‘Why don’t you say it, Mummy?’
‘Say what?’
‘Come on — I know it’s on the tip of your tongue. I’m surprised you haven’t gone round to Vera’s house and tried to get her parents on your side. If you want to discuss it, speak up.’
‘I’d rather not say anything, Alice,’ her mother told her. ‘We’ve had enough rows about it. It’s time for an armistice.’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ said Alice with relief. ‘Thank you.’ She saw the trousers. ‘Don’t you think it’s time you taught Daddy to sew on his own buttons?’
‘He’s all fingers and thumbs.’
‘I bet that Joe does all his own sewing.’
‘Is that what he told you?’
‘No — but it stands to reason.’
‘Why?’
‘He lives on his own. Who else would do his running repairs?’
‘What about that lady friend of his?’
‘I don’t think any man would keep a lady friend very long if he expected her to do his sewing. It’s not very romantic. Well,’ said Alice, developing her argument, ‘think back to the time when Daddy was courting you. How would you have felt if he’d turned up and asked you to darn his socks?’
Ellen laughed. ‘I take your point.’
‘In any case, Joe doesn’t have a lady friend at the moment.’
‘What happened to the nurse?’
‘They came to the parting of the ways.’
‘When did you discover that?’
‘It was while you and Daddy were in the kitchen.’
‘Did Joe simply come out with it?’
‘No,’ said Alice, ‘I sort of drew it out of him.’
Ellen laughed again. Since she’d been a young woman, Alice had brought home a succession of boyfriends but they never seemed to last long. Ironically, it was the ones Ellen liked most who disappeared first. They found Alice too intelligent and assertive. Her mother had long felt that she needed an older man and the name of Joe Keedy had crossed her mind more than once. It was a friendship she’d be ready to condone but she knew that her husband would have objections.
‘You like Joe, don’t you?’ she said.
‘I always have, Mummy.’
‘He obviously likes you.’
‘Oh, I don’t really think I’m his type,’ said Alice. ‘If I had been, something might have happened long before now.’
‘I rather hoped that it would.’
‘You can’t force these things.’
‘Well, at least you have a clear field now.’
‘Mummy!’
‘There’s no need to sound so scandalised, Alice. I’m only being practical. If a man is involved with someone else, then it’s wrong to set your cap at him. When he’s on the loose, however …’
‘I’m not going to chase any man,’ said Alice, firmly. ‘I never have and I never will. That’s not the sort of person I am. Let’s not discuss it any further. I’ve got my book to read.’
Ellen was repentant. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’
Hiding behind her book, Alice wondered why she felt so jangled.
* * *
When she said her prayers that night, Irene asked to be forgiven for entertaining such terrible thoughts about Ernie Gill. He’d always been given to boasting and she should have known not to take his words too literally. She’d placed far too much weight on the fact that the incident in Liverpool had occurred on the very day that he returned there. The whole city was full of people with a rabid dislike and distrust of German immigrants. Many of them had already been on the rampage. It would probably happen again. Why should she assume that Gill was guilty of murder on such slender evidence? It was grossly unfair on him. As she got into bed, she writhed in embarrassment at the memory of her visit to the Three Tuns. It would take a long time for her to live it down.
There was nothing sinister about Gill’s arrival in London. Like many other people, he’d come to the capital in search of work. It was what she’d done herself, after all. While she had a sister to go to, Gill had a friend. Admittedly, Brad Thompson lived in a disreputable area but it was only a temporary arrangement. Once Gill found his feet, he would no doubt move to a better lodging. The question that gnawed away at her was whether or not she wanted to see him again. Irene would certainly avoid him in the short term. She needed time to get over the awkwardness of their latest encounter. Gill had his job as a barber to go to and she’d soon be starting at the toy factory. They’d both be far too preoccupied to enjoy much of a social life.
Meanwhile, she could settle into her new existence. She would soon make new friends at work and enjoy Christian fellowship at church on Sundays. It would be a full and satisfying life, free from the dangers of being torpedoed by enemy submarines. She still had nightmares about the sinking. In her waking hours, however, she kept reminding herself that she’d survived, a blessing bestowed on her for a purpose. That purpose — she felt humiliated to recall it — was most definitely not to make unwarranted accusations against an innocent man. Ernie Gill was her friend. It was time she learnt to trust him.
The car was parked in a yard at the side ofThe car was parked in a yard at the side of the garage. It took them less than a minute to gain entry. Closing the double doors behind them, they loaded the vehicle with combustible materials. The man in the dungarees lit a cigarette, then took several puffs before holding it out to one of h the garage. It took them less than a minute to gain entry. Closing the double doors behind them, they loaded the vehicle with combustible materials. The man in the dungarees lit a cigarette, then took several puffs before holding it out to one of his companions.
‘Here you are, Ernie,’ he said. ‘I think it’s your turn.’
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Harvey Marmion had acquired a well-deserved reputation for being conscientious and few people arrived earlier at Scotland Yard than he did. When he got there next morning, however, he discovered that the commissioner was already at his desk and in urgent need of help. Summoned by a secretary, Marmion hurried along the corridor and found that Sir Edward was besieged by Herbert Stone. The visitor wasted no time on pleasantries. With an accusatory glare, he turned his fire on the newcomer.
‘You’re as much to blame as anyone, Inspector,’ he said, puce with rage. ‘You should have arranged protection for me.’
‘Against what, Mr Stone?’ asked Marmion.
‘There’s been an incident,’ explained Sir Edward.
‘Yes, I heard about the car wheels being removed.’
‘This is more serious, Inspector. Some time in the night, Mr Stone’s car was set on fire.’
‘It was utterly destroyed,’ said Stone. ‘I left it at the garage to have new wheels put on and the windscreen repaired. Somebody broke in for the sole purpose of setting it alight.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that, sir,’ said Marmion.
‘You are indirectly responsible.’
‘I don’t accept that.’
‘Neither do I,’ said the commissioner.
‘The fire at the synagogue was a signal,’ argued Stone. ‘Whoever killed my brother is directing his aim at me.’
‘That’s a rather exaggerated claim,’ Marmion pointed out. ‘I know that you’re closely associated with the synagogue but so are lots of other people. Each of them might feel there was something personal in the attack. My own view is that it’s your brother’s link with it that may have provoked the outrage. When I released the body to Rabbi Hirsch,’ he remembered, ‘he told me that Jacob Stein had been his most generous benefactor.’
Stone shifted his feet. ‘My brother was a generous man.’
‘He was identified with that particular synagogue.’
‘So am I, Inspector — so am I!’