The Cockney Angel Read Online Free Page A

up or you’ll get done for being drunk and disorderly.’ She shook him by the shoulders, but Billy did not respond. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the stranger was about to walk away. ‘Excuse me, mister,’ she called. ‘Could you give me a hand, please?’
    He turned his head and regarded her with raised brows. ‘I have more important things to do right now.’
    ‘I don’t think I can lift him on me own,’ Irene said, attempting to heave Billy to a sitting position . The alleyway had suddenly cleared of the men who were previously hanging about, but she knew they would reappear the moment that the officer of the law departed, and she was afraid that if her father had any of his winnings left in his pockets they would fall on them and take his money by force. She met the police officer’s cynical gaze with a straight look. ‘I’d be obliged, mister. Since it’s you who wants him moved on.’
    He was at her side in two long strides and he hoisted Billy to his feet. ‘Can you stand on your own, man?’
    ‘Shall we dance, cully?’ Billy asked with a tipsy grin, throwing an arm around the police officer’s neck.
    ‘Behave yourself, Pa,’ Irene said, blushing with embarrassment. She took her father’s free arm and hooked it around her shoulders. ‘I think I can manage him now, mister,’ she murmured.
    ‘Are you sure of that?’ He allowed her to take Billy’s full weight for a second or two but her knees buckled beneath her and she almost fell to the ground.
    ‘It’s obvious that you cannot,’ the officer said, relieving her of her burden and signalling to two uniformed constables who came hurrying towards them.
    ‘I’m afraid we lost them, Inspector Kent,’ the elder of the two said, eyeing Billy suspiciously. ‘Is this one of the gang, guv?’
    ‘That’s my pa,’ Irene said hastily. ‘He’s a bit swipey but he’s no criminal.’
    ‘Take him, Burton.’ Kent thrust Billy’s swaying frame into the arms of the fresh-faced younger officer. ‘He might have been involved but he’s too drunk to give us any useful information.’
    Irene plucked at Kent’s sleeve. ‘My pa don’t have nothing to do with the street gangs, mister – I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.’
    His lips twitched and a glimmer of humour lit his eyes. He inclined his head in a formal bow. ‘Inspector Edward Kent of the City of London Police – and you are?’
    ‘I’m Irene Angel, and this here is my pa, Billy Angel. We’re respectable folk. My mother has a pickle shop on the corner of Wood Street and Cheapside. Pa likes a drink occasionally but he’s not a bad man.’
    ‘We all know Billy Angel, sir,’ Constable Burton said in a low voice. ‘He’s a professional gambler, and he’s known to frequent illegal gaming houses. He’s also suspected of having dealings with the Sykes gang.’
    ‘Now that’s a big black lie,’ Billy said, shaking his fist. ‘I’ve never been near Blue Boar Court in me whole life. It’s a case of mistaken identity.’
    ‘I never mentioned Blue Boar Court,’ Constable Burton said with a triumphant grin. ‘See, guv, he’s convicted hisself out of his own stupid mouth.’
    Irene rounded on him. ‘Here, you watch your tongue, young man. You can see that my pa ain’t quite hisself. He don’t know what he’s saying.’ She turned to Inspector Kent. ‘You wouldn’t hold what a drunken man says against him, would you?’
    ‘I’m afraid I haven’t got time for this. Take him home, Miss Angel, or I will arrest your father for being drunk and disorderly.’ Kent dismissed her with a wave of his hand and he turned to the more senior officer. ‘I’ve business to attend to in Newgate, Davies. You’d best get back to the station and write up a report.’
    The constable saluted smartly and marched off towards the main road.
    Billy watched him go with a mocking laugh. ‘That’s right, Officer. Go away and leave a fellow in peace.’
    ‘Come along, Pa,’ Irene