The Girl from Cotton Lane (66 page)

He sat down and looked at her for a moment. ‘Look, I know there’s never going to be any love lost between our families, but there’s no reason for us to let our dislike for each other destroy our businesses,’ he said, toying with his filled glass. ‘Now let’s take this step by step. You’ve accused me of trying to ruin your business and I’m denying it. Supposing, however, that I exert pressure in certain quarters to get this villainy stopped, and what if I also give you certain information which will be of great benefit to you? Will you bend a little?’

‘What yer askin’?’ Carrie said curtly.

‘I know you’re aware that in a few weeks there’s a big contract up for tender,’ Galloway replied. ‘We both know that the hop contract with the brewers is the largest one of its kind and I’ve been told by a reliable source with inside information that you intend to bid for it.’

Carrie did not let him see her surprise and dismay. She had already met with the transport representatives from the brewery and had plans to increase her fleet of lorries if she were successful in winning the contract, which was to begin towards the end of the year. She had felt that she had a head start and could outbid the Galloway concern, as well as the other two transport firms which she had been told were showing some interest.

‘S’posin’ I am goin’ in wiv a bid?’ she said, her eyes narrowing.

‘I’m asking you to step aside on this one,’ Galloway said quietly, his eyes fixed on her.

‘Yer mean let yer win the best contract yet wivout a fight just ter get yer ’ired villains off me back?’ Carrie snarled at him. ‘Yer must be mad ter fink I’d even consider it. What yer proposin’ is nuffink less than blackmail.’

Galloway shook his head slowly, a smile playing on his lips. ‘I don’t consider it to be blackmail,’ he replied. ‘It’s a trade, and after all, we are all traders of sorts. Besides, the information I’m in a position to pass on to you should be worth one contract, however lucrative it is.’

‘All right, s’posin’ the information is worth it,’ Carrie countered. ‘What’s ter stop me gettin’ the information an’ then biddin’ against yer anyway?’

Galloway smiled slyly. ‘I’m not exactly stupid, Mrs Bradley,’ he said. ‘I’d want a written agreement from you in which you’d state you were not going to compete against my firm with regard to the brewery contract, and as a token of good faith I’d do the same for the tin makers’ contract that’s in the offing. That way if either of us goes back on the deal then the other makes public the conspiracy. I think you’ll agree that a disclosure of that sort would put both of us out of business. I can’t see any company offering us cartage if they’re aware we work a cartel. There are other, independent firms they could go to.’

Carrie studied her drink for a few moments, thinking frantically. Suddenly she looked up at Galloway. ‘I’d need to ’ave some indication of what the information was,’ she said.

‘Let’s say it concerns the imprisonment of Ellie Roffey,’ he said in a low voice.

Carrie felt her heart leap but she struggled to remain calm. ‘Why should that sort of information concern me?’ she asked him casually.

Galloway took a sip from his glass. ‘I happen to know Ellie Roffey visited your yard a few times,’ he replied smiling, ‘and I understand it was she who persuaded you to filch Jamie Robins from my employ. Carmen do talk amongst themselves as I’m sure you know, and a lot of their chatter comes back to me. It’s common knowledge too that Ellie Roffey is highly regarded by the local women, and I think that includes you. Let me just say this - the information I have could well get her freed, if it’s acted upon sensibly, and I’m sure you’ll know what has to be done.’

Carrie fought back the excitement she felt. ‘Why don’t yer pass the information on ter the police?’ she asked. ‘Why offer it ter me?’

‘Because it’s all part of the package,’ Galloway replied, his face becoming serious. ‘Besides, I realise that the process of law would grind on and on in its own inevitable way, and all the time the Roffey woman is languishing in prison. With what I make available to you steps could be taken which would give the police all the evidence they’d need. Think about it.’

Carrie already knew that there was only one answer she could give him, and as she looked at his smug expression she realised that he knew it too. The man was contemptible, she thought. He should have taken the information he had directly to the police. His professed concern for Ellie while all the time he was bartering for his own advantage was sickening.

‘All right, I’ll go along wiv yer, but I’m not puttin’ my name to anyfing unless the information yer’ve got is valid,’ she told him.

‘Right then, we’ll get together tomorrow first thing,’ Galloway said brightly. ‘I’ll get the papers drawn up and we can both put our signatures to them. As soon as that’s taken care of you’ll have the information you need, and if it’s not valid then you’ll have the opportunity of tearing up the agreement there and then: I warn you though, Mrs Bradley, if you go back on the agreement I swear I’ll pull you down with me.’

Carrie slipped out from the alcove and stood looking down at Frank Galloway contemptuously. ‘Yer don’t need ter worry about me,’ she said icily. ‘The Tanner family don’t go back on their word. What yer see is what yer get wiv us, but then you Galloways should know that already. Yer farvver saw that wiv my dad fer all those years since they were lads tergevver.’

Carrie turned on her heel and Galloway’s eyes followed her as she walked quickly from the bar. He was put out by her offhandedness, but he felt a grudging admiration for her as a woman who had made it in the hard, competitive transport business. What endless possibilities there would be if they were to amalgamate, he thought.

On Tuesday evening Florrie Axford hurried to the corner shop for her snuff and then knocked at Maisie Dougall’s front door. Maudie Mycroft had already called round to Maisie and the two women were sitting in the parlour with their coats on ready.

‘Where’s Sadie?’ Florrie asked.

‘We’re gonna knock fer ’er on the way,’ Maisie told her, giving her husband Fred a nudge in the ribs which woke him from his nap. ‘Oi, sleepy’ead, don’t let that fire go out while I’m gone,’ she told him firmly. ‘It gets cold these evenin’s.’

Fred grunted and sat up straight in his comfortable armchair, staring at Maudie as she dusted an imaginary piece of fluff from the front of her coat. ‘Does your Ernest know yer out on the town ternight?’ he asked grinning mischievously.

‘I’m not out gallivantin’,’ Maudie replied, looking aggrieved. ‘This is important business.’

Maisie gave Fred a hard look. ‘You just keep that fire in,’ she said, following her friends out into the quiet street.

Sadie was standing by her front door and the four women set off for Salmon Lane.

‘Nellie was all mysterious when she called round,’ Florrie said. ‘I couldn’t get anyfing out of ’er at all. It must be important.’

‘P’raps she’s ’eard somefink about the rents,’ Maisie volunteered. ‘That ole git Galloway might be gonna do what ’e threatened ter do about bringin’ in more tenants.’

‘Nah, I don’t fink so,’ Florrie replied. ‘I fink Ellie frightened ’im orf wiv the Council people. ’E knows it wouldn’t ’ave worked anyway, what wiv two families sharin’ one closet. I reckon it’s somefink much more important if yer ask me. Nellie ain’t one to invite people round.’

When the women arrived at the Salmon Lane yard Nellie was waiting for them at the gate. She had a serious expression on her face and with a brief greeting she led them into the front parlour. Soon they were seated comfortably with cups of tea which Carrie had passed round, still wondering why they had all been summoned. They were soon to be enlightened, however. Nellie sat down on the one remaining seat and looked at Carrie. ‘Go on then, gel, tell ’em what yer found out,’ she urged her.

Carrie glanced around at their eager faces as she stood with her back to the door. ‘Ellie Roffey didn’t start that fire, ladies,’ she said, waiting for their reaction.

‘Well, we all know that, luv,’ Florrie said, taking out her snuffbox.

‘But there was no way she could convince ’em at ’er trial,’ Carrie replied. ‘Now I fink we can prove it.’

The women looked at her wide-eyed.

‘C’mon, luv, out wiv it then,’ Florrie said as they sat there in suspense.

Carrie looked from one to another of them. ‘Yer remember that young bloke Talbot who told the court ’e saw Ellie go in the yard? Well, ’e was in the pay of ’Arrison, the guv’nor o’ the rag sorters. It was ’im who planted that piece o’ cuttle-bone in Ellie’s ’ouse.’

‘I knew it!’ Florrie exclaimed. ‘I ’ad ’im pegged fer a no-gooder right from the start. Didn’t I tell yer, Mais?’

‘I said the same meself,’ she replied. ‘I only wish I could remember where I’d seen ’im before. I know it wasn’t at the market. It was somewhere else.’

‘There was two of ’em bein’ paid by ’Arrison,’ Carrie added quickly. ‘The ovver bloke’s name is Bennett. ’E was in the yard that evenin’, an’ it was ’im who actually set the place alight as soon as Ellie left.’

‘’Ow did yer find all this out?’ Florrie asked.

‘I can’t tell yer yet,’ Carrie replied. ‘It’s gospel though.’

‘Yer’ll ’ave ter go ter the police right away,’ Maisie said excitedly.

Sadie had been quiet so far but suddenly she banged her teacup down on the table. ‘I wish my Billy could get ’is ’ands on those whoresons. ’E’d soon get the trufe out of ’em,’ she growled.

‘My Danny too,’ Nellie added.

‘Well, what do we do wiv the information? Do I take it ter the police, or do we sort it out ourselves?’ Carrie asked, looking at each of the women in turn.

Maudie fiddled with her bag straps. ‘I fink yer should let the police deal wiv it,’ she said meekly.

‘Well, I don’t,’ Sadie cut in. ‘They won’t go on ’earsay. Yer gotta give ’em somefink concrete ter go on. ’Ave yer got any proof, Carrie?’

Carrie shook her head. ‘That’s just it, I ’aven’t,’ she replied. ‘All I can say is that I’m certain the information’s genuine.’

‘What d’yer fink we ought ter do?’ Maisie asked her.

Carrie studied their faces for a moment. ‘I fink we should try ter find that Talbot bloke an’ lure ’im ’ere on some pretext,’ she said. ‘Then maybe we can get the trufe out of ’im.’

‘I’m not tryin’ ter pour cold water on yer scheme, Carrie, but ’ow are we expected ter do that?’ Maisie asked.

‘We won’t ’ave to,’ Carrie told her. ‘My Danny said ’e’ll do what’s needed.’

‘My Billy won’t let ’im be on ’is own,’ Sadie added quickly. ‘Them two fellas are good pals. My Billy won’t take long ter get ter the trufe, mark my words.’

Carrie held her hands up as the women became excited. ‘Look, ladies, what we mustn’t ferget is that Ellie’s still stuck in that prison. We can’t waste no time findin’ this Talbot bloke. I fink we should give it one week an’ then if we still ’aven’t found ’im, I’ll go ter the police. What d’yer say?’

The women nodded their approval and Sadie leaned forward in her chair. ‘Right then. Where do we start?’

‘If she could fink where the bloody ’ell she’d seen ’im it’d ’elp,’ Florrie said, jerking her thumb in Maisie’s direction.

‘It’s no good,’ Maisie sighed anxiously. ‘I’ve puzzled me brains out an’ fer the life o’ me I can’t remember where it was.’

Nellie Tanner stood up and brushed down her apron. ‘Right, ladies,’ she said, ‘while yer workin’ fings out I’m gonna put the kettle on.’

Chapter Thirty-Eight

On Friday evening after Carrie paid the men and then looked up the yard she went into her quiet parlour and sat down heavily in a chair feeling utterly depressed. The women were doing all they could in their limited way but with no results. Nellie had recalled that Talbot’s address was read out at the trial, which made them all feel foolish, but try as they might no one could remember it. Florrie had made enquiries at the markets and Maudie had asked the women at the church club if any of them knew of a Talbot family, while Sadie had talked to all her sons and her husband Daniel who was in his last few weeks at the docks before retirement, but none of them had had any success. There had been one or two leads, but they all came to nothing. Florrie had learnt of a Talbot family in Bermondsey but they had no sons. Another Talbot family did have a son, Maudie learned, but she discovered that he was currently doing five years for robbery. Daniel Sullivan learned of a family who had four sons, all of whom worked in the Surrey Docks, and for a while the women’s hopes were raised. Florrie and Maisie visited the pub where the men drank every Friday evening after work, and when the landlord pointed out the brothers to them the two women groaned with disappointment.

It seemed to Carrie that she had made a big mistake in not going straight to the police. She had herself asked all her men if they knew of a Talbot family and urged them to keep their ears open but it was of no use. She was worried for Danny and Billy too. If Talbot could eventually be located and lured to the yard then the men would have to use force to get the truth from him. What if Danny or Billy got hurt in the process? she thought anxiously. And what if Frank Galloway was lying and Talbot was a bona fide witness? Carrie dismissed that worry almost immediately. Galloway had too much to lose by giving her false information, and knowing him to be devious she felt that he had his own sinister reasons for wanting the truth to out. What still concerned her most though, often forcing its way to the front of her mind and causing her to toss and turn in her bed at night, was the worry of Joe. She imagined him lying in a hospital bed ill, or injured somewhere in the street, and had frequent visions of him consorting with other women.