Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale [94]
‘Well, Johnny,’ said Hutch, ‘I was just wondering …’
‘Yes?’ said Johnny. ‘You know you can ask me anything, Hutch.’
‘I was wondering. How do you transform yourself instantly and for ever? What’s the answer to that one?’
Johnny was abashed. He looked at his feet and muttered, ‘Cut your head off.’
Hutch shrugged his shoulders. ‘Not one of your best, son,’ he sighed. ‘Maybe it is time to call it a day.’
Chapter 46
RELEASE
The next day, the phone in the wooden booth at Hutch’s shop kept ringing. There were calls from newspapers, well-wishers, and Inspector Griffin, who was over at the prison organizing all the paperwork so that Winnie could come home. Johnny told Hutch about his meeting with Olwen, and persuaded him to phone Professor Campbell at Craig-y-Nos to find out how she was. It was hard to get through. The Welsh sanatorium was also besieged by the press, but eventually Hutch had some news for Johnny.
‘Well, he wouldn’t tell me much over the phone,’ he said. ‘Quite right, of course, I could be anybody. But it seems that Olwen’s going to stay at Craig-y-Nos until her next of kin are found. But the professor promised to pass on a letter, if you want to write to her.’
‘Of course I do,’ said Johnny.
‘If you’re quick, we can get something in the post tonight. Then, I hope, we’ll be able to go and pick up your mother as soon as I’ve closed the shop. Inspector Griffin has offered to take us to the prison in his car.’
Johnny and Hutch waited in the police car while Inspector Griffin went into the jail to complete the last of the formalities. He seemed to be gone for ages, though it was really only a quarter of an hour; and Johnny started to worry that something had gone wrong. To avoid crowds gathering outside the prison, Griffin had told the press that Winnie wouldn’t be released until the next day.
In the chill of the evening the deserted street was made even gloomier by the shadow of the high prison wall. There was a small door cut into one side of the massive prison gate. Eventually it opened, throwing a rectangle of light across the street, and Inspector Griffin stepped out. At first Johnny feared he was alone, but then the detective turned and helped a tiny figure through behind him. Winnie was weak, and bewildered by her sudden freedom, but she spread her arms wide as she saw Johnny leap from the car and run towards her.
‘Mummy!’ Johnny cried, calling her by the name he hadn’t let himself use since he was ten. He wanted to tell her everything, but all he could say was: ‘Oh, Mummy! Mummy! You’re back! You’re back!’
Winnie’s voice cracked as she hugged him and whispered, ‘Yes, darling. And I know I’m free because of you. Oh, Johnny. I couldn’t be more proud of you.’
By now they were both in tears, and inside the car Hutch was reaching for his handkerchief.
Winnie’s neighbours had been busy all day. Anxious to pretend to themselves that they had never despised or disparaged her, they had mended the windows of her house and cleaned off all the slogans from the walls. The farmer from Newgate had driven to town with some eggs and milk. He left them on the kitchen table with a note humbly apologizing for being so cruel to Johnny, and he laid a fire in the grate. Even Mrs Slack brought something. It was a pan of hot soup. Johnny wouldn’t eat it. He was scared it might contain an extra, yellow, liquid ingredient; but he told Winnie he just wasn’t hungry. He didn’t want her to know all the horrible details of his time alone at home.
‘At least with Bennett in jail, the rent won’t be going up,’ said Johnny, as he sliced the pie Hutch had brought for their supper. ‘And you don’t need to go out to work for a while, Mum. I managed to save up some cash while you were away.’
Hutch and Winnie, sitting in front of the fire, exchanged a glance that told Johnny she knew about the advertisements. He was relieved not to have to explain it all himself. He started to say sorry.
‘We’ll talk about that some other time,’ said his mother, pouring him another cup of tea.
Johnny and