Page 102 of The Stranger in Room Six
‘Isn’t it? Why don’t you ask them yourself?’
‘They’re not here.’
‘Of course they’re not. It’s why they went out, leaving you alone. They couldn’t face it. They weren’t keen, I grant you that. But I explained that if they caused trouble, I would hand the older one – Olive, isn’t it? – over to the authorities for committing a criminal act.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘When you called to say you were concerned about staying here, I rang back the number and the postmistress told me that Olive had been struck off after her sister and the child had died. She was also good enough to call me after your delivery. Not only to tell me that the baby had arrived, but also that, as rumour had it, Olive had delivered your baby after all. Be grateful that I gave you some time with your bastard before coming to relieve you. Now get into the car. We will somehow try to resume our normal lives now this little episode is over and done with.’
Mabel’s wails were lost as the tall grey man carried her precious son to a car waiting outside, and her aunt led her into another.
‘Please!’ she called out from the window. ‘Help me someone!’
Then she saw Olive and Beryl, clutching each other as they waited at the corner. ‘I’m so sorry,’ called out Beryl, bursting into tears. ‘We had no choice.’
Her aunt reached across and pulled her back into her seat, swerving as she did so. ‘For goodness’ sake, Mabel. Remember who you are. You have made a mistake. You should be thanking me for giving you another chance to keep your position in society. Not every lady gets one.’
Now
Now, by the old stables, Mabel sobs and sobs as Belinda holds her. ‘It still hurts, after all these years. It’s the not-knowing that is so awful. What happened to my son? Is he still alive? If only I knew, I could die happy.’
Belinda tries to find the right words to comfort her friend. But they will not come. No one can replace a lost child. How was it possible for life to be so beautiful one minute and so cruel the next?
The Stranger in Room Six
‘If it wasn’t for your threats to my family, I wouldn’t be doing this,’ says Belinda when she tells me about the old lady giving up her bastard. ‘Mabel has suffered enough in life. You should leave her alone, now.’
There’s a big bruise on her leg where I thumped her, which makes me feel slightly guilty. But I had to make a point.
‘You’re getting soft,’ I scoff.
‘I always was until I went to prison. Then I was only pretending to be hard. That was your idea, if you remember.’
‘I think you’re naturally much tougher than you think. But supposing I told you that you are actually helping us to keep Mabel safe.’
‘You told me she’d die if I didn’t find the list.’
‘But she will also live if you do. The world is a complicated place at the moment, Belinda. You were in prison for a long time. You might not have kept up with the news. Have you heard about neo-Nazi groups in Germany and other countries? It’s illegal in some places. But it’s real enough, and a reminder of what happened in the war. Some of those who were hurt and lost loved ones still want justice and revenge.’
I pause for a minute to take breath. I’m beginning to feel my age.
‘Let’s just say that Mabel will be lucky to reach her ninety-ninth birthday if it’s proved that she collaborated with Hitler supporters. There are some people who would have her killed without a second’s thought.’
‘But it was so long ago!’
‘Don’t you get it? That’s the thing about history. The past never really goes away. Just like we’ll never get prison out of our heads.’
I can see from her face that I’ve hit a nerve there.
After Belinda leaves, I make a decision. Perhaps I should take matters into my own hands. Of course, it’s a huge risk, especially as my boss told me I shouldn’t hurt her. But it’s time I got really tough.
70
Mabel
Mabel wakes with a start. It’s pitch-black outside, although she can hear the sea roar as the old diamond-paned windows rattle in the wind.
‘Alexa, what’s the time?’ she asks.
