She’s Out

Chapter 14

Connie was doing up her blouse and Jim his trousers at the same time as he closed the gates for the nine-thirty express to pass through. John stood at the level crossing, waiting, impatient that he’d just missed the orange light. As it turned to red, he looked at the signal box, as if to blame it for his being held up, and saw her, laughing, her arms wrapped around the attendant. He was stunned. He kept blinking, sure he must have been mistaken. It wasn’t his Connie up there, was it?

Connie skipped down the steps, looked up and blew a kiss, then hurried towards the taxi rank. She was in the cab heading for the manor when the gates opened and didn’t see John charge up the steps of the signal box or witness his embarrassment when Jim opened the door.

‘Connie here, is she?’ John blurted out.

Jim covered well. If she had been caught in there with him, he’d have been in trouble. Not that he knew who the big broad-shouldered bloke was. He just acted dumb.

‘No, nobody here but me, why?’

John looked past him into the hut. ‘No reason. Sorry, mate. Sorry to bother you.’

He walked down the steps, then stopped. Jim was still at the door. He wanted to say she was his, but decided against it. Better to make sure that she was before he threw his weight about.

Jim knew he’d have to ask Connie about the bloke but only when the time was right. They’d not even been out on a proper date yet. Half of him still couldn’t believe what had taken place — he’d never experienced anything like it. Blown in his own signal box! But there was no one he could tell, especially not anyone from the company as he’d be fired on the spot. It had happened though, and as if to assure himself that it really had he drew Connie’s lacy panties from his pocket.

‘Shit, I forgot me knickers,’ Connie said as she walked into the house, slamming the front door. They weren’t worth going back for. She called out she was home, then hurried into the kitchen and began to draw on the back of an envelope everything she could remember. She was just finishing when she heard the front doorbell ring.

Ester came in, looking perplexed. ‘I didn’t hear a car, did you, Connie?’

‘No. Who do you think it is?’

Dolly appeared on the landing. ‘Answer it, Ester.’

Ester pushed Connie forward. ‘You answer, just in case.’

Dolly thumped down the stairs as the bell rang again. She went for the door and swung it open. Angela stood on the doorstep. ‘I’m sorry, I got no other place to go — thumbed a lift back.’

‘Well, love, you can thumb one right out again,’ Dolly replied.

Connie felt sorry for Angela. ‘Ah, let her stay for just one night.’

Ester scowled. ‘You joking? No way, chuck her out, Dolly.’

‘Oh, please don’t! I’ll cook and clean, I promise.’

Dolly opened the door wider. ‘Right, one night. Go up on to the top floor. Your old room’s gone so use another, then come down and clean up the kitchen and make us some dinner.’

Angela almost kissed her hand but Dolly stepped away, letting the door bang shut.

‘You must be mad,’ Ester said, going back into the drawing room.

Connie smiled at Angela but got pushed into the room by Dolly. ‘Give us a call when it’s ready, will you, love?’ Dolly said as she went into the drawing room.

Gloria clattered in. ‘I don’t fucking believe that girl’s cheek. I just seen her making up her bed.’

‘Just for tonight,’ Dolly said.

‘What? Are you crazy?’

Julia yawned. ‘Well, the kitchen’s a mess, the kids’ room’s a mess, we need somebody to cook, do all the ironing and washing, plus she’s going to cook dinner so that should keep her occupied for one night, anyway.’

Dolly sat down, took out her notebook, and flicked through it.

‘Bit bleedin’ risky, isn’t it?’ Gloria said, warming herself by the fire. That boyfriend of hers — what if he’s sent her?’

Dolly looked up. ‘You want to hear him? He’s got problems, his wife... But so far he’s not made any calls to his station about us. I think we got the bloke by the balls.’

They focused on Dolly as she took out the tape and slipped it into the small cassette player.

‘You got him taped?’ Ester said.

‘Didn’t I tell you? Have a listen.’

‘You got him taped at his house? What about at his nick? It’s not who’s he’s calling at his home that’d worry me but what he and his mates are doing.’

Dolly said nothing because she knew Ester was right.

They sat round listening to Susan and Mike arguing. They all laughed, apart from Ester, as if it was a joke. They even heard his kids yelling. Dolly left them to it, went to the kitchen to have a private confab with Angela. She could feel Ester’s eyes on her and it unnerved her slightly, only because she knew Ester was right: Mike had also to be monitored at his station.

Angela was working herself into a sweat, washing dishes, scrubbing the floor, cleaning all the surfaces, as if to prove she was worth her keep.

‘You want to stay on, do you?’ Dolly asked, as she drew out a chair to sit at the kitchen table.

‘Yes. I’ll do anything to make up for what I done, anything. I know you won’t ever forgive me but...’ Angela sat opposite Dolly, trying to explain about the baby and Mike, but Dolly took her hand.

‘Shut up. Now, are you still seeing him?’ Angela shook her head.

‘I see. Well, you might have to prove yourself, Angela — not just to me but to the others. Does he know you were driving that car that killed Jimmy Donaldson?’

‘No! I hate him, Dolly, really, I wouldn’t help him. I swear on my life I wouldn’t.’

Dolly propped an elbow on the table. ‘Well, you remember this, Angela, because if you betray me again, if I find out that you’re grassin’ back to him, then you’ll go down for murder and I’ll make sure of it. You understand, don’t you?’

Angela felt scared but she nodded. In truth, she didn’t have anywhere to go — even her mum had refused to let her stay. The manor was the only place she had been able to come to, and she clung to Dolly’s hand. ‘I’ll make it up to you, I swear I will. I’ll do whatever you want.’

‘Good girl. I want you to keep house, feed us and take care of Kathleen’s girls. And I will need you to do a few things for me.’

The women had obviously been talking about Dolly because when she returned they fell silent. She picked up her notebook.

‘Dinner’s not ready yet so let’s get this sorted before we eat.’ She asked each of them about their day, making copious notes, frowning at Ester who, she felt, had not done enough. She was told to go out the next day and get more information on the carriage links.

‘Good work on the cess-pit, Gloria and Julia.’

They felt a little like schoolgirls and didn’t enjoy it.

Dolly then turned her attention to Connie. She was more than pleased with her sketches and that the lime was on order and on its way. The hastily drawn diagrams were not yet good enough, they needed far better ones and descriptions of the security measures, the alarms and codes used to contact the local police. Connie agreed she would have another evening with Jim — even spend the afternoon with him because he wasn’t on duty until four thirty.

That’s not written down here, Connie,’ Dolly said sternly.

‘Well, I just told you.’

‘That’s not good enough. Put everything down so I can check it all out. Is that understood?’

Dolly began to allocate them the next day’s jobs, to be fitted in as well as the two rides already booked. She ticked off each item. She wanted Julia to get hold of Norma’s police cape and, if possible, her hat.

‘We could hire some,’ offered Julia.

‘Yes, we could, and be seen doing it. Don’t keep questioning me — just get on with what I tell you to do and don’t argue.’

It might not be that easy.’

‘Why not? I’ve seen it in the back of her truck. Go and keep her friendly, just like Connie’s doing with the signal box attendant. Plus, Connie, keep your eye on those shotguns at the gym. Go there tomorrow — just keep checking them.’

Dolly continued down the list and then told Julia to accompany them on the rides the following day. ‘Who’s looking after the kids?’ she asked.

‘Angela, and don’t argue. Until I say different she stays. We need her, and somebody’s got to keep them happy and well looked after.’

‘I think that’s a mistake,’ said Ester.

Dolly snapped her book shut. ‘Do you? Well, Ester, driving around in a stolen car is not just a mistake but bloody stupid. You could have been picked up in it. You think that Tommy wouldn’t have told me, that I wouldn’t check up on the two of you? And that’s something you all got to start thinking about, I will check up on everything I ask you to do and I’ll keep on checking until I’m satisfied.’

‘Fine, who’s checking up on you?’ said Ester.

Dolly’s voice was icy quiet. ‘You want to question me, Ester, then you can pack your gear and leave right now. Either we do this my way or we don’t do it at all.’

Angela tapped on the door and peeped round. ‘Dinner’s on the table,’ she said meekly, and scuttled out.

They all started to head for the door, but Dolly caught Ester by the arm. ‘Just a second, love, I want a word.’ The others left the room.

Ester stood, hands on her hips. ‘Don’t get me wrong, Dolly, I’m not questioning who’s the boss. I just have a few more brains than some of the others.’

‘Do you?’ Dolly sighed. ‘I already said I don’t call wheelin’ around in a hot car very clever, and I don’t call having blokes arrive and knock the hell out of Gloria very clever either.’

‘What you want me to do?’ Ester said angrily.

‘I want you to sort out this blackmail business. We can’t afford to have loose ends. What have you got on them?’

‘I told you, it’s a video tape.’

‘Take it back. Clear it all up, Ester, or the whole thing is off. I mean it. Something like this could bring us all down.’

‘Oh, yeah? And what about you and this copper? I know you’ve done something with him. That’s why you got his home bugged.’

Dolly rubbed her eyes. ‘Sort out the tape, Ester. Tomorrow. By then I’ll have some information from this copper, and I’ll know more. But you’re right, I am using him but I just don’t know how far we can trust him.’

‘What are you doing, then?’

Dolly gave a strange half-smile. ‘Taking a leaf out of your book. Just playing it, see how it pans out!’

She left Ester disgruntled and uneasy: she didn’t trust Dolly or like her handing out the orders. She wasn’t used to being the underdog.

They ate in silence. They were all tired out and Angela crept round like a wounded dog. She’d noticed all the riding boots and, trying to make conversation, asked if she could maybe have a ride on Helen of Troy.

‘Not right now, Angela. You’re not that welcome back yet,’ Dolly said sweetly.

We’re all trying to get into the local hunt.’ Ester said it as a joke but she was taken aback when Dolly agreed.

‘Yes, we’re getting into the country way of life. It’s doing us a lot of good.

Hooded looks flitted across the table and conversation flagged again.

Dolly walked with Julia in the darkness up through the woods and down to the railway line. ‘Bring her up to the line, Julia. See if she really is as bomb-proof as that Norma said.’

Julia agreed, uncertain why Dolly had asked her to walk with her. She was tired out but right now felt it was better simply to agree with whatever Dolly said.

They looked down the railway line to the small bridge, the wide lake, and back to the level crossing. They said nothing but their minds were racing. Dolly was trying to assimilate in quick flashing pictures exactly how she intended holding up the train. Julia could see only disaster. She reckoned that with or without the horse it was going to be impossible.

‘I think we’ll need a boat — that’s another expense,’ Dolly said, almost to herself.

Julia looked back at the lake, trying to read Dolly’s mind, but she was already heading back to the manor. Surely... Julia mused, surely she wasn’t going to hold up the train on the bridge. If so, why did she need them to ride?

The following morning Julia couldn’t stop sniggering. They were worse than she had anticipated — even with more than eight hours of lessons they were incapable of cantering and all still seemed very ill at ease. They were still on the leading-rein, none good enough to ride alone.

Julia rode towards Dolly and said quietly, ‘I hope you’ve got a plan that now excludes the horses, Dolly, because none of you could make it across the fields. There’s five sets of hedges to jump and—’

Dolly pushed her horse past Julia. ‘I’ll tell you when I’ve changed my mind and instead of smiling at us like we were stupid kids, start helping. Better still, ask if you can take over teaching without that spotty stable girl, she’s as bad as you with her smirking.’

Dolly might have sounded positive but she wobbled dangerously. Julia didn’t laugh — she didn’t dare. Dolly had that look of angry determination on her face, the one she wore when you knew it wasn’t worth arguing with her.

That afternoon Julia took over the lesson and she was a much better teacher than the stable girl. For one, she was a lot tougher and shouted when they made a mistake, but she soon had them cantering. Gloria came off but she got back on after Julia screamed at her and Julia had to hand it to her — she kept on with a look of grim fury on her face, which was good. It was the first time she hadn’t looked scared to death.

Angela had hot soup ready and waiting. The children had been given their tea and were playing outside, brushing and clearing the yard for yet more fifty pences. When they were halfway through eating the soup, the telephone rang and Ester, as always, dived out to see who it was, wanting to be ahead of anyone else. She called that it was for Julia, and went upstairs for a bath. She leaned over the banister as Julia went to the phone. ‘I presume it was your mother, she asked if you were in surgery! Haw, haw, haw.’

Julia picked up the receiver. It wasn’t her mother but the housekeeper, who was upset. Julia’s mother had had a stroke, and was very ill.

‘My mother’s ill,’ Julia said unemotionally. The women all looked at her. ‘A stroke. I’ll have to go and sort it out. Can I use your car, Gloria?’

‘No, you can’t,’ Dolly said, clearing the plates.

‘Well, I’ll take the truck.’

Dolly turned and smiled. ‘Why not ask that friend of yours, Norma? Maybe she’ll drive you over — be a good chance to talk to her.’

Julia shrugged. ‘Okay, but I don’t know if she’s around, she may be on duty.’

Dolly ran the water in the sink. ‘Don’t forget we need the riding cape and her hat.’

‘I hadn’t forgotten, Dolly. I’ll give her a call, see if she’s at home.’

Norma opened the front door, smilingly. ‘Hi there.’ Julia explained what had happened to her mother. ‘You’re in luck, I’m off for two days so it’s no problem.’

‘I appreciate this,’ Julia said, stepping into the neat cottage hallway.

Norma picked up her coat and car keys. Julia noticed that her police cape and hat were stashed in the back of the vehicle. She had no idea how she would go about removing it but that was the least of her problems: first came her elderly mother. ‘Just one thing, Norma, about my old lady. She doesn’t know I was in prison, she still thinks I run a practice.’

‘You mean she didn’t ever know you were in prison?’

‘Why upset her? It was better this way.’

Norma turned into the road and they drove off. ‘I hear you had another visit from the locals?’

Julia gave her a sidelong look. ‘Yeah, that’s right. First they thought we were hiding some diamonds, then guns. It was a waste of time and money all round.’

Norma nodded. ‘Mrs Rawlins has quite a reputation.’

‘Oh, have you been checking up on us?’

Norma swore as they drew up by the station level crossing. ‘Oh, bugger it. Let’s hope it’s not the mail train.’

They sat silent, watching the gates clang shut, and then Julia leaned back in her seat, slipping her arm behind Norma. They have a lot of security on for the mail train?’

Norma pointed along the road. ‘Yes, but as you can see, it’s quite simple. That’s why they pick on this station, no easy access for any car coming up either side of it and they’d never get as far as the motorway, the place is alarmed all along the track, special link to the police station. They can be here in under four minutes.’

‘Really?’ Julia said, feigning disinterest.

‘You know why they use the security vans?’

‘No?’

‘Because of the vulnerability of the big stations. Last big robbery was at King’s Cross so now they have armoured trucks, police escort to an out-of-the-way station like ours, then they put the bags on board and it’s a clear run through all the stations. Train goes at around eighty miles an hour.’

Julia began to caress Norma’s neck. Well, thankfully it’s not the mail train today, no coppers, just you!’ She leaned over and kissed Norma, embracing her as the passenger train moved on down the line until the gates opened and they continued on, passing Raymond Dewey on his little stool. He waved to Julia and she waved back.

‘Poor sod, what a life,’ she said.

‘Oh, he’s happy enough,’ Norma said, and then touched Julia’s hand lightly. ‘I’m glad you called.’

‘So am I,’ Julia replied, then stared out of the window. It was going to be a long drive and Norma irritated the hell out of her.

Dolly asked Connie to come in for a chat. She closed the bedroom door. ‘You’re seeing that signal box bloke tonight, aren’t you?’

‘Yes, I told you.’

‘Where’s he taking you?’

‘Dinner at his place.’

‘Good. Slip him a couple of these sleeping tablets. You can have a good search around his place. Maybe he’s got papers or something that’ll give us the alarm codes.’

Connie took the two tablets wrapped in a bit of tissue and slipped them into her pocket. ‘I’ll be down the gym first, check on the shotguns.’

‘Good girl.’

‘Thank you, Dolly,’ she said, without a smile.

As she was walking out, Dolly caught her hand. ‘Something bothering you, is there?’

‘What do you think? But, like you said, I owe you for Lennie so I’ll do whatever you say.’

‘You make sure you do.’

Connie wouldn’t meet her eyes. Instead, she continued out, closing the door behind her. Dolly rubbed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. God, they infuriated her. She was always having to check up on one or the other — it was like having a house full of kids. Well, she had kids for real and she wouldn’t let Kathleen down, but she knew it was going to be tough to keep the girls at the manor. She would have to start thinking about what she would do with them after the robbery. She felt tired out.

Angela was in the kitchen when Dolly came in. ‘Want to go into London, love? Only I got to drop Gloria off, got her usual visit with her husband so you might as well keep us company.’

It was not until they had left Gloria at a tube station that Dolly told Angela what she wanted her to do. She said it so quietly that Angela didn’t get nervous or even ask too many questions, she simply agreed. She was scared about going into the police station but Dolly stood outside waiting, encouraging her.

Angela asked at the desk to speak to Mike Withey. The duty sergeant asked her name and then called the incident room. What did you say your name was, love?’

‘Angela Dunn.’

When Mike was told she was waiting in reception he marched straight out to her, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out on to the street.

‘I told you I didn’t want to see you again.’

‘Please, Mike, I just want to talk to you, just for a minute. Look, I bought you a present, I don’t want to make you angry.’

‘I don’t want anything from you, Angela. I just don’t want to see you ever again.’

Angela held out the pen box but he turned away so she took it out and showed it to him. ‘It’s a pen.’

‘Great, Angela, just what I needed.’ She slid it into his top pocket, and he turned away from her. ‘I don’t want it.’

‘Please, just give me a few minutes, please, Mike. I got to tell you something — it’s important.’ He rubbed his jaw. ‘Mrs Rawlins said she’ll call you tomorrow morning, she wants to know what would be a good time.’

Mike faced the wall, feeling as if someone was about to ram his head into it. ‘What else did she tell you?’

‘Nothing, just that she would be in touch but for you to tell her what time.’

He licked his lips. ‘Tell her I’ve nothing for her, not yet, but I’ll be at home — say in the morning about ten.’

Dolly sat in the car, the briefcase open on her lap. She adjusted the channel and could hear Mike as clearly as if he was sitting next to her. She reckoned it was going to be quite a long night but she had to know if she could trust him — or Angela, for that matter. So far she had said exactly what she had been told to say, and the added plus was that they were even in Dolly’s sight. She hadn’t reckoned on them coming outside to talk.

Angela watched him hurry back into the station before she headed towards Dolly. She could see the aerial stuck on the side of the car. ‘Was that okay?’

Dolly beamed. ‘Yes, love. Get in, I’ve a few things I want you to do for me. Can you stay at your mother’s?’

‘Why? Can’t I stay on at the manor?’

‘Yes, but I want you to do a few things for me first thing in the morning. Have you got a passport?’

‘No.’

‘Well, first thing tomorrow I want you to get one and I want you to take mine, with this letter. I’m the girls’ legal guardian and I want them put on my passport, just for a holiday. Then you come straight home. And, Angela, you don’t say a word about this to any of the others or they’ll go ape-shit — you know the way they feel about you.’ Dolly gestured for her to leave there and then.

‘What are you going to do?’

‘Oh, drive around a bit. Go on, off you go.’

‘My mum won’t let me stay, Dolly.’

Dolly counted off some twenty-pound notes. ‘Well, here’s money for a hotel — just the one night, love, then you get home first thing.’

She watched her walk off down the street. Angela turned and waved. Dolly acknowledged her, then saw the channel light blinking in the briefcase and put in her earplug. Mike was making a phone call. The pen worked perfectly, and she could hear him clearly; marvellous little invention. She smiled to herself as she listened to Mike talking, arranging to meet someone, and the more Dolly listened the more she smiled. She was sure she was right. She’d got the smart little bastard right by the balls. But better to be safe than sorry.

Gloria saw that Eddie was all wired up the moment he was let through the gate to the visits room. She’d brought a few odds and sods for him, not much, and fifteen quid. He took them without so much as a thank you.

‘So, how you keeping?’

‘Oh, I’m havin’ a really good time in here, Gloria.’

She had known it would start.

‘You look different,’ he muttered.

‘Yeah, well, it’s all the fresh air.’

‘So you’re still at the farmhouse then?’

‘It’s a manor house, Eddie, and yeah, I’m still there.’

He began to roll a cigarette. She waited for him to ask about the guns but he continued with the cigarette.

‘Anythin’ gone down there?’ he asked nonchalantly, keeping his eyes on his roll-up. She sat back, watching him, and then he looked up, and she knew, but she never gave so much as a flicker. In that moment she also knew she was stronger than him, and maybe she always had been.

Mike had no notion that he was wired up and Dolly Rawlins was taping every word he said. She was even right behind him when he went to visit an old mate from his days in the army, leading her directly to the security firm that handled the money for the mail train.

He had brought a bottle of Scotch and was shown into the security firm’s office. His friend Colin had been a bit surprised to hear from Mike as he hadn’t for quite a few years and he wondered what he was after. But Mike soon got over that, saying he was putting out feelers for work if he was to leave the police force and a friend of a friend had told him that Colin had a cushy job.

Dolly had to hand it to Mike, he was quite a smooth operator. She listened as he chatted on about his army days, about how badly he was paid and how, with a wife and two kids to keep plus a mortgage to pay, he was getting sick and tired of the Met. She was parked fifty yards from the security firm’s main depot and would have remained there if she hadn’t seen a police patrol car cruise by. She did one slow tour round the block and then she was out of range of the transmitter. She decided to call it quits for the evening. Most important was that she felt secure that if anything was to go down from Mike’s home, she’d be ready for it. She headed for home, everything she was planning playing over and over in her mind. She became more disheartened as the miles clocked up. Was she in over her head? Did she really believe she could go through with it? Just thinking about it exhausted her. Had it been like this with the widows? What the hell was she playing at?

Then he began to talk to her. It didn’t take her by surprise — Harry’s voice often came to her, not like some whispered menace, nothing like that. In fact, it was the normality of the sound of his voice in her head that had often soothed her. She used to talk to him, silent conversations as if he was in the room with her, his deep, warm tones as clear as if he was sitting in their old drawing room in their house in Totteridge. He used to sit up late many nights. Sometimes she’d take him in a warm glass of malt whisky with just a sprinkling of sugar. ‘You all right, darlin’?’

‘I am, sweetheart, but there’s nobody else I can depend on as much as myself so I just make sure I’m covered back, front and sideways, because there’ll be nobody else looking out for me.’

Harry never discussed what he was working on so diligently. It was a game they had played, and she would sit close and ask him if he wanted to talk about it... how she loved those times. Harry would sip his drink and often be sitting close enough to have a hand resting on her shoulder.

‘Well, darlin’, I got this tricky little situation. Not sure who to trust with an important delivery and it’s only tricky because it could have repercussions.’

She never asked names but in a roundabout way, he would tell her about who he mistrusted and why, and the best way to ensure they became very trusting.

Still driving, one part of her mind concentrating on the road, the other listening to Harry, it wasn’t until Dolly stopped at a garage to fill up with petrol that she lost his voice and listened to her own. ‘Cover your backside, Dolly, your sides and your front, before you make the next move.’

Mike remained with his pal Colin as they drank their way through the entire bottle. He had not discussed the type of work Colin did, taking his time so as not to create any suspicion. Colin was a little ill-at-ease in case he was caught drinking: as he was the foreman he could get into trouble. But Mike laughed — he was, after all, a copper if anyone should interrupt them. Just in case, Colin slipped out to check no one was likely to disturb them.

As soon as he left the office, Mike looked over the time sheets on the desk, the lists of officers’ names, but found nothing pertaining to any mail train pick-up or delivery. It was a big firm and Mike was about to try one of the drawers when Colin returned.

‘You’re gonna have to go, the night staff’ll be on duty any minute and we’re not allowed to have anyone in here.’

‘Okay. When can we do this again? Only — if I leave the cop shop, I don’t want to walk out to nothing. Is the pay worthwhile?’

They discussed the money and Mike brought the conversation gradually round to what kind of work he would be looking at, if it was boring and involved just driving around the country. Colin grinned. ‘No way, this is one of the top companies, we don’t deal in small stuff — this is big. That’s why they like us army boys, you know, men that can handle themselves. We’re shifting big loads of money.’

‘Oh, yeah? What you call big, then?’

Colin gave a shifty look around and leaned in close. ‘Come and have a look out in the yard, see the new vans. They’re all armour-plated, blow your mind, all work on timers, high-tech stuff. We do the Royal Mail deliveries.’

Mike looked suitably impressed and followed his friend into the yard. Not until half an hour later did he discover just how much the security firm carried. He was told in an awestruck whisper but had no time to react as Colin hustled him outside. They arranged to meet for a drink the following night. By then Colin would have made enquiries to see if there were any openings for someone with Mike’s experience.

Dolly switched off the lights and got out of the car. She was exhausted; it had been a long night. She couldn’t wait to get to bed but as usual she toured the house, checking who was in and who wasn’t. Julia was still out, so was Connie, and Ester was watching some late-night movie.

‘Julia called, said her mother was really bad and that Norma’s staying over with her.’

Dolly smiled. Well, that’s good, give them a lot of time to talk.’

Ester made no reply, concentrating on the film. ‘You’ve still got to sort out those carriage links, you know, Ester.’

‘I’ll do it tomorrow, after the morning ride.’

‘Okay — and at the same time sort that business out with the tape.’

‘Yeah, I hear you, Dolly. Where’s Angela?’

Dolly was about to go up to bed when Ester asked, ‘Where’ve you been?’

She swung the door back and forth. ‘Checking out that copper. I think we can trust him.’

Ester turned from the TV set. ‘Well, I hope you’re right.’

‘So do I.’ The door closed silently behind her.

Ester went back to watching the film, angry that Julia was with Norma, angry that she could never get a hold on Dolly. She didn’t trust her and the more she thought about it, the more angry she became. She reckoned it was all a waste of time.

‘She’s back, then,’ Gloria said as she walked in.

‘Born in a field, were you, Gloria? Shut the door.’

Gloria kicked it closed and leaned against it. Where’s she been?’

‘You think she’d tell me?’

Gloria wandered to the sofa and perched on the arm. ‘You think she’s a bit wacko?’

Ester shrugged, and Gloria slid slowly down from the arm of the sofa to sprawl beside her. ‘How long you gonna give all this riding business? I mean, she’s not serious, is she?’

Ester switched off the TV. ‘You ask her. I keep trying but she just fobs me off, keeps telling me to do this and that, wants to find out how to unhitch a train carriage.’

‘Well, that’s easy.’ Gloria yawned. ‘Get some Semtex and blast them apart, that’s what I’d do. No way could you or me or all five of us lift one of them heavy links. I’m telling you she’s got a screw loose, I thought that when I heard her telling you. All you need to do to get a carriage loose is blow it apart, never mind farting around trying to unhitch it. We’d be there all night.’

Ester fixed her eyes on Gloria and said, ‘You still interested?’

Gloria bit her nail, spat it out. ‘Depends, don’t it? Like how much is in it. Right now this is all fantasy, she got us riding up like Annie Get Your Gun — I dunno what’s in her head. Does she expect us to start blasting the train from the horses? Well, lemme tell you, until I know just exactly how she got it planned, I am not saying whether I’m in or out. And if you got any sense you do the same.’

Dolly listened to them, could hear every word, and she wondered if Gloria was right, if they should use Semtex. She wondered where they could get some and then she sat on the bed looking over the eiderdown. Laid out, just like Harry used to do it, were her notes and plans for the robbery. She took out the small earpiece and tossed it on to the briefcase, no longer interested in the conversation below. Maybe it was becoming crazy, maybe she was crazy, because she had now decided that the best place to hold up the train was dead centre of the bridge. She was about to switch off the channel connected to the drawing room, but stopped herself.

‘So how did it go with Eddie?’ Ester was asking.

‘Oh, usual, pain in the arse. I’m gonna crash out, see you in the morning.’

Dolly flicked off the microphone and heard Gloria’s bedroom door bang shut. She concentrated, pulling her own door slightly ajar, certain she could hear muffled weeping.

Gloria had her face buried in the pillow, trying to cry without being heard. She hadn’t expected it to hurt so much. She physically jumped when Dolly touched her, whipping round. ‘You go creepin’ around like this an’ you’ll gimme a heart attack,’ she said, shrugging Dolly’s hand away.

‘What you crying about?’

Gloria shook her head. ‘Sad movie on downstairs.’

‘What happened with Eddie, Gloria?’ Dolly sat down on the side of the bed.

Gloria sniffed, wiping her face with the back of her hand, and then decided there was no point in lying. ‘He knew the guns was here and he said the filth paid him a visit, said they was gonna book me on murder, like they knew I was drivin’ that fuckin’ car. They told him about Jimmy Donaldson.’

Gloria pushed her head into the pillow. ‘Well, it wasn’t me, an’ if they come after me for that then I’ll tell them it was that cow Angela. I’m not taking the rap for that — I wasn’t even fuckin’ driving.’

Dolly straightened the candlewick bedspread. ‘They got nothin’. If they had, love, they’d have sorted us out — and fast. They got nothin’ on that car.’

‘And you’d know, would you?’ snapped Gloria.

‘Yes, I’d know. So, go on about Eddie.’

Gloria suddenly deflated and out fell the tears. ‘He grassed us, Dolly, he told them about the guns. He admitted it, said I should get out, like he don’t know what went down here, just that he told the coppers his stash was at the house.’

‘I see,’ Dolly said softly.

‘No, you don’t see, Dolly, you don’t see at all. He was my husband and he would have got me put away if they’d found them, got us all done, I suppose. But he’s my husband and he stitched me up. All the years I stood by him, probably would have waited you know — I mean, he’s not much but he is my husband.’ Gloria sniffed again, and then shrugged her shoulders. ‘Well, now you know, so you want me to pack me bags? I’ll understand, I don’t wanna walk but I reckon you got a right to kick me out.’

Gloria didn’t expect the gentle embrace, and it made her want to sob. Dolly held her a moment, stroked her fuzzy, bleached, dry hair and Gloria could hardly make out what she said she spoke so softly. ‘S’all right, love, I understand. You stay on here because I understand.’ Dolly took out a crumpled tissue and handed it to her. ‘Yes, I understand. You’re hurting now, probably always will, but it gets easier, believe me, it gets easier.’

‘You’re all right, gel, you know that?’ Gloria said and started to cry again as Dolly left the room.

Dolly cleaned her hands and then her face, wiping the tissue across her cheeks. There were no tears, she didn’t think she had any left, but she’d felt that hurt, that pain inside like a jagged bread knife. She saw his face again, saw him standing waiting for her in the darkness, the lake behind him as dark as the night. And yet his face was so clear, as if lit by a pale flickering light.

‘Hello, Doll.’ He had lifted his arms to embrace her and she had moved that much closer. She didn’t want to miss. She wanted to shoot him in his heart. She had succeeded.