‘What else?’ Lily asked, interrupting her thoughts.
‘Cigarettes – over there.’
When they found all the items on the list, Lily said, 'Glad you came with me. I couldn’t manage those big boxes.’
They carried everything over to the canteen and Daisy signed the inventory before locking the store door.
She returned the key to Mrs Green, sure she should mention her suspicions. She’d brushed her off last time she’d try to tell her. She had no proof after all. But surely if the van load was really destined for the airfield he would have returned everything to the Sheerness store. And then there was the lie he’d told her father about salvaging stock. What should she do?
For the rest of her shift Daisy could hardly concentrate on her work. She could just ignore it of course, but her conscience told her she must do something. Mrs Green’s response set her thinking. Was the supervisor involved as well? She didn’t want to believe it. One thing she was sure of. Sid Browning was selling the stuff he’d stolen – it wasn’t as if it was just a few cigarettes, the odd tin of peaches for his family. The tightening of rationing meant that many were struggling to feed their families and it was understandable if they bought a few things ‘under the counter’ as the saying went. But people like the manager were making money out of the war. It wasn’t right.
When it was time to go home, she summoned up her courage and knocked on the office door. She had to speak up.
She entered at Mrs Green’s call and stood in front of the desk, twisting her hands nervously in her overall.
‘Well, girl. What is it?’
When Daisy still hesitated, Mrs Green smiled and said. ‘I’m pleased you came back to work today. But if you think it was too soon and you need more time off, that’s all right.’
‘It’s not that, Mrs Green. I went over to the stores with Lily earlier, and I’m sure some of the supplies are missing. I’ve noticed it before but you told me I was mistaken when I mentioned it before.’ She stopped speaking and licked her dry lips.
‘Well, go on.’
‘I hoped it was a mistake – people forgetting to sign for stuff. But it’s happened too often lately, and you know how Mr Browning is about signing. I think someone’s stealing.’ She couldn’t accuse the manager directly, but who else could it be?
‘My goodness, Daisy, what an imagination you have.’ Mrs Green laughed. ‘You’ve been watching too many films.’
When Daisy made to protest, the supervisor flapped her hand. ‘No, it’s good of you to come to me with your concerns. But I can assure you nothing untoward is going on here. As you say, it’s probably people forgetting to sign.’ She sighed. ‘I don’t say there isn’t a bit of petty pilfering from time to time and I’ll keep more of an eye on things in future. Now, off you go.’
Daisy left quickly and walked up the road, her mind in turmoil. She couldn’t help wondering if Mrs Green was involved too, brushing her concerns aside like that. Well, she’d done her duty in reporting it. What more could she do?
As if that wasn’t enough to worry about, there was Lily and her problem. She just didn’t see how she could help her friend, short of marching up to Eastchurch and confronting Roland. He would laugh in her face. She just knew he was the sort of man who would blame the girl for getting into trouble. If only she could confide in someone.
***
Daisy was on a late shift the next day and, as the weather was still fine, she decided to join her father on the allotment. There had been no rain for days so she would help with the watering and pick the last of the runner beans for their dinner. It would be a good opportunity for a heart to heart with Dad. This time she would make him believe her suspicions were justified and let him decide what she should do.
To her dismay, her brother was there, helping their father to dig over the plot where the early potatoes had been, ready for winter sowing. There goes my chance of confiding in Dad, she thought.
They both looked up as she approached, and Jimmy grinned. ‘Glad you’ve come,’ he said. ‘You can help Dad now. I’ve had enough.’
‘You’re joking, aren’t you? It’s too hot for digging,’ Daisy said.
‘Now lad, enough of that,’ said Stan. ‘Your sister works hard, and she’s got another shift later on. You just finish that row, then you can buzz off with your pals.’
‘OK, Dad.’ Jimmy resumed his digging while Daisy filled the watering can from the standpipe in the corner. She carried on working until Jimmy called out, ‘Bye, Sis. I’m off.’
She put the watering can down and wiped her sweaty brow with a handkerchief. ‘Time for a rest, Dad. You’ve been out here all morning.’
Stan went over to the little shed at the side of the allotment. ‘I’ve got some tea, love. Want some?’ He pulled a flask out of his bag.
Daisy nodded and they sat on boxes outside the shed, drinking their tea and enjoying the peace and quiet. ‘Bliss,’ she murmured, turning her face up to the sun.
‘Make the most of it,’ Stan said, ‘before the next raid.’
‘I’m trying not to think about it,’ she said.
‘Me too.’ Stan finished his tea and shook the dregs out onto the grass, screwing the lid back on the flask.
As Daisy went to stand up and carry on working, he put his hand on her arm. ‘Wait a minute, lass. Something’s on your mind, I can tell. Why don’t you tell your old dad?’ He looked into her troubled face. ‘You’re not in trouble are you, Daisy?’
It took a second before she realised what he meant, and she laughed. ‘Oh, no, Dad. Not that sort of trouble anyway.’
‘Well, what is it then?’
‘I don’t know where to start.’
‘From the beginning, lass. That’s the best place.’
‘It’s about Mr Browning. I’m sure now he’s stealing from the NAAFI stores - dealing on the black market.’ The words came out in a rush.
‘So you said yesterday, but what’s changed?’ He grabbed her arm. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve been playing detective. You could get into serious trouble, my girl.’
‘I’m not worried about that. Listen, Dad, I was in the stores yesterday and I had a good look round.’
‘Suppose he’d caught you snooping. Keep out of it, Daisy. It could be dangerous.’
‘I’m not scared of him. Anyway, I was with Lily. Mrs Green sent us to fetch cigarettes and other stuff. And some of the shelves were almost empty. Fags, tinned fruit and other stuff.’
‘Did you check if they’d been signed for?’
‘Of course – first thing I thought of. Mr Browning’s very hot on that. He told me off one day for not signing for cigarettes, practically accused me. But I hadn’t taken any. He made a big fuss about remembering to sign. Then, when I went for some tea the other day, the tin was half empty. You know, it comes in big square tins.’
Stan nodded. ‘Go on. Had he signed for it?’
‘Yes, but it’s always me or Mrs Green who fetches our supplies. Sometimes Harold gets sacks of potatoes for the Sergeant but he’s too dim to do anything on a big scale like this. It must be Mr Browning stealing.’
‘Not necessarily. He is responsible for Eastchurch as well. Perhaps he was delivering to the airfield.’
‘That’s what he said when I saw him loading his van that time. But when I was working at Eastchurch the cook was complaining they were short of stores. And one time, June and me were on our way home from the pictures and we saw him taking a big box into the pub.’
Stan nodded and lit a cigarette. ‘Still no proof though, love.’
‘I know. So what do I do?’
Stan blew smoke through his nostrils and thought for a minute. ‘Hang on,’ he said. ‘There was a load of boxes in his van the other day. He told me he’d salvaged them from the bombing raid.’
‘But Dad...’
‘Wait. He couldn’t have. The building was total shambles, I’m positive nothing could have been saved. I should have realised.’
‘T
hat’s what I mean. If he’d picked them out of the ruins they would have been damaged with water and smoke. He’d partly covered the boxes with a blanket, but I could see that they were perfectly all right, not damaged at all. He should have taken them back to the Sheerness stores. But they weren’t there today.’
‘You’re right, love. We’ll have to report this.’
‘But proof, Dad...’
‘You’ve got a witness – me.’ Stan laughed. ‘Good little detective, you are. Cracked the case.’
‘I’m not sure, Dad. Besides, I’m scared now. Suppose he finds out it was me that told.’
‘Don’t you worry about that.’ He stood up and waved his arms at a man working on the next allotment. ‘Ted, over here,’ he shouted, then turned to Daisy. ‘Mate of mine, Constable Ted Rowe. He’ll know what to do.’
A tall, well built man with sandy hair and cheerful grin strolled over to them. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to the elbows and his hands were ingrained with dirt where he had been planting.
‘What’s up, mate?’ he asked.
‘This is my daughter, Daisy, works in the NAAFI down the garrison. She’s got quite a tale to tell.’ He elbowed Daisy in the ribs. ‘Go on, gel. Tell him what you told me.’
Constable Rowe squatted down beside her and smiled. ‘Well, Daisy, what’s been going on?’
After a couple of false starts and prompted by encouraging nods, Daisy poured out the whole story.
The policeman thanked her for her bravery in speaking out and assured her he would look into it. ‘We’ve been aware for some time that there’s some black market dealing doing on. The problem is, no one wants to admit they’ve been buying black market stuff. But it can’t go on. Now we know where to start.’
Daisy heaved a big sigh of relief. It was a load off her mind. Now she only had Lily to worry about. How was she going to help her friend?
Chapter Twenty
Lily was just finishing her shift when Daisy came on duty that afternoon and there was no opportunity to speak to her. The canteen was frantically busy, and it wasn’t until late afternoon that she was allowed a break. June joined her soon afterwards, flopping down in a chair and arching her back.
‘We just seem to get busier. I’m dying for a cuppa.’
Daisy fetched tea for both of them and asked how Lily had been that morning.
‘She’s still not well but she’s managing to do her work all right, keeping out of Mrs G’s way.’
‘I couldn’t believe the change in her, since I’ve been away. She looks awful, so pale and tired-looking,’ Daisy said. ‘Have you asked her what’s wrong?
‘I did but she snapped my head off. I don’t know - she hardly talks to me lately. I mentioned going dancing at the weekend but she said she was too busy.’
‘I think she’s finding it hard coping with the little ones when her mum’s at work.’ Daisy sighed. So, it seemed Lily hadn’t confided her problem to anyone else. But, although there was no real sign of her pregnancy yet, they would know soon enough.
She decided to go round after work and see how her friend was. Perhaps she had plucked up enough courage to tell her parents. Daisy didn’t know her friend’s family and had no idea how they would react.
She avoided June when they left work and walked across the moat and past the railway station, turning into the maze of narrow streets with their wooden cottages. She knocked on Lily’s door, hearing a babble of voices and the high-pitched whine of a tired toddler. She was about to turn away when the door opened. A huge woman, hoisting a small child on her hip stood there. Hard to believe this was the waif-like Lily’s mother.
‘Who are you?’ she said, turning back into the room and shouting, ‘Shut up you lot. I can’t hear myself think.’
‘I’m Daisy. Lily’s friend. I was wondering how she is.’
‘She’s giving the little ones their tea. Nothing wrong with her that I can see.’ She pulled the door open. ‘Might as well come in and see for yourself.’
Daisy squeezed past Mrs Scott and walked into a cluttered room which seemed to be full of children. Three little girls sat up at the table eating jam sandwiches while a man, presumably their father, sat in the only armchair reading a newspaper. Lily, who was pouring water into a teapot, turned and almost dropped it when she saw Daisy.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘June said you hadn’t been well.’
Mrs Scott put the toddler down and, before Lily could reply, said. ‘She’s all right now. Been to work this morning haven’t you, Lil?’
‘I’ve been working away, Mrs Scott, so I didn’t know,’ Daisy said. ‘Sorry to intrude on your meal time.’ She turned to leave.
‘That’s OK. Might as well stay for a cuppa. Katie, get down and give her your seat.’
One of the little girls scrambled down from the table, till holding her jam sandwich.
‘Thank you.’ Daisy sat down and accepted the cup Lily pushed towards her. She had hoped for a chance to talk to her friend alone, but it would have to wait. She lifted little Katie onto her lap and the child smiled at her through jam-smeared lips.
Mrs Scott sat in the only other vacant chair and proceeded to feed the toddler.
‘That’s Donny, the only boy,’ Lily said.
Daisy took the little boy’s hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, Donny,’ she said. The other children giggled.
‘I’m Katie,’ the girl on her lap said.
‘I know. And what are your sisters’ names?’
‘That’s Rosie and that’s Mary.’
‘Rosemary,’ the older child corrected.
Daisy smiled and said hello to each of them, then drank her tea. ‘I should go, Lily. I can see you’re busy. Will you be at work tomorrow?’ She put Katie down and stood up.
‘Don’t go yet. Help me get the little ones ready for bed. We can talk later.’
She agreed to stay, although with Lily’s parents here, she wouldn’t be able to broach the subject uppermost in her mind. Still, just being here would show Lily that she had her support.
The man in the corner crumpled his newspaper and said, ‘Haven’t those kids finished their tea yet? Come on Mabel, time we was off. Leave it to Lily.’
Daisy was horrified. Surely they weren’t going out and leaving her friend to cope with the children?
She felt ashamed of her rush to judgement when the couple put on jackets with ARP armbands and picked up tin helmets from the sideboard.
‘Don’t forget the blackout,’ Mr Scott said, grinning. ‘Or I’ll be after you.’
Mrs Scott laughed. ‘No favouritism, mind.’ She kissed each of the children and followed her husband out of the door.
When they’d gone, Lily chivvied the children to finish eating and get ready for bed. It took some time to settle them down, two each head to toe in the two single beds in the back bedroom.
Downstairs Daisy asked. ‘Where do you sleep, Lily?’
‘In the front room. I used to share with the girls until Donny came along. I’m lucky having my own room but when Donny gets older he’ll have it and I’ll be back with the girls.’ She sighed. ‘That’s if I haven’t been chucked out on my ear.’
‘They won’t do that surely,’ Daisy protested.
‘I don’t know. Dad would expect me to marry the father but that won’t happen.’
Daisy knew she was right but she couldn’t say so.
‘I’ve got to face it, Daisy. Roland doesn’t care for me.’ She choked on a sob. ‘He hasn’t been in touch for ages and he’s only up the road in Eastchurch. It’s not as if he’s away fighting like your Bob.’
‘He could have been caught in that raid.’ She ought to tell her he was safe, but before she could speak, Lily went on.
‘But even before that, he hadn’t written or come into town to see me. He could have let me know if he was all right. Oh, Daisy, suppose he’s...’
‘He’s not dead, not even injured. I saw him, Lily.’
‘Why didn’
t you tell me then?’ Lily sat up straight, accusation in her eyes. ‘You should have told me, not left me wondering.’
How could she explain? Daisy faltered to find the words. ‘He said...’
‘You actually spoke to him?’ Lily was still angry.
‘That’s why I didn’t mention it. He was horrible, Lily. Sounded as if he didn’t even remember your name. So offhand. I didn’t want to upset you. And then, when you told me about...’ She gestured towards Lily’s stomach.
Her friend dried her eyes, her voice softened. ‘I guess I knew really. I was going to write and tell him, but it wouldn’t have done any good.’
‘He ought to be told though, accept responsibility.’
‘No. I’ll manage.’
‘Do your parents know?’
‘Mum does – she guessed. I think she’s going to break it to Dad while they’re out tonight. Calm him down before I have to face him.’
‘What you said earlier – about getting chucked out?’
‘No, I didn’t mean it. They’ll probably send me to my Gran’s so the neighbours don’t know. Mum worries about what the neighbours think.’ Lily gave a little laugh. ‘That’s the least of my worries.’
Daisy knew she was thinking about the baby and was about to ask what would happen to it, when the sirens started up.
‘No peace for the wicked,’ Lily said, jumping up. ‘Let’s get the kids down the shelter.’
It was a scramble to get the children out of bed and into their clothes. ‘Glad you’re here. Hard to manage on my own,’ Lily panted, hoisting little Donny onto her shoulder and grabbing Katie’s hand. Daisy followed, hustling the other two children along to the shelter at the end of the road. Searchlights lit up the sky and she could hear the ack ack guns up on the seafront. She wondered if Chris was on duty tonight.
They stayed in the shelter till the all clear went. Dusk had turned to dark night while they were inside and they looked around, grateful that there were no flames or smoke lighting up the sky. This time the town had been spared.
Daisy's War Page 18