by Kitty Neale
There was more noise behind her but she didn’t turn round, not wanting to see more rats or whatever scavenging creature it was. She forced herself to ignore it, to concentrate on getting to the end of the alley which was so close now. Then she felt something on her shoulder. She screamed.
‘You always was a squealer.’
Terrified, she spun round and came face to face with the person she’d seen in the market weeks ago, the person from her past, the last person she ever wanted ever to see again: Larry Barnet.
‘What … what …’ She couldn’t get the words out.
‘Lost your voice?’ he taunted. ‘Didn’t do that all those years ago, did you, telling on me and Tommy to our mums.’ He grabbed her hair as she tried to flinch away.
Mavis tried to answer back but couldn’t. Her protests froze in her throat. She twisted, attempting to break free.
‘Trying to get away? I don’t think so.’ Larry’s breath was hot on her face and she could smell drink on it, beer mixed with something stronger, whisky maybe. It was foul and sour. ‘We’ve got unfinished business, Dumbo. Bet you still can’t read, can you?’ He held on to her hair with one hand and blocked her way with his other arm, pressing it across her shoulder and into the wall behind. She was backed up against the brickwork, the sharp corners jabbing into her as she tried to wriggle out of his grasp.
‘I’m gonna show you what you missed out on all those years ago,’ he said, leaning in closer. ‘Now it’s your lucky day ’cos you’re about to find out.’ He released her hair and moved his hand down towards his flies.
Mavis acted without thinking, throwing her bag to one side, unbalancing him, then slamming her knee up and into his groin. Before he could grab her, she was off, down towards the end of the alley. The clouds parted again and a beam of light fell on the dark pathway, and as she dared to look back over her shoulder she could see Larry curled on the ground, gasping in pain.
‘You bitch!’ he managed to get out. ‘You’re gonna pay for that. I’ll get you, you’ve got it coming to you big time.’
Mavis came to an abrupt halt as a silhouette appeared at the end of the alley.
‘Mavis! Are you all right? What’s happened?’
‘Tommy!’ She fell into his arms. ‘I … I …’
Tommy took in the scene in the alley, the man on the ground, the shopping bag spilling its contents, Mavis shaking and now sobbing into his shoulder. It didn’t take a genius to work out what had gone on.
‘Shush, you’re safe.’ He held her tightly for a moment, catching his own breath. He’d been rushing along the street, thinking he was late and she’d have had the meal ready and waiting. Then he’d heard the sound of someone running down the alley and seen who it was. The horror of what might have happened flashed before his eyes.
‘You’re OK now, it’ll be all right,’ he soothed her, stroking her hair. ‘I’ll make sure of it. Come on, let me pass. This has gone far enough,’ he muttered, running down the slimy path towards the curled-up figure. He bent and clutched Larry’s collar, dragging him upright even as the man moaned and protested.
The material of the flashy shirt ripped under Larry’s weight but Tommy just gripped him by the throat and forced him back against the mouldy wall. Larry groaned and tried to fight back but Mavis had totally winded him and he didn’t have the strength to stand, let alone land a punch on his old school friend. ‘Lemme go,’ he rasped. ‘That bitch kneed me.’
‘Shut up,’ Tommy snarled. ‘You deserved it.’
‘I didn’t mean nothing by it. I was only going to teach her a lesson.’
‘I know what you were going to do. It’s bloody obvious. You’ve got your flies undone. Old habits die hard,’ Tommy snarled, his face contorted with disgust.
‘You was no angel yourself so don’t you come all high and mighty with me.’ Larry was getting his energy back and sounded hard done by.
‘Yeah, well, I grew up. And now I’m going to teach you a lesson.’
‘Are you? I’d like to see you try to—’ Larry didn’t finish as Tommy’s fist connected with his ballooning gut. He bent over in agony, retching. The smell of sour beer filled the confines of the alley.
Tommy stood back, waiting for him to finish, watching as the man collapsed into the pool of his own vomit. ‘I warned you, Larry, but you didn’t listen. Did you have a few drinks and it made you feel brave so you decided to have another go at Mavis. Brave man, Larry, very brave. But this stops here, so listen, and listen well. You stay away from Mavis or your friends might find out about your big mouth.’
Larry turned his smeared face up to meet Tommy’s gaze. ‘You don’t know my friends. They aren’t the same as back in the old days. You leave them out of it.’
‘Trouble is, I do know who your friends are, Larry. I’ve been doing my homework. I don’t know if you’re in any state to remember, but you’ve been boasting about some jobs you’ve been doing. Who you were with, who for, and where the stolen goods are. You’ve even been stupid enough to boast about the bent copper who’s taking backhanders.’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’ Larry tried to sound convincing but it was more of a reflex response. His expression began to change as the penny dropped that he was in very serious trouble.
‘Yes you do, Larry, and when your friends are nicked, they’ll want to know who grassed them up.’
‘You wouldn’t.’ Larry’s mouth began to tremble. Even after an afternoon’s drinking he recognised a serious threat when he heard one. ‘Come on, we’re old friends. You wouldn’t want a woman to come between us. Specially not Dumbo …’
Tommy made to hit him again but stopped himself. He forced his hand back into his pocket, almost shaking with the effort. The information he had on Larry was a far bigger weapon, gratifying though it would have been to smash his ugly face to ribbons.
‘I reckon you’ve got about twenty minutes to clean yourself up and get on the next train out of here,’ said Tommy as steadily as he could. ‘I’m making an anonymous phone call, and then there won’t be anywhere in South London where you’ll be safe. All your friends, all those valuables you’ve got hidden away, your bent copper, they’ll all be uncovered, and I’ll put it about that it was you and your big mouth that got them nicked.’
Larry gulped and tears of weakness trickled down his filthy cheeks. ‘No, come on, for old times’ sake …’
‘I’m done here,’ said Tommy with finality. ‘I’ve got better things to do than stand in stinking alleyways with fat blokes covered in their own sick. You should have listened to me, Larry. You made the mistake of not taking me seriously, but now you know better. If you’re not gone in the next few minutes you’re dead meat.’
With that Tommy turned and walked back towards the opening into the street.
‘Was that all true?’ It had taken Mavis a while to recover, but now that she was home in her own kitchen, she’d begun to think through what she’d overheard.
Lily was fussing around, taking over the cooking as Mavis was too shaky. The apples had been lost along with the milk and vegetables, but Lily had carried up some potatoes and carrots from her own kitchen as well as a jar of apple sauce. It might not be what Mavis had planned but it was better than nothing.
‘Afraid so,’ said Tommy. ‘I knew he was back and thought I’d done enough to warn him off, but obviously not.’
Mavis shuddered. ‘I dread to think what he’d have done if you hadn’t turned up when you did, Tommy.’
‘I don’t know about that. It looked as if you’d landed a good blow yourself. He was writhing around on the ground in agony.’ Tommy gazed at her with admiration.
‘Good,’ said Lily, flipping over one of the chops. ‘I didn’t know you had it in you, pet. You look as if you wouldn’t hurt a fly, then you go and knee that bastard in the balls. I’m proud of you.’
‘I didn’t think, I just reacted,’ said Mavis, scarcely believing it herself. She’d always been so timid before. ‘I just did it. I didn�
�t know he’d fall like that. I just ran.’
Lily turned down the heat under the pot of potatoes which was threatening to boil over. ‘And are you really going to ring the police, Tommy?’
Tommy shrugged. ‘There’s not much point in saying you’re going to do something like that and then not following through, though it goes against the grain.’
Lily moved to the sink to drain the carrots. She put them on plates, added the potatoes and finally the chops. ‘Right, here you are. I’ll get the kids in from the garden and your two can eat with us, Mavis.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’
There was a moment of silence after she had gone, but then Mavis sighed and shook her head. ‘I don’t know what to say, Tommy.’ She reached across the table for his hand. ‘It’s really only sinking in now. And you had all that information up your sleeve, just in case he came after me? I can’t believe it. You won’t be in any trouble from those people, will you?’
‘No,’ said Tommy, hoping it was true. He’d be very careful when he made his phone call. ‘All I’ll do is point the police in the right direction, and I’ll make sure my name is kept out of it. If I don’t carry out my threat, Larry might find out and I won’t have that bastard hanging round tormenting you. I should have stood up to him years ago, but better late than never.’ He stroked her hand. ‘I’d do anything to keep you safe, Mavis? I won’t let anyone hurt a hair on your head. You are the most precious person in the world and I’m here to protect you.’
Mavis gasped and tears ran down her cheeks once more as the reality of it hit home. She knew with her head and her heart that he meant it. ‘I’m … I’m sorry,’ she blurted. ‘I should be happy, not crying. I’m just so … it’s all too much.’
‘Mavis,’ Tommy said, ‘you can cry all you like, you’ve had a horrible fright, but it’s not going to happen again. I love you and I’ll protect you. Nothing will change that.’
‘I love you too, Tommy,’ she said, ‘and I’ll never forget what you did for me.’ She smiled through her tears as he pushed his chair back and came around the table to hold her tightly. She had thought that she could stand on her own two feet now that she was independent, but as Mavis rested her head against his warm body she relished how safe she felt in Tommy’s arms.
Slowly the thought came into her head that here was a man she could absolutely trust with everything – even with her life – and at last the wall of ice, the fear and defensiveness she had built around herself after Alec’s years of mistreatment, started to melt.
Chapter Twelve
Rhona sat propped up in bed, gazing blankly at her bedroom window. She’d been ill for four weeks. To begin with she’d been so sick she hadn’t registered what was going on, although everyone around her seemed to be very worried. Then the doctor had pronounced it was a bad case of glandular fever. She’d barely left the confines of her room and hadn’t even cared. Now, as the blossoms on the few small trees outside proclaimed it was May, she was beginning to show signs of recovery. The rash, sore throat and fever had receded and although she was still unbelievably tired she could at least bear to sit up against the pillows for a few hours before going back to sleep again. She wasn’t well enough to be bored yet, so wasn’t worried that she didn’t know what the future would bring. Her mother was fighting the battle on her behalf to get her job reinstated, but Rhona decided not to think about it. She wouldn’t be going near any production lines in her current state.
For the first time since she’d fallen sick she was glad to hear the knock at the door, followed by Penny’s voice in the hallway. Moments later her friend poked her head around the bedroom door.
‘Blimey! This is a surprise! You’re sitting up.’ Penny grinned as she put down her shiny patent handbag, which looked new, and tucked her mass of curls behind her ears. ‘You feeling better, then?’
‘A bit,’ admitted Rhona. ‘I still feel like death warmed up but that’s an improvement. Well, anything would be, to be honest. You wouldn’t believe what the last few weeks have been like.’
‘You’ve really been in the wars. I’m glad you’re on the mend. You’ll be back on the dance floor in no time now.’
‘Maybe, but I can’t imagine it. I’ve sort of lost interest in everything. I haven’t even been listening to the radio. Mum has the Light Programme on and that’s about it.’
‘You’re kidding!’ Penny couldn’t hide her astonishment. ‘You won’t have heard any gossip then and there’s been a few police raids round here. And you love music, the charts and going out to the nightclubs. I’d have thought you’d be climbing the walls to get out of here by now.’
‘I’ve been too tired to care,’ Rhona couldn’t seem to make her friend understand, ‘and I couldn’t dance if you paid me. It’s good that you’ve been going out without me though, I wouldn’t want to think I’ve ruined your social life.’
‘I’m glad you said that. I wondered if you thought I was mean, having fun while you were stuck in here,’ said Penny, a guilty expression flitting across her face. ‘But everyone’s been so nice, I haven’t felt lonely.’
‘That’s good then,’ said Rhona. ‘I meant to ask, how’s Gary? He’s been really quiet. I thought he might have got in touch.’
‘Oh yeah, he said get well soon,’ Penny replied. ‘He definitely asked me to tell you that.’
‘That’s nice of him. It was just that I thought he’d do more,’ said Rhona. ‘Maybe he’s one of those blokes who gets embarrassed if someone’s ill, you know, they don’t know what to say in case it’s the wrong thing and so they do nothing. I just didn’t think he was like that. Oh well.’
Penny shifted in her seat. ‘Shall I say something to him if I see him?’
Rhona shrugged again. ‘No, don’t bother. He probably thinks I’m infectious or something and hasn’t got in touch in case I ask him round. I don’t want him to think I’m all clingy or anything.’ She forced a broad smile. ‘Anyway, what do I care? He’s a free agent.’
‘Exactly,’ said Penny. ‘We’re not tied down, are we? Young, free and single, that’s us.’
‘Yeah.’ Rhona sighed. ‘Except this last month I’ve felt like a pensioner. Never mind, it’ll be over soon and then world, watch out.’ She slumped back, exhausted by the effort of talking.
Penny watched her anxiously. ‘You all right? Are you feeling bad again?’
‘Nah, just tired. Tell me what you’ve been up to.’
Penny gazed at the floor as if trying to work up the nerve to say something. Then she glanced up again. ‘I’ve … I’ve met someone.’ She blushed.
‘Wow. Good for you. Is it serious?’ Rhona was impressed; she’d only been out of circulation for a matter of weeks and Penny had been hanging on to her coat tails up till then; now the girl was out there making a life of her own. ‘Was it at a club, or a concert, or pub, or what? Not at the factory, was it?’
Penny snorted. ‘Don’t be daft. You know what a bunch of weirdos the blokes are at work. No, I met him at the Talisman club.’
Rhona nodded. That made sense. Lots of the men there had been giving Penny the eye, and once Rhona herself was off the scene she’d have got a lot more attention. ‘Is he good-looking then? Bet he’s a fab dancer.’
‘Yeah, he really is. He’s a dream boat.’ Penny didn’t elaborate.
Rhona wasn’t sure why her friend wasn’t saying more but if Penny wanted to be coy about it, then that was her business. Rhona didn’t have her usual energy to fire questions until she got to the heart of the matter.
‘The thing is … the thing is …’ Penny was nervous now. ‘Oh, I don’t like to ask.’
‘Come on, this is me you’re talking to.’ Rhona tried not to be annoyed. How scary could she be, in her condition?
‘OK, well, the thing is … he’s asked me to go all the way with him.’
‘They all do that.’
‘I know. But this time … this time, I want to.’
‘All right, as long as you’re sure,’ Rh
ona said. ‘You don’t want some sweet talker to persuade you into going to bed with him then you wishing you hadn’t done it.’
‘Yeah, I know.’ Penny wrung her hands. ‘He’s not putting any pressure on me, he just said it was up to me to decide. But I need your advice. About … you know.’
‘About sex, you mean?’ Rhona asked.
Penny nodded.
‘I’ve told you what happens.’
‘I know.’ Penny nodded. ‘You’ve told me far more than Mum ever did, but … but I’m nervous. I’ve heard that it … it will hurt. Is that true?’
Rhona could feel the exhaustion creeping up on her again but she made an effort to hide it. ‘It’ll be your first time, so it might, but not much. Just don’t let him rush you. Make him wait until you’re ready and then you’ll be fine.’
Penny leant forward impulsively and hugged her friend. ‘You’re a brick, you are, Rhona. You’re kinder than what I deserve.’ She picked up her patent handbag. ‘That’s a weight off my mind, that is. Mind you, I’ll have to make sure my mum doesn’t find out. She’d go mad.’
Rhona didn’t doubt that. She remembered the almighty row that had broken out when her own mother had found out what she’d been up to. ‘Let me know how you get on. I want all the details.’ She grinned at her friend.
‘Oh I will,’ said Penny, hugging the bag to her chest.
‘Do you really think it will be all right?’ Jenny was trying not to get too excited. ‘Your landlady won’t mind? And Mavis is OK to take Greg?’
‘How many times have I told you?’ Stan was part exasperated by his wife’s worries and part happy to see her so pleased. ‘Mrs Hawkins can’t wait to meet you, and Greg too when he’s finished for the school holidays. Meanwhile it makes more sense for him to stay with Mavis and then you can ride down in the car with me. We can have a proper long weekend, and he won’t miss school.’
‘I can’t wait,’ Jenny exclaimed, her eyes shining.