Shadows of Deceit Read Free Page B

Harry.
    “You see, I knew that Georgie, my other lodger, was away working nights and as I was staying at my sister’s house last night we had to make sure that you weren’t inside. Oh thank God you’re OK.”
    Harry had calmed down now,
    “I’m sorry if I caused you any distress, but there was no way I could let you know what I was doing; because of the raid I had to alter my plans.”
    As the Firemen cleared away their equipment the senior officer came back to talk with the landlady,
    “Right, we’re off now. The street wardens are fully aware of your situation and they’ll keep an eye out for looters whilst you’re away. You know what the procedure is don’t you?”
    “Yes, I’ll be OK. thank you for all your help.”
    She turned to Harry,
    “I’ve got to go down to the Council to register the loss of the property and damage. But where will you go tonight? I might be able to find an address for you when I’m down there?”
    “No it’s alright thanks, I’ll find somewhere else, don’t worry about me.”
    Harry went inside and salvaged a few of his belongings that he stuffed into an old suitcase. When he came out he went across to his landlady, who was talking to her neighbour,
    “Well that’s everything I need. I’ll be on my way now.”
    Harry bent down to stroke the dog that was now shivering. The animal initially tried to hide but quickly became appreciative of the attention on offer.
    The landlady looked down at him,
    “He’s bewildered, poor thing.”
    “Like all of us.”
    Harry said.
    The two talked for a few more minutes before he left to walk to a local café. ‘Poor sod’ he thought, ‘I’ve only stayed there a week, I’ve lost a few clothes but she’s almost lost her entire home.’
    He ordered some tea and toast and sat down at the only vacant table by a window that was misted with condensation. A wireless fixed to a bracket high on the wall behind the counter was providing some cheery background music.
    His mood had now changed from the pronounced blackness of earlier. He began tapping his fingers to the rhythm.
    ‘My ol’ man said follow the van
    and don’t dilly dally on the way,
    off went the van with my ‘ome packed in it
    and I followed on with my old cock linnet…’
    “Dilly,” Harry repeated to himself, “Dilly!”
    No one had heard him.
    Dilly would surely know what to do he thought?’
    The song had brought back a childhood memory, about his imaginary friend called Dilly.
    He couldn’t remember how or why he had named her and he couldn’t recall when he had last thought about her.
    ‘It must be over twenty years’ he thought.
    He was about six, maybe seven when he first chanced upon her. It was during a difficult time at home, his father had left his mother and she had to somehow cope in bringing up his younger brother David and him. Divorce, which was rarer then, was made more burdensome because they were a Catholic family. But his mother did manage to get by. She established a small kindergarten in the house during the mornings, as well as running an afternoon taxi service with her small car. Harry smiled to himself upon remembering the small St Christopher statue that his mother had stuck to the dashboard.
    ‘Great innocent memories’ he thought.
    And now here he was, much older, with a decision to make.
    ‘Dilly’ would know what to do he thought and smiled again. Whilst waiting for his food, he reviewed the options now available to him. The separate events of the last evening had now forced him to re-evaluate his situation. Could he carry on with some minor black market activities? He had had some success after all. Should he return to his brother and sister-in-law in London? They would know he had stolen the ring, so perhaps it wouldn’t be appropriate to return; especially now that he had lost it!
    Should he travel to Ireland? There was no conscription in the north, so he could blend in and find some work there perhaps? Or he could make his way