Songbird (17 page)

“It’s no good complaining,” came the fed up reply. “You should know what he’s like by now. He wants every loose end tied up in a pretty pink bow, which he can then present to the prosecution, so he can claim credit for doing his bit.”

“But we’ve already established what happened. It’s gang warfare, pure and simple. Two lowlifes face each other down: one gets shot and killed; a man gets caught in the crossfire and a woman gets wounded. Moreover, there were enough witnesses to fill a courtroom; even Carter’s men spilled their guts to save their own necks. So, as far as I’m concerned, we’ve already tied up all the loose ends.
I
reckon it’s time to concentrate on other matters, such as keeping a wary eye on the villains who are already straining at the leash to rule the roost, especially now that Carter will be pushing up the daisies and Drayton is locked up.”

“You’ve learned nothing then.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“All I’m saying is, you must never underestimate men like that.” DI Warren knew from experience that there was always more going on than met the eye. “Being locked in a prison cell won’t stop a lowlife like Drayton from keeping his thumb on the pulse. He’s still in control, don’t you worry about that. And it won’t matter how many small-time thugs are straining at the leash, they’ve got no chance, because locked up, or loose on the streets, a man like Drayton is still top dog. Take my word for it. Nothing goes down without his say-so.”

The younger man glanced at him. “So, we’d best keep our wits sharp then, eh?”

“That’s about the size of it. As for the two singers who worked at the club, I for one wouldn’t mind clearing that one up. According to one of the regular clubgoers, Drayton got rid of his regular artist, in favor of a bright young thing who just happened to be working for Carter.” Pausing to light up his cigarette, he continued, “I’d like to meet up with these two girls and hear their side of it. We’re still trying to get an address for Ellen Drew. Delaney is missing from the Battersea flat — no one there has seen her for a good while.”

“Okay. But you’re surely not suggesting they had anything to do with what happened? I mean, it’s common knowledge that Carter and Drayton have been at each other’s throats for years.”

“I know all that. From the clubbers who witnessed the incident, we know enough of what went down in that alley, anyway. All the same, I’d still like to take their statements.”

The younger man dismissed the idea of even more work. “If you ask me, we don’t need to hear what they have to say. We’ve got Drayton bang to rights and I reckon there’s little point in wasting valuable resources in tracking the women down. If you ask
me
, that is.”

“Well, nobody
is
asking you!”

“Maybe not. But I’ll say it anyway. Moreover, we should not be engaging time and manpower in an operation that would add little or nothing to what we already know. I say we’d be best employed in consolidating what we’ve got. We need to keep a sharp eye on Drayton’s contacts, and make damned sure the bastard never again sets foot in the free world. Or at least, not until he’s old and gray.”

The DI gave his Sergeant a shove toward the car. “I think we’ve heard enough of your opinions. Now get in and drive!”

“Where to?”

“University College Hospital.”

“You’ll not get much joy there,” the Sergeant predicted. “That woman doesn’t have a clue what went down. If you ask me, the poor cow just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

DI Warren lit a cigarette and took a deep, calming breath. “Like I said, nobody’s asking you. So, until somebody tells me otherwise,
I’m
giving the orders around here, and
I
say it’s time we paid another visit, to see how the patient is getting on. Put your foot down, Sergeant, and we might get there before the canteen closes. I’d swap my old granny for a nice cup of tea and a Garibaldi biscuit…”

When Maddy and
Ellen clambered off the train at Blackpool North station, it was still light, a beautiful warm summer’s evening. “I hadn’t realized how much I enjoy train rides,” Maddy said as they strolled up the platform. “It’s been years since I went on one.”

Ellen couldn’t help but wonder about her — what kind of childhood she had endured; where she hailed from, and what her life had been like, up to Drayton taking her on.

Drawing on what she had learned so far, Ellen surmised that Maddy had been a bit of a loner, an orphan without other relatives to fall back on. But then she had met up with a man like Drayton who earned her trust and her love, before using and abusing her. That was the worst kind of blow.

Maddy’s savior had been Alice, who gave her love and friendship and asked for nothing in return. And now, because of what had occurred back in Soho, and the deceit in which Ellen herself had played a large part, Maddy was made to believe she had lost the only real friend she had ever known.

Shivering suddenly, Ellen wondered whether she had done wrong, taking it on herself to carry out Alice’s wishes. But the more she had thought on it, the more she realized that if Maddy were to be brought to safety, there really was no alternative.

She had noticed how, several times on the train, Maddy had sat and gazed out the window, watching the miles speed her away from everything familiar. Occasionally, she made an excuse to go to the toilet, and when she came back, her eyes were red raw from crying. And when Ellen asked if she was all right, she would smile and nod, and say not a word.

“I’m sorry,” Maddy apologized. “I wasn’t much company on the train, was I?”

“No problem,” Ellen answered. “You had things on your mind, and who could blame you for that?”

“I owe you a lot,” Maddy said. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you.” She threaded her arm through Ellen’s. “Besides, we’re here now, and we have to make the most of it — isn’t that right?”

“And are you okay with that, Maddy? I mean, you’ve gone along with all my suggestions, because you have no one else and nowhere to go. You’re in a vulnerable position, what with the baby and everything. You must be so nervous, coming here with me.”

“What makes you say that?” Maddy thought she had managed to keep her anxiety to herself. Certainly that had been her intention.

Now that the subject was breached, Ellen answered honestly. “I was just thinking, how it must all be so strange to you — leaving familiar surroundings on my say-so; traveling hundreds of miles to a strange place you’ve never even seen.”

“I trust you, don’t I?”

“Obviously. But as far as you know, it could be yet another catastrophe. And while I’ve known and loved my grandad all my life, to you he’s just a stranger.”

Ellen couldn’t help but wonder how she herself might cope: having no family whatsoever, meeting up with a man like Drayton, being beaten and abused and made with child, then have him reject you both so callously. Then there was the ordeal of watching her two dearest friends shot down in cold blood. And now, being torn away to travel miles from her home, with practically only the clothes she stood up in.

Laying it bare like that, Ellen truly believed that if it was her in Maddy’s shoes, she might well have cracked up before now. But who could tell? Who could predict what Fate has in store, and whether or not we will have the strength of mind to cope with it all?

As Maddy had not yet answered her question, Ellen put it again. “
Are
you okay with us coming up here, Maddy?”

Maddy took a second to think, then said, “Yes, I’m okay, and I’m very grateful to you for taking me under your wing.” She had never leaned on anyone in her life — not even on Alice. But the recent sequence of events had taken a terrible toll on her. She felt isolated and lonely. Moreover, try as she might, she could see no real future. Today was a hurried and temporary measure. But where she might go from here and what lay ahead, she had no idea.

On the train she had tried to get her thoughts together, to make some kind of plan. But by the time they reached Blackpool, she was as unsure as ever. Heartsore and deeply shaken at losing both Jack and Alice, there was little else she could think of right now and, in her heart of hearts, she knew it would take a long time to come to terms with everything.

On the other hand, sitting quiet on the train, steeped in thought and with the rhythmic throb of the engine lulling her fears, she was made to think about her child. And as the miles had sped away, the burden of what she had left behind seemed to somehow lift from her shoulders.

At first, when she absentmindedly gazed out of the window, nothing interested her. It was just a journey, a strange and frightening journey she had never wanted to make. Then, so slowly she had hardly noticed, she found herself soaking in the landscape and appreciating the beauty of God’s world all about her. With appreciation came a deep sense of calm, and a quiet murmur of hope. It was a small, but comforting thing.

Interrupting her thoughts, Ellen now told Maddy, “Who knows? Coming away from the nightclub scene could be the best thing in the world, for both of us. As long as we can keep singing, that is! I hope you like Blackpool, Maddy. It’s so different from London.”

“It’s always been on my mind to come up here and see the sights, but somehow I never did,” Maddy replied. “So, what can I expect?”

Ellen chuckled. “When it’s cold, you’ll shiver to your roots, and when it’s windy, you can hardly stand up straight. If it’s cold
and
windy, you’ll likely be picked up and frozen in midair.”

Maddy laughed out loud. “It’s not that bad, surely?”

“Can be, yes. That’s why it’s almost deserted in the winter, save for a few brave souls, come to see our famous Illuminations.”

“And in the summer?”

“Ah, now that’s different.” Ellen loved Blackpool, whatever the season. “In the summer it’s noisy and you can barely find a table in the cafés. There are groups of bare-chested blokes strutting down the street, fancying their chances with every girl that comes along. You’ll find an ice cream parlor and a pub round every corner, with theaters and amusement arcades everywhere you look. And I’m going to leave you to discover the amazing Tower for yourself: I won’t say a word!”

Seeing the line of cabs waiting, she ushered Maddy toward the queue. “There’s nowhere else like Blackpool in the whole wide world,” she sighed happily. “Whenever you’re feeling low, all you have to do is take a ride in a horse-carriage and clip-clop along the front to the Pleasure Beach, or climb onto a tram and let yourself be taken back in time…” Then, realizing she had gone all sentimental, she swiftly changed her tone. “Honestly, Maddy, it really is so amazing! And oh, how I’ve missed it while I’ve been away.”

“If you love it so much, why did you ever leave?” Maddy asked. She had seen the look on Ellen’s face, and heard the love in her voice as she talked of her beloved Blackpool, and it made her curious.

Ellen explained, “Like many another starry-eyed girl, I left it because I wanted to see the world and make a career in show business. Sometimes though, the world is right there on your doorstep, and you don’t even realize.”

Maddy leaned forward. “You had a special boyfriend here, didn’t you?”

Ellen looked at her in surprise. “How did you know?”

“Because I saw the expression on your face just now.” Maddy did not want to pry, but had to ask all the same. “What happened to him?”

Ellen gave a wry little laugh. “Oh, he went off with the boss’s daughter. You see, he was always ambitious, and her father owned half the rides on the Pleasure Beach. Naturally, he saw himself as the future owner. So, you see, she had more to offer than me.”

“Do you miss him?”

“Not likely!” But that was a white lie, spoken in defense. The real truth was, even now, Ellen still cherished the memories the two of them had shared together.

A few moments later, it was their turn to get inside a taxi and, at Ellen’s request, the driver took them along the promenade. “It’s too early in the year for the lights to be switched on,” he told them, “but even when they’re not lit, they make a splendid sight. The normal period for them to be switched on is the end of August until the first week in November. Will you ladies still be here then?”

“We might be,” Ellen answered cautiously.

Maddy was thrilled to see every street lamp along the four or five miles, beautifully decorated with shapes of Disney characters, each and every one peppered with colored bulbs. “How wonderful!” she kept saying. “How amazing!”

“Hah! I can tell you’re a newcomer to Blackpool, young lady!” Born and bred in this fun town, the driver was proud to call it home. “But I promise you this, if you’ve never seen Blackpool Illuminations all lit up at night, you’ve never seen anything! There’s nowhere else like it in the whole wide world.”

When, a few minutes later, they turned away from the seafront and into Ackerman Street, the driver asked for the door number. “It’s number eight — the fourth house after the ice cream parlor.” While Ellen directed him, Maddy dug into her purse for the fare.

“And don’t forget to go on the Big Dipper,” the driver said as he waited for them to disembark. “It’s one hell of a ride, and I should know, because I’ve been on it more times than I’ve had hot dinners.” He gave a gruff laugh. “Not willingly, I might add. The thing is, I’ve got four kids; they’re all mad for the funfair, and they won’t go on without me.”

“I’ve been on it just the once,” Ellen admitted, “and that was more than enough, thank you very much!”

“Yes? Well, I’ve told my missus,
she
can go on with the kids next time. I mean, it’s not safe for a man with a dicky heart!”

“Oh dear!” Maddy said sincerely. “So you’ve got a dicky heart, have you?”

“Not yet. But if I have to go on that thing once more, I’m sure I
will
have!” With a cheeky grin and a wink, he was away full throttle, accelerating onto the Promenade so fast, there erupted a volley of car horns. “AND THE SAME TO YOU… BLOODY LUNATICS!” he bawled. Though he was plainly in the wrong, their driver gave as good as he got, adding a shake of the fist for good measure.