Chris Nickson - Come the Fear

At the jail, Lister was sitting at the desk, quill scratching on paper to write up his brief nightly report as the Constable arrived.

He looked tired, Nottingham thought, not just in his face and eyes but in his soul.

‘Did you see the girl last night?’ he asked.

‘Yes, boss.’

‘Anything worthwhile?’ Nottingham sat and Lister pushed a hand through his thick hair.

‘Not really. Lucy told her she couldn’t go home because he’d find her there, but still no mention of who he is. She was with the riverbank people for a week, then she just left. She was out with the girl I talked to, said she had something to do and never came back. Didn’t talk much, evidently.’ He paused. ‘One more thing, boss.’

‘What’s that?’

‘That pimp Lucy had claimed she’d been beaten by someone who didn’t pay, didn’t he?’

‘Yes. His sisters said the same. Why?’

‘The girl said Lucy told her the pimp had beaten her when she didn’t make any money. She’d have no reason to lie.’

‘True,’ Nottingham agreed.

‘And it would explain why she ran off.’

Nottingham sat and thought.

‘I think I’ll go and see Joshua Davidson again today.’ He gave a dark smile. ‘Let’s see if he remembers the truth this time.’

‘But it doesn’t help us find out what happened to Lucy.’

‘No.’ The Constable gave a deep sigh. ‘We’ll get there, don’t worry.’

Sedgwick arrived, his face creased in a smile.

‘You look happy,’ Nottingham said.

‘Isabell only woke twice, James has been behaving and I slept,’ he announced proudly.

‘Anything from any of the Cates men?’

‘They didn’t have her, I’ll wager on that. None of them liked her, I doubt they’d have touched her with someone else’s pizzle. You might be getting a complaint about me from the father, though,’ he warned. ‘He didn’t seem too happy at my questions.’

‘I’ll take care of it if it happens,’ the Constable told him. ‘We still need to know who she was scared of seeing if she went home. Any ideas?’

‘Her brother?’ Lister suggested.

‘I don’t see why she’d be scared of him,’ Nottingham answered. ‘He’s her family and her mother said he looked after her. You said he seemed insistent on finding her himself, John.’

‘He was,’ the deputy agreed slowly. ‘He’s an odd one, though. Might be worth talking to his girl when he’s not around.’

‘You’d better do that, then. I’m going to see our friend Davidson and then keep on the thief taker business. Anything from the men who’ve been watching him?’

‘Nothing unusual,’ Lister said.

‘Keep someone on him,’ he ordered. ‘And make sure he doesn’t know he’s being followed.’

They started to leave but the Constable said, ‘Rob, can you stay for a minute?’

Nottingham watched the others exchange glances then Lister sat down again as Sedgwick walked out.

‘Emily was upset last night, and she won’t say why,’ he said plainly, and stared at the younger man. ‘I was wondering what you knew about it.’

‘Boss. .’ Rob began, then the words wouldn’t come to his mouth. He pushed his head down to the desk and raised it again. ‘It’s my father.’

‘What about him?’

Nottingham could see the reluctance in the youngster’s face. He waited, giving him time to frame his thoughts.

‘He doesn’t want me to marry Emily.’

‘Oh?’ he asked, trying to keep the surprise from his voice. ‘I didn’t know you two had even talked about it. Emily hasn’t said anything.’

‘We haven’t. But we love each other.’

‘I think all of Leeds knows that by now, lad,’ Nottingham said kindly and watched Lister blush. ‘So why doesn’t he want you to marry her? Is she too young?’

Rob shook his head. ‘It’s not that.’ He paused, then blurted it out quickly. ‘He said. . he said your family wasn’t good enough. I’m sorry, boss.’

‘I see,’ the Constable said slowly.

‘I told Emily and I tried to explain that what he wants won’t stop me. But I don’t know how much of it she really heard.’

‘Now she’s angry at you?’

Lister nodded.

‘She’ll come around. Meet her after school,’ he advised. ‘Talk to her again. You know what she can be like. You need to make sure she understands.’

‘Yes, boss.’ He hesitated. ‘And I’m sorry about my father.’

‘I’m not going to blame you for what your father believes,’ Nottingham said with a small smile, making sure that none of what he was feeling crept into his tone. ‘It’s understandable, I suppose. After all, I’m the son of a whore, that’s true enough, and I’m proud of her. There are plenty of people in this city who’ve never forgotten that. Your father’s just one of them.’

‘But it’s not right,’ Lister insisted.

‘You and I both know that, but you can’t change the way people think. I’m used to it by now.’

‘What do I do?’ Rob asked helplessly. ‘I think he’s wrong.’

Nottingham sighed and pushed the fringe off his forehead.

‘I don’t know,’ he answered. ‘He’s your father and I know you don’t want to cross him. But sometimes you have to do what you think in your heart is the right thing. Don’t go marrying Emily just to spite him, though. If the pair of you really want to, that’s one thing, and my wife and I will give our blessing-’ Lister’s eyes lit up briefly. ‘But remember, you stand to lose a great deal with him if you do that.’

‘I know. That’s what I was trying to tell Emily yesterday.’

‘Then my advice is don’t give up until you make her see it. She can be stubborn, though.’ He winked. ‘No idea where she gets that from. Now, you go home and sleep.’

‘Yes, boss.’ He stood, then stopped. ‘And thank you for not being angry about it.’

The Constable shook his head gently and Rob left. Alone, Nottingham could think, the fury simmering inside him. He’d always seen James Lister as a fair man and taken pleasure in his company. He’d never given a sign of what he truly believed. He felt betrayed, cut by the words. Still at least Lister had had the grace to hide his knife when they’d met. It had been years since he’d heard anyone say his family wasn’t good enough; he’d believed those days were done. He’d loved his mother and hated the man who’d fathered him. His father had thrown them out and taken everything, left them to rot, to starve, to die without thought, care or regret. His mother had done what she could so they’d live. He still felt proud to have come from her.

If the words had been about him, they’d have hurt. But they were being visited on his daughter and that was what caught on his heart and made him bitter and angry.

He could go and see Lister’s father, of course, but what good would that do? Nothing he could say would change the man’s views; hard experience had taught him that. All he could see in the future was heartbreak for Rob or for Emily, and he’d do everything he could to protect his daughter.

But the one thing he couldn’t save her from was love, the thing that was supposed to bring her the greatest joy. He gave a long sigh. None of this would be resolved today. Rob was going to have to make some choices and whatever his decision it would be painful.

Now he was in the right mind to see Joshua Davidson again.

He brought his fist down hard on the door, feeling it shake in its frame. No one stirred in the house, the shutters closed, no puddle of night soil in front of the step. He banged again, hitting the wood over and over until he heard a muffled shout from inside.

When the lock turned he was ready, pushing hard and forcing his way inside. He closed the door behind him and saw Davidson sprawled on his back, the shirt hanging over his old, torn breeches, surprise and fear in his eyes.