘God. You men.’