Family Betrayal (13 page)

Chapter Thirteen

 

Joan was the first one up on Sunday morning. She hadn't expected to sleep, but surprisingly she'd gone off as soon as her head hit the pillow. Now, though, groggy but awake, her first thought was for her husband and all she wanted was to get to the hospital. Oh, Dan, Joan inwardly cried, please be all right. Please get better.

Chris emerged as she came out of her bedroom, his face grey. ‘You look awful, Chris. Didn't you get any sleep?’

‘Yeah, I slept. What about you? Are you all right?’

Joan forced a smile. Chris was a lovely lad, thoughtful and caring. He had always been her favourite, but ashamed of preferring one child over the others, she hid her feelings. ‘I'm anxious to get back to the hospital.’

‘Yeah, me too, but we should grab a bite to eat first. I'll give Pet a nudge while you make a pot of tea.’

Joan went downstairs and in the kitchen she placed the kettle on the gas before hurrying to the bathroom. On the threshold, she paused, her eyes on a metal box on the floor. Where had that come from? Something else looked odd, out of place, and at first she couldn't comprehend what it was, but then saw that her plant was on the floor too. Joan looked at the window and frowned. The sill looked odd, raised, and crossing the room she investigated what looked like a concealed compartment.

‘Chris? Chris, come down here!’

In moments Chris was beside her. ‘What's this?’ she asked, ‘and where did that metal box come from?’

For a second Chris didn't react, but then, his voice high, he said, ‘Bloody hell, I'd best get Danny.’

‘Wait,’ Joan called, but Chris ignored her as he ran out.

Joan stared down into the cavity, her eyes then returning to the metal box. In minutes Chris was back, Danny behind him, his hair dishevelled.

‘Mum, go back to the kitchen. Leave this to us,’ Danny ordered.

‘I've worked out where the box came from, but what was in it?’

‘It was nothing, Mum. Just paperwork to do with the business, that's all.’

‘But … but why was it hidden under the sill? And who took the papers?’

‘Mum, please, we don't know, but there's nothing
to worry about, honest. Look, why don't you get yourself ready and Maurice will run you to the hospital?’

Danny's eyes were veiled and Joan could sense that he was hiding something, but in truth, she didn't want to know. It was bound to be something illegal, something her husband and sons were mixed up in, and as usual she buried her head in the sand. All she wanted was to find out how Dan was so, leaving them to it, she hurried to get dressed.

‘That was quick thinking,’ Chris hissed as soon as his mother was out of sight. ‘Papers, that was a good one.’

‘It's gone, Chris. All the money. Dad's savings, our savings, the business capital, gone!’

‘Yeah, I can see that.’

‘Was there any sign of a break-in?’

‘No, I don't think so.’

‘That's a bit odd. Didn't you hear anything?’

‘Not a sound.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yeah, I'm sure. What are you trying to imply, Danny? Are you accusing me?’

‘No, but why are you so touchy?’

‘What do you expect? There was no sign of a forced entry so you must think it's an inside job.’

‘No, Chris, I think George did it and I should have seen this coming. I should have realised that
George would need money to do a runner. We're well and truly in the shit now,’ Danny moaned as he closed the box and returned it to its hiding place. ‘Come on, the others will need to hear about this. You go to Bob's whilst I tell Maurice.’

‘What's going on?’ Pet asked as she came downstairs.

‘Nothing for you to worry about,’ Danny told her. ‘Just get yourself ready and go with Mum to the hospital.’

‘But—’

Danny and Chris both ignored their sister as they left the house, one going to number three and one to number four. Both looked grim as they knocked on the doors, and with Maurice the first to answer, Danny stepped inside.

‘There was no need to knock me up. I'm getting ready,’ Maurice said.

‘Where's Norma?’

‘She's still in bed.’

‘Good. Now listen …’

As Danny told Maurice what had happened, he saw his brother's eyes widen in shock.

‘What? It's all gone?’

‘That's what I said. The bastard took the lot.’

‘Blimey, I'm glad my savings are in a bank.’

‘Mine were in the box.’

‘Danny, I told you that money in the bank would have made a bit of interest.’

‘Yeah, I know, but I never got round to it.’

‘We had to hide the business capital, and now that it's gone we're in the shit. Bloody hell, Danny, we've got to get it back. We've got to find George.’

‘Don't you think I know that? Oh, we'll find him, and when we do …’ Danny left the sentence unfinished as he paced the small room. ‘Look, for now we'll carry on as planned. You take Mum, Yvonne and Pet to the hospital while the rest of us have a scout round.’

Norma came downstairs, preventing further conversation.

Danny left, but as soon as he walked into his own house, Yvonne said, ‘What did Chris want?’

‘Someone broke in last night and nicked Dad's papers,’ Danny lied.

‘Papers? What papers?’

‘Stuff to do with the business.’

Yvonne frowned. ‘Why would anyone want them?’

‘I don't know, and I ain't got time to worry about it now. Mum will want to get to the hospital so you'd best get a move on.’

Yvonne cocked her head to one side, her gaze intent. ‘Danny, what's really going on?’

‘Nothing! Now shut up about it and do as I said, get yourself ready.’

Yvonne did as she was told whilst Danny's thoughts raced. With their funds gone, they would need to make money, and fast. Hard porn was the
answer, but how were they supposed to get it up and running without capital? If they didn't find George, he'd have to find a way. With six families to support, Danny knew he had no choice.

By ten o'clock, only two women remained in Drapers Alley. The events of last night had caused Sue and Norma to put their differences to one side, and with the kids playing outside, they sat gossiping at Norma's table.

‘Have you seen Ivy this morning?’ Sue asked.

‘Yes, I saw her pass by earlier.’

‘I was surprised that she waited up last night, and that she made them a chocolate drink. She's never had time for any of us, so why the switch?’

‘Dan's her uncle so she's bound to be worried,’ Norma said.

It was true that Ivy didn't have any time for them, but she didn't blame her. She was sickened by the Drapers too. As far as she was concerned, Maurice was the only decent one amongst them. She'd had enough and intended to push even harder to make him see sense. They had to get away from his family, from the alley, and the business. How he could allow Oliver to grow up in this environment was beyond her, but she wasn't going to allow her son to become tainted by this rotten family.

‘Bob's gone off with the others to look for George. I wouldn't like to be in his shoes if they find him.’

‘More violence – and what will it solve? Nothing. They should leave George to the police.’

‘Leave it out, love. The Drapers take care of their own business and always have. They won't want the rozzers involved.’

‘And what if Dan dies? That means that George has got away with murder.’

‘Norma, don't say that! Bob told me that Dan was stable when they left the hospital last night.’

‘Yes, but he's in intensive care and that means it's serious.’

‘Oh, Norma, I hope Dan makes it. Bob would fall apart if anything happened to his dad. He's going to the hospital later and I wish I was going with him. He'll need me if the worst happens.’

‘I doubt you'll be allowed to go. It seems Yvonne is the only daughter-in-law with that privilege.’

‘Yeah, stuck-up cow.’ Sue paused before saying, ‘It's Petula I feel sorry for. She worships her dad and he spoils her rotten. She'll be in bits if anything happens to him.’

Norma wondered how Pet was coping. She was a nice girl, the only one of the Drapers she had any time for. Now, though, the girl had seen what her family was capable of, and her cosseted little world must be shattered. She doubted Pet would get much comfort from her mother. Joan was a cold fish, and from what she had seen last night, too wrapped up in her own world to worry about her daughter. ‘Yes,
I feel sorry for Pet too. Now then, do you want another cup of tea?’

‘I won't say no,’ Sue replied. ‘I've got a stack of ironing to do, but sod it, I'm not in the mood for housework.’

Norma smiled faintly. Sue was never in the mood for housework. Norma went through to the kitchen to make a fresh pot of tea, deciding her own cleaning could wait too. What did the house matter? She hated it, drawing no pleasure from her surroundings, and only kept it nice for Oliver's sake. Once again she was determined to leave Drapers Alley, and if Maurice wouldn't see sense, she'd leave without him, taking Oliver with her. Norma paused, biting her bottom lip. Yes, brave thoughts, but just where could they go? There was her parents' house, of course, but would they take her back? Yes, probably. They'd welcome her home, and as before, use her as a servant, someone to take care of them, but would they accept Oliver?

By eleven o'clock, her stomach awash with tea, Sue said, ‘I wonder what time they'll all be back.’

‘I don't know, and I expect they'll go again this evening.’

‘Yeah, well, my place looks like a bomb's hit it so I'd best give it a quick tidy-up.’

Norma opened the street door, relieved to see that Oliver was happily playing football with his cousins, Robby for once behaving himself.

Sue stepped outside. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘there's Ivy.’

Norma frowned. Ivy was coming into the alley from the other end so she wouldn't be passing their doors, but even from this distance she looked harassed. ‘I wonder where she's been?’

‘I dunno, but she looks a right mess,’ Sue giggled.

‘Hello, Ivy,’ Norma said as the woman drew closer. ‘What on earth have you been up to?’

‘I've been down to our allotment.’

‘I thought you left that to Steve?’

‘Yeah, well, this is his only day off so I thought I'd give him a break. The allotment's been going to seed, and anyway, I don't mind a bit of hard work. Now if you don't mind, I need to clean myself up.’

On that note Ivy went inside and Sue's eyes rounded. ‘Blimey, rather her than me.’

‘Yes, well, unlike you, Ivy is built like an ox.’

‘She's bigger than Steve, that's for sure. He's such a funny-looking bloke and I don't know what she sees in him.’

‘With Ivy's looks, beggars can't be choosers. Anyway, see you later, Sue.’

‘Yeah, see you,’ Sue said, gyrating to her door.

Norma pursed her lips, feeling the usual surge of envy. Sue was so dainty, so sexy, but then Norma stiffened her shoulders. All right, she may not be as pretty as Sue, but after seeing Ivy, she at least felt feminine.

With a last glance along the alley, Norma went
inside, and though she tried to tackle her housework, she couldn't get last night's events from her mind. George had almost beaten his father to death. How could a son do that to his own father? Bad blood, that was the problem, Norma decided, with Maurice the exception. She picked up a duster, running it over her sideboard, but then Oliver came charging in, a hand held over his eye. ‘What happened?’

‘Robby kicked the ball into my face.’

Norma took her son through to the kitchen where she bathed his eye, her jaws clenched in anger. Robby was a menace, another one with bad blood, an inherited love of violence. She just
wouldn't
have Oliver tainted. When Maurice came home she'd insist, once and for all, that they left Drapers Alley.

Ivy's lips were set as she walked into her house. There was no sign of Steve and the kids, but she could guess where they were. They'd be at the park, watching a local football match. Ivy scowled. She'd seen the way Sue and Norma had looked at her – disdain from Norma, and amusement from Sue. She hated them. Who were they to judge her? What did they know of her life? It was all right for pretty, petite Sue, and though Norma wasn't exactly an oil painting, she didn't draw pitying looks.

Ivy threw off her clothes, hastening to clean the dirt from her body, yet even when clean, she knew
she'd still be ugly. From childhood she had suffered either pity or nastiness, and at school she'd been the butt of many cruel jokes. When she looked at her cousins, especially Petula, she couldn't understand why she was so different. Her parents had been good-looking; in fact her mother had been prettier than Auntie Joan, so why had she been born to look like an outcast amongst the Drapers? It wasn't fair, it really wasn't, and because of her looks she had known more humiliation than kindness since the day she was born.

Only her mother had loved her and Ivy still hadn't come to terms with her death. She had watched her suffer, longed to do something, anything to ease her pain, and without support from her so-called family, she had felt so alone. Auntie Joan hadn't come once, and though Uncle Dan had called occasionally, she could sense he had been itching to get away.

She had been heartbroken when her mother died, and when Steve came along she had grabbed at the chance for a little comfort, allowing him liberties from day one. Making love had helped her to drown out her sorrows. Marriage and kids followed, and though the boys were little buggers at times, she loved them dearly. All she wanted for them was a better life, and had watched their developing features with anxiety. Thankfully, they hadn't inherited her looks. Though they weren't exactly handsome, their features were even and both had Steve's lovely eyes.

Ivy thought about George and felt some satisfaction, a feeling at last of superiority. Yes, her boys might be naughty at times, but look what Auntie Joan had bred: a son who had beaten his father, and from what she had seen before he'd been carried off in an ambulance, Uncle Dan was in a terrible state. Good, Ivy thought. She hoped her uncle was in pain, pain that was worse than her mother had suffered. After all, it was no more than he deserved.