Promise Made (28 page)

‘Don't talk rubbish woman. You have no idea what you are saying.'

‘You think I'm stupid, don't you, Sam? Because I put up with your temper and your cheating ways, you imagine I'm just a doormat that you can wipe your feet on – but one of these days you will discover just how wrong you are.'

‘Bloody woman!' Sam muttered and knocked her aside as he walked past and out of the front door. He got into his Rolls Royce and started the engine. It was time he was at his office. There were lorries to get off and loads to check. If those lazy devils he employed were left to their own devices nothing would get done.

As he drew into the yard, he noticed that Daniel Searles had parked his battered old van in front of the office, and he felt a flutter of apprehension in his stomach. He quelled it immediately, putting on a smile as he walked into his office.

‘Good morning, Dan,' he said. ‘What can I do for you?' The smile vanished as Daniel turned to look at him and he saw the fury in his eyes. Sam glanced at his secretary. ‘Fetch me some cigarettes from the pub, Milly,' he said and gave her a pound note from his pocket. He eyed Daniel nervously as the girl took the money and went out. ‘Don't look at me like that, Dan. I had no idea what Marsham was up to at that place. I was recommended to him and I acted purely out of concern for Frances. How is she by the way? Feeling better I hope?'

‘Damn you, Sam!' Daniel said, fists balling at his side. ‘You're lying through your teeth. ‘You sent Frances there hoping that Marsham would destroy her memory with his experiments – and don't try to tell me you were afraid she might kill herself, because that would suit you down to the ground. It was because you couldn't be sure that she wouldn't talk, wasn't it – because she knew too many of your nasty little secrets? Well I know them now too – so are you going to have me dealt with by one of your bully-boys? Well, maybe I should teach you some manners and see how you like being on the receiving end for a change . . .'

‘Don't be stupid . . .' Sam said and backed away from him. ‘Keep away from me, Dan. I'm older than you are and I don't want to fight you. If you attack me I shall go to the police . . .'

‘You can do what you damned well like,' Dan said. ‘You are like a lot of bullies – you can hand it out but you can't take it. Are you coming out into the yard to stand up like a man – or do you want me to make a mess of your office?'

‘You wouldn't dare . . .' Sam backed away from him as Dan raised his fists. ‘All right, let's do it outside . . .' His brain was working furiously. There were men working in the yard; he only had to call for them to drag this maniac off him. ‘If you insist on settling this with brute force.'

He went out into the yard, ignoring the startled look his secretary threw him as she brought his cigarettes and was sent off with a jerk of the head. She took refuge in the office. Sam took his jacket off and laid it over a stack of crates. Daniel had already stripped his off and thrown it down. Sam put up his fists defensively. As a young man he'd had his share of fist fights but he knew that he wasn't up to it these days; years of good living and little exercise had taken its toll, but he couldn't lose face now, because he knew they were being watched.

‘Come on then,' he said with an air of bravado. ‘Let's get this over with . . .'

He put his fists up and stood waiting, moving from one foot to the other, weaving and ducking as Daniel came at him. He hardly saw the first punch coming, his head jerking back as it hit him on the chin. His head was reeling as he attempted to land one on his opponent, but Daniel was too quick for him. He was like lightning, jabbing and retreating, his next blow, catching Sam in the stomach, making him wince and double up. Before he could recover another four or five blows reined in, making him jerk and stagger back. He cursed himself for not finding a way out of this before it began, knowing that he was merely a punchbag for his opponent. He swore and flung himself at Daniel, trying to hold on to him like a bear hugging its victim, but though he used all his strength in a few moments he was flung back and another barrage of blows to his head sent him reeling.

‘That's it, Dan, give the bugger one for me while you're at it.'

‘Yeah, me too!'

Sam could hear the jeering as Daniel's fists exploded in his face time after time. He looked about him desperately, hoping for a sign that one of his men would be ready to pull Daniel Searles off him, but he could see hatred in the eyes of the men, who were supporting his opponent all the way. He realized that he had taken too much for granted, using his employees as if they had no feelings, expecting them to pull caps and obey his every word if they wanted to get paid. They had given him lip service because they needed their jobs, but now they were enjoying his humiliation. When this was over, he would sack the lot of them. There were plenty of men looking for work.

The next barrage of blows sent him to the ground, where he lay winded, and face down in the dirt. He sensed someone standing over him and rolled over on to his side, looking up at the man who towered above him. His thick lips pulled back in a sneer.

‘Put the boot in, Dan,' he muttered. ‘Enjoy your triumph while you can. You'll have a long time in prison to reflect on your folly . . . even longer if you kill me.'

‘You're not worth the effort,' Dan said. ‘I just wanted to let you know how it feels to be beaten, Sam. Do your worst. Go to the police, but I am going there now and I'm going to tell them what I saw in London. I think you're going to find yourself sitting in that prison cell right along with me . . .'

Dan turned and walked off, getting into his van. He drove away as Sam was rising to his feet and dusting himself down. He put his jacket on, his furious gaze moving over the small group of men that had watched the fight.

‘What the hell are you staring at?' he growled. ‘Get on with it if you value your job.'

‘I don't think I do,' one of the men said. ‘I worked for you out of respect, Danby. You're a hard man but I thought you were decent – but from what I've been hearing you're rotten through to the core. So you can keep your job and I'll be looking elsewhere.'

‘Don't come crying to me when you can't find anything, Riley,' Sam sneered and looked at the faces of the other men. ‘Any more of you want your cards?'

They looked at one another uneasily. One or two shook their head, but three of them followed Tom Riley from the yard. Sam scowled at the men who remained.

‘Get out all of you. The yard is closed for today. Anyone who wants work can sign on in the morning.'

He turned and walked into the office. Milly was putting on her coat. She wouldn't look at him as she walked towards the door.

‘Where are you going?'

Milly stopped and looked back at him. ‘I thought this was a good job when I came here, Mr Danby. My mother heard things in the shop yesterday, but I wouldn't believe them. I thought you wouldn't do anything like that – but I was wrong and now I don't want to work for you anymore.'

‘Get out like the rest of them,' Sam muttered and sat down at his desk. His ribs were aching and his face felt as if it were swelling up like a balloon. He reached for the telephone, intending to contact the police and then the employment agency in Ely. Milly was the one member of staff he really needed. His hand fell back and he groaned with pain, getting to his feet. It would keep for another day.

He would go home and sit down somewhere comfortable while he planned his revenge against Daniel Searles. He had already taken measures to cover his tracks in London. With any luck it would take the police months to find the extent of his illegal dealings south of the river. He doubted that anyone knew about the gambling clubs or the other rackets. He could probably pull through this, but he was feeling too awful to deal with it just now. He had to go home.

Sam went out to the yard, getting in his car. He was moaning with the pain as he drove the short distance to his home. Rosalind looked at him as he walked into the kitchen.

‘My God!' she said. ‘What happened to you?'

‘It was Daniel Searles. He assaulted me. I'm going to sue him. He'll be ruined and serving time when I've finished with him.'

‘Serves him right for doing this to you,' Rosalind said. ‘Why don't you get into bed and I'll bring you a hot whisky toddy? Have a good sleep, Sam. It won't hurt to have a rest for once. You do far too much, and this must have shaken you up.'

‘Yeah, it has,' Sam said and looked at her. ‘I'm sorry for what I said to you earlier, Rosalind. You've always been a good wife to me – I was just upset about things. You know I wouldn't have tried to harm Frances – don't you?'

‘If you say so, Sam. I shall believe you, because you are my husband and I don't want to quarrel with you. I just want a peaceful life.'

‘That's a good girl,' Sam said and smiled at her. He had known she would fall into line. ‘Milly left today. You can give me a hand at the office until I get someone new – and I'll buy you something nice. A fur coat, if you like?'

‘That sounds lovely,' Rosalind said. ‘Up you go now and I'll bring you a soothing drink.'

She smiled as he walked out of the kitchen, and then she took a pair of rubber gloves from the dresser drawer. She set a heavy glass on the table and spooned some sugar into it, poured a stiff measure of whisky and poured on the hot water, mixing it well. For a moment she hesitated, and then she went to the cupboard under the sink, taking out the small packet of rat poison that Sam had bought. He had refused to let her buy it, because he said the stuff he got through his agricultural merchant was stronger.

She sprinkled a little into the glass and stirred until it had dissolved, and then she added a drop more whisky for good measure. She transferred the glass to a little tray, took off her rubber gloves and picked up the tray.

Sam was in bed when she entered the room, propped up against the pillows. She offered him the glass. He took it, smiled at her and drank it down without a murmur.

‘That was good, lass,' he told her.

‘Go to sleep, Sam,' she said and went out of the room.

‘Oh, Dan,' Alice said as she saw the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes when he walked in later that day. ‘What have you done?'

‘I thrashed him, Alice.' He glanced at Frances, who was sitting at the kitchen table, an untouched mug of tea in front of her. ‘I made him pay for what he did to you, Frances. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I didn't realize what was going on.'

Frances smiled at him. ‘I wish I had seen you beat him, Dan,' she said. ‘Thank you for that, because it wasn't enough that he may be in some trouble with the police. I know how clever he is over these things. He will probably wriggle out of most of it – though the whispers will ruin him locally.'

‘I think they already have,' Daniel said with satisfaction. ‘The rumours are spreading, and after this morning everyone will know what he has been up to.' He glanced round the room. ‘Where is Emily?'

‘She went back to the house to collect some things for me,' Frances said. ‘I didn't feel up to it and Emily said she would be happy if Sam called and she got a chance to tell him what she thought of him. We're leaving as soon as she gets back.'

‘Yes, just as well,' Daniel said. ‘He won't get a chance to do anything unpleasant to you then. I doubt if he will feel much like doing anything for a couple of days.'

‘I hope it won't mean trouble for you, Dan,' Frances said looking at Alice's worried face. ‘I'm glad you thrashed him – but I don't want you to go to prison for it.'

‘Don't worry,' Daniel reassured her. ‘When he thinks it through he will see that it would just cause more trouble for him. If I get my day in court I'll see that he gets dragged through as much mud as I can find. That apartment building in South London isn't the only dirty thing Sam has his fingers into, don't you worry. It just needs a bit of investigating and a whole lot more will surface. Sam won't want to risk that, believe me. He will probably offer me money to sort this thing out. I shan't take it but it's what I expect of him.'

‘I hope you're right,' Alice said. She turned her head as the sound of a car engine was heard outside. ‘It sounds as if Emily is back, Frances.' She went to embrace her sister-in-law. ‘Take care of yourself, love. We shall always be here for you if you need us.'

‘Yes, I know.' Frances kissed her cheek. She gave her sister-in-law a wry smile. ‘I thought I was all alone after Charlie died – but Emily moved mountains to get me out of that horrible place – and Dan has risked his future for my sake. I didn't realize that I was loved so much.'

‘Of course we love you. We always have.'

‘Are you ready?' Emily said as she came in at the kitchen door. ‘I'll ring you, Alice. Dan – are you all right?' Her eyes went over him. ‘Muriel told me there's a tale going round the village that you thrashed Sam Danby for what he did to Frances?'

‘Yeah, too right I did – and I'm fine,' he said, grinning at her. ‘You did things your way – I've done them mine.'

‘Well, it seems to have gone down well with the locals. Muriel says that someone needed to stand up to him before this and she thinks you're a bit of a hero.'

‘Nah,' Daniel said but his eyes were bright with triumph. ‘You had better get off. You've a long way to go.' He went to the door to watch them get into the car, waving until the car pulled out of the yard.

Going back into the kitchen, Dan looked at Alice. He saw the anxiety in her eyes and sighed because he didn't want her upset.

‘Yes, I know it was a daft thing to do, love – and I know I could go to prison for it – but I had to do it. I couldn't let him get away with what he did to Frances.'