The Iron Horse

by Edward Marston

  ‘You deserve to enjoy the fun of the fair, Madeleine. What you did has been of immense value to me.’

  ‘Talking to Bonny Rimmer was no effort.’

  ‘By winning her confidence, you gained information that would always have been beyond me. I now have a truer picture of the relationship between John Feeny and his former employer. You helped the girl cope in her bereavement as well,’ he said, ‘and that was important. You provided succour.’

  ‘I wish I could have done more, Robert. When she came to the house yesterday, she looked so lonely and pitiful. The effort of getting to London had really taxed her.’

  ‘It was kind of you to take her back to the station.’

  ‘I’m glad she didn’t have to catch a special train like the one we just travelled on,’ said Madeleine with a smile. ‘Bonny would never have survived that. She was too fragile.’

  ‘Her journey was not in vain. That may give her consolation.’

  ‘Do you really think you can make an arrest today?’

  ‘I’m certain of it,’ he said confidently. ‘In fact, I intend to make more than one arrest. I just hope that I can do it before the Derby is run. Having been so close to the race and to some of the people involved in it, I’d hate to miss seeing it.’

  ‘I did warn you that Inspector Colbeck would never give up,’ said Hamilton Fido. ‘You saw what happened yesterday.’

  ‘We were not seen together,’ said Kitty Lavender.

  ‘We might have been. If I had not had a bodyguard in the right place, we could have been followed all the way back here.’

  ‘But we weren’t, Hamilton.’

  ‘Only because my man knew what to do,’ he said. ‘Assaulting a policeman is a dangerous game, Kitty. It’s like poking a stick in a beehive – there’ll be a whole swarm of them buzzing around Epsom today as a result. Why don’t you stop hiding?’

  Dressed to leave, they were in the bedroom that they were sharing during Derby Week. Kitty was wearing more jewellery than she had done on previous visits to the course and she stopped to examine her diamond necklace in the mirror. Fido grinned.

  ‘That’s the difference between Lord Hendry and me,’ he said, kissing the nape of the neck. ‘He buys you a hat and a hatbox – I give you jewellery.’

  ‘In fairness to George, he did promise to buy me a diamond brooch when his horse won the Derby.’

  ‘When or if?’

  ‘There was no doubt in his mind.’

  ‘How much money has he laid out on the race?’

  ‘A lot, Hamilton,’ she said. ‘He’s risking everything on it.’

  ‘Then he’s a bigger fool than I thought.’

  ‘His wife has money but she won’t lend him any to fritter away on what she considers to be a pointless sport. It always maddened George that she would make large donations to worthy causes while ignoring him. He’s had to raise funds from elsewhere.’

  ‘Loans from friends?’

  ‘He’s been forced to mortgage some of his property.’

  ‘What happens if Odysseus loses?’

  ‘George will be finished,’ she said with satisfaction.

  ‘In that case, I’ll be doing him a favour by killing him in a duel. It will put him out of his misery.’

  ‘Must you go ahead with it, Hamilton?’

  ‘I can’t pull out of it now,’ he said. ‘That would be cowardice.’

  ‘I still feel that George may resort to a trick of some kind.’

  ‘I’ll be ready for him, Kitty.’

  ‘I don’t want you harmed in any way,’ she said, stroking his cheek. ‘I couldn’t bear to lose you.’

  ‘Lord Hendry poses no danger to me,’ he said smugly. ‘I’m a bookmaker, remember, and I create enemies without even trying. Over the years, disaffected customers have threatened me with all manner of gruesome deaths. Yet I’m still here,’ he boasted. ‘Doesn’t that tell you something?’

  ‘Yes – you take wise precautions.’

  ‘I also have a sixth sense. I knew that Sergeant Leeming was going to trail me. He came into the betting room once too often and kept glancing in my direction. That’s why I gave the signal to one of my bodyguards. Of course,’ he went on, ‘none of this would have been necessary if you had spoken to Inspector Colbeck. Because of you, his sergeant ended up with a throbbing headache.’

  ‘I don’t like getting involved with the police, Hamilton.’

  ‘You have no choice.’

  ‘Marcus warned me against it.’

  ‘It’s your decision, Kitty – not his.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘How much longer do you want to hold back?’

  She turned away and walked to the window, gazing sightlessly through the glass. Deep in thought, she stood there for minutes and wrestled with the competing arguments. Fido waited patiently. At length, she turned back to him with a resigned smile.

  ‘I’ll speak to Inspector Colbeck today,’ she said.

  ‘Thank goodness for that!’

  ‘But only after the race,’ she stipulated. ‘I’ll not let anyone distract me from that. It’s the reason I got up so early. I want to enjoy every minute of Derby Day and watch Odysseus getting beaten by Merry Legs. Then – and only then – I’ll be ready for Inspector Colbeck.’

  Although he knew how capable and independent she was, Robert Colbeck did not want Madeleine Andrews to wander about the Downs on her own. There were too many thieves, confidence tricksters and drunken men about, ready to pounce on an unaccompanied female. Since she was keen to see the acrobats performing, Colbeck assigned a uniformed policeman to be her guide. While she set out with the burly constable, Colbeck went off in search of Brian Dowd.

  To get to the stables where Limerick Lad was being kept, he had to find his way through a labyrinth. Broughams, barouches, carts, gigs, four-wheeled chaises, traps, cabs, covered vans and phaetons were parked close together in positions of vantage. As he passed a stagecoach, Colbeck counted no fewer than eight people perched on its roof as they consumed their picnic. When the races began, the vehicles would form their own grandstand and those still sober enough to see would have an excellent view of one part of the course.

  It took him some time to reach the stables but he was rewarded with a sight of Brian Dowd. The trainer was walking across the yard. Seeing his visitor, the Irishman gave him a broad smile.

  ‘Top of the morning to you, Inspector!’ he said.

  ‘And to you, sir.’

  ‘Isn’t it just a grand day for a Derby?’

  ‘That depends,’ said Colbeck.

  ‘More rain last night and a clear sky today,’ said Dowd happily. ‘Limerick Lad couldn’t ask for better conditions. The going will be soft and he’ll have the sun on his back.’

  ‘I thought he’d have Tim Maguire on his back – unless, that is, he’s been tempted away from you by anonymous offers.’

  Dowd frowned. ‘Do I hear a cynical note in your voice?’

  ‘You were responsible for putting it there, sir,’ said Colbeck. ‘When you showed me that letter sent to your jockey, I believed that one of your rivals really was trying to steal him from you. Then this happened to fall into my hands,’ he continued, pulling out the note that had belonged to John Feeny and thrusting it at Dowd. ‘The handwriting bears a strange resemblance to that in the letter, as you’ll see.’ Extracting the missive addressed to Tim Maguire, he handed it over. ‘Don’t you agree, Mr Dowd?’

  Face motionless, the Irishmen compared the two items. A flicker of irritation showed before he burst into laughter. He reached forward to slap Colbeck companionably on the shoulder.

  ‘You found me out, Inspector. I wrote both of these.’

  ‘In other words, you reported a crime that never existed.’

  ‘But it did exist,’ said Dowd. ‘You can ask Tim about it. The only difference is that it was made verbally. I thought that if I put it down in writing, you’d take it more seriously.’

  ‘You deliberately misled me, s
ir,’ said Colbeck icily, ‘and I take exception to that. You also gave me an incorrect version of what happened when you and John Feeny parted company.’

  ‘It’s my word against that of an ignorant barmaid.’

  ‘The girl can read, write and tell the truth.’

  ‘All she’s told you are the lies that Feeny spread about me,’ said Dowd, spitting out the words. ‘Frankly, I’m insulted that you should believe for a moment anything she said.’

  ‘It accords with my own observations, Mr Dowd.’

  ‘Are you questioning my honesty?’

  ‘I’m saying that you’re very parsimonious with the truth, sir.’

  ‘I resent that strongly, Inspector!’

  ‘Your resentment is duly noted,’ said Colbeck smoothly, ‘but it pales beside my own. You wrote a letter purporting to come from an anonymous rival. That was gross deception.’

  ‘I explained that. I needed to secure your attention.’

  ‘You’ve certainly secured it now.’

  ‘It was done with the best of intentions.’

  ‘What about that story of two men who tried to cudgel Tim Maguire? Did you invent that with the best of intentions as well?’

  ‘It was no invention.’

  Colbeck raised a sceptical eyebrow. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes,’ retorted Dowd. ‘And before you accuse me of lying to you, let me remind you that I didn’t report that incident to the police. We dealt with it ourselves as we’ve done with many similar incidents. If you look at my record as a trainer over the past five years, you’ll see how successful I’ve been. That annoys people, especially members of the English aristocracy who can’t bear the thought of an upstart Irishman like me beating their expensive racehorses time and again. At Doncaster last year, someone tied a silk handkerchief around the leg of my colt, Dungannon, then hit it with a stick. It’s a miracle the leg was not broken. And you don’t have to believe me,’ he went on, working himself up into a fury. ‘The incident was reported in the newspapers. It happens every time we come to England, you see. We’re always under siege over here. Well, look at the evidence. If one of the bastards can send me the severed head of a lad I once employed, you can see what I’m up against.’

  ‘Other owners have their afflictions as well, Mr Dowd.’

  ‘Who cares about that?’

  ‘Merry Legs might well have been poisoned,’ said Colbeck. ‘Can’t you find an ounce of sympathy for the horse?’

  ‘I’ve sympathy for every horse, Inspector, especially one that’s owned by Hamilton Fido. Anyone who tries to kill an animal that way deserves to have the poison poured down his own throat. I hope you catch the man soon.’

  ‘Can you suggest where I might start looking?’

  ‘You do your job and I’ll do mine.’

  ‘Unhappily,’ said Colbeck, ‘the two overlap so we’re sure to see more of each other before the day is out. As for what was, in essence, a forged letter written to deceive the police, I’ll have to consult my superintendent about the appropriate action to take. Since he’s coming to Epsom today, he may well want to speak to you himself.’

  ‘I’ll speak to the whole of the Metropolitan Police Force, if you wish,’ volunteered Dowd, ‘and you’re welcome to issue a fine or lock me up, if need be. I ask only one favour, Inspector – please don’t do it before the Derby.’

  Having complained bitterly throughout the entire journey, Edward Tallis reserved his severest remonstrations for Epsom itself. The sight of so many people enjoying themselves on the Downs was anathema to him. He viewed the vast panorama of tents, marquees, booths, stalls and handcarts as if they were a communal entrance to Hell.

  ‘Have you ever beheld such sin and degradation?’ he said.

  ‘They always have a fairground here, sir,’ replied Leeming. ‘On a day like this, people expect entertainment.’

  ‘Entertainment! Is that what you call it, Sergeant?’

  ‘Most of it is quite harmless. Who could object to acrobats and fire-eaters and fortune-tellers? And there are dozens of amazing freaks to see, not to mention jugglers, musicians and ballad singers. I know there are pickpockets, thimble-riggers and swindlers here as well,’ he conceded, ‘but the majority of people are very law-abiding.’

  ‘At the moment, perhaps,’ said Tallis darkly, ‘but anything can happen when drink is taken. We saw that on the way here. The most upright citizen can be reduced to a babbling imbecile after six pints of beer. By evening, this place will be like Sodom and Gomorrah.’

  Leeming stifled a laugh. ‘Yes, Superintendent.’

  They alighted from the cab and elbowed their way towards the grandstand. All around them, people from every class of society were eating, drinking, smoking, laughing, playing games or engaging in lively banter. They went past mechanics and members of the nobility, tradesmen in their best suits, urchins in their rags, noisy shop-boys, boisterous apprentices, wandering foreigners, red-cheeked country folk, orange sellers, minstrels, maidservants, baked-potato vendors, porters, dockworkers, watermen, lavender girls, gypsies, soldiers, sailors and everyone else who had been drawn to the jamboree.

  Victor Leeming thought that the crowd was remarkably even-tempered but Tallis predicted trouble. The superintendent was pleased to see a number of police uniforms dotted around the scene.

  ‘Let’s hope our men can enforce a measure of control,’ he said.

  ‘They’ll make all the difference,’ said Leeming.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘There were no policemen in Sodom and Gomorrah.’

  ‘I can do without your comments, Sergeant.’

  ‘I was simply trying to make a point, sir.’

  ‘Make it elsewhere.’

  The curt rebuff reduced Leeming to silence until they reached the betting room. After Tallis had been introduced to Hamilton Fido, they adjourned to the nearby storeroom with the bookmaker.

  ‘I’d appreciate it if this discussion was brief,’ said Fido. ‘As you know, I’m needed to take bets. My presence is critical.’

  ‘This is not a discussion, sir,’ said Tallis, ‘but part of a police investigation. I set no time limit on that.’ He nudged Leeming who removed his hat to reveal the bandaging. ‘Yesterday evening the sergeant was clubbed to the ground while in the act of following you.’

  Fido feigned surprise. ‘Why should he follow me?’

  ‘I thought you’d lead me to Kitty Lavender,’ said Leeming.

  ‘I told you – I’ve no idea where she is.’

  ‘We didn’t accept your assurance, sir.’

  ‘In other words,’ said Tallis, resuming control, ‘one of my officers was assaulted while in pursuit of you, Mr Fido. We are bound to suspect that the ruffian involved was in your employ.’

  ‘I deny that wholeheartedly!’ exclaimed Fido.

  ‘We had a feeling that you would.’

  ‘I had no idea that I was being shadowed by Sergeant Leeming and, if I had, I would certainly not have set someone onto him. I’d have stopped and asked him exactly what it was that he wanted. My policy is to assist the guardians of law and order as much as I can.’

  ‘That statement flies in the face of your reputation.’

  ‘The only reputation I have,’ said the bookmaker, ‘is for honest dealing. That’s why I’ve lasted so long while others have gone to the wall.’ He studied Leeming’s bandage. ‘I’m very sorry that the sergeant was wounded but I must protest at the allegation that I somehow prompted the attack.’

  ‘I know that you employ some pugs, sir,’ said Leeming.

  ‘Only as bodyguards.’

  ‘We have a good description of the man who hit me. He was big, brawny and had a broken nose. Two or three witnesses said that he looked like an old boxer.’

  ‘There are plenty of retired boxers roaming the Downs today.’

  ‘We’re only concerned with one individual,’ said Tallis.

  ‘Do you have him in custody?’

  ‘Not yet.’

&n
bsp; ‘Do you have any idea who he might be?’

  ‘One of your henchmen, Mr Fido.’

  ‘You’re welcome to have a list of my employees,’ said the other blithely, ‘so that you can talk to each of them in turn. I can guarantee you will not find the man you are after because he has no connection whatsoever with me. Sergeant Leeming’s injury was caused by a complete stranger.’ He flashed a defiant smile. ‘Will that be all?’

  ‘No, it will not be all,’ said the superintendent tartly.

  ‘I’m required elsewhere, Mr Tallis.’

  ‘You’re required here at the moment, sir. I’m not letting you go until we clear up this nonsense about Miss Kitty Lavender. We must see her immediately. Inspector Colbeck believes that she can throw light on the murder that occurred,’ he continued, ‘and he’s tired of your refusal to bring her forward.’

  ‘I’ve encouraged her to speak to you.’

  ‘Yet she remains inaccessible. Part of the blame for that should lie with you, Mr Fido, which means that you are hindering a murder investigation and are therefore liable to arrest.’

  ‘Your wait is over, Superintendent,’ said Fido, holding up both hands to pacify him. ‘I give you my solemn word on that. Kitty has finally accepted the wisdom of my advice and consented to speak to the police.’

  ‘Then where is she?’

  ‘And how do you know she’s changed her mind,’ added Leeming, ‘when you claim to be out of touch with her?’

  ‘I’ll take those questions in order. Where is she?’ he asked. ‘I don’t rightly know but Kitty is here somewhere and promises faithfully that she will talk to Inspector Colbeck once the Derby is over. How do I know all this? said Fido. ‘I was informed of her change of heart by Marcus Johnson, her half-brother. He, too, is here today.’ He pulled out a gold watch and consulted it. ‘Time races on, gentlemen,’ he noted. ‘May I have your permission to leave?’

  ‘No,’ said Tallis.

  ‘You’re preventing the legitimate exercise of my business.’

  ‘There’s nothing legitimate about bookmaking, sir, so let’s not pretend there is. What I want to know is this, Mr Fido.’ Tallis thrust is face close to him. ‘How will Inspector Colbeck be able to find this woman?’

  ‘Kitty will come to me after the race to celebrate.’