Charlie Boyle left prison a reformed man and he was determined to improve his character. He had kept his nose clean and had accomplished new skills which would stand him in good stead on the outside.
He’d had time to reflect and make sense of things. He regretted being a bad father and was genuinely sad to hear of his wife’s demise. He was haunted by the disappearance of three of his daughters.
He still harboured a grudge against Freddie and Betsy Hale. He was certain of their involvement in Alice’s fate.
Although his anger simmered during his time incarcerated with Freddie, he had managed to keep a lid on his feelings. He didn’t believe for one minute, that she had run away with ‘circus criminals.’ He was aware that Freddie was a manipulative little liar, but he went along with the pretence of believing him in order to survive in prison. He didn’t think that it was worth ruining his life even further for the likes of Freddie Hale.
He had heard that the disappearance of Rachel and Ruby could not have been Betsy’s doing. He had been told the tale of the ginger haired girl who mysteriously came to the street on the day of his trial. He understood that she had practically snatched the girls from their own door step. They had never been seen again.
Charlie had been ashamed that his son had seen him in prison. On Jim’s one visit with Sally, he was told that it couldn’t possibly have been Betsy who took the girls. She had been seen loitering, she was enquiring about Rachel and Ruby, after they had already gone. At that time, of course, Freddie was locked up too. Sally had an idea that Betsy was up to no good but she was sure that she was not involved in the disappearance of the sisters.
There were rumours in the neighbourhood that an underaged girl, probably Alice, had been working in Betsy’s brothel. But Sally had subsequently been told that a search of Betsy Hale’s premises had revealed no trace of the girl.
Charlie believed that the Hales had definitely played a part in some ill fate that must have befallen her. He was now determined to find all three of his missing daughters, be a good father to Jim and to find honest employment.
Charlie went directly to see Lottie’s sister in Everton, it was only a short ride away from the jail. He wanted to see how Jessie was getting on. Much to Margaret’s surprise, he arrived on her doorstep looking stronger and fitter than she’d ever seen him. A little unsure, she invited him in, he was carrying a small bundle. She felt that she should give Charlie a chance and offered him shelter for a few nights.
‘I am going to work hard Margaret and I won’t be drinking again or stealing, I want to pay me way and make it up to me children.’
Margaret looked back at him sternly, he immediately knew that she was sceptical. She quietly set about the task of making a pot of tea. Jessie was about to arrive home from school.
‘I had a bad time with Lottie, you know Margaret, she wasn’t an easy woman to live with. I know I wasn’t good to her but I found out a terrible thing about her when I was in jail. She sold our Alice for a fiver to that old hag Betsy. I will never forgive her.’
Margaret held up her hand, making him stop before he launched into his next sentence.
‘I know all about it Charlie, chapter and verse. It is a sorry tale but what you do about it now is all that matters. You’ll have to get yourself proper work and I know someone who might be able to help.’
She smoothed down her apron, then poured him a cup of tea. They were now sitting either side of her kitchen range. She went on to tell him that Jim was getting along well with old neighbour Sally.
Margaret assured Charlie that his son was being well looked after. ‘She’s a good woman Charlie and Jim is behaving himself. Sally tells me that he is prone to a few flights of fancy and daydreams but he is a good boy.’
‘Sally’s brother is a cabinet maker and has his own bespoke business. That’s where she may be able to help you. I hear that he’s looking for a second man.’
Charlie stood up excitedly, he held out his hands before her and said with passion, ‘While I’ve got these I will always find work, do you think her brother can give me a job?’
‘I think he might consider you Charlie Boyle, but they don’t look like hands to me, they’re more like shovels.’ And this made him laugh.
‘I expect you’ll be needing money to tide you over.’ She reached for the tin which was on top of the mantelpiece. ‘Here you are! I can give you ten bob, to keep you going, I’ll be wanting it back over time though. You can stay here for a few nights until you find yourself some lodgings and I’m sure that Jessie will be pleased to see you. She’ll be home from school soon. I worry that she hasn’t got much family left. She never mentions her mother and she was distraught about her sisters going missing. That just leaves Jim, she is very fond of him and I do make sure that they see each other every now and then.’
‘I’m grateful to you Margaret, I really am, thank you, you are a good woman.’
When Jessie came home from school she was delighted to see that her father was safely back. They sat and talked for half an hour over tea, then Charlie stood up and said, ‘I expect I should be making a move now, I want to see our Jim and talk to Sally about the job.’
Charlie was excited to be seeing Jim again but he was a little wary as he approached Sally’s house. Charlie felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He hesitated on Sally’s doorstep then gingerly knocked on the door. He was most pleased to be made welcome, it was as though she was expecting him. She had a feeling that his release date was due and she knew that his son would be delighted to see him again.
Young Jim, who had already heard his voice on the doorstep, ran down the stairs and jumped up into his arms. ‘Pa!’ He exclaimed. They held each other tightly while Sally looked on.
‘It is good to see you Charlie, where are you staying?’
‘I’ll be staying with me sister-in-law Margaret for a few nights until I find lodgings Sally. Thank you for taking care of Jim.’
‘I expect you’ll be looking for work.’
‘I am. I’ve learnt a trade in prison, I will be looking for carpentry work .’
Sally smiled, ‘Our Tommy’s looking for a second man at the workshop, he wants a grafter though and someone honest too. Would that be you by any chance Charlie? Have you learned your lesson?’ There was a serious edge to her voice.
Charlie promised that he wouldn’t let her brother down. ‘From now on, things are going to be different!’
While Jim sat on his knee, Sally explained about the adoption. Charlie was pleased for his son. He realised that Jim was only five years old and accepted that Sally’s home was the best place for him under the circumstances.
Charlie knew that his position was precarious, he would have to work harder than the next man, to prove himself. At the moment, he was unable to support his children. He asked if Sally had any news of the three girls.
Jim chipped in before Sally could answer, ‘They’re safe Pa. I know they are, Larry told me.’
‘I am warning you Jim, stop making things up.’ Said Sally brusquely. She shook her head and smiled at Charlie. ‘I’m afraid he imagines things, says he can see people no one else can see.’
‘I don’t imagine anything. I believe in Larry and he told me that me sisters are safe.’ It’s true.’ His little voice was firm.
‘Now then, I need to see Tommy, I will tell him all about you. Then if he agrees to give you a chance, you can go up and see him later. I expect you two have a lot to talk about so I’ll leave you here for an hour. Make yourself a brew Charlie and I’ll see you both later.’ It was important for Charlie to be trusted again and now more than ever, he was determined to prove himself.
As the front door closed, Jim grabbed the coal bucket and made for the yard. ‘Just nipping out to the yard to get some bits of coal for the stove.’ Charlie thought he was like a little old man and smiled back at his son.
Jim carried the empty coal scuttle out to the yard and noticed that the backyard door was slightly open. Aunty Sally had al
ways been fussy about bolting the door, it was unusual that it had been left open. He was drawn to it for some reason and wanted to open it wider. When it was fully open there was a man standing there, the man he had seen several times before. It was Larry, he immediately recognised the strange figure, his bizarre appearance was more intriguing than scary.
Jim was drawn to this enigmatic character, his top hat seemed to be a mile high.
‘You are quite right to tell your Pa that the girls are safe Jim but he doesn’t believe. Don’t worry, one day he will believe and then he will see them. They are still a little scared after everything that has happened to them. They need to learn how to trust again before he can see them.’
Jim dropped the coal scuttle on the ground and ran inside.
‘What is it lad? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost, haven’t you brought the coal in then?’
‘Come out in the yard Pa, there’s somebody there, I think he wants to see you?’
Charlie stood up, a little concerned thinking that news travelled fast. He immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was one of his thieving accomplices from the past. If it was, he knew he would try to lure him into bother again. He was prepared to chase whoever it was.
Father and son hastily went out to the back yard door. Jim pointed to Larry. ‘Tell him Larry. Tell my Pa that the girls are safe.’
Charlie looked bewildered, first at the open gate and then at his son. There was nobody there.
‘He can neither see, nor hear me Jim, but tell him that your sisters are safe. In time, he will believe and the girls will be ready to see their father again. Now it is time for me to go.’ He then vanished.
Charlie now realised what Margaret meant when she had said that Jim made things up. However, there was something worrying about the earnest expression on the boy’s face. Jim knew that his father would soon believe.
‘The man I saw is a wizard.’ Said Jim.
‘There was no bugger there, never mind a wizard. Making up tales won’t get you anywhere in life lad. The sooner you stop this storyfying the better, it’s a big bad world out there.’ Charlie was cross. ‘You’d better keep quiet about all this, people will think you’re loony.’
Freddie was elated on his day of freedom. He couldn’t wait to return to his ‘duchess’ in Duke Street. The first thing on his mind was helping himself to a drink when he got there. ‘Mine will be a large whisky and soda, on the house.’ Freddie chuckled as he boarded the tram into town.
He arrived at the house in Duke Street wearing his broadest grin. It was soon wiped off by the sour faced greeting he received on the doorstep.
But Betsy couldn’t be angry for long. ‘Get in you old fool and don’t you ever put me through anything like this again.’
Freddie felt dejected. Like a naughty boy he crept into the hall, his humiliation was complete when she pinched his ear. Now standing in the dimly lit hall she examined behind his ears, then the nape of his neck. ‘Just checking for crawlers.’ She was satisfied that he was clean and led him into the parlour. Freddie’s eyes lit up at the sight of Betsy’s tantalus.
‘Why have you got the booze locked up in that fucking thing?’
‘I bought it yesterday because of you. You’re not getting any unless I decide you can have some. You will be the ruination of us Freddie Hale!’
‘What?’
‘A few changes have been made around here, I’ve now got two women living under my roof, two proper women and I’m not having anything ruined by you again. You can stop out of the way, make yourself useful, making fires and doing repairs. You can also go out shopping for provisions. You are fortunate that I am having you back.’
‘Why are you then?’
‘Business is bad Freddie, we need money. We need to find another young ‘un, that Maurice and a few of his type have been lurking around and I know their wallets are full. We need to relieve them of some of their dough. There will be a situation here shortly as one of the women will be leaving us, she’s in love with another woman and she doesn’t want to live here with a man present. I am too well known ‘round ‘ere, you can mix with women easier than I can. Get yourself to the public houses. They are good places, people who frequent them generally have no money. You know what to do. Find out who’s got young daughters, friends of friends perhaps.’
And so they continued in their quest. The evil pair were driven by money and where there was demand, there was opportunity. Neither of them cared about the consequences, nor about the harm that they were inflicting on children. They had no conscience and were prepared to continue breaking the law.
Betsy walked over to the tantalus, there were three bottles containing brandy, gin and whisky. She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a small silver key. ‘Now what’s your pleasure my Freddie?’
Freddie couldn’t wait for the taste of whisky again. His thirst for alcohol was insatiable as was his appetite for living off immoral earnings.
Their debauchery continued.
Chapter 13
Dangerous Liaisons
Nine years later 1897
Since his release from jail Charlie Boyle had been working as a carpenter for Sally Walsh’s brother, Tommy. After working for him for a couple of years, Tommy had sadly died and his nephew Harry had taken over the business. For the last nine years Charlie had buried himself in his work, but he was still haunted by the past. He was almost punishing himself and had never given up hope that his three missing daughters would turn up one day.
Charlie was proud of Jim, who was now fourteen. His guardian Sally had passed away a year ago. Charlie was now able to care for his son and had taken over the rent on Sally’s house. He could now provide for him well.
Father and son were sitting by the range drinking a cup of strong sweet tea, this always set Charlie in good stead at the start of a busy day.
‘In the not too distant future, son, we will get away from here.’ Charlie always promised his son that he would find a nice house in a better neighbourhood. ‘There’s a nice respectable street in Everton called Westbourne Street and soon we’ll be moving up there.’
‘I don’t want to move from here Pa, I want to stay by Florrie.’
‘Don’t be telling me you’re still sweet on her, she’s only a friend I hope, you are far too young for any monkey business.’ His father’s tone was serious. ‘I am warning you, don’t you be getting her into trouble, look what happened to me and your Ma, saddled with a gang of children at an early age. I want you to make something of yourself now you’ve left school. You should be starting an apprenticeship.’
Charlie tried to sound upbeat but had some doubts about his son’s dexterity. He looked down at the floor and glanced towards his hands. Jim was holding his cup with his left hand. ‘Why do you do everything with your left hand Jim? It’s unnatural.’
‘It isn’t to me Pa, look at these scars on the back of me hand, that bastard teacher was always belting me with the ruler, I told him I can’t write with me right hand, he thought I was stupid or something.’ Complained Jim bitterly.
‘You’re far from stupid lad, I know that, but I don’t think you’d be any good in the workshop, Harry will not have left ‘handers’ working for him, said he can’t bear to watch them doing anything.’ He then added with a smile, ‘It’s like watching a woman with two left feet dancing.’
Jim sighed, his downcast expression made him look hurt, his rueful face became serious. ‘I want to be a cook. Soon I’ll have a job at The Enterprise Supper Bar, in town!’
‘Have you now? Dishing up fish and chips to the poor, frying all day and peeling spuds, that’s hardly a job for a young man.’
‘Well, I’ll be starting on Monday, three bob a week.’
‘Good. I’m off to work now and remember what I said about Florrie Ryan. I think you can do much better than her, besides I don’t like her mother, have an idea she’s been an old tail.’
The door banged shut leaving Jim more determined than
ever to make a success of his job. He was thinking about his Pa’s remark about Florrie’s mother being an ‘old tail’. Exposed to the harsh realities of life from an early age, Jim knew exactly what that description implied.
By Thursday the following week Jim was feeling pleased with himself, he had earned his first week’s wage. The hours were long and the work was hard but he didn’t mind peeling sacks of potatoes and watching the activity in the shop. He had no idea why Harry wouldn’t employ left ‘handers’, in fact Jim could work with as much speed and dexterity as anyone else. As his left hand grasped his three shiny shillings, he smiled to himself. ‘ I don’t fancy doing wood work, being in a cold workshop with all that noise and dirt, nah.’
It was late in the evening so his Pa was already at home. ‘Did you get your wages then lad?’ Asked Charlie smiling.
‘I haven’t even got me foot in the door yet and you want me to tip up.’
‘You’re a grown man now, so you’ll have to pay your corner. We’ll put some of our wages in a tin here as savings, some for food, rent and a rainy day.’
‘I’ve got myself known around the market and I can get the food for us cheaper. I can get us fish and potatoes cheap to start with.’ He glanced at his Pa’s rough working man’s hands, his nails were dirty, they were scarred and his palms were covered in hard calluses. He knew he was doing the right thing, going into catering, above all he enjoyed the work. Manual labour was not for him.
As the residents woke up on Saturday morning, they could hear no birds singing in Circus Street. But between the grey roof tops and chimneys was a perfect, clear blue sky.
The rising sun was streaming through the front bedroom windows of Jim’s house. It was on the same side of the street as Florrie’s. They lived on ‘the sunny side’ because their houses got the sun in the morning which always woke Jim early in the summer.
He had planned to take Florrie out somewhere nice. He wanted to get out of town to enjoy the open spaces and the fresh air. He was up before seven o’clock. He tumbled out of bed and went down for a cup of tea. He could hear his Pa snoring, Jim decided not to disturb him. He washed and shaved then got dressed. He went downstairs and fried himself an egg. He made a sandwich which he ate sitting on the front step.
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