A Rose and a Promise, page 21
‘What are you going to do?’ Kitty asked.
‘Now that I know the truth? Nothing, because I don’t want to rock the boat. But should he start getting nasty, at least I’ve got some information that will put him in his place.’
‘What if he starts courting someone else?’
Daphne fell silent as she thought this through. ‘I couldn’t stand by and watch her make the biggest mistake of her life.’ She nodded thoughtfully to herself. ‘I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to tell him that should he even think about approaching another woman in the WAAF I shall make it known exactly who he is and what he used to do.’
‘Be careful. He can turn on a sixpence,’ Kitty warned her.
‘Not if I tell him that I’ve spoken to you, and if anything happens to me you’ll sing like a canary!’ suggested Daphne.
‘Feel free,’ said Kitty, adding as an afterthought, ‘and if all else fails, tell him that his brother’s looking for him, and if he doesn’t back off we’ll let him know where he’s based.’
Daphne was dumbfounded. ‘There are two of them?’
‘There are indeed, and whilst we’re not too sure what’s gone on between them, we do know they used to be as thick as thieves, yet Paddy hasn’t a clue where his brother is now, which would suggest they’ve had a bust-up. Hardly surprising, considering what happened the last time we saw them.’
‘Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate your help.’
‘He threatened you verbally, but he grabbed me by the throat and threatened to snap my neck,’ said Kitty. ‘What sort of person would I be if I didn’t try to help someone in the same boat as myself?’
Daphne stood in stunned silence. ‘I – I didn’t realise he’d gone that far.’
‘He’s capable of far worse,’ said Kitty darkly. ‘Be grateful you got out when you did.’
‘I’m just sorry I didn’t listen to Cadi sooner,’ said Daphne.
The operator cut in, to let them know their time was up.
‘Thanks again,’ said Daphne. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
‘Make sure you are,’ said Kitty. ‘If I haven’t heard from you by Friday, I’ll be giving the station a call to make sure you’re all right.’
Thanking Kitty once again, Daphne said her goodbyes before heading out to find Kieran. A slow smile crept up the corners of her lips as she envisaged his face when she told him all she knew. Heading straight for the motor pool, she soon located him, and gestured for him to join her. She stood out of earshot from his friends, but close enough to have witnesses should she need them.
Kieran folded his arms across his chest. ‘What?’
‘I don’t like living life looking over my shoulder, so I telephoned Kitty to find out who you are.’
If looks could kill, Daphne would’ve been six feet under. ‘Typical fishwife,’ he snarled. ‘Do you seriously think I give a monkey’s what any of that lot say, or you for that matter?’
She let out a short, mirthless laugh. ‘No, because you haven’t got a conscience. I’m here to let you know that should you even think about courting any of the women in RAF Chivenor, or indeed any other base, I shall tell them exactly what Cadi should’ve told me. That you used to prostitute women for a living, amongst other things.’ She shrugged nonchalantly. ‘What they choose to do with the information is up to them.’ She held up a finger as she got ready to play her ace. ‘And should anything happen to me, Kitty will tell Paddy where he can find you.’
The look of pure hatred on Kieran’s face was replaced with one of utter shock. ‘You’re bluffing!’ he huffed. ‘My brother knows where I am.’
She arched an eyebrow. ‘Really? Then why’s he asking people if they’ve come across a Kieran O’Connell, or a Micky Finnegan?’
He stared at her, utterly perplexed as to what to say or do next. Kieran had spent his whole life threatening others; having someone threaten him was a new experience. ‘Where is he?’
A half-smile formed on her cheeks. ‘I thought you said he knew where you were?’
Kieran spoke in leaden tones. He couldn’t afford to play games if his brother was involved; the price was simply too high. ‘Why do you think I did a runner and changed my name in the first place?’ He barely paused before continuing. ‘If you tell him where I’m at, you’ll have my blood on your hands.’
Daphne shrugged. ‘You’d best hope I don’t say owt then, hadn’t you?’ She stared woodenly at him. ‘Cos according to you I’m no better than a fishwife.’
Kieran mumbled, ‘You’ve as good as signed my death warrant,’ before turning on his heel and walking towards his hut. It took him no more than a moment or two to collect what few belongings he had before leaving the station.
With Christmas fast approaching, Aled was busy making plans when he received an unexpected phone call from Marnie.
He smiled down the phone. ‘Hello, sweetheart. Are you all ready for Christmas?’
Marnie placed a hand to her forehead. She didn’t like disappointing people, especially around this time of year, but she had to be true to herself.
‘Sorry, Aled, but I’m afraid I won’t be coming.’
‘But I thought you’d sorted your leave?’ said Aled, adding bitterly, ‘Don’t tell me they’re changing their minds this late in the day.’
‘I’m the one who’s had a change of heart, not anyone else,’ Marnie confessed.
Aled was perplexed. ‘Why would you do that? I thought you were looking forward to spending Christmas together?’
Marnie spoke quietly. ‘I only agreed to spend Christmas in Lincoln because I didn’t want to come across as jealous or petty, but I can’t help the way I feel, Aled.’
He shook his head. Not this again. ‘Is this about Cadi?’
‘I know you say that you’re only looking out for a friend, but I can’t help thinking it’s more than that.’
Aled glared at the phone. ‘So you’re calling me a liar?’
‘Not at all,’ said Marnie hastily, ‘but I saw the way you were looking at Cadi at the funeral, and even though I’ve tried to reason things out in my mind, I know what I saw, Aled, and the love you feel for her was obvious to me even if it’s not to you.’
Aled could feel the frustration rising within him. ‘Of course I love her, I’ve never denied that, but there’s loving someone and being in love with someone, and—’
She stopped him short. ‘And you’re in love with her.’ She sighed. ‘You might not want to be, it might not be the right thing, but just as I can’t help the way I feel, neither can you.’
‘But there’s no question of being with Cadi,’ said Aled. ‘It’s you I want.’
‘I’m the choice you made,’ said Marnie, ‘but I’m not a fool, Aled. Jez knew you were in love with his wife, and so do I.’
‘All that was a long time ago, and what does it matter, if I never acted on my feelings?’ said Aled. He wished he could retract the words as soon as they left his lips, but it was too late.
‘Because I’m no one’s second best,’ said Marnie, ‘and whilst I realise you didn’t mean me to be, that’s what I am.’
‘You’re not! And I’m never going to be with Cadi.’
‘Maybe not,’ said Marnie, ‘but as I say, I’m nobody’s second choice.’
‘So what are you saying? That you want me to stop seeing her? Not that I am,’ he added hastily.
‘There’s no point, when your heart belongs to her.’
Aled was nearly at a loss for words. ‘Can’t we try and work something out?’
‘My last relationship failed because my so-called fiancé was lying about seeing someone else, but in this instance the only person you’re lying to is yourself. I’m sorry, Aled, but I don’t see the point in us continuing when you love someone else.’
‘But I love you too,’ cried Aled.
‘I know you do, but you don’t look at me the way you do her,’ said Marnie softly. ‘I’m sorry for you, because you may never have the one you truly love, but it doesn’t have to be that way for me. Which is why I’m cutting myself free to find a true love of my own.’
‘I do love you, you know,’ he said.
‘And I you,’ said Marnie, ‘but sometimes love just isn’t enough. Goodbye, Aled. No hard feelings.’
Aled wanted to retaliate, to tell her she was wrong, but what was the use when she’d made it clear she thought they weren’t meant for each other? He sighed. ‘Goodbye, Marnie. I hope you find what you’re looking for.’
‘You too.’
Hearing the click as her receiver went down, Aled replaced his own handset, before returning to his billet. Sinking down on to the end of his bed, he gathered his thoughts. Some of the things Marnie had said were correct, but not his being in love with Cadi. Yet how could he convince her she was wrong, when she’d already made up her mind?
He turned his thoughts to the intended trip to Lincoln. It would be only natural for the girls to ask about Marnie, but what was he meant to say in response? He could hardly tell them the truth. Should he telephone ahead and cancel his visit? He heaved an inward sigh. As if Cadi hadn’t gone through enough without him letting her down at Christmas. He took his jacket off and hung it up. He would have to tell her the truth, warts and all. He would assure her that whilst some of what Marnie said was correct, he had no intention of upsetting her after everything they’d been through. If she was still willing to meet, then all the better, but if not, he would have to respect her feelings.
Cadi listened as Kitty relayed the second telephone conversation she had had with Daphne.
‘Blimey! I didn’t think he’d go AWOL,’ said Cadi. ‘What else did she say?’
‘That rumours are running rife, but she’s told people the truth: Paddy Finnegan is Kieran’s brother, and Kieran left because he feared that Paddy would kill him if he found him. Word is he’s probably gone back to Ireland with his tail between his legs.’
‘More than likely. I don’t know why he didn’t go there in the first place.’
‘Me neither,’ said Kitty. ‘Are you going to telephone Aled?’
‘Too right I am. Aled would never forgive me if I didn’t fill him in on all the goss.’
Kitty laughed. ‘I reckon men are worse than women when it comes to gossip.’
Hearing the operator cut across, Cadi said her goodbyes. ‘I’ll give you a call if Aled has anything to add.’
‘Make sure you do,’ said Kitty. ‘Not that I’m scared of Kieran turning up; he’d have to be bonkers to walk into a camp knowing people are looking for him, but I still like to be kept in the loop.’
‘Right you are,’ said Cadi. ‘Ta-ra, Kitty.’ She replaced the handset and hurried off to find her friends, eager to fill them in on Kitty’s news.
Aled and the rest of his crew were making their way from the debriefing room to their billet when they stopped to watch a rumpus outside one of the maintenance huts.
Tom pointed to a man who appeared to be at the centre of the kerfuffle. ‘Here, isn’t that the feller who tried to nick a spark plug from our car?’
Aled frowned as he focused on the man in question. Seeing Paddy’s face come into view as he wrestled with the Royal Air Force Police, Aled knitted his forehead. ‘That’s the one. I wonder what he’s done this time? He’s putting up a good fight.’
Tom folded his arms across his chest. ‘It must be pretty bad to involve the RAFP.’
An airman who was closer to the fracas than Aled and his crew came over to fill them in. ‘They’re charging him with being a member of the IRA.’
Aled stared at him in utter disbelief. ‘Are you sure?’
The airman nodded. ‘Heard it with me own ears.’
‘But the IRA support the Germans, not us,’ said Tom. ‘That can’t be right.’
‘I don’t know the ins and outs,’ confessed the man, ‘but I do know they’re after his brother, who’s done a runner.’
Aled and Tom exchanged glances. ‘I’ve got to make a phone call,’ said Aled.
Tom joined him. ‘I’ll come with you.’
Not waiting to see what happened to Paddy, the pair hastened to the office, where they might have a bit of privacy. Opening the door, Aled picked up the telephone and asked the operator to put him through to RAF Fiskerton. He spoke to Tom as he waited for Cadi. ‘It has to be a false rumour. There’s no chance that two men running a brothel in the south of England are working for the IRA. It just doesn’t make sense.’
‘That’s what I figured,’ agreed Tommy. ‘It sounds more like someone spreading false rumours to get the brothers in shtuck.’
‘On the other hand, why’s Kieran done a—’ He broke off as Cadi’s voice came down the line.
‘Cadi!’
She smiled. ‘Aled? Have I got news for you!’
Aled shook his head. ‘If it’s about Kieran absconding, we already know.’
With the wind taken out of her sails, Cadi deflated. ‘Who told you?’
‘Some feller, whilst we were watching Paddy getting arrested by the RAFP,’ said Aled. Hearing Cadi’s sharp intake of breath, he quickly continued before she could cut him off. ‘Apparently they reckon Paddy and Kieran are members of the IRA.’
Cadi gasped again, and began to cough. After taking a moment to regain her composure, she spoke in a disbelieving voice. ‘Are you sure you got that right?’
‘Positive. I take it you don’t know anything about it?’
‘Not a dickie bird. Raquel never said anything, but I dare say she wasn’t privy to their disreputable past.’ She hesitated. ‘It would explain why they changed their names before coming to Britain, and why they never returned to Ireland.’
Aled intervened. ‘You think they were running away from someone back in Ireland?’
‘Having had first-hand experience of the brothers, I’d say there’s not much that frightens them, but the IRA are a different kettle of fish. I reckon they’ve done something to hack them off.’
‘The police must have good reason to suspect a connection to the IRA,’ Aled pointed out. ‘Given everything we know, I would guess that they’re former members who had to get out of Ireland fast.’
‘If we’re right in thinking that Kieran double-crossed Paddy, then maybe he did the same to the IRA?’
Aled spluttered in disbelief. ‘Nobody’s that stupid. I know I’ve not met Kieran for myself, but I’ve met Paddy, and …’ The memory of the Irishman removing the spark plug from his car without ensuring he wasn’t being watched came to mind. ‘Scrap that. If Paddy’s the sharper of the two, then I’d say it’s more than likely they’ve done just that. And Kieran might even be stupid enough to think they wouldn’t bother to track him down in England, so it was safe to use his middle name.’
‘Paddy’s definitely the thinker out of him and his brother,’ said Cadi, who was recalling the night Paddy had thought on his feet whilst his brother lay on the floor nursing his nether regions.
Aled spoke slowly. ‘There might be one person who knows …’
‘Daphne,’ Cadi agreed.
‘When was the last time Kitty spoke to her?’
‘Not sure, but there’s no chance she’s said anything to Kitty, because Kitty would’ve been straight on the phone to let me know.’
‘I suppose it’s neither here nor there, really,’ said Aled, ‘because whatever the outcome, I don’t think you’ll be seeing the Finnegans again any time soon.’
Cadi had a horrible thought. ‘Unless the rumours are unfounded, in which case Paddy could be out for blood, and who knows who he’ll gun for?’
‘But who’d spread a false rumour like that?’
‘My first thought would be Daphne, but I don’t think she’s that naive,’ conceded Cadi. ‘My next thought – if I were the Finnegans – would be that one of us had decided to get revenge for what they did to Raquel and Kitty.’
‘Only you haven’t,’ said Aled.
‘We know that, but they don’t,’ said Cadi. ‘But I dare say they’ve made a few enemies since entering the RAF, and we know they left a score more behind in Portsmouth. Quite frankly, it could be anyone.’
‘Someone needs to speak to Daphne so that we can be prepared should they come making accusations,’ said Aled. ‘I could telephone her if you like?’
Cadi shook her head. ‘Sorry, Aled, but I’d rather she didn’t know that you and I were still in touch. She knows about Jez’s passing, and I’d hate her to think that we were in cahoots romantically.’
‘I hadn’t thought of it like that,’ said Aled after a moment, ‘but it’s imperative that you all know what’s going on with the Finnegans.’
‘I’ll ask Kitty to give her a call,’ said Cadi. ‘She’s got good reason to fear comebacks, and Daphne knows that.’
‘Good thinking. Do let me know what happens, won’t you?’
‘Of course!’
Aled gave her a mischievous wink. ‘I must say, life’s a lot more exciting with you in it,’ he noted. ‘It was pretty boring before you came along.’
She smiled. ‘I seem to recall you saying something along those lines the last time I saw you in Speke. I suppose, in hindsight, you were right.’ She hesitated. ‘Is Marnie looking forward to spending Christmas in Lincoln?’
Aled grimaced. He’d been meaning to call Cadi to let her know that he and Marnie were no longer an item, but had been putting it off. He drew a deep breath. ‘I’m afraid Marnie won’t be joining us.’
‘Oh, heck. Why not?’
Aled wanted to say that he’d rather not talk about it, but Cadi would find out sooner or later, so he ploughed on. ‘Unfortunately, she doesn’t think I’m committed to the relationship, so she broke things off.’
Cadi remained quiet, not knowing quite what to say. It took her a moment or two to find the right words. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Have you any idea what would make her think that? Only I thought you made a perfect couple, and I know you’d taken her to meet your parents.’
He felt his cheeks grow warm. ‘I’ve tried talking to her, but she won’t listen to reason.’
