A Rare Ruby (43 page)

‘No,’ said Mrs Watson. ‘Miss Jenkins wants next Monday off.’

‘Does she now, and what for may I ask?’ said Frank Stone, looking at the papers he was holding.

‘I have to go to the preliminary hearing for the trial of Mr Cox. He was my landlord and he killed my best friend.’

Ben Stone sat up. ‘That must have been a terrible experience for you.’

‘It was worse for my young brother.’

‘Mrs Watson has been keeping us informed. I hope everything goes well for you. If you have any worries we may be able to help. We do have professional people to look after our affairs, and if you find you need help, please call in.’

‘Just a minute,’ said Frank Stone. ‘Are you a witness?’

‘No, but my brother—’

‘Sorry. We’re running a business, not a welfare office. And with all these new orders coming in we can’t let the staff off at the drop of a hat.’

Ruby stood with her mouth open as Frank Stone turned his attention back to his desk and began to rummage through some papers.

‘Frank,’ said Ben, but he was given a very black look.

Frank Stone simply said, ‘Anything else, Mrs Watson?’

She shook her head and bustled Ruby out of the room.

Ruby was shaking with anger. ‘He can’t do that. He can’t stop me.’

‘He can and he will.’

‘I was being honest. I could have just taken the day off, said I was ill or something.’

‘I know.’ Mrs Watson looked at the closed door. ‘Come on.’

Slowly they walked back to the finishing room.

‘What am I gonner do? I can’t let Tom down.’

Mrs Watson put her arm round Ruby’s shoulder. ‘I’ll have a quiet word with young Mr Stone. He’s got a lot more compassion than his big brother.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Now come on, blow your nose and get back to work.’

Ruby stood at her ironing table with a heavy heart. She was grateful she was in this room, and didn’t have to answer to Florrie any more, but how could she go home and tell Tom she wouldn’t be there on Monday to support him?

 

In the end Ruby couldn’t bring herself to do it. For the rest of the week she kept to herself the fact that she wouldn’t be going with Tom.

On Saturday rain was falling and Ruby was full of despair as she pulled her hat down and her coat collar up. She stood to one side as the new automobile van that Stone’s were now using passed her. It had been the talk of the laundry when it first arrived and everybody had crowded round to admire it. Stone’s were getting a very good reputation and everybody knew the laundry was expanding. They were being given work by some of the big hotels and their rich customers needed specialist washing done. Ruby was pleased when there was extra work.

Ben Stone jumped out and called her. ‘Miss Jenkins! Just a minute.’

She stopped and looked around, but everyone else had gone.

‘You always seem to be one of the last out. Why is that?’

‘If Mrs Watson asks me to stay I always try to help out, which is more than I can say for Stone’s.’

‘Oh dear. We are angry.’

‘Why shouldn’t I be?’

‘Yes, I admit I think my brother was wrong.’

‘Excuse me, but I’ve got to get home. I have my murdered friend’s baby to look after.’

He stood to one side. ‘You’re looking after her baby?’

‘There ain’t nobody else.’ She wasn’t going to tell him all of the family business. She went to move on but he put out his hand to stop her.

‘Just a moment. I think we’d better have a talk.’

‘I’ve nothing to say to you.’

‘Please. Let me hear all of this story.’

‘I can’t stand around here, it’s raining, in case you hadn’t noticed.’

‘Please, don’t be angry with me. Let me take you for a cup of tea somewhere.’

‘No, thank you.’

‘I could give you a lift.’

‘What, in that?’ Ruby pointed to the laundry van.

‘Only if you want to.’

Although it was against her better judgement she said, ‘All right. But I mustn’t be too long.’

He opened the door and with great difficulty she climbed in.

‘This is very grand.’

‘We’re hoping to get another one day, but getting good drivers is a bit of a problem. You’d be surprised at some of the blokes I’ve taken out on test drives.’ He laughed. ‘Talk about taking your life in your hands. Most of them learned during the war and are only used to driving tanks and lorries through fields of mud. They chuck you about like peas in a pod.’

Ruby laughed. ‘I don’t believe that.’

‘It’s true. I couldn’t even imagine what all that neatly ironed work would look like after they’d delivered it. No, we’re certainly having trouble finding the right person, who’s used to driving on roads.’

They only went a few streets when he stopped. ‘There’s a little café over there.’

Ruby jumped out and quickly made her way into the dry.

‘’Ello there, Ben. Everything all right then?’

‘Yes thanks, Tosh. Two cups of tea please.’

They sat at a table and the tea was quickly put in front of them.

‘Now, young lady, I want to hear all of this story. I’ve only read the bit they put in the paper, and that wasn’t much.’

Ruby sipped her tea and went into most of the details.

After she’d finished Ben sat back with an air of decision. ‘Don’t worry about coming in on Monday.’

‘But your brother said—’

‘I’ll see to him. And Ruby - can I call you Ruby?’

She nodded.

‘Please come and tell me the outcome.’

‘I will. Now I must get home.’

‘I’ll take you in the van, that’ll save you from getting wet.’

‘No, I can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘What will the neighbours say, seeing me come home in a van?’

He laughed. ‘They’d say what a nice firm you work for, not letting their employees get wet.’

She really didn’t want him to see where she lived. ‘Please drop me off at the top of Hill Street. It’s not far from there.’

‘If you say so.’

Ruby smiled. Milly is going to have a field day over this, she thought.

 

On Monday, Tom was up and about long before Ruby.

Mr Thompson had been down the previous afternoon going over a few things with Tom and his father. Mr Thompson still didn’t know the real reason Mr Cox had attacked Beth and everybody was determined to leave it that way.

Ruby dressed herself very carefully. She was wearing Beth’s black costume and it fitted her like a glove. She felt very smart and grown up, and Beth’s neat black felt hat just finished her outfit. She also dressed Danny very carefully. She wanted everybody to see him at his best. This man had to pay for what he had done to the little boy.

Milly came over and wished them luck. She had been more than a friend in all of this sorry business. ‘Now, young Tom, just you look him straight in the eye and tell them everything. He’s gotter swing for what he did.’

Ruby looked at Tom. Now Mr Thompson was giving them more than enough money for Danny, and with no rent to pay, they’d been able to buy Tom a new shirt and trousers, which he wore to school, instead of his old cut-offs. He looked very smart; he’d even plastered his hair down with water. Ruby had checked his neck, just in case he’d forgotten to wash it.

Milly kissed the top of his head. ‘You look very smart, young man, and don’t worry.’

Ruby could see how nervous her brother was. ‘I’ll come and let you know what happens,’ she said as Milly went to leave.

‘You’d better. Good luck.’

Ruby closed the front door behind her. ‘It’s time we left,’ she said, strapping Danny in his pram.

Ernie looked all around him. Scotland must be a truly wonderful place when the sun shone, the snow cleared and the wind stopped blowing, but at the moment it seemed eternally cold and dark. He sat down and poured out a mug of tea from the flask his mother insisted he took with him while he cleaned out the barn. His mother and sisters were happy living in this big rambling house. In many ways they had really fallen on their feet. Richard was a decent man and had shown Ernie lots of the jobs that had to be done on a farm but farming wasn’t for him. He wasn’t happy. He wasn’t cut out for the life - Ruby filled his thoughts day and night. He should never have left her. They could have worked something out if he’d been man enough to stay. But that was impossible now. He could never get back to London. The Thames, the docks, the fog were all a lifetime away. He would never be able to get the fare, and he couldn’t ask Richard; although he was well off he had been more than generous already. No, Ernie knew he should never have left, but what choice had he had? His mother had refused to go without him. And without a job, or a place to live, he had nothing to offer Ruby.

 

The Jenkinses and Mr Thompson stood outside the magistrates’ court and waited as a Black Maria turned down the side of the building. It stopped and they watched as two policemen got out. One turned and they could see he was handcuffed to another man. Ruby gasped as she realised the man was Mr Cox. She hardly recognised him. He hadn’t had a shave for days; his eyes were staring and wild; he looked dirty and dishevelled. He caught sight of them, fear filled his eyes and he quickly bent his head. Ruby glanced at her brother. He had gone deathly white. She put her arm round him.

‘It’s all right. He can’t hurt you now.’

‘But what if he gets out?’

‘Don’t worry, son,’ said Mr Thompson. ‘Let’s get inside.’

They made their way into the noisy building. Men were shouting and running about. Mr Thompson went up to the desk. ‘Excuse me, but we’re here to—’

‘I’m sorry, sir, but we’re too busy at the moment to see to anyone. Take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.’

They sat on a hard wooden bench watching the police and other people rushing back and forth.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Thomas.

‘Search me,’ said Len Thompson. ‘They must have had a busy weekend and ain’t got enough places for ’em all.’

A man carrying a black bag sped past them.

‘Looks like somebody’s got a beating, or had a heart attack. That was the doctor,’ said Len.

‘Do they hit people in prison?’ asked Ruby.

‘They do if they don’t behave themselves.’

A while later the doctor came past again. This time he walked up to the desk, spoke to the man on duty and then disappeared into the sergeants’ room behind the desk.

Tom was staring all about him. What if they found out about the money? He would go to prison. He didn’t want to be beaten; he would confess. Should he tell the truth now? Could he lie? He felt sick.

Len Thompson looked at his watch. ‘I hope they ain’t gonner be much longer.’

‘Should you be opening about now?’ asked Thomas.

‘Yes, but that don’t matter. Monday morning ain’t the busiest of times.’ He looked about him and moved closer to Thomas. ‘It’s young Tom here I’m worried about, he’s gone very pale.’

‘Ruby, why don’t you take Tom outside for a breath of fresh air? I’ll come and get you when they call us,’ said her father.

‘That’s a good idea. I’ll take Danny as well, he’s getting a bit fidgety - he wants to get out.’ Ruby lifted Danny out of the pram and with Tom they slowly made their way through the crowds and outside.

‘Ruby, why do we have to wait so long?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Do they always beat up the prisoners?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I’m very frightened.’

‘I know you are.’

‘Will they beat me and make me tell the truth?’

She smiled and went to ruffle his smoothed-down hair, but thought better of it. ‘Course not.’

Ruby and Tom stood to one side as an ambulance drove up and two men got out.

‘They must be ever so ill,’ said Tom, his green eyes wide with fear and curiosity.

It was a while later when they finally brought somebody out. The person was covered all over with sheets and Tom suddenly burst into tears.

‘Ruby. Ruby. Don’t let them take me to prison. They’ve killed somebody. They’re wicked.’

To the amusement of passers-by Tom was hanging on to his sister’s arm and almost dragging her away.

‘Tom, stop it,’ said Ruby in a very cross voice. ‘Everybody’s looking at you. Come on, let’s go inside. They might see us now this person has been taken away.’

Ruby could see Mr Thompson and her father in deep conversation with a man at the desk. Her father was solemnly shaking his head.

‘Dad, what is it? What’s wrong?’

‘We’ve got to come back another day.’

‘But I’ve taken today off. They won’t let me have another day off.’

‘There’s been a bit of trouble. They’ve got a couple of violent blokes in there who’ve turned nasty,’ said Mr Thompson.

As they made their way home, Ruby couldn’t put that dreadful place out of her mind.

In some ways she was even feeling a bit sorry for Mr Cox. He could never have thought that that blow to Beth’s head would land him in this mess.

 

On Friday afternoon Mr Thompson came again to see the Jenkinses. He was carrying a bottle of beer.

‘This is a surprise, Len,’ said Thomas.

‘We’ve got a bit of celebrating to do.’

‘Why? What’s happened?’

‘Get the glasses.’ Ruby had been pleased when Len had given them some before Christmas. ‘They always say you get your come-uppance in the end, well, it appears our Mr Cox has got his.’ Len carefully poured out the beer.

‘Why, what’s happened?’

‘Old Fred, he’s one of the coppers at the nick, told me that Cox has had a heart attack.’

‘
No.
’ Thomas sat down hard at the table. ‘Is he dead?’

‘Yes.’

‘Poor bloke. I’m sorry, but in some ways I can’t help but feel pity for the wicked old sod.’