Diamonds in the Dust by Beryl Matthews Read Free Book Online

need to keep this a secret any longer. Though I understood your reasons for doing so. Your mother’s been missing long enough for the police to take her disappearance seriously. We need to widen the search, and we can’t do that without help.’
    All heads nodded in agreement.
    ‘What I suggest is that I report this as a concerned friend. I’ll talk it over with my brother-in-law first. He’s Winnie’s husband and a policeman at the local station. If I can get Reg involved then we might be able to keep this low-key for the time being. He’ll want to talk to you, but I’ll be there when he does.’ Stan glanced around at the white-faced youngsters and asked gently, ‘Is that all right with you? If not we’ll try to think of another way.’
    Dora looked at her brother and sister for approval, but in all truth, they didn’t have any choice in the matter now. When they nodded, she said, ‘We agree. And thank you very much for your help and understanding. We’re feeling so lost and confused that it’s hard to think straight.’
    ‘That isn’t surprising,’ Winnie told them. ‘You can safely leave everything with Stan. You go home and try to get some rest. Lily’s almost asleep.’
    When they’d gone, Stan and Winnie watched them walk back to their house.
    ‘Do you think Mrs Bentley’s done a runner, Stan?’
    ‘That was my first thought when they came to see me, but now I know more, I believe that’s unlikely. She’s a good mother and the children love her. She’s always worked hard to give them a better life, she even taught them herself at weekends to make sure they had a good standard of education. It’s inconceivable she would leave them like this.’
    ‘She’s well educated then?’
    ‘Seems like it. Those youngsters are well spoken, and they’re no fools.’
    ‘How long have they lived here?’
    ‘About two years.’ Stan turned from the window and lurched for a chair, falling into it with a grimace. ‘But we don’t know anything about Mrs Bentley, do we?’
    ‘No, she kept to herself, and she never spoke when she picked up Lily from school – except to say good afternoon politely. But this is the first time I’ve ever met Dora and Tom.’
    Stan nodded. ‘Odd, isn’t it? But Mrs Bentley obviously had secrets, that’s why she kept aloof from everyone. And that’s what’s worrying me. Once this investigation gets under way, what the hell are we going to uncover?’
    ‘You call on me, Stan. Those poor children are going to need all the support they can get. What do you think the chances are of their mother still being alive?’
    ‘Slim. Very slim.’

Chapter Five
    ‘Did you get much sleep?’ Tom sat at the table bleary-eyed.
    ‘Not much. I was worried about Lily.’ Dora buttered toast for her brother. ‘She was exhausted though, poor thing, and slept right through the night. How about you?’
    ‘Not a wink. What are we going to do, Dora? I know we found that few pounds, but it won’t last long, will it?’
    ‘Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got my job, and if we’re careful we’ll manage for a while.’
    ‘But what if Mum never comes back? What will we do then, Dora?’
    It was obvious that Tom had been turning everything over in his mind during the night.
    ‘We’ll look for a cheaper place to rent, for a start.’ Dora felt sick with worry, but tried not to let it show. Tom was grey, and Lily’s outburst yesterday had shaken themboth. ‘We’ll stay here for as long as we can though, and hope everything works out in the end. Mum could still come back.’
    Tom shook his head. ‘If Mum could get back she’d have been here by now. We must prepare ourselves for the worst. The uncertainty is the awful thing.’
    ‘Yes, it is, but we’ve got to hang on, Tom, for Lily’s sake. And we’re not on our own. Stan and his sister are helping us.’
    Tom nodded. ‘That was a good idea of Lily’s about going to see Stan. I wonder what Mrs Tanner’s husband is like.’
    ‘We’ll