‘You’re damned right you’re not!’ Dickie grabbed him again. ‘But whether ye like it or not you’re gonna have to come with me. I can’t leave ye here for somebody to murder – much as I’d like to.’
‘Get off!’ Frederick tried to wriggle out of the grip, but Dickie held him higher, forcing him to walk on tiptoe. The boy clawed a hand over his shoulder, encountered skin and dug his nails in deep.
‘Aagh!’ Dickie sucked at his wounded hand. ‘You little bastard, I’ve probably got rabies now.’ Temporarily freed, the boy made a run, but Dickie’s left hand shot out to collar him again. Still Fred kicked and struggled.
A carriage pulled up and its occupant leaned from the window. ‘You there! What’re you doing to that boy? Do you need help, young fellow?’
Fred stopped twisting and looked at the man. ‘No, he’s me dad.’
‘Are you?’ demanded the man.
‘Yes.’ Dickie’s stance was challenging. ‘Was there something you wanted to say?’
The man looked Dickie up and down, harumphed and said,
‘Not at all. I was merely worried that the boy was being taken against his will. Good day to you.’ He banged testily at the carriage roof ordering his driver to pull away.
‘Taken against his will,’ muttered Dickie as the pair waited for the carriage to disappear. ‘Doesn’t think about me being hounded against my will – come here, you!’ He made a grab for Fred, but the boy kicked him on the ankle and ran up the road.
‘Go on, bugger off then!’ shouted Dickie, standing on one leg to rub his ankle. ‘Ye’re not worth running after.’
Fred stopped and waited for Dickie to catch up. ‘I don’t like people who hit me.’
‘An’ I don’t like people who kick me!’ Dickie walked past him.
Fred tagged on. ‘Where we off?’
Dickie’s answer was surly and was made without looking down. ‘I’m off to my son’s. I don’t know where you’re off.’
Frederick stopped in his tracks. ‘I didn’t know you had any children.’
At the plaintive tone, Dickie halted too and looked back. ‘He’s not a child, he’s a man … anyway, he’s not really my son, I was lying.’ He stared at Frederick’s crestfallen face. ‘Have ye ever been on a train before?’ The boy shook his head dumbly. ‘I suppose ye’d better come with me, then.’ He hooked a thumb and carried on marching towards the station. ‘Come on, son.’
18
The silly things that come into your mind, thought Thomasin. It was twenty years since she had sacked George Ackworth for stealing and yet now that her own trial was over he, and not Dickie, was the one occupying her head. Had she been too hard in calling the police? How had his family coped while he was in gaol? There but for the grace of God … ‘S’truth, isn’t it quiet?’ She pushed herself from the chair and hobbled over to the window.
It’s a wonder the carpet hasn’t been worn away, thought Erin, irritated by her mother’s constant action. Back and forth, back and forth. For pity’s sake, Mam, sit down! Thomasin did … but in the space of five minutes she was at the window again, making Erin dig her nails into her hand in order to prevent words which she would later regret. Through the open window came the scent of lavender, bringing memories of her stillborn child, to whom she had given birth with the smell of this plant filling her nose. Ever since, she had hated it. And every summer, as if the memory were not bad enough, the smell would drift in to haunt her. Were she to own the house she would pull every last shred of it up. She rose and hauled down the sash. Even the cloying heat was better than that smell.
After her criminal of a brother had made his escape they had hurried home, but had not been allowed to relax before the police had arrived with a warrant to search the house.
They had also spent some time grilling the family as to where Dickie might have gone. Erin had suspicions that he was at Belle’s, but like the others said that she did not know. She glanced at her sister-in-law and wondered what was going through her head.
Dusty was marvelling at the loyalty shown by this family towards their errant son. Like the willow, in times of drought their roots grew deeper to find sustenance. Dick had the shallow footings of a cypress; a strong puff of wind, a crisis, and the forest would lose one of its number. Even their ex-maid showed more solidarity.
Abigail had postponed her return passage to Germany until tomorrow. At Thomasin’s insistence she had also moved out of the hotel into Peasholme. It seemed odd sitting here drinking tea with the lady to whom she had once been servant – and they hadn’t given her an attic room either. Oh no, she’d been treated like an honoured guest. Wait till she got home and told Gerry!
Thomasin was up and peering again. Sonny shared Erin’s frustration. After the fiasco at the Court and the ensuing questions from the police, he had decided to stay the night just in case of any new developments, but now he was itching to be away. ‘I think I’ll just go and telephone Josie again.’ His wife had gone home to tend her family. He rose from his chair. ‘See if Dickie’s made an appearance at that end.’
‘Wait a minute!’ Thomasin bent nearer the window. ‘There’s somebody … oh, it’s Belle.’ She sounded disappointed. The sight of a band of children produced a ‘Tut!’ as she limped back to her chair. ‘What did she have to bring all of them for? Erin, don’t let her fetch them in here, I can’t do with them just now.’
‘You were just complaining how quiet it was.’ Purse-lipped, Erin stood and glanced through the window, then frowned at the large bundles carried by the children. Cicely was in charge of the wickerwork pram with its buckled wheels, trying to steer it with one hand, whilst her other tried to keep hold of yet another bundle wobbling atop the chassis. ‘Looks as if she’s brought her washing – oh, Holy Virgin they’ve brought that blessed cat too.’ She went into the hall just in time to prevent Cicely from carving a chunk out of the oak panelling with the pram wheels.
Belle hustled her charges inside, asking how the family had fared with the detective. Erin told her that he had gone but the two men who appeared to be street loafers enjoying the sun outside The Black Swan were in fact plainclothes policemen who had been watching the house since yesterday evening. ‘They must think we’re soft. You can spot them a mile off. Every time one of us goes out, there they are. I wonder they didn’t accuse you of trying to smuggle your uncle in in those bundles.’
Belle dropped her burdens to the floor, commanding the children to stand where they were. ‘Mother, were I lucky enough to have my uncle in one of these bundles I would cheerfully toss it in the drink. Is Nan in there?’
‘No, she’s in the front,’ said Erin, clutching her brow at the noise that erupted from the pram. ‘But wait a minute – Eddie, take the others down to the kitchen and ask Vinnie to give them some lemonade. No, not the baby,’ she replied to his joke. When Eddie and the rest had gone, she whispered to Belle, ‘I hope you aren’t going to inflict them on Nan all day, she isn’t coping very well.’
‘That’s a shame,’ said Belle and chewed the inside of her cheek. ‘I was going to ask if she’d mind having them for a week.’
Erin started to laugh, then stopped and looked down at the bundles. ‘You’re serious, aren’t ye?’
‘I’m afraid so. Can we go in so I don’t have to repeat myself?’
Erin said of course and, eager to hear what was amiss, hurried her into the front room. ‘Have ye seen the paper? There’s a big piece in about the man wanted for murder. As if the insurance fraud wasn’t bad enough … God, I don’t know how this family is ever going to live it down.’
After greeting her grandmother, and nodding to her uncle and aunts, Belle said bluntly, ‘I’ve been evicted – well, not exactly evicted, I refused to pay the five shilling a month rent increase.’
‘But why?’ cried Erin.
‘He was trying to extort me, Mother.’
‘No, I mean why has he suddenly decided to increase it after all this time?’
‘Ask my dear Un
cle Dickie.’
Dusty rose involuntarily. ‘You’ve seen him?’
‘He spent the night at my house.’ Belle watched her aunt’s expression change from worry to mistrust, and ended the speculation. ‘When I came down this morning the sofa was empty, my money had gone and Freddie had gone, too.’
‘Does he never learn!’ Thomasin heaved a sigh and rubbed vigorously at her aching knee.
‘Have you any idea where he’s gone?’ asked Dusty.
‘Not for definite, but he mentioned Leeds last night.’ Belle sat down. .
‘I’d better get back right away.’ Sonny kissed his mother then fled, calling, ‘I’ll telephone you when I get there!’
‘You haven’t said how it comes to be Dickie’s fault that you’ve lost your home,’ Dusty said to her niece.
‘The landlord believed he was cohabiting with me,’ replied Belle. ‘Some people have very lurid imaginations.’ She turned disdainful eyes away from her aunt and said more evenly to Erin, ‘It wasn’t until Uncle Dickie let Clark get past the door the other month that he saw what improvements I’d made to the house and decided to cash in on it. I wasn’t having that. Told him what he could do with his house … in retrospect it was a bit rash. I was hoping you could put us up, Nan, just till I’ve found another place. It won’t take more than a few weeks.’
‘Of course I will, dear,’ said Thomasin genuinely. ‘You don’t think I’d throw you out, do you? You can stay here as long as you need.’
Belle leaned forward with an affectionate gesture. ‘Oh thanks, Nan. I really only came to park the children so they’re not in the way of the removal men, if you wouldn’t mind giving them lunch. I’ll have to go back and help Sally. You’ll be able to put her up too, won’t you?’ At her grandmother’s nod of assent she looked relieved and actually laughed. ‘I hope Mr Clark wasn’t hoping to move his new tenants straight in; he’ll have some cleaning up to do.’ Her face was impish. ‘I can’t think how it could have happened, but somebody upset two chamberpots – splashed the contents all over the bedroom floor and had it dripping through the downstairs ceiling. Then one of the babies got hold of a red crayon and scribbled on nearly every wall before I caught her. Naughty child! I tried my best to clean it up, naturally, but I had so little time to vacate the premises …’
Thomasin joined in the laughter that followed, but soon her eyes had clouded over at the thought of her son somewhere out there; lost to her yet again.
From his room at The Black Swan, Nettleton watched the red-haired man drive away, but made no move to tail him. Besides the fact that he didn’t want the York detectives to know he was here, his quarry’s wife was still in the house; Feeney wouldn’t be going far without her. He had also seen the gang of children roll up and, remembering what had been said in Court, deduced that amongst them would be the three orphans whom Feeney intended to adopt. He would surely be back some time. If not, well, Nettleton had the address of the man who had just left and it would not be difficult to trace other relatives. Feeney would turn up sooner or later.
One irritation was that yesterday’s chase had been witnessed by other law officers and Nettleton had been obliged to state the reason for his actions. Being unable to produce his warrant card, he had been forced to tell them that he was now retired. They had warned him to stay out of the case and had taken over. But Nettleton had waited too long to let himself be robbed of the double murderer. He could sit here as long as he pleased, weighing the comings and goings. One of them would lead him to Feeney.
* * *
‘Dickie isn’t here, is he?’ were Sonny’s first words to his wife on arriving home around a quarter to eleven.
She clasped plump hands and came towards him. ‘No – have you seen him? Is he coming?’
‘God knows.’ He bent to swing Paddy up into his arms and walked across to the window, peering out. ‘Apparently he spent the night at Belle’s and when she got up this morning she found he’d absconded with her money.’
Josie gasped. ‘Isn’t he the limit?’
‘Not only that,’ said Sonny, grim-faced. ‘He’s taken Fred with him. Belle said he mentioned Leeds so I rushed back here to warn you. There’s a police watch on Peasholme; we could be getting one too. Mam’s in a hell of a state. I didn’t really like to leave her but she was driving me crazy.’
‘Knowing him,’ pronounced Josie, ‘he’ll arrive when there’s food oh the table.’
Sonny shook his head. Kissing his son he put him down. ‘No, if he was coming to our house he would have been here by now – he’d set off before Belle got up. I’ll bet he’s at Nick’s, the fool. I’d better whip over there.’
* * *
Remarkably, Dick’s train journey to Leeds had been uneventful, save for the embarrassing moment when he thought he hadn’t enough money for the tickets, and the disapproving look from the ticket clerk for his unshaven appearance. There had been a ninety-minute wait for the train to arrive, for apparently the engine had broken down, but after this things went more smoothly than he could have hoped for. The worst part was the approach to Nick’s house which he reached a little after ten, but this too proved to be a needless worry; the gate was unattended by police.
He chose not to ring the bell, but tapped at the door of the drawing room before entering, not wanting to give Win a start in her delicate condition.
‘Why, Uncle!’ She rose in cumbersome fashion and came to greet him. ‘Nick didn’t say you were calling.’ She was told by Dickie that her husband did not know. ‘He’ll have a nice surprise when he comes in, then.’ This was sheer politeness; Nick would have a fit. She looked at the clock which had just struck the quarter hour. ‘Oh! and I’m so pleased about the trial. Dad telephoned Nick at the store yesterday with the good news.’
Dick thanked her warily. ‘He didn’t mention anything else?’
Win lowered her bulk back into the chair. ‘Er … no, I don’t think so.’ She sought his face for further explanation but Dickie leapfrogged the subject, talking for some ten or fifteen minutes about matters irrelevant, before shouting at the boy to stop meddling with ornaments. ‘Hope ye don’t mind if I brought Freddie to keep me company?’
Win smiled at the boy and said of course she didn’t. She had noticed that they were both rather sooty. ‘Did you come by car?’ Dickie answered that they had travelled by train as the boy hadn’t been on one before. ‘Well … would you care to refresh yourselves?’ At Dickie’s affirmation, she attempted to rise. ‘I’ll just ring for the maid, she’ll show you up …’
‘I’ll do it.’ Dickie motioned for her to sit back and reached for the bell-pull himself.
‘Thank you. Did Aunt Dusty not wish to come with you?’
‘No, er, she’s not feeling so good.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.’ The man’s strange behaviour cautioned Win not to probe.
‘And how is your own health, Win?’ Dickie smiled. ‘’Tis only from courtesy I ask, I can see from your beautiful complexion that you’re thriving.’ Win said she was feeling well, but rather uncomfortable. ‘Ah well, there’ll be joy at the end of it. Er, have ye got today’s newspaper, Win?’ He looked around.
‘I’m sorry, Nick took it to work with him this morning.’ Win looked up as the maid came in. ‘Ah, just a moment, Jane – Uncle, will you be staying to luncheon?’
‘I’d love to if that’s not inconvenient.’
‘Of course not, we’d love your company.’
‘Er, d’ye think Nick’d mind if I borrowed his razor an’ stuff? I didn’t have time to shave this morning.’
This grew more curious by the second. Win gave a puzzled smile. ‘I’m sure he won’t. Jane, show Mr Richard up to the master’s dressing room, then inform Cook that we have guests – we’ll have some coffee too when Mr Richard comes down.’
Dickie was escorted from the room, Fred pattering alongside. The maid smiled down at him and pulled a lolly from her apron pocket; having a sweet tooth herself she always kept a
supply here. ‘Is it all right if I give the young gentleman this, sir?’
‘Listen carefully, Fred. This is probably the only time ye’ll be called a gentleman.’ Dickie grinned at the maid.
‘Aye, give it him – it might keep his mouth occupied for a while.’ He examined her figure as they strolled up the stairs. ‘Jane, is it?’
‘Yes, sir.’ She handed Fred the lolly which he jammed between his teeth.
‘You’re anything but plain.’
The maid accepted his flattery without coyness and told him, ‘The Master’s dressing room is just through here, sir.’ She opened the door of a bedroom and led him through to another, smaller room. ‘There’s the washbasin, and you’ll find everything you need.’
Dickie thanked her. ‘If I don’t find everything I need can I call on you, Jane?’
She looked him up and down and, with a suggestive tilt to her lips, said, I’m always willing to help, sir,’ then left.
‘What d’ye think to that one?’ Dickie flung himself on the bed and closed his eyes.
‘She’s nice,’ replied Frederick, cracking off a portion of lolly with his teeth.
‘Aye, not bad at all, Fred.’ Dickie grinned and without using his hands prised his boots off, letting them clatter over the side of the bed. Fatigued from the early rise and the train journey, he decided to have a nap. This lasted all of five minutes.
‘Aw!’ Fred’s effort had snapped the lolly from its stick and it had fallen to the floor. He looked down on it miserably.
Dickie tutted and opened one eye. ‘Ye can’t eat it now. Pick it up an’ chuck it in this bin here.’
The disappointed child did as he was told, then stood twiddling the naked stick, watching Dickie. Unable to sleep with Fred’s eyes boring into him, the man sat up, shucked off his jacket and lit a cigarette which was smoked under the boy’s unhappy stare.
When he had finished it he stripped down to his trousers and went to stand before the mirror. The boy’s eyes followed him. Dickie looked at the forlorn expression through the glass. ‘I’ll buy ye another one later.’
Dickie (Feeney Family Sagas Book 4) Page 41