by Jane, Bettie
So why did she still feel so compelled to act? Maybe because Meredith was her friend—of sorts, at least—and if it were her sister, she’d be relentless in the search, even if the Inspector in charge was an arrogant idiot.
Chapter 4
Early Saturday Morning
December 21, 1921
Goodall Residence
Mayfair, London
Julia woke up to a pounding on her bedroom door.
“Miss Barlow. There’s someone on the telephone for you. She says it’s urgent. She insisted I wake you. Said you’d understand.”
She rubbed her sleep-caked eyes and stretched before she stood and put on a robe. Once the belt was tied on her dressing gown, she stumbled to the door and opened it.
“Good morning Katie.”
“Sorry to wake you, Miss Barlow. It’s Miss Meredith Watson calling.”
“Don’t worry. I needed to speak with her this morning anyway.”
Julia shuffled into the library and cleared her throat before picking up the phone receiver.
“Good morning, this is Julia.”
“Oh, thank goodness. Julia, I need your help.”
“Certainly. Has something else happened? Any word from Millie?”
“I’ve received a ransom note for Millie. She’s been kidnapped. Are you with your Inspector friend?”
Julia looked at the clock in the library. “It’s 5:30 in the morning, Meredith. So, no. He went to headquarters last night to enlist more officers to aid in the search. I haven’t spoken with him. Are you at your home?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Stay there. I’ll call Jacob and we’ll meet you at your house. Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Oh, and Meredith?”
“Yes?”
“People don’t ransom the deceased. This is actually quite good news. It means Millie is alive. See you soon.”
After disconnecting Meredith’s call, Julia called Jacob’s office.
Her stomach had some rogue butterflies that insisted on making an appearance at the sound of his voice.
“Inspector Gibbs here.”
“Jacob, good, you’re there. It’s me.”
“Julia, good morning. It’s lovely to hear from you. Have you decided to come to your senses then?”
“No, I most certainly have not, Inspector Gibbs. I’m only ringing to let you know that Meredith Watson has received a ransom note for Millie Howard. I told her that I would notify you. I’ll be headed there now. If you feel like assisting poor Miss Watson, you know where to find her. If not, if that doesn’t fit your mold of what things should look like, then don’t trouble yourself. I’m happy to help.”
“Come now, Julia. Don’t you think you are being a bit too harsh here? Perhaps slightly over-dramatic?”
“Not at all.” Julia hung up the phone.
She was and she knew it, but she could never admit it to him. Besides, even where he did have a very small point about the appearance of him allowing a reporter to accompany him on an investigation, he kept digging holes deeper for himself by insisting that she was overreacting. This essentially guaranteed an extension on her dramatic response. Being told to calm down was always one of Julia’s least favorite critiques.
She raced back to her rooms to get ready. Now she had to beat him to Meredith’s house. One woman had been murdered and from the sounds of it, another had been kidnapped, so she should put aside her pettiness in regard to Jacob Gibbs. She should, but she wouldn’t. He needed to learn immediately that he couldn’t push her around and that she was far from helpless. She decided in that moment that she would find Millie, with or without police assistance—preferably without, in fact.
Once ready, she walked the three blocks to Meredith’s house. The wind was a cold, brisk one, and she pulled her coat tightly around her. By the time she knocked on Meredith’s door and the butler opened it, Julia was convinced her nose was near to falling off from exposure to the elements.
Meredith waited for Julia in the parlor, and Julia was pleased to see that she’d beat the Inspector.
“Let me see this note, Meredith.”
She pointed to the table. “It’s there.”
Without touching it, on the off chance the police might be able to pull fingerprints from it, Julia read it over.
For the safe return of your sister, bring a satchel of money totaling one thousand pounds to Hyde Park. There’s a bench near Serpentine Lake. Go to the park, alone, and place the satchel under the bench at precisely twelve noon and walk away. Once I have the money, your sister will be returned. Do as I say and she’ll not be harmed any further. If you should misstep, then she will meet the same fate as Sarah Brook, who I believe you mistook for Millie in the first place. Unfortunate that Sarah had to die, but she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s quite fitting, though. Together, Millie and Sarah ruined my career and my life. The least either of them can do is pay for my exodus from London to a warm beach somewhere.
“So the body,” Julia said, “does seem to belong to Sarah Brook. But it also seems as though this person only wants money. Hopefully that bodes well for Millie. He certainly is a chatty fellow. It’s more like a ransom novel than a note. Do you have access to that much cash so quickly?”
Meredith nodded. “I can get it, though how I’ll find a satchel big enough to carry one thousand in cash is beyond me.”
“Don’t worry about that. The bank will provide you with a suitable container to transport the money. Go to the bank and secure the cash. Ask for an escort back here in case the kidnapper is watching you and planning to knock you over the head to take your money.”
“Should we wait for Inspector Gibbs?” Meredith sounded both nervous and eager to get going.
“I’ll wait here for him and update him, but, no, we certainly don’t need to wait for him. I assume you’ll pay the money to get her back? If so, then run along to the bank and we’ll be waiting for you.”
Shortly after she left, Jacob arrived and the Watson family butler showed him into the parlor where Julia waited.
“Inspector. Good to see you.” She kept her voice brisk and cool. “The ransom note is on the desk where it has remained untouched since Meredith opened it.”
He moved toward the table, eyeing the letter on display. “Might I ask where Meredith is?”
“To the bank, to secure the ransom money, of course. We aren’t going to wait around for a disinterested cop to decide to help us.”
Jacob rolled his eyes but didn’t take the bait. “She is going to the bank to get a thousand pounds in cash, just like that?”
“Of course. Her sister is worth any amount of money.”
He sighed in response to her acidic verbal jab.
“The note mentions Sarah and Millie ruining his career,” Julia said. “I’m assuming, of course, it’s a man. Do you suppose that this does tie in after all to the suffrage movement and their storm of Parliament a few years ago? It was referenced as Black Friday, wasn’t it? Whatever happened to the policeman accused of assaulting them?”
“Winston Churchill ordered all charges dropped so nobody was actually convicted, but if I recall correctly, there were several officers forced into an early retirement for their unlawful actions on that day. I’ll return to the station and look into it to get specific names. Given the contents of this ransom note, it is possible at the very least that this is a crime of vengeance, of payback, to the women of the suffrage movement.”
“I should think the policemen in question should be at the top of your suspect list. Perhaps we have another issue of appearances being a problem. After all, can we expect the police to fairly investigate their own? No, I think not. Perhaps you need the oversight of an unbiased reporter to make certain that everything is done above board.”
She was quite amused by her logic. He ignored her statement.
“In the meantime, wait here with Meredith until I come back. We’ll place surveillance on the park bench mentioned and see if we
can track the kidnapper after the money is dropped.”
They stood in silence, staring each other down, both waiting for the other to make the first move of concession. Moments passed and at his continued silence, she put both hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.
He responded in kind so that they essentially mirrored each other.
“Do you think you’re quite clever, Inspector Gibbs?”
“Do you think you’re quite obstinate, Miss Barlow?”
The standoff continued for a few more moments until finally Inspector Gibbs gave in.
“Very well. The presence of the press in this investigation—provided you agree to take all my recommended precautions—would be most welcome in assuring police objectivity in this investigation.”
She relaxed at his words, snuggled into his arms and kissed his cheek. “How wonderful. I knew you would see reason.”
“Don’t press your luck, Julia. I retain the right to remove you from access to our investigation if it becomes dangerous to you in the slightest.”
She stepped back and patted his cheek condescendingly. “Of course you do, darling. Now, scoot along and see what you can find out about any policemen that may have lost their jobs after their involvement in the goings on of Black Friday in 1914. Seven years does seem to be a bit long to harbor such a grudge, though, doesn’t it. Why would someone wait so long to go after Millie and Sarah now? And are there other targets? If I recall, there were plenty of reports similar to theirs. What would have brought them out of obscurity now?”
“All very good points, of course, darling,” Jacob said, exaggerating his polite manners.
She knew their exchange was bordering on ridiculous and couldn’t go on much longer. They needed to get serious about rescuing Millie Howard.
“Fine. You’ve made your point with your exquisite niceties. Let’s catch this copper-turned-criminal and get Millie home to her family before Christmas, shall we?”
“Yes, let’s. Speaking of Christmas,” he said as he made his way toward the door, “do you have plans for the holidays?”
“If this mystery is solved by then, I was considering asking a handsome detective I know to accompany me to the seaside for a very whimsical Christmas.”
“I see. Anyone I know?”
“That is unclear. I’ll get back to you in a few days and let you know for sure.”
Their friendly banter had returned and all the spikes were out of their words, at least for now. Julia was relieved and resolved to patch things up completely with him once this business with Millie Howard was finished. She didn’t love to quarrel and was quite aware that it was too often her default response when she was feeling out of sorts.
“Say, Jacob, what do you think about the reference to Sarah Brook in the ransom note. Do you suppose he’s telling the truth? Is that her body in the coroner’s office? And do you suppose that what the note says about Sarah being an accident—wrong place, wrong time—is accurate? Has Millie Howard been the target this whole time?”
She took a quick breath and kept going, not giving him time to answer her barrage of questions.
“If so, doesn’t that put Eddie Howard back on the suspect list? I didn’t care for that fellow. He was almost disappointed that the body we found wasn’t Millie.
He nodded. “I think it’s likely Sarah Brook is dead. We tracked down some existing family of hers and they are coming in today to meet with us. One of her associates confirmed she is a dental patient of Dr. Hickson, so one of the constables is at his office this morning to secure a copy of her dental records. If she’s had x-rays in the past, the coroner can compare them to the dental structure in the victim’s mouth.”
“What a gruesome job. Someone should give the coroner, was his name Mr. Lockley, a Christmas bonus. He’s far too handsome to be stuck down in a musty basement with corpses.”
“Why don’t you add him to your Christmas card list then?” Jacob sounded playful, but Julia thought that was quite a wonderful idea.
“Why, that’s a fantastic idea, Jacob. Perhaps I’ll also invite him to our New Year’s Eve bash. It’s going to be out of this world. I might invite you, too. If you are well-behaved.”
Once again he rolled his eyes but followed up with a kiss on her cheek.
“With regard to Eddie Howard,” he told her, “I agree that he seems to be a human of poor caliber. Just how poor, I suppose we’ll find out. I do think, unfortunate though it is, that this is more likely connected to the incident with the police than to Millie’s husband. I’ll be back here shortly. Wait for me, please. Do not attempt to go to the park with the ransom money by yourselves.”
“Well, since you said please, I suppose I could oblige you, Inspector.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back.”
She watched him walk down the front steps of Meredith’s house to his auto and admired the view of his backside. He was quite handsome.
Try to not run him off, Julia. You’re cute until you’re obnoxious.
Chapter 5
11:55am
December 21, 1921
Hyde Park
London
With the money secured in a heavy, oversized, black leather satchel that the bank had generously given to Meredith, she walked into the park with Julia and Jacob. The inspector had sent other constables to the park ahead of time in plain clothes to observe the bench in question. Before they got to within sight of the bench, Julia and Jacob slipped into the brush and let Meredith go on alone after Jacob gave her one last bit of instruction and encouragement.
“We’ll be right here, Meredith. Simply set the satchel under the bench and keep walking past Serpentine Lake. We’ll cut through and around the other side to meet you. Keep walking until you get to us. Undercover policemen will be watching you at all times. You are perfectly safe.”
She nodded and kept walking, opting not to speak. Julia watched her go, peeking through the brush to see what she could see.
Jacob touched her back gently. “We need to walk around the back side of the lake and meet her on the other side.”
“Yes, about that. You go ahead. I’m going to watch from this vantage point. Look,” she pointed, “I can see the bench perfectly. You keep an eye on Meredith—you did promise to keep her safe—and I’ll watch the bench. Maybe I’ll be able to see who comes to pick up the satchel.”
He opened his mouth—to object she was quite certain—but nodded instead. “That’s a solid idea, Julia. I’ll wait with Meredith on the other side. You are not to move from this spot, do you understand? No matter what you see. This is one of those times where I’ve reserved the right to protect you. Will you comply?”
She lifted her eyebrow, and he followed up with a quick, “Please?”
“Of course. Thank you for asking so nicely, Inspector. I shall remain right here in this spot until you make your way back with Meredith.”
She heard more than saw him scurry away through the brush to be where Meredith would emerge after she dropped the satchel. From where Julia stood, she could see at least three other people who, if she were the betting type, would wager were the undercover policemen Jacob said were in the vicinity. They all appeared to be casually NOT looking at the bench or at Meredith, who was now approaching it.
While looking around, it occurred to Julia that she was very near the spot where Mattie had stumbled across Lady Eliza Withers’ body last month on Armistice Day. What was it with Hyde Park lately being the central hub for evil deeds? She made a mental note to avoid this park in the future. She didn’t necessarily believe in bad omens, but she wasn’t one to avoid common sense either. Bad things happen here, so stay away.
She could practically hear Oscar and Cecil mocking her. It’s only a park, they would say. It’s not the park that’s evil, but the people who choose to do evil in it. Regardless, no need to borrow trouble, she argued back with them in her head, feeling claustrophobic at the memory of Eliza’s garroted neck.
At that, Julia forcefully pu
shed the memories of Armistice Day out of her mind and focused on the matter-at-hand—Meredith and Millie.
A thousand pounds was a lot of money and Julia noted that Meredith hadn’t even blinked at putting it up. Jacob had said as much to her when he’d returned from the police station. When he’d reminded her that it was highly possible the money would not be recovered, Meredith simply nodded and said, “It’s my sister’s life we are talking about, Inspector. No amount of money could replace the obstinate woman. And don’t you worry. She’ll not hear the end of how I gambled a thousand pounds on her safe return. She’ll have no choice but to follow my wishes after she is safely returned. My first wish—no, demand—will be that she move out of that good-for-nothing husband’s house. In trade, I may even let her join the Piccadilly Ladies’ Club if I can convince her to leave behind her more radical ways. She won’t like living with me, but it surely will be better than living with that low-life, East End boy.”
Julia hadn’t been surprised that Meredith’s demand would be to get Eddie out of the picture. She’d only met him once and her skin crawled simply thinking about him.
She shook off her thoughts to focus on Meredith’s trip on foot across the park. She was nearly at the bench now. Her shoulders were squared, her head held high, and she very smoothly stopped at the bench for a moment, squatted down and slid the satchel under it, then walked away.
Good girl, Julia thought. Wonderfully executed. Julia noticed the gaze of the undercover policemen continue to quite obviously not look at the bench, instead glancing at every surrounding copse of trees from which someone might emerge to collect the satchel. Meredith continued to walk away, but after only a few steps, she stopped, turned around to look at the bench, then walked back to it and sat down.
What was she doing? There was no way the killer-kidnapper would approach the bench if she were sitting on it. Julia saw the undercover police tense as they realized what was happening. Meredith hadn’t stuck to the plan. Now that they were off book, anything could happen. Julia peered across the clearing to where she knew Jacob would be waiting for Meredith and could imagine his blood pressure rising when he realized what Meredith had done.
