CHAPTER FIFTY

 

Jack brought the car to a halt outside a red brick house. The double bay windows had leaded lights, with an extension over the garage. The busy lizzies tumbling from flowerpots on either side of the porch made an eye-catching display. There were two cars parked on the paved driveway.

‘Your mother has visitors, Jack, we can hardly intrude.’

‘My parents run a guest house.’

‘You never said.’

‘I never thought.’ He turned and looked at her. ‘Ready?’

She nodded.

‘Come on. Take in what you need for now. I’ll bring the rest later.’

Oona picked up her handbag and vanity case, and walked with him to the door. He pushed his key into the lock, almost as though he had only slipped out to buy a newspaper. As the door swung open, she could hear the sound of crockery coming from a room off the hall, like someone setting tables. Then a woman came hurrying to meet them, wiping her hands down the sides of her apron.

‘Hello, son.’ She reached to kiss Jack. ‘And you must be Oona. I’m Gladys.’

She shook Oona’s hand warmly.

‘It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Brennan.’

‘Oh, give over, will ye, luv? Call me Gladys, everyone does.’ She patted her short hair, streaked with grey. Her open face showed her warm personality. ‘Jack, take the girl’s jacket and hang it up.’ Then she turned back to Oona. ‘I trust you had a good crossing?’

‘Yes, I think so. I can’t remember.’ She glanced toward Jack and he slipped his fingers through hers. ‘I’m so worried about Sean.’

‘Not surprising,’ she said. ‘Any road, is there any news of the boy?’

Oona shook her head.

‘Please, go through. I’ll put the kettle on.’

As she bustled towards the kitchen, Gladys’s full figure put Oona in mind of her own mother and she felt strangely at home. Just then, Jack’s stepfather, Tom, appeared in the doorway and followed them into the room. He clapped Jack lightly on the back. ‘Aye, it’s nice to see you, lad, in spite of the sad circumstances. And this is the young lady we’ve heard so much about.’

Oona blushed.

‘Nice to meet you, lass.’ He took her hand in a firm handshake.

They stood in the centre of the large sitting room. ‘I’m forgetting me manners, luv. Won’t you sit down?’

Oona sat on the settee, Jack next to her. Tom settled into an armchair, keen to know everything about Sean’s disappearance.

‘Can’t be easy for yeh? Ten days now, ye say?’ Tom sat forward in his chair. ‘My feeling is he’s lying low with the boy. But a rat can’t stay hidden for long.’

‘Have you dealt with cases like this one, Mr. Brennan?’

‘Yes, Liverpool’s full of missing kids! Some run to get away from their fathers, not the other way round. Most turn up eventually. Try not to worry.’

Tom stopped as Gladys placed a tray with a teapot and bone china cups on the coffee table. Oona knitted her fingers together. She had been hanging on Tom’s every word, desperate for something, anything, that would give her renewed hope of finding Sean.

‘Go on, Dad,’ Jack said.

‘From what you’ve both told me, I reckon Leicester is where he’d go.’ Tom Brennan stood up, straightening his thickset shoulders as though addressing his colleagues at the station. His grey hair stuck up all over his head, like the prickly back of a hedgehog.

‘How d’you know that, Dad?’

‘Well, for what it’s–’

The phone rang. ‘Sorry about that, Oona.’ Gladys got up to answer it. ‘You’re never off duty in this business.’

‘Of course.’ She sat forward, linking and unlinking her fingers.

‘What were you saying, Dad?’ Jack poured tea and passed each of them a cup.

‘In my experience, criminals go back to where they came from.’

‘I hope so, Mr. Brennan.’ Pleased that her idea hadn’t sounded crazy after all, she sipped the hot drink.

‘Some criminals, if they’re lucky, have mates on the outside, but if this Vinnie chap has crossed one of them, they’re sure to grass him up soon as he shows his face.’

‘I think we can safely say he’ll have made a few enemies,’ Oona said.

‘As no-one’s reported seeing him yet, why don’t ye stay here for a while? Get yer strength back. At least you’re in the country, should news come through.’

‘It’s very kind of you, but I can’t do that. I have to keep looking.’ She placed her teacup back on the saucer and stood up, checking her watch. Was it really only that time? It felt like they’d been here for hours.

‘You don’t understand, Dad.’ Jack placed his hand on her arm and she sat back down.

‘I’m sorry, Mr. Brennan. I know you’re only trying to help. I just feel restless, I keep feeling I should be doing something.’

‘I understand. I didn’t mean to upset ye, luv. Sure, you know what they say, once a scuffer…’ He sighed. ‘That scoundrel sounds as sharp-eyed as a weasel, otherwise he’d have been caught by now.’

Tears stung her eyes. ‘You could be right, but I’m just desperate to find Sean.’

‘I know,’ Tom said. ‘Not knowing where he is must be…’

Oona found it almost impossible to keep her emotions in check. All she could think about was Sean in the clutches of Vinnie Kelly, and any light relief she had felt earlier was now spiraling downwards. When Gladys came back into the room, Oona asked, ‘Would it be all right to phone my parents?’

‘I’ll show you where it is, luv.’ Gladys went out with her. ‘They’ll be anxious to know you’ve arrived safely. I’ll rustle up something to eat. I bet you haven’t eaten all day.’ Smiling, she left her alone.

When she returned, Oona appeared brighter. It had helped to speak to her mam and dad, and she’d managed to reassure them in spite of her own misgivings.

When Gladys called them to the table, the chips, beans and sausages with fresh homemade bread smelt appetizing. Once Oona sat down, she struggled to eat anything. Not wishing to seem ungrateful, she picked up her knife and fork, cut into the sausage and put a small piece into her mouth.

‘How is the family?’ Tom was asking.

‘Sorry?’

‘Across the water. Are they coping?’

‘Oh, yes. They’re trying to stay positive.’

‘Well, let’s hope you hear something soon, luv. If you like, I’ll ask around at the docks. See if anyone’s heard a rumble.’

She nodded and pressed her fingertips to her temples; the Anadin she had taken earlier had had no effect on her headache. She felt sick with tiredness, trapped in an all-consuming nightmare. Voices were drifting in and out of her brain. Time dragged. Without Jack to talk to, she did not know how she would get through the night.

‘It’ll be the change of air,’ Jack was saying. ‘Why don’t you try and get some shut-eye?’

‘You must be jaded,’ his mother said, getting to her feet. ‘I’ll show you to your room, Oona.’

She stood up. ‘I’m sorry.’ She didn’t know what she was apologizing for.

‘I’ll bring you up warm milk,’ she heard Jack say. ‘It might help.’

Tom added, ‘Have a good night, Oona.’

Following Gladys into the hall and up two flights of stairs, she wondered which room was Jack’s and how far away he would be. She longed to feel his arms around her, reassuring her. In normal circumstances, she might have felt anxious about meeting his parents for the first time, but this was about as abnormal as it could be.

‘I hope you’ll find it comfortable,’ Gladys said, opening the door for her. ‘The students leave early, so you’ll have the bathroom to yourself in the morning. Goodnight, luv.’

‘Goodnight and thank you.’

Suddenly Jack was behind them. He put the milk down on the bedside table and took her into his arms. She clung to him, looking up with huge, tear-filled eyes. ‘I just want you to hold me.’

‘I know, sweetheart.’ He stroked her hair. ‘I’m only across the landing if you need me. And we can get off as early as you like in the morning.’ His kisses were urgent, as if he hadn’t seen her for a while. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, darling.’ Squeezing her hand, he left the room. When the door closed behind him, she felt strangely lonely.

 

***

 

The following morning, Oona woke, surprised to find that she had slept. A glance at her watch told her it was nearly nine. It was quiet and she wondered where Jack was. At least she didn’t have to wait to use the bathroom, and hurried along the landing in her dressing gown and slippers. After showering and washing her hair, she returned to her room feeling refreshed, a towel draped over her head like a nun. She dressed in jeans and a floral summer blouse, pulled on her ankle boots and went downstairs. She could hear the Beatles blasting out Love Me Do on the radio. But she couldn’t wait to get to Leicester and start looking for Sean.

She walked into the kitchen, a little embarrassed to be the last one down. Jack’s face brightened when he saw her.

‘Did you sleep?’

‘Yes, I must have.’

His mother pulled out a chair. ‘Sit yourself down next to Jack.’ She relinquished her seat. Gladys was asking her about a cooked breakfast and porridge, but Oona shook her head. Anxious to get going, she glanced at her watch.

Gladys turned her back and placed some bread in the red toaster. Jack planted a kiss on Oona’s lips. ‘I love you,’ he said. It gave her a warm feeling inside.

‘I hope your husband didn’t think me ungrateful last night. It’s just that…’

‘Oh, no, Tom understands, luv, more than most.’ Gladys placed the toast in front of her with knobs of butter and a selection of jams. ‘He hasn’t quite left the Force yet, I’m afraid. He knows how unbearable this must be for you; we both do. And if ye need anything while you’re in England, you’ve only to ask.’

‘Thank you, you’re very kind.’ She nibbled her toast and glanced across at Jack, who was scanning the morning paper.

‘So, you say there was nothing in the local newspaper, Mum, but just a mention on the radio. Is that right?’

‘That’s right, son. But God is good. Many a child goes missing, only to turn up unharmed.’ She began placing dishes into the sink.

‘I hope to God you’re right, Mum.’ Jack folded the paper. ‘Where’s Dad? We must be off. It’s a fair drive to Leicester.’

The front door clicked. ‘Oh, here he is now,’ Gladys said. ‘He had to go to the suppliers this morning. He’d have been upset to have missed you.’

Jack ran upstairs and carried the cases down to the car.

‘Keep in touch, son.’ There was a tear in Gladys’s eyes.

‘I’ll call you from Leicester.’

Tom added, ‘And I’ll be in touch if I get wind of anything.’

‘Thanks, Dad.’

Hugging them in turn, Gladys said. ‘Until Sean is found, you’ll be in our thoughts.’

‘And anything I can do or advise on, I’m here,’ Tom said, before waving them off. As they drove away, she noticed the concern etched on both their faces.