Family Betrayal (30 page)

After changing the bed, Pet went downstairs to find Ivy sitting in front of the fire.

‘The spuds are cooking,’ she said, ‘and I've lit the oven to heat up the casserole.’

‘Is there anything I can do?’ Pet asked, but then the front door opened, and with a flurry of cold air Steve and the boys rushed in.

Steve drew to a halt, his face registering his surprise. ‘Blimey, Pet. What are you doing here?’

‘She's come to stay for a while. I'll tell you about it later, but it can wait for now.’

‘Look, Ernie, it's Auntie Pet,’ Harry cried, the five-year-old hopping with excitement.

Pet gave them a hug, but then Ivy said, ‘All right, boys, no doubt you're hungry, so go and wash your hands while I dish up dinner.’

Ernie grinned widely, green eyes just like his father's, twinkling. Pet smiled back at him, feeling a little happier. They were pleased to see her, welcomed her, and at last she felt like she was part of a family again.

Chapter Thirty-four

 

In Drapers Alley, Yvonne was unable to sit still. She paced the floor, wringing her hands whilst her mother-in-law sat staring into the fire. It was eight in the evening when the door opened and Sue walked in.

‘The boys are asleep, but I can't leave them on their own for long. Is there any news?’

‘No, nothing,’ Yvonne told her. ‘I went down to the station, but they wouldn't let me see Danny. All I was told was that he was still being questioned.’

Yvonne was startled when her mother-in-law suddenly rose to her feet. ‘I didn't want to believe Petula – I thought she'd lost her mind – but now I know that she was telling the truth. I've got to find her. Where do you think she's gone?’

‘I don't know, Mum, she could be anywhere. She was ready to go when the police came so she must have had something planned.’

‘As far as I'm concerned, she'd better stay away,’ Sue
snapped. ‘I used to think a lot of Pet, but she's a grass and if I get my hands on her I'll bloody kill her.’

‘Oh no you won't,’ Joan snapped. ‘Since the boys were taken for questioning I've been sitting here, turning it all over in my mind, and I'm sickened by the lot of you. When Dan died, I went into a sort of stupor and like a fool I blamed Petula. My God, what I've put that poor girl through doesn't bear thinking about. Porn – my sons making porn! It's disgusting, and you two must have known about it. Get out of my house, go on, get out, and don't show your faces in here again.’

‘Don't come the high and mighty with us,’ Sue yelled. ‘From what Yvonne told me, the police had an arrest warrant for Dan.’

‘That was a mistake. My Dan would never be mixed up in porn.’

‘Don't kid yourself,’ Sue snapped. ‘He was up to his eyeballs in it from the beginning and don't tell me that you haven't worked that out for yourself, and let me tell you—’

‘Come on, Sue, leave it. Can't you see she's had enough?’ Yvonne urged, taking Sue's arm.

Joan looked awful, her skin the colour of putty.

‘I've hardly started, but don't worry, I'm going. I can't risk leaving the kids for much longer.’ Sue's eyes snapped to Joan again. ‘Oh, yes, and talking about my boys, they're your grandsons but you hardly know they exist.’

‘Get out!’

Sue threw Joan a look of disgust before leaving, but Yvonne remained, only for Joan to say, ‘And you can get out too.’

‘Oh, Mum, don't say that. I can't leave you like this. Look, I'll make us both a cup of tea.’

Yvonne hurried through to the kitchen, stiff with tension as she made a brew. She moved slowly, hoping that by the time it was made, her mother-in-law would have calmed down. When it was ready she tentatively carried it through to the living room, only to find that Joan still glared at her angrily.

‘You knew, didn't you – knew that the boys were mixed up in porn, and worse, from what Petula said, they use kids?’

‘No, Mum, no, they would never do that. Pet got it wrong and she knows that now.’

‘Huh, and I'm supposed to believe you?’ Joan snapped. ‘Well, I don't. You lied to me about Petula. You said she hadn't been raped, or are you going to say she got that wrong too? No, of course you can't. When the doctor examined her, I saw the state of her with my own eyes.’

‘I was just trying to protect you – to protect Dan.’

‘Sue said that Dan was mixed up in making mucky films too. Is that true?’

Yvonne was saved from answering when the front door opened again, Danny and Chris walking in.
With a gasp Yvonne ran into her husband's arms. ‘Oh, Danny, Danny.’

‘It's all right, we're in the clear. The premises are in Dad's name so they don't have any proof that we were involved.’

‘But Chris said that you hadn't closed down.’

With a rueful smile Chris said, ‘Yeah, me and my big mouth, but at the end of the day it didn't matter. All they found was the equipment and a few reels of films that hadn't been distributed. As Danny said, the place is in Dad's name so there was nothing to tie it directly to us.’

Danny frowned as he looked at his mother. ‘You look awful, Mum, but don't worry. It's all over now.’

‘All over?’ she snapped. ‘How can it be over when my daughter has run off and I don't know where she is? Sue tells me that your father was wrapped up in porn too. I want the truth, Danny, and from the beginning.’

Danny ran both hands over his face. ‘Mum, it's been a long day and we're bushed. Can't this wait until tomorrow?’

‘No, it can't. I want the truth – and now!’

‘All right, calm down. I'll tell you, but sit down first.’

She glared at him, but nevertheless sat down. ‘Right, let's hear it.’

‘Danny, no …’ Chris warned.

Danny ignored him. ‘Dad was past cracking safes,
Mum, and it was my idea to make porn films. He wasn't interested at first, but I talked him round.’ Danny paused to take a breath, then went on to tell his mother everything, finally saying, ‘So you see, Pet was snatched because we went into Jack Garston's territory.’

Joan looked stunned. Then she suddenly reared to her feet, screeching, ‘Get out! Get out of my house!’

‘What?’

‘You heard me!’ And turning to Chris she shrieked, ‘And that goes for you too.’

‘Mum, calm down.’

‘Calm down? You expect me to calm down? Your father was sick, you're sick, the lot of you. Now go, get out of my house!’

Yvonne could see that her mother-in-law was near breaking point, her chest heaving as she glared at them. ‘Come on, Danny,’ she urged. ‘Your mother's had enough for one day.’

For a moment she thought he was going to argue, but then he nodded. ‘Yeah, come on, Chris. Yvonne's right.’

Yvonne shivered as they walked outside, pulling her cardigan around her chest.

‘You should have kept your mouth shut, Danny,’ Chris spat.

‘She had to know sometime.’

‘She took it badly,’ said Chris, ‘and I'm not surprised.’

‘She'll come round,’ Yvonne placated, ‘and in the meantime, Chris, you're welcome to stay with us.’

‘No thanks.’

‘But where will you sleep?’

‘Don't worry about me. I'll sort something out.’

‘What happened to Maurice?’

‘He went straight home, and Gawd knows what he's gonna tell Norma. Anyway, I'm off,’ he said, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he walked out of the alley.

When they went indoors, Danny lit the fire. Then, sighing heavily, he said, ‘I made a right mess of that. Maybe I should go back. I don't like leaving Mum in that state.’

‘No, not yet. She's been through enough and needs time to calm down. Leave her to sleep on it, love.’

As the fire took hold, Danny slumped onto the sofa. Yvonne sat beside him, taking a deep breath before voicing her thoughts. ‘Danny, I've been thinking about Pet.’

‘Grassing on us didn't do her any good. As I said, the place is in Dad's name so they've got nothing on us.’

‘That's just it. Didn't the police say that acting on information received, they searched the premises?’

‘Yeah, that's right.’

‘Danny, think about it. Jack Garston showed Pet some films, told her they were yours, but not where you made them. She knew nothing about the premises so how could she have dobbed you in?’

Danny frowned, but as the penny dropped, he jumped to his feet. ‘Bloody hell, you're right. It couldn't have been Pet.’ He rubbed a hand across his forehead. ‘But if it wasn't her – who was it?’

Yvonne shook her head, unable to give him an answer, whilst Danny began to pace the room.

‘Jack Garston!’ he suddenly yelled. ‘It must have been him. Wait till I get my hands on that bastard.’

Yvonne's stomach clenched. ‘No, Danny, no. Think, you've got to think. If you go after Garston he'll retaliate. Last time he took Pet, and you know what he did to her. What if this time he takes me, or one of the kids?’

‘He wouldn't fucking dare.’

Yvonne jumped to her feet, but feeling a surge of dizziness she sank back onto the sofa. It had been a dreadful day, and now this. She felt sick, nauseous, her nerves at breaking point.

‘Yvonne, what is it? What's wrong?’

Though she hated herself for doing it – hated using it as a weapon – Yvonne knew she had no choice. She had to stop Danny from going after Garston. ‘It … it's my blood pressure. The doctor warned me that it's high. He … he said it can be dangerous, both for me and the baby. I'm supposed to rest and avoid stress.’

‘Right, come on then,’ Danny said, leaning over to heave her into his arms. ‘Let's get you up to bed.’

‘Please, Danny,’ Yvonne begged as she leaned her
head on his shoulder. ‘Please don't go after Garston. I'm frightened – scared of what he'll do.’

She felt his arms tighten around her and tensed, but then he said, ‘All right, don't get upset. I'll leave him alone for now.’

Yvonne raised her head to look at Danny's face. ‘For now’, he had said. She sighed, knowing from his expression that for the time being, she'd have to be content with that.

Sue snuggled up to Bob, relieved that he was home and in the clear. ‘They kept you at the station for bloody hours,’ she complained. ‘I went to your mum's to see if there was any news, but the old cow chucked me out.’

‘Why did she do that?’

‘Ain't it obvious? She knows about the porn now and said she's disgusted with the lot of us.’

‘She's upset, love, but I'm sure she doesn't blame you.’

‘Huh, knowing your mother she probably thinks I put you up to it,’ Sue said as her eyes flicked round the room. She had made a bit of an effort for the kids' sake, putting up a few decorations, but even so, it was going to be a lousy Christmas. Mind you, she consoled herself, they'd be all right next year. When Dan's will was read, Bob was sure to get a chunk of the business and it must be worth a pretty penny.

‘Have you seen your dad's will?’

‘Leave it out. Mum's been in too much of a state to think about the will – we all have. I think she's got it, but it can wait until after the funeral.’

Sue hid her disappointment, but it wasn't the only thing that was disappointing her lately. She ran her hand along Bob's leg, but there was no response. He wasn't interested and hadn't been since his father died, but maybe she could try something else to tickle his fancy. ‘Bob,’ she said, leading up to it, ‘it'll be Christmas Eve in a couple of days and we'll have to make a bit of an effort for the kids.’

‘It doesn't seem right.’

‘It isn't fair to ruin their Christmas. I'm not asking for much, just that we let them put out a mince pie for Father Christmas and some milk for the reindeers as usual.’

‘Yeah, all right.’

‘I don't expect you to dress up as Santa this year, but what about your Christmas treat? Instead of waiting, you can have it now if you like.’

‘You've still got the outfit?’

‘Of course I have. I'll go and put it on.’

‘Not tonight, love. I'm bushed and I ain't in the mood.’

‘You don't want Santa's little helper?’ she asked as she ran her hand along the inside of Bob's leg.

‘Leave off, love,’ he said, moving her hand away
as he stood up. ‘I'm knackered and I think I'll have an early night. Are you coming?’

‘There ain't much chance of that these days,’ she snapped.

‘Trust you to take it the wrong way. I meant are you coming to bed?’ but then seeing the funny side, he began to laugh.

Sue found it infectious, the pair of them soon doubled up with mirth. Sue didn't know what caused it, but as though the laughter had released something in Bob, the tension that had lined his face dissipated. He held out his hand, and with a wink said, ‘Come on then, let's see you in that outfit.’

Sue didn't need telling twice. Giggling, she ran upstairs, but she didn't have time to put the pixie costume on before Bob grabbed her, pulling her onto the bed.

Joan sat alone in a silent house. Now, instead of grief, she felt only anger. Dan had been mixed up in porn and her stomach churned. He had ruled the boys and the business, one that she now knew was just a front. Oh, she had known that Dan was a bit of a rogue when she married him, but despite that she had admired his morals, the code that he lived by. Women, he always said, were to be respected, protected, looked after, and it was something he had instilled in his sons. Or so she had thought. Her teeth ground together. How could using women to
make disgusting pornographic films be respecting them? And children – Pet said they used children. It was awful, dreadful. Oh God, what an idiot she'd been, a blind fool. The man she had loved, looked up to, had turned out to be a sick monster.

She glanced at the clock, worried about her daughter and hating herself for what she had put her through. Petula had been raped, violently, but she had hardly shown her an ounce of sympathy, her concern only for Dan and that he didn't find out.

The poor girl had held it all inside, eating away at her, and was it any wonder that it had all burst out? She had blamed her daughter for Dan's death, and maybe him hearing about the rape had been the catalyst, but in truth she knew that Dan had been going downhill for a while.

Joan sat wringing her hands. Danny had threatened to kill Petula. The poor girl must be so frightened, hiding, but Joan didn't blame her for going to the police. If she had known what they were up to, she'd have done the same. They were sick, disgusting, using poor children to make those awful films.

There was only one thing Joan wanted now and that was to have her daughter safely home again. She'd never been much of a mother, had treated her daughter badly, but now she just wanted the chance to make it up to her.

Oh, Pet, where are you? her mind cried out. You're all I have left now. Please come home. Don't be frightened. I'll make sure that Danny doesn't lay a hand on you, that nobody ever lays a hand on you again. It'll be just you and me, Pet, and as far as I'm concerned, the rest of them can rot in hell.

Joan's mind twisted and turned, wondering how she could find her daughter, until, exhausted, she fell asleep where she was sitting, the fire slowly dying until at last it went out.