A Question Of Honour: A Harry Royle Thriller (5 page)

"A great many things I'm ignorant about, but I do like Shakespeare. I know people think it's odd for a working man, you know ideas above me station and all that malarkey. Well, I went to a play when I was just a nipper and loved it, ever since, I like to read his works, and the more I read, the more I see of life in them. To you a quote is just that, but by misquoting, you get the meaning changed around, whoops."

The cabby moved the taxi away from the oncoming vehicles and back into the traffic stream once more. He resumed his good humoured argument.

"Take what you just said. You meant for me to take you to the Regal, lead on and all that. Lay on means to fight. So now you see what irks me. It's like that other big one. Now is the winter of our discontent, you know that one?"

Harry nodded wordlessly.

"People say that when they're talking about bad times, even newspaper men say it all the time. But the quote is about good times. Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this son of York. Big difference, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, you've got a point."

"And another great one, a big, oh forget it, friend, we're here."

Royle paid the cheerful cabby and headed toward the cinema. The girl with the painted smile and constant yawning mouth mechanically told him that the show had started, but that he hadn't missed the main feature. He smiled a smile as polite as she deserved, paid and made his way inside.

There were a good few people milling around in the foyer and Harry noticed a cigarette girl arranging her tray in the upper left corner. Not only was the girl happy to oblige with a packet of Woodbines, but also with the flash of a smile. This one didn't stop at the teeth, as the ticket girl, but was an honest I like you kind of smile. Harry swept his hat off in a gesture of salutation and the girl giggled. Reaching over, she gently touched his sleeve.

"And that's before the picture."

He returned the big smile.

"Is it any good?"

She held his gaze and he continued.

"The picture I mean".

She blushed.

"If you liked Thirty-Nine Steps, then yes, it's a spy one. I liked it."

He nodded and smiled.

"Liked it, what made you stop?"

She grinned.

"Seeing it twenty-seven times has spoilt the surprise, but you'll like it."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, you can walk me home after, but remember the hat business and behave yourself."

Harry Royle put his brown trilby against his chest and gave a deep bow. Turning on his heel, he walked in through the open door beyond. Having had his ticket checked, he stood for a moment, once inside the door he allowed his eyes to grow accustomed to the dim light. The bright projector lamp flickered and caught the plumes of cigarette smoke, which curled upwards in wreaths. Harry lit up a Woodbine and scanned the inside of the room. All looked very normal, just people out for a good night, mostly couples, not all young, a good amount of older men and women sitting drinking tea and smoking and odd single people dotted here and there.

Choosing a middle aisle seat he walked across and sat down, just as Pathe news started up loudly on the screen. Then it was all about Robin Hood who promised to be coming soon, but not played by an Englishman, no, the essential English hero of the people was to be portrayed by Captain Blood himself Errol Flynn. Royle rolled his eyes in the darkness and made a promise to avoid that little gem when it came out. Then came the cartoon, which he found very funny and he hoped that like Porky, he too might get the girl and a little romance for a change.

At lights up, before the main feature, he made a point of walking over to the cigarette girl and buying another packet of Woodbines and a box of matches. Taking a little too long to hand her the money, he felt her slim white gloved fingers give his own a slight squeeze and they both exchanged smiles, before parting.

As promised the film was good, not Royle considered in the same league as Thirty-Nine Steps, but good all the same. He waited back for as long as he could and then turning up his collar against the night air, he exited the Regal. Outside he lit yet another cigarette and leaned back against the wall. He was onto his third cigarette when a man's voice disturbed his quiet smoking.

"And what might you be doing?"

A lamp shone in his face and below it, he could make out the uniform sleeve. Looking up at the owner, he could clearly see the police officer's unmistakable helmet. Harry Royle froze in the lamplight, his fingers hesitated above the heavy coat pocket. He decided to bluff it out, this was real life, not the pictures and besides which, he was no Jimmy Cagney, more like Robert Donat, who was a gentleman and would talk his way out.

Handcuffed and on the run, was all Harry could now see, Donat in the 39 Steps.

"Remove your hat, please Sir?"

"Hey love you in trouble for flashing those legs again?"

Both men looked around at the smiling woman in the dark green coat. It was the cigarette, girl. Without another word, she brushed past the officer and kissed Harry full on the lips. She then turned and addressed the policeman directly.

"Honestly officer I can't leave this young man of mine alone for ten minutes without him getting in trouble. The last time it was impersonating a film star, what's this charge?"

The police officer grinned and took a step back. Harry realised the play and moved in.

"You've got me constable, honest I'll come quietly."

With this, he held out both hands ready for handcuffs, in pantomime fashion. The officer waved him away.

"Miss I trust you can vouch for his good character, so I'll leave him to you. Take him home he looks cold."

"Will do constable, I always obey the law."

Harry offered the woman his elbow and she linked his arm. He felt her warmth as she leaned in close. The policeman's noisy footfalls fell away as the couple picked up the pace.

"Susan, by the way, and you are?"

Royle smiled.

"Harry, pleased to meet you. About that kiss?"

She looked at the pavement and he could sense her blush.

"Oh, that. Coppers, you know, they're always annoying folk and I didn't really think, I was just hoping he wasn't going to ask me your name, otherwise what would he have thought? Honestly."

With this they both laughed. They walked and talked for more than half an hour, and Harry was lost in more ways than one when they came to the end of the journey. At the door, Harry kissed Susan goodnight and took the offered telephone number, but held back from being pushy. She was a nice girl and he didn't want to overstep the mark. The faded brown door closed behind her.

Harry turned on his heel and then remembered that he didn't know where he was and didn't even know in which direction the Regal was in. He still had some money and if he could walk through to the main road, he would be able to hail a taxi. He pushed his hands into his coat pockets and suddenly felt the cold steel of the gun. Despite the cool air, he felt warm, too warm, as a hot flush rushed through his body. He knew that the woman's quick thinking had saved him earlier in the evening from yet another copper, but his luck was sure to run out if he kept walking around like an idiot. He had to learn the city and fast.

Having managed to get home without further problems. He slept on and off throughout the night that followed. The next morning Harry washed and dressed quickly. Leaving the house, he headed for Princess Road and the shops.

Later that morning found him eating a good breakfast at Barney's Cafe and enjoying his newly bought treasure, a Kelly's map of Manchester. Royle smiled at Barney, as the man brought a mug of tea.

"You lost then?"

Barney let out a laugh loud enough to send a pair of pigeons near the doorway skyward. Unlike the wildlife, the locals ignored the loud man with the grubby apron. Harry shook his head and looked down at the map sheepishly. He decided that in this instance, honesty might just be the best policy.

"Sick of getting bloody lost, to tell you the truth."

The man roared again, and slapping his hand down on the table, set off back to the counter and his other customers. Harry had just got back to his map, when Welsh Eric appeared, for his usual morning meal.

"Hello stranger, beat me to it have you? Over here Barney, if you please? What have we here then? Wish you'd told me you needed a map, got a couple at my digs, could have had them for free. Know the place well now, but at first I was always ending up down a wrong alley and for a driver that's bad see."

Harry smiled a good morning and began folding the large paper sheet. As he started, Eric put a hand on it.

"Don't put it away just yet, might as well show you something first."

Leaning over the map, Eric ran his finger across it, tracing a slow arc, until he stopped and looking up at Royle, indicated an area on the printed surface.

"There's an ironworks right here, see? Not far from the park there. We'll be looking to get some work at the place one day very soon. Study the map and make sure you go out there a few times, you know, really get used to the area."

Harry looked up at the man, who continued.

"Don't worry about transport, got orders to give you this boy. It's not the best car, but it'll get you there and back."

Eric passed a set of car keys folded in a pound note across to Royle, who pocketed them without a word. Eric leaned back in his seat and gestured to Harry to move the map, as Barney slammed his breakfast down. He quickly folded the map and took a swig of his tea. When Barney had left their side, Eric explained that the car was parked outside the house in Denmark Road and was now Harry's. Breakfast passed with reasonable food and decent company. Harry found that he liked Eric, it was Pete he was unsure about. After the meal, Eric went to find a phone box to check if William Hill had received his cheque, leaving Royle to walk back to Denmark Road.

The short walk home gave him the opportunity to turn recent events over in his mind. The more he thought about things, the less happy he felt. Pete was at the centre of the uneasy feeling clawing at Harry's now full stomach. What kind of man gives out money, guns and cars to strangers? Still Harry was on the run and Pete knew it, he also seemed very pleased to have someone onboard with Harry's training. So maybe the man simply wanted to make certain Royle didn't drift away. The car was a nice surprise. Harry had half expected an old banger, but it was a decent little runner. He decided to take it out and see how it ran.

Sitting behind the wheel, he spread out the map and worked out a very basic route to the ironworks, then set off. The black Austin Ruby coughed into action and obeyed the commands he gave it well enough. The car stepped up to 30mph with ease. This could get up to 40, no problem, he thought. Not knowing a place was annoying and he found himself taking a few wrong turns, pulling over and having to check the map, but he got there in the end. Driving along Lightbowne Road with Monsall Hospital on his left, Harry turned onto Hilda Street and pulled in. The ironworks were just across the way and Royle had a very good view. After a few minutes, he pulled the car out and drove slowly around the block. He eased the small black car down Ethel Street and back onto Lightbowne.

He wanted to try a few routes but thought better of it. He didn't want the locals twitching their net curtains too much. Harry was an experienced driver but decided to avoid the city centre, as he didn't have any papers for the car, or even a driving license he could produce. He took a left onto Thorpe Road and then another right, which brought him to Oldham Road. Driving along Royle found himself moving too close to the city centre. Quickly pulling over, Harry got out of the vehicle and locking it, headed for somewhere to get a hot drink, to get rid of the greasy taste of the breakfast. He had just spotted a decent looking cafe when, passing a call box gave him an idea.

Remembering the goodnight kiss and the phone number which had been pushed into his eager hand the night before. On the second ring, the receiver was lifted. It was an older woman who answered, her mother, Harry imagined. He asked for Susan, a long pause and then a bright, cheerful voice came on the line. Thanks to the newfound knowledge of the map, the he was able to tell her where he was and invite her to meet him. Once a meeting was arranged, Harry walked to the cafe he'd seen and ordered himself a pot of tea. He knew that coming by bus would take her a good 40 minutes or so.

The tea was certainly an improvement on Barney's. Harry looked around at the other diners, There were the odd working men and one or two old folks, but most were those out for a quick bite to eat or a cup of tea. Many had shopping bags and baskets, no doubt halfway through shopping and desperately in need of respite. Looking at them made him wish his life was as normal as theirs. Draining his cup, Royle paid the waitress and left the cafe. Looking up and down the road and seeing no sign of Susan, he thought he'd wait in the car. He decided against opening up the map, as it might bring unwanted curiosity from well-meaning constables and he'd had enough of their attention lately. Harry had been smoking and looking at the ash, as it accumulated on the tip, before flicking his wrist and sending it drifting toward the curb below. He'd been doing this for several minutes when he glanced up and noticed the green coat from the night before standing beside the telephone box.