Rose Campion and the Curse of the Doomstone

by Lyn Gardner

  Effie shook her head. “Nah. I were too nervous. I’d never have got them words out. Eddie’s lawyer told me to go in the box. But I knew all them clever lawyers would bamboozle me. I’d have stammered and stuttered. They’d have made me look stupid and a liar. It would have bin a waste of time. Me card was marked. I was going to be found guilty no matter how many fancy lawyers Ed paid for. He should have saved his money.”

  Rose wanted to shake Effie for being so passive and accepting of her fate. “Effie, you’ve got to help us fight this miscarriage of justice. You know that’s what Thomas would say if he was here. That note is clearly a fake. You have to tell them that you didn’t write it, and that you couldn’t have written it because you can’t write.”

  Effie gazed at Rose, her eyes pools of sadness. “There’s the thing, Rosie. I can write now. And read. I was just biding me time and I was going to surprise you all when the moment was right. I couldn’t wait to see your and Thomas’s eyes. Mr Gandini had bin teaching me. He said if I wanted to be a proper magician’s assistant then I had to learn to read and write. Insisted it was essential for the job. He used a big word for it. Said I needed the ‘requisite’ skills. Said he did such a good job with the training that some of his previous assistants had become almost as skilled as he was himself. He was ever so patient. It were one of the reasons I liked him so much. He never had a cross word, however much I struggled with the reading and writing, and I have struggled cos it sometimes feels like them letters have got a grudge against me. But I didn’t give up. So you see I could have written that note. The police took a sample of me doing my writing and they said it were near enough, though that note don’t look nothing like my writing to me.”

  “But you didn’t write it, did you?” asked Rose.

  Effie shook her head. “Nah. I would never have done anything to hurt Mr Gandini.” Then she added darkly, “It would have been no way to repay his kindness to me.”

  “But somebody did, Effie, and that somebody is still free.”

  Effie shivered. “Maybe I’m safer in prison. With Gandini and poor little Amy dead, who’s going to be next?” She peered at Rose, whose face had betrayed her at the mention of Amy’s name. “What is it, Rosie?”

  Rose gave an anxious little laugh. “You’re going to think me daft as a hatter, Effie, but I thought I saw Amy in the crowd outside the courtroom.”

  “But Amy’s at the bottom of the Thames, Rosie. She can’t be running around outside the court.” Effie laughed nervously. “Maybe you’re seeing them ghosts again. Like when you saw poor, murdered Ned Dorset.”

  Rose shook her head, frowning. “This was different, Effie. I wasn’t seeing a ghost.”

  “You was all shook up, Rosie, after being turfed out of the court like that. Your nerves probably got the better of you.”

  “No,” said Rose indignantly. “You think I was seeing things. But I know I saw her, and I’m certain she was flesh and blood. Those gooseberry-green eyes.”

  “Yes, just like poor Mr Gandini’s eyes.”

  Rose jumped up so suddenly she knocked over her chair.

  “Of course! That’s it! Amy! Gandini! They must be father and daughter. How stupid of me! Why didn’t I see it before? It was staring me in the face. Those eyes, the long lanky body. Their colouring was so different I didn’t see it.”

  “We know Mr Gandini dyed his hair and beard,” said Effie excitedly.

  “Yes!” said Rose. “It must have been to disguise the fact that he and Amy were related.” She gasped. “And we know that Amy had conjuring skills. We saw her using them, and we also know she had the Doomstone. It can only mean that Amy and Gandini were in league together and while he distracted the crowd she stole the Doomstone from around Lydia’s neck, almost murdering the poor woman in the process.” Rose’s mind was racing. “But maybe Amy didn’t want to share with her dad. So she must have faked her own death, and then for some reason – maybe just pure, simple greed – she decided she had to kill her own father.” Rose bounced excitedly up and down on the balls of her feet. “When with his dying breath Gandini said ‘my assistant’, he wasn’t pointing the finger at you, but at Amy! She must have assisted him in the past.”

  Effie didn’t look convinced. “Hang on, Rosie,” said Effie. “We are talking about Amy here. Little, anxious Amy who kept herself to herself. Aren’t you getting a bit ahead of yourself? Even if Amy did fake her own death and escape with the Doomstone, why would she want her own father dead? And how on earth did she arrange it in such a way to frame me when she weren’t even there? However good a magician she was, she would have had to have been at Campion’s that night. I don’t see how she could have possibly managed it without everybody noticing that someone who was supposed to be drowned at the bottom of the river was hanging around and substituting a wax bullet for the pearl that was hanging safely round me neck.”

  “She must have had an accomplice! I’m going to pay a little visit to Tobias Fraggles. He lied in court in order to get you convicted. I want to know why.”

  “Oh, Rosie, you watch yourself. We don’t want any more dead bodies,” said Effie, as two female warders appeared at the door and began to unlock it. It was time for Effie to be taken to Holloway. Rose held her friend tight.

  “Don’t give up hope, Effie. One way or another we are going to prove your innocence and get you back home to Campion’s.”

  26

  “Edward and Lydia are going ahead with the wedding?” repeated Rose slowly, her voice utterly incredulous. Aurora nodded. “Even with poor Effie convicted only a few hours ago and locked up in Holloway Prison? And they are going to celebrate a wedding? It’s not right! It’s so insensitive.” She was shouting.

  Rose had arrived back to find Thomas had got to the music hall shortly before her, having just been released from the gaol. His face was haggard and his eyebrows were knitted with worry. Campion’s was still forbidden to open and he was clearly distraught over Effie’s conviction. He put a hand on Rose’s shoulder.

  “Calm down, Rosie, you are not helping. If I was Edward it wouldn’t be what I’d want, either,” he said gently. “But it was always going to be the quietest of weddings. Just Aurora, you, Effie and me and Stratford-Mark to act as the witnesses at the ceremony, and a few friends from the Pall Mall. No big do after. I know it seems inappropriate in the circumstances, but even though little Effie is in Holloway the world still turns. When would it no longer be too soon? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? As we always say…”

  “…the show must go on,” said Rose finishing the sentence for him, the sarcasm evident in her voice. Thomas shook his head and walked away, and Rose looked after him, feeling guilty. He was clearly exhausted and had plenty to worry about without her adding to his woe.

  “Edward wanted to cancel. To rearrange for some other time,” said Aurora quietly, “but Lydia wasn’t having it. She got quite hysterical, like a mad thing. She said the arrangements were made and they should go ahead. Edward took the line of least resistance: he always does what he can to please her. I’d think she’d cast a spell on him if it wasn’t for the fact that she clearly adores him as much as he loves her.” She looked into her friend’s furious face. “You will come, won’t you, Rosie? I know Edward would be so sad if you were missing as well as Effie. Me too. I need you there.”

  Rose nodded. “Of course. I’ll be at St Olave’s for ten p.m. I’ll even put on my best dress for it. But first I’m going to visit Tobias Fraggles and see what he has to say for himself.”

  Aurora’s eyes clouded. “Is that a good idea, Rose?”

  “Yes,” said Rose firmly, and she told Aurora what had happened outside the court, and how she was certain that she had seen Amy and was convinced that Amy was Gandini’s daughter and former assistant, had faked her own death and was responsible for killing her own father. “I think that Tobias Fraggles was her accomplice. Why else would he tell those lies against Effie in court?”

  Aurora’s eyes had grown bigger and big
ger. “We should tell Inspector Cliff.”

  “He’s not going to believe me, Rory. He thinks Amy is dead and he’s caught Gandini’s murderer: Effie. He’ll just say I’m making it up to help her. But if I confront Tobias, maybe I’ll get to the truth and he’ll lead me to Amy. Then I can tell Inspector Cliff. Present the entire thing on a plate to him. He’ll have to listen.”

  Aurora’s face was a picture of anxiety. “At least let’s tell Thomas.”

  Rose shook her head. “I don’t want to worry him. It’s as if those few nights in prison have knocked all the stuffing out of him. I’ll tell him after I’ve visited Tobias.”

  “So you want us to drop by for a chat with a man who may be a cold-blooded murderer?”

  Rose grinned. “Yes, and I imagine that as you used the word ‘us’ you are planning on coming with me.”

  “I can’t say I’m thrilled at the prospect,” said Aurora. “But I can hardly let you confront him on your own. I’ll come with you, but only because I think you are so mad that you shouldn’t be allowed out on your own. But I need to be back in Silver Square by four thirty because I have the final fitting for my bridesmaid’s dress. So we’d better hurry.”

  Rose and Aurora made their way down the grimy street. The heat had held the city so long in its sweaty grip that even the dogs didn’t bother to raise their heads as the girls passed by. Rose had told Aurora about Gandini teaching Effie to read and write, which meant that her illiteracy couldn’t be used in her defence.

  “Oh, Rose, I do hope that you are on to something,” said Aurora sadly, “otherwise things look really bleak for Effie.”

  She wiped the sweat away from her brow. There was a distant rumble of thunder. Rose glanced up at the sky, which was like a heavy black saucepan lid, pressed down on the overheated city.

  “It will be a relief when it breaks,” she said as they stopped outside a faded blue front door.

  “You’re sure this is the place?”

  Rose nodded. She had memorised the address read out in the courtroom. They knocked. There was a moment’s silence, and then a heavy tread and a thickset man opened the door. His eyes were blue and watery. He was breathing heavily. Time had had its way with his face, but there was a striking similarity to Tobias.

  “Mr Fraggles?”

  “Who’s asking?”

  “I’m Rose Campion and this is Rory; we’re both from Campion’s music hall.”

  The man peered towards them and his expression softened. “You’re them two girls who do that bicycle act, ain’t you? That’s a good’un, says my Tobias. One of the best acts on the bill. Better even than that wizard. The one that got shot.”

  “Oh,” said Rose. “That’s nice of Tobias. You should come and see it.”

  The man gave a little laugh as if at a private joke. “I don’t get out much.”

  “In fact, it’s Tobias we’re looking for. Is he home?”

  The man shook his head. “You ain’t the only one looking for him this afternoon. I was ’specting him back for his dinner. He was at that court this morning. But it’s not like him not to be back for his dinner.” He shook his head. “But he’s bin that unreliable and dopey recently. I wonder whether he’s got a girl, but he ain’t telling if he has, however much I quiz him. I’d like to see him settled before I go. Me heart ain’t strong. Shall I tell him you called?”

  “We’ll try again later,” said Rose. They turned to leave when Rose spun round. “You said we’re not the only ones asking. Has he had other callers?”

  “Yes,” said the man. “There was a girl knocked earlier.”

  “What did she look like?” asked Rose urgently. The man gave a rueful smile, and Rose suddenly understood that the man was blind. She felt a fool. She hadn’t noticed. “I’m so sorry, I hadn’t realised you couldn’t see.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” said the man. “It’s a matter of pride that people don’t notice, and when I’m in me own home they often don’t. I enjoy surprising them. Sometimes I think the entire world is blind and I see far more than them.”

  “We’re sorry to have bothered you,” said Rose.

  “I’ll tell you this for free,” said Mr Fraggles. “The girl who knocked. She sounded pretty.”

  Rose and Aurora walked slowly away towards the river.

  “That’s ridiculous,” said Aurora. “How can someone sound pretty?”

  “I don’t know, but maybe he was right and when you are blind you can see things differently. Maybe you can tell someone’s pretty from the confidence with how they walk and talk,” said Rose. “Tobias is sure to come back sooner or later. We can intercept him when he does.”

  Aurora nodded, although she was clearly anxious about the time. “Maybe it wasn’t Amy who was looking for Tobias.”

  “Who else could it have been? If we wait here, maybe she’ll come back too and we can catch both of them together.”

  “And then what are we going to—”

  Aurora didn’t finish the sentence because there was a commotion at the far end of the street by the river. A woman was screeching at the top of her voice and calling for the police. The girls hurried down to the river’s edge, where a small crowd was beginning to gather. Rose ran ahead and looked down into the water. Tobias Fraggles was bobbing on his back. His eyes were quite as sightless as his father’s. But Tobias was dead. The bloodied gash on his throat was still bright crimson. Rose turned away feeling sick.

  “Amy must have got to him before we did.”

  Aurora tugged at Rose’s sleeve. “You are to go straight to Scotland Yard and tell Inspector Cliff everything you know. No arguing. I’ll drop you off in a cab on my way to Silver Square.”

  Rose nodded, made unusually biddable by the shock of seeing Tobias’s corpse.

  It took an age to find a cab, but they hailed one at last. But then they got caught behind an overturned dray cart and over forty minutes had elapsed before they eventually rolled into the broader avenues of Whitehall. Rose was very quiet and as they neared Scotland Yard tears began to fall down her cheeks. The cumulative shock of the last few days had got to her.

  “Here,” said Aurora, proffering a handkerchief and putting her arm around her friend.

  “It’s all right,” said Rose. “I’ve got my own. She plunged her hand into her pocket, and felt something that shouldn’t be there. It was a postcard. A seaside scene of little fishermen’s cottages drawn in charcoal. Just like the one she had found in Amy’s room. She had given that card to the inspector so how had this one got in her pocket?

  “What is it?” asked Aurora.

  Rose turned the postcard over. On the other side in hastily scribbled script were the words: “Save me! For God’s sake, help me.” The words were signed with a name: Amy.

  “See!” said Rose. “I wasn’t going mad or seeing ghosts. I did see Amy, and she must have slipped this in my pocket without me noticing. It’s proof that she’s still alive!”

  “But I don’t understand why she would do such a thing,” said Aurora. “Why would she risk drawing attention to herself? If she killed Gandini or arranged his murder it would be better for her if everyone continued to think she was dead. It’s the perfect crime. Nobody’s ever going to suspect a ghost of murder and no policeman has ever successfully arrested one.”

  “That’s true,” said Rose, her brow puckered. “But maybe she is in some kind of trouble.”

  “Or maybe it’s a trap to lure you into her clutches,” said Aurora. “You must show the card to Inspector Cliff. Promise me, Rosie.”

  Rose nodded as the cab drew up outside Scotland Yard. As she stood up to leave she took another look at the picture on the front of the postcard. Then she said excitedly, “Do you remember that night back in the yard when Amy talked about Southend?” Aurora nodded. “Maybe this postcard is a clue as to where to find her. The question is, why is she so keen for me to find her?”

  Aurora shrugged. “Ask Inspector Cliff. Maybe he’ll know.”

&
nbsp; Rose wasn’t at all confident that he would but she stepped down and walked into the police station, aware that Aurora was watching her every step of the way.

  But when she got inside and asked for the inspector, saying it was in connection with the murder of Gandini and the disappearance of the Doomstone, she was told that he had been called out to a murder scene and nobody knew when he would be back. Rose guessed he must have gone to the river where Tobias’s body had been found.

  “You could speak to his assistant,” said the policeman at the desk.

  Rose shook her head. She had never seen Inspector Cliff with an assistant. She bit her lip, retrieved the postcard from her pocket and turned it over and over in her hand thinking hard. “Save me! For God’s sake, help me.” Maybe Amy was asking to be saved from herself? She walked out of Scotland Yard and headed towards Fenchurch Street Station. Rose was going to pay her first visit to the seaside. She walked quickly with her head down, so she didn’t notice Inspector Cliff, hurrying up a side street towards the police station on his way back from the Pall Mall Theatre, where there had been a shocking discovery.

  27

  Rose sat alone in the wood-panelled train compartment with its sturdy overhead luggage racks. The almost empty steam train was shuddering as if eager to depart. It was not a day to go to the seaside. The air was brooding and the scorched city had an expectant air, as if waiting for the storm. With luck, and no delays, Rose felt confident that she could get to Southend and, if she was fortunate, find the cottages on the postcard, locate Amy and still get back to Southwark in time to change for Edward and Lydia’s wedding. She was excited and nervous: was she about to uncover the mystery of the missing Doomstone and find out who had really killed Gandini and maybe Tobias Fraggles too?