He heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Caroline coming towards him. He almost shivered at the delight in seeing her face. She looked healthy with her pink and white complexion and he kissed her cheek in greeting.
“Inspector.”
“Miss Derry.”
“I found something most shocking last night after we parted.”
“Yes. What did you find?” He asked her.
“Can we find somewhere to sit?” She looked around.
“There’s a bench,” he indicated nearby where they were standing.
When they sat down together, he looked at her. She looked tired and pale. She suddenly seemed fragile to him and he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss the top of her head. The feeling of wanting to protect her coupled with an intense desire for her surprised him.
“I went to my sister’s room last night. I haven’t been in there since she died. It’s too painful,” she said.
“I can well imagine.”
“I happened to look through her jewelry box. I don’t know why. I was just touching things that belonged to her and I found a diary.”
“A diary?!” He asked.
“Yes. She kept it a year before her death. I never remember her writing one before so I never thought to look for one. She writes of Simon; she calls him the artist and there’s another man she refers to as “my Lord.”
“The one Lyle told us of.”
“Yes, but it’s much worse. He treated her badly… he…“ Caroline looked down at her lap. “You can read it for yourself.”
“Thank you. I will read it today.”
She nodded.
“I must return home.” She said as she stood up and he did as well.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m just tired. I was up late reading the diary after I left you.” She said quickly. I’m late for an appointment with Stella. We’re to discuss the new housing project and possible tenants.”
Val nodded.
“I was thinking last night after I read the diary. The thing my sister was going through. Her death was hard enough and now Prudie and Annette. But honestly, those words I said to you in anger, I feel should be directed at me.”
“How so?” He frowned.
“I’m the angel of death. Everyone around me is tainted and harmed. I couldn’t protect my own sister and dear Prudie. She was such an unhappy soul after her engagement was called off, I should have been there for her. I should have tried harder.”
“Caroline,” he took her hands in his. “None of this is your fault. How on earth could you have prevented it?”
“I don’t think I could have prevented it,” she said sadly. “Obviously there’s a monster here at work. But I could have been a better sister to Irene and a better friend to Prudie.”
“Caroline. This is a tragedy. As you rightfully said, a monster is at work. But please, don’t overthink this too much. You could not have stopped it. But I am the one who must end it.”
“Are you close to finding out who he is?”
Val sighed deeply. “There are several issues at play here. A mysterious building owned by an organization that we are tracking down. A man who claims to have loved your sister and I do believe him. A phantom ‘lord’ who your sister was enamored with.”
“I must leave you here, Inspector. I hope the diary is insightful and helps you,” she said before she departed, leaving him outside the maze.
Chapter 19
Felix and Val were pouring over the interviews with the various friends and families of the victims when the clerk came into the office to tell him that a gentleman was downstairs to see him.
Val instructed the young man to bring up the visitor as he cleared his desk of the interviews and pictures of the victims. When he looked up, he saw the eyewitness Jim Terrance coming down the hallway. He smiled at the two men and took the empty seat next to Felix and across from Val.
“What brings you here, Mr. Terrance?” Val asked politely.
“Well it ain’t the cold weather I can tell you that much. Poor Roger didn’t even want to do his morning constitution. So that tells you something.”
“It sure does,” Felix said looking over at Val.
“How can we help you?” Val asked the elderly man.
“Well now. I remember when we last spoke you asked me if I saw anything strange,” he directed to Felix.
“That’s right. I did.” Felix confirmed.
“Well I remember that morning, I was there quite early. It was actually still dark. Roger was being typically temperamental. Sniffing here, smelling there but not getting about his business.”
Val hid a smile as he watched Felix roll his eyes.
“I remember walking along the one side of the park and down the other waiting and waiting for him to get down to it,” Mr. Terrance said.
Felix looked again at Val and Val nodded to Mr. Terrance.
“I think we understand that Roger was being difficult,” Val smiled at the man.
“Just so,” he nodded. “As I was walking along with him, I saw a lone hansom cab waiting nearby. It was strange because there was no one about except for me and Roger. The sunrise hadn’t even begun. It was so cold and the gas lights were hissing in the grey light.”
“I see,” Val said politely.
“Then I saw a man,” he began. “He seemed to be walking back from inside the park. I only usually walk the perimeter and I had not noticed him before, but it was dark.”
“Mr. Terrance. You mentioned none of this before,” Felix said skeptically.
Mr. Terrance looked about sheepishly and smiled. “Sometimes in the afternoon I take a little brandy in my tea. You know. Medicinal purposes.”
“We saw you in the morning,” Val pointed out.
“Sometimes I indulge in the morning too,” he smiled. “Keeps the blood strong.”
“Keeps the blood tipsy,” Felix murmured before Val shot him a look.
“Please continue.” Val asked the old man.
“When the man returned to the cab, I heard him tell someone else in the cab that they must go to Pratt’s that evening,” Mr. Terrance said firmly.
“Pratt’s?” Val asked straightening up in his chair. “The gentleman’s club in London?”
Mr. Terrance shrugged his shoulders. “I suppose he was speaking about that. I know of no other entity called Pratt’s.”
“Thank you, Mr. Terrance. You’ve been very helpful.” Val said shaking the man’s hand before he asked Felix to see him out.
Felix returned shortly. “The man’s a lush. He probably made the whole thing up.”
“Maybe,” Val agreed. “But we know the day Prudence Finch was found so we can visit Pratt’s and do some looking around. Maybe someone remembers the two men. It’s something.”
✽✽✽
Pratt’s Club was located on Park Place in London and took its name from William Nathaniel Pratt. He had been steward to the Duke of Beaufort. When he died in 1860, his widow and son continued the Club with his name.
Pratt’s ground floor and basement were where most of the club’s activities took place. The two ground-floor rooms had been made into one with the southern end partially screened off by two fluted ionic columns of wood. The entrance hall was separated from the staircase by a pair of heavy doors.
The basement was divided into a dining room and kitchen with dark-red wallpaper and dim lighting. White marble chimneypieces with inlaid green marble and Grecian figures decorated much of the building.
Because Val belonged to a different gentleman’s club which had been around for over 100 years, he had never had a reason to visit Pratt’s. He knew very little about the club and when Pratt’s widow Sophia came into the room, he greeted her and introduced himself and his sergeant to her.
“Gentlemen. Can I offer you a cup of tea? Brandy?” She asked as the three took seats near a fireplace.
Val shook his head. “Not at this time, thank you.”
“How can I
help you?” She asked.
“You are no doubt aware of the murders that have been occurring in London recently,” he began. “Five women have been strangled.”
“I believe I have read something about that in The Times,” she nodded and shifted in her seat.
“We’ve had a witness come forward where one of the women was discovered. He overheard something and we are following up on that conversation.”
“Oh yes? Pray what did he hear?” She asked, pulling out a small hand fan she began to fan herself.
Val looked over at Felix and then back at the woman. She appeared nervous and the room was not hot, in fact there was a fire burning as it was a bit cool.
“There was a witness at Regent’s Park who overheard a man telling his unseen companion that they were to visit Pratt’s that day,” Val told her. “That day was the day the body was discovered.”
Sophia Pratt smiled and shrugged, “That could mean many things.”
“Of course, it could.” Val said. “A man seen at the scene of the murder speaking about coming to his club. It sounds not at all suspicious.”
“It could have been the last name Pratt that they meant and I’m certainly not the only Pratt in London.” She pointed out.
“That’s a possibility,” Val nodded.
She was silent for several seconds as her eyes flickered from Felix to Val and then back again. “What do you want of me Inspector?”
“I would like to speak to the steward and anyone who interacts with the guests who worked that night.”
“Absolutely not.” She said hotly.
“It’s not a request,” he said quietly.
“You intend to ruin me?”
“Madam. I will be as discrete as I possibly can be.”
“A Detective Chief Inspector questioning my help about a murderer among my members. Outrageous!”
Val was silent as he watched the woman before him thinking through the different scenarios.
“Very well, Inspector.”
“Can we use an office here for the interviews?”
She shrugged. “I’ll allow you use of my own office. Is that acceptable?”
Val nodded. “Thank you, Madam.”
✽✽✽
The first person they spoke to was a man named Oliver, but at Pratt’s all the stewards were referred to as George. Oliver had been at Pratt’s for five years and was well regarded by the members.
“I didn’t see anything, Sir,” Oliver said quickly when he sat down before Val and Felix.
“Excuse me?” Val said pulling out his notebook.
“That night that you are asking about. Madam Sophia told us. I didn’t see anything.”
Val raised his eyebrows as he looked over at Felix. “Excellent. Thank you for that.”
Oliver made a move to leave.
“Please have a seat. I have other questions for you.” Val said simply.
Oliver looked frightened and then took a seat as Val told him to do so.
“What hours did you work on the Tuesday in question?” Val asked.
“The early afternoon and late evening.”
“Pratt’s is a smaller club than some of the others, is it not?” Val asked.
“I would say so. I worked at White’s for several years.”
“White’s? Why did you leave White’s?” He asked about the prominent club.
“I wanted a change is all.”
“And Pratt’s, you know most of the men that come to the club?”
“Oh yes! I pride myself on greeting them by name.”
“Excellent. I can see Mrs. Pratt is lucky to have found a steward such as you.”
Oliver puffed up from the compliment.
“So, on Tuesday, try and recall who came to the club,” Val began. “As you greet them by name you must remember.”
Val watched as Oliver’s face fell. “I do recall several men that came inside to have their supper. They stayed to themselves.”
“What was this group like?”
“Several men who know each other. They seem to always arrive at different times but end up spending their time together.” Oliver recalled.
“Do they now?”
“Yes.”
“What are their names?”
Oliver rattled off two of the names and none of them meant anything to Val.
“Come to think of it, I think they all went to university together. They talk mostly of their younger years and all the fun they had,” Oliver commented.
Val nodded. “Seems straightforward enough.”
“I could send Ronald to you,” Oliver said suddenly. “He worked into the night that day. He might have seen someone come in later.”
“Very well. Thank you for your time,” Val told the man.
Oliver exited the room and they only waited for about five minutes before Ronald replaced him.
Ronald was very new on the job and had only been at Pratt’s for a month. He wasn’t good with names and only remembered the same group of university men that Oliver had told them about. They thanked him for his time and left the club.
On the cab ride back to the station, Val was quiet.
“What do you think Guvnor?” He asked.
Val shook his head. “I’m not sure. I was so certain this would lead to something,” he sighed.
“They could be lying, Sir,” Felix said.
“They are most definitely lying. That is an absolute,” Val said nodding. “That is why tonight we are going to follow Oliver home and question him again.”
“Follow him home?” Felix asked.
“That Oliver. He’s a sharp fellow. White’s is the premier Club in London. You don’t work there unless you are the crème de la crème as the French say.”
“I thought as much too. He seemed so sharp and then he seemed to dumb himself when we interviewed him,” Felix nodded.
“And remember the first answer he gave us? We hadn’t said anything before he told us he had seen nothing. He was coached. I don’t blame Sophia Pratt. She’s in a pickle. But still.” Val shook his head.
“I do remember that.” Felix nodded.
“So tonight. We’ll pay a visit to our friend Oliver.”
Felix smiled. “I’ll trail him home and get an address for you.”
Val nodded.
✽✽✽
Caroline glanced again at the enamel broach watch pinned to the bodice of her dress. Stella was already ten minutes late for their appointment. She had chosen a small café so they could enjoy a leisurely meal and go over the list of possible tenants.
She knew that Stella worked long hours and the work was hard so she wanted to treat her to a nice lunch. But as the minutes ticked by, Caroline became overwhelmed with a sense of unease. Just as Prudie had been late for their tea engagement, now Stella was late. She felt a tightening in her chest as she wondered at the lateness and checked the time again.
She had ordered coffee and stirred in the milk but it sat before her untouched. The waiter had come by several times and she said she was waiting for her friend to arrive. She nervously clutched at the linen napkin in her lap and looked about the café.
It was so calm and normal. Everywhere couples were engaged in eating and conversation and she felt a knot in her throat. When the door opened and she saw Stella walking toward her she sagged inwardly with relief. She picked up the cooled coffee and gulped it down.
“Caroline!” Stella said happily and kissed her friend’s cheek. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
“Not at all. I ordered coffee for us.” She said.
The two women picked up their menus and Stella settled into the seat across from Caroline.
“This is a pretty place.” She smiled, looking about.
“I thought you’d like it,” Caroline nodded. “I’ve been here several times.”
She omitted that this was the place she had met the Inspector. They ordered turtle soup and roasted hare with asparagus.
“This is quite fancy,”
Stella said as they placed the menus aside.
“I wanted to treat you,” Caroline. “To thank you for your help.”
Stella pulled several files from her bag and placed them on the table. “I have some suggestions here for you for the second house. Do you have a name for the house yet?” She asked.
Caroline sighed. “I’m going to call it the Prudence Finch House.”
“She would like that,” Stella nodded.
The soup arrived and they spooned the liquid substance in silence before they resumed speaking.
“I think this family would be an excellent fit for the Finch House,” Stella said pointing to the one file. “There are three children, a mother and father and they’ve been to the workhouse twice. They would greatly benefit from the project.”
Caroline nodded. “They seem a perfect fit.”
“This other family has two grown sisters. One of the sisters has a child and the other sister is disabled. She has trouble moving about. The older sister has been working as a prostitute to help them survive.”
“How unfortunate,” Caroline wondered at them.
“Yes, but we can help turn their lives around,” Stella said excitedly.
Caroline nodded. She was trying to concentrate on Stella’s words but she kept thinking about Irene, Annette and Prudence. The three women who she had known who had been killed. More and more she seemed to be drawn into the past thinking about them.
The death of her sister hurt her the most. She had said it aloud to Val and she meant it. She wished she had done more but the truth was she could not. Irene had been leading a dangerous double life that no one had known much about. Still. She wished she had reached out to her. She wished she had asked her advice. Why had she been so reckless?
She was pulled back into the London café when she saw Stella placing the files back into her bag as the roasted hare arrived.
“For these families this will be just the start they need,” Stella said as she picked up her knife and fork.
Caroline agreed. After the meal, they sipped their coffee and ordered custard as the grey sky outside had been joined by rain.
Of Night and Dark Obscurity Page 21
