Nobody’s Girl

Pearl saw pretty china cups and saucers, a teapot, and a plate piled with slices of cherry cake. Connie moved the plant from the small table, and as Derek laid the tray down she bustled out again, calling, ‘I’ll just get the milk and sugar.’

Derek grinned. ‘To tell you the truth, Pearl, we hardly use this room. We live and eat in the kitchen.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t have minded the kitchen.’

‘Well, tell Gran that.’

‘Tell me what?’ Connie asked as she came back into the room.

‘That Pearl would’ve been happy to sit in the kitchen.’

‘Blimey, and there’s me trying to make an impression. Well, we’re in here now, and here we’ll stay. Do you take milk and sugar, love?’

‘Yes, please.’

Connie handed her a cup of tea, followed by a plate with a slice of cake on it. Pearl floundered; with both hands full she couldn’t drink her tea or eat the cake. Maybe she could balance one on her lap?

Connie followed the same procedure with Derek, but instead of consternation, he roared with laughter. ‘I’ve only got two hands, Gran. Am I supposed to eat the cake with me toes?’

Connie laughed too, her eyes bright as she looked at Pearl. ‘As you can see, we ain’t used to airs and graces. All right, I give in, let’s go to the kitchen and at least we can sit around the table.’

‘Thank Gawd for that,’ Derek said.

Pearl stood up and followed Connie through to the kitchen, Derek behind them with the tray. The room was larger with a well-scrubbed table in the centre.

‘Sit down, love,’ the old lady said.

From then on it was more relaxed, the ice broken, and soon Connie was asking Pearl questions again, this time about her job in the café, and Dolly Dolby.

‘I hear the woman’s a bit of a battle-axe. Is that right?’

‘She isn’t too bad. Well, unless she’s in a bad mood.’

‘And that’s every other day,’ Derek said with a chuckle.

‘Derek tells me you live in a bedsit.’

‘Yes, I’m renting it from Nobby Clark.’

‘Is he that tyke you used to knock around with, Derek?’

‘Yeah, that’s the one.’

‘Huh, he’s nothing but trouble. When he was left the shop he could have done all right, but from what I heard he got hooked on gambling. It’s a mug’s game and the shop went under, all the profits going to the bookies. All right, he was only nineteen at the time, but that’s no excuse. You were running the stall on your own, and you’ve done well. What’s Nobby up to these days?’

‘Nothing honest, that’s for sure.’

Pearl thought about the cartons of cigarettes she had seen, wondering if she should mention them, but then Derek stood up.

‘I’m just going out back for a Jimmy Riddle.’

‘A what?’

‘You explain, Gran.’

‘Jimmy Riddle – piddle, its cockney rhyming slang. He’s gone to the outside toilet,’ Connie said, and as the door closed behind him she leaned forward, her eyes now hardening. ‘How old are you, Pearl?

‘I’m sixteen, nearly seventeen.’

‘Christ, you’re just a kid. Look, I know you’ve become friends with my Derek, but I don’t want him hurt. He likes you, I can tell, but you’re a bit young for him.’

‘We … we’re not courting. We’re just friends.’

‘That’s as maybe, but I still think he’s looking for more than that. I don’t want to cross-examine you, but I can’t see why you’ve latched on to Derek. Surely you’d prefer friends, girls of your own age?’

‘I don’t know any girls, and those that come into the café seem to be a bit stand-offish.’

‘Yeah, well, that’s probably because you talk like you’ve got a plum in your mouth. You stand out as different, an outsider, and they’re bound to be suspicious.’ Connie leaned back and sighed heavily. ‘All right, I’ll say no more, but if you don’t want things to go any further with Derek, it might be better if you stop seeing him.’

‘Gran!’

Connie’s head shot round. ‘Derek, I didn’t know you were there.’

‘That’s pretty obvious. Now what’s going on? I only heard the tail end of what you were saying, but why are you telling Pearl to stop seeing me?’

Connie hung her head. ‘I don’t want you hurt.’

‘Gran, I’m a grown man. I like Pearl, and she likes me, but I know she’s only looking for friendship. Now if you don’t mind, I think you should keep your nose out. Come on, Pearl, I’ll take you home.’

‘Oh, please, don’t fall out over me.’

‘It’s all right, dear. Derek’s right and I had no business interfering.’ Connie stood up, going to her grandson’s side and laying a hand on his arm. ‘I’m sorry. Pearl’s a nice girl, and I like her. I was just trying to protect you, that’s all.’

Derek’s face softened as he looked down at the tiny woman. ‘Do I look like I need protection? Now come on, let’s start again, and how about cutting me another slice of cake?’

Pearl heaved a sigh of relief. Seeing the loving look that Connie Lewis was giving her grandson, she felt a twinge of envy. It must be wonderful to have someone to love you like that, unconditionally. Maybe she could think of Derek as more than a friend – maybe she could become part of this small family. She would have a home, Derek would always be there to look out for her, and she would never have to be afraid again. Yet even as she considered it, Kevin Dolby’s face flew into her mind. Stop it, stop dreaming, she berated herself.

Chapter Ten

Nobby Clark threw open the door of the empty bedsit with a flourish. ‘There you are, and it’s a guinea a week rent.’

The balding, flabby man looked around before testing the bed. ‘Yes, it’s all right. Is there a bathroom?’

‘There’s one further along the landing.’

‘How many tenants will I have to share it with?’

‘Only one. A young woman lives on the floor below, but she’s a nice quiet girl.’

‘What about my car? With the market set up every day, I can’t see anywhere to park outside.’

‘This is one of the few premises with a side entrance. You can drive round the back and park in the yard, but don’t come in through my shop. There’s another door that leads into the downstairs hall. You can use that.’

‘Right, I’ll take it and I’ll pay a month’s rent in advance.’

Nobby grinned, pleased to have a bit of extra money coming in. They were still planning the next job and things were a bit tight. ‘What do you do for a living?’

‘I work in insurance.’

‘And what’s your name?’

‘Trevor – Trevor Bardington.’

There was something about this bloke that gave Nobby the creeps, but with a month’s rent in his pocket he wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He’d put a bet on, one that was heavily tipped, and maybe the bad luck that dogged him would change. Yeah, perhaps he’d be on to a big winner.

‘Thanks,’ the man said as Nobby handed him a rent book and keys. ‘I’ll pick up my things and be back later.’

As both men left the room to go downstairs, Pearl Button was on her way up. They waited until she reached the landing, Nobby saying, ‘Hello, Pearl, you’re just in time to meet Mr Bardington. He’s moving in to the room above yours.’

‘Hello,’ she said shyly.

The man nodded, saying nothing and, once again thinking he was a strange one, Nobby led him down to the street door, showing him out before going through to his shop.

It wasn’t long before Kevin Dolby and Dick Smedley turned up, looking furtively behind them as they walked in.

‘Are we nearly set to do the job?’ Nobby asked.

Dick answered, ‘I’ve seen a van and have been watching the driver’s movements for several days. He parks it up in the same spot every night, and as he’s got a ladder stashed on the top it solves another problem. I doubt he’ll notice the van’s gone until the following morning, so we’ll have done the job and dumped it before it’s reported missing.’

‘Sounds good,’ Kevin said. ‘And is it the usual buyer, Nobby?’

‘Of course it is. I daren’t offer it to anyone else – you know that. Anything that isn’t small time is always fenced through Vince.’

‘He must be raking it in.’

‘Yeah, but he ain’t one to cross. He’s got the borough sewn up, and if we offered it to anyone else his boys would turn us into mincemeat. I don’t fancy storing the booze overnight, so we’re to take it straight to his club. He’s gonna wait for us, and after unloading we can get rid of the van. Now it’s just a matter of deciding when we hit the warehouse.’

Dick pursed his lips. ‘I reckon tomorrow night. They get a delivery today, and nothing gets sent out again until Monday morning.’

‘That’s fine with me. What about you, Kevin?’

‘Yeah, I’m in.’

The three men went over the plans again. When they were satisfied, Kevin rose to his feet. ‘Right, how do you fancy a drink before we go to see the match?’

‘Good idea.’

Kevin felt a thrill of anticipation as they left the shop. After the job he’d be able to take a trip to Soho, and if the haul was a big one more trips would follow.

Pearl was pleased that another tenant was moving in, but had hoped it would be someone young, ideally a girl she could make friends with.

Mr Bardington looked to be in his forties. He was a big man, overweight, with a grey unhealthy appearance, and cold blue eyes. She had looked forward to having someone else in the house, especially at night, but wasn’t sure she liked the look of the older man.

Her bedsit was like an oven, stuffy, and even with the window open it felt airless. She wiped a hand across her brow as she perched on her bed. It was the third week in August, and with art classes starting soon, she wanted to check her savings.

She’d been frugal, and with any luck there would be enough to buy paint and brushes. She checked her tips, a frown creasing her forehead. With fewer tables to work, her tips had gone down, but surely not this much.

Mentally Pearl assessed the day. She had regulars who sat at her tables, and most tipped her once a week. Frank Hanwell always left her three-pence on a Saturday, along with the other costermongers who sat with him. Derek too was generous and he mostly left her sixpence.

An awful suspicion began to fill her mind, one she wanted to dismiss but couldn’t. It was over three weeks since Alice had started work in the café, and despite her earlier trepidations, they were getting on well together. She’d assured Alice that she could manage, but the woman still thought nothing of clearing Pearl’s tables along with her own, and also took over behind the counter to give Bernie a break.

Alice seemed to have boundless energy, and though the weather was blazing hot, she was rarely still. Yes, Alice cleared her tables for her, but what about the tips she found? Was she putting them in her own pocket?

Pearl stood up and moved across to the window. Oh, surely she was imagining things. It was wrong to be suspicious, yet it had happened so many times at the orphanage. They had little, but still had to guard their tiny treasures from thieving hands. Pearl remembered a ribbon she’d been given by a departing teacher. It had been pink and she’d treasured it, but one day it had gone. She had never found out who took it, but suspected an older girl, a bully whom she’d never had the courage to confront.

Now there was Alice, and if the woman was stealing her tips, what could she do? She daren’t accuse her – Alice would go mad – but was there another way? Derek!

She could ask him to have a word with her, or maybe she could tell Bernard Dolby … Round and round her thoughts went until at last her mind calmed. Take one step at a time. Watch Alice, and if she really was pinching her tips, then maybe their employer would sort it out.

At seven o’clock, Pearl was ready. Derek was boxing tonight and had invited her to the match. She had hesitated, hating the thought of the brutality, but Connie Lewis wanted to go, and had urged Pearl to join her.

She still hadn’t made up her mind about taking the friendship with Derek any further, but as a regular visitor to his house she was growing close to his gran. Now, picking up her handbag, she went to collect Connie.

By eight o’clock they were in one of the large function rooms at Battersea Town Hall, sitting in the front row and watching a match between two young men.

Pearl found the atmosphere gladiatorial: the smell of sweat; the baying of the crowd; the boxers dancing around each other in the ring, exchanging flurries of punches that had the crowd rising to their feet yelling for more.

A bell clanged, the round coming to an end, and as one of the boxers sat in his corner, Pearl’s stomach turned as he removed his gum shield, took a mouthful of water and then spat it into a bucket. Another man took a soaking sponge, running it over the young man’s puffy, red face, blood now visible and oozing from his nose. Oh God, it was awful, but as she glanced around, Pearl could see that she was the only one affected.

‘There’s only one more round to go and then Derek’s match is next,’ Connie said, gripping Pearl’s arm with excitement.

Pearl fought nausea and the need to flee. A hand tapped her on the shoulder and she spun around.

‘Watcha, Pearl,’ Kevin Dolby said. ‘Enjoying it, are you?’

‘Er … it’s all right.’

‘Your boyfriend is on next.’

Pearl didn’t bother to correct him. Derek was just a friend, but in the crowded room it was impossible to speak without shouting. Instead she just nodded.

‘It’ll be a good match and I’ve got a few bob on Derek.’

Pearl forced a smile before turning to face the front again. She looked up at the ring, wondering why it was called a ring when it was, in fact, square, but then the bell signalled the start of the last round.

Both young boxers began the dance again, circling around each other, until one lunged forward. A gloved fist connected with a chin, a boxer bouncing off the ropes in front of Pearl before falling with a crash onto the canvas.

The referee rushed over, his arm slicing the air as he counted the boxer out. ‘… Eight – nine – ten,’ he yelled.

The boxer didn’t move, and signalling that he was out for the count the referee bounded over to the other man, grabbed his arm and raised it into the air to show who was the victor.

By then, Pearl and the defeated boxer were the only ones who weren’t on their feet, the cheers for the local lad deafening.

A couple of men scrambled under the ropes, kneeling beside the young boxer as they tried to bring him round. Pearl found she was holding her breath. Oh God, he still wasn’t moving. Was he dead? With a groan he finally sat up, eyes glazed as he was helped to his feet and led from the ring.

Pearl saw the winner dancing round, his body slick with sweat and his arms punching the air with delight. When the accolades of the crowd gradually diminished he too ducked under the ropes and left the arena, a satin gown covering his body and a towel draped over his head.

‘That was a good match,’ Connie said as she sat down. ‘Here, what’s the matter? You look as white as a sheet.’

‘I … I feel a bit sick.’

‘Gawd, you’re a soft one.’

‘I … I think I’ll have to leave.’

‘Don’t do that, love. Derek will be ever so disappointed. Look, go outside and get a bit of fresh air. His match won’t start just yet.’

Pearl rose to her feet, stumbling for the door. The air felt heavy as she stepped outside, and she could hear distant rumbles of thunder, a summer storm threatening. She leaned against a wall, startled when she heard a voice.

‘What’s up, Pearl? Don’t you like the sight of a bit of blood?’ Kevin asked as he nonchalantly lit a cigarette.

‘I … I think it’s awful.’

‘You’ve got Derek’s match to watch yet. It’s a heavyweight bout and more my cup of tea.’

‘I don’t think I can go back in.’

‘If you ask me, you ain’t the right type to live around here. You don’t fit in. Things go on – things you have to keep your nose out of, if you know what I mean.’

Pearl’s eyes widened, and with a menacing smile Kevin continued, ‘This is just a little warning. No matter what you see, or hear, keep your mouth shut. It’s safer that way.’

She couldn’t speak, managing only a small nod.

Kevin threw his cigarette onto the pavement, grinding it out with the sole of his shoe, his manner changing again as he said softly, ‘Are you coming back in?’

‘In … in a minute.’

Pearl gulped as Kevin walked away. She was seeing him in a new light and her mind was reeling. Instead of her heart skipping a beat when she saw him, it was now jumping with fear. He had threatened her, but why?

The noise inside the function room rose again and, pushing herself from the wall, Pearl went inside, deciding that now, more than ever, she needed to stay close to Derek Lewis.

As they watched Derek’s match, Kevin found his eyes drawn to Pearl. When Derek or his opponent took a punch, instead of jumping up and baying with the crowd, the girl covered her face with horror.

When he’d followed her outside and issued the veiled threat, she had looked at him like a frightened rabbit caught in headlights. Her eyes were amazing and as she stared up at him, he enjoyed seeing her fear. She was a timid little creature who seemed incapable of standing up for herself. In fact, she was the complete antithesis of his mother, and for the first time he could see why Derek was attracted to her.

Kevin continued to watch Pearl, seeing her growing distress when Derek sustained a nasty cut above his eye. Christ, what on earth did she see in him?

The two heavyweights continued to lumber around the ring, sweat pouring from their bodies, and with only one round to go, both men looked exhausted. They came together, clinging to each other like two bulls locked in an embrace, the referee once again shouting, ‘Break!’

Dick Smedley hissed, ‘I think our bets are safe. I reckon Derek will win on points.’

‘Yeah, he’d better,’ Nobby said. ‘I stuck four quid on him instead of a horse.’

The round came to an end, and as a small stool was quickly put in Derek’s corner, he slumped onto it. His face was sponged, the cut attended to, and after the referee took a quick look at it, he signalled for the match to continue.

Aware that this was the last round, both boxers put in a bit more effort, and there were flurries of punches. Derek was obviously trying to protect his cut, his gloved hands high over his face and body leaning forward as he stalked his prey. He managed to land a good few punches, but the other boxer remained on his feet until at last the bell rang.

Both boxers went to their corners, but remained standing, and a hush descended on the crowd as the points were counted.

‘I wish they’d get a bloody move on,’ Nobby hissed.

The result! And as the referee raised Derek’s arm in victory, cheers rang out.

Kevin found himself watching Pearl again, and as she stood up he saw tears running down her cheeks. She looked up at Derek as he came to the ropes to grin down at her, blood now oozing from the cut.

Kevin scowled, surprised to find himself suddenly jealous. But why? The skinny cow wasn’t his type. He liked his women to have a bit of shape.

‘Come on, let’s go. We’ll collect our winnings and then have another drink,’ Nobby urged.

Kevin nodded, but his thoughts were still distracted as he followed his two mates. What would sex be like with Pearl Button? Would she let him dominate? Of course she would – the timid little cow would be too scared to put up a fight. He found himself hardening at the thought. He wouldn’t have to pay her either. Pearl was one he could have for free, and maybe, just maybe, he might sample the goods.

Chapter Eleven

On Sunday evening, Pearl looked up at her ceiling, puzzled. Mr Bardington seemed to be pacing back and forth, and had been doing so for over an hour. At first she tried to ignore it, but now it was driving her mad. Thump, thump, thump, his heavy footsteps unrelenting.

She couldn’t sketch, it was impossible, and throwing her pad aside she decided to have a bath. She rarely used the room, preferring a strip wash to the brown, stained, roll-top bath, but maybe soaking in nice deep water might relax her.

Pearl had a lot on her mind. There was the anxiety that Alice Freeman might be taking her tips, but worse, the veiled threat Kevin Dolby had issued. It had forced her hand, making her decide to take things further with Derek. Though she didn’t like his looks, she felt safe with him and knew she would have no need to fear Kevin Dolby, or anyone else, whilst he was around.

She crept upstairs, clutching her towel and wash things. The bathroom didn’t look inviting, the distempered walls grey and flaking, but she locked the door behind her and turned on the taps.

With her eyes closed, shutting out the ugly room, it was nice to lie back in the water, letting it trickle over her shoulders. At last she couldn’t hear Mr Bardington pacing. There was a faint sound of music now, something classical, and Pearl luxuriated in the peaceful solitude.

The water was tepid, refreshing, but finally Pearl climbed out, towelling herself vigorously. She was perching on the edge of the bath, drying her feet, when the door handle turned. She froze as it rattled again, but finding her voice she called, ‘Who’s there?’

‘It’s Trevor Bardington. Sorry, I didn’t realise someone was in there.’

‘I’ve nearly finished and it’ll be free in a few minutes.’

‘Right, thanks,’ and as she heard his footsteps retreating, Pearl dressed quickly.

She scooted out, but as her eyes flicked along the landing there was no sign of the man. Soon she was back in her room and, throwing on pyjamas, scrambled into bed. Yet why was she frightened? Mr Bardington had only tried the door – he hadn’t forced his way in. Pearl turned, clutching her pillow. It was Kevin’s threat that was making her jumpy and more than ever she felt alone, vulnerable, in these almost empty premises.

It was after midnight when Kevin, Nobby and Dick walked quietly to a nearby street, pleased to see the van parked in the usual spot.

‘There’s nobody about,’ Nobby said.

Dick scratched his chin. ‘It won’t take long to open that door.’

‘Come on then, let’s get on with it,’ Kevin said impatiently. He didn’t like standing around and was nervous of being seen. The sooner they got into the van and drove off, the better.

Dick, skilled at the task, soon had the door open, and in another few minutes Kevin had hot-wired the van, the engine coming to life.

‘Jump in the back, Dick,’ he hissed as Nobby climbed hurriedly into the passenger seat.

Kevin took as many backstreets as possible, finding his mouth dry as they drew up outside the warehouse. The premises were in darkness and Kevin twisted round in his seat to speak to Dick.

‘Are you sure about the alarm?’

‘As sure as I can be.’

Nobby climbed out. ‘Come on, Dick. We’ll cut the padlock and open the gates. When that’s done, Kevin, you can drive in.’

Kevin waited, finding his hands sweating as he gripped the steering wheel. The two men made light of the lock, and soon the metal gates were swinging open. With a look in his rear-view mirror, Kevin drove into the grounds, pulling up in front of the loading bay.

Dick walked up the ramp, inspecting the alarm box high on the wall. ‘I hope that bleedin’ ladder’s long enough,’ he mumbled before bending down to his bag of tools.

Nobby struggled to get the ladder off the van. ‘Give me a hand, Kevin.’

As soon as they’d placed it up against the wall, Kevin returned to the van, ready for a quick getaway if anything went wrong.

Dick climbed the ladder and then Kevin watched as he placed a small torch between his teeth, leaving his hands free to work on the alarm box.

Kevin’s tension eased. Dick seemed to know what he was doing. He removed the cover, carefully handing it down to Nobby before reaching inside the box. Then suddenly a deafening, clanging racket pierced the silence.