Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird. Josephine Cox

me blind. And I ’ave to admit, yer took me in good and proper at first, but now it’s clear as day what yer after.’

      Taking a step forward, he concentrated on Libby. ‘You’re the brains behind it, while this one’ – he grinned at Eileen, who was still cowering against the wall – ‘is the bait. And no doubt the police will see it the same way after I’ve finished.’ He had to make them out as villains, or the younger one would likely call the police on him.

      He outlined his interpretation of events. ‘So there I was, minding me own business, when this woman latched onto me, said she needed me to ‘come home’ with ’er. Enticed me back here, she did, and very convincing it was too. I didn’t realise I was being set up to be robbed.’ He congratulated himself on being witty enough to turn the tables on them. ‘I can see it all now. The two of you are in it together. Con-artists, just like I said. You set a bloke up an’ leave him wi’ nowt.’

      ‘That’s a lie!’ Libby retaliated. ‘You must have realised my mother is ill, yet you deliberately took advantage of her!’

      He slowly clapped his hands together. ‘Oh, very good.’ He grinned widely. ‘So now, what do you think to my interpretation of events?’

      ‘I think you’re a liar and a rogue. And if you reckon for one minute that anyone would believe your story, you’re a damned fool!’

      ‘Is that so?’ The smile disappeared from his face. Leering at her, he hissed softly, ‘Well, that’s my story, word for word, exactly as it happened, and I’m prepared to tell it to anyone who wants to know.’ Anger coloured his voice. ‘Yer ought to be bloody grateful it were me she latched onto! There are men out there who might have given you silly pair a good hiding, an’ more. No doubt they’d ’ave gone through this house an’ took everything worth a bob or two. An’ I reckon, it’s only what yer deserve.’

      Fearing he might get violent, Libby moved to protect her mother, ‘I want you out of here – now!’ she said in a low voice. The thought of him bedding her mother was sickening.

      Turning 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,