Chapter Fifty-three
“LEAVE HER ALONE!” Philip screamed and swung the walking stick again, Murdoch barely had time to deflect the blow so that it landed on his upper arm. He was at a severe disadvantage, half on his hands and knees, and all he could do was scrabble backwards and try to shield himself. Philip’s face was that of a madman. Murdoch was aware of Mrs. Bowling standing behind them not uttering a word. It was Nan who saved him. She started to cry.
“Philip, he’s nice. Don’t hit him anymore. He’s my friend.”
Philip actually stopped in midswing.
Mrs. Bowling said, “He was trying to hurt Nan.”
Philip dropped the stick, giving Murdoch time to stand up. He was still off balance, however, and before he could defend himself, Philip grabbed him by the throat. Murdoch was pushed back with the force, and he gripped his attacker’s wrists to pull them off him. But Delaney had the furious strength of a lunatic, and Murdoch could feel the air being squeezed out of him. Nan was squealing while the two men shuffled in a grotesque dance. Murdoch let go and at the same time dropped his weight suddenly downwards. Taken by surprise at the lack of resistance, Philip relaxed his grip for a moment. Murdoch brought his arms up and outward breaking the hold on his throat. At the same time, he lunged forward with his head in a savage butt to the chin. Blood spurted from Philip’s mouth. He howled and dropped to his knees. Murdoch was on top of him in a moment, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. Philip fell forward, his face pressed into the floor. He began to cry like a child.
“I’m sorry, Poppa. Don’t hurt me anymore.”
“Put your other arm behind your back.”
Philip did so and Murdoch was able to hold both wrists.
“Mrs. Bowling, hand me that scarf.” His voice was harsh and raspy.
“He won’t cause any more trouble. You can let him go.”
“Hand me the scarf. If you disobey or create any more disturbance, I promise you I will see that you end up in jail.”
Sullenly, she picked up Philip’s muffler, which had fallen to the floor, and handed it to Murdoch. He tied it tightly around Philip’s wrists then cautiously he got off his back. Nan crept over and dropped to her knees, patting Philip’s head to comfort him.
He reached down and pulled at Delaney’s bound arms. “Stand up. You are under arrest for assaulting a police officer. If you try to resist in any way, it will go badly for you. Do you understand me?”
Philip’s chin was covered in blood from his bitten lip, and his nose was running. Awkwardly, he got to his feet, Nan dancing around him nervously. The heat from the life-or-death struggle that had flooded Murdoch’s body began to subside. He reached in his pocket, took out his handkerchief, and wiped away the blood and mucous from Philip’s face. The fellow had minutes ago been intent on murdering him, but as he looked at him standing with his head bowed, his coat bloodstained, and tears rolling down his face, Murdoch felt his own anger dissipating.
“Your poppa hurt you, did he?”
“You don’t have to tell him anything,” called out Mrs. Bowling, but he didn’t seem to hear her.
“He was hurting Mrs. Lacey. She’s my sweetheart.”
“Did you see him?”
He nodded. “I was in my hideaway. I heard her crying.”
“What did you do then?”
“Don’t answer that. He has no right to ask questions.”
Murdoch turned to face her. “Mrs. Bowling, I have already warned you about interfering.”
“What about him? What will my Nan do if anything happens to Philip?”
“All I want is the truth. The law protects innocents.”
More blood was seeping from Philip’s lip, and he licked it away.
Murdoch dabbed at it. “Philip, if I untie you, will you promise me to sit in that chair and not move until I give you permission?”
“Yes.”
“Mrs. Bowling, sit over there beside Nan where I can see you. If you try to incite him in any way, it will be the worse for him.”
He waited while she did as he said; then he untied the muffler from Philip’s wrists and gave him the handkerchief. Nan was back swinging her legs, singing quietly to herself.
“Now, Philip, it would help me if you’d answer my question. After you heard your father hurting Mrs. Lacey, what did you do?”
“I stayed in the hideaway.” He sniffed. “I was afraid. Then it was quiet except for Sally, who was crying. And Flash was barking, too.”
“Did you go and get Flash?”
He looked confused. “I thought I’d better wait, but then Poppa came down the steps. He was really angry at me when he saw I was in the hideaway.” He rubbed the side of his head. “He gave me such a stotter, see right here.”
“That must have hurt a lot.” “Yes, it did.”
“What happened after that? Did you lose your temper just like you did now?”
Philip grinned at him shamefacedly. “I don’t remember.”
“Try. He hit you hard. What did you do?”
“I went and got Flash.”
“Before that. Did you pick up a stick and hit your poppa?”
Philip thought for a moment. “I forget.”