And then he remembered Richard. It was only fair that he informed his own half-brother of what was happening. If Trippets’ workers were out all night searching, there wouldn’t be many turning up for work in the morning, except perhaps to collect their pay, as it would be Friday. So he turned off his route to Nell’s home and headed instead for the street where Richard now lived with his mother, Belle Beauman.
As he pulled his motorbike onto its stand and removed his helmet, he was again thinking of the past and of the peculiar circumstances that had brought Richard and himself to be partners in Trippets’. Now Trip knew the full story, he would never cease to marvel at the satisfactory outcome of what could have been a sorry tale. And it was due mainly to his mother’s amazingly generous spirit. Years earlier, when Constance had suffered two miscarriages and had been advised that she should not endanger her life by bearing more children, Arthur had taken a mistress. Constance had made it her business to find out about the former music-hall dancer, Belle Beauman, whom Arthur had set up in a modest terraced house. Much to his annoyance, Belle had fallen pregnant and he had insisted that she have an abortion. After several months away from her and believing she had complied with his wishes, Arthur resumed his visits to her. What he did not know – though Constance had made it her business to find out – was that Belle had not been able to bring herself to abort her baby and so her son, Richard, had been raised in secret. It wasn’t until Arthur had disowned Trip over his son’s desire to marry Emily Ryan that he found out that he had another son, albeit an illegitimate one. By this time Richard was fifteen and, more out of spite than anything, Arthur had taken the boy into his business, promising to make him his heir. Shortly afterwards, Arthur had two strokes, the second of which incapacitated him. Constance then showed her true mettle. Not being a jealous woman, she had engineered that her own son be reinstated in the family firm and that the two young men should become equal partners. Now, they worked together harmoniously and liked and respected each other enormously. Constance’s benevolent understanding had not ended there; since her husband’s incapacity she had invited Belle and Richard to visit Riversdale often to see Arthur. And now Richard lived openly with his mother instead of with the foster parents with whom she’d placed him as a baby.
As the door was opened by a maid, light flooded into the street.
‘Oh Mr Trippet, what brings you here? Mrs Beauman and Mr Richard are at dinner. Should I—?’
‘I’m sorry, but I must speak with Mr Richard. Please inform him I am here.’
‘Of course, sir. Please step inside.’
Only moments later, Richard was hurrying into the hallway. ‘Trip, my dear fellow. What is it? Is it Father?’
Trip shook his head and explained as the young man listened with growing horror. The two half-brothers were uncannily alike; they had the same black hair and brown eyes, which crinkled when they smiled or laughed.
‘I’ll come at once,’ Richard said.
‘But you’re dining . . .’
‘No matter. This is more important. I bet you haven’t eaten, have you? Can we get you something?’
Trip shook his head. ‘No, but thank you.’
‘I must just tell Mother. Please come in.’
They went into the dining room. Belle was still a pretty woman, a brunette with a shapely figure and mischievous eyes. But now her eyes were frightened and Trip guessed she was thinking that his sudden appearance meant something dreadful had happened to Arthur.
‘It’s not Father,’ he said quickly and told her of Lucy’s disappearance.
‘I’m going out to help. Don’t wait up . . .’ Richard kissed Belle’s forehead as she rose from her place and held out her hands towards them. She was trembling as she said, ‘Take care, both of you.’
Outside, Trip said, ‘I’ve told everyone I can think of except the other owners of factories in the city.’
‘I’ll see to that. If you can take me to our factory, I can send word out from there. I have names and addresses for most of our competitors in the files.’ Richard worked in the offices of Trippets’.
‘I’ve seen George. I think he’s gone there already.’ George Bayes had been Richard’s mentor and now he was back working alongside him.
‘Good, then we’ll work through them together. Can you take me there on your bike? It’d be quicker than me walking.’
‘I could . . .’ Trip said doubtfully. ‘But there isn’t a proper pillion seat and no footrests. I don’t want another accident.’
‘I’ll perch on that luggage rack at the back and if you drive slowly, I’ll just stick my legs out so my feet don’t get caught. Come on. We must think of that poor little girl . . .’
They arrived at Trippets’ factory in Creswick Street without incident and having deposited Richard at the gates, Trip roared off towards Nell’s house, anxious to hear if there had been any news.
He found Nell and her mother in a dreadful state, with Emily just as worried but trying to keep calm. She had been making endless cups of tea, and whilst neither Nell nor her mother seemed to want to drink them, it gave Emily something to do. Trip, however, was glad of the steaming mug of tea she gave him as he told them what he’d done, glossing over his visit to Eddie Crossland’s home. ‘I can’t think what else to do, can you?’
‘It’s the waiting about that’s so hard,’ Emily said. ‘If only we could go out searching too.’
Nell’s head snapped up as another idea came to her. ‘Has anyone thought to go and see Lizzie and her mother? You know what she said the day she told us he was back.’
Emily stared at her and murmured, ‘That Mrs Dugdale won’t turn him in now, though she threatened to when . . .’ She waved her hand and they all knew she was referring to the time of the fire. ‘But she might change her mind if she realizes he might be involved in this.’
Trip got up at once. ‘You’re right, Nell. Anything’s worth a try. They just might know something.’
‘But will they tell us?’ Nell asked flatly.
Trip’s face was grim as he said, ‘We won’t know that unless we ask. I’ll go at once.’
‘They might listen to me – or Nell – better than you, Trip,’ Emily said.
Mrs Geddis seemed to have recovered a little, though she was still desperately anxious and feeling that this was all her fault. ‘I should have met her from school,’ she kept murmuring to herself. ‘I shouldn’t have let a little lass like that walk home on her own.’ Listening to their conversation, she said now, ‘You go, all three of you. I’ll be all right and I’ll be here if . . .’ Her voice faded away and her head dropped.
Nell patted her mother’s shoulder, but could not bring herself to speak.
Nine
As the three of them set off together, they were heartened to see that the streets were alive with men and boys. The front door of every house was being knocked on, every backyard and alleyway searched and the more householders realized what was happening, the more folk came onto the streets, even women and girls now. One or two recognized Nell as she walked along and, without preamble, asked, ‘Any news?’ When she shook her head, they touched her arm in sympathy and hurried on.
‘The police must have heard. Look,’ Trip said, nodding towards two constables walking down the road, stopping every now and then to speak to the searchers.
Seeing them, Nell suddenly veered off to her right. ‘This is a short cut to Garden Street. Come on.’
Trip took hold of Emily’s hand and whispered, ‘I don’t think it is, but we’d better follow her. Mind your footing.’
At last they arrived in the court where Emily had once lived with her parents and her brother.
‘Which house are they living in now?’ Trip asked, glancing round the gloomy court.
‘Number four. Where we used to live . . .’ Emily pulled Trip after her, but Nell was already hammering on the door of the Dugdales’ home.
‘Where is he? Come on out, Mick Dugdale, if you’re there. I want a word
with you.’
Other doors opened at the sound of the commotion, but it wasn’t until Lizzie, with frightened eyes, opened their door that Nell ceased her shouting.
‘Where is he? Where’s Mick?’
‘He’s not here. What d’you want him for anyway?’
Nell pushed past her and stepped into the kitchen. Bess, rotund and red-faced from the heat of her oven, straightened up from the range.
‘Whatever’s the matter?’
Nell stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes spitting fire. ‘Don’t tell me you don’t know. That you haven’t heard. The whole city must know by now. My Lucy’s gone missing.’
‘Aw lass, I’m sorry to hear that. And you want our Mick to help, is that it?’
Nell glared at her. Was the woman stupid or just blind to her son’s character? Hadn’t what he’d done in the past told even his mother that he was a bad ’un through and through?
Nell stepped closer, menacingly. ‘Yes, I do want his help – but not the way you mean. I think he’s got her. I think he’s taken her in revenge.’
‘Oh no, no.’ Bess shook her head vehemently. ‘Our Mick wouldn’t do that. He’d never harm a child . . .’
‘Your precious Mick would do anything – anything – to get back at Steve.’ She flung her arm out towards Emily and Trip who had followed her in. ‘And the rest of us.’
Now she whirled around to face Lizzie. ‘D’you know anything? Have you seen him?’
Lizzie’s eyes filled with tears. ‘How can you think that of me, Nell? I’m your friend . . .’
‘That wasn’t always the case, was it, Lizzie? You were almost as vengeful as your brother against Emily – and me. It was only when he scarpered and left you and your mam to fend for yourselves that you came crawling back begging forgiveness because you needed a job.’
Lizzie’s face turned white.
‘Just a minute, Nell . . .’ Now Bess waded in to defend her daughter. ‘Lizzie was hurt by the way Josh Ryan treated her. He let her think they were walking out and then he just dumped her and went back to his sweetheart in Ashford. And then, after he’d gone and Emily set up on her own against Lizzie’s buffing business – which, let me remind you, our Mick had helped the three of you set up in the first place – of course she was resentful.’
‘Mam, leave it – please. It was me that was in the wrong. I know that now. Emily had tried to warn me all along, but I was so obsessed with Josh, I just didn’t listen.’ She turned to face Nell and Emily. ‘After Mick left and you forgave me and took me back to work with you, I gave you my word that it was all over, that there was no bitterness on my part. And that’s still the truth. I told you at once when Mick came back, and yes, at first he did come here, but he went again and we haven’t seen him since. I swear to you that we don’t know where he is and I certainly don’t know anything about Lucy.’
For a long moment, both Emily and Nell stared at Lizzie. They exchanged a glance and then Nell nodded and said flatly, ‘I believe you, Lizzie. I’m sorry, Mrs Dugdale, but I’m out of me mind with worry.’
‘Sit down, luv. You too, Trip. I’ll make tea and we’ll have a think.’
As the atmosphere in the room changed and they sat down together to drink tea, Bess said, ‘You really think Mick might have taken her?’
‘I’m sorry,’ Nell said hoarsely, ‘but yes, I do.’ She paused and asked hesitantly, ‘Has he got a nasty scar down one side of his face?’
Mother and daughter exchanged a glance and then nodded.
‘Rumour has it that Steve did that to him. Now, if that’s true, Mick isn’t going to forget – or forgive – that in a hurry, now is he?’ More calmly now, but still desperate with worry, Nell added, ‘Is there anywhere you can think of where he might be? Where he could have taken her?’
‘What about his mates?’ Emily put in.
‘Mates?’ Lizzie scoffed. ‘He hasn’t any left now.’ She gestured towards Nell. ‘Once he’d left, his so-called mates defected. Some of ’em joined your Steve – even his best friends, Pete and Gary.’
‘So – you’ve really no idea?’
They both shook their heads.
There was no point in staying and as they walked out of the court together, Emily said, ‘D’you reckon they’re telling the truth?’
‘I don’t know,’ Nell said grimly, ‘but I know one thing: if I ever find out Lizzie’s been lying to us, I’ll be asking you to sack her.’
‘You wouldn’t need to ask, Nell.’
At the end of the road, they separated from Trip as he set off to join in the search. Back at Nell’s home, there was still no news.
‘You ought to go home, Emily,’ Nell said in the early hours of what was now the following morning. ‘Get some rest. You’ll have to go into work in the morning. Ida and Flo can’t cope on their own, only I won’t be in.’
Emily touched her friend’s shoulder. ‘You take as long as you need. Everyone will understand.’
Nell looked at her with red, swollen eyes, her voice quavering. ‘You – you do think they will find her, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do,’ Emily declared stoutly, trying to instil into her tone as much confidence as she could muster. ‘You’ve got to believe, Nell.’
She kissed her friend and hurried home. She would snatch a couple of hours’ sleep – if she could – and then go to the workshop. It was Friday; Ida and Flo would need their wages. Whatever was happening, life had to go on.
Trip wasn’t at home and she hadn’t expected him to be there. He would stay out on the streets for as long as it took to find Lucy.
Surprisingly, Emily fell into an exhausted sleep fully dressed and was roused only when there was a loud knocking on the door. Her heart leapt and she scrambled out of bed, threw a shawl around her shoulders and hurried downstairs to open the door.
‘Josh!’ she said, staring at him in surprise.
‘Hello, Em. Don’t tell me you’d forgotten I was coming today?’
‘Oh Josh!’ Tears swam in her eyes as she pulled him inside and flung herself against him, bursting into noisy sobs. The anxiety and trying to keep strong for Nell’s sake finally overwhelmed her and the sight of her brother released the floodgates.
‘Hey, what’s all this? Whatever’s wrong?’
He held her at arm’s length and looked down into her troubled face.
‘It’s Lucy.’
‘Nell’s kiddie?’
Emily nodded. ‘She’s missing. She didn’t come home from school last night. We’ve got the whole city out looking for her.’
Josh frowned. ‘But there’s more to it than that, isn’t there? I know you so well, Em. I can see it in your eyes.’
‘We – we think Mick Dugdale might have taken her.’
At the time of the fire, none of their family in Ashford had known about it and neither of their parents knew anything about it even now, but weeks later, Emily had confided in her brother, swearing him to secrecy. So, now, he understood their fears.
‘Come on, sit down. Have you had any breakfast?’
‘I couldn’t eat a thing.’
‘You must. You won’t be any help to anyone if you don’t keep your strength up. What about Trip? Is he here?’
Emily shook her head. ‘Still out looking, I expect. He’s not been home all night. I should get to work. Ida and Flo will want to know what’s happening and besides, it’s payday. I must—’
‘I’m sure they’ll manage for another day or two in the circumstances. And anyone waiting for their work to be done will understand why it’s late when they know the reason. And if, as you say, half the city are out looking for Lucy, there won’t be much work done today anywhere. They’ll all be taking a Saint Friday.’
Josh pushed her gently into a chair at the kitchen table, found cereal and milk and made tea. ‘There. Go on – eat it, Em, there’s a good girl.’
Emily tried, forcing the food down her throat, whilst Josh sat drinking tea and tapping his fingers idl
y on the table. He was deep in thought.
At last, when he had seen that Emily had managed to eat about half the bowlful, he asked, ‘Has anyone come up with an idea of where he might be hiding her? That’s if he has got her.’
Emily shook her head.
‘D’you think he might have taken her out of the city?’
Emily stared at him. ‘It’s possible, I suppose. But where?’
Josh’s mouth was a tight line. ‘Em – I don’t think you knew about this at the time. But before I left Sheffield to go back to Amy, I got involved in some of Mick’s scams.’
Emily nodded, but said nothing.
‘We used to go up to Sky Edge to run his pitch and toss games.’
Emily said quietly, ‘I knew about the gambling. Go on.’
‘Then there was the night we went out into the countryside to watch bare-knuckle boxing. It was the night that I came in very late and you told me about Mam hiding our letters from Amy. And then, the next day, I went back to Ashford and found that Amy was pregnant with my child.’
‘So, finding out about Amy and going back to her saved your bacon from Mick, did it?’
‘Yes, but that wasn’t the reason I went back. You know that.’
‘So why are you telling me all this now?’
Before Josh could continue, there was a rattle at the back door and Trip staggered in. Emily rose at once and went to him, putting her arms about him and leading him to a chair. He was exhausted, his face was white and his eyes were wide with tiredness.
Josh made more tea and pushed a bowl of cereal in front of him. ‘Eat,’ he commanded and, automatically, Trip obeyed.
Emily sat down again and said. ‘There’s no news, I take it.’
His mouth full, Trip shook his head. ‘There are hundreds of folks out looking. We must have scoured the city twice over, but we just don’t know where to look next.’ He laughed wryly. ‘If it wasn’t so serious, it’d be comical to see the police and Steve and his gang members working in cahoots. It’s as if they’ve called an unspoken truce. Though all bets will be off once she’s found.’ He stopped and forbore to add: ‘If she’s found’.
Daughters of Courage Page 5