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Authors: Marina Pascoe
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you.ʼ
Norman gathered his things and ran out of the front door at top speed. He knew he could count on Kitty.
Ê»Thanks, Kit â I wonʼt forget thisʼ he called behind him.
Kitty smiled and prepared the shop for opening.
At the police station, Bartlett and Boase were worn out. Their trip up to London the previous day had been a complete disaster and neither of them could think what to do next. It seemed that every time they felt they were getting somewhere, things became more involved or more difficult. Bartlett lit his pipe.
Ê»Letʼs go round to see Percy Williams again â thereʼs something heʼs not telling us, Boase. He never mentioned that Ivy was adopted; could be a clue.ʼ
ʻBut why wouldnʼt he tell me about her, sir?ʼ
ʻLetʼs go and find out.ʼ
The two men walked across the Moor, along Market Street, Church Street and Arwenack Street and made their way to the Falmouth Dockyard. Stopped at the gates by the duty policeman, who didnʼt recognise them due to their plain clothes, they were soon admitted and they asked for directions to Percy Williamsʼs workplace. The yard was busy this year with plenty of repair work, and, happily, overtime. Bill Pengelly, coming out of one of the dockyard buildings, saw the two men and touched his cap in acknowledgement. Presently they arrived at the right shed and went inside. Percy Williams was teaching some apprentices the finer points of his trade but left them when he saw the two policemen. He walked across to them.
ʻWhat is it now? I told you I donʼt know any more about Ivy.ʼ
Bartlett reassured him. ʻYou may not know anything about your daughterʼs tragic death, Mr Williams, sir, but we feel you havenʼt told us enough about her background, which might be vitally important.ʼ
ʻWhat else do you want to know?ʼ
ʻIvy was adopted, wasnʼt she?ʼ
Shocked that they knew this much, the man sat down on a bench and rested one elbow on the table next to it. Approaching sixty, Percy Williams didnʼt know how he was going to make it until his retirement at sixty-five. He was tired of work, heʼd been in ship repair man and boy â he was tired of life. He hadnʼt had much luck over the years, all in all. His hands, old and brown, were the hands of a grafter. All heʼd ever wanted was a quiet life and a nice family; heʼd had that once, now it had all been taken away from him. He looked up at Bartlett and Boase.
ʻYes, yes, Ivy was adopted. How did you know?ʼ
ʻWe found out during our enquiries.ʼ Bartlett wasnʼt going to let on about the money and the solicitor. ʻPlease tell us as much as you can now, it may be important. We really want to catch whoever did this to your daughter.ʼ
Percy walked over to the apprentices. Ê»Iʼm goinʼ to be busy for a bit â you go anʼ ʼave yer croust.ʼ The boys, who were starving by now and happy to oblige, left the shed and Percy returned to the bench.
Ê»In 1896, my dear wife, Mary and me were expecting our first child. We were so happy. We loved each other so much and really wanted a family. I thought the world of ʼer. Well, to cut a long story short, the baby was born, a beautiful little boy, we called ʼim Nathaniel. Mary suffered during the birth. The midwife was with ʼer anʼ I was sent for from work. I could ʼear ʼer screaminʼ ʼalfway down our street â she was in so much pain. I felt so useless, waiting downstairs. What use are men at a time like that? Anyway after about ten ʼours the midwife bid me come up and there was my beautiful wife and our baby. We couldnʼt ʼave been ʼappier. I ʼad a lovely son.
Ê»All of a sudden, the baby went stiff in ʼer arms and then ʼe went blue. I called the midwife over but it was too late â our little Nathaniel was gone, ʼis short little life snuffed out like a candle after only about an
Norman gathered his things and ran out of the front door at top speed. He knew he could count on Kitty.
Ê»Thanks, Kit â I wonʼt forget thisʼ he called behind him.
Kitty smiled and prepared the shop for opening.
At the police station, Bartlett and Boase were worn out. Their trip up to London the previous day had been a complete disaster and neither of them could think what to do next. It seemed that every time they felt they were getting somewhere, things became more involved or more difficult. Bartlett lit his pipe.
Ê»Letʼs go round to see Percy Williams again â thereʼs something heʼs not telling us, Boase. He never mentioned that Ivy was adopted; could be a clue.ʼ
ʻBut why wouldnʼt he tell me about her, sir?ʼ
ʻLetʼs go and find out.ʼ
The two men walked across the Moor, along Market Street, Church Street and Arwenack Street and made their way to the Falmouth Dockyard. Stopped at the gates by the duty policeman, who didnʼt recognise them due to their plain clothes, they were soon admitted and they asked for directions to Percy Williamsʼs workplace. The yard was busy this year with plenty of repair work, and, happily, overtime. Bill Pengelly, coming out of one of the dockyard buildings, saw the two men and touched his cap in acknowledgement. Presently they arrived at the right shed and went inside. Percy Williams was teaching some apprentices the finer points of his trade but left them when he saw the two policemen. He walked across to them.
ʻWhat is it now? I told you I donʼt know any more about Ivy.ʼ
Bartlett reassured him. ʻYou may not know anything about your daughterʼs tragic death, Mr Williams, sir, but we feel you havenʼt told us enough about her background, which might be vitally important.ʼ
ʻWhat else do you want to know?ʼ
ʻIvy was adopted, wasnʼt she?ʼ
Shocked that they knew this much, the man sat down on a bench and rested one elbow on the table next to it. Approaching sixty, Percy Williams didnʼt know how he was going to make it until his retirement at sixty-five. He was tired of work, heʼd been in ship repair man and boy â he was tired of life. He hadnʼt had much luck over the years, all in all. His hands, old and brown, were the hands of a grafter. All heʼd ever wanted was a quiet life and a nice family; heʼd had that once, now it had all been taken away from him. He looked up at Bartlett and Boase.
ʻYes, yes, Ivy was adopted. How did you know?ʼ
ʻWe found out during our enquiries.ʼ Bartlett wasnʼt going to let on about the money and the solicitor. ʻPlease tell us as much as you can now, it may be important. We really want to catch whoever did this to your daughter.ʼ
Percy walked over to the apprentices. Ê»Iʼm goinʼ to be busy for a bit â you go anʼ ʼave yer croust.ʼ The boys, who were starving by now and happy to oblige, left the shed and Percy returned to the bench.
Ê»In 1896, my dear wife, Mary and me were expecting our first child. We were so happy. We loved each other so much and really wanted a family. I thought the world of ʼer. Well, to cut a long story short, the baby was born, a beautiful little boy, we called ʼim Nathaniel. Mary suffered during the birth. The midwife was with ʼer anʼ I was sent for from work. I could ʼear ʼer screaminʼ ʼalfway down our street â she was in so much pain. I felt so useless, waiting downstairs. What use are men at a time like that? Anyway after about ten ʼours the midwife bid me come up and there was my beautiful wife and our baby. We couldnʼt ʼave been ʼappier. I ʼad a lovely son.
Ê»All of a sudden, the baby went stiff in ʼer arms and then ʼe went blue. I called the midwife over but it was too late â our little Nathaniel was gone, ʼis short little life snuffed out like a candle after only about an
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