The Fight for Lizzie Flowers (18 page)

Lizzie shook her head. ‘No, but where are the night shift?’

‘Elmo’s gone for ’em.’

Lizzie watched Fowler as he pulled on his jacket. ‘Where do you know Danny from?’ she asked.

He looked startled, peering out from his long hair. ‘Why’s that?’

‘I’d just like to know, that’s all.’

Fowler stared at her slyly. ‘We have a drink together now and then.’

‘Is that all?’

‘Yeah. What’s on your mind?’

Lizzie walked round the storeroom thoughtfully. She stopped and turned slowly towards him. ‘From now on, I’ll pay your wages.’

‘They’re taken care of,’ he protested at once.

‘Tell Danny you’re on my books. And if he has any complaints he can talk to me. You see, Fowler, I don’t want anyone else giving you orders.’

Fowler looked at her apprehensively. ‘I’ll have to see about that.’

‘When you come in tomorrow, I want to know that you and Elmo are working for me. That you’ll do what I say,
when
I say. If the arrangement doesn’t suit you, I’ll
understand. But I can offer you permanent employment. Not just a casual back-hander down the pub. That goes for Elmo too.’ Lizzie watched him thinking, looking her up and down as if
he’d never been spoken to like this by a woman before.

‘What about the night shift?’ he asked after a few moments.

‘I don’t need them. Bert can take care of that. So, Fowler, I’m either your boss or not. Which is it to be?’

‘Danny won’t like this.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘You’re not wrong there. He ain’t going to like much about the next few days.’ She took six pounds from the till, her week’s takings, and counted it
out under his nose. ‘Two pounds severance pay for your pals. Four pounds between you and Elmo for starters. I don’t know how much Danny is paying you, but I’ll match every
penny.’

The big man just stared at her. She kept her eyes on him, wondering what he would do. The money had caught his attention but was it enough to make him see that she was serious?

After a few seconds he shrugged. Pushing the money into his hip pocket, he nodded.

Lizzie held out her hand. ‘Agreed?’

Once again, he hesitated. Reluctantly he took her small hand in his. She gripped it as hard as she could. If trouble followed Frank here, she would be ready for it. But she had to be sure she
could trust the people around her. Even if she couldn’t trust Frank. This was her way of doing things. She was tired of people telling her she would live to regret her decisions. The choices
in her life were hers to make. And good or bad, she would make them.

That was how it was going to be.

It was early in June when Lizzie next took Polly to see Flo. Lizzie knew telling Flo that Danny and Bert were going to move Frank to Ebondale Street would be the hardest part
of all.

‘Can I go in to Auntie Lil’s?’ Polly asked as they arrived in Langley Street. ‘Rosie might be there.’

‘Yes, play in the yard. I’ll call you when Auntie Flo makes tea.’

Rather than knock on the door, Polly dashed round to the lane to climb over Lil’s wall. Lizzie saw Flo’s front door was open, so she went in. ‘Anyone home?’

‘Come in, stranger,’ a voice shouted. ‘We’re in the parlour.’

Lizzie was welcomed by smiles from Flo who sat in the armchair with her feet up on the pouffe. Syd stood at her side. A flush of red was on his round face as he drank his beer.

‘I’m glad to see you’re following doctor’s orders,’ Lizzie said as she bent to kiss her sister’s cheek. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Fed up,’ sighed Flo, waving to the chair. ‘Sit down and make yourself comfortable. Where’s our Pol?’

‘She’s gone to see if Rosie’s next door.’ Lizzie took the chair nearest the window.

‘I was wondering when you’d call round.’

Lizzie was reluctant to explain about Frank so she looked up at Syd and asked lightly, ‘Is the patient behaving herself?’

Syd nodded, giving Lizzie a nervous smile.

‘Syd’s been a real tonic,’ Flo said hurriedly, ‘turning his hand to the cooking and all sorts. He’s even got the wedding service sorted at the Friends’ Hall
up Mile End, near his mum’s. It’s booked for the 1st at eleven o’clock; the minister don’t mind that we’re not religious. He says he marries all sorts.’

‘Does he know about the baby?’

‘He will on the day.’ Flo giggled as she looked down at her bump. ‘Syd’s paid him up front for his trouble. A generous handshake that will keep him sweet as a nut.’
Flo laughed, catching Syd’s glance, and he laughed quickly too.

‘Have you sent out any invitations?’

‘I’m not bothering,’ Flo replied with a shrug. ‘After all, there’s only our families coming. The Missus says not to waste our money and save up for a party to wet
the baby’s head.’ Flo looked up at Syd again. ‘We’ve been given a crib by Clifford. And Walter’s wife, Gladys, turned out all her old baby clothes, as after their last
kid, the sixth, the doctor told her it’s unlikely she’ll have any more.’

‘Is there anything else you need for the baby?’

‘Only a pram. But that will have to wait till I can go out shopping.’

‘Mum says we can have hers,’ Syd said quietly. ‘It did for all of us and me brothers’ kids too.’

‘That’s why I want a new one,’ Flo told him shortly.

‘But we could save—’

‘Mrs Davies delivered my wedding dress.’ Flo gave Syd a black look. ‘She made a big fuss of me and put an extra bit of lace trimming on the veil.’

‘She was very worried when you passed out in the shop,’ Lizzie said, wondering if this was the time to mention Frank. But as she was about to speak, Flo rushed on.

‘Do you think Danny will give us a car for the day?’

‘I’m sure he will. Flo, there’s—’ Lizzie began but Flo was into her stride.

‘Does Pol still want to be my bridesmaid? If so, she’ll have to have a dress and, as I can’t get out to buy one, I’ll have to leave that to you. Pink or yellow would be
nice. Whatever you can buy at the market. Then there’s the ring. Have you still got Danny’s?’

This took Lizzie by surprise. ‘No. Of course not.’

‘Do you think he’ll need it?’

Lizzie shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

‘It’s a shame to waste it.’

Lizzie looked at her sister in dismay. Flo could be very tactless when she wanted something. ‘The ring won’t be wasted.’

‘Oh, so you two are still on?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well,’ Flo said calculatingly, ‘a little bird told us your old man was moving back in again.’

‘Who told you that?’

‘Syd was up the market doing the shopping and bumped into Gertie’s next-door neighbour.’

‘What did she say?’

‘Only that Frank had an accident, was off his feet and that Gertie had been looking after him. But you was going to take over the job.’

‘News travels quick.’ Lizzie didn’t like the way Flo was speaking. Her tone had become aggressive as it always did when she had something to say and hadn’t yet said
it.

‘I was hoping you’d tell me yourself,’ Flo said grudgingly.

‘This is the first chance I’ve had.’

‘Or was you going to do the deed and tell me after?’

‘No,’ Lizzie said, glancing at Syd and hoping for his help, but he ignored her. ‘I wanted to talk about your wedding first.’

‘What’s Frank got to do with my wedding?’

‘Nothing. But you mentioned Frank—’

‘I was talking about the ring,’ Flo interrupted. ‘Not him.’

‘Did the neighbour also tell you that Frank nearly died?’

‘What do you mean
nearly
?’ Flo said sarcastically.

‘Some thugs gave him a vicious beating then knifed him in the shoulder.’

‘A pity it wasn’t his heart.’

‘Flo, I don’t like hearing you talk that way.’

‘What do you expect?’ Flo demanded, sitting forward and going red in the face. ‘To hear third-hand my sister is going to take back her lying, fornicating, thieving criminal of
a husband was a shock.’

‘For a start I’m not taking Frank back,’ Lizzie said patiently, afraid that Flo was getting distressed. ‘I’m only trying to help out Bill and Gertie. And second,
I’m here today, aren’t I? I’m not trying to keep anything from you.’

‘Haven’t you enough to keep you busy with the shop to run and Polly to look after? Frank is dead-weight. A time-consuming liability. Why should you care if he lives or
dies?’

‘Flo, be reasonable,’ Lizzie pleaded. ‘The arrangement is only for a short while, just until he can go back to his rooms.’

‘He’s fooled you again,’ Flo accused. ‘Syd, tell her. She mustn’t do it.’

‘It ain’t the best idea you’ve ever had,’ Syd agreed.

Flo blew noisily through her lips. ‘You must guess what’s happened, Lizzie. Frank’s landed himself in trouble, that’s what.’

Lizzie shook her head. ‘He doesn’t even know who did it.’

‘Of course he does,’ Flo argued. ‘The truth is that your nearest and dearest owes money to some bookie and this is pay-back time.’ Flo banged her hands on the wooden arms
of her chair. ‘All I can say is, the blokes who duffed him up made their biggest mistake when they didn’t finish the job.’

‘Flo, love, don’t take on so,’ Syd interrupted, placing a hand on her shoulder. ‘Remember the baby . . .’

‘How can I forget it?’ Flo burst out. ‘Just look at me. I’m the size of Blackwall Tunnel and expanding.’ She jerked her head towards Lizzie. ‘Just don’t
expect me to come visiting you while that son of a bitch is living under your roof. I wish he’d never turned up that day at Mrs Davies’s. I hate to think he touched me. I would rather
have had the baby there and then. Now, give us your arm, Syd, and help me up.’

Quickly Syd put down his beer. Sliding his hand around Flo’s waist, he helped her to her feet. Flo shook down her flowing dress. ‘In case you’ve forgotten, me and Syd still
have a wedding to plan. I wouldn’t mind a bit of help if you can spare the time off from all your good works.’

‘I hadn’t forgotten,’ Lizzie said. ‘I’ll order the flowers from the market, if you like. Just tell me what you want.’

‘That’s very good of you, I’m sure.’ Flo scowled.

‘Is there anything else?’

‘Syd will give you the list. Do you want some tea?’

‘Yes, please.’ Lizzie didn’t dare refuse, though if she’d had an appetite before it was now gone. She didn’t want Flo to get any more upset and risk the
baby’s health. ‘Can I help you in the kitchen?’

‘No, thanks. And don’t scold me for being on my feet because I’ll scream if you do.’

After Flo had gone Lizzie looked up at Syd. ‘Can I have that list?’

He went to the mantel clock and slid out the paper.

‘Would you like red or white roses for the buttonholes?’ she asked as she read down the list.

‘White will do.’

‘Syd, I won’t mention Frank again—’

‘Good.’

‘But there’s just one more thing. Did you see anyone lurking at the hospital when you visited Flo?’

‘No, why should I have?’

‘It seems Frank lost his watch when he was attacked. It was Bill’s and not worth much. But it was of sentimental value.’

Syd stared at her, suddenly angry. ‘What do you expect me to do about it?’

‘Nothing. But if you did see anyone suspicious—’

‘Then good luck to them, that’s what I’d say,’ Syd interrupted her, taking another gulp of ale. ‘Frank ain’t nothing to me. He’s a parasite, a low-life,
and you’re bonkers to take him back. Flo’s right, he’s got you where he wants you. In my opinion you should have given him short shrift the moment you saw him outside Mrs
Davies’s.’

‘Flo could have lost the baby,’ Lizzie protested, surprised at Syd’s reaction. ‘She needed help and I didn’t care who gave it.’

‘You should have sent for an ambulance.’

‘That would have taken time.’

‘I offered you my help on the day Frank showed up,’ Syd said accusingly, swiping the froth from his lips with the back of his sleeve. ‘My brothers and me would have put an end
to all his malarkey. Done everyone a favour. Just like we’d have dealt with that villain, Savage, if you’d asked, instead of running to Danny who would have done better to have stayed
out of the picture seeing as you’re now back with your old man. But it seems to me the Millers just ain’t good enough for you.’

Lizzie’s mouth fell open. ‘That’s not true, Syd, and you know it.’

He snatched the list from her hands. ‘For Christ’s sake, Lizzie, me and Flo, we’re having a kid. Our wedding is on the horizon and Flo’s in a delicate state. She
don’t need all this aggro with Frank.’

‘I don’t want to upset her.’

‘You might as well be kipping with him the way you’re acting.’

Lizzie sat there open-mouthed as he walked past her to the kitchen. She had never heard Syd talk like this before. A conversation she’d had with Flo came back to her mind. Did Syd really
think of her as Lady Muck, as Flo had made out?

Was he turning against her too?

Danny took two steps down the rickety wooden staircase and stopped dead. From where he stood he could not only hear voices but if he craned his neck he could just see, over the
top of the roof of the parked lorry downstairs, three figures standing at the entrance to the workshop.

Cal stood, blocking the way of three men. He’d shunted the wooden trolley used for horizontal repairs to one side. Now he stood with his shoulders tensed under his oily overalls. The man
facing him was short and squat, not your normal type of punter, but easily recognizable as trouble. The two apes accompanying him were squaring up, flexing muscle and silently eyeballing the
opposition.

Danny knew that, if push came to shove, neither would stand a flying fart’s chance. Cal had the instincts of a swamp croc: movement so fast and lethal they wouldn’t see the spanner
appear from his pocket before it connected with skin and bone. Danny knew Cal of old. His friend could absorb provocation like a sponge. Insults rolled off him as easy as bush rain. Men down the
mines had mistaken his silence for weakness. But there would be one word, one action, and the party would start.

The soft menace of the stranger’s voice droned in the warm afternoon air. Danny couldn’t hear what was being said. But at the bottom of the staircase, he paused, reached out to the
nearby workbench and snatched the claw hammer. Sliding it through his belt, he strolled casually around the parked vehicle and stood at Cal’s side.