Midnight. Josephine Cox

his trouser pockets inside out, Scott continued to play the victim. ‘There were at least fifty quid in these pockets when she picked me up, and now it’s all gone. So, unless yer want more trouble than yer can handle, you’d best hand over what I’ve earned, along with the cash you stole from me trouser-pockets. Oh, an’ don’t mek the mistake o’ shouting for help.’ To prove the point, he grabbed Eileen and held her in a vicious grip, before abruptly releasing her when she began to struggle.

      As he took a step towards Libby, Eileen startled them both by yelling obscenities. ‘You leave her alone!’ Rushing forward, she clung to Libby with one hand, while with the other, she feverishly plucked at her hair until she resembled a wild thing.

      ‘I’m going nowhere, not without what’s mine!’ Grabbing Libby by the neck, he yanked her forward. ‘You’d best shut her up, or I will!’ With one mighty thrust he sent her hurtling backwards.

      Subdued, Eileen was sobbing. ‘Who is he?’ she whispered hoarsely. ‘Why does he want to hurt us?’

      ‘Don’t worry, Mum. I won’t let him hurt you.’ Libby realised that the quickest way to be rid of him would be to offer whatever money they had. But since they had so very little, that was not really an option.

      Her voice trembling, Eileen said to Libby, ‘If he’s here when your father gets home from work, there’ll be the devil to pay!’ Glancing furtively at the door, she half expected Libby’s father to burst in and protect them.

      ‘You heard her,’ Libby said, squaring up to the intruder. ‘My father will be home soon from the night shift. So if you know what’s good for you, you’d best make tracks!’ Keeping her mother safe, she added firmly, ‘There’s nothing for you here.’

      ‘I’ll go when I’m paid what she owes me. And fifty quid on top!’ His smile widened, to show a crooked row of yellowing teeth as he eyed her up and down. ‘Happen you’d prefer me to take part payment in other ways . . . if yer know what I mean?’

      Libby knew exactly what he meant. ‘Like I said, we’ve got nothing for you. So, if you don’t leave, I’ll have no choice but to call the police.’

      ‘Go on, then!’ he goaded. ‘Call ‘em now! I can soon explain how I found this poor, deluded old dear wandering the streets, prostituting herself to any man that took her fancy. Being a proper gent, I managed to find an address tucked in her pocket, and I made sure she got home safely. That’s what I’ll tell the police, I reckon they’ll get the Social out and she’ll be banged up in a home, where she belongs.’

      ‘No one would take any notice of a man like you!’ All the same, Libby was worried. If he really did what he threatened, the officials would be all over her, asking questions and snooping around. And if that was the case, who knows what might happen? Her mother must not be taken from her.

      ‘Oh, and don’t forget, there are any number of witnesses who’ll back me up,’ Scott boasted. ‘They all saw how she offered herself on a plate to any man she came across – promising money and everything.’ He added cruelly, ‘Only it seems they didn’t need the money as much as I did.’

      Lowering his voice, he leaned forward. ‘Like any decent bloke, I took pity on her, an’ the fact that she’s safely home proves that. So I think you know who the police will believe. No doubt they’ll ask why you allowed this poor old soul to wander the dark streets in her nightwear. You put her in danger, that’s what they’d say.’

      Sensing Libby’s concern, he went on menacingly, ‘If it weren’t for me, some lesser man might ’ave had his way with ’er, before throwing ’er in the canal. Wrong in the ’ead she may be, but to tell the truth, compared to some of the scrubbers we get on the streets, she’s passable enough for a bit of fun.’

      ‘You get out!’ Diving out from behind Libby, Eileen suddenly threw herself at him, fists flailing. ‘Get away from my girl!’ The force of her attack sent him stumbling against the wall. ‘What d’you want in my house? Get out! Go on, get out!’

      Shocked by Eileen’s vicious onslaught, and now with Libby joining in, Scott found himself being man handled across the room. Libby managed to open the front door, where the two of them struggled to push him outside. ‘Show your face here again,’ Libby warned, ‘and I’ll have the law on you!’

      ‘Yer don’t say!’ Grabbing Libby by the throat, he tried to push her back inside. ‘I don’t need no trouble with the police, so just give me what I’m owed, an’ I’ll go!’

      When Eileen came at him again, screeching and clawing at his face, he raised his arm and, with one sharp thump, sent her backwards across the room.

      ‘Hey! What the hell d’you think you’re doing?’ The man came at him from behind.

      Older than Scott but strong as a bull, Thomas Farraday grabbed the younger man by the scruff of his neck, lifted him off his feet and literally swung him down the path, straddling him as he tried to scramble up, fists bunched and ready for a fight.

      ‘This ain’t got nothing to do with you!’ Scott argued, before a hammer-sized fist smashed into his mouth. It was enough to send him scampering, but not without a parting shot as he nursed his jaw: ‘You want locking up! Mad as hatters, the lot of you!’

      Then, as Thomas took a step forward, he ran like a crazy man, stumbling wildly in his panic to get away. From a safe distance he shook his fist. ‘I’ll not forget this in a hurry!’ he yelled, though when Thomas started after him, he fled down the street, never to be seen again.

       Chapter Three

      AFTER WAITING UNTIL the unwelcome visitor was out of sight, Thomas went back to find Libby trying to calm her mother, who had been deeply disturbed by the entire episode. Seated at the table, Eileen was rocking back and forth. ‘It was all my fault,’ she sobbed. ‘I brought him here, but he wasn’t the one.’ She glanced up, her misty eyes looking from one to the other. ‘Y’see, I thought he were my Ian. I’m sorry I caused all this trouble.’

      ‘It’s all right, Eileen, love.’ Seeing how Libby was too choked to speak, Thomas came forward. ‘He’s gone now, and by the way he shot round that corner, he’ll not bother you again.’

      Calmed by his quiet voice and gentle manner, Eileen looked up with tearful eyes. ‘You’re a good man, Thomas.’ Taking his work-worn hand into hers, she gently kissed it. ‘And I’m a silly old woman. They should put me away for what I’ve done to my Libby.’ Eileen had fleeting moments of lucidity, and this was one of them.

      Glancing to where her daughter was making a pot of fresh tea and some scrambled eggs, she gave an almighty sigh: ‘My lovely girl!’ When she wiped her eyes, Thomas felt her sorrow. ‘She never married, you know. And it’s all because of me.’

      Thomas gently quietened her fears: ‘I’m sure she’ll find the right man one of these days,’ he promised. ‘Besides, she’s only thirty, so there’s time enough yet.’

      Eileen was amazed. ‘Oh dear! Is she thirty already?’

      ‘I believe so, yes.’

      ‘So, she really is wasting her life, then?’

      ‘No.’ Thomas had a special fondness for these two women. ‘Libby loves taking care of you. You know yourself, she would have it no other way.’

      In her mind, Eileen was beginning to drift again.

      ‘Thirty isn’t old, but it’s not young either, is it, Thomas?’ When she looked away, he felt her pain. ‘It was me who brought that bad man home. I didn’t mean to. I was looking for my Ian. I need him, and Libby needs a father.’ She gave a little sigh. ‘My little girl is thirty, and all these years she’s been without a daddy.’ Her voice broke. ‘And I’ve been without a husband.’ She added gratefully, ‘Oh, I know you’ve been kind to Libby and me, but you’re not her father, are you, Thomas? And