East End 02-East End Diamond

by DS as Dani Oakley Butler

  Martin smiled then, a cruel grin full of menace, which sent a shiver up William’s spine. “Kind has got nothing to do with it, William. I just think we could have a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

  William gulped, but he managed to croak out. “I’m sure we could, Mr. Morton. What did you have in mind?”

  * * *

  Linda tried to smother another yawn and hoped that Mr. Bevel didn’t catch sight of her. He got extremely annoyed if he thought his staff weren’t bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and he was fond of telling Linda that every morning.

  She got up from her desk and began to wander along between the rows of sewing stations — making sure each machinist was putting out good work and at a satisfactory speed. She had tried to encourage Mr. Bevel to move with the times and produce some more fashionable items. After all, they were now in the sixties. But Mr. Bevel didn’t listen and continued to stick with his less contemporary lines, insisting that was what his buyers wanted.

  Linda hadn’t slept well last night, tossing and turning and worrying about the future. She had cancelled the doctor’s appointment as Geoff had ordered, but she couldn’t help thinking she’d done the wrong thing. She was at her wits’ end and had no idea how to get Geoff around to her way of thinking.

  Linda was lost in her own thoughts as she walked along the next row of sewing stations. So when Mr. Bevel called her name, she jumped and then scurried over to him quickly.

  His bushy eyebrows were knitted together, and he didn’t look like he was in a good mood.

  He jerked his thumb at Linda, indicating she should go to his office, and she trotted along behind him.

  He had piles of paperwork all over his desk, and he pointed to one of the stacks.

  “We’re behind, Linda. And that’s not good.”

  They’d been through a period a couple of years ago when commissions had dried up, but fortunately, Mr. Bevel had managed to get a couple of big contracts. The downside was they demanded a very quick turnaround time, which put everyone under stress.

  “And I’ve just been asked to complete this job by next Wednesday, too.” He handed Linda another piece of paper, and her eyes widened. Two hundred pairs of knickers! When on earth were they supposed to fit this work in?

  “Could we hire some temporary machinists, Mr. Bevel? Just until we’ve got this job out of the way.”

  Mr. Bevel shook his head. “There’s no money for that,” he snapped. “You’ll just have to get the girls to work faster. We will cut the lunch break by ten minutes, and nobody, I mean absolutely nobody, is allowed outside for a cigarette break during work hours.”

  Linda set her mouth in a firm line. The truth was since Linda had been in charge, none of the girls had been nipping out for cigarette breaks, but she truly believed that each girl should have a whole half an hour for lunch. She was pretty sure that Mr. Bevel wasn’t going to be paying them for that extra ten minutes.

  Linda hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to speak up on behalf of the girls. She hated to think Mr. Bevel was taking advantage of them, and the fact he’d bought a brand-new motor last year hadn’t gone unnoticed by Linda, so money couldn’t be that hard up surely.

  Linda opened her mouth to voice her concerns, but Mr. Bevel raised a hand and made a flicking motion, dismissing her.

  What a cheek, Linda thought. She turned around and stalked back into the machinists’ area.

  Her eyes scanned the stations, and she noticed that one was empty.

  She walked up and asked the woman at the next desk, “Where’s Valerie gone?”

  “She’s gone to the lav, Linda.”

  Linda shook her head. Again. Valerie had already visited the outdoor lavatory three times this morning. Linda started to suspect she was sneaking off for a cheeky fag break.

  “I’ll be back in a minute,” Linda said and strolled out of the room.

  She was going to have to have a word. Valerie was really taking liberties.

  All the girls knew they were supposed to ask when they needed a break to use the lav. Linda didn’t exactly agree with that, but it was company policy, and the girls had to stick by the rules if they expected to keep their jobs. It wasn’t fair if all the other girls followed the rules and Valerie didn’t.

  Linda quickly crossed the backyard, heading towards the outdoor lavatory. Mr. Bevel kept promising to fit an indoor toilet, but he had been saying that for years and one had never materialised. Linda wrinkled her nose as she heard Valerie retching in the small outhouse.

  “Valerie, it’s Linda. If you’re not feeling well, you can go home. I’m sure Mr. Bevel will understand.”

  There was no answer, so Linda waited, and after a moment, the door of the toilet stall opened, and Valerie’s pale face appeared. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and she looked a mess.

  “You look terrible, Valerie,” Linda said sympathetically. “You get yourself off home and get into bed. I’ll clear everything with Mr. Bevel.”

  At Linda’s kind words, Valerie burst into tears.

  Linda patted her on the shoulder. “There, there, you’ll feel better when you get home and get into a nice warm bed.”

  Valerie shook her head, and through sobs, she said, “It isn’t going to get better.”

  “Of course, it will,” Linda said. “You’ve just picked up a tummy bug. You’ll be right as rain in no time.”

  Valerie hiccuped and tried to dry her eyes. “You don’t understand, Linda. I’m not sick. I’m pregnant.”

  Linda let her hand drop from Valerie’s shoulder and felt her body tense.

  Valerie mistook her reaction for shock, and so she babbled on, trying to explain, “I know it seems terrible. But me and Barry are getting married. I told him last week. Only he has gone away on the boat, and we can’t get married until he gets back. I’m sure he will marry me, though.”

  Linda felt sick herself. How was it fair that a girl like Valerie got pregnant at the drop of a hat, and she wasn’t even married, and yet Linda, who’d been married for years, was unable to have a baby?

  Valerie sniffed. “You won’t tell Mr. Bevel will you? I just need a bit of time until Barry gets back from sea.”

  Linda closed her eyes. Although she felt sorry for Valerie, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. It also brought back floods of memories from the time when Kathleen had fallen pregnant with Jimmy. Kathleen had been unmarried and Mr. Bevel had sacked her. They weren’t in the fifties anymore, but she wasn’t sure Mr. Bevel would be any more lenient with Valerie.

  Everyone at Bevel’s had turned their back on Kathleen, and that had been cruel. Linda still felt a little guilty for not offering her friend more support.

  She sighed and put her hand back on Valerie’s shoulder, giving it a gentle rub. “Your secret is safe with me, Valerie. Now try to tidy yourself up before Mr. Bevel notices you’re missing.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Babs was sitting down at the kitchen table with a cigarette in one hand and the accounting books for the club in front of her. She took a long, thoughtful drag on her cigarette and then blew out the smoke slowly.

  She’d left school at twelve, but she’d always been pretty good with numbers. And if Babs wasn’t mistaken, there was a serious problem with these books. She’d made an appointment with another accountant, whom she’d found in the phone book, for a second opinion. Of course, that was a risk, but she had copied out some numbers on a sheet of paper ready to show him. She’d given a false name when booking the appointment and felt quite confident that even if the accountant did find something fishy, he wouldn’t be able to trace her or report her to the police.

  She rubbed her eyes, which were stinging. She’d been looking through the bloody books for hours.

  Seeing Jimmy Diamond again had knocked her for six. Of course, she’d known that Mary and her grandson only lived a few streets away. But somehow, she’d managed to cope by pushing it all to the back of her mind. They didn’t mix in the same social circles, and that was good enoug
h for Babs as long as they kept their distance.

  Babs took another drag on her cigarette and tried to block the memory of finding baby Emily dead in her crib. Even now, the pain of remembering that day took her breath away.

  She didn’t even want to contemplate how Kathleen had met her end. Although she was loath to admit it, deep down, Babs was very scared she could end up the same way as Kathleen.

  She stubbed out her cigarette viciously in the ashtray, annoyed she was allowing her mind to wander again, and tried to concentrate on the figures.

  She put a finger on the page and trailed it down the column of numbers, adding up the figures. She had done it three times already, and each time, she was coming up about fifty pounds short every month. She had all of the order receipts, but they didn’t match up with what was written down in the book.

  Babs rubbed a weary hand over her face, thinking perhaps she’d better take a break before her eyes went boss-eyed, when there was a knock at the door.

  She stood up, stretched and tried to release the crick in her neck by rolling her shoulders as she walked towards the front door.

  When she opened it, she saw Frieda Longbottom smiling at her.

  “Ah, Babs, sweetheart, I thought I would come round and see how you are doing. You must be in bits.”

  Babs stepped back, surprised, and arched her eyebrows as Frieda marched into her house and walked along the passage towards the kitchen.

  She had no idea what Frieda was talking about. Why would Babs be in bits? What had happened?

  As the two women entered the kitchen, Babs asked Frieda, “What’s the matter? What am I supposed to be upset about?”

  Frieda looked taken aback. “The children, of course. I only just heard you had to send them away.”

  “Oh, that,” Babs said, waving a hand dismissively as she walked over to the stove and picked up the kettle. “It was the best thing for them, Frieda. I must say it’s strange not having them around, but the peace and quiet is welcome.”

  Frieda looked shocked.

  “I’m not saying I’m not going to miss them,” Babs added hurriedly. “But sometimes we have to do things for our children that are difficult to benefit them in the long run.”

  Frieda nodded doubtfully, and Babs could tell she wasn’t completely convinced.

  “Have you spoken to either of them today?”

  Babs filled the kettle and laid it down heavily on top of the stove.

  “I need to give them a little while to settle in. I’m sure the other parents aren’t calling every minute of the day.”

  Frieda made a humph sound and looked at Babs with disapproval.

  She didn’t know why but Babs yearned for Frieda’s approval. Probably because Frieda had been like a mother to her, and she’d been Babs’ rock after she lost Emily.

  Babs had never been particularly maternal. She certainly wasn’t the type to coo over babies, but she did love her own children, and she didn’t want people thinking she didn’t care.

  “I know people will think me harsh, Frieda. But I’m only doing this for Ruby and Derek because it’s for the best. I spoiled them rotten after I lost Emily, and it turned them into a pair of horrors. I want them to make a success of their lives, and we can afford it. They are getting the best education money can buy.”

  “They are so far away from family and everything they know, but I suppose you know best. What’s the school like?”

  Babs leaned back against the kitchen worktop as she waited for the kettle to boil. “They’re attending two connected schools, one for girls and one for boys, so each school is single sex, which is for the best. They are ever so upmarket. Both schools are in old country houses, and they are huge. You wouldn’t believe the size of them.” Babs smiled dreamily, picturing her children hobnobbing with the toast of English society. “They’ll make friends soon enough.”

  Frieda nodded although she still looked doubtful, but Babs didn’t notice as she was busy preparing the tea.

  When she set two steaming cups down on the table and sat down opposite Frieda, she was about to launch into a long-winded explanation of why the children needed to be at boarding school, but before she could, there was another knock at the door.

  “Excuse me, Frieda. I won’t be a moment, love.”

  Babs got up from the table and bustled towards the front door.

  When she opened it, she was surprised to see a young lad she didn’t recognise. His cheeks were pockmarked with acne, and his hair was too long and tucked behind his ears.

  “Yes,” Babs snapped.

  “Are you Babs Morton?”

  “Yes. Who’s asking?”

  “I’ve got a note for you. It’s from Dave Carter.”

  Babs snatched the note from the boy’s hand, and he turned and scarpered up the street. She stared down at the piece of paper as if it might spontaneously explode.

  Why on earth would Dave Carter be writing her a note? Surely it couldn’t be about Martin after all this time?

  She put her hand to her throat and could feel her pulse racing.

  She hadn’t had anything to do with Dave Carter, not since before Martin got sent down. She had purposely avoided him.

  Babs was so distracted she didn’t notice Frieda had got up from the table until she was by her side.

  “Did he just say a note from Dave Carter?” Frieda said, trying to look over Babs’ shoulder.

  Babs mentally cursed Frieda’s sharp hearing. She crushed the note in her fist and shook her head.

  “Yes, but I’m sure it’s nothing important. Now, Frieda, I’m really sorry, but I had better get on with the books. I don’t have much longer to go through them.”

  Frieda glanced back towards the kitchen at her untouched cup of tea. “But I haven’t even finished my brew.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, but it’s really not a good time.”

  Frieda pursed her lips, clearly put out by the fact Babs didn’t want to confide in her.

  As she stepped outside the front door, Frieda couldn’t resist turning around and asking, “What does the note say?”

  But Babs didn’t answer. “Bye, Frieda. Thanks for coming round.” And with that, she shut the door.

  With Frieda safely out of the way, Babs rushed to the kitchen and then stared down at the crumpled note in her hand.

  She could hardly bear to read it.

  What if Dave had changed his mind and was going to tell Martin all about their little collusion? Christ. Martin would do his nut if he ever found out.

  Slowly, Babs took a deep breath to calm her nerves and opened up the folded note.

  She quickly scanned it and saw that Dave was asking for a meeting in Victoria Park this afternoon.

  Babs bit down on her lip. She didn’t like the sound of that. It had to be bad news. She’d gotten away with it for so long, but what if Dave had been merely biding his time? Was he now going to use what he knew against her?

  If he told Martin about the role Babs had played in his downfall, she knew Martin would kill her. Babs put the note down on the table with a shaking hand. She was a dead woman walking.

  CHAPTER 15

  Babs changed her outfit four times before finally settling on a smart, dark red dress. She touched up her powder and applied a fresh coat of lipstick. Finally, she pulled on her fur coat and patted her hair down while checking in the mirror to make sure she looked presentable, and then at three p.m. she set out for Victoria Park.

  She was as nervous as hell about the meeting, and for the entire walk, she fretted about what Dave was going to say. At one point when she was halfway along Camberwell Road, she put a hand to her churning stomach, positive she was going to be sick.

  She knew one thing for sure, she couldn’t let her nerves show. If Dave sensed any weakness, he would exploit it. He was famous for that.

  It was a long walk, and when Babs finally approached the miniature boating lake, she scanned the area for Dave and saw he had already arrived. It didn’t take long
for her to spot him standing beside the water. Suddenly, her mouth felt dry.

  Dave wore a long dark overcoat, as the weather had turned chilly for summer, and Babs was glad of her fur coat. Not just for the warmth. She felt it made her look important and intimidating.

  As Dave walked slowly over to her, Babs’ body froze, and she had to will herself to move her feet and continue walking towards him.

  Despite telling herself over and over again to be relaxed when she spoke to him, as soon as he was within hearing distance, she blurted out, “I thought you said you were going to let sleeping dogs lie?”

  Dave frowned at her outburst. “Hello, Babs. You’re looking lovely as usual.”

  Babs was impatient. Her life was on the line, and she didn’t have time to listen to his flattery. She wanted to know what business he had calling her all the way over here and whether or not he was going to spill the beans to Martin.

  “I’m a busy woman, Dave. If you’ve got something to say, please go ahead.”

  A smile played across Dave’s face as if he found her amusing, and Babs felt herself bristle.

  He was well out of order. The very fact that she was married to Martin Morton afforded her at least a little respect. And Babs didn’t like the thought of Dave Carter laughing at her.

  “What are you laughing at?” she snapped.

  The smile slipped from Dave’s face, and his expression was dangerously calm.

  “You seem upset, Babs.”

  “Upset? Of course, I’m bleeding well upset. You’ve dragged me out here, though goodness only knows why. You told me the matter was finished.”

  Dave shook his head. “You’ve misunderstood, Babs. You don’t have to worry. I’m a man of my word. That little matter is over and forgotten.”

  Babs felt relief wash over her, and she put her hand to her forehead as she felt a little dizzy.

  Dave put an arm around her waist to steady her.

  “Are you all right?”