Sister had gathered everyone together in the dining room the next morning. Looking very solemn, she told them that Johnny had passed away peacefully in his sleep and was now in the arms of the angels.
‘Johnny loved being here with all the friends he made at St Saviour’s,’ she said. ‘I know that he would not want you to be too sad, because it is nearly Christmas and that is why the Church party this afternoon, and the carol service tomorrow will go ahead. Father Christmas will come on Christmas Eve as promised, and as we enjoy ourselves we shall remember the child we loved. We shall say a prayer for Johnny and he will be remembered in chapel next Sunday by all of you who attend. However, I should like you all to say the Lord’s Prayer with me now.’
‘Our Father who art in heaven … Hallowed be Thy Name …’
Sister Beatrice intoned the popular prayer and the children chanted it after her. Mary Ellen noticed that Sally and Michelle were crying, and so were Nan and Angela. She’d cried all her tears and could only hold Billy’s hand tightly and pray that their friend was in heaven, where he deserved to be.
After Sister finished the prayer, she paused and then smiled. ‘I am very glad to be able to tell you one piece of good news. Maisie Chapman’s aunt has asked if she can go and stay with her after Christmas. I’ve been told that Maisie will be taken on holidays with her aunt and if she is happy there, eventually she will go to live with her.’
A few of the children cheered. It was always good when someone came for a child, though it didn’t happen often enough. Some were silent, because they knew that no one was ever going to come for them.
Mary Ellen was thoughtful as she left the dining room, following the others towards the schoolroom. Her school had broken up for the Christmas holidays now and Sally had asked her to come and help with some of the little ones; they were making some paper packets, which would be filled with sugared almonds and placed with a cracker by every child’s plate on Christmas Day.
Mary Ellen didn’t often think of Rose, because she knew her sister was at her hospital and doing well, but now she couldn’t help thinking about her, wondering when she would visit – and what news she would bring of their mother. Mary Ellen had written letters to her mother several times and Sally had posted them for her but Ma had only replied once, right at the start. Her sister sent brief postcards now and then but seldom mentioned her mother, just what she was doing herself. Rose’s last postcard two weeks previously had said she was going down to visit Ma and would come and see her afterwards, but so far she hadn’t.
‘What are you doing today?’ asked Billy, as he walked along beside her.
‘Helping Sally to look after the little ones. We’re making Christmas cards. Why don’t you come too?’
‘Billy …’ Angela’s voice stopped them in their tracks. ‘Billy, Sister would like to see you in her office now, please.’
The colour left Billy’s face for a moment, but in an instant a look of defiance replaced the fear and he stuck his chin up. ‘I’d better do as the old dragon asks,’ he said in a low voice and Mary Ellen giggled.
‘Good luck. She won’t send you away, but the police might if you don’t tell them all you know. Be brave and honest, Billy, and I’m sure it will turn out right.’
‘Come along, Billy,’ Angela said and smiled. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘All right, miss.’
He turned and followed her, leaving Mary Ellen to stare after him. Tears pricked her eyes but she didn’t cry. She would hate it here if they sent Billy away, but there was nothing else she could do.
She just wished that Rose would come and visit her. If her ma got better she could go home and perhaps Ma would let Billy come too …
Angela knew that Billy was scared, even though he was putting a brave face on it, but she couldn’t say anything to comfort him because he would hate to be patronised or pitied. She could only hope that Sister Beatrice would be fair and not punish him too harshly.
When they entered Sister’s office, she saw the tall, burly policeman standing by the window and felt Billy stiffen at her side. Not knowing what else she could do, Angela put her hand briefly on his shoulder, giving it a little squeeze in the hope that it would comfort him.
‘Ah, Billy,’ Sister said in what was for her a surprisingly gentle voice. ‘I’m glad you’ve come to see us – and I hope you are ready to answer the constable’s questions? I know this will be hard for you, because Arthur is all the family you have – but I think you know right from wrong, don’t you?’
‘Yes, Sister. It ain’t easy but I’ve made up me mind to do it.’
‘I have every confidence in you, Billy – and you know you can trust us. You are safe here at St Saviour’s.’
Billy cleared his throat, stood up straight and looked her in the eyes. ‘I done wrong to go off, Sister,’ he said. ‘Me bruvver told me if I didn’t do what he said he would give me a good hidin’ – but more than that, he threatened to burn you all in your beds. I went ’cos he’s mean enough to do it.’
‘Is that the truth, lad?’ Constable Sallis stepped forward. ‘Don’t be afraid. We’ve no quarrel with you. We’re searching for him and when we find him, we’re going to put him away for a long time.’
‘If he gets out he’ll kill me – like he did me pa.’ He drew a sobbing breath and looked about him wildly. ‘I know he’s a wrong ’un; he’s always been bad and I’m scared of him but that ain’t it …’
‘We understand, Billy,’ Sister said. ‘You don’t want to betray your brother, but it’s what you must do to protect others – isn’t it?’
Billy hesitated, then nodded. ‘Yes, Sister.’
‘If you tell us what you know, we can put him away for a long time, perhaps for good if he’s a murderer.’ The constable frowned. ‘What makes you say he killed your pa?’
‘Pa said he were goin’ ter shop Arfur to the coppers and he said he would do fer him. The next night he were stabbed to death on the Docks. I know it was Arfur, but I ain’t got no proof.’
‘He hasn’t said anything to you to confirm that?’
‘He said if I didn’t behave I might end up like me pa – but he never said for definite that he done it, though I know it was him.’
‘We need something more positive than that, I’m afraid, though we’ll look into it. We’ve suspected him of being a nasty sort for a while. Is there anything more you can tell us, lad?’
‘I know every house he robbed and every item they took and sold. I know who bought the goods and how much Arfur got for them … medals, gold coins, and silver watches. I’ve got a good memory and I remember all of it.’
‘Can you write it all down for me?’
‘It will take me a while, sir, but I can do it.’
‘If you want to tell me, Billy, I will write it all down quicker than you can and then I’ll type it up and deliver it to the police station,’ Angela offered.
‘Yes, miss.’ Billy nodded vigorously, and then looked at the policeman. ‘Will Arfur know it was me that told on him?’
‘Not if we can help it, lad. Once we have the details we can bring pressure to bear – and we may be able to make one of the rogues confess. We shall make some more arrests, because fencing stolen goods is an offence too. So it is unlikely that anyone need ever know where the information came from. If your account of the stolen items matches those from the victims, we shall be sending your brother away for at least twenty years.’
‘Good,’ Billy said. He raised his head, his eyes bright with unshed tears. ‘I ain’t a snitch, but he threatened me friends and he deserves all he gets.’
‘Yes, he does,’ Constable Sallis agreed. He glanced at Angela. ‘If you could get that list done as soon as possible, please?’
‘Yes, of course. Come with me, Billy. We’ll go in my office and do it now.’
‘There’s somethin’ else.’ Billy swallowed hard, then, ‘I saw someone throw them petrol bombs at the boot factory …’
Constable Sallis stared at him hard. ‘Did you see who it was?’
Billy shook his head. ‘He had his face and head covered and it was dark … but I know somethin’ else, only I don’t know if I should say …’
‘Tell the constable everything, Billy,’ Sister Beatrice said. ‘He needs to know whatever it is.’
‘It’s like this.’ Angela thought Billy looked even more scared. ‘Arfur and Jack Shaw done a job on an office safe but the stuff they stole belonged to some dangerous men. They were going to clear off up North, but Jack said they needed the wages from the boot factory before they could go …’
‘What are you saying, lad?’
‘Jack said Butcher Lee would kill them if he found out it was him and Arfur who pinched his stuff. They was both terrified.’
Constable Sallis gave a start. ‘Are you sure he said Butcher?’
‘Yes, they was messin’ their pants over it …’
‘Billy! Language, please.’
‘Sorry, Sister.’
‘This makes it all the more important we catch your brother before they do,’ Constable Sallis said. ‘Don’t worry, lad. What you’ve told us is hearsay and can’t be used in evidence so you won’t have to go to court – but your brother could help us put some murderers behind bars.’ He nodded to Sister Beatrice. ‘I’m relying on you to keep the boy safe until we can sort this business out.’
‘Of course, Constable. Is what he told you so important?’
‘You have no idea how vital it could be,’ the constable told her. He looked at Billy. ‘You can go now, lad – and don’t tell anyone else what you told me. I don’t have to warn you how dangerous it could be.’
‘No, sir.’ Billy hesitated, then, ‘There’s more … when I went in to warn them about the fire I saw a dead man at the bottom of the stairs. Someone must have hit him on the head and he’d bled but he wasn’t bleeding no more … and it weren’t me brother or Jack …’
‘Good grief! You are certain of this, Billy? It changes everything. We thought it was Jack Shaw, but they must have been disturbed and killed whoever it was … and that means Jack Shaw must have got away, because we only found the one body.’ The constable looked at him. ‘You don’t know which one of them killed him?’
‘No, sir. I just saw him lyin’ there, dead …’
‘You’ve done very well,’ Sister said, her face white with shock. ‘This has been very hard for you, Billy, but I think you can go now – and give the information concerning stolen goods to Angela.’
‘Yes, go along, son. You’ve done us a good turn and we shan’t forget it.’
‘Come with me, Billy,’ Angela said.
‘Yes, miss.’ He followed her to the door and then looked back at Sister Beatrice. ‘I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble, Sister.’
‘I am willing to forgive and forget,’ she said. ‘Please come to me in future, Billy. You will find that I am usually willing to listen.’
‘Are you going to let me stay here?’
‘For the time being, yes. However, it will be up to the police and the magistrates, Billy. Because you ran away they may decide you should live elsewhere … that I am not capable of taking care of you properly. You see, your bad behaviour reflects on me.’
‘It weren’t your fault – and if you let me stay, I promise I won’t do it again.’
‘Well, we shall do what we can,’ Sister Beatrice said, looking regretful. ‘I will let you know as soon as we hear – but I can promise you that you will be here for Christmas, whatever else happens.’
‘Thank you,’ he said and followed Angela from the room.
‘I’d better be on my way,’ Constable Sallis said. ‘I’ll put in a good word for him, Sister Beatrice, but I can’t promise. The report will go to the magistrates’ office. They sent him here on probation because he has a reputation for playing truant and running away.’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘You never know what they will say.’
‘No, but I shall do my best to keep the child here. Once we have his brother inside, I think he will be no more trouble.’