It's Now or Never (10 page)

At least Roberta was free to do what she wanted and that was not only to visit the coffee bar but the Central Library in William Brown Street as well. She needed to look up some information for an essay. The pavements were now clear of snow and ice, so it did not take her long to reach Hope Street. She peered through the window of the coffee bar and saw that it was busy, but, having caught sight of Betty, wasted no time going inside.

A harassed-looking Betty glanced in her direction. Instantly Roberta made her way towards her but before she could speak, Betty said, ‘Listen, I can't talk now. I'm rushed off my feet. If it's anything important, could you come back about six o'clock and I can give you ten minutes.'

‘OK! I have to go to the Central Library anyway, so I'll see you later.' Roberta left the coffee bar, thinking that she only wanted Betty's advice about perspective for a sketch she was working on but she would make the effort and come back at six o'clock. Hopefully Lynne and Nan would not worry about her when she was late.

Once inside the library, Roberta found herself a table in the Local History and Records department and after taking a copy of
King Cotton
from a shelf, she sat down. She made some notes and had almost finished going through the book, which was about Liverpool's connection to the American cotton trade, when she heard the murmur of boys' voices and glanced round.

She noticed two youths sitting at the next table. One looked slightly older than the other, was maybe fifteen and had dark curly hair. He was talking in a low voice to the younger one who was fair haired and appeared intent on what the other one was saying. She had a feeling that she had seen the older one before.

Suddenly as if sensing they were being watched, the fair-haired one looked up. For a moment their eyes met. Then he nudged his friend who looked in her direction. Instantly Roberta lowered her gaze, not wanting to be caught staring, but she had seen enough in those short moments to notice that the uniform he was wearing was that of the Boys' Institute on Mount Street, next to the Art College, which was just round the corner from Hope Street, near Mount Pleasant. No doubt she recognized the older one from the coffee bar but the fair youth was new to her. She decided she could not afford to waste any more time thinking about them after glancing at the clock on the wall. She would spend a bit longer on her research but then she would have to leave if she was to speak to Betty.

Despite trying to concentrate on what she was doing, she was aware when the lads stood up and heard the dark one call the other Nick as they made their way to the exit. Soon afterwards she left the library and hurried across town. It was beginning to get dark by the time she arrived at the coffee bar.

Betty was just putting on her coat. ‘Perfect timing,' she said, slinging her shoulder bag on her shoulder. ‘How d'you feel about walking up to my flat with me? My cousin, Jared, is dropping by to pick up Emma, who's been staying with me so as to do some shopping with PC Walker. You've met her, haven't you?'

‘Yes, she was kind to me when I was followed by a man the other week. She's been to see Mam and probably she'll be making her wedding dress. I liked her.'

‘I heard about the man from Lenny. It must have been really scary,' said Betty.

‘It was but I haven't seen him since, thank goodness.'

‘Anyway you don't have to go home on your own. Hester Walker is probably still at the flat and Jared will be giving her a lift home. I'm sure he'll be willing to drop you off at the same time with her living so close to you.'

‘That sounds great,' said Roberta, pleased at the thought of getting a lift.

Betty donned her woolly hat and scarf and they set off in the direction of the cathedral. ‘So what was it you wanted me for?'

Roberta told her and for five minutes or so they discussed perspective. Then they talked about Italy and Betty mentioned the American who had visited the coffee bar earlier. ‘He's going to Italy but first he's off to Scotland this evening.'

‘Why's he in Liverpool?' asked Roberta.

‘He's searching for someone,' said Betty, giving her a sidelong glance. ‘Do you know anyone called Graham? He's looking for a woman called Lynne Graham and her daughter.'

Roberta gaped at her. ‘Mum's name is Lynne and her maiden name was Graham!'

‘You're joking!' exclaimed Betty, coming to a halt.

‘Honestly, I'm not!'

Betty groaned. ‘Why didn't I think of asking you before? I seem to have asked everyone else who's come in to the coffee bar!'

‘I haven't been in the coffee bar for several days as Mam's been meeting me from school because of that man following me!' They stared at each other. ‘Perhaps it was him!' said Roberta.

‘Was he wearing a gaberdine mackintosh and a black trilby?' asked Betty.

‘Yes!'

Betty gnawed on her lip. ‘I remember thinking he reminded me of an American detective in a film noir.'

Roberta put a hand to her mouth. ‘Then it is him! I wonder who he is and what he wants with us?'

‘Wait!' exclaimed Betty. ‘I'm not so sure they are one and the same. Mr Anderson told me it was the daughter of the proprietor of the hotel where he's staying who suggested he try the coffee bar in his search.'

‘Is that the American's name? Anderson?'

‘Yes, Stuart Anderson, and he's been staying at a hotel on Mount Pleasant. Does his name mean anything to you?'

‘No. What's the name of the hotel?'

‘I don't know! He just told me he was staying at the McDonalds' place.' Betty frowned. ‘Anyway, you're not going to find him this evening. He was catching a train but he'll be back next week. You have a word with your mother about him and see what she has to say. Maybe she'll recognize his name.'

‘I will! I mean, how many women called Lynne Graham are living in Liverpool? And as for my being followed from Liverpool Girls' College – Mum was a pupil there.' She stared at Betty. ‘But who was the man who followed me if it wasn't him?'

‘Maybe you weren't followed and it was just a coincidence that you saw a man dressed in similar clothes who was going in the same direction as you,' said Betty.

When they reached Gambier Terrace, Betty stopped in front of a house and took out a key and opened the door. Roberta followed her inside and upstairs to the top floor. A door was flung open and a pregnant woman stood there. ‘So here you are,' she said, smiling.

‘Yes, here we are,' said Betty, kissing her on the cheek. ‘Bobby, this is my half-sister, Emma Gregory. Emma, this is Roberta Donegan, known as Bobby to her friends.'

‘How d'you do?' said Emma, holding out a hand. ‘Do come in.'

They shook hands.

‘Did someone say the name Donegan?' asked a female voice.

Roberta followed Betty and Emma into a large room and noticed Hester over by a window that reached almost from floor to ceiling. There was also man standing by the fireplace.

‘Hi!' said Roberta, smiling at Hester.

Hester returned her smile. ‘Have you seen any more of that man?'

Roberta glanced at Betty. ‘We've some news about him. You explain, Betty.'

‘What's this about?' asked Jared, who had dark brown hair and an attractive weather-beaten face.

‘In a minute,' said Betty, putting on the kettle. ‘I'm desperate for a cup of tea.'

‘We've not long had a cuppa,' said Jared. ‘So we won't linger too long if I'm to run Hester home.'

‘You don't have to run me home,' said Hester firmly. ‘I can catch the bus.'

‘Oh yes, he does,' said Betty quickly. ‘I've promised Bobby a lift home, seeing as how she lives near Hester.' She turned to Jared. ‘You will give her a lift, won't you?'

‘Yes, of course,' said Jared. ‘Now what's this about a man?'

Betty spooned tea leaves into the teapot as she told them about Stuart.

Hester asked, ‘How old is he?'

‘Mid to late twenties, I'd guess,' said Betty.

‘America entered the war in December forty-one,' said Jared. ‘I'm pretty sure they didn't come over here until forty-two but the majority would have left by forty-six.'

‘He was over here but I doubt he'd have been here during the war or met Bobby's mother,' said Betty. ‘Otherwise he would have known her married name.'

‘The Yanks were back at Burtonwood base in forty-eight,' said Jared.

‘I think it's his father who knows about Bobby's mother and that she had a daughter,' said Betty. ‘I forgot to say that he mentioned his pa gave him a photograph of Lynne when she was a girl.'

‘That doesn't help us to know whether the father met her during the war or afterwards,' said Emma.

‘Can't say I remember setting eyes on any Yanks at any time,' said Roberta. ‘Although I remember Mum talking about the Russians starting World War Three and finish us all off by exploding the atom bomb. I must have been about six at the time.'

Jared said, ‘Instead the Russians set up a blockade of the Allies' road, rail and canal access to their sectors in Berlin, so the Allies had to airlift supplies in. You can read about it in the library if you're interested, Bobby.'

‘I am interested,' she said, thinking suddenly of the two youths that she had seen at the library and wondered what they'd been researching.

‘Anyway, enough of this,' said Emma, accepting her husband's hand to get up from the sofa. ‘Time to go, for all of us.'

Roberta expressed her gratitude to Betty for all her help.

‘That's OK,' she said warmly. ‘I'll be interested to know what your mother has to say about Stuart Anderson.'

‘I'm interested, too,' put in Hester. ‘Your mention of the McDonalds' place on Mount Pleasant reminded me that my brother's girlfriend stays at the Lynton Hotel when she's in Liverpool. The proprietors might know the McDonalds. At the moment she's in London but should be back soon. If I see her, I'll ask about them.'

Roberta thanked her, impatient now to get home and speak with her mother. She was dropped off first and it came as no surprise to see the front door opening as she crossed the pavement.

‘Whose was that car you've just got out of?' asked Lynne, her face pale in the light from a street lamp. ‘I've been worried about you.'

‘Sorry, Mam. It's Betty Booth's cousin's car,' said Roberta. ‘How's Nan?'

‘Better than she was this morning,' said Lynne, closing the door behind her daughter. ‘How come he gave you a lift in his car?'

‘He was picking up his wife from Betty's flat and Hester Walker was there. He was dropping her off, so he gave me a lift too.'

‘What were you doing at Betty's flat? I thought you were going to the library?'

‘I went to the library but I called in at the coffee bar afterwards,' said Roberta patiently. ‘And guess what, Mam, there's a man searching for us who has been in the coffee bar.'

‘What!'

Roberta dropped her satchel on the floor and shrugged off her blazer and hung it up. ‘He's a Yank and his name is Stuart Anderson and he's looking for a Lynne Graham and her daughter. What d'you make of that?' She watched the colour drain from Lynne's face. ‘Are you OK, Mam? I didn't mean to upset you.'

Lynne fumbled for the doorknob behind her and stumbled backwards as the door opened. Roberta grabbed her arm and only just managed to prevent her mother from landing on the floor. She helped her to the sofa and sat her down before kneeling in front of her.

‘Do you recognize that surname, Mam? Was his father here during the war? Apparently this Stuart was over here during the Berlin airlift.'

Lynne glanced at her grandmother and then murmured, ‘Fetch me some water, Bobby?'

Roberta glanced at Nan and then back at her mother. ‘I will in a minute but I want answers first. Tell me who he is and why he is looking for us. I think you know.'

Nan gripped the arms of the chair. ‘Did this Yank say where he was staying?'

‘In a hotel on Mount Pleasant. I don't know which one but Hester Walker said that her brother's girlfriend stays at a hotel on the Mount when she's in Liverpool. When she comes back from London, she's going to ask her if she's knows the proprietors whose name is McDonald.'

‘This has nothing to do with this girlfriend,' said Lynne, who had gained some of her colour. ‘And I've never met any Americans called Anderson and that's the truth. Have you had anything to eat, Bobby?'

‘No,' she replied, determined not to allow her mother to change the subject. She was sure Lynne was hiding something from her. ‘You mightn't have met him but you recognized his name.'

‘Why d'you say that?' snapped Lynne.

‘Because of your reaction! I'm not daft, Mam. He's looking for you and me. Why?'

‘I don't know,' said Lynne, sounding huffy. ‘I'm not clairvoyant.'

‘I know you're not, but why are you getting so annoyed? He must be on the level if he's giving out his name. And I haven't forgotten seeing a man hanging about outside school. How would he know not only that I was a pupil there but that you'd attended the same school if someone who knew of us hadn't told him?'

Nan cleared her throat noisily. ‘I think you should tell Roberta the truth.'

‘Nan, don't,' Lynne appealed, stretching out a hand to her.

Roberta's gaze darted from one to the other and her stomach seemed to tie itself into a bow. ‘So I'm … I'm right! There is something … something you've been keeping from me,' she said. ‘Is … is this Yank my … my father?'

‘Good God, no!' cried Lynne, starting to her feet. ‘I thought you were good at arithmetic!' She folded her arms across her chest and began to pace the floor.

Roberta watched her. ‘Sorry! But what did Nan mean about telling me the truth?'