McQueen's Agency (14 page)

Molly said that was fine. Edna hadn’t realised she was holding her breath but now she was in two minds about the situation. Of course, she was relieved Mary had done well but it now looked like she wasn’t going to be missed by John.

How could she have got it all so wrong? She felt stupid about all this unnecessary drama. John wouldn’t bother who was sent to help him, but she had prided herself on thinking that she was indispensable.

Charlie Johns had been busy making some enquiries. He had managed to get Harry Hawkins maritime records from the shipping office. It wasn’t a complete record because he seemed to have moved around a lot and there were gaps. Could that have been when he wasn’t at sea? His Merchant Service record went back to before the war and Charlie saw that one of the ships he had served on had been torpedoed in 1944. He had survived that. From 1938 to 1940 he had been on a small freighter, which went regularly on the Rotterdam to Hull run.

In 1952, he had served as a steward on one of the liners which took British emigrants out to Australia, but he seemed to have suddenly given up that job and returned to the smaller ships.

Charlie made a note to find out the names of any emigrants from Dundee who had travelled over to Australia during that crucial time. It was a long shot, but if he had been murdered then there must be some connection to the city. Could it have been someone on one of the emigrant ships who had now returned home?

But first of all he had a pleasant task to complete. He made his way to the animal dispensary where he met the young vet. Rover was sitting in a wire cage and wagged his tail when he saw Charlie. He still looked a sorry sight. The wound on his back was healing up, the stitches had been removed a couple of days previously, and the leg was encased in a white Plaster of Paris cast.

The news from the vet was encouraging. ‘The leg fracture is healing and the plaster can come off in a week or so. Rover will be able to hobble along and hopefully the bald patch on his back will also grow back in time.’

Charlie held the dog in his arms. ‘There’s someone who’s going to be over the moon at seeing you again, Rover.’ He turned to the vet, ‘You’re sure he managed to bite the intruder?’

‘Well, he had blood in his mouth and on his teeth when he was brought in, so I would say yes, and a deep bite at that. Whoever it was will be suffering unless they’ve gone to a doctor.’

Mrs Kidd was heating up a large pan of soup on Tam’s cooker. ‘This scotch broth will fill you up Tam and I’ve got two Vienna rolls from Andrew G. Kidd to have with it. ‘Eat up,’ she said.

Tam was grateful for all the help she had given him over the last few days and although he didn’t want to tell her, he was a bit frightened to go out to the shops. Whoever had attacked him was still out there. And he was missing Rover.

Mrs Kidd was putting his messages in the cupboard. ‘I’ve got you a half loaf and four tea breads, a quarter of butter, a pint of milk, a packet of Lipton’s tea and a packet of Rich Tea biscuits. Is there anything else you need?’

Tam had to eat his soup with his left hand because of the bandage on his shoulder which extended down to his right elbow

‘No, you’ve got everything I need,’ he said.

‘Is there any more word about the person that attacked you, Tam?’ she asked.

Tam said there wasn’t.

‘The woman down the stair got a quick look at him and she thought he might be a sailor. He was wearing one of those brown duffle coats and she said it smelled fusty. Like it had been lying in some damp cupboard or boat.’

By now Tam had finished his soup and Mrs Kidd placed a plate of Creamola custard in front of him.

‘I’ve got the kettle on to make us both a cup of tea and for a treat I’ve got two Banbury cakes from Andrew G. Kidd. I must keep supporting my namesake,’ she said with a laugh.

Tam was concerned at all the work Mrs Kidd was doing for him.

‘What about your husband Jock, will he no be needing you?’

‘No, Jock comes in at half past five.’

‘Well I’m very grateful to you and I’ve never eaten so well in my life.’

They were both enjoying their tea and Banbury cakes when Charlie arrived. Rover went frantic at the sight of his master and Tam had tears in his eyes when he took him from the policeman.

Then they all laughed as Rover tried to run around the floor, it was so comical. After a few tries he settled in his basket by the side of the fireplace and promptly fell asleep.

Mrs Kidd stood up. ‘Well I’ll be on my way, Tam. You’ll both be wanting a chat with one another.’

‘How are you, Tam?’ asked Charlie Johns.

‘A bittie sore still and I can’t use my right arm, but the doctor says it’ll heal soon.’

‘When you were talking to Harry did he mention being a steward on one of the liners that takes emigrants to Australia?’

Tam gave it a moment’s thought. ‘Now I come to think about it, he did say that. He said he did a stint on the ships going to Australia with emigrants. He also said he had knocked around the world on ships since he was a youngster.’

Tam gave Charlie a questioning look.

‘I’m just trying to find out any connection with Dundee.’

‘Mrs Kidd says the woman down the stairs thinks it was a sailor she saw.’

‘Yes, she did, but that’s mainly because he wore a brown duffle coat and she’s seen war films at the pictures where the seamen all wear these kinds of jackets. And her specs were cracked so I’m not sure how reliable her statement is.’

Rover suddenly made some whimpering noises in his sleep. ‘How will you manage to take him for his walks, Tam?’

This was something Tam was dreading. ‘I’ll not go far. Just up and down the street and I’ll not go out at night. I was going to ask Mrs Kidd’s man, Jock, if he would maybe take him for a wee turn before bedtime.’

‘Well, watch out for yourself. Get Mrs Kidd to keep her door open when you come back up the stairs and check out the street before you leave the close.’

Tam said he would.

Charlie said, ‘The vet thinks Rover bit your attacker and they’ll be suffering from a bad wound that will need a doctor to treat it.’

‘Good,’ said Tam. ‘That’s the best bit of news I’ve had all week.’

Rover stirred in his basket again.

Tam wiped his eyes with a large white handkerchief. ‘I thought I’d lost him the other day. He looked dead when the young policeman arrived and carried him to the vet.’

‘I thought so myself but the vet has done wonders, Tam. He thought the blow to Rover’s back was much worse than it was and also the leg wound has healed up great. The vet thinks the fact that he bit your attacker made him miss his aim and that saved his life … and yours.’

Charlie put on his coat to leave. ‘I’ll let you know how I get on with my enquiries, Tam,’ he said as he opened the door.

Edna wasn’t sure about this new placement at Albert’s Stores. The shop was quite large with two glass windows that overlooked the street and although it had retained some of its old-fashioned style, it was trying slowly to modernise.

It was a very busy shop and Edna’s job was as a cashier. She also had to do the books in the miniscule office which was a glassed partition at the back of the shop.

She had turned up in her navy blue suit but the owner of the shop had laughed and produced a sparkling white cotton coat for her to wear.

‘It’s a bit big for you, lass. The girl who normally works here is much bigger than you, but it’ll keep your lovely suit nice and clean.’

Albert Smith was a big man with a cheery red face and a protruding stomach that a long white apron failed to hide.

On the first morning everything was new to her and she spent ages trying to master the old fashioned cash register but as the day progressed she became faster with ringing up the message slips that the customers produced at the little window of the office.

There was another assistant working in the shop, a young man called Eddie.

She had tried to keep her mind off the man’s threat, but she also wondered how John was getting on with Mary. She missed him dreadfully and she missed the large, quiet house with its piles of books and papers and its dusty shelves.

A woman’s voice brought her back from her thoughts. ‘I’ve got half a pound of biscuits and a quarter pound of tea,’ she said, handing over the money which Edna rang up. ‘Are you going to be here all the time? Is Nancy no coming back?’

Edna smiled at her. ‘No, I’m just temporary till she comes back.’

The woman made a noise as she left the shop and Edna wasn’t sure if it was a vote of confidence in her handling of the biscuits and tea or a plea for Nancy to be back as soon as possible.

The morning soon went in and Edna was pleased that it was so busy because it left her with little time to think about her worries.

She was due her dinner break from twelve to one o’clock and the shop shut for this hour.

The last customer of the morning introduced herself. ‘My name is Mrs Pirie and I live up the next close to here. It’s nice meeting you and I have to say that you’re much better than yon sour-faced Nancy who normally works here. She never looks at you when she’s handing over your change. It’s as if you don’t exist. I mean … I don’t buy a lot of food because I live on my own now that I’m a widow, but it’s grand to be able to buy what you want now that the rationing is over. Well, it’s no officially over but you know what I mean.’

Mrs Pirie made her way out as Mr Smith shut the door. ‘What are your plans for dinner time, Edna?’

‘I’m going home if that’s all right,’ said Edna.

She knew it would be a bit of a rush, but if she caught the tram which was bound for the city centre then she could hurry up to Paradise Road and have a quick snack. Anything rather than sit in the empty shop alone with her thoughts.

She was in luck as she left the shop. A tram appeared and she was soon getting off at the Wellgate where she hurried up to the house. She didn’t want to pass the agency so instead she made her way along Bell Street until she came to Irvine Place, a narrow pend and lane, which led with Dudhope Street, then home.

There was a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen when she entered. Her mum was standing at the cooker, stirring a pan full of strawberry jam. A dozen jars were spread out on the thick cover that protected the dining table from spills and hot cups and plates.

‘I’ve put the kettle on, Edna, and I’ll make a pot of tea as soon as I fill these jars.’

‘No, don’t you bother Mum. I’ll make it. She looked around the room. ‘Where’s Billy?’

‘He’s downstairs playing with Brian’s Meccano set but I told him to come up for his dinner. I expect they’re engrossed in building things.’

Edna tried hard not to panic. ‘I’ll go downstairs for him now and tell him it’s time for his meal.’

She hurried down the one flight of stairs to Brian’s house and knocked on the door. The knock sounded loudly against the wooden door but Edna was worried.

Brian opened the door. He was the same age as Billy and they were good pals but after the warning, Edna was afraid to let Billy go anywhere. She would have to warn her mother about this, she thought.

Billy came reluctantly to the door. ‘I’m not hungry, Mum. Can I play a wee while longer?’

‘No, Billy. Brian will be having his dinner soon but maybe he can come upstairs to play with you in the afternoon.’

Then she thought, I should have asked Mum if this arrangement is all right. A feeling of helplessness washed over her. If only she didn’t have to work but she had no option so there was no point in feeling otherwise.

‘I said Brian could come up here this afternoon, Mum, is that all right?’ Irene gave her a questioning look but Edna pretended not to notice. ‘It’s just that I worry about him when he isn’t in the house.’

Irene said nothing as Edna hurried down the stairs.

The shop was very busy that afternoon and she didn’t have time to think too much about her worries. Albert and Eddie were busy with a queue of shoppers, cutting cheese and weighing fruit and vegetables and wrapping bacon and cold meat. After the years of wartime rationing it was great to be able to buy food again without the restrictions of coupons.

By five thirty Edna was tired from the constant noise and chatter in the shop with customers wanting a gossip and the good-natured laughter from the grocers. It was certainly a happy shop but Edna had become used to the quietness of John’s house with the view of the garden and the steady slow ticking of the pendulum clock on the lounge wall.

She tried not to think about him and, as she hurried up the close, she made up her mind to forget all about him.

That was why she was so surprised to see him sitting by the unlit fire. There was a large bunch of flowers in a vase on the table and a small box of Dairy Box chocolates lying beside it.

Billy was playing with Brian. They had abandoned the Meccano set and were now playing with the little garage and some Dinky cars.

Irene had been chatting to him when she entered but when she saw her daughter, she said, ‘Come on, boys, I’ll take you down to the ice cream shop and buy you a cone.

After they had gone, there was an uncomfortable silence. Then John said, ‘What a great lad you have, Edna.’

‘Yes I know, John.’

He looked down at his hands as if scrutinising his fingers. ‘I just wanted to come round and say I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken you out to dinner in Arbroath. Perhaps you thought I was pushing our friendship too far or too fast.’

Edna almost leapt from her chair. ‘Oh no, John, I don’t think that for one minute but I have to go to whatever job is needed at the time. That’s what the agency is all about and Molly doesn’t have such a large staff that she can let us pick and choose our jobs. Mary would have been no use in this job. That’s why I had to go and you have Mary to help you finish the book.’

John gave her a look, which said he didn’t understand but was willing to believe her. ‘Well, I just wanted to wish you well in whatever you do, Edna. I miss you and all our little chats and I thought our time in Arbroath was wonderful.’

Edna felt miserable. She wished she could tell him the truth but she had to think of Billy. ‘I thought so too, John.’