Songbird

Maddy shook her head. “Not yet, no. I wanted Steve to know first.” Her heart sank. “Like a fool, I had an idea that he might want to come with me.”

Ellen groaned. “It’s not you that’s the fool,” she said grimly, “it’s him! But if there’s any justice, he’ll get his comeuppance and, if you ask me, it won’t be before time, neither.”

Maddy thought of Steve Drayton, and all those hopeless dreams, and was amazed at herself for being taken in by him. “Why did I let him get me pregnant?” she sighed. “I should have had more sense.”

“These things happen.” Ellen screwed up her face in concentration. “I’m on the pill, thank heavens! Anyway it’s late July now, so if, as you say, you’re coming up to four months, the baby should arrive about…” She gave a whoop and a holler. “Christmas! Think of that – a baby for Christmas!” she laughed out loud.

Maddy laughed with her. “Oh Ellen, that would be the best Christmas present in the whole wide world.” Then her smile faded. “He or she won’t have a daddy though, and what will I say, when the baby grows old enough to ask after him?”

Ellen thought it a very difficult thing, but, “All you can do is love and protect the baby – be the best mother you can,” she said wisely. “And maybe, when all’s said and done, that will be enough.”

Maddy hugged her impulsively for those beautiful words.

One thing she knew for certain.

For as long as she lived, whatever sacrifice was required of her along the way, or whatever danger might threaten, she would move heaven and earth to keep her child safe.

That much she knew.

From this day on, it was her goal in life.

Back at Scotland Yard, the activity following the shooting had been intense. With yet another briefing over, about twenty officers tumbled out of the incident room and hurried away to their desks; all but two – Detective Inspector Warren, and his colleague Sergeant Edwards.

Continuing on down the stairs to the pavement outside, the stockily built Sergeant commented, “That Superintendent Bates is a miserable bugger! Does he show any gratitude for us having nabbed some of the biggest villains in London? Oh no! And already we’ve had two press conferences, going over the same scenario. I tell you, not only is he milking this for all he’s worth, he’s running the rest of us into the ground. What the hell does he want – blood?”

“It’s no good complaining,” came the fed up reply. “You should know what he’s like by now. He wants every loose end tied up in a pretty pink bow, which he can then present to the prosecution, so he can claim credit for doing his bit.”

“But we’ve already established what happened. It’s gang warfare, pure and simple. Two lowlifes face each other down: one gets shot and killed; a man gets caught in the crossfire and a woman gets wounded. Moreover, there were enough witnesses to fill a courtroom; even Carter’s men spilled their guts to save their own necks. So, as far as I’m concerned, we’ve already tied up all the loose ends. I reckon it’s time to concentrate on other matters, such as keeping a wary eye on the villains who are already straining at the leash to rule the roost, especially now that Carter will be pushing up the daisies and Drayton is locked up.”

“You’ve learned nothing then.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“All I’m saying is, you must never underestimate men like that.” DI Warren knew from experience that there was always more going on than met the eye. “Being locked in a prison cell won’t stop a lowlife like Drayton from keeping his thumb on the pulse. He’s still in control, don’t you worry about that. And it won’t matter how many small-time thugs are straining at the leash, they’ve got no chance, because locked up, or loose on the streets, a man like Drayton is still top dog. Take my word for it. Nothing goes down without his say-so.”

The younger man glanced at him. “So, we’d best keep our wits sharp then, eh?”

“That’s about the size of it. As for the two singers who worked at the club, I for one wouldn’t mind clearing that one up. According to one of the regular clubgoers, Drayton got rid of his regular artist, in favor of a bright young thing who just happened to be working for Carter.” Pausing to light up his cigarette, he continued, “I’d like to meet up with these two girls and hear their side of it. We’re still trying to get an address for Ellen Drew. Delaney is missing from the Battersea flat – no one there has seen her for a good while.”

“Okay. But you’re surely not suggesting they had anything to do with what happened? I mean, it’s common knowledge that Carter and Drayton have been at each other’s throats for years.”

“I know all that. From the clubbers who witnessed the incident, we know enough of what went down in that alley, anyway. All the same, I’d still like to take their statements.”

The younger man dismissed the idea of even more work. “If you ask me, we don’t need to hear what they have to say. We’ve got Drayton bang to rights and I reckon there’s little point in wasting valuable resources in tracking the women down. If you ask me, that is.”

“Well, nobody is asking you!”

“Maybe not. But I’ll say it anyway. Moreover, we should not be engaging time and manpower in an operation that would add little or nothing to what we already know. I say we’d be best employed in consolidating what we’ve got. We need to keep a sharp eye on Drayton’s contacts, and make damned sure the bastard never again sets foot in the free world. Or at least, not until he’s old and gray.”

The DI gave his Sergeant a shove toward the car. “I think we’ve heard enough of your opinions. Now get in and drive!”

“Where to?”

“University College Hospital.”

“You’ll not get much joy there,” the Sergeant predicted. “That woman doesn’t have a clue what went down. If you ask me, the poor cow just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

DI Warren lit a cigarette and took a deep, calming breath. “Like I said, nobody’s asking you. So, until somebody tells me otherwise, I’m giving the orders around here, and I say it’s time we paid another visit, to see how the patient is getting on. Put your foot down, Sergeant, and we might get there before the canteen closes. I’d swap my old granny for a nice cup of tea and a Garibaldi biscuit…”

PART THREE

Blackpool, 1978

Lighter Hearts

Ten

When Maddy and Ellen clambered off the train at Blackpool North station, it was still light, a beautiful warm summer’s evening. “I hadn’t realized how much I enjoy train rides,” Maddy said as they strolled up the platform. “It’s been years since I went on one.”

Ellen couldn’t help but wonder about her – what kind of childhood she had endured; where she hailed from, and what her life had been like, up to Drayton taking her on.

Drawing on what she had learned so far, Ellen surmised that Maddy had been a bit of a loner, an orphan without other relatives to fall back on. But then she had met up with a man like Drayton who earned her trust and her love, before using and abusing her. That was the worst kind of blow.

Maddy’s savior had been Alice, who gave her love and friendship and asked for nothing in return. And now, because of what had occurred back in Soho, and the deceit in which Ellen herself had played a large part, Maddy was made to believe she had lost the only real friend she had ever known.

Shivering suddenly, Ellen wondered whether she had done wrong, taking it on herself to carry out Alice’s wishes. But the more she had thought on it, the more she realized that if Maddy were to be brought to safety, there really was no alternative.

She had noticed how, several times on the train, Maddy had sat and gazed out the window, watching the miles speed her away from everything familiar. Occasionally, she made an excuse to go to the toilet, and when she came back, her eyes were red raw from crying. And when Ellen asked if she was all right, she would smile and nod, and say not a word.

“I’m sorry,” Maddy apologized. “I wasn’t much company on the train, was I?”

“No problem,” Ellen answered. “You had things on your mind, and who could blame you for that?”

“I owe you a lot,” Maddy said. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you.” She threaded her arm through Ellen’s. “Besides, we’re here now, and we have to make the most of it – isn’t that right?”

“And are you okay with that, Maddy? I mean, you’ve gone along with all my suggestions, because you have no one else and nowhere to go. You’re in a vulnerable position, what with the baby and everything. You must be so nervous, coming here with me.”

“What makes you say that?” Maddy thought she had managed to keep her anxiety to herself. Certainly that had been her intention.

Now that the subject was breached, Ellen answered honestly. “I was just thinking, how it must all be so strange to you – leaving familiar surroundings on my say- so; traveling hundreds of miles to a strange place you’ve never even seen.”

“I trust you, don’t I?”

“Obviously. But as far as you know, it could be yet another catastrophe. And while I’ve known and loved my grandad all my life, to you he’s just a stranger.”

Ellen couldn’t help but wonder how she herself might cope: having no family whatsoever, meeting up with a man like Drayton, being beaten and abused and made with child, then have him reject you both so callously. Then there was the ordeal of watching her two dearest friends shot down in cold blood. And now, being torn