Widows

Dolly launched in, talking nineteen to the dozen, going over everything that had happened, the questions the police had asked her and how they were already linking the robbery to a possible associate of Harry Rawlins. ‘One of the security guards was there, Shirl, I mean right there. As close to me as you are now — and he never batted an eyelid.’ Dolly checked her hair in the ornate gold mirror over the fireplace. ‘Bloody hell, I look awful!’ She laughed. ‘They suspect one of the robbers was black... so I pity all the black lags in London tonight.’

‘That’s good,’ Shirley said softly. She sat with her head bent, her bruised eye and cheek turned away from Dolly. She knew she had to tell her about Wolf, but she just couldn’t get it out.

Dolly poured herself a large brandy. ‘Want one, Shirl?’

‘No thanks, Dolly. I do need to talk to you about something, though.’

‘Go on girl. What is it — something wrong?’ Dolly asked. Just then the phone rang twice and stopped. ‘Hang on a sec, Shirl...’ Dolly held her hand up. A second later the phone rang again. This time she picked it up.

The person on the other end was clearly telling her a long tale. Eventually, Dolly said, ‘Shirley’s flight was canceled, so she’ll be with you a bit later than planned. Nothing at all to worry about. Have a nice holiday, love... yes, yes, everything’s fine here.’ Dolly put the phone down. ‘That was Linda. She’s through passport control and will be in the air soon. Everything’s going to be—’ As Dolly turned back to Shirley, she saw the cut from where Eddie’s ring had dug into her beautiful skin, and the bruise now developing around it.

Slamming her brandy glass down on the telephone table, Dolly moved quickly to Shirley. ‘Dear God, girl, what happened to you?’ she asked as she sat down and took hold of Shirley’s shaking hand.

‘Someone broke in...’ Shirley stuttered. ‘They wanted to know where the money was...’

Dolly looked worried. ‘You saw him?’

Shirley nodded.

‘You know him? Did he hurt you, darlin’?’

Shirley shook her head. ‘Not really.’

‘The money. Did he take the money?’

Shirley looked up at Dolly. ‘No, it’s still in your car.’

Dolly’s whole manner changed. She toughened up and, in an instant, was back to her usual self. ‘How the hell did he get in? Did you let him in?’

‘No! He broke in through your French doors at the back.’

The telephone rang three times and went silent, then two seconds later it rang again and Dolly picked up. Two rings for Linda, three rings for Bella — that was the code they’d agreed. Bella was also about to board her plane and was checking to see if everything was OK with Dolly. ‘Everything’s fine. Shirley didn’t catch her plane because of her swollen ankle. She’s with me and will be flying out in a couple of days. Have a nice time.’ Dolly replaced the phone before Bella could ask any more questions and poured herself another brandy.

Shirley turned to Dolly. ‘I swear I’ve never seen him before, Dolly! He just came at me and then he kicked...’ Still Shirley couldn’t get it out. She bent her head and covered her face.

Dolly sat down next to her again and put her hand on Shirley’s knee. ‘All right, love, just calm down and we’ll go over it all. Here, have a sip of my brandy.’ Dolly took Shirley’s hands and cupped them round the crystal glass. ‘You settle your nerves. I’ll nip and let Wolf out before he waters the plants for me.’

Shirley had to say something before Dolly got to the lounge door. ‘I’m sorry, Dolly. I’m so sorry.’ Dolly paused. ‘He was protecting me from the man. He bit him and — I didn’t see exactly, but Wolf was right in the middle of all the scuffling, biting and barking, and then...’ Shirley broke down in tears. Dolly’s reaction was like nothing Shirley had ever seen from her before. She looked like a lost and frightened child.

‘Please tell me he’s all right.’ Dolly nervously picked at a thread of loose cotton on the seam of her trousers; all she could do was stare at Shirley. ‘Where is he?’

‘I put him in his basket,’ Shirley said, broken-voiced.

Shirley followed Dolly into the kitchen and watched as she knelt beside the motionless little dog. She picked up his limp body, held him close and nursed him in her arms. He was still warm as Dolly nuzzled his neck. Her voice was filled with grief. ‘Oh, my little darlin’, my poor little darlin’.’

Dolly took two or three minutes to say goodbye to Wolf, while Shirley stood silently in the kitchen doorway. When the moment was right, Dolly visibly seemed to stiffen; her whole body went rigid, her mouth hard and tight. She gently put Wolf down in his basket and stroked his head. Then she got up, opened a drawer and took out a lace table cloth, which she laid out on the kitchen floor. She gently wrapped the cloth round Wolf’s body, like a baby at a christening. She picked him up and turned to Shirley.