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 Day 2 (Tuesday 25th May)

   The following morning, after meeting Donnie, we got a cab to the drop-in
centre to get the `helper', he was introduced as Andy, he's about 6' 6" and
built like a bull, I certainly wouldn't like to take him on, he is quite
friendly towards me and shakes my hand, my hand was swallowed by his, I
think Jim's had a word in his ear about the situation, we then walk along
the Partick main street to Archie Murrays' ironmongers about ½ a mile away
and we all just walked in casually as if we were customers, luckily we were
the only ones that were in the shop, I walked up to the counter and the man
behind the counter, mid to late thirties, slim build about 6' asks me if he
can help, I said "I presume you are Mr Archie Murray" He asked "Who wants
to know?" " My name is Ken Richards, you don't know me but I know a lot
about you as I am the person who rescued you're step-daughter from the fate
you had sold her into.  We are going to shut the shop until we get a few
things sorted.  These gentlemen are here to assist me in that" Mr Murray
nearly choked as I then introduced everyone starting with "This man is Mr
Donald McKay, a lawyer of McKay Partners Ltd, Glasgow and this guy is Andy,
my assistant" Andy went back to the shop entrance door turned the indicator
to `closed' and locked the door, there were no shades so I said to Mr
Murray "Is there somewhere in the back we can go to discuss this?" A
frightened looking man said "I have a stockroom out the back, are you going
to hurt me?" he asked "That's up to you, but I don't think my lawyer here
likes the sight of blood so we'll keep it to a minimum" He led us back to
his stockroom where he had a table that he obviously used for making up
orders or repairing things, I indicated that he should sit down on the
chair at the table and packing cases were dragged in by Andy and myself for
the rest of us to sit on and started by saying "I am appalled by what you
did to you're own step-daughter, you must have known her and her Mother for
quite a while now, you've been married for over a year, have you no bloody
feelings?  I guess by now Danny has been in touch with you and he will be
looking for his cash back, well sunshine, we have statements from everyone
involved in this and we want one from you, it hasn't been decided by anyone
if the police should be informed or not, after all we have Libby back and
apart from a few cuts and bruises she is ok, no thanks to you" "I know you
don't think much of me, but I am pleased it didn't turn out right for
Danny, I was just so desperate for the money, I have been turned down by
the banks and if I didn't get that money I would lose everything" " Well
let me tell you, you've now lost a wife and a step-daughter and you're
friend Danny will come looking for his money back, so tell me, what do you
think you'll have now?  Mr McKay will take that statement from you now and
don't leave anything out" For the next ½ hour Archie Murray and Donnie got
a statement down on paper and at the end Donnie asked Andy to witness
Murray's signature, assuring Andy that he wouldn't have to stand up in
court or anything so not to worry, it was just a legal thing.  I said as we
were getting ready to leave "I'm telling you now that Mrs Murray and Libby
will want you to leave you're home and I think that's reasonable under the
circumstances, after all you created this problem" Whereupon he replied "I
don't think they'll be in the flat for long as I'm behind in our rent,
that's something else I needed the money for" "You have a lot to answer
for, what were you going to do if you hadn't got the money?" "Just go under
like a lot of businesses nowadays" he said woefully.  "Well.  it looks like
that will happen now anyway and you have not just lost a business, you've
lost you're family as well and I have no sympathy for you" That said I
indicated that we would be leaving, he didn't get up to see us out, in fact
when I looked back he had his head in his hands and was sobbing his heart
out.  Outside the shop I turned to Andy thanked him for his time and handed
him a £100, he objected strongly and said that he hadn't done anything I
said that I didn't know what situation we would be going into so he
deserved it, I added that he could buy me a drink sometime.  He smiled,
held out his hand, I shook it and he walked off down the road.  Donnie
turned to me and said he was going back to his office, he said with a laugh
"If I don't I'll have no clients left" So we both hailed cabs and he headed
into the city and I went to the hospital.  As I entered the reception area
the woman behind the desk motioned me over and I went to her, she said that
owing to the fact that they couldn't do any more for Libby as her cuts and
bruises had been attended to and that they would heal naturally now, they
felt that it was best if she be discharged, of course the doctor had spoken
to Mrs Murray on the subject and she had agreed that this was best.  I said
that I would go up to the suite and get things ready and come down to sort
out the account at that time and it was agreed.  On entering the suite I
found Libby and Ellen sitting ready to leave and I said to Ellen "I have a
bit of bad news for you Ellen, to add to everything else that's happened,
I'm sorry but you're husband hasn't been paying the rent on the flat and so
you may not have a home to go to, I've no doubt that the landlord will
allow you to pick up any personal items that belong to you, but I don't
know how long you've got." Ellen burst into tears and Libby hugged her
mother saying "Where are we going to live Mummy, oh that bastard, what I'd
like to do with him" I went over to them and I said "Look, I got into this
by chance and I'm certainly not going to let those bastards win, so you
will come with me, I'll get another room at my hotel for you two for a few
days and we will get something sorted out, I think you deserve some
compensation from Danny, after all that he's done, he started this.  What
do you say?" Ellen replied tearfully "How can we ever repay you for all
you've done for us?  I'm sure you're lawyer won't be working for you for
nothing and the hospital and now a hotel room, what do you want from us?" I
said "Look let's get out of here and into the hotel and have a sit down, a
nice meal and then we'll have a talk about all this, ok?" So we got
ourselves down to reception, I sorted the bill (a little steep I thought,
but it was for a good cause) then we headed for the hotel.  We had no
trouble getting a family room (I insisted) near my room as the hotel wasn't
full by any means (a result of the `credit crunch' I guess), then we headed
for their restaurant, had lunch and then by agreement went to my room for a
conference.  I asked at reception on our way for a pot of coffee to be sent
up to my room and some Irn Bru (a Scottish fizzy soft drink).  We went up
to my suite and I asked Ellen and Libby to wait until the waiter had left
before we started.  After he'd gone I asked them to sit down and listen to
me for a minute or two and I gave them both a run down of my life up to the
time when Libby ran into me in the street, well it took longer than the
minute or two, but they listened and when I said at the end "I didn't earn
all that money I now find myself with so using some of it to help you both
will help me come to terms with it" Ellen then said "Why don't you just
give it all away to charities, they'll be glad of it?" "I want smaller
charities to benefit and see the difference it will make, I want to educate
those who can't afford it and I want to be part of all of that.  I didn't
know until now what I wanted but our discussion has brought it out, thank
you Ellen, also because I have become involved, I would like to help you
two, not as charity causes but for my peace of mind and as a friend, please
feel free to object but I have set my mind on it" I laughed at both their
serious faces.  "Anyway, how do you feel about going shopping with me this
afternoon, I didn't bring enough clothes with me for an extended stay and
I'm sure you would like a change of clothing and some personal items and
probably not a good idea to go home yet, so do you?" Ellen said "Ken, you
can be pretty stubborn at times I can see and perceptive and under these
unusual circumstances Libby and I find ourselves with no alternative but to
agree" Libby jumped up, nearly spilling her drink and rushed into my arms
hugging and laughing and crying all at the same time "I have been so sad
and feeling sorry for myself, I can see now that it's not just me that's
been affected by all that's happened, it's my Mum that's lost everything
too, I am so grateful to you Mr Richards for helping us, I'm sure no one
else in the world could or would have done as much as you in such a short
time" I said as serious as I could "If you continue to call me Mr Richards,
the deal is off, my name is Ken" Then I laughed and got a gentle punch on
my arm as a reward for teasing her.  So we headed out to try to dent my
credit card, well they did well after I had to push them a couple of times
and I could see laughter in their eyes as they shopped and that mattered to
me and I had a strange feeling about that at the time, but then it was put
to the back of my mind.  We arrived back at the hotel and I had insisted
they buy a large roll-along suitcase each (I got one too).  We would need
them eventually.  It took a large luggage trolley to get it all up into the
rooms and a good tip for the porter.  I suggested we get ready and I would
meet them in an hour at the lift and we could go down for dinner, it was
agreed and right on the hour I was waiting at the lift and along the
corridor walked two gorgeous blondes with their hair shining and flowing
over their shoulders, I hardly recognised them, Libby had a little makeup
to accentuate her eyes and lips and must have had some foundation applied
as I could hardly see the cuts I knew were there, her mother also took my
breath away, she walked up to me and said "You can close you're mouth now,
so you think we scrub up well then?" "I am honoured to accompany you both
to dinner, shall we?" We entered the lift and went down to the mezzanine
floor where the restaurant area was and enjoyed some conversation, well I
talked mostly about some of the places I had worked in and some of the
characters I had come across and all too soon it was time to go back to our
rooms.  I asked Ellen if we could meet in my suite at around 9am and we
could then discuss the way forward, she agreed, and so I left them to go to
my room and to bed to dream about blondes.