Dear Diary,
Well, Hugh definitely went up in my estimation, marvellous in the boxing ring and a real belief that these boys he trains could be more than brawlers.
Mrs Big Arthur, now ... at first I thought ... well I don't know really, I was sure she was hiding something, she seemed almost lost, or as if she had lost someone or something dear to her.
She had. Not a natural mother in that she hadn't had a child herself, but there was a boy who boxed for her husband, one they found and took in and I suppose she fell for him, a bit like I fell for Jane I suppose.
It was all about mothers protecting their sons, I suppose that's the best way of describing it. The boy, Kevin Bradley, who was murdered by Mrs Big Arthur I'm afraid to say got what he deserved, bribing Mrs Derrimont to keep quiet about her younger son, Dan – wrong place, wrong time, poor boy.
It was all quite horrible, murders, bribing, doctored gloves in the fight that Tom had to win to save both Dan and himself. The gangs set against each other, as ever was. But Hugh came through in the end. The gloves on Tom's opponent, a big brute of a man, were loaded with lead weights, were discarded and dear sweet Hugh knocked him into next week!
Sadly, part of this is the fault of Welfare, taking Dan from his mother all because he is half caste, then when he ran away she couldn't send him back to school and he got in with the wrong crowd – he didn't mean t hurt the officer who died, it was an accident, the officer fell back onto the knife. Bradley was a foul excuse for a man, preying on women for his money, asking payment to keep quiet about the copper's death when if they had come clean and told the truth things would have gone a lot easier for them all.
My heart truly goes out to Mrs Big Arthur and Mrs Derrimont.
There was a Greek wrestler, Giorgio – seemed always to be around, flirting with me and who am I to throw away such a gift – except he was only interested in showing me wrestling poses and looking at his muscles in the mirror – such a waste. However ... I had bet Jack that 'Wallet' was abo for 'possum' and I was right. The knife that stabbed the officer had a crudely inscribed picture of just such an animal. Jack's forfeit? To take me for a ride on the Scenic Railway at Luna Park – I love a man who pays his debts – something Janey and I never got to do. Jack has become such a dear friend, I love teasing him, but he has such depth, depths I am enjoying plunging into, as we go along I shall uncover more of my mysterious detective.