Execution Dock Page 0,47

Keep the bedroom door locked, likely, 'cause they don't want ter wake up wi' no nasty disease, but don't make no scandal about it. Pictures o' little girls is indecent, an' it makes a right-thinkin' person disgusted."

He shook his head.

"But little boys is summink else altogether. It in't only indecent, it's illegal. An' that's entirely another thing. If nobody knows about it, most in't goin' ter go lookin'. We all know that things go on we'd sooner not think about, an' most folk mind their own affairs. But if yer forced ter know, then yer forced ter do summink. Friend or no friend, yer out o' yer clubs and yer job, an' society won't never 'ave yer back. So yer pays 'igh, wide, and 'andsome ter keep it good an' quiet, see?"

"Yes, I do see," Hester said a trifle shakily. A whole new world of misery had yawned open in front of her. Not that she had been unaware of homosexuality. She had been an army nurse. But the use of children to exert a power no adult relationship would tolerate, even one purchased with money, or to gratify a hunger for the thrills of danger, was a new thought, and extremely ugly. The idea of children kept and hired out for such a purpose was sickening.

"I need to destroy Mr. Phillips, Squeaky," she said very softly. "I don't think I can do it without your help. We have to find out who else we can ask to assist us. I imagine Mr. Sutton will be one, and possibly Scuff. Who else can you think of?"

A succession of emotions crossed Squeaky's face: first incredulity, then horror and an intense desire to escape, lastly a kind of amazement at flattery, and the beginning of a daring impulse.

She waited him out.

He cleared his throat, giving himself time. "Well." He coughed slightly. "There's a couple I know of, I s'pose. But they in't very..." He fished for the right word, and failed to find it. "... nice," he finished lamely.

"Good." She did not hesitate. "Nice people aren't going to be any help at all. Nice people don't even believe in creatures like Jericho Phillips, let alone have the slightest idea how to catch them. He probably eats nice people for breakfast, skewered on a fork."

He smiled mirthlessly, but not without a certain surprised satisfaction.

There was a knock on the door, and without waiting for an answer, Claudine Burroughs came in with a tray of tea. She set it down on the tabletop, a fraction closer to Hester than to Squeaky. The pot was steaming gently, the fragrance of it inviting.

Claudine was a tall woman, roughly the same height as Squeaky, so he always stood a trifle more stiffly when beside her, to add the extra half-inch. She was narrow-shouldered and broad-hipped, handsome enough in her youth, but years of loneliness in an unsatisfying marriage had drawn many of the lines downward in her face. Only since coming to Portpool Lane, searching for some charitable work to do, had she found a genuine and vital purpose.

"Thank you," Hester said with the sudden realization of how welcome the tea was. She wondered if Claudine had any idea of yesterday's desperate disappointment, or if she was simply aware that Hester was tired, even at this hour of the morning. She was weary inside, confused and beaten, which was an even deeper thing.

Claudine was still standing motionlessly, waiting for something.

Squeaky moved in his chair, impatiently, implying that Claudine had interrupted. Hester turned to look at her, and realized that she was uncomfortably aware of his annoyance. Perhaps she did know about yesterday's conclusion.

"I'd like to help," Claudine said awkwardly, her face pink, her eyes unable to look at them. And yet she would not leave. She waited there in acute embarrassment, determined to be part of whatever they were doing, to give her own contribution, regardless of the cost.

"Yer can't," Squeaky said flatly. "Ye're a lady, ye're not part o' the folks wot we need ter be talking ter. Very kind o' yer, but yer wouldn't be no use. Thank yer fer the tea." He probably meant it kindly, but to drop from being part of the plan to fetching the tea was like a slap across her face.

Claudine stood her ground, but she struggled for words. Her face was so pink Hester felt as if her cheeks must be burning.

"We haven't any plans yet," Hester said quickly "We don't even know where to start. We need