Barefoot and Lost (33 page)

      I remember Reg asking me what PC Harpers number was, this constable has thirty seven on his collar. Thirty Seven locks the door behind him, there are no windows so I can’t see out, the only light is through a strip of glass around the top, up near the ceiling. I always wondered what was in these boxes; I’m quite disappointed to see it is only a telephone box, with a small table that you have to stand at if you want to write. The door opens; PC Thirty Seven looks in,

     ‘Come on
Phillip
, let’s get you safe.’ 

     We start to walk the three hundred yards to the baths. There is a squeal of tyres, we both turn around to look, the
Humber
is reversing down the street at speed, PC Harper runs into the road, waving his arms and blowing his whistle. The
Humber
swerves, knocking him into the air; he then comes crashing to the ground where he lays still. ‘Jesus; Phillip, run to the baths as fast as you can, they know you are coming.’ The
Humber
reverses onto the promenade, collides with another car
,
and speeds off in the direction of St Leonards.

     In the office I can’t see a thing, its only window looks out onto the pool which is empty of swimmers, and there is only a man with a large brush, cleaning it. I can hear the bell of an ambulance and then the faster bell of a police car as it speeds along the promenade. A nice lady has brought me a cup of tea and a biscuit. I’m feeling excited but scared, why do these horrible men want to get me, what would they do if they did?

     There is a knock on the door, Nice Lady gets up to answer, she opens it a couple of inches I can hear a female voice ask. ‘Is
Phillip
here?’

     ‘Yes, I’m so glad you have arrived, I’m scared out of my wits.’ She opens
t
he door wide, WPC Maisy walks in.

     ‘Hello
Phillip
, what an exciting life you lead.’

     ‘I know, I wish it wasn’t: what about Constable Harper, he’s not dead is he?’

     ‘No, thank God, he has a broken leg and concussion,
they think they are his only injuries, but at this very moment he is having further tests, so unless they find something else he should make a full recovery.’

     ‘I saw them do it; they ran him over on purpose.’

     ‘Yes, that is what
Constable
Gregory
said.’

     ‘Who’s that, is he the
one who
was with me?’
     ‘That’s him, come
with me
, we are going to your home, I am to be your own special officer.’

     ‘What are you my bodyguard, wow that’s fantastic for how long?’

     ‘Until my shift finishes, at ten tonight, and I think that will be too long, because you ask too many questions.’

     Drawn up on the promenade, outside the baths, is a police car, another constable I have not seen before is behind the wheel. ‘You’ve done this before
Phillip
get in the back seat and lay down so you can’t be seen.’

     ‘Why who is watching me what do they want?’

     ‘There you go again asking questions; I don’t know, probably nobody but as a precaution please just do it?’

     The car moves off along the promenade in the direction of
St
Leonards
. ‘Where are you taking me this is not the way to my house?’

     ‘There you go again, questions nothing but questions, just let’s say we are taking you by a roundabout route.’ Lying on my back I can see the buildings flashing by. Turning up
St Helens Road
, just past the Ritz cinema, the driver stops the car and waits a few minutes
.

    W
hy are they bringing me this way it is miles
?
At Silver Hill station we turn right, down old
London
road where we stop again, we then continue into
Ore
where we stop, yet again.
I can see a sign that says
Sa
ndown
School
, that’s the one the bully Keith Smith
went to.
Why do we keep stopping
?
N
o one gets out we just sit there with the engine running
.
It is only when we get to the bottom of Mount Pleasant road, turning into Queens Road and up South Terrace that I know they are not trying to kidnap me, it is like Maisy said, they have brought me a very long way home but why, I thought everyone was supposed
to be saving petrol
?’

      Outside number twelve there is a large black
Austin
, we pull in behind it. ‘That’s good timing
Bert
the Super is already here.’

     ‘Well I do have my good points, I’ll be off Maisy, see you later at the station.’ As we come down the iron steps I can see
Superintendent
Langdon
and Reg seated at the table.
June
is standing with her back to me, clasping, and unclasping her hands behind her back. At the sound of our footsteps she swings around and rushes to the door, ‘
Phillip
thank God you’re home, you’re not hurt are you? Why did you go out without telling us? We have been frantic. How do you think we felt when
Mr.
Langdon
came to the door, with you still missing? Do you not have consideration for others, do you only think of yourself? I am so annoyed with you.’

     ‘June, please, calm down, I know you are upset but Phil wasn’t to know this was going to happen, rightly or wrongly he did leave a note to say where he was going so don’t be too hard on him please, now, sit down and let us hear what John has to say.’

    
‘Reg,
I’
m
just
so furious that he went off on his
own l
ike that, he wi
ll not do it again.’

     ‘June, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you, but I go off on my own all the time, I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to, I am twelve you know.’ June sits down at
the table opposite Reg, I give her
a kiss on her cheek, I can feel her melt.

     ‘Okay, just don’t do it again, a note is not good enough, if I have a reason for you not to go I can’t tell a note not to go, can I?’

     ‘I suppose not; I’m sorry.’ Super takes a sip of his tea,

     Right, now that is settled I will tell what I can. As you know, we are investigating a paedophile ring that has been operating in at least three children’s homes and one hostel for young displaced men.
Phillip
has become involved through his letter to
Mr.
Cohen
. 

     Between us and the Met we have arrested fifteen people. Some of them are already known to us. The two
Herberts,
who
tried to take Phillip, for w
hatever reason, are not known.
The one we arrested at the scene is saying he was just speaking to you, being friendly when you grabbed his wallet and ran off with it.’

     ‘I didn’t, I wouldn’t do that.’

     ‘I know you didn’t, the two men in the changing room have already made a statement.’

     ‘There weren’t two, there were three. The driver of the
Humber
was the same one who
was driving it when Lion ran away and got killed.’

     ‘Are you sure absolutely sure?’

     ‘Positive, I couldn’t forget him, I’d know him anywhere, I still dream about him locking the boot with Lion inside.’

     ‘Brilliant; Reg, can we use your phone?’

     ‘But of course
John
.”

     ‘Constable, would you please call the duty Sergeant and ask him to contact Scotland Yard, and get them to pick up Albert Hockley, and hold him for attempted mu
rder. Tell him also to tell D I
Clarke, that I will fill him in with the details when I finish here.’ Pointing Reg directs Maisy to the phone on the Welsh dresser.

     ‘Yes Sergeant I’ll tell him’ Maisy puts down the receiver. ‘Sir, they have found the
Humber
, the finger print boys are giving it a going over now.’

     ‘Thank you Constable: June, Reg
,
I am going to have to go, there are a few urgent m
atters I need to take care of.
I am not sure yet why th
ey wanted Phillip, I assume
they think he is a threat to them as a witness, so the WPC will stay here with Phillip; when does your shift finish Constable?’

     ‘Ten o clock Sir.’

     ‘Very well, I will get someone to relieve you then and we will decide what to do tomorrow. Clearly I can’t sustain a twenty four hour guard forever, but tomorrow we will work something out, now I must be off.’

    
A man Constable stayed the night. This morning he is relieved by Maisy. I don’t think she is too happy about it but, she says it is marginally better than doing point duty, at the failed traffic lights in Queen’s road. I’m not allowed to go out, Jet, like Maisy, is not very happy either. He has followed us to the sitting room where Maisy has taught me to play whist. Jet is lying at my feet and won’t let me out of his sight he has even been to the toilet with me. I’ve asked Maisy lots o
f questions about these men who
want to get me, but she won’t tell me anything. She did tell me that Constable Harper has a broken leg, three broken ribs, and concussion. He has regained consciousness and should make a full recovery, but is going to be off duty for about three months.

     I wish I could go to Pop’s and get The Talisman but he won’t be there. He will be at the synagogue. There are some books here the only one suitable for me is Biggles Flies North by
Captain
W.E
Johns
; I’ve already read it and find it boring.
June
says she will see if she can get some books from the Red Cross. Maisy is curled up on the settee reading a cowboy book by
Zane
Grey
. ‘How long are they going to keep me here, I have to go to school on Monday, what will happen then?’ The clock on the mantle piece chimes half the
Westminster
chime, I look at it, the time is only half eleven, there is still an hour and a half to lunch; the morning seems like a week.

     Biggles is in my lap; I’m staring into space and thinking about yesterday. How stupid was Constable Harper, running into the road like that, did he really think they would stop because he told them to? The grounds men are removing the covers from the wicket, it looks like there will be cricket, at least that will give me something to do.

     ‘
Phillip
, we have a visitor, come down and see who it is.’ Reg is calling, I get up to go, Maisy puts her book down and follows me down the stairs.

     ‘Hi little buddy, how yer doing?’

     ‘Orville, what are you doing here?’
  

     ‘Me, I’ve come to say adios, I’m off to
Berlin
on Monday. I’ll be there for a while th
en, hopefully, I should be back,
in the States for Christmas.’

     ‘Will you come back again to
England
?’

     ‘I doubt it
Phil
, but you never can tell, Uncle Sam may find something for me to do
here,
but I would prefer to be home with my folks, it’s been a long ti
me.
I haven’t had a Christmas or a Thanksgiving at home for three years.’

     ‘Where is
Olive
, will she go with you?’

     ‘What to
Berlin
why would she do that?’

     ‘No, go with you to
America
, because she’s your girlfriend.’

     ‘Whoa, hold your horses; I told you before, I am married to a lovely lady back home.
Olive
and I only worked together, we are very good friends, that’s all.’

     ‘I’m sorry, I just thought.’

     ‘Well don’t
.
Supposition
, without substantial evidence
is a very dangerous thing.’ 

     ‘I’m sorry Orville, where is
Olive
I haven’t seen her?’

     ‘The last I heard she has gone to
Belfast
in
Ireland
, where the Germans have surrendered all their U boats that were in the
Atlantic
. There are a lot of subs to decommission and a lot of prisoners to register, so I guess she will be there for quite a while.’

     ‘Orville,
June
is out, she won’t be back until half twelve, will you stay, she will be so disappointed if she misses you.’

     ‘Reg, I have a coup
le of hours to spare so yes I’
ll stay until she gets back, but only if Phil here stops adding two and two, and getting six, okay Phil?’

     ‘Okay Orville, sorry I’m going to watch cricket would you like to watch as well until
June
comes?’

     ‘Holy
Moses
no, I’d be frightened of falling asleep I’d sooner watch paint dry. What a boring game can’t understand how anyone gets enjoyment from cricket. Now, if you had said baseball then that would have been different. No thanks
Phil
, thanks for asking but I have some things I need to discuss with Reg and
June
.’

     Awful is right, the game is boring. At one end there is a fast bowler who is bowling to the offside, all the batsman does is step aside not attempting to play the ball. At the other end they have a spinner; the batsman at that end is playing a dead bat with a fear of being caught. Two overs have been played, and only two runs h
ave been scored and they were byes
because the wicket keeper missed catchin
g the balls.
 

     
June
has arrived, Maisy is sitting in the sun with her eyes closed; I could sneak away, 

She wouldn’t know. I wish I knew what they were talking about downstairs, I could creep downstairs and listen at the door, but they would be bound to hear me. Curiosity is getting the better of me; I then remember that you can hear what is said in the kitchen when the door on the dumb waiter is open. I gently slide up the door, hesitating when it squeaks; I daren’t push it any further so squeeze my head into the gap below the door. I can hear Awful clearly, ‘All I’m saying folks is if it doesn’t work out with you,
Lana
and I would be delighted to adopt him, he’s a great kid.’   

       ‘Why do you think it won’t work out for us?’

       ‘
June as I see it, from where I’
m standing, you are on six months probation, the authorities
may look upon this business yesterday
as neglect on your part. I couldn’t bear it if I knew that instead of
staying with
you two that truly love
him Phil,
would go to someone he doesn’t know all I’m saying is, if that happens, contact me via the American Embassy, and I will put the wheels in motion to get him to the States.’ I get a slap on the bottom causing me to bang my head on the door removing myself from the lift I find Maisy grinning at me.

     ‘Trying to escape are you?’

     ‘No, I was just seeing how far up it went’

     ‘
I see, nothing
to do with eavesdropping then?’

     ‘I don’t know what you mean?’ 

     The kitchen door opens, Reg calls, ‘
Phil
, Orville is leaving, come and say goodbye.’ At the foot of the stairs Awful takes hold of both my shoulders as he crouches down to bring his face level to mine,

     ‘
Phil
, if ever you find yourself alone and in need of help; contact me at the American Embassy in
London
. In the meantime give these two folks all the love you can, they certainly deserve it; so long little buddy.’ He stands and returns to the kitchen, takes hold of Reg’s hand, and gives
June
a kiss. ‘Remember what I said, contact me.’ Awful then, without turning around, leaves through the basement door and clatters up the steps, disturbing Jet, who gives a half hearted bark when he realizes it is not the coalman.

      Maisy is replace
d at seven by the constable who
was here last night. I am still not allowed to go out. I’m fed up and so is Jet. I’m fed up with playing cards and Biggles is not much fun, having read it before. I would like to ask about going to
America
but I can’t, I don’t want them to know I overheard anyway, listening down the lift shaft may come in handy.

     Sunday morning, when Gran was here was always special. Breakfast was taken with all of us at the table, chatting about everything and nothing, usually with Reg reading out aloud items from his newspaper. Today is not like Sunday at all, Reg is in his chair with his head stuffed in his paper, the Policeman is peering into his cup as though he expects something to rise from it, and
June
is washing some clothes in the scullery. Nobody, except Jet, looks up when I walk in. He comes to me with that expectant look. ‘We are going for a walk today, aren’t we?’

     ‘Will I be able to take Jet for a walk today?’ No one answers; I walk over to the policeman who is still deep in thought, ‘Can I take the dog for a walk’ He snaps out of his daydream,

     ‘Sorry son, what did you say?’

     ‘I want to take the dog for a walk, can I?’

     ‘No son I’m sorry, my instructions are that you are not to go out under any circumstances.’

     ‘That is ridiculous Constable, we can’t keep
Phillip
inside indefinitely,
and he
will have to go to school on Monday.’

     ‘I do realize that
Mrs.
Milligan
, but the Superintendent is arranging something but, until then, I’m afraid
Phillip
stays inside.’

     Jet leaps from his basket barking and races to the back door, closely followed by the policeman. Pop clatters down the steps clutching a book in his right
hand;
under his arm is
a newspaper.

     ‘Good morning sir, can I ask who you are?’

     ‘I might ask you the same question, but seeing as you are wearing the uniform, I am
Sam
Cohen
, a friend of the Milligan’s.’

     ‘Come in
Sam
, sorry about the security.’

     ‘What is going on Reg, why are the police here?’

     ‘Let me pour you a tea and we will adjourn upstairs, then I will tell you all about it.’ I start to make my way upstairs. ‘Not you
Phil
,
Sam
, and I have some private things to discuss.’ As they make their way upstairs I sidle over to the dumb waiter, but it doesn’t work the other way around, all I can hear is muffled conversation.

     Pop has left both, the Talisman and his news
paper on the table, the paper
is open at the second page, the head line reads.

           
TWO BODIES IN ONE COFFIN PAEDOPHILE RING
EXPOSED

    
The body of a young runaway from a children’s home was exhumed by
Sussex
police on the suspicion of foul play. The coffin contained the body of 14 year old
Lionel
Bates
and the body of an eight year old boy, as yet unidentified, both had been sexually assaulted, severely beaten and strangled. The police are unable to reveal further details as this is an ongoing investigation but, an unofficial source has said that there have been irregularities in the issuing of death certificates and, a senior pathologist, in the coroners office in a south London borough, is being held on remand.   

    
I can feel the tears running down my cheeks and I start to sob. ‘
Phillip
whatever is the matter?’ I can’t answer, my throat has seized, and
June
puts her arm around my shoulder and reads the paper.

     ‘Oh!
M
y God Phillip, what have we got ourselves into; that poor boy?

    
I still can’t speak, the words won’t come, June
turns me to her, as we cuddle
I can feel that she is crying too.
After a few minutes I find my voice, ‘June
, why do people do those
of things?’

     ‘
Phillip
, I just do not know, it is beyond my comprehension. God knows what suffering they went through?’

      ‘The paper says they were sexually assaulted, what does that mean?’

      ‘
Phillip
I can’t tell you I cannot imagine what those perverted individuals are capable of, but now, I hope you can see why I was so frantic when you didn’t come home on Friday.’

     ‘I do now, I’m sorry’