Steel was uncomfortable. ‘We’ve had none that’s entirely reliable.’
‘And we both know why,’ said the bishop. ‘Whenever he’s here, Browne terrorises this city. People won’t help you because they’re afraid of the consequences. They want the reassurance of seeing army uniforms on our streets.’
‘It would be a disastrous step to take.’
‘We need protection, Superintendent. I, in particular, demand it.’
‘Why so?’
‘Browne committed that murder out of spite against me. And he’s still here,’ said the bishop, waving an arm to take in the whole of Exeter. ‘If he’s got away with murder once, he may feel able to do so again — and I may well be his target.’
Steel mastered a surge of hope that such an eventuality might occur.
‘That’s absurd, Bishop,’ he said, reasonably. ‘There’s no evidence at all to suggest that the killing of Joel Heygate is in any way directed at you. Bagsy Browne is a deep-dyed villain who acts out of malice rather than because he has a hatred of the Church. Of one thing you can rest assured — you are completely safe.’
‘Then why don’t I feel safe in this city?’
Steel saw a chance to get rid of him. ‘Why not withdraw to Torquay?’ he counselled. ‘There’d be no sense of danger there, Bishop. You can return to Exeter when we’ve got Bagsy Browne in custody.’
The bishop struck a pose. ‘I don’t run away from danger,’ he boasted. ‘I stay to confront it and take positive action. I give you this warning. Catch this vile recreant in the next few days or …’ he paused for effect ‘… or I will contact the army myself.’
After scanning the newspaper with growing annoyance, Bagsy Browne scrunched it up and tossed it on the floor. Adeline Goss retrieved it. They were in her room and he was lolling discontentedly on the bed.
‘Why did you do that, Bagsy?’ she asked, smoothing the paper so that it could be read again. ‘Did something in there upset you?’
‘I’m upset because something wasn’t in the paper.’
‘What were you expecting?’
‘I wanted details of Heygate’s funeral.’
‘That may not be for days yet.’
‘I can’t stay in Exeter for ever, Ad.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘I need to find somewhere warm for the winter.’
She sat beside him. ‘It’s very snug in here,’ she said, stroking his arm. ‘I keep the fire burning day and night.’
‘You certainly keep my fire burning,’ he said with a crude snigger.
‘That’s what I’ll always do, Bagsy.’ She saw a headline in the newspaper. ‘They’re still looking for you.’
‘So?’
‘Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to attack that prison officer.’
‘It was him who attacked me, Ad. I had to defend myself. Also, I had a score to settle with Bob Wyatt. He made my life a misery in prison. I got my own back in the end,’ he said, triumphantly. ‘I always do. Anyone who crosses Bagsy Browne will wish that they hadn’t.’
‘Don’t go to that funeral,’ she implored.
‘Nothing would keep me away. I loathed that stationmaster.’
‘You’d be taking too big a risk, Bagsy.’
‘Stop worrying. I know what I’m doing.’
She grasped his shoulder. ‘I’d hate to lose you, I really would.’
‘Then I’ll make sure you don’t, Ad,’ he said, pulling her on to the bed. Before he could lift her skirt, they heard a dog barking furiously.
Bagsy sat up. ‘That sounds like trouble.’
There was a shifting population in Rockfield Place. It consisted largely of petty criminals, whores, drunkards and unemployed men. Respect for the law was not widespread. Precautions had therefore been taken against any visit by the police. A guard dog had been trained to bark at the sight of a police uniform. His warning had saved a number of fugitives from arrest. Whole families there might have been desperately short of food but the dog, a flea-bitten cur, was always well fed. He earned everything he ate. Four policemen had come purposefully into Rockfield Place. They grabbed the first woman they could find, a scrawny prostitute with missing teeth.
‘We’re looking for Adeline Goss,’ said the sergeant.
‘I can give you a better time in bed than her,’ she bragged, ‘and I charge less. Come on up to my room and I’ll prove it.’
‘Where is she?’
‘I’ll tell you later.’
He shook her violently and she screeched in protest. When she tried to break away, he held her tight. The dog snapped at his legs and he kicked it away. Under threat of arrest, the woman finally capitulated. She pointed a greasy finger.
‘Ad has the top room up there,’ she said.
They were off in a flash. Shoving her aside, the four policemen ran to the house in question and banged on the door. It was opened by a girl with ragged clothes and bare feet. Before she could ask what they wanted, they rushed past her and thundered up the stairs to the top floor. When they burst into her room, Adeline was sitting at the table, eating a biscuit and reading the newspaper. She feigned surprise.
‘Where have you all come from?’ she asked, one provocative hand on her hip. ‘No matter — I’ve been starved of business lately. You can take it in turns.’
‘We’re looking for Bagsy Browne,’ said the sergeant.
‘Well, he’s not here. Take a look if you don’t believe me.’
It took them less than a minute to search the room. They looked in every possible hiding place and peered under the bed. Adeline was unruffled.
‘I think an apology is in order,’ she said. ‘Don’t you?’
‘You should apologise for harbouring a killer,’ said the sergeant. ‘You’ve had Bagsy Browne up here, haven’t you?’
She was pugnacious. ‘Who says so?’
‘We have a witness who saw you together. Where’s Bagsy now?’
‘I’ve never heard of him.’
‘We’ve got no time to play games,’ he said, turning to the others. ‘She’s under arrest. Take her in for questioning.’
Adeline squawked in protest but she could not fight off the two strong men who took an arm apiece and carried her out of the room. After a last look around, the sergeant went out and slammed the door behind him. It was an hour before Bagsy Browne moved the concealed panel in the ceiling and lowered himself down.
It was early evening when they met Superintendent Steel at the Acland Tavern. Colbeck and Leeming were far more at ease than they had been over luncheon with Tallis. Steel had accepted them and they, in turn, had recognised his true merit. They could converse as friends and fellow policemen. When they heard about the bishop’s threat of bringing in the army, the detectives were dismayed.
‘The only time that soldiers are of use is when a riot has to be quelled,’ said Colbeck, ‘and even then I’d think twice about deploying them. We’re searching for one man, not trying to subdue an entire city.’
‘Bishop Phillpotts is afraid that he may be the next victim,’ said Steel.
‘That’s ridiculous.’
‘He believes that everything that’s happened is aimed at him.’
‘Then perhaps he should be examined by Dr Swift,’ suggested Colbeck. ‘He specialises in people with delusions. Incidentally,’ he continued, ‘I must thank you for passing on Dr Swift’s name. The way that he handled Mrs Rossiter was admirable. He’s the sort of man in whom one can have complete faith.’
‘I’ve heard nothing but good about Dr Swift. That’s why I recommended him. As for the bishop,’ continued Steel, ‘we all have our cross to bear, I fancy. When I met Superintendent Tallis, I sensed that he could be just as objectionable as Bishop Phillpotts. Am I right?’
‘He can be trying at times,’ conceded Colbeck.
‘He’s a monster,’ said Leeming. ‘He enjoys finding fault with us and always gets in our way. I wish that he’d go back to London and stop harassing us. We work so much better on our
own. Let’s not talk about the superintendent,’ he went on. ‘It upsets my stomach. I wanted to ask you about Dawlish. Is there much crime there?’
‘Not as a rule,’ replied Steel. ‘Why do you want to know?’
‘The place appealed to me somehow. I could see myself living there with my family. It wouldn’t be too difficult to police. I could grow to like that.’
‘No you couldn’t,’ said Colbeck with a laugh. ‘You wouldn’t last five minutes there, Victor. You’d be bored to death by it. You thrive on action and I don’t think that a quiet Devonshire coastal resort will provide you with much of that. Isn’t that so, Superintendent?’
‘Nothing much happens in Dawlish,’ said Steel. ‘Nothing, that is, of interest to the police. Rowdy behaviour at the pub is all you’d have to contend with, Sergeant, and some very occasional larceny.’
‘You’re forgetting Michael Heygate,’ Leeming reminded him. ‘Dawlish could well have a killer lurking in its midst.’
‘I stand by my earlier judgement. Bagsy Browne is our man.’
‘I’m not ruling out Woodford,’ said Colbeck. ‘We could all be wrong, of course,’ he admitted. ‘It may be that none of our three suspects is guilty. The culprit could be someone else entirely.’
‘I don’t think so, Inspector. My money is on Bagsy.’
‘Are you any nearer to catching him?’
‘We believe that we are,’ said Steel, confidently. ‘Earlier today my men arrested a prostitute by the name of Adeline Goss. She lives in Rockfield Place and that’s infested with them. We received information that she knew Bagsy Browne and had recently been seen with him. That’s why I authorised the raid.’
‘What happened?’
‘Her room was searched but there was no sign of him.’
‘How reliable is your informant?’
‘He’s very reliable, as a rule,’ explained Steel, ‘because he needs the money. He’s an Irishman named Finbar Mulleady and he got fed up with eating prison food. So he mended his ways and became an informant instead. We’ve been paying for his drink these last couple of years.’
‘Did you get anything out of the woman?’ asked Leeming.
Steel grinned. ‘Yes, we got the vilest abuse I’ve ever heard.’
‘I take it that she even denied knowing Browne.’
‘They’re old friends. Several people have confirmed that.’
‘Are you certain of securing a conviction?’ asked Colbeck.
‘There’s no doubt about that. Mulleady is prepared to swear on oath that he saw them together in Rockfield Place, so she’ll be convicted of harbouring a wanted man. And once Adeline Goss is imprisoned, we have the perfect bait for Bagsy.’
‘Do you think he’d try to rescue her?’
‘I’m sure of it, Inspector. It’s the kind of perverted gallantry I’d expect of him. Catch his woman and we have a good chance of catching him.’
Colbeck was sceptical. ‘It may not be as simple as that.’
‘We have the trump card,’ said Steel. ‘We have Mulleady. His eyesight may get blurred after a few pints of beer but he knows what he saw. Bagsy and the woman are lovers. Because she aided him, he won’t desert her now. Once we’ve caught him,’ he added with a complacent smile, ‘we can prosecute Bagsy for the murder and Mulleady can collect a very large reward.’
A wet and blustery night kept most people at home but one man had been lured out. Impervious to the weather, he floated gently along the canal. Finbar Mulleady would be unable to claim anything now.
CHAPTER TEN
Caleb Andrews was deadly serious about his new friendship and it was disturbing. Madeleine had never known him take such care with his appearance. He was not due to visit Binnie Langton’s house until the afternoon, yet he was all spruced up in his best suit and kept stopping in front of a mirror to comb his hair and stroke his beard. Someone who jokingly criticised Colbeck for his vanity was now leaving himself open to a similar charge. Madeleine worried that her father had been far too quick to bestow his affections on a woman he knew too little about.
‘Perhaps I should come with you,’ she said.
‘What would be the point of that?’
‘I’d like to meet Mrs Langton.’
‘All in good time, Maddy,’ he said. ‘I want to enjoy the pleasure of being alone with her for once. That’s how we can really become acquainted.’
‘Things are moving too fast.’
‘They have to at our age. We’re not like you and Inspector Colbeck. Both of you are young enough to take your time. We don’t have years to spare.’
It was a sobering reminder of her long courtship. Madeleine had always known that she’d marry Colbeck one day but she’d been kept waiting far longer than she’d anticipated. Indeed, the delay was so protracted that her father — though talked out of it by Madeleine — had toyed with the notion of asking if Colbeck really did intend to lead her to the altar. His daughter was an attractive woman with many admirers. If one man was keeping her waiting, Andrews argued, perhaps it was time she looked elsewhere. Madeleine had disagreed. Her love for Colbeck was far too deep for her even to entertain the idea of befriending another man, but it hadn’t stopped her from wondering if and when they could at last set the date for their wedding.
‘I’ve done this before, remember,’ said Andrews, back in front of the mirror again. ‘I know how to choose a wife. Your mother was the light of my life, Maddy. I couldn’t wish for a better wife. I’m not pretending that Binnie could match her in any way but … I feel the need for female company. Is that such a crime?’
‘No, Father, it isn’t.’
‘I hoped that you’d be happy for me.’
‘I would be if I knew more about the lady.’
‘I like her — that’s all you need to know.’
‘And is she just as fond of you?’
He chortled. ‘I think it’s safe to say that.’
‘Have you told her about me?’ asked Madeleine.
‘What a silly question! Of course I’ve told her about you. She wanted to know everything about me and she was very excited when I told her that the famous Railway Detective was going to be my son-in-law.’ He took her gently by the shoulders. ‘Try to stop worrying, Maddy. I’m not some lovesick young man with his head in the clouds.’
‘I just don’t want you to make a decision you’ll later regret.’
‘I haven’t made any decision yet.’
‘Then why are you dressed as if you’re going to church?’
He stood back and spread his arms. ‘I want to make a good impression,’ he said. ‘Think of all those years when I came home with the filth and stink of the railways on me. That’s all in the past, Maddy. I’m going to be well groomed and smartly dressed from now on — just like a certain person I could mention.’
Madeleine smiled. ‘You could never look as elegant as Robert.’
‘I couldn’t afford it, for a start.’
‘But you do look nice, Father. I hope that Mrs Langton appreciates you.’
‘There’s no doubt about that,’ he said with another chortle. ‘Binnie is full of appreciation. She’s going to make a cake for me. Apparently, she’s a very good cook.’
‘What time will I expect you back?’
‘I haven’t gone yet.’
‘I need to know when to prepare dinner.’
‘I’m sorry, Maddy, I can’t say when I’ll be back. I’m only invited for tea but, if things develop in the way I hope, I may stay a lot longer. Expect me when you see me. That’s my advice.’
Madeleine’s anxiety was intensified.
Preoccupied as he was with the search for a killer, Colbeck never forgot that he was due to get married at the end of the month. Whenever he passed a church or caught a glimpse of the cathedral, he felt a surge of pleasure. In the weeks leading up to the event, it would have been far more convenient for him to be working in London, but crime popped up in all parts of the railway network and he would travel anyw
here to grapple with it. Morning started with breakfast at the Acland Tavern. Mercifully, Tallis was late getting up, so Colbeck and Leeming were able to enjoy the meal without his invasive presence. They also had the opportunity to discuss domestic concerns.
‘I miss Estelle and the children so much,’ said Leeming.
‘You could always keep in touch by letter.’
‘It’s not the same as seeing them in the flesh, sir. Well, it must be the same for you and Miss Andrews.’
‘It is,’ said Colbeck, resignedly. ‘I’d love Madeleine to be here with me but that’s wholly impractical.’
‘I know the feeling. When I went to Dawlish yesterday, I had this sudden desire to show it to my family. I could just imagine stepping off the train and giving them their first look at that lovely beach. Then they could feed the ducks on the brook.’ He pulled a face. ‘There are no beaches where we live and there isn’t a duck for miles.’ He munched a piece of toast. ‘It makes you think, though, doesn’t it?’
‘Think about what?’
‘Well, marriage and the happiness it can bring. There’s nothing to compare with it. I’m blessed in my wife and, from what you told me about the stationmaster’s house, it’s obvious that he was happily married as well.’ He took a noisy sip of tea. ‘I wouldn’t say the same about his brother. Michael Heygate and his wife were together but you’d never say they were contented with each other. They both seemed miserable and it wasn’t because they were in mourning.’
‘Marriage affects people in different ways, Victor,’ said Colbeck. ‘You and Estelle have set a good example. Others are not so fortunate in their choices.’
‘You certainly are, sir. Miss Andrews will make an excellent wife.’
‘No question about that. I like to think that I may be a worthy husband.’
‘It’s something you have to work at,’ said Leeming, sagely. ‘But I wish you both well. Estelle was delighted that you’d invited us to the wedding. It’s not often she has an excuse to dress up in her finery.’ He took another bite of toast. ‘Have you changed your decision about the superintendent?’
‘No, I haven’t. He’d be embarrassed if we sent him an invitation and it would certainly be declined. In his company, it’s safer to pretend that the wedding is not actually happening. That reduces the risk of friction.’
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