Part 7 (1/2)

'Call me Vera, dear. If you're going to be staying here a while, we might as well be on first name terms.'

Sarah smiled. 'Alright, Vera and thank you.'

'Don't thank me! It's good to have another woman in the house. It's been just me with Tommy and his boys since my sister Rose died in the Blitz. Arthur is collecting your things from the boarding house, so I'll put them outside your door in the morning. Goodnight dear.' She closed the door as she left.

'Goodnight, Vera,' Sarah replied. She slid a hand under the pillow and pulled out the nightie. It was pink flannelette with lace around the neck, just like Aunt Lavinia used to wear when Sarah stayed with her on summer holidays as a girl.

Sarah took off her clothes and slipped into the nightie. It reached from her neck down to her wrists and ankles. She opened the wardrobe and found a full-length mirror inside one of the doors. The reflected image dismayed her. 'I keep wearing this, I'm going to start looking like Aunt Lavinia!'

'Who could be calling at this hour?' Mrs Kelly pulled her robe tightly around herself before opening the front door of the boarding house. Outside stood a giant of man, smiling apologetically.

'I've come to collect Miss Smith's things from her room.

She's found other accommodation.'

'Oh!' the landlady said. 'But she's paid up for another fortnight!'

Brick pulled a wad of notes from his suit pocket. 'Mr Ramsey said to give you another fortnight's board, for the inconvenience.'

'Be my guest.' Mrs Kelly took the notes from Brick and stepped aside to allow him in. She counted the cash while he lumbered upstairs to gather Sarah's possessions. Mr Kelly appeared from the front room where he had been dozing in front of the fire.

'Who was that?' he asked.

'A man from Tommy Ramsey, come to collect Miss Smith's things.'

Mr Kelly made the sign of the cross without even realising it.

He had enjoyed sneaking a glimpse at their boarder. But if Miss Smith was a girlfriend of Tommy Ramsey and she ever told him what had happened...

'What's wrong?' Mrs Kelly asked her husband. 'You've gone quite pale.'

'I'm not feeling very well,' he replied, bolting for the outhouse.

At the Ramsey household, a black ceramic telephone was ringing. Tommy stubbed out a cigarette before picking up the heavy receiver. 'Do you know what time it is?'

'I'm sorry to disturb you so late, Mr Ramsey it's Valentine.'

The caller's voice quivered with fear.

'What do you want, Detective?' Tommy replied, his voice laced with sarcasm. He smiled at his mother as she came back into the front parlour. Mrs Ramsey returned to her armchair and picked up her knitting.

'I'm at the hospital. There's been a murder and they called me in. A man was stabbed twice near St Luke's Church. He was still alive when he got here but died just after I arrived.'

'Yeah, so?' Tommy was getting impatient with the alcoholic copper. He had little time for people who could not keep control of their vices. Every man has his weakness, but he shouldn't let that weakness ruin his life.

'It was Harris. The dead man was Jim Harris. I thought you should know,' Valentine said. 'I recognised him as soon as I walked in.'

There was a long silence as Tommy absorbed this news.

'Mr Ramsey? You still there?'

'Yes,' Tommy replied, trying to keep all emotion from his voice. He didn't want his mother to know what had happened.

Harris had always been one of her favourites among the lads, after Brick of course. 'Did he say anything before he...went?'

'He had a message for you. I think that was the only thing kept him alive so long. ”The Ramsey Mob are history. A new firm is taking over. Tomorrow, midday, outside St Luke's.” That was the whole message.'

'Anything else? Did he say who did it?' Tommy demanded.

'Callum. He said it was Callum,' Valentine replied. 'Tommy, I'm sorry '

'Don't be. You did good. Just make sure the old bill don't poke its nose in anywhere near the church at noon tomorrow.'

Tommy put the phone down, his fists shaking with suppressed rage. Where the h.e.l.l was Jack? Tommy's mind raced as he considered his next move.

'Anything wrong, Thomas?' Mrs Ramsey asked, not looking up from her knitting.

'I've got to go out. I might not be back tonight.'

'Well, if you must, but I think a good night's rest never hurt anyone.'

'Tell that to Jim Harris,' Tommy muttered under his breath.

He left the parlour and went upstairs to Sarah's bedroom in a hurry. Tommy opened the door and walked straight in, startling Sarah. She was standing by the window, looking out over the rooftops of London.

'I've got to go out. I want you to stay here tomorrow and '

Tommy began, but was cut short by a shriek from Sarah.

'Who the h.e.l.l do you think you are, bursting in here! I know this is your house, but I don't think that gives you any right to '

Tommy held up his hands in protest. 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!'

he shouted, before lowering his voice. 'I didn't mean to burst in, I should have knocked.' He stopped speaking, distracted by the silhouette of Sarah's figure created by the moonlight falling through the window behind her.

She folded her arms across her chest. 'Well, what did you want?'

'One of my men has been murdered by a rival gang. Their leader has challenged me to fight him. I need you to stay here and look after Mum for me.' He explained before Sarah could protest again. 'I know, you didn't come here to look after me Mum, but people are going to die tomorrow. I don't want you or her anywhere near the fighting okay?'

Sarah nodded her agreement grumpily.