East End Trouble Read Online Free

me what to do. I’m not a child.”
    As Kathleen stormed out of the kitchen, her mother quickly followed.
    “Kathleen, wait. I need to talk to you. I had a visitor tonight.”
    Kathleen turned back to face her mother. “A visitor? Who?”
    “Babs Morton. She came round here to warn you to stay away from her husband, Martin. I told her it had to be a mistake. There is no way you would get involved with a married man, let alone a gangster like Martin Morton. That’s right, isn’t it?”
    Kathleen flushed. “Babs Morton?” She felt sick. She hadn’t realised Martin’s wife had any idea about her and Martin.
    “I don’t know where she got that idea from. It’s not true, Mum.”
    Mary stared hard at her daughter’s face, trying to determine whether she was telling the truth. “I hope to God you’re not messed up with that family, my girl. Otherwise, our troubles have only just begun.”

Chapter 5
    T he following morning Kathleen felt absolutely terrible. Her mouth felt dry and furry, and her head was banging. She winced and clutched her head as she got out of bed. Her mother clattering things around in the kitchen didn’t help matters either. Kathleen was sure she was doing it on purpose. It took her longer than usual to have a quick wash and get ready for work.
    Mary set a bowl of porridge in front of her daughter, but Kathleen barely touched it. She just moved the lumpy grey porridge around with her spoon. “Sorry, Mum. I’ve got no appetite this morning.”
    “I can’t imagine why,” Mary said pointedly, removing the bowl and scraping the wasted breakfast into the bin.
    “Just you remember what I said last night. You stay away from that family. Do you hear me?”
    “Yes, Mum.” Kathleen said meekly and got to her feet. “I’d better go now otherwise I’ll be late for work.”
    She met up with Linda at the front door to Bevels, which was the clothes factory where they both worked as machinists.
    Linda looked at her hopefully and gave her a smile. Kathleen had been intending to give her friend the cold shoulder that morning and teach her a lesson, but she felt so terrible, she couldn’t be bothered. Linda was good at sympathy, and that was exactly what she needed right now.
    “So, what happened last night?” Linda asked. “I hope you didn’t get into any trouble.”
    Kathleen looked at her friend who was wearing a brown, shapeless cotton dress with a cream cardigan. Her thick brown hair was her only good feature, and even that was ruined because her mother made her tie it back for work.
    Kathleen pinched the bridge of her nose between a thumb and forefinger. “I’ve got a terrible headache, but to answer your question, no, I didn’t get into any trouble, and I had a fantastic night. You should have come.”
    Linda bit her lip. “I’m sorry for letting you down, Kath. But I was just worried. I’ve heard some really bad things about Martin Morton, and I didn’t want to go to his club.”
    Kathleen gave her friend a disdainful look. “All that stuff doesn’t bother me,” Kathleen said. “I’m not a child anymore, Linda, and I can look after myself.”
    Linda nodded. “I wish I was as confident as you. You’re so glamorous.”
    Kathleen smiled, feeling a lot warmer towards Linda now. They headed towards their respective sewing machines. The bloody noise from the infernal things wasn’t going to help Kathleen’s headache at all, and she wouldn’t be able to talk to Linda until they’d had a break later.
    Three mind-numbing hours later, Kathleen stood up from the sewing machine and stretched. She reached for her bag and rummaged inside for the sandwiches her mother had prepared that morning.
    Linda leaned against her sewing bench. “Let’s take our sandwiches outside today,” she said. “It’s lovely and sunny.”
    Kathleen nodded, thinking that the fresh air might do her headache some good.
    As the girls left the factory floor, they passed through the reception area, and on the