A Wanton Tale (20 page)

‘I have a treat in store for you next week. I am taking you to see your Aunty Margaret and Jessie. Would you like that Jim?’

‘Yes, I would love that Aunty, I miss Jessie.’

‘That’s good, well you can go out and play now, get from under my feet while I write this letter, I know where she lives in Everton, then I’ll nip out to the post office.’ Sally had been told where Margaret lived a long time ago by Lottie. She was careful not to mention Lottie in case he started asking questions again. She didn’t have the heart to tell the boy that his mother was in an asylum, life had been cruel enough to him already. She would never tell him that his mother was now a certified lunatic.

Jim was excited to be going to see his Aunty Margaret and his only remaining sister. Before they went, Sally warned him to be on his best behaviour.

‘If you are good she will invite you again. If you’re naughty well, you won’t be asked back, it’s as simple as that.’ Sally was matter of fact and practical, she was keen to teach him good manners. She was kind, but had to show him some discipline after the upbringing he’d experienced. She was determined to put him on the straight and narrow.

Sally had a chance to talk to Margaret without the children being present, they were allowed to play out for an hour. They joined in with ball games and hopscotch in the street with the other children. Parents in this street were strict and would only let their children play out at certain times. It was a respectable neighbourhood, no one here would tolerate windows being hit by balls. Where they had come from was quite different, in Circus Street, the children were left to run wild and allowed out for hours on end. No one even had a ball to play with in Circus Street.

Margaret was shocked to hear that Lottie was in the asylum. She knew the building on the outskirts of the city and had heard that it was a terrible place. As soon as she heard this news, she was determined to visit her. Although the institution was several miles away from her home Margaret couldn’t just turn her back on her sister. She wondered if she could have helped her more and in some ways she felt guilty.

For years, she had poured scorn on Lottie and had wanted nothing to do with her. She had felt ashamed of her and had previously turned her away.

‘What else could I do?’ Pleaded Margaret miserably. ‘I am not well off myself, but if only I had taken Rachel and Ruby, this would not have happened. But I was unable to.’

Sally sighed and continued, ‘I wasn’t at home on the day of the trial. All three children were sitting on the doorstep when a young woman came, she had ginger hair and freckles. She took the girls by the hand and led them to the top of the street, then disappeared. Jim was seen running away.’

‘Children can’t just disappear.’

‘Evidently they did, two of the neighbours told me. Alice went the year before, but there’s an explanation for that, she was taken by Betsy Hale. No doubt she put her on the game, the evil bitch –
and
Lottie wasn’t far behind in being to blame. If I were you Margaret I would have nothing to do with her. She led Jim into a life of crime, she used to send him out pilfering and drank herself stupid with the spoils.

‘I hear what you’re saying Sally but she
is
my sister after all, I must go and see her.’

‘I wouldn’t want to step foot in that place where she is, it’s like a prison, I’ve heard that terrible things go on in there.’

‘I believe so.’ Margaret glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece and Sally felt that it was time to go. She didn’t want to wear her welcome out.

‘I will call the children in then Sally, perhaps you will come and see us again, another visit will do Jessie good, she is very fond of her brother.’

‘And he is fond of her too, they only have us and each other, they have no family left.’ The two women had reached an understanding and they parted on friendly terms.

Margaret was destined never see to her sister again. The following week, her long and harrowing journey to Rainhill, was all in vain. It was raining a fine drizzle, she was soaked to the skin and cold but it was too late. When Margaret finally got there, she was informed of her sister’s death by a clerk.

Lottie had hung herself and had already been buried in the hospital grounds of this satanic, grim and towering place.

A
fter serving their full prison term Charlie and Freddie were released from jail. The two men went their separate but quite different ways.

Charlie Boyle left prison a reformed man and he was determined to improve his character. He had kept his nose clean and had accomplished new skills which would stand him in good stead on the outside.

He’d had time to reflect and make sense of things. He regretted being a bad father and was genuinely sad to hear of his wife’s demise. He was haunted by the disappearance of three of his daughters.

He still harboured a grudge against Freddie and Betsy Hale. He was certain of their involvement in Alice’s fate.

Although his anger simmered during his time incarcerated with Freddie, he had managed to keep a lid on his feelings. He didn’t believe for one minute, that she had run away with ‘circus criminals.’ He was aware that Freddie was a manipulative little liar, but he went along with the pretence of believing him in order to survive in prison. He didn’t think that it was worth ruining his life even further for the likes of Freddie Hale.

He had heard that the disappearance of Rachel and Ruby could not have been Betsy’s doing. He had been told the tale of the ginger haired girl who mysteriously came to the street on the day of his trial. He understood that she had practically snatched the girls from their own door step. They had never been seen again.

Charlie had been ashamed that his son had seen him in prison. On Jim’s one visit with Sally, he was told that it couldn’t possibly have been Betsy who took the girls. She had been seen loitering, she was enquiring about Rachel and Ruby, after they had already gone. At that time, of course, Freddie was locked up too. Sally had an idea that Betsy was up to no good but she was sure that she was not involved in the disappearance of the sisters.

There were rumours in the neighbourhood that an underaged girl, probably Alice, had been working in Betsy’s brothel. But Sally had subsequently been told that a search of Betsy Hale’s premises had revealed no trace of the girl.

Charlie believed that the Hales had definitely played a part in some ill fate that must have befallen her. He was now determined to find all three of his missing daughters, be a good father to Jim and to find honest employment.

Charlie went directly to see Lottie’s sister in Everton, it was only a short ride away from the jail. He wanted to see how Jessie was getting on. Much to Margaret’s surprise, he arrived on her doorstep looking stronger and fitter than she’d ever seen him. A little unsure, she invited him in, he was carrying a small bundle. She felt that she should give Charlie a chance and offered him shelter for a few nights.

‘I am going to work hard Margaret and I won’t be drinking again or stealing, I want to pay me way and make it up to me children.’

Margaret looked back at him sternly, he immediately knew that she was sceptical. She quietly set about the task of making a pot of tea. Jessie was about to arrive home from school.

‘I had a bad time with Lottie, you know Margaret, she wasn’t an easy woman to live with. I know I wasn’t good to her but I found out a terrible thing about her when I was in jail. She sold our Alice for a fiver to that old hag Betsy. I will never forgive her.’

Margaret held up her hand, making him stop before he launched into his next sentence.

‘I know all about it Charlie, chapter and verse. It is a sorry tale but what you do about it now is all that matters. You’ll have to get yourself proper work and I know someone who might be able to help.’

She smoothed down her apron, then poured him a cup of tea. They were now sitting either side of her kitchen range. She went on to tell him that Jim was getting along well with old neighbour Sally.

Margaret assured Charlie that his son was being well looked after. ‘She’s a good woman Charlie and Jim is behaving himself. Sally tells me that he is prone to a few flights of fancy and daydreams but he is a good boy.’

‘Sally’s brother is a cabinet maker and has his own bespoke business. That’s where she may be able to help you. I hear that he’s looking for a second man.’

Charlie stood up excitedly, he held out his hands before her and said with passion, ‘While I’ve got these I will always find work, do you think her brother can give me a job?’

‘I think he might consider you Charlie Boyle, but they don’t look like hands to me, they’re more like shovels.’ And this made him laugh.

‘I expect you’ll be needing money to tide you over.’ She reached for the tin which was on top of the mantelpiece. ‘Here you are! I can give you ten bob, to keep you going, I’ll be wanting it back over time though. You can stay here for a few nights until you find yourself some lodgings and I’m sure that Jessie will be pleased to see you. She’ll be home from school soon. I worry that she hasn’t got much family left. She never mentions her mother and she was distraught about her sisters going missing. That just leaves Jim, she is very fond of him and I do make sure that they see each other every now and then.’

‘I’m grateful to you Margaret, I really am, thank you, you are a good woman.’

When Jessie came home from school she was delighted to see that her father was safely back. They sat and talked for half an hour over tea, then Charlie stood up and said, ‘I expect I should be making a move now, I want to see our Jim and talk to Sally about the job.’

Charlie was excited to be seeing Jim again but he was a little wary as he approached Sally’s house. Charlie felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He hesitated on Sally’s doorstep then gingerly knocked on the door. He was most pleased to be made welcome, it was as though she was expecting him. She had a feeling that his release date was due and she knew that his son would be delighted to see him again.

Young Jim, who had already heard his voice on the doorstep, ran down the stairs and jumped up into his arms. ‘Pa!’ He exclaimed. They held each other tightly while Sally looked on.

‘It is good to see you Charlie, where are you staying?’

‘I’ll be staying with me sister-in-law Margaret for a few nights until I find lodgings Sally. Thank you for taking care of Jim.’

‘I expect you’ll be looking for work.’

‘I am. I’ve learnt a trade in prison, I will be looking for carpentry work .’

Sally smiled, ‘Our Tommy’s looking for a second man at the workshop, he wants a grafter though and someone honest too. Would that be you by any chance Charlie? Have you learned your lesson?’ There was a serious edge to her voice.

Charlie promised that he wouldn’t let her brother down. ‘From now on, things are going to be different!’

While Jim sat on his knee, Sally explained about the adoption. Charlie was pleased for his son. He realised that Jim was only five years old and accepted that Sally’s home was the best place for him under the circumstances.

Charlie knew that his position was precarious, he would have to work harder than the next man, to prove himself. At the moment, he was unable to support his children. He asked if Sally had any news of the three girls.

Jim chipped in before Sally could answer, ‘They’re safe Pa. I know they are, Larry told me.’

‘I am warning you Jim, stop making things up.’ Said Sally brusquely. She shook her head and smiled at Charlie. ‘I’m afraid he imagines things, says he can see people no one else can see.’

‘I don’t imagine anything. I believe in Larry and he told me that me sisters are safe.’ It’s true.’ His little voice was firm.

‘Now then, I need to see Tommy, I will tell him all about you. Then if he agrees to give you a chance, you can go up and see him later. I expect you two have a lot to talk about so I’ll leave you here for an hour. Make yourself a brew Charlie and I’ll see you both later.’ It was important for Charlie to be trusted again and now more than ever, he was determined to prove himself.

As the front door closed, Jim grabbed the coal bucket and made for the yard. ‘Just nipping out to the yard to get some bits of coal for the stove.’ Charlie thought he was like a little old man and smiled back at his son.

Jim carried the empty coal scuttle out to the yard and noticed that the backyard door was slightly open. Aunty Sally had always been fussy about bolting the door, it was unusual that it had been left open. He was drawn to it for some reason and wanted to open it wider. When it was fully open there was a man standing there, the man he had seen several times before. It was Larry, he immediately recognised the strange figure, his bizarre appearance was more intriguing than scary.

Jim was drawn to this enigmatic character, his top hat seemed to be a mile high.

‘You are quite right to tell your Pa that the girls are safe Jim but he doesn’t believe. Don’t worry, one day he will believe and then he will see them. They are still a little scared after everything that has happened to them. They need to learn how to trust again before he can see them.’

Jim dropped the coal scuttle on the ground and ran inside.

‘What is it lad? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost, haven’t you brought the coal in then?’

‘Come out in the yard Pa, there’s somebody there, I think he wants to see you?’

Charlie stood up, a little concerned thinking that news travelled fast. He immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was one of his thieving accomplices from the past. If it was, he knew he would try to lure him into bother again. He was prepared to chase whoever it was.

Father and son hastily went out to the back yard door. Jim pointed to Larry. ‘Tell him Larry. Tell my Pa that the girls are safe.’

Charlie looked bewildered, first at the open gate and then at his son. There was nobody there.

‘He can neither see, nor hear me Jim, but tell him that your sisters are safe. In time, he will believe and the girls will be ready to see their father again. Now it is time for me to go.’ He then vanished.