The Stationmaster's farewell irc-9

by Edward Marston

  He gestured to his filthy trousers and showed his dirty hands. Mention of the two names was a like a hammer blow to Swift. He was reeling. Trying to control his rising panic, he fell back on bluff.

  ‘Don’t listen to anything that Gurney and his wife tell you,’ warned Swift. ‘Both of them worked under me as nurses and I dismissed them for incompetence. They’ll make up all sorts of weird tales to get back at me.’

  ‘Two tiny bodies have been uncovered in their garden,’ said Colbeck, regarding him with contempt. ‘The most recent of them was buried there on the night that Joel Heygate was killed. In fact, it was the reason that he was murdered. He saw something that he shouldn’t have seen and was battered to death as a result.’

  ‘This has got nothing whatsoever to do with me, Inspector.’

  ‘I think that it has, Dr Swift. The baby that the stationmaster saw was the murdered child of a young woman named Esther Leete, a patient at the deaf and dumb asylum. You were the father and you paid Gurney and his wife to dispose of the baby in the way that they’d disposed of the other child you fathered on a patient. Infanticide is a sickening crime,’ said Colbeck, sharply. ‘You incited it.’

  Steel moved forward. ‘I need to put these handcuffs on you, sir.’

  ‘You can’t touch me,’ cried Swift in horror. ‘I’m essential to this place. I cure people with disordered minds. I’m a noted person in my profession.’

  ‘You’ll be noted for other reasons in the future.’

  ‘There’s obviously been a gigantic mistake.’

  ‘You’re the one who made it, Doctor Swift.’

  ‘Gurney and his wife have told us everything,’ said Colbeck, icily. ‘You suborned them and bought them that house in return for their services in getting rid of your unwanted progeny. When you heard that they’d killed the stationmaster, you helped Gurney to transport the body to the cathedral precinct on a handcart. But it’s not just his word and that of his wife on which we rely,’ he went on. ‘There’s the evidence of the two women you seduced and impregnated. One of them, I gather, was deaf and dumb. Could anything be more nauseating than the way you preyed on two vulnerable young women in your care?’

  ‘Hold out your hands,’ insisted Steel. ‘Your career here is finished.’

  ‘Come on,’ said Colbeck. ‘You shouldn’t have been allowed anywhere near the patients in this institution. Gurney and his wife were nurses here until you realised they could perform a more useful function. You corrupted them.’

  ‘They were corrupt enough already, if you ask me,’ said Leeming.

  Steel stepped forward and snapped the handcuffs on to Swift’s wrists.

  The prisoner hung his head in shame. The people he’d employed and trusted had clearly made a full confession. The game was up. He was destined to join them on the gallows.

  Canon Smalley was so shocked by the latest developments that he hurried to the bishop’s palace so that he could deliver his report. Plucked away from the dinner table, Phillpotts was in an irascible mood but it soon changed. When he heard that Dr Swift had been arrested and charged with murder, he refused to believe it at first and said that he had every confidence in the man. Smalley described the evidence amassed against the doctor and the bishop was stunned into silence for minutes. Finding his voice again, he pressed for detail.

  ‘Two young women were involved?’

  ‘Two gave birth to children,’ said Smalley, ‘but others fell victim to Dr Swift’s charms. According to his accomplices, there were several females and, since they were patients kept in detention, there was nobody to whom the unfortunate women could complain. Dr Swift had complete control over their lives.’

  ‘And over their bodies,’ said the bishop with a shudder. ‘The man has the cunning and instincts of an animal. The litany of his crimes is vile. He and his two accomplices deserve more than hanging.’

  ‘I inadvertently saw something of his power over a female patient.’

  ‘Did you?’

  ‘When I first introduced myself to Esther Leete, the deaf and dumb girl, she was held in a straitjacket and unwilling even to let me talk to her. The next time I saw her, she was walking quietly by Dr Swift’s side. In his presence, she was subdued. At the time, of course,’ said Smalley, ‘I was unaware of the full facts. Now that I am, Miss Leete’s wild reaction to a painting of the Madonna and Child is explained. Like any mother, she wanted her baby back.’

  ‘Dr Swift is guilty of inhuman cruelty.’

  ‘He and his accomplices will pay for it, Bishop.’

  ‘What about Bernard Browne?’

  ‘He was in no way involved in the murder,’ said Smalley. ‘Other crimes will send him to prison for a long time but he’s been cleared of the charge of killing the stationmaster.’

  Phillpotts was disappointed. ‘So Inspector Colbeck was right all along,’ he said, sourly. ‘In the teeth of the evidence, he championed Browne’s innocence with regard to the murder. I hope he doesn’t come to me for an apology because he won’t get one. Browne should not avoid execution,’ he said, vengefully. ‘It would be a travesty of justice if he did so. Use your imagination, Canon Smalley. Isn’t there some other reason we can find to hang the man?’

  With Swift, Howard Gurney and May Gurney under lock and key, the detectives went up to Steel’s office to toast their success with a glass of whisky apiece. Leeming was glad that he’d been able to overpower the man who’d actually battered Joel Heygate’s head with the butt of his shotgun, Colbeck was pleased that he’d been able to save Bagsy Browne from an unjust death, and Steel was gratified that he’d been involved in the confrontation at the asylum. The superintendent was gracious in defeat.

  ‘I should have listened to you, Inspector,’ he said with admiration. ‘You had doubts about Bagsy’s guilt all long.’

  ‘He was guilty of just about everything else,’ Colbeck reminded him, ‘and will have a very long sentence to serve. Your job, I fancy, will be a lot easier with him off the streets of Exeter.’

  ‘How did you know that he had an alibi?’

  ‘I didn’t, Superintendent. But when a criminal facing the hangman requests an urgent meeting, I’m always prepared to hear him out. As a result, I checked that he wasn’t even in the area on the night of the murder and was satisfied that he was therefore in the clear. The very best way to exonerate one suspect, however, is to arrest and charge another — or three of them, in this case. Browne was in no way party to the crime.’

  ‘What exactly was his alibi, sir?’ asked Leeming.

  ‘It doesn’t matter any more, Victor,’ said Colbeck, smoothly. ‘He won’t stand trial for murder, so that particular witness need never be called. We can draw a veil over that aspect of the case.’

  Colbeck was relieved to be able to keep the name of Christina Goss out of the case, not least because it might have caused severe embarrassment to her mother. The story told by the prisoner had been confirmed almost word for word by the girl. She and her mother had parted acrimoniously years before. Not daring to mention it to Adeline, Bagsy had taken pity on Christina because she was left to struggle alone. Whenever he was in South Devon, he called on her in Totnes to give her money, asking for nothing in return but her thanks and her discretion. Browne claimed that she’d always looked upon him as a kind uncle in the past. On his last visit, however, he wasn’t able to simply hand over the money and leave. Christina had admitted that she’d thrown herself at him and — like the red-blooded man he was — Browne had been unable to resist, even though she was Adeline’s daughter.

  In Colbeck’s opinion, there was no virtue in recounting the details to the others, especially to Leeming. As a devoted family man, he would have been scandalised at the idea of someone having sexual relations outside marriage with both a mother and daughter. It was knowledge he could live more happily without.

  Colbeck finished his whisky. ‘It’s time for us to leave,’ he said. ‘The case is closed. We’re keen to return to London and you, Superintendent
, will be thrilled to see the back of us.’

  ‘I can’t thank you enough,’ said Steel, exchanging a handshake with each of them in turn. ‘Without you, we’d have hanged the wrong man and Dr Swift would have been able to carry on seducing defenceless women at the asylum.’

  ‘Before I go,’ said Colbeck, ‘may I remind you of a wager we made?’

  ‘You may indeed, Inspector. I’m more than willing to pay you the five pounds I owe you,’ said Steel, opening a drawer and taking out money. ‘I’m also returning the sovereign I won unfairly from you earlier. It’s quite obvious that Bagsy was at the funeral, as you said.’ He handed the money over. ‘Forgive me for doubting you.’ He drained his glass. ‘Well, the murder might be solved and Exeter may soon be ridding itself of some despicable people but I do still have a serious regret.’

  ‘What’s that, sir?’ asked Leeming.

  ‘It’s related to that information you discovered, Sergeant,’ said Steel. ‘I often used to go to the Crown Inn for a drink but you won’t get me across the threshold if it’s owned by Michael and Lavinia Heygate.’

  ‘Oh, there’s no possibility of that happening,’ said Colbeck, confidently.

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘I spoke to Joel Heygate’s solicitor. He wasn’t prepared to divulge details of the man’s will, of course, but he did give me a broad hint. Very little of the estate has been bequeathed to Heygate’s brother.’

  ‘Then who is the main beneficiary?’

  ‘She’s the person who really deserves the money — Miss Dorcas Hope.’

  Dorcas laughed as Peter flew around the parlour before landing playfully on top of her head. The canary then flew down to Maud Hope’s knee. In the short time he’d been there, Peter had made a difference to their lives. He needed very little care, yet rewarded them with endless amusement. Peter had accepted that he would be a permanent guest in his new home and was happy with the arrangement. Hopping on to the table, he jumped back into his cage and stood on his perch, singing at the top of his voice. Dorcas was pleased.

  ‘It’s almost as if he knows that they caught Mr Heygate’s killers,’ she said. ‘That’s a song of celebration.’

  Colbeck and Madeleine had really been able to talk properly for the first when they had breakfast together at the Acland Tavern. Thanks to Leeming and Andrews, who sat at a separate table, they shared precious moments alone. It was different on the train journey back to London. Though they sat side by side, they had their travelling companions directly opposite them in the compartment. It was only when Leeming and Andrews became embroiled in a long argument about the atmospheric railway that Colbeck felt able to speak more freely to Madeleine.

  ‘Are you glad that you came?’ he asked, squeezing her hand.

  ‘Oh, yes,’ she replied, ‘and so is Father. He claims that the only reason you solved the crime is that we arrived in Exeter.’

  Colbeck grinned. ‘There may be some truth in that, Madeleine. When I caught sight of you in the refreshment room at the station, I had a real stimulus to press on with the investigation.’

  ‘Why didn’t you take me to Totnes? I’ve helped you in earlier cases.’

  ‘I needed to speak to that witness alone,’ he explained, careful to say nothing more about Christina Goss. ‘In the event, her testimony was not needed.’

  ‘It seems to have been a very difficult investigation.’

  ‘I’m trying to put it at the back of my mind for a while, Madeleine, so that I can concentrate on the more appealing prospect of the wedding.’

  ‘There’s not long to go now, Robert,’ she said, excitedly.

  ‘I’ve been counting the days.’

  ‘When you get involved in future cases, I won’t have to mope at home with Father any longer. I’ll be able to discuss an investigation with you.’

  ‘I’m hoping that you’ll do rather more than that.’

  ‘So do I — it will be wonderful to work together.’

  ‘It will have to be covert assistance,’ he told her. ‘Superintendent Tallis would never sanction the employment of a woman in the process of detection. It’s in defiance of everything that he believes. I take a more practical view. Women are more than capable of committing crime — look at May Gurney, for instance — so why shouldn’t they be able to solve it?’

  ‘Is the superintendent still unhappy about your getting married?’

  ‘It’s not so much unhappiness as disapproval. That’s why I won’t be giving him a full report of our activities in Exeter.’ He glanced across at Leeming, still quarrelling with Andrews. ‘Victor can have that dubious privilege.’

  Edward Tallis didn’t believe in staying away from his desk simply because his arm had been wounded. He could still bark commands at his underlings and supervise the never-ending stream of investigations that were referred to the Detective Department. Pleased that the case in Exeter had finally been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, he was sorry that he hadn’t been there in person to take charge and to grab some of the glory. Local newspapers would no doubt lavish their praise on the Railway Detective without even mentioning the person who assigned the case to him. Because of its sensational nature, details of the stationmaster’s murder would be carried in national newspapers, so Tallis would be compelled to watch his detectives being feted while he was ignored. It made the wound in his arm smart.

  All that he knew so far was what had been contained in a telegraph from Colbeck. The prime suspect, Bernard Browne, had been absolved of the murder and three further arrests had been made. Tallis longed to hear a fuller explanation. When he heard someone tapping on his door that afternoon, he hoped that it would be Colbeck, coming to give him a detailed account. Instead, it was Victor Leeming who opened the door with his usual feeling of dread.

  ‘Good afternoon, sir,’ he said. ‘We’ve just returned from Exeter.’

  ‘I’ve been waiting for you. Where’s Inspector Colbeck?’

  ‘He has an appointment with his tailor.’

  ‘His tailor!’ roared Tallis. ‘I want him here so that I can question him. What on earth is he doing at his tailor’s?’

  ‘He’ll be wearing a new suit at the wedding, sir.’

  ‘I’m not interested in his private life, Sergeant.’

  ‘The inspector sent me to deliver the report, sir,’ said Leeming, taking a pad from his pocket. ‘He was kind enough to make some notes for me.’

  ‘I’m sorry that his kindness didn’t extend to me,’ said Tallis, mordantly. ‘I want to hear from the man who was in charge, not from his assistant.’

  The sergeant was sufficiently hurt to forget his fear of the superintendent.

  ‘I played my part, sir,’ he said, stoutly. ‘I was the one who overpowered Howard Gurney after he tried to choke me to death and I was involved in the arrest of Dr Swift as well. Inspector Colbeck was instrumental in solving the crime but it’s unfair to dismiss me as if I just stood on the sidelines and watched. The inspector is always ready to pay tribute to what I’m able to do and I think it’s time that you followed his example.’

  Startled by Leeming’s spirited retort, Tallis was chastened. He pointed to a seat and his visitor sat down, pad in hand. Tallis spoke kindly to him for once.

  ‘You’ve earned your share of praise, Sergeant,’ he said, benevolently, ‘and I’ll be the first to acknowledge it. Now tell me what really happened in Exeter.’

  Involving only family and a small number of friends, the wedding was far too small an affair for such a large church. Those clustered at the front of the nave took up only a tiny proportion of the seats available. Colbeck and Madeleine were untroubled by that. They didn’t notice anyone apart from the vicar who married them. They were both so elated that the only things they would later remember of the service were the exchange of vows and the pronouncement that they were man and wife. Madeleine was radiant in her wedding dress and Colbeck was at his most elegant. They were a striking couple. The two of them floated happily through the w
hole event, forgetting horrors in the recent past and thinking only of their future together. As they came down the aisle arm in arm, they distributed smiles among the congregation.

  Some uninvited guests had watched the ceremony from the back of the church. Madeleine picked out two middl-eaged women, seated together and ignoring the bride and bridegroom. Their gaze was fixed firmly on Caleb Andrews. When the couple came out through the main door, they were greeted by the cheers of well-wishers and curious passers-by. Running a thankful eye over them, Colbeck was met by a surprise. The sturdy, well-dressed man quietly withdrawing from the crowd was Edward Tallis. He’d come to give his tacit blessing, after all.

  Colbeck was touched. It was a sign of progress.

  FB2 document info

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  Document creation date: 26.12.2012

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  Document authors :

  Edward Marston

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