‘Yes,’ said Alice, barely able to keep a smile off her face. ‘I suppose that she will be. Once you commit yourself to the war effort, you don’t have much time for anything else. I know that when I join the WEC, I can expect to work much longer hours than I do now.’
‘When do you start?’
‘Oh, we’re going to wait until the end of the term. We can’t just hand in our resignations and walk out. Vera – that’s my friend – has promised her parents that she’ll wait until July. I’ll do the same.’
‘So until then,’ he said, looking her up and down, ‘you’ll have some free time on your hands.’
She nodded happily. ‘What about you?’
‘I’m going to be working flat-out until this case is solved. That will probably mean giving up my Sundays as well. But it will be worth it when we nail the killer and the arsonist.’
‘And what happens then, Joe?’
He grinned. ‘It will be fun finding out.’
Herbert Stone seemed to be spending more time at his brother’s house than at his own. It was not just a question of consoling Miriam and helping to monitor Ruth’s behaviour. He had to see to his brother’s business affairs. That meant that he spent hours in the office, going through the relevant books and documents. It took a huge load off his sister-in-law’s shoulders and she was duly grateful. As he was about to depart after another session at the house, Miriam took his hand.
‘Thank you, Herman,’ she said with a tired smile. ‘You’ve been a tower of strength.’
‘I’ve only done what any brother would have done.’
‘We’d have been lost without you.’
‘It’s nothing,’ he said, kissing her lightly on the forehead. ‘Has Ruth gone to bed yet?’
‘She went up a few minutes ago.’
‘Then I won’t disturb her. I thought she seemed much better today. Our words are finally getting through to her.’
‘She was very upset to hear about the fire at the synagogue,’ said Miriam. ‘But she rallied this afternoon. It was possible to have a proper conversation at last.’
‘Do you think she’s out of danger?’
‘I do hope so, Herman.’
‘If only her brother would come home,’ he said, irritably. ‘It would make all the difference.’
‘Why is it taking so long for news to get through?’
‘I don’t know, Mimi. All that we can do is to wait.’ He jumped in surprise when the grandfather clock immediately behind him started to chime. ‘Goodness – is that how late it is?’
‘You’d better go home.’
She escorted him to the door and opened it for him. After giving her a farewell kiss, he put on his hat and walked across to his car. It was mid-evening and the vehicle was in shadow. He was about to get into it when he noticed that his front wheels were missing and had been replaced by piles of bricks. Someone had smashed his windscreen as well. Stone stood there, quivering with fury.
Miriam was still at the door. ‘Is something wrong, Herman?’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Irene was halfway back to the house before she realised that she’d forgotten to ask Ernie Gill if he’d followed her when she went to the shops with Miss James. It no longer mattered. Her prime objective had been to find out if he was involved in a murder in Liverpool. Now that he’d convinced her that he was completely innocent of the charge, she chided herself for having suspicions about him. Relieved that he’d not committed a heinous crime, she also absolved him of lying in wait to trail her. Why should he do that? What did he stand to gain? When he could go drinking with friends, he’d have no motive for making such a long journey in the hope of a glimpse of her. Irene had been wrong to suspect him of stalking her and even more wrong to imagine his being capable of murder. When they worked together on the Lusitania, Gill had sometimes played unwelcome pranks but that was the extent of his misdemeanours. She felt thoroughly ashamed at the way that she’d confronted him. It was a poor reward for a man who’d come to her rescue at sea.
When Irene let herself into the house, Dorothy was waiting.
‘Where have you been?’ she asked. ‘I expected you here when I got back. It’s getting dark outside.’
‘I had to go out, Dot.’
‘Have you been shopping again?’
‘No,’ said Irene. ‘I went to see Ernie.’
‘I thought he lived miles away.’
‘He does.’
Dorothy laughed. ‘I think that you’re closer to him than you like to admit, Irene. When will I get to meet this admirer of yours?’
‘How many times must I tell you? Ernie is just a friend.’
‘I wouldn’t go all that way if someone was … just a friend.’
‘It won’t happen again, Dot.’
‘We could have him here for tea one Sunday.’
‘No,’ said Irene. ‘I told you before. He’s not coming here.’
‘But I’d like to meet him. Miss James said that he had a nice voice and was obviously fond of you. Why hide him away?’
‘I wouldn’t want him to get the wrong idea.’
‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ said Dorothy with a sigh. ‘I’d settle for a man getting any sort of idea about me but I don’t seem to interest them. I don’t know why.’
Irene was sympathetic. ‘It may happen one day.’
‘Who’d look at a woman of my age?’
‘They still look at me.’
‘I’m going to die an old maid – just like Miss James.’
‘You’re not at all like Miss James,’ said Irene, hugging her. ‘You hold down a good job and you do just about everything for the church. Don’t keep putting yourself down, Dot. In your own way, you’ve been really successful.’
‘It doesn’t feel like it.’
‘People rely on you. You’re important in their lives.’
‘There is that, I suppose.’
‘I know a way to cheer you up,’ said Irene, heading for the cabinet. ‘Let’s have a glass of sherry, shall we?’
‘The bottle’s almost empty.’
‘That’s why I bought another one when I went shopping.’
Irene took two sherry glasses from the cabinet, then filled one of them from a bottle. There was just enough left in it for the other glass. She handed one to Dorothy and picked up the other.
‘Good health!’ she said.
‘Health, wealth and happiness,’ said Dorothy, taking a sip. ‘I needed that. I feel better already.’
‘Let’s go and sit down.’
‘What about the cooking?’
‘That can wait.’
Irene went into the living room and sat on the sofa. Dorothy chose the armchair opposite her. She saw her sister glancing round.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ she said. ‘This place is dowdy. It badly needs decorating. I just never got round to it. By the time I’ve got home from work, I’ve run out of steam.’
‘I’m here now, Dot. We’ll do it together.’
‘Unless you get a better offer, that is.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, I’m not persuaded that you’re here for good, Irene. You’re too good a catch. Ernie Gill may not be your choice but I don’t think you’ll be short of offers.’ After another sip of sherry, Dorothy was emboldened. ‘Pass one of them on to me, will you?’
* * *
Before he returned to Scotland Yard, Joe Keedy went back to his flat and changed into a different suit and a pair of shoes that fitted. He now felt confident enough to face his colleagues again. Since they teased him about the care he took with his appearance, they would have ribbed him unmercifully if they’d seen him in the clothing borrowed from Harvey Marmion. That had all been given back to the inspector. Keedy was himself again, able to look in a mirror without wincing. Detectives had gathered more information about the raid on Jacob Stein’s shop and Keedy had been given the task of going through all the statements and picking out the most salient. He was
poring over his desk when the commissioner came in.
‘I thought you’d have gone home by now, Sergeant,’ said Sir Edward. ‘After your heroic endeavours, you deserve a rest.’
‘I’ve almost finished.’
‘Is there any fresh evidence about the fire at the synagogue?’
‘I’m afraid not, Sir Edward.’
‘There’s another outrage to add to the list, I fear.’
‘Oh – what’s that?’
‘It’s not on the same scale as the others but it’s annoying enough. When he telephoned me, Mr Stone was extremely annoyed.’
‘I would have thought he spent most of his time in a state of annoyance,’ said Keedy, dryly. ‘What’s his complaint this time?’
‘Somebody attacked his car.’
‘When was this?’
‘Earlier this evening,’ said the commissioner. ‘In the time that it was parked outside his brother’s house, two wheels were stolen and the windscreen was smashed. The drive is screened by a thick hedge, apparently, so somebody could slip in there unseen.’
‘Does he have any idea who was behind it?’
‘None at all – he wants you to solve that little mystery.’
Keedy laughed mirthlessly. ‘With respect to Mr Stone,’ he said, ‘we do have other crimes to address. I don’t think you can compare two missing tyres with murder and arson.’
‘He believes the latest incident may be connected to the others.’
Keedy pondered. ‘It’s possible, I daresay, but it was his brother who was the designated victim, not Mr Stone. This could just as easily be the random act of someone who just doesn’t like him. From what I’ve seen of him, I’d say that he has a gift for making enemies.’
‘He does, alas. I fancy that he lists us among them.’
‘Did you tell him about Cochran’s escape from prison, Sir Edward?’
‘I told him how promptly you and Inspector Marmion retrieved the situation. He had the grace to offer a word of praise for you.’
‘Is he going to pass on the news to his niece?’
‘No, Sergeant,’ said the commissioner. ‘He was adamant about that. Miss Stein will not be told. She’d be unnecessarily alarmed. It’s better that she’s kept in ignorance.’
‘I’ll wager she’s been told about her uncle’s motor car.’
‘That’s different. Well,’ said the other, stifling a yawn, ‘I must be on my way and I’d advise you to do the same. I see that the inspector has already gone home.’
‘But he hasn’t, Sir Edward.’
‘Then where is he?’
‘He’s still very much at work.’
‘His office was empty when I walked past.’
‘Inspector Marmion has gone back to Jermyn Street.’
He knew that it was him. Though the man was standing in shadow on the opposite pavement, Marmion was certain that it was none other than Cyril Burridge. He strolled across to him.
‘Good evening, Mr Burridge,’ he said.
‘What are you doing here, Inspector?’
‘I was about to ask the same of you, sir. As for me, I came to take a look inside the shop, now that it’s safe to do so. When the light started to fade, I gave up.’ He nodded towards the shop. ‘It’s much bigger than it seems from the outside.’
‘We needed plenty of storage space.’
‘Is this a nostalgic visit, Mr Burridge?’
The tailor was brusque. ‘I don’t believe in nostalgia.’
‘You must have some happy memories of working here.’
‘I choose to forget them, Inspector.’
As he looked at him, Marmion wondered how he’d managed to work alongside David Cohen for so many years without any major disagreements. The big, gruff, barely civil Yorkshireman would have been a difficult colleague for anyone, especially so for someone as refined as the manager. With customers, Marmion assumed, Burridge was able to shed his curt manner. The inspector recalled what he’d learnt about the financial affairs of the firm.
‘I can see why you resented Mr Stone.’
‘We all did.’
‘Does that include Mr Cohen?’
‘Ask him.’
‘In effect, I did. He was non-committal.’
Burridge snorted. ‘That’s David Cohen for you!’
‘He praised your work as a tailor.’
‘I’ve never had complaints.’
‘But you were prone to make them, I gather.’
‘Happen.’
Marmion waited for a longer response but he got none. Burridge was prickly and unhelpful. Something must have drawn him back to the site of the tragedy and Marmion refused to believe that the man was entirely without sympathy. Burridge had to be mourning the employer whom he’d claimed to respect when first interviewed. Most of his working life had been spent in Jermyn Street. In spite of what Burridge said, it was bound to weigh with him. He might be free from any hint of sentimentality but he was not heartless. Beneath the bluff exterior, Marmion guessed, the tailor was deeply moved by what had happened to Jacob Stein.
‘How did the two brothers get on?’ asked Marmion.
‘That were their business.’
‘Not if it had an impact on you, and you’ve already admitted that it did. You told me that Mr Stone interfered too much.’
‘I were being polite.’
‘Who made his suits?’
‘His brother had that job.’
‘You were never asked to take over?’
‘I’d have refused, Inspector.’
‘Why is that?’
‘Would you like to be his tailor?’
‘I can’t say it would be an appealing prospect.’
‘It weren’t.’
‘Do you think he’d be too finicky?’
‘I need to like my clients.’
‘That lets Mr Stone out, then.’
‘Oh, you’re wrong,’ said Burridge, sarcastically. ‘He were my favourite of the two brothers. It’s just that I’d have preferred to measure him for a coffin rather than for a suit. Question answered?’
‘Answered with beguiling honesty,’ said Marmion. ‘While you’re being so candid, sir, perhaps you’d answer this. Why didn’t Jacob Stein stand up to his brother?’
‘I wish I knew.’
‘You must have a theory.’
Burridge smiled. ‘I try to avoid foul language.’
‘Did you know that there’s been another incident related to the family? An attempt was made to burn down the synagogue they attended. What’s your reaction to that?’
‘First I’ve heard of it,’ said Burridge, looking surprised.
‘Are you sorry to hear the news?’
‘What happened?’
‘The fire brigade got there in time to prevent any real damage.’
‘I’m glad to hear that.’
‘Do you have no other comment?’
Burridge hunched his shoulders. ‘No – should I?’
‘Well, it does rather undermine your suggestion that we should take a closer look at Herbert Stone with regard to the events that occurred here. There may be some financial gain once the insurance claim is settled,’ said Marmion, ‘but that’s not proof positive that he was in any way connected with the crimes. And a devout Jew like Mr Stone would hardly set fire to his own synagogue.’
‘True.’
‘So you can cross him off your list of suspects.’
‘I don’t have one, Inspector. You’re the detective.’ He adjusted his hat. ‘My wife will be wondering where I am. I must go.’
‘Answer this before you do, sir. It’s a question that I put to Mr Cohen and he was unable to help me.’
‘Nothing unusual there.’
‘Howard Fine was appointed by Mr Stein then dismissed by his brother. Why?’
‘Ask Mr Stone.’
‘My colleague, Sergeant Keedy, did just that, sir. Mr Stone said that he simply didn’t belong and was causing unease among the rest of the staff.’
‘There’s your answer.’
‘He didn’t explain why Mr Fine didn’t fit in.’
Burridge gave him a shrewd look. Marmion had the feeling that he would not get a reply but he was mistaken. After thinking it over, the tailor eventually spoke, lowering his voice as he did so.
‘Have you met Howard Fine, Inspector?’
‘No,’ said Marmion, ‘he was interviewed by Sergeant Keedy.’
‘And is the sergeant a man of the world?’
‘I’d say that was a fair description of him, sir.’
‘Then I’m surprised he didn’t notice something about Howard. On the other hand,’ Burridge continued, ‘it got past Mr Stein as well. Howard were very good at concealing it.’
‘What are you talking about, Mr Burridge?’
‘Howard Fine talked endlessly about his wife.’
‘Is there any law against that, sir?’
‘No, Inspector. It just seems an odd thing to do when you’re not actually married.’
‘Do you mean that he was just living with a woman?’
‘Howard were not interested in women,’ said Burridge, sourly. ‘Only in men like him.’
Careful not to advertise his destination, Howard Fine asked the taxi driver to drop him off outside a bank. He paid his fare and waited until the taxi had driven away before walking around the corner. Impeccably dressed and carrying a cane, he strolled gently along the pavement until he came to a large house with steps leading up to the front door. He paused to make sure that nobody was watching him then he went up the steps. The door opened before he even reached it. The steward was a dapper individual in his forties.
‘Good evening, Mr Fine,’ he said, standing aside to let his visitor step into the hall. ‘We haven’t seen you for a while, sir.’
‘I had to spend a week or so in London,’ said Fine.
After closing the door, the steward took his hat and cane.
‘We’re glad to have you back in Brighton, sir.’
‘I’m very glad to be back.’
Keedy was startled. ‘Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?’
A Bespoke Murder Page 19
