June had passed and it was now a glorious Tuesday in early July. On occasions, Dolly slipped half a pill to Bernie by crushing it into his tea, and it continued to convince him that he was in the early stages of senility. He had become preoccupied, too worried about himself to keep a close eye on her, and that suited Dolly just fine. Soon she hoped to get her hands on the purse strings again and when that was achieved she’d be off to find a place for both her and Kevin, with room for John of course, leaving Bernie here to stew in his own juice.
With her son on her mind, Dolly said, ‘I rang Kevin yesterday, but that odd chap he’s staying with said he was out.’
‘What do you mean by odd?’
‘It’s difficult to describe. Rupert sounds very well spoken, but he’s also breathy, like a woman if you know what I mean.’
‘So you’re saying he’s a queer?’
‘Don’t be silly. Kevin would never live in the same house as one of those.’
‘They aren’t infectious, Dolly.’
‘If you say so, but like me, our son has no time for that sort of thing. Anyway, Rupert may speak strangely, but he’s a lovely man. In fact he was very sympathetic when I told him that we’re missing Kevin and would like him to come to see us. He gave me their address and said we’re welcome to pay them a visit, but at the moment they’re very busy and Kevin is hardly at home.’
‘Busy doing what?’
‘I didn’t like to ask, but no doubt it’s to do with the refuge. I’ll tell you something else, Bernie. I miss John too.’
‘So do I, but we’ll just have to be patient. In the meantime there’s nothing to stop you from ringing him.’
‘Yes there is. She might answer the telephone. You should speak to John. He should hear it from you that Kevin’s a different person now.’
‘It hasn’t been that long since John found out that his father nearly killed a man,’ Bernie pointed out, ‘and that he was accused of raping a young woman. On top of that, he’s adjusting to a totally different environment in Battersea, along with a new school.’
‘They moved to Battersea in May and I think that’s time enough for John to adjust.’
‘All right,’ Bernie sighed, ‘anything for a quiet life. I’ll ring Pearl to see if I can pop down there on Sunday. But just in case John won’t come back with me, why don’t you come too? It’s about time you buried the hatchet with Pearl.’
‘What! You must be joking! There was a time when Pearl had nothing and it was only thanks to me that she didn’t starve. I gave her a job, but what a mistake that was. The bitch trapped Kevin into marriage and look what that led to.’
‘Yes, Dolly, a lovely grandson.’
‘That’s about all, but now she’s doing her best to keep John away from us. I want to see him, but I’m not going to Battersea. Oh, I can just imagine it: Pearl lording it up, showing off now that she’s got Bessie’s place.’
‘Pearl isn’t one to show off and I’m not listening to any more of this,’ Bernie said as he stood up. ‘I’ll ring Pearl to make arrangements for Sunday, but then I’m off into the garden to tackle some weeds.’
Dolly was left fuming. Bernie was too fond of taking Pearl’s side, but she’d make him pay for it. Her time would come, and soon, but in the meantime Bernie would need his wits about him when he drove to Battersea on Sunday. She wouldn’t give him any more pills for now, but if John refused to visit them again she wouldn’t wait any longer and would up the dose.
Bernie would be very amenable then, Dolly mused, so out of it that he’d sign anything that was put in front of him …
Despite all her misgivings, Pearl found that she was happy in Battersea. Derek had been so upset about the way his gran had spoken to her, but Pearl found that as Connie hadn’t been in her life for so many years, it didn’t really matter. What mattered were the people she saw daily, the stallholders who remembered Derek, along with the new ones who had all welcomed him into the fold. They were all nice to her too, always with a cheery wave when they saw her, and so far it seemed that nobody had said a word to John about Kevin.
When school broke up for the summer, her mother would be coming to stay with them for a week. No doubt all the talk would be of her wedding; though it had initially been a shock to hear that she was going to marry Tim, Emily’s happiness was plain to see. They had decided on a small, Christmas wedding and already her mother was planning what she should wear, with a cream wool suit top of her list so far. Of course Tim would look immaculate, Pearl thought, he always did. He was a nice man, a gentleman, and somehow he seemed just right for her mother.
Pearl’s mind turned to other things as she looked around the shop. The cream paint she had chosen gave a neutral background for the modern, pop art posters she had on display, and the glass shelving gave the place a light and trendy feel. She had spent money on advertising, along with letting local colleges and night schools know she was there, and it had paid off. Her stock of watercolour and oil paints had sold really well, along with brushes. She hadn’t sold any easels yet and canvases weren’t moving very well, but it was early days yet. Lucy’s T-shirts were selling, along with craft kits, and the children’s section was growing in popularity. Pearl knew it was fanciful, but on odd occasions she felt that Bessie was watching over them, that she approved, and the thought comforted her.
The only problem they’d encountered had been with John. When Derek opened his stall, it had meant working on Saturdays, and though it was unlike John, he had sulked because he had to wait until the end of the day before Derek could drive him to Winchester.
Derek had been the one to placate John, offering him a Saturday job on the stall which not only considerably increased his pocket money, but served another purpose too. Tired after a day’s work on the busy stall, John realised that Derek must be too and he had cut down his visits to Winchester, happy to go with them on a Sunday once a fortnight when it also gave Pearl a chance to see her mother.
‘Do you stock needles and cotton?’ a customer asked.
Pearl had soon found there was a demand for sewing materials and had quickly added some to her stock; smiling, she said, ‘Yes, there’s some on a stand over there.’
The door opened again, and another customer came in with a different request. ‘Do you sell macramé kits?’
‘Yes, I do,’ Pearl said, showing her one for making plant pot hangers.
‘This is just what I’m looking for. I’ll take it,’ the woman said, but then she saw the children’s section and wandered over to it.
The shop was getting busy and Pearl left her to it while she served another customer. Later the woman returned to the counter. ‘My niece would love this jewellery making kit. The beads are so pretty. I think I’ll buy it for her.’
Pearl rang both items up, but as she put the kits in a bag she noticed that the woman was looking at her intently.
‘I’ve got it,’ the woman said. ‘I thought I recognised you from somewhere. It was years ago, but didn’t you once live around here?’
‘Err … yes … that’s right,’ Pearl said, feeling her stomach churn.
‘I thought so. You’re the poor cow who married Kevin Dolby. When I heard what he did and what you went through with his nutty mother, I felt so sorry for you, and a lot of others around here felt the same. Yeah, and you left the area after that I heard – married Derek Lewis, didn’t you?’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘Is this your shop now?’
‘Yes, it is,’ Pearl replied.
‘Well, love, I’m pleased to see you’re doing well for yourself.’
‘Thanks,’ she said, handing the woman her items.
‘You’re well rid of Kevin Dolby. He was a nasty piece of work.’
Thankfully as another customer approached the counter, Pearl didn’t have to make any comment, and the woman then said, ‘I can see you’re busy so I’d best be off.’
Pearl hid her feelings behind a pleasant smile as she said goodbye. She didn’t want to think, or talk about Kevin, and though glad of her custom she was relieved when the woman left the shop.
Kevin wasn’t thinking about Pearl as he sat in his car surveying Vince’s house from a decent distance. He loved his new wheels, a black Ford Cortina, but though he had sat here many times before, and on different days, so far the only times Adrianna left the house was when she was with Vince or one of his heavies.
Every time Kevin saw Vince, he felt a surge of anger, and was growing impatient to move forward with his plans. Rupert was ripe for picking now, and Kevin was ready for the last stage of his scam, but he didn’t want to torch Vince’s place with Adrianna inside.
He glanced at his watch. For the last few days he’d been watching the house in the morning, hoping that it was a time when Adrianna was let off her leash; that she at least might go shopping without an escort.
His patience at last paid off – there she was, leaving the house, and there wasn’t anyone with her. Walk this way, towards me, Kevin willed, and was gratified when she did just that. He waited until she was almost alongside the car then he leaned across the passenger seat to swing open the door.
‘Adrianna,’ he called. ‘Hello.’
She bent to look at him, and it was a few seconds before he saw recognition dawning in her eyes. ‘Are you mad?’ she said, glancing behind her. ‘Go away.’
‘Look, if you want to get away from Vince, I can offer you a way out.’
‘I can’t get away from him, he’d kill me, and if he thought you had a hand in it, he’d kill you too.’
‘With what I’ve got planned there’d be no chance of that. Get in the car and we can talk.’
‘He might see me.’
‘I parked too far away for that.’
After another quick glance over her shoulder, Adrianna scrambled into the passenger seat. ‘Quick, drive further away.’
With a smile on his face, Kevin did just that. He’d done it. He’d got Adrianna on her own, and now all he had to do was convince her that his plan would work.
Adrianna was shaking with nerves. She had got into a car with a man she had only glimpsed twice, but if he really could offer her a chance to get away from Vince, surely it was worth the risk?
She looked at him and as though aware of her scrutiny, his eyes left the road as he turned to smile at her. ‘In case you don’t know, my name is Kevin – Kevin Dolby.’
He was good-looking, very good-looking, and Adrianna asked, ‘What’s this about a way out?’
‘I’ll find somewhere to park up and then we’ll talk.’
‘There’s no time for that. I had a bit of an emergency and Vince only let me out to go to the chemist’s. If I’m not back soon he’ll send Stan to look for me.’
‘Stan, yes, I remember him well. I’ve got the scar to prove it,’ Kevin said bitterly.
‘Then you know what he’s capable of. Look, there’s the chemist,’ she said urgently. ‘As we drove here it’s saved me a bit of time, so park up outside and it’ll give us a few minutes to talk.’
To her relief, Kevin did as she asked, and after switching off the engine he turned in his seat to face her. ‘You’ll probably think I’m mad, but from the instant I saw you in the club I knew you were the woman for me.’
Adrianna felt sick. They were the same words Vince had used and she wasn’t about to jump from the frying pan into the fire. She’d been so sure of herself at first, sure that she had Vince just where she wanted him, drooling, but her assumptions had proved wrong. Vince had begun to rule her, to watch her every move, and when she’d tried to stand up to him, she’d suffered for it. Now she lived in fear of him; of what he was capable of doing to her – and she wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. ‘Let’s get one thing straight,’ she said. ‘I might hate Vince and want to get away from him, but that doesn’t mean I’m prepared to run off with a bloke I hardly know. You could be as bad as Vince, another nutcase who wants to own me, and I’m not having that.’
‘I’m nothing like Vince. Give me a chance and I’ll prove it.’
‘What’s this plan then?’
‘I’ll have money soon, lots of it, enough to get us out of the country and to sunnier climates. I just hope you’ve got a passport.’
Adrianna’s laugh was sardonic. ‘Leave it out. Vince had you checked out and I heard him talking about you. You’re a small-time thief who’s just got out of prison.’
‘Things have changed since then and I’m in for a windfall. I’ll have plenty of money soon. You needn’t worry about that.’
‘Even if what you say is true, you don’t know Vince. Yes, I’ve got a passport, thanks to the one time he took me on a trip to Paris, but he’d find me before I got out of the country.’
‘I don’t think he’ll be in any fit state to do that.’
‘I should have known this would be a waste of time,’ Adrianna said derisively. ‘You can’t get to Vince. He’s always surrounded by his heavies.’
‘I know a way, but if I tell you what I’ve got in mind can I trust you to keep your mouth shut?’
‘I’m not about to tell him,’ Adrianna said. ‘If I did, Vince would know I’ve been talking to you and believe me, he’d make me suffer for that.’
‘Right then, if this is going to work we’ll just have to trust each other. You said that Vince is always surrounded by his heavies, but not when he’s asleep,’ Kevin said, going on to lay out his plan.
Adrianna had thought of sneaking off when Vince was asleep, but without money she wouldn’t be able to get far. With his contacts, the eyes and ears everywhere, Vince would soon find her. Now though, with what this bloke had in mind, she really could have a chance to get away. She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe that it really was going to happen, but she knew so little about Kevin Dolby. ‘Are you really going to do it, or is this some sort of sick joke?’
‘It’s no joke, Adrianna. When you sneak out, all you’ll have to do is to leave the door open and that will make it easy for me.’
She looked into his eyes, thought she saw sincerity there, but how could she be sure? ‘I dunno. Vince said your mother was sent to a nuthouse. For all I know you’re like her, delusional or something and this is all pie in the sky.’
‘I’m nothing like my mother and I can assure you this is real. It’s going to happen, and then we’ll have all the time in the world to get to know each other.’
Adrianna just gave a small smile. If she agreed to this, she’d only use Kevin for as long as it suited her. He had the money to get them out of the country, and once safe she’d dump him and make it on her own. It was that thought that sealed her decision. ‘Right then. If you’re telling the truth, how will I know when you’re gonna do it?’
‘I’ll get word to you.’
‘How? Vince hardly lets me out of his sight, and you mustn’t risk coming to see me again. If Vince spots you we’re both dead, and you can’t ring me because Vince or one of his heavies always answers the telephone.’
‘I could leave you some sort of sign,’ Kevin suggested. ‘When I’m ready to make my move I could chalk something on a wall where you’d be sure to spot it.’
‘I suppose that could work, but what wall?’
‘Is the club closed during the day?’ he asked.
‘Yes, and there won’t be many people around.’
‘I could chalk a small cross low on the wall just before the exit door in the alley. I doubt it’d be noticed unless you’re looking for it, and just in case you miss it I’ll do another one just above the door.’
‘That sounds all right,’ Adrianna told him.
‘When you spot the signs, you’ll know I’m going to do it that night and all you’ve got to do is to get out of the house while Vince is asleep.’
‘What if he takes ages to go off? It could be the early hours of the morning before I can sneak out.’
‘Don’t worry. I won’t do anything until I see you leave,’ Kevin assured.
‘When should I start looking for the chalk marks?’
‘With any luck in a week or two, but if it’s longer, don’t give up. I won’t let you down, I promise.’
‘I’ll have to trust you. If I want to get away from Vince it’s my only choice,’ Adrianna said, but then began to panic about how long she’d been sitting in the car. ‘I must go.’
‘Just look for my sign,’ Kevin murmured as he leaned towards her.
She tensed, but as he only kissed her cheek she allowed it. He was going to torch Vince’s house and at the thought of flames licking up to the bed, Adrianna smiled wickedly.
Yes, it was apt. Vince was so evil that he deserved to burn in hell.