A Place Called Home by Dilly Court Page A

the other, asking if anyone had seen Eva Pocket, and although most people knew her, none of them had seen her recently. Lucy was not about to give up. It was not far to Hairbrine Court, and if Granny had moved on, Pearl might know where she had gone.
    Mrs Wicks opened the door a crack. Her beady eye widened slightly as she took in Lucy’s new clothes. ‘What d’you want?’
    â€˜Does Eva Pocket still live here?’
    â€˜Who’s asking?’
    â€˜You know me, Mrs Wicks. Miss Pocket is my granny.’
    â€˜She left weeks ago. Now clear off.’
    Mrs Wicks was about to slam the door but Lucy was ready for her and she gave it a mighty shove. She stepped inside. ‘I want to see Pearl and I’m not leaving until I’ve had a word with her.’
    Caught off balance, Mrs Wicks staggered backwards, clutching at the newel post, which wobbled dangerously. ‘You got no right to barge in, you cheeky little brat. I’ll have the law on you.’
    Peckham growled deep in his throat and crouched down, as if prepared to launch himself at her.
    â€˜Good dog,’ Lucy murmured. ‘On guard, boy.’ She edged past Mrs Wicks, who seemed to be paralysed with fear. Peckham was relatively small, but with bared teeth and raised hackles he looked fierce. Mrs Wicks took one look at him and retreated to her domain at the back of the house.
    Lucy took the stairs two at the time, coming to a halt outside Pearl’s room. She hammered on the door. ‘Pearl, it’s me, Lucy Pocket. Let me in.’
    After an agonising few moments she was beginning to think that she had missed her when the door opened to reveal Pearl, tousle-haired and sleepy-eyed, wearing nothing but her stays and a pair of drawers trimmed with lace. ‘God almighty, where’s the fire?’ she demanded.
    â€˜It’s me, Lucy. I’m looking for my nan.’
    â€˜Lucy, my pet. Come in and close the door.’ Pearl reached for her wrap and shrugged it on. ‘I was just having a lie-down, and I must have dropped off.’
    Lucy summoned the dog with two short whistles and he came bounding up the stairs. She followed him inside and closed the door. ‘Have you seen my nan, Pearl? I got to find her.’
    Pearl moved to the table and searched amongst the clutter of beer bottles, newspapers and an overflowing ashtray. She found a packet of cigarettes, took one and scrabbled about until she found a match. Striking it on the tiled hearth she lit up with a sigh of satisfaction. Lucy watched, fascinated by Pearl’s urgent need for a smoke, but she was growing impatient. ‘Do you know where she is, Pearl?’ she repeated anxiously.
    â€˜Can’t say I do, love.’ Pearl relaxed, regarding her through a haze of blue smoke. ‘You look very smart. What’s it like living with the toffs?’
    â€˜Horrible. I hate it there and I want to come home.’
    â€˜Well now, that’s a bit difficult because I don’t know where Eva is now. She was in a terrible state when she come back after leaving you with your granddad. I never thought to see Eva Pocket blubbing like a baby, but she was really upset. Then she packed her bags and took off, and I haven’t seen her since.’
    Lucy sank down on the nearest chair, but she leapt to her feet again having sat on one of Pearl’s high-heeled boots. She put it on the floor and resumed her seat. ‘What shall I do? I asked round the stalls in Rosemary Lane and no one knew where she was.’
    Pearl sucked on her cigarette, inhaling deeply, and exhaled with a sigh. ‘I really can’t help. Can’t you think of a place she might go?’
    â€˜She mentioned someone called Abe, and he gave her a bag of clothes to sell in the market, but I never met him.’
    â€˜I don’t suppose you did, Lucy. He’s not the sort of person a kid like you ought to mix with.’
    â€˜But Granny said he was an old