The Boy with the Suitcase, page 25
CHAPTER 29
Davey told Corky and Rodie about his lost savings that evening. He asked them if they’d seen anyone in the store and they both shook their heads, looking at one another, their expressions a little odd and hard to read. Davey felt the knot of suspicion harden inside him. He’d suspected it almost immediately, because there was no one else. To get to the store you had to come through the shop itself and there was a fence all around the backyard. In London that might not have stopped a thief but here anyone climbing it would be noticed and questioned, because it just didn’t happen.
‘Must have been a rat,’ Rodie said after a moment’s silence. ‘We’ve had them in the store shed before. It must have run off with your bag of savings, Davey. Must have chewed the leather and thought it was food inside.’
Davey knew then who the culprit was. Otherwise, she couldn’t have known what he’d stored his money in. Besides, a rat might chew the leather, but it wouldn’t run off with his money, because it couldn’t eat metal and Davey’s savings were all in coins. It would surely just have made a hole in the bag and then run off.
He didn’t say anything, because he couldn’t accuse her of taking his money. He had no proof and it would just make things worse for everyone but he was certain she’d taken his little bag and it made him angry but it also hurt that she would do it. How could she? After all his hard work! Davey shook his head and looked away. He left them eating their tea and went out to the store, shutting the door with a bang after him.
What was he going to do now? If he simply stowed away on the ship – providing he could get on it! – without money or food, he would die of starvation, if not on the ship, then once he got to England. On board he might be able to steal scraps. Perhaps he could do that in England, too. Truth was, he was anxious and worried about how he would manage on his own. Even a few shillings would have helped him, and he could have changed his Canadian money for English when he got home; at least, he thought the bank would do that.
The disappointment was strong and Davey sat on the edge of his mattress cross-legged and thought about what he should do next. He could earn some more money, but it would take ages to get enough together. Davey glanced up as the door opened and Corky entered. He stood looking at him for a moment in silence.
‘How much is missing, Davey?’
‘Around forty dollars.’ Davey didn’t look at him.
‘That’s a lot of money – sure it was that much?’
‘Yes, I sold a few of Bert’s things, remember?’
‘So you did.’ Corky reached into his back pocket and took out a wallet. He counted out four ten-dollar bills. ‘Take this then, lad, and keep it with you in future.’
Davey shook his head. ‘That’s your money. I can’t take all that from you.’
‘I don’t hold with theft,’ Corky said, ‘and I know you wouldn’t lie to me. If your money disappeared, someone took it, and they’d have to come through my store to do that.’ Corky nodded. ‘I ain’t sayin’ any more but we both know …’ He bent and thrust the money in Davey’s hand. ‘Don’t let it out of your sight, lad. And I’ll do my best to get those papers without a birth certificate somehow.’
‘Thanks …’
Davey stared at the door as it closed behind Corky. He obviously knew Rodie had taken the money but rather than accuse her, he’d just given Davey his savings back. Davey picked the paper money up and tucked it inside his shirt. He would do as Corky advised and not leave it lying around in future.
Corky didn’t want him to leave any more than Rodie did but he wouldn’t see him cheated of the money he’d earned and Davey was grateful. Bert had said he was decent and he was – a hard man in business but honest.
Davey’s eyes stung with tears. Once again, he was torn with emotion and uncertain what to do. Was he foolish to want to leave these good people for a future that might be lonely and difficult? Even if he could get to England safely, it wouldn’t be easy to make his way home and then make a living, because he wouldn’t be able to go back to school. For all he knew the schools were still closed – and if he had no way of bringing in money his mother might send him straight back to Canada.
Yet Davey knew he couldn’t stay here and the longer he dithered the harder it would be to leave. He had to go now, or he might find it easier to forget where he came from and never return.
It was Rodie who decided him in the end. She was talking to Corky in the shop that evening and didn’t realise that Davey was home from school.
‘After all this time, why now?’ she said. ‘This woman isn’t his mother – she says Dora Blake was killed in the Blitz. She’s got the girl now and is thinking of adopting her, so why should she have our Davey too?’
‘Who is she?’ Corky asked. ‘And why did you open this letter addressed to Davey? That ain’t right, Rodie, and you know it, prying into the lad’s things – and you took his money, didn’t you?’
‘I’ll give it back when he’s got over this nonsense,’ Rodie said sullenly. ‘I ain’t a thief and you know it. But I don’t want to lose him, Corky – can’t you tell him there’s no way he can travel without his birth certificate?’
‘I haven’t heard a thing from the authorities,’ Corky said, ‘because to tell the truth I ain’t tried yet. I’m worried about what they’ll say. We should have reported it months ago, Rodie. We may be in trouble, and they might say we should have told them years ago, when Albert first told us about him.’
‘You didn’t know then that Albert had just taken him off that ship without consent.’
‘I did, because he told me. He knew he might get into trouble one day over it, but he was going to let it run for as long as he could. It was kidnap in the eyes of the law, Rodie. Taking an underage boy like that is against the law. If I admit to knowing the truth, I could be accused of condoning it, which I did.’
‘There you are then, you can’t get them papers and that’s an end to it,’ Rodie said with a note of triumph. ‘He won’t be able to leave us – and when he’s older we’ll make out he’s our lad and apply for a passport as if he’s your son, Corky.’
‘I don’t know, Rodie, the lad wants to go home and find his family.’
‘But there’s only his sister!’
‘We don’t know about his father; he may be looking for the lad.’
‘He’s got the girl, hasn’t he? I want Davey to stay.’
Davey crept away because what he’d overheard was a lot to take in. His mother had been killed in the Blitz. Davey’s chest hurt but he didn’t cry. Life had taught him that crying didn’t change anything. His mother was dead – so that was why she hadn’t answered his letters. Davey was ready to forgive her the rest. She would’ve let him come home if she’d been alive; she’d promised he could one day.
And now some woman – who was she? – was going to adopt Alice. Did Davey’s father know? Did he approve?
Davey knew he had to find out who this woman was and he had to get home. He would ask Corky for the letter, because he knew he would give it to him.
Corky handed him the letter without a word. He didn’t ask how he knew it had come, just looked at him and gave his head a little shake.
‘I’ll go down to the docks, Davey,’ he told him. ‘I’ve got a few friends in Halifax and I’ll ask around, see if someone will take you on board and keep you under their wing on the journey home.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ Davey said and hung his head. ‘I don’t like to upset Rodie.’
‘I know that, lad, but maybe you will come back and visit us one day?’
‘Oh yes,’ Davey said eagerly. ‘I owe you so much.’
‘I reckon you’ve paid your way,’ Corky told him. ‘Bert was a good friend of mine and he couldn’t have managed the last months without you. You could have run off anytime you liked with whatever you fancied but you didn’t.’
‘I ain’t a thief, sir.’
‘I know that,’ Corky sighed, ‘and nor is someone else we both know – even if she has behaved badly. But it was only because she didn’t want to part with you, Davey.’
‘I know and I’m not angry with her, really I’m not. I promise I’ll write and send her cards and I really will come to visit one day.’
‘Then there’s no more to be said,’ Corky agreed with a nod.
‘I wish I’d let you have Bert’s chair,’ Davey said wistfully. ‘I should have …’
‘Nah. I only wanted to buy it to help you out,’ Corky said but they both knew that wasn’t true.
‘I tried to buy it back, but he wouldn’t let me,’ Davey admitted.
‘Well, learn a lesson from that,’ Corky told him. ‘More isn’t always the best, Davey. If that teaches you something it was a good experience.’
‘Yes.’ Davey looked at him feeling a little sad. He’d been wrong to distrust Corky. If he had thought to make a few dollars – or give the chair to Rodie as a gift – there was no sin in it. Nor was Rodie guilty of real harm. She’d only wanted to look after him for a bit longer. When he reached England and found it difficult to make a living, he might look back and wonder why he was so anxious to return to London, but he had to go. He had to see his sister, because he’d promised he would, and even though the letter said she was safe with Rose now, he’d still like to make sure – and hopefully one day they would be reunited with his father.
Now that his immediate future was settled, Davey’s thoughts were centring more and more on his father. Something told him that all was not well, but he’d heard nothing from him for months – years! – and it was natural to be anxious. Once he was back in London, someone would help him to discover the truth. Perhaps Rose Parker, who seemed to have parted from her husband and was now with someone she called Harry. He glanced at the few lines Alice had penned.
Dear Davey,
I hope you’re well. I’ve been ill with pneumonia and nearly died. I don’t mind because I’m better now and they let me go and live with Aunt Rose. It was horrid where I was but lovely now. Please come home and live with us. Harry says you can and I’m having a kitten.
Love, your sister Alice
PS: This is Aunt Rose. Harry and me would love to have you live with us, Davey. If you need money for the fare – if there’s any way you can get a passage home – let us know and Harry will pay it for you.
Davey frowned over the letter. It sounded as if Alice was happy now but had been badly treated. That made it all the more urgent that he should get home to her.
‘I’ve managed to get you papers but they’re under my surname. Are you OK with that, Davey?’
‘Course I am,’ Davey said. ‘I don’t know your name, though.’
‘It’s Raymond Cork,’ Corky said. ‘Never could stand the name Raymond so told people to call me Corky and it stuck. So you’ll be David Cork – don’t forget that. I’m your uncle and you’re travelling to stay with your grandmother, Mrs Blake. Can you remember all that?’
‘Yeah, easy,’ Davey said with a grin. It wasn’t his lie, it was Corky’s and if it saved him having to explain where he’d come from and perhaps getting into trouble it was fine. ‘But didn’t you have to produce a birth certificate for your brother’s son?’
‘That was easy. My nephew died a few years back of a fever. His name was David, and my brother died of the same fever, as did his wife.’
Davey was shocked into silence. ‘Does that mean you haven’t got anyone at all?’ he asked after a few moments.
‘Just Rodie and me,’ Corky said heavily. He didn’t cry or show much emotion but his eyes looked full of unshed tears. ‘I reckon that’s why we were so happy to take you in. Rodie doted on that lad, just as if he were her own. Just a year older than you, so you’ll pass for nearly fifteen.’
‘Thanks, Corky.’ Davey took the papers, including the birth certificate, and put them in his pocket. ‘I know how much this must mean to you, so I’ll bring them back when I visit. I’ll have my own papers then.’
‘Yes, you will,’ Corky agreed and smiled. ‘Well, you’re in luck. I found a guy I know at the docks, the First Mate of a small merchant vessel leaving for England next week. They don’t take passengers these days, of course, but he’s willing to take you as a favour to me and to keep an eye on you – so don’t you give Joel any trouble, right?’
‘I won’t,’ Davey said and grinned. ‘I’ll do exactly what he tells me – well, within reason.’
‘Just take care of yourself and don’t go falling over the side of the ship in a storm.’
‘I won’t,’ Davey promised. ‘Thanks, Corky. You won’t get into trouble, will you?’
‘Nah, we never registered David’s death. He went into a family plot with his folks and just his parents were registered. We didn’t realise that for some time and then I didn’t think it was worth bothering over, but his birth certificate came in handy and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.’
‘Thanks.’ Davey sniffed but didn’t let himself cry. Corky didn’t always stick to the letter of the law but he was a decent man and what he’d done made it easier for Davey to get home. ‘I’ll write and tell you how I get on.’
‘Just don’t forget us …’
‘I couldn’t do that,’ Davey said. ‘You and Rodie were good to me and one day I’ll repay you.’
His mind was busy with all he wanted to do in life. Going home to England to see Alice – and his dad, if he could – was only the beginning.
Joel was older than Albert had been and a little on the morose side. He had no idea that Davey wasn’t Corky’s nephew, so the boy said nothing to enlighten him, even when he asked if his grandmother was meeting him off the ship.
‘I know where she lives,’ Davey said. ‘I’ve got my fare to London and she’s expecting me so it will be easy.’
‘Yeah, likely so,’ Joel said and spat a lump of chewed tobacco into the sea. ‘Well, you just behave and stay below decks. The captain only allowed you to travel because I told him I’d look after you – and I will, but I don’t want any trouble, boy.’
‘You won’t get any,’ Davey promised and went below as the mate gestured with his head.
The cabin was Joel’s and he’d been given a hammock strung across one corner. Fortunately, he’d used a hammock on sunny days at Bert’s home, because his friend told him it was the sailor’s friend.
‘If you can use that you’ve a bed wherever you are in the world,’ he’d told him and Davey had been determined to master it, even though he’d tumbled out a few times.
They’d been good days with Bert. As Davey looked back on his adventures in Canada he did so with a smile. He’d been really lucky and Corky had told him of a few others who hadn’t been as fortunate.
‘Some folk took the kids and expected them to work all the time, and without pay,’ he’d told Davey. ‘I don’t pay you much, but you get a little, more than most in your shoes.’
Davey had believed him, because he still remembered the shopkeepers in England. They had expected both him and Alice to work, and it sounded as if she’d had a bad experience at the last place she went to as well. He chewed his lip over that, because his sister had been young and innocent when she’d gone to that farm and he wondered what she’d been made to do. Dad would be furious if she’d been treated badly.
If his dad was still alive. Davey wondered why no one had heard from his father in a long time. Even if he’d fallen out with Mum he would surely still keep in touch with his friends.
If it meant that his father had been killed, it would be hard for both Alice and Davey. They would be orphans and would Rose really want to look after them until they could go to work and support themselves?
CHAPTER 30
Dave opened his eyes, groaning as the wave of nausea struck, and leaned over the side of the bed to vomit, narrowly missing the shoes of the nurse he’d privately called his angel.
‘Sorry,’ he muttered and wiped his mouth on the handkerchief she handed him. ‘I’m such a nuisance …’
‘Don’t be foolish,’ Judy said and smiled at him. ‘You’re a patient and these things happen. You’ve been very sick. Just as we thought you were getting better, you developed a fever and you’ve been delirious and vomiting for a few days now.’ She took his pulse and nodded. ‘That seems a little better. Perhaps we’ll be able to send you home in another week or so after all.’
‘I’ve been too long now, cluttering up the place,’ Dave retorted. ‘I’m sure you want me out of the way, Nurse.’
‘I do not,’ she assured him. ‘I want you better – but I know you have a home to go to. Did you want to send a letter to your family?’
‘I’d like to write to a Mrs Rose Parker,’ Dave said, ‘if you could supply a pen and paper. She is a friend, and my wife and I are … well, we’re not together any more. It all has to be sorted, but it’s over. I want to make sure my children are all right and at the moment I know they aren’t. The only person I trust to care for them is Rose.’
‘Are you fond of her?’ Judy asked in an odd voice.
‘Good grief no,’ Dave said and laughed. ‘Rose is a mate – known her for years. She was three years ahead of me in school and she looked out for me. I know I can trust her. She’ll tell me the truth if nothing else.’
Judy was smiling again and Dave’s heart fluttered. Was it possible she liked him enough to be a little jealous when she’d thought he might have a girlfriend?
He shook his head mentally. He must be ten or twelve years her senior. It was madness to even think of anything more than gratitude for the way she’d nursed him – and yet he found her fascinating. Maybe that was the patient/nurse relationship he’d heard about from others and when he was out of here, he would laugh at the very idea of a romance with Nurse Judy. Besides, for the moment all he had time for was the search for Alice and Davey.
Dave stood looking at the remainder of the rubble with grass growing through where Silver Terrace had once stood and felt sick to his stomach. For a moment his head spun like a top and he thought he might fall but it steadied itself as he took a few deep breaths.
