Molly Green - A Sister’s Courage

So this was what Foxy giving her notice was all about. He wanted full access to Linda without Raine curtailing him. What a pig! This was far more serious than she’d imagined.

‘He tried it on with me when he first came to the section,’ Raine said.

Linda’s eyes were wide. ‘What did you do?’

‘Threatened to report him. And didn’t I pay for it … with my job.’ She looked at Linda. ‘What did you say to him?’

Linda swallowed some tea. ‘I asked him to please stop, but he gave them a quick pinch, which really hurt ’cos I had the curse, and just laughed.’

‘The filthy beast. I wish you’d told me earlier.’

Linda shook her head ‘What was the good? I wanted to forget it. But I feel sick every time I see him.’

‘Let me think for a minute.’ Raine spread some margarine on her bun and took a bite. ‘Ugh. I’ll never get used to marg. And now they’ve rationed that as well as butter.’ She scraped it off, then took another bite, slowly chewing, savouring the spicy flavour, all the while with Linda’s anxious face in front of her. Then she smiled. ‘I always think better with a currant bun.’

She noticed Linda hadn’t touched hers.

‘Okay, Linda,’ Raine said after a minute or two. ‘I have a plan. I’ll help you if you’ll help me.’

‘Anything,’ Linda breathed.

‘First of all, I’ll stay until the end of the week. It’s only four more days but we have things to do.’

The next morning when Flight Lieutenant Fox put his head in the door Raine was quietly at her desk working.

‘I’m pleased you’re conscientious about doing a proper day’s work in light of our conversation, Miss Linfoot,’ he said.

Raine looked up, keeping her expression neutral. ‘I couldn’t do anything else, sir.’ As he turned to go she crossed her fingers that Linda was keeping a cool head.

Half an hour later Linda came in, a grin plastered over her face, her thumb up.

Raine stopped typing. ‘You managed it, then?’

‘Yes. I asked him if he had any letters to dictate. I could see the letter you’re talking about already in the filing tray. So I picked up the files with the letter on the top and asked what I should write back. He told me to ignore it. “Not worth a reply,” he said. “We don’t have anyone here who would be suitable.”’

Raine clenched her fists. ‘Then what?’

‘As soon as he went out I copied the address. I have it here.’ She took a folded piece of scrap paper from her pocket and handed it to Raine. ‘Then I filed everything in the tray, including the letter which I put in a new file I made up called ATA, as I would have done normally.’

‘You don’t know what this means to me, Linda.’ Raine opened her bag and quickly tucked the scrap of paper inside the little pocket where she kept her mirror. ‘Miss Gower asked for a pilot with more experience than me, but I’m going to write to her anyway. Even if she puts me on a list. That way, if I can increase my hours I can approach her again.’ She glanced at Linda. ‘I can’t thank you enough.’

‘I enjoyed doing it,’ Linda said. ‘I felt like a spy.’ She giggled.

Raine smiled. ‘So that’s the first part of the plan carried out successfully. The second part we’ll do on Friday, my last day.’

‘You know, I’ve been thinking a lot since yesterday,’ Linda said. ‘I don’t even like office work but it’s bearable when you’re here. Now you’re leaving I’m giving in my notice. So Foxy will lose both of us at the same time. Serve him right.’

‘Are you sure you’re doing the right thing, Linda?’

‘I’m very sure,’ Linda said mischievously. ‘I’m old enough to join the ATS. And that’s what I intend to do. Get in with some of the action.’

‘That’s a marvellous plan,’ Raine said, smiling. ‘I think you’ll be a real asset. But we should still report the swine, as who knows what he might do to the next unsuspecting girl. So we’ll keep our appointment this afternoon. Agreed?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Linda nodded enthusiastically. ‘I can’t wait.’

An hour before the time the two girls were due to leave, the phone rang. Raine picked it up.

‘Flight Lieutenant Fox here. I’m ringing to tell you that appointment you and Miss Rogers have this afternoon with the CO has been cancelled.’

Anger swept through her body. What was going on? Why was Foxy giving her the message? Had he somehow got wind of the reason the two of them were about to talk to his senior with some problem? His behaviour, for instance?

‘His secretary suggests Wednesday next week,’ he continued, ‘but of course you won’t be here.’ He gave a chuckle and the line went dead.

‘That was Foxy,’ Raine said to Linda who’d stopped typing to listen. ‘Our appointment’s been cancelled.’ Fury coated her words.

‘Why?’

‘He didn’t give a reason but I think he guessed.’

Linda chewed her lower lip. ‘Raine, it’s no good. It won’t get us anywhere – and I’ll be leaving anyway.’

Raine sighed heavily. ‘Well, I suppose at least we tried. But I can’t bear the idea that he’ll get away with his disgusting behaviour.’

She finished the letter she was typing for him, not bothering to correct his grammar. Let them all think what an ignorant little— She stopped the bad word before it formed. She banged the lever of the carriage to the left, typed the valediction, rolled out the letter and for the last time shoved the cover over the machine.

‘That’s it,’ she told Linda. ‘I’m not doing any more for that rat.’

As though on cue, Foxy came in and pointedly looked at the covered typewriter.

‘I see you’ve already packed up,’ he said. ‘But there is one more thing.’

Raine waited. What now?

‘According to the rules, when someone leaves, their bag has to be inspected.’ He smiled his oily smile. ‘Just a precaution. I’m sure it’s not necessary in your case, Miss Linfoot, but we’ll do it anyway, just so I can make a note on the file that I carried out the correct procedure to the letter.’

Dear God, no. He knew. The incriminating evidence was there for him to find. She’d be in real trouble, but worse, so would Linda. Her heart thumping, Raine glanced at the girl, who seemed to have frozen, her eyes wide with dismay. She opened her mouth but Raine quickly shot her a warning look.

‘We won’t wait until five thirty,’ he said. ‘We’ll do it now and then you can go early. So just tip your things out of the bag where I can see them.’ He thrust out his chest and folded his arms, his attention focused on Raine’s handbag.

Cursing inwardly, Raine opened it, deliberately taking out the items one by one and laying them on the desk. The fountain pen her father had bought her for her eighteenth birthday, a notebook, her purse, a sanitary towel wrapped in a brown paper bag ( please don’t let him look in there ), a small fabric bag she’d made at school to hold her comb and lipstick … everything except the mirror with Miss Gower’s address tucked behind it.

‘That’s everything,’ she said.

‘What’s in that paper bag?’

‘A woman’s item,’ Raine said, choking with rage that he should put her through this.

He opened it and peered inside, made a grimace then dropped the paper bag back with the other items with a flick of his fingers as though it were something revolting. Just when she thought she’d got away with it, he put his hand out and jerked his head towards the bag.

‘Give me the handbag.’

Pulse racing, she kept it open as she handed it to him.

Keep calm, Raine. Don’t let him see you’re at all anxious.