but the truth is that … Eamonn thought it best not to.’
‘He was right. I was in a terrible mood when I first heard. I’m ashamed of what I said. And I was even ruder when you called on me, Di.’
‘That’s all in the past. No need even to think about it again.’ Diane looked at the grief burnt into the other woman’s face. ‘It must be unbearable for you.’
‘I’ll get by. It’s Terry I feel sorry for, not myself. He’ll have heard by now. They sent a telegram.’
‘Is there any chance that they’ll let him come back for the funeral?’
‘I don’t think the army does things like that. But I’m glad you mentioned the funeral. It’s something I wanted to discuss with you.’
She told Diane about the offer made by the factory and how it had thrown her into confusion. Annoyed at first that they should even think of trying to take over something as private as a family funeral, she’d come to see that there was some worth in the gesture. It would enable her daughter’s remains to be buried alongside those of her friends. She believed that that was what Agnes would have wanted.
‘What would you do, Di?’ she asked. ‘If it was Maureen, I mean.’
‘I wouldn’t make the decision — Eamonn would.’
‘And what would he say?’
‘I think he’d look for the advantages,’ said Diane. ‘If someone else was paying and taking over the arrangements, he’d think it was a load off his back.’
‘But would he want to share the actual burial?’
‘He might — but, then again, he might not. Eamonn is funny sometimes.’
‘I’ve no idea what the other families think about it. I wish I did. What I really came for was to ask Maureen’s opinion. She knew all the parents.’
A voice piped up behind them. ‘What did you want to ask me, Mrs Radcliffe?’
They turned to see Maureen standing in the doorway. Sadie’s response was to leap to her feet and wrap her arms around her with an amalgam of fondness and remorse. Maureen was perplexed. Agnes’s mother had never been quite so demonstrative before. Diane explained about the offer from the factory management. All three of them sat down to talk about it.
‘What do you think the other families will do, Maureen?’ asked Sadie.
Maureen shook her head. ‘I can’t really say.’
‘Put yourself in their shoes.’
‘I don’t know that I can, Mrs Radcliffe.’
‘Just try,’ urged her mother. ‘How will Florrie’s parents react, for instance?’
‘I fancy they’d be against it,’ said Maureen. ‘They’re nice people but Mr Ingles does give himself airs and graces sometimes. Florrie used to tease him about it. Because he earns a lot of money, he thinks that he’s above most people. My guess is that he wouldn’t want to share anything.’
‘What about Jean’s family — or Enid’s — or Shirley’s?’
‘I really don’t know,’ replied her daughter in obvious discomfort. ‘To be honest, it’s something I’d rather not discuss.’
‘I don’t have that luxury,’ said Sadie. ‘They want an answer fairly soon.’
‘Why not contact one of the other families?’ suggested Diane.
‘I don’t really know them.’
‘You’re Agnes’s mother. They’re bound to be sympathetic.’
‘I was hoping that Maureen might help out.’
Maureen tensed. ‘What can I possibly do?’
‘Well, you’ve met them all and been to their houses. I wondered if you’d be kind enough to come with me if I caught the train to Hayes. I’m sure that you’d like to express your condolences to them, in any case,’ Sadie went on. ‘You can introduce me and I can ask about that letter from Mr Kennett.’
‘Yes,’ said Diane, ‘you could do that, Maureen, couldn’t you?’
‘No,’ said her daughter, flatly.
‘But it would be such a help to Mrs Radcliffe.’
‘It would,’ endorsed Sadie. ‘I’d be ever so grateful.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Maureen, jumping to her feet, ‘but I just can’t do it. You’ll have to find someone else, Mrs Radcliffe. I simply want to be left alone.’
Without another word, she flounced out of the room and could be heard running up the stairs. Diane was crimson with embarrassment.
In telling her to avoid confrontation with a senior officer, Joe Keedy had given Alice Marmion sound advice. It was, however, easier to accept than to follow. Though she did her best to evade Inspector Gale, she couldn’t disobey a summons to meet her. Before she went into the office, she made sure that she smartened her uniform. Her tap on the door was met with a curt command so she went in. Thelma Gale was studying a report. Without even looking up, she beckoned Alice towards her then kept her standing there for several minutes. It was a deliberate means of humiliating her but Alice didn’t complain, even though she could see that the inspector was not actually reading the words in front of her. When she finally sat back and looked up at Alice, the other woman was disappointed not to be able to find fault with her appearance.
‘I’m going to send you out on patrol,’ she said, crisply. ‘Your introduction to the police service has been far too cosy.’
Being rapped over the knuckles every day was not what Alice would have called ‘cosy’ but she didn’t respond. Getting out of the building would be a boon to her. Apart from anything else, it took her well beyond the inspector’s reach.
‘Too many girls are being drawn into prostitution,’ said Thelma, ‘and they need to be warned about the risks to their health and — in some cases — to their lives. We’ve had some of them so badly beaten that they’re disfigured for life. There have also been two murders.’
‘The war is partly to blame, Inspector,’ suggested Alice. ‘Soldiers have had a dreadful time at the front. They’ve seen friends die all around them. When they come back on leave, they’re desperate for some female company and — if they have no wife or girlfriend — they’re more than ready to pay for it. Sometimes, they get carried away and don’t realise how violent they’re being.’
‘You seem remarkably well informed. Have you been talking to Daddy?’
‘No, Inspector — it’s common knowledge.’
‘And how knowledgeable are you about the services these girls provide?’
‘On that score, I’d have to admit that I’m rather ignorant.’
‘Then patrolling the streets will be an education for you,’ said Thelma. ‘It will open your eyes to the ways of the world and take your mind off this major crime that you’re helping your father to solve.’
‘I’m doing nothing of the kind,’ retorted Alice.
‘Don’t take that tone with me, young lady!’ snapped the other.
‘I’m sorry, Inspector.’
‘I’m entitled to obedience and respect, or didn’t your father tell you that?’
Alice bit back a rejoinder. ‘You’re right,’ she said at length.
‘If he didn’t, then Sergeant Keedy should have done so. He’s been here long enough to appreciate the structure of command.’ Thelma narrowed her eyelids. ‘Has he been telling you how the case is proceeding?’
‘We see very little of each other, Inspector.’
‘What do you think he’ll say to this latest assignment of yours?’
‘Sergeant Keedy knows that I’ll do what I’m told and that it’s the essence of police work to take orders and act on them promptly.’
‘Ah,’ said Thelma with a cold smile. ‘You
‘To whom do I report?’
‘Don’t rush off. I haven’t finished talking to you yet.’
‘As you wish …’
Thelma appraised her shrewdly. ‘Has something happened?’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Oh, I think you do. Ever since you came into this office, you’ve been trying to hide a smile. Do I look comical
