by L. A. Nisula
“Oh dear. And I run a respectable house. The other tenants will be in a panic.”
It seemed as if she was in a panic as well. “I’m sure it will all be fine. Have a nice cup of tea and relax.”
Miss Peters handed her a cup. I gave her a moment to settle in with it, but then I knew I had to start asking questions if I wanted to get any information before Inspector Wainwright arrived.
“When did the two of you last see Miss Crawford?”
Miss Peters answered first. “Day before yesterday at the shop.”
“But not yesterday?” I tried to think back, but in all of the confusion after the robbery, I couldn’t remember who had been there and who hadn’t.
“No, yesterday was her normal day off, so she wouldn’t have been there.”
“Come to think of it, I didn’t see her yesterday either,” Miss Pimly said. “Although I might not have if she was keeping to her room. She would have picked up her letters, though.”
“Did she have any letters?”
“I don’t remember. They would be in the tray in the front hall if there were.”
“Would one of the other tenants have picked them up? Maybe to bring up to her if she hadn’t taken them?”
Miss Pimly worried at one of the buttons on the settee. “It’s possible, I suppose. I don’t know.”
I wondered if I would be able to talk to any of the other tenants. Probably not before Inspector Wainwright, but maybe after. “Is there any reason she would leave on her own?”
“And leave her flat in that state?” Miss Peters asked. “Not Emma.”
“It could have been searched after she left.”
“Why would someone do that?”
I shrugged. That was what I was asking. “So you can’t think of any reason?”
Both women shook their heads.
So it was most likely this had something to do with the robbery, or the robbery had something to do with this. “Did she have a key to the shop?”
Miss Peters nodded. “She did. But she would never...”
“But her kidnapper might. Where would she have kept it?”
“With her,” Miss Peters answered, “on her key chain. It would be in her coat pocket. Do you think that’s how they got in? With her key?”
“Got in where?” Miss Pimly asked.
“The shop,” Miss Peters said. “We were robbed night before last.”
“Oh dear. I hope we’re not in any danger.”
“I’m sure you’re not. They came after us for jewelry, so they must be going for bigger targets.”
I wasn’t as sure as Miss Peters, but I nodded. “I’m sure the constable will have a look around if you’d like him to. Just to be safe.”
On cue, the constable came to the door. He tipped his hat to Miss Pimly then addressed all of us. “He’s on his way, ladies. I’m sure Inspector Wainwright will see that this is solved quickly. I’m to watch the cri―the door to the flat. If you need anything, I’ll be right above you. Just call Constable Finchly.”
Miss Pimly gave him a weak smile, then turned back to her tea.
I turned back to Miss Peters. “Were you there when Miss Eaton suggested the lock could be overridden with a cast of the correct hand?”
“I was, but Miss Kleinman was so certain it couldn’t be, and she is very good at tinkering, or would be if she had time to fiddle with things. She can see how the bits connect together, if you see what I mean.”
I did; Kate Ferris had the same knack. “I have a friend coming to look at the lock at Miss Kleinman’s request. Maybe she’ll have some ideas.” I tried to think back to Tuesday morning, which seemed months ago by now, but I couldn’t remember more than the bright blue shoes Miss Crawford had worn. “Was there anyone she was particularly close to? A sister? A friend? A fiancé? Someone she might have confided in or have gone to when she was in trouble?” Or who could have been the source of the trouble, possibly unconnected to the shop at all.
Miss Peters shook her head. “We were all friendly at Kleinmans’, but I haven’t heard her mention a beau, or anything that suggested one. No evening plans she didn’t want to talk about but wanted to be asked about, nothing like that.”
Miss Pimly looked up from her tea. “She was a very respectable girl. The last suitor was over a year ago. Nice fellow. Worked in a bank. Then he married someone with more money and showed his true colors. Such a pity. A very nice-looking man. She had family, but none nearby. Her people came from Nottingham, I think. Or was that Miss Saunders? Well, there was no one in town.”
“Any particular friends you know about? People she spent time with? People who might know if there was a secret beau or some other trouble?”
Miss Pimly shook her head and looked about to say something more, but we were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening and firm footsteps crossing the front hall and climbing the stairs. Miss Pimly clutched at her cup.
“That’s Inspector Wainwright,” I told her. “He’s probably checking with Constable Finchly before he comes to see us.”
Miss Pimly put her cup down on the table and took a piece of shortbread. “Is he a good policeman? Will he solve this quickly? Your expression does not give me confidence, Miss Peters.”
I answered for her, “He’s actually a very good investigator. It’s his manner that leaves something to be desired.”
We could hear footsteps on the stairs again, and then the door to Miss Pimly’s flat opened. I turned in my chair to try and gauge Inspector Wainwright’s mood.
“Miss Pengear, why am I not surprised to see you here?”
For him, not terrible. “You’re welcome for making certain they let you know about this since it could very well be connected to the robbery.”
Inspector Wainwright ignored that. “Why are you here?”
“Miss Peters, Miss Crawford’s friend, asked me to come here with her. She hadn’t seen Miss Crawford all day and was worried that she was ill. I came for moral support.”
“After knowing her for what, three days?”
“I live down the street. It was convenient.”
“I’m sure. What did you see upon entering?”
I described finding the room as best as I could, including Miss Pimly’s faint.
“And you went into the room, disturbing a crime scene, because...?”
“I wanted to see if she was inside and hurt. Then she would have needed a doctor before you were able to get here.” I thought that was nicer than saying he wouldn’t have been in time. “And Miss Peters found Constable Finchly as soon as we knew something was wrong.”
“Did you know Miss Crawford before the jewelry shop?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t think your presence is needed anymore. Constable, find this lady a cab and send her home.”
I had been expecting to be tossed out unceremoniously as soon as Inspector Wainwright arrived, so I followed Constable Edwards out into the hallway without protest. I paused by the hall table to put my gloves on. Constable Edwards waited politely as I adjusted them and fixed my hat in the hall mirror, giving me plenty of time to look over the small table. I saw four neat stacks of envelopes, the tallest one made up of letters addressed to Miss Crawford. I leaned in closer to get a better look in the mirror, nudging the stack as I rested my hand on the table and fanning out the letters, but I didn’t see any clue as to when they had been delivered.
Inspector Wainwright came out of Miss Pimly’s flat. “Are you still here?”
“Have you ever had to deal with hatpins in London weather? I didn’t think so. You should try it sometime. You’ll see they don’t attach themselves.” I flounced off with proper high-dudgeon. I could feel Inspector Wainwright rolling his eyes behind me. On the landing above us, Constable Finchly bit his lip, clearly trying not to laugh. Since I really did want Miss Crawford found quickly, I paused in the doorway and added, “There’s a pair of shoes missing.”
“The ones she was wearing, no doubt.”
/> “But there’s a pair of carpet slippers by the door, and the rugs look almost new. I think she wore slippers inside. And I didn’t see her coat.”
Inspector Wainwright sighed. “So she was taken by someone waiting for her? I’ll keep your theory in mind as I investigate.”
“I just thought I should share anything relevant. Good afternoon.”
Chapter 7
THE NEXT MORNING, I WENT TO KLEINMAN AND COMPANY early, fully prepared to question everyone I could about Miss Crawford. I had the perfect excuse since I had been with Miss Peters when we found her missing. At least that was what I intended until I got to the shop and found the back door already unlocked and the lights on inside. News of Miss Crawford’s abduction had clearly already reached the staff, and it seemed everyone had come in early to fret together. Only they were all gathered outside of the hallway to the vault again. Miss Kleinman saw me come around the corner.
“Miss Pengear, there’s been another robbery.”
I froze. “You’re certain?” What a stupid thing to say I thought as soon as the words were out of my mouth.
“I’m afraid so. Daniel is telephoning the police. And Mr. Tolland, I hope. I don’t want to have to talk to him about another robbery.”
“Do you know what’s been taken?”
She shook her head. “We’re waiting for the police to look around. I hope there’s nothing wrong with the lock. It seemed so secure when it was explained to us, I don’t see how... But then, what else could it be?”
“Kate Ferris was coming today,” I said out of the blue. Miss Crawford’s kidnapping had pushed it completely out of my mind, but the talk of locks reminded me. And Miss Crawford...
Did Miss Kleinman know? Would Inspector Wainwright have told them? Would he want me to? I’d assumed that was why they were here, but I couldn’t let them find out from him, not even if one of them was guilty.
Miss Kleinman interrupted my thoughts. “You’d better go into the office and telephone her. There won’t be any testing the lock today. If my brother’s still using the phone, tell him you need to slip in for a moment.”
I nodded. She seemed so exhausted, I was tempted to sneak away and leave the news of Miss Crawford to Inspector Wainwright, but that didn’t seem quite fair. Unless... “Is Miss Peters here already?”
“Yes, that’s right, she said you were with her last night.”
“So she told everyone?”
“Yes, in fact she was on the telephone quite late last night if the call I received was anything to go by.”
I wasn’t certain whether to be glad that I didn’t have to break the news, glad that Inspector Wainwright couldn’t possibly blame me for it, or disappointed that I didn’t get to see the reactions. “I’ll go make the call to Miss Ferris.”
No one answered the telephone at Kate’s flat, which didn’t surprise me. As often as not she had the telephone disassembled, trying to improve it. I left the phone to Mr. Kleinman and went back into the hallway. I didn’t see Miss Kleinman by the vault, so I poked my head into her office. “She didn’t answer, so I’m going to nip down to the aviary and send her a note.”
Miss Kleinman stood up. “Of course. You can use my desk to write it if you like.”
I sat in the chair she'd vacated for me and grabbed a silver and red pen from the holder, which promptly leaked all over the page.
“That one doesn't work. Try the one in the drawer.”
I wasn't sure I liked Miss Kleinman watching me as I wrote even if it was at her desk, but I found a new pen in the top drawer and scribbled a quick note to Kate and cut the paper as small as possible. After a moment’s thought, I scribbled a second note, this one to a girl named Milly who I knew worked in a pub called the Fox’s Den. It was rather a long shot that it would be the same Fox's Den Charlie Donovan had been at, but if it was, she was someone who might help, and with two robberies and a kidnapping, we needed to know if he had an alibi.
I gathered up both notes and left the desk to Miss Kleinman. “Do you need anything while I’m out?”
Miss Kleinman rubbed at her neck as she sat down. “There’s a bakery between here and the aviary. I’ll give you some of the shop’s pin money. If you’d get something sweet to―to―”
“Ease the pain of seeing Inspector Wainwright again? Certainly.”
That got a twitch of a smile out of Miss Kleinman. “That wasn’t quite what I was going to say, but close enough.” She took a key from her chatelaine and opened the middle drawer of the desk. I could hear the scrape of another key opening the cashbox and the rattling of coins. “This should do. Bring enough for the police, I suppose.”
I took the coins she held out. “Anything else?”
Miss Kleinman bit the edge of her lip. “Miss Peters said you went with her to check on Miss Crawford.”
“That’s right.”
“Do you think she’s all right?”
I considered my answer carefully. Miss Kleinman was the sort who would see through any attempts to be overly optimistic. “I looked through her rooms while Miss Peters went for a constable, to see if she was there. I didn't see any blood, certainly not in any quantity to show she’d been hurt there.” I didn’t mention that I wasn’t sure she’d been taken from her flat.
“So there’s hope, then?”
“Definitely.” I slipped the coins into my handbag. “Just because Inspector Wainwright and I got off on the wrong foot when we first met and have gone steadily downhill from there doesn’t mean he’s not a good detective. He’s very thorough. If there’s something to find, he’ll find it.”
“In time?”
I did my best to smile. “We can hope so.”
~ * ~ * ~
I remembered I'd seen a combination aviary/telegraph office at the end of the street. I went there first so my note would catch Kate before she left. I glanced at the price chart as I waited in line and decided on mechanical bird for both messages. If asked, I would have insisted it was because it was slightly cheaper, although the real reason was that I liked to look at them. Most aviaries tried to make their birds look as real as possible just to encourage the susceptible to use them. I’d always assumed it meant they were much cheaper for the company since no one needed to leave the shop on either end as one did with delivering a telegram, but I’m afraid I still fell for it far more than I’d like to admit.
This shop had small brass birds meant to look like sparrows with blue paste jewel eyes and different colored dots and bands on their wings to identify which of the company’s stations they were programmed to fly to.
When it was my turn at the window, I was greeted by a young clerk who didn’t bother to look up from his receipt book as he said, “Good day. Bird or telegram?”
“Bird, please.”
“Message cannot exceed the size indicated.” He pointed to the size chart affixed to the desk, or rather he meant to; without looking up, he only managed to point to the bit of chain that had once attached a pen to the desk. I pulled out my notes and fitted the one to Kate into the box.
“Write the address here.” He slid a form over and pointed to a box marked “price.” I assumed he meant for me to write it on the line labeled “address” and proceeded to fill it out then slid it back across.
The clerk glanced down at the address I'd written out and said in a drone that told me just how many thousands of times he'd said the same thing, “That's a two-bird delivery, one to get it to the Charles Street aviary and one from aviary to final destination. Is this acceptable?"
"Yes, it is."
He opened what looked like a giant birdcage behind him and sorted through until he found a brass bird with a red spot on its wing. He opened the panel on the bird's chest and held it out to me. I folded the note and slipped it inside. “I need to send a second note as well. And I’d like to cover a return on both."
He put the bird on the counter and handed me a second form. I filled it out and handed it back.
“Also a two-bird del
ivery, one to send it to..."
"I understand, that's fine."
He shrugged and went back to the cage, returning with a bird that had a bottle-green spot. Once the second note was secured inside, the clerk took my money and wrote out a receipt, then led me over to the window so I could see that the birds had been properly wound and released. I tucked the receipt into my handbag and went in search of the bakery.
~ * ~ * ~
When I returned to Kleinman and Co. with a large bag of scones and a selection of pastries, Constable Edwards was standing at the entrance to the alley. He smiled at me as I passed, so I offered him one of the scones, which were still warm. “Any news?”
He accepted the scone and shook his head. “We haven’t been here ten minutes yet. Inspector Wainwright is not pleased. Did they implement his security suggestions?”
“I would assume so. What about the kidnapping?”
“That’s why he’s in such a bad mood. Nothing in the room to help. None of the neighbors heard anything. He’s going to question them here today.”
“But of course I didn’t hear any of that. I’ll have someone bring you some tea.”
“Thanks, Miss Pengear.”
I dropped the scones and pastries off in the lounge and, after making certain they all knew they were from Miss Kleinman not me, I went to find her, ostensibly to tell her I’d completed my mission, really because I was certain Inspector Wainwright would be with her.
I found them in the hallway coming from Miss Kleinman’s office.
“I assure you, madam, everything will be tested, and we will find your thief. Although I might suggest adding a night watchman to your shop. That might scare away intruders, if they know he’s there.” He turned into the small foyer outside of the vault.
Miss Kleinman followed him through to the vault. “That’s all well and good, Inspector, but what have you been doing to find Miss Crawford?”
“Madam, I assure you we are doing everything we can to solve both cases, if they are indeed connected.”
“I don’t care if they’re connected or not. I want to know what you are doing to find my employee. You don’t seem to be questioning anyone here. Does that mean you already know the circumstances surrounding her disappearance?”
