out of bed, Pearl went to the window to see Derek below. Oh God, she couldn’t see him. He would know – he would look at her and know.
He waved frantically, and it was obvious he wouldn’t go away unless she spoke to him. She lifted the window, leaning out a little. ‘Derek, I’m not well. I can’t come down.’
‘When I went into the café, Bernie asked me if I’d seen you. What’s wrong, love?’
As Derek shouted up at her, several heads lifted, and Pearl cringed. They were all staring at her. Could they tell? Did it show?
‘I’ve got an upset tummy,’ she called desperately. ‘Will you tell Bernie? I … I may see you tomorrow, but it depends how I’m feeling.’
‘Is there anything I can get you?’
‘No, but thanks.’ Pearl lifted her hand to give Derek a small wave, anxious to shut the window and get away from the prying eyes.
She crawled back into bed, just wanting to hide away, and soon, exhausted, she escaped into sleep.
It was half an hour later when Trevor Bardington parked his car, smiling as he pulled out a bag of shopping. He’d bought cereals, some fruit, a bar of chocolate, and with the girl downstairs at work, he had the place to himself.
It had been a pain keeping him quiet when Pearl Button was in, but the drugs had done the trick. Now, though, he would make sure the boy was fully awake.
Trevor went up to his room, smiling fondly at the child tied to his bed. The boy had been in a drug-induced sleep, but as his eyelids fluttered, Trevor could see that he was waking up.
Those wonderful emerald-green eyes flickered open, looking glazed at first, but seeing Trevor, they rounded with fear.
‘So, you’re awake, and as a treat I’ve got you some chocolate,’ Trevor said as he untied the bindings. ‘Now, if you’re really good, I’ll take the gag off. You will be quiet, won’t you?’
The boy nodded, but his eyes filled with tears. Trevor knew that, tempting as it was, he couldn’t keep him much longer. He tousled the boy’s hair, annoyed when he flinched. Why did they have to pretend?
He heaved a sigh. Yes, the lad would have to go soon, but he’d get a good price when he passed him on.
When Pearl awoke again it was after ten o’clock. Something had disturbed her, a sound, and she sat up groggily. Had somebody rang the doorbell? She rubbed her eyes, becoming still when she heard a cry.
Another cry, muffled, and her eyes went to the ceiling. Surely it wasn’t Mr Bardington making that noise?
For a moment the house was silent, the only sound street noises outside. Another faint cry, a yell, and suddenly Pearl flew out of bed. Please God, no, she thought frantically as she pulled on some clothes.
Barefoot, she tiptoed upstairs, struggling to stay calm. Surely she was wrong? Surely she was imagining things? It couldn’t be – it just couldn’t!
Softly Pearl crept along the landing, and reaching Mr Bardington’s door she pressed her ear against it.
At first she heard nothing, but then, as the cry came again, Pearl’s stomach turned a somersault.
For a moment she froze, stiff with panic. She had to do something, had to find help. Derek, she’d get Derek! Without coherent thought, Pearl flew back downstairs, her bare feet making little sound. She dashed outside, leaving the street door wide open behind her, eyes wild as she made for Derek’s stall.
The pavement was sharp underfoot, but Pearl was hardly aware of it. ‘Derek!’ she screamed.
‘What is it? What’s the matter?’
‘Eric … I think I know who’s got Eric! Quick, you’ve got to come!’
‘Come where? Who’s got him?’
‘It’s the man living in the room upstairs. I think Eric’s in there with him. I … I heard a child crying.’
‘Charlie! Denis! Rick! Bob!’ Derek yelled. ‘Quick, come with me.’
‘What’s going on?’ one called.
‘Pearl thinks she knows where Eric is!’
Abandoning customers, the men ran to his side, other costermongers alerted and joining them.
Derek quickly explained, their faces darkening with fury as they all ran to the open door, Pearl behind as they thudded upstairs.
Everything happened so quickly that Pearl could barely take it in. Derek’s shoulder crashed into Mr Bardington’s door, wood splintering, and still in momentum he almost fell into the room, the other men followed in his wake. Mr Bardington yelled, and as all hell let loose, she craned to see over their heads. There was a scream of fear, and then the man was on the floor, a sea of heavy boots kicking him again and again, each one landing with a sickening crunch. He shrieked, and as Pearl ducked low she had a brief glimpse of him, his nose shattered and his face running with blood. She swallowed, wanting to protest, but then Derek appeared with Eric in his arms and bile rose in her throat. Oh, no! Oh God!
All thought of protest died on Pearl’s lips as anger threatened to overwhelm her. She wanted to join the men, to kick Trevor Bardington, to punch him, beat him, to make him suffer for what he had done to an innocent child. He was an animal, a monster! A wall of redness formed in front of her eyes, but then Derek yelled in her ear.
‘Pearl, come on, we’ve got to get Eric out of here! We’ll take him to the café and someone can run for Frank and Lucy.’
Derek’s voice somehow penetrated her fury and she reacted quickly. ‘Yes, of course. I’ll get something to cover him.’
As they went down to the next landing, Pearl dashed into her room, grabbing a blanket from her bed to cover Eric’s naked body. The small crowd that had gathered hushed as they stepped outside, but then a cry went up. ‘Good on yer, Derek.’
‘It was Pearl who found him, not me. Now let me pass. This child needs his mother. Madge, will you run and get her?’
The woman nodded, hurrying away.
As the crowd parted, Derek carried Eric to the café. Dolly must have been alerted, and as they walked in she motioned them upstairs to her flat. ‘Take him to my bedroom.’
As soon as Eric saw Dolly’s bed he went into a panic, fighting to get out of Derek’s arms.
‘It’s all right, darling,’ Pearl said, and as Eric held out his arms in appeal, she took him, holding him closely.
The blanket slipped and there was a gasp. Dolly held a hand over her mouth in horror. ‘Oh my God,’ she whispered. ‘His … his little bottom is covered in blood.’
Pearl sat on the edge of the bed, but as she lowered Eric onto her lap he cried out in pain. Tears flowed then, rolling unchecked down her cheeks as she managed to lay the child gently on his side. She had barely covered him with the blanket when Lucy and Frank Hanwell flew into the room.
‘Eric! Eric!’ Lucy sobbed, thrusting Pearl aside. For a moment she gazed down at her son, but then she lay beside him on the bed, pulling him into her arms.
Frank watched, his face drained of colour, and as Dolly whispered her concerns, his fists balled. ‘Yeah, ring the doctor, but where is the bastard who did this? I’ll kill him with my bare hands.’
‘Don’t worry. I think you’ll find he’s already been taken care of,’ Derek murmured.
As Dolly left to make the telephone call, Frank dropped to his knees by the bed, but Eric turned his head away, refusing to look at his father.
‘Oh, son. Oh, son …’ With a strangled sound in his throat, Frank rose to his feet.
For a while nobody spoke as Lucy continued to rock the boy in her arms.
Then