A Rose and a Promise, page 19
Watching him, Cadi decided she couldn’t be more pleased with her decision to join him for lunch. Talking to someone who was with her on the day she’d found Jez was helping enormously. Just knowing she wasn’t on her own with her feelings made her feel less lonely.
When Aled returned it was with two more drinks.
‘So, have you got any news? I know you’ve switched roles, but is there anything else I should know about?’
Cadi nodded. ‘I know Jez told you about my run-in with Daphne, but there’ve been further developments.’
He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Now why doesn’t that surprise me?’
Cadi went on to explain how the man Daphne was engaged to was one of the Finnegan brothers, and everything that had transpired as a result.
‘Flippin ’eck,’ breathed Aled, ‘that girl seems to attract trouble.’
‘More to the point, she won’t listen to reason,’ said Cadi. ‘I know a lot of people would say that she deserves it after everything she did to us, but …’
‘You’ve not got a vindictive or spiteful bone in your body,’ said Aled, before adding bitterly, ‘which is more than I can say for Daphne.’
‘Good intentions are no use if someone doesn’t want to listen to reason, so it doesn’t matter what I say or do, Daphne thinks I’m doing it to cause trouble, and that’s it.’
Aled shook his head. ‘Daphne was desperate for a farmer as a husband. There’s no way she’ll let this Kieran feller slip through her fingers, and certainly not on your say so.’
‘But the Finnegans are evil,’ said Cadi. ‘I know she hasn’t got two pennies to rub together, but I still think he’s after her for the wrong reasons.’
Aled rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘Maybe he sees the farm as a ready-made home with plenty of money to be made out of the stock.’ He gave a short, grim chuckle. ‘And if he does, he’s in for a big surprise.’
‘I’m rather afraid you’ve hit the nail on the head,’ said Cadi. ‘But what will he do when he realises he’s made a mistake?’
Aled shrugged. ‘You know him better than me; what do you think he’ll do?’
‘I reckon he’ll walk away, taking what he can with him, and leave Daphne heartbroken but whole,’ Cadi told him frankly.
‘Problem solved, then,’ said Aled. ‘Maybe it’ll teach her not to jump in with both feet.’
‘You say problem solved, but does she really deserve to walk into a loveless marriage?’
He smiled affectionately at her. ‘I would tell you not to waste your time worrying over the likes of Daphne, but I know I’d be wasting my breath.’
Cadi grimaced fleetingly. ‘Life’s too short to waste it on idiots like Kieran, full stop. So if I can think of a way to help her, I will.’
November 1944
Paddy Finnegan was hating his new station, which was proving to be far busier than his last posting. If it wasn’t for the fact he’d be homeless without a penny to his name, he’d have walked out without so much as a backward glance. Quite honestly it baffled him how anyone could live a decent life on the so-called wages that the services handed out, and he utterly loathed emptying the latrines and delivering the coal, because he thought such tasks beneath him, something that should be done by the Waafs.
He had complained bitterly, claiming that he’d been earmarked for the worst jobs solely because of his nationality, but they’d rebutted his statement, saying that he only got the worst jobs because stock didn’t tend to go missing when he wasn’t the one making the run. He’d huffed and puffed, claiming that they were a bunch of liars, and that someone in his unit was setting him up to look like a thief, but of course he knew they were speaking the truth. And when he was no longer carrying stock, he wasn’t able to continue with his sideline.
As he reversed the coal lorry, his eyes flickered up to the man who had made him look a fool only days after his arrival.
Pompous git, he thought to himself, showing off in front of the rest of them, then swanning off like he was the cock of the walk. He watched as the man in question walked past the car he and his crewmates shared. An evil smirk tweaked Paddy’s lips. He’d always believed that revenge was a dish best served cold, and since it had been a couple of months now he thought that today was as good a time as any. But what to do? He screwed his lips to one side as he pictured the coal falling into the feller’s car, but try as he might he couldn’t come up with a plan which would make it look like an accident. Tutting beneath his breath, he stared at the car as though willing an idea to present itself. As his eyes travelled from the back seat to the bonnet, he came up with the brainwave of removing one of the spark plugs. Not only would the men never be able to find the culprit, it would also prove to be a huge inconvenience: it would take time to pinpoint the cause of the engine failure, and then they would have to source a new spark plug, which could take some time. He checked to make sure there was no one else around before driving over and parking the lorry at such an angle that the front of the car was hidden from view. He quickly jumped out of his cab and popped the bonnet to set about removing the spark plug. As he worked, he imagined their faces as they tried to start the car. As far as Paddy was concerned, men who flew planes hadn’t an ounce of common sense, so they would probably assume they were out of petrol before checking the engine. The spark plug removed, he got back into his lorry and drove away before anyone could discover what he had done. Or at least that’s what he thought. What he didn’t realise was that he had been watched.
Keen that nothing should spoil his plans to spend Christmas in Lincoln, Aled had been about to check the car for oil and water when he saw one of the drivers eyeing it intently. Curious as to why the car was the object of such fascination, he hovered in the background, just out of sight. It was the man who’d given him short shrift the day Aled had asked him to move his lorry. Aled had gathered from his surly attitude that he was a wrong ’un, and this opinion was confirmed by his crewmates when he told them of the encounter. Due to the number of petty thefts which had been happening on the base, they never left anything of value in the car, but the driver didn’t know that, and if Aled could catch him red-handed as he searched their car for goodies he would be able to call him out as being the thief.
Seeing the man move the lorry forward, Aled was beginning to think that he’d got hold of the wrong end of the stick until the driver pulled up in front of the car. After that there wasn’t a doubt in Aled’s mind that he really was up to no good. Melting into the shadow of the wall behind him, Aled watched the man in the reflection of the window in the building opposite. If his suspicions were correct, he was about to catch the Irishman in the act. Craning his neck to get a better view, Aled was so engrossed in the task in hand that he didn’t hear Tom approaching.
It was clear that his friend was spying on someone, so Tom kept his voice lowered. ‘What’s going on?’
Nearly leaping out of his skin, Aled glared at Tom. ‘You’re going to give someone a sodding heart attack if you creep up on people like that.’
Tom raised a fleeting brow. ‘Considering you’re obviously spying on that chap, I could hardly announce my presence.’
‘I caught him staking out the car,’ hissed Aled. ‘I’d lay money on it that he’s the one responsible for the recent spate of thefts.’
‘Is he one of the new fellers?’
Aled nodded. ‘He’s the surly bugger I had words with the day I went to see Cadi. I knew he was a wrong ’un from the moment he opened his mouth.’
Tom was also now spying on Paddy via the reflection in the window opposite. ‘Why do you suppose he’s lifted the bonnet?’
Aled continued to watch the man. ‘Beats me.’
Tom turned to face him. ‘Aren’t you going to confront him?’
Aled shook his head. ‘Not yet. I want to make sure he’s done summat before I start throwing accusations. He’s a weaselly blighter who’s got an answer for everything, and I don’t want to give him the heads-up.’
They both watched as Paddy closed the car bonnet and got back into his cab, and Aled waited until the lorry had pulled away before gesturing to Tom to follow him. ‘Let’s go and see what the bugger’s been up to.’
The two men approached the car and Aled lifted the bonnet. Casting an eye over the engine, he pointed to the gap where the spark plug had been. ‘The sneaky git!’
Tom appeared confused. ‘What would he want with a spark plug? It’s not as if it would fit his lorry, and he hasn’t got a car of his own, has he?’
‘Not that I know of. He’s done it to cause me a headache, that’s what,’ Aled snapped. ‘He’s obviously still narked at me for showing him up that time.’
Tom pointed to where Paddy was parking. ‘C’mon. Let’s go and see what he has to say for himself.’
When they reached the lorry Aled knocked on the cab door to gain Paddy’s attention. Irritably, Paddy wound the driver’s window down. ‘What do you want?’
Aled held out his hand. ‘We want our spark plug back. We saw you taking it from the car so there’s no point in trying to deny it.’
Paddy slapped the spark plug into Aled’s outstretched hand with a condescending snort. ‘Talk about not being able to take a joke! I didn’t even know it was your car.’
‘Oh, I can take a joke, but not one that could’ve ruined my Christmas,’ Aled snapped.
Paddy pulled a face. ‘It was a prank. Hardly the crime of the century.’
Aled folded his arms across his chest. ‘Maybe not, but there have been an awful lot of thefts around here lately – although I must admit this has been the pettiest so far.’
Paddy glared at him. ‘I didn’t nick it. I did it for a laugh; I had every intention of putting it back.’
‘Really? Then why nick it in the first place?’
‘As I’ve already said, I didn’t nick it. Blimey, if I’d known you hadn’t got a sense of humour, I’d not have bothered.’
Aled fixed Paddy with an accusing stare. ‘So you did know it was my car?’
Paddy rolled his eyes. ‘Figure of speech.’
Aled glared at him. ‘And a liar to boot.’ He held the spark plug up. ‘If I find you near my car again, or anything else of mine for that matter, I won’t hesitate to report you.’
Cursing himself inwardly for being caught practically red-handed, Paddy wound his window back up. He knew he’d lose his temper if he continued to talk to the air gunner, and he wasn’t prepared to do time for someone who was probably going to get shot down before the month was out. Placing the lorry in gear, he drove off.
Tom shook his head. ‘Doesn’t he realise how serious summat like this is?’ He glanced at Aled. ‘He’s lucky it was you that caught him and not any of the others.’
Aled shrugged. ‘I don’t want the hassle, and I reckon I’ve said enough to keep him off my back.’
Seeing the upset, one of the Waafs who worked in the office walked towards them. ‘Oh, dear. Has Prince Charming been giving you grief?’
Throwing the spark plug up into the air, Aled caught it one-handed before replying. ‘Hello Melanie. It’s nothing we can’t handle.’
‘Prince Charming?’ scoffed Tom. ‘You need to kiss a few more frogs if that’s your idea of charming!’
Melanie smiled. ‘He might give you lot the run around, but he’s very different when it comes to the ladies.’
‘Is he now?’ said Aled. ‘Well, you’ll need to keep your hand on more than your ha’penny with him around.’
She looked startled. ‘Oh?’
‘We’ve just caught him nickin’ the spark plug out of our car,’ said Tom defiantly. ‘He said he only did it for a laugh, but we reckon there was more to it than that.’
Melanie shot them both a meaningful glance. ‘Are you sure you didn’t do anything to upset him?’
‘Only pushed his wagon out of the way when it was blocking the road,’ said Aled. ‘You’d think he’d have been grateful.’
‘Finnegan’s certainly a rum character.’
Aled stared at her. ‘Finnegan as in Paddy Finnegan?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, why?’
Aled’s face clouded over. ‘If it’s the feller I’m thinking of then he’s a lot more trouble than we gave him credit for.’ He hesitated as he tried to recall the name of the man Daphne was engaged to. ‘I don’t suppose he’s ever mentioned anyone by the name of Micky, or Kieran?’
Melanie nodded slowly. ‘First day he arrived, he asked if I’d come across two men by the name of Micky and Kieran. He said they were friends of his he’d lost touch with.’
Aled blew his cheeks out. ‘They’re not his friends, because they’re one and the same person. Micky, aka Kieran, is Paddy’s brother, and if Cadi’s suspicions are right they’ve had the mother of all fall-outs.’
Tom and Melanie exchanged glances. ‘He’s using an alias?’
‘To hide from Paddy,’ said Aled, ‘or at least that’s what we think.’
Tom raised his brow. ‘What’s he done, or shouldn’t I ask?’
‘I’m not sure what he’s done to Paddy, but he’s engaged to my ex.’
Tom burst out laughing. ‘Punishment enough!’ But his face fell when he saw that Aled wasn’t laughing.
‘If it were anyone else I’d agree with you, but even Daphne doesn’t deserve someone like that.’ Aled rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. ‘This calls for some careful consideration.’ He glanced at Tom and Melanie in turn. ‘Please don’t mention any of this to anyone else, will you? Only I need to keep it under my hat until I know what I’m going to do.’
Melanie agreed without hesitation. ‘What should I say to Paddy next time he comes asking about Micky or Kieran, which he does at least once a week?’
‘That you don’t know anything,’ said Aled. ‘Paddy shouldn’t be a danger to anyone but Kieran. All I can tell you is he has a dark background, which I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want anyone knowing about, and should we let on that we’re on to him he might turn nasty.’
The Waaf stared at him thoughtfully. ‘I know the fellers who work with Finnegan would love to see the back of him. They reckon he’s a surly so-’n’-so who wouldn’t get out of bed if he didn’t have to.’
‘He’s not joined up out of the goodness of his heart, that’s for sure,’ said Aled. ‘He’s done it because he had no choice, which is surprising considering the brothers probably left Portsmouth with a stash of cash.’
She gasped. ‘What did they do, rob a bank?’
Aled shook his head. ‘It was their money. It’s how they earned it that bothers me.’
Tom folded his arms across his chest. ‘Who’s told you all this?’
‘Cadi. Don’t ask me how she knows, because it’s not for me to tell you, but needless to say they weren’t friends of hers – far from it.’
‘But why not go straight to the authorities?’ queried Tom.
‘Because the Finnegans are a nasty piece of work, and I don’t want to do anything that might have repercussions for Cadi or her friends. They know far more about the brothers’ shenanigans than I do, and their evidence could make the difference between a slap on the wrists and doing time at His Majesty’s pleasure.’
‘You think they’ve done enough to land them in jail?’ said Melanie.
‘I do, but I’d have the devil’s own job proving what they used to do. I need Cadi for that.’ He fell silent as a sudden thought entered his mind. ‘Please tell me Paddy’s not courting any of the girls on base?’
Melanie shook her head. ‘Not that I know of.’
‘Good. He may have the gift of the gab, but it’s just a front.’ Falling into silent contemplation, Aled wondered whether he should telephone Cadi directly or wait until he saw her. An image of Paddy or one of his friends – if he had any – overhearing their conversation entered his mind, and he immediately knew the answer. He would send her a letter, telling her that Paddy was at Finningley. That way she’d have the information without running the risk of Paddy’s finding out she knew. ‘I’ll write to Cadi and we can go from there.’
Tom pulled a doubtful face. ‘I’m not sure the RAF will do much about Finnegan’s past misdemeanours unless he’s wanted for murder.’
Aled grimaced. ‘And that’s why I need to speak to Cadi. I want to make sure that I’m playing with the right cards before I lay my hand down.’
Cadi sifted through her mail, noting the correspondent of each of her letters until she got to the last one. A confused look etched her face as she wondered why Aled would be writing when he would be seeing her in just over a couple of weeks’ time. Keeping her fingers crossed that he wasn’t writing to cancel his visit, she slit the envelope open and read the letter within, her eyes growing wider as she finished each sentence. She pushed the letter into her pocket and rushed off to find Poppy and Izzy.
After a couple of minutes’ searching, she eventually found her friends chatting as they stood beside one of the cars. Seeing Cadi approach in such an earnest manner, Izzy was the first to speak. ‘Blimey. What’s got you all hot under the collar?’
Cadi produced the letter from her pocket. ‘I’ve received this from Aled. I think you should take a look.’
Apart from emitting occasional gasps, both girls read the letter in silence.
‘Flippin’ Nora,’ breathed Poppy. ‘What are the odds?’
‘That’s what I thought,’ said Cadi. ‘I wonder what he wants with Kieran?’
‘More to the point,’ considered Izzy, ‘why doesn’t he know of his brother’s whereabouts? Because I don’t believe that claptrap about him losing touch for one minute!’
‘Me neither,’ said Cadi. ‘It sounds very much as though Kieran’s doing his best to avoid Paddy.’
‘Well, I’d bet a pound to a penny that Kieran did a runner with the money, and that’s why Paddy’s after him,’ said Poppy plainly.
Cadi’s brow shot towards her hairline. ‘I don’t know whether even Kieran’s stupid enough to steal from Paddy. He must know that his brother wouldn’t let summat like that lie.’ She blew her cheeks out. ‘Paddy would wring his neck!’
