East End Angel Part 16

Tom shook his head. 'n.o.body saw us ...' He realised then that couldn't be right, as Matilda Keiver knew what they'd done. 'We didn't reckon anyone was about. I told Davy it was stupid chucking a brick,' he mumbled before clamming up.

'It's all right ... I'm fine.' Kathy knew Nick had come over because he'd noticed Tom getting rough with her. 'I won't be a moment.' She gave him a look that pleaded for privacy.

'Keep your hands to yourself,' Nick told Tom in a voice that was bland yet caused the youth to shift uncomfortably. Nick strolled off to wait for Kathy, leaning against the Alvis's bonnet.

'That your schmock copper, is it?' Tom jeered. 'He must be bent as a nine-bob note to afford a car like that.'

'What's happened to you, Tom?' Kathy sensed her anger ebbing away, to be replaced with sadness. Her little brother was unrecognisable in this mood.

'Nothing's happened to me,' Tom muttered sheepishly. 'I've just got a way of earning meself a bit of cash. Mum's always going on at me to bring something in, so I am.'

'If she knew how you were earning it she wouldn't take it.'

'Wanna bet?' Tom sneered. 'She ain't asked where the half-crowns come from fer ages.'

'What did you tell her when she did ask?'

'Got a part-time job working with Davy ... ain't a lie.' He sounded defiant.

'You're getting paid by Fascists to stir up trouble, are you?'

Tom looked sullen, refusing to answer. 'I'm going home,' he muttered. 'Suppose you're coming 'n' all to gra.s.s me up, are you?' He glanced at Nick. 'You'd better keep him out of sight. Dad'll go nuts if you bring the police in.'

'Won't be me brings the police in, Tom,' Kathy replied quietly. 'It'll be you if you carry on as you are.'

Feeling defeated, Kathy turned away and walked back towards the car. She knew she'd ask Nick to take her straight home.

'Fancy a bite to eat?'

Kathy shook her head but gave him a grateful smile. 'Thanks all the same but David's coming over later.'

'Right ...'

'It's true,' she said mildly in response to Nick's sarcastic tone. She felt quite relaxed now, knowing that he fancied her. She realised that she liked him back, despite the fact that, if what Matilda had told her was correct, he'd fibbed about not having any children. She slanted a look at his profile, at the curve of his mouth, wondering if he kissed like David. She knew she'd need do very little to tempt him closer and find out ...

'We arranged to go to the flicks earlier in the week,' Kathy said briskly, snapping out of a sensual daze. She felt rather shocked at where her thoughts might have led. She believed Nick had separated from his wife but he was still a married man. And David was still her boyfriend.

'Yeah ... I heard you loud and clear, Kathy. You're seeing David later.' He turned his head, watching through the car window some children noisily playing hopscotch in the street. 'I saw him recently ...'

Kathy darted her eyes to him. 'Oh?'

'It was the afternoon I waited for my wife after she finished work. He went in the Goldsteins' shop a few minutes after Blanche came out.'

'David sometimes calls in to see his parents when he's that way.' Kathy paused before blurting, 'Did you speak to your wife about the divorce? Sorry ... that was rude ... I shouldn't have asked. I know it's none of my business.'

Kathy felt embarra.s.sed that she'd let curiosity get the better of her. She yanked at the door handle but Nick's long fingers curved on her wrist, preventing her jumping out.

'I was going to tell you anyway what that was all about ... just wasn't sure how to bring it up.' He frowned. 'Blanche is knocking about with Charlie Potter, so I went over to see her to tell her she's a b.l.o.o.d.y fool.'

Kathy sank back into the seat, gawping at him. 'Your wife is going out with Ruby's husband?' she parroted in astonishment.

'That's about the size of it.' Nick gave a grim smile. 'Her father asked me to have a word with her because he's worried sick Blanche will end up getting hurt. So I did speak to her ... but I doubt she'll take a blind bit of notice of anything that was said. I've wasted my time.'

Kathy gasped, nose wrinkling in distaste. She supposed women who liked their men rough and ready might take to Potter. He had a good height, and a certain rugged attractiveness. But she'd not have thought a woman who'd previously been married to a man as nice as Nick Raven would find the uncouth lout appealing. 'Why would she want to have anything to do with someone like him?'

'G.o.d knows ... but they're probably both hoping to wind me up over it. Charlie's got scores to settle with me. Blanche doesn't want me to divorce her. I don't think either of them is bright enough to realise I don't give a toss what they do.' He swiped his fingers over his jaw. 'Well, that's not quite true. I wouldn't like to see Blanche get hurt any more than her father would.' He shrugged. 'But it's her life ... and if she won't listen there's not much anyone can do.'

'You think Charlie's still mad at you because you beat him up over your mum?'

'He won't have forgotten that, or getting a bucket of water thrown over him.' Nick chuckled at the memory of it.

Kathy moistened her lips, feeling far from amused. 'It must be a great worry for you.'

He smiled, holding her gaze, making Kathy feel warm and comfortable and, oddly, that his wife was an idiot to have lost him.

'You'd better get going if you've got a date this evening,' Nick said.

Kathy nodded, murmuring thanks for all he'd done as she opened the car door. Before he could drive off, she ducked quickly down to speak to him. 'Shall I let you know what Ruby says about moving to Islington?'

'I'll come over Friday evening ... unless you feel like coming round mine sooner than that, to let me know about it. Want the address?'

Kathy blinked, aware of the challenge in his voice and what lay behind it. She shook her head. 'See you Friday. I'll have finished my rounds by six o'clock, unless there's an emergency.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.

Nick checked his watch, then started drumming impatient fingers on the steering wheel of his car. If George Clark didn't turn up in a minute, he'd get going. The appointment had been for eight o'clock, annoyingly late, but the only time that had suited both of them. Now it was twenty past and Nick was wondering whether the estate agent had been so desperate for a sale that he'd been overoptimistic promising to drive from the other side of town to meet him. The fellow had told him the electricity was still connected to the house Nick was viewing; if it wasn't, Nick knew he'd certainly wasted his time hanging around. He got out of the car and strolled beneath a gas lamp to light up a cigarette, then continued stretching his legs in a stroll along Mare Street. A woman was coming towards him and Nick halted in surprise, thinking Kathy was out doing a late visit. He tipped his hat back on his head but stopped himself calling out to her. Despite a startling similarity this individual wasn't a nurse and she lacked Kathy's grace of movement. Although the facial resemblance was remarkable, the woman was thinner, and her hair a darker blonde. She'd slowed down, eyeing him while lighting up. Throwing back her head so her hair swung about her face, she blew smoke before continuing towards him.

Kathy's sister, Nick realised, was about to offer him her services and he wasn't sure whether to laugh or turn tail in the hope Kathy never found out about it. He recalled Kathy had told him her twin's name and Nick started walking slowly, a morbid fascination to see Jennifer Finch at close quarters drawing him on. He kept going even when he heard a car stop somewhere behind and knew the estate agent had finally turned up.

Jenny had been on her way home but was always on the lookout for punters. She'd quickly a.s.sessed the scene the moment she'd clocked him watching her: smart car close by, tall good-looking fellow seemingly at a loose end. She reckoned it was her lucky day. She walked into his path. 'Got a light?'

'You don't need one.' Nick indicated the cigarette smouldering between her fingers.

Without losing eye contact Jennifer dropped the half-smoked stub to the ground, put a toe on it. 'Got a f.a.g and a light?' she asked insolently.

Nick grunted a laugh, pulling out a packet of Players. Jennifer slowly selected a cigarette from the packet, drawing on it immediately before the flaring match had died.

'One good turn deserves another,' she said.

Her voice was unattractively coa.r.s.e, Nick realised, whereas Kathy had a delicacy to her tone, even when she was telling him off.

'So ... wonder what you'd like me to do fer you?' Jenny c.o.c.ked her head at him.

'Nothing ... got an appointment ...' Nick began striding back towards Mr Clark, who looked to be on the point of getting in his car and driving off. He broke into a run, whistling to attract the fellow's attention.

'Sorry, to be so late ... d.a.m.n pile-up at King's Cross ...' George explained his tardiness while resting a pile of paperwork on the roof of his car. He held out a hand for Nick to shake.

Nick muttered something in response, trying to make up his mind whether George had done him a favour in making him wait. He'd now met Kathy's brother and sister, and he could understand why she'd been reluctant to introduce him to any of her family. He took a look over his shoulder to see Jennifer disappearing inside a house.

Half an hour later, Nick was back in his car, having agreed to buy the property at a discount. He raised a hand as George set off up the road, looking pleased with himself. Nick was about to start the ignition when he hesitated, staring at the house he'd seen Jennifer enter. It took just a moment for him to decide not to mention the meeting to Kathy because it was sure to embarra.s.s her, then she might find excuses to avoid him ...

Nick's eyes focused on the gloomy street scene and instinctively he ducked his head down, swearing beneath his breath as he recognised somebody else he'd come to know through Kathy.

David Goldstein didn't have to wait long for Jennifer to open up and, after a split second when it seemed she might shut the door in his face, Kathy's boyfriend disappeared inside Jennifer's house.

'Do you mind if I go to the party? I ought to show my face. We won't be able to see each other later that evening, though.'

'Of course you must go, and have a good time,' Kathy replied. 'You can't miss it now you've w.a.n.gled time off work specially.'

'Sergeant Booth'll make sure I get an extra shift next week to make up for it,' David smiled wryly.

David didn't spell out that the invitation to his cousin's Bar Mitzvah hadn't been extended to Kathy. She knew, and whereas once she would have been hurt to be excluded, now she felt hardly a twinge of disappointment. She certainly couldn't grumble that it was unfair rejection by his family: if the Finches had a celebration to attend which they rarely did, as nothing nice seemed to happen to merit it she wouldn't be able to invite David along. Her father in particular would be horrified at the idea of a Jewish policeman being introduced to relatives as a possible son-in-law. If her mother insisted David was welcome, simply to show the gossips that one of her girls had caught a respectable man, Kathy would be on tenterhooks the whole time in case her father made his disgust obvious. Her mother, of course, would be on tenterhooks in case Jennifer's name cropped up ...

'Penny for your thoughts,' David said, putting an arm about Kathy's shoulders.

'I was just thinking about my sister,' Kathy replied as they settled into a stroll. 'I haven't stopped by to see her recently.'

'Any reason for that?' David asked distantly.

'Not really ... she was moody last time I went there. I don't know why I bother with her sometimes. But I feel I ought to keep in touch; she is family, after all.'

'She's a big girl. She can look after herself.' David rubbed his hand against Kathy's arm. 'Did you like the film?'

'Did you?' Kathy threw the question back.

They chuckled simultaneously. It had pa.s.sed the time away, despite being far from the scintillating comedy promised by the advertising h.o.a.rding.

'Want a cup of tea?' They'd arrived back at Kathy's and stopped by the gate. 'I'll stick the kettle on. Eunice baked a lemon sponge cake and gave me some.'

'Tempting ... but better get off. I'm on early shift tomorrow.' David leaned in to slide together their lips. He always gave her a good-night kiss but usually somewhere more private.

'David! You should have come in to do that,' Kathy teasingly scolded. 'You'll scandalise the neighbours.' It was an unnecessary rebuke. There had been no pa.s.sion in it and Kathy realised he'd not come over amorous in the way he used to in a long while. She accepted that their romance was fading. She still looked forward to seeing him but with the sort of mild antic.i.p.ation she used to feel when meeting her brother, Tom, in the days before he turned into a wretch.

'One day, I just might scandalise people ...' David uttered hoa.r.s.ely, his expression vacant.

Kathy frowned. David's mood swings were unpredictable; at times she worried he was sinking into depression. She put a soft palm to his cheek. 'What's up? Work getting you down?'

'Yeah ... I could do with a change.' He paused. 'I don't reckon anybody saw me kiss you just then. Don't want the old biddies twitching their curtains and having a gossip. You don't deserve that, Kathy ... not you ...'

'Don't be daft! If spying on a couple having a kiss sends people into a tizz, G.o.d help them, I say.' To prove to him she'd meant what she said she went onto tiptoe and moved her lips on his. There was no welcoming touch, just a slight flinch of surprise from David. 'Have a good Bar Mitzvah; you must let me know all about it next week.' Kathy walked up the path feeling an odd mixture of sadness and relief creep up on her at their parting.

'For heaven's sake, Jenny! Not again.'

Moments ago, Kathy had fished the key out of Jennifer's letter box where it hung on a bit of string. She'd let herself in to her twin's home to find Jennifer being sick in a bucket. After her sister had suffered the last stomach infection, Kathy had hoped her twin might use the carbolic soap a bit more often. She often nagged her about it, but neither Jennifer's home nor her person ever looked spruce.

'Don't fuss,' Jenny muttered irritably, dumping the bucket down on the carpet. She rolled off the sofa to stand unsteadily, hand clasping her forehead. Having ambled to the sink she turned on the tap and got a cup of water, gargling and spitting into the stained china. Then she sank onto a stool, dropping her head into her hands.

'I'll get you another cup of water.' Kathy approached her. 'You should drink some of it this time ...'

Jennifer gestured limply that she wanted to be left alone.

Kathy watched her twin for a moment, sensing more than a raging bellyache was troubling Jennifer. She hunkered down beside her but the sickly sweet smell of alcohol made her wearily straighten up.

'Are you hungover?'

'Yeah ... So what ...?'

Kathy sighed and automatically began picking up crockery from the floor and dumping it in the sink.

'Just leave it alone!' Jenny snarled. 'I can do the washing up later!'

'I'll do it ...'

'I don't f.u.c.kin' want you to!' Jennifer shrieked. 'Can't you understand? I don't want you here!'

'What's up with you? You've been acting odd well, worse than usual for weeks now and I've had enough of it. Who do you think's gonna come by and help you out with food and money, if I don't?'

'You're so very kind to me, aren't you?' Jenny mimicked nastily, eyes blazing. 'You're so nice to everybody, aren't you, Miss Perfect?' She sc.r.a.ped her lank hair behind her ears. 'You always was, wasn't yer? Good little swot at school, good little gel at home fer Mummy 'n' Daddy ...' She shot up off the seat, pointing at Kathy. 'Well, you make me sick with all that holier-than-thou c.r.a.p!' She swiped the finger under her running nose. 'Weren't nuthin' left fer me to be but a disgrace, was there, 'cos n.o.body could ever be as wonderful as you?'

Kathy stared at Jennifer. 'Sounds as though you've wanted to get that off your chest for a long while ... have you?'

'Yeah, I f.u.c.king have!' Jenny raged, her eyes watery. Suddenly her mouth ballooned and, stumbling a few paces to the sink, she was sick on top of the crockery.

Kathy groaned a sigh, then began studying her sister more closely. Jennifer was standing sideways on to her while leaning on the wooden draining board and Kathy could see a tell-tale b.u.mp straining her sister's clothes. The reason for Jennifer's nausea suddenly held a very depressing meaning. Given her twin's profession, Kathy suddenly felt daft for not wising up sooner.

'Are you pregnant, Jennifer?' Kathy prayed her sister would deny it. Her heart leaped to her mouth in the ensuing silence. Doggedly, she repeated her question.

Still Jennifer didn't react in any way. She continued leaning on the draining board with her forehead propped on a braced arm.

'You are, aren't you?' Kathy muttered hopelessly.

'Yeah, I'm expecting ... gonna help me out, are yer?' Jenny wiped a hand across her mouth, then sent her sister a venomous look. 'You must know how it's done and I could do with a few ideas 'cos the gin ain't shifted it.'

'I hope you're not suggesting what I think you are.' Kathy sounded appalled. It was her job to nurture new life, not destroy it. She would have thought, given Jennifer's occupation, that her sister was clued up on contraception. Of course, however careful women were with their methods, accidents happened.

'See what I mean about you, Miss Goody Two-Shoes.' Jenny gave an acid laugh. 'Wish I lived in cloud-cuckoo-land with you. Don't know nuthin' about real life, do you?'

'I know I'm not a murderer. And if you think I've got an easy ride, you should come with me on my rounds and swaddle a few stillborns. You might be sick of me but, believe me, I'm sick to death of you too! I'm up to the back teeth with your whining and your disgusting habits.' Kathy came to a breathless stop, noticing that Jennifer had let her greasy hair curtain the sides of her face, trying to hide her snivelling. Kathy made no attempt to comfort her. She meant what she'd said and knew she could have told her sister a good many more home truths.

'Have you told Bill the good news?' Kathy snapped sarcastically.