Terror by Gaslight

by Edward Taylor

  ‘I sympathize, sir,’ said Steele genially. ‘And I have to say that, for our part, we were not keen to get involved. It appeared to be a routine job for dogged police work. But then we noticed that there were strange aspects that intrigued us.’

  ‘Strange? It seems to me a straightforward instance of a homicidal maniac who must, sooner or later, be caught and hanged.’

  Steele demurred. ‘Not quite straightforward, I think. Mason, you have a list of the victims to date. Would you kindly read it out for us?’

  ‘Shall be done,’ said Mason, taking a folded sheet of paper from his pocket. He straightened it out, cleared his throat, and began his recital.

  ‘Ambrose Rennie, a clerk, stabbed to death on 7th October in Parliament Hill Fields.’

  ‘Near the Stone of Free Speech, I think,’ said Steele.

  ‘On 28th October, James Tate, a professional boxer, was similarly killed, after leaving a public house in the Vale of Health.’

  Steele interrupted again. ‘Note, however, it was established that the man was not drunk, and should have been well able to defend himself.’

  ‘November 11th,’ Mason continued, ‘Philip Agnew, a trader, was murdered on the Heath, and then pushed into one of the ponds.

  ‘Last night, Robert Kemp was fatally stabbed outside this house. In the first three atrocities, death was due to a single stab wound, but no weapon was found near the scene of the crime. We believe the same is true of last night’s murder. Is that the case, sir?’

  Austin shrugged. ‘I understand the man was stabbed. I have not concerned myself with any other details.’

  ‘Note,’ said Steele, ‘that all these crimes took place on Sunday nights, between the hours of 9 and 11 p.m.’

  ‘The killer is a lunatic, as I said,’ observed Austin testily. ‘No doubt he is obsessive.’

  ‘He is also audacious. The third and fourth murders took place in spite of police patrols, brought in after the second death, and doubled after the third. Truly, a man now needs a strong reason to venture on the Heath at night.’

  ‘British citizens will not let a thug deter them from going about their normal purposes.’

  ‘Ah, yes, one has to have a purpose. Which brings us to Robert Kemp. I believe he was a friend of your daughter’s.’

  Austin bridled instantly. ‘You have been misinformed, sir. Kemp was merely a family acquaintance. He was not a friend. And he had no particular association with any one of us.’

  ‘Oh. I had supposed that Kemp was on his way to visit the young lady.’

  ‘Good God, man! My daughter does not receive young men in the absence of her father!’

  Steele remained cool. ‘You were not at home last night, then?’

  ‘I was not!’ snapped Austin. After a brief pause, he decided to add, ‘Your man can add to his jottings that I was at my club.’ Austin was annoyed to see that Mason was making notes.

  ‘But your daughter would not have been alone, surely. I believe you have two daughters residing here, as well as that pleasant housekeeper who let us in.’

  ‘Major, I thought you were here to ask about the Heath Maniac. I was not expecting questions about my family, or my household. The point is, the man Kemp was not expecting to call at this house. Clearly, he was passing this way on some other business. When he was attacked he came to the nearest door for help.’

  Steele was non-committal. ‘Let us assume so. Mr Austin, was Kemp a fit and vigorous young man?’

  ‘He seemed so to me. I met him on only two or three occasions.’

  ‘Then we come to the most surprising aspect of this case. You note that all the victims have been healthy young men in the prime of life.’

  ‘It had not occurred to me, but now I see that it is so.’

  ‘Is it not curious that none of them was able to put up any sort of resistance?’

  ‘I assume each attack took the victim by surprise.’

  ‘Well, I’m sure they were not expecting it. But one might anticipate that, in at least one of the first three crimes, the initial blow would be less than fatal. One of the victims might have survived long enough to grapple with his assailant: the boxer, perhaps.’

  ‘Possibly they did, but were overcome,’ Austin suggested.

  ‘Not so, Mr Austin. In no case were there any signs of a struggle. Is that correct, Mason?’

  Mason looked up from his notes. ‘Yes, sir. Perfectly correct, sir. No cut hands, no bruised knuckles. Just one deep stab wound to the heart every time.’

  ‘This man is obviously a skilled assassin,’ said Austin.

  ‘Also a lucky one,’ said Steele. ‘And devilish clever. To get close enough to deliver the deadly blow without the victim seeing or hearing him.’

  Encouraged by Steele cueing him in, Mason now ventured an observation. ‘Almost as if he arrives on wings, like the Angel of Death.’

  Steele bestowed a little smile on his companion. ‘My colleague enjoys a touch of fantasy, Mr Austin. But I assure you our inquiries will be totally down to earth. We shall not be seeking any sort of winged creature. We shall be tracking down a wicked human being. And we shall find him.’

  ‘Then the local community will be very grateful to you, sir.’ Austin shifted in his seat, his movement suggesting an early end to the interview. ‘I hope our brief discussion has helped you clarify your thoughts.’

  ‘I think it has,’ said Steele. ‘But I hope we may detain you a little longer. There are certain facts we need to ascertain.’

  ‘The police were here for many hours this morning,’ Austin responded. ‘They obtained enough facts to fill an encyclopaedia. I suggest you liaise with them.’

  ‘We shall do so, of course,’ said Steele. ‘But our approach doesn’t always coincide with that of the constabulary. I think first of the psychological aspect. I ask myself what sort of man would have the motive for these vile crimes.’

  Austin seemed astonished. ‘Motive? You seek a coherent motive? We are dealing with a madman!’

  ‘Are we? Then what drove him mad? Would his family and friends not notice that he was mad?’

  ‘Why should he have a family? He’s probably a lonely wretch, living in lodgings in Kentish Town. Or a perverted vagrant from the stews of Cleveland Street.’

  ‘Of course, we shall search those areas. But first I intend to visit the wealthy and prosperous, who often attract envy and resentment, and therefore enemies.’

  ‘Your last point is true enough. But how is it relevant? No one wealthy or prosperous has been attacked.’

  ‘Not directly. But the Heath Association tell me that the climate of fear is affecting all its members. Traders are losing revenue because people are avoiding the area. Already property values are falling. Thus the Maniac is effectively damaging local society.’

  ‘That, of course, is why the Association sought your help.’

  ‘Quite. It is also the reason why we need your further assistance.’

  Austin sighed, sat back in his chair, and thought for a moment. Then he grudgingly conceded. ‘Very well, Major. I must submit to your questions a little longer.’ He opened a silver box on his desk, took a pinch of snuff, and inhaled it vigorously.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Steele. ‘Mr Austin, it’s just possible that one of these big houses on the Highgate Road could unwittingly provide sanctuary for this monster. I need to know who is resident in each household. Also whether there are any rooms, attics or outbuildings which are not normally in use.’

  ‘You seem to know already, sir, that my household consists of myself, my daughters, and a housekeeper. There is a garden shed, if that is of any interest to you.’

  ‘It might be,’ said Steele, glancing to check that Mason had noted the fact. Then he turned back to Austin. ‘Do you have a gardener?’

  ‘I no longer keep a permanent gardener. A man comes in twice a week.’

  ‘I see. From the description of your family, I assume you have the misfortune to be a widower.’

  Austin
’s response was chilly. ‘You assume wrong, sir.’

  Steele waited briefly, hoping the other man would expand on the subject, but he showed no signs of doing so. Steele took the plunge.

  ‘As I said, Mr Austin, I need to know the circumstances of all local residents. May I ask where Mrs Austin is?’

  ‘You may ask, sir, but I may not tell you.’

  ‘I understood I was to have your full co-operation.’

  ‘I cannot tell you where she is, Major, because I do not know. She chose to leave me ten years ago. I do not know her whereabouts. We do not speak of her.’

  Steele inclined his head a little. ‘I am sorry I had to raise the matter. You have my sympathy.’

  ‘Save your sympathy, sir, for the rogue with whom she ran away.’

  ‘Ah. There was a man involved.’

  Austin’s temper was rising. ‘If you choose to call him a man! A young whipper-snapper, full of airs and graces, enough to steal an honest man’s wife, but not man enough to face him!’ While speaking, Austin had picked up a heavy ebony ruler from his desk and was now squeezing it with both hands.

  ‘Steady, sir, you are distressing yourself,’ said Steele. And then he noticed a thin line of blood, trickling back towards Austin’s right wrist. ‘Good Lord! You are bleeding!’

  Austin controlled himself with difficulty. He took his bleeding hand off the ruler and peered at the palm, which was covered with blood. ‘I cut my hand yesterday. A small flesh wound, which seems to have reopened. It is nothing.’

  ‘It will not remain nothing if you continue to reopen it,’ Steele cautioned. ‘I urge you to wash and dress the wound.’

  ‘I shall attend to it in due course. Now I have to go to my office. Monday is a busy day, and I have lost five hours already. Must there be more questions?’

  ‘Just a few, if you please. I take it you are in business, Mr Austin?’

  Austin had put down the ruler and taken a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket. He was winding it round his hand as he replied, ‘I am senior partner in a firm of insurance brokers.’

  ‘Ah. How came you to cut your hand yesterday?’

  ‘I cut it with my razor. I foolishly left it open on the rim of the basin. When I reached for the soap, I accidentally grasped the blade.’

  ‘Alas, the kind of mistake we all make.’

  ‘I think that’s enough about my mishap. I cannot think it has any bearing on the problem you are here to investigate.’

  Steele was not deflected. ‘Interesting that you did it with a razor. I had supposed you might have hurt yourself with one of those daggers.’ He rose, and walked to the wall which displayed the weapons Austin had recently adjusted.

  Austin was too taken aback to protest, and his response was surprisingly defensive. ‘The daggers? Why should you think that? They are simply for decoration. I never handle them.’

  ‘Indeed?’ Steele was scrutinizing the objects closely. ‘Yet someone has handled the upper one quite recently. With all due respect to your good housekeeper, I see a little dust on the lower one. But there is none on this one.’

  ‘I daresay Mrs Butters dusted the higher one, but was distracted before she could complete her work.’ Austin rose, to indicate that he had no more to say.

  ‘Distracted,’ said Steele. ‘Yes, that’s possible. These are distracting times.’ He sighed. ‘Well, I shall distract you no longer on this occasion, Mr Austin. The world of insurance must not be kept waiting any longer.’

  ‘I am glad to hear that,’ said Austin, as Steele moved towards the door, but then John Mason intervened.

  ‘Excuse me, sir, but you usually ask about enemies.’

  ‘Ah yes,’ said Steele. ‘Thank you. As Mr Austin was not the direct victim, I had almost forgotten. But, as we observed, the Maniac’s activities are a blow at everyone living in this area. It would be useful to know, sir, if you’re aware of anyone who might wish to harm you or your family. Or, by extension, your daughter’s … er … your acquaintance.’

  ‘No,’ said Austin tersely. ‘I do not know of any enemies, though no doubt we all have them.’

  ‘Have there been any business disputes that might have led to bitterness?’

  ‘Clients often make unreasonable demands on their insurers and are angry when they have to settle for less.’

  ‘Ah, indeed. It is surprising how many people still expect to be paid in full. But you cannot recall any particular instances that gave rise to threats?’

  ‘No,’ said Austin. ‘I can’t.’

  ‘Have any employees or tradesmen been dismissed in acrimonious circumstances?’

  ‘No,’ was Austin’s first response. But then he thought again. ‘Except … ah … you mentioned gardeners. For a short time last year I did employ a man on a permanent basis, to work in the garden and do odd jobs. Then I found he was stealing vegetables, and I told him to leave.’

  Mason had put his notebook away, so Steele sat on the arm of a chair, and took a pad and silver pencil from his pocket.

  ‘This may be important,’ he said. ‘What was this man’s name? Where did he come from? What became of him?’

  ‘I cannot recall his name. Mrs Butters may remember. I believe he came from Camden Town.’

  ‘How was he recruited?’

  ‘He knocked on the door, looking for work. He had references, which I now believe were falsified.’

  ‘And you had to discharge him. How did he react?’

  ‘When I accused him of stealing, he was insolent. When I dismissed him, he was abusive. However, I cannot recall any threats. I have no idea what became of him. But I now recall his name was Scully.’

  ‘First name?’

  ‘I don’t think he had one.’

  ‘Thank you, Mr Austin. We shall endeavour to trace the man. Of course, there may be several Scullys in Camden Town.’

  ‘More than enough, I imagine.’ Austin consulted his watch again. ‘And now, sir, I can spare you no more time. I have to go.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Steele. ‘We shall detain you no longer.’ Austin returned the watch to his pocket, visibly relieved. And then Steele added, ‘However, I should like to speak to your daughters, if you please.’

  Austin’s response was a mixture of anger and astonishment. ‘My daughters? That is quite out of the question! They are both distressed and must not be disturbed.’

  ‘Nevertheless, it is important that we talk to them. Perhaps if we returned tomorrow …’

  ‘Not today, not tomorrow, not any other day! I have given you all the information you could possibly need!’

  ‘Different people see things in different ways—’

  Austin cut him short. ‘Do not persist, Major! You are bordering on impertinence! I must ask you both to leave at once! My woman will show you out.’

  Austin picked up the little desk bell again and shook it furiously. While he was doing this, Steele deftly slid his silver pencil down inside the armchair, beside the cushion. Then he sighed and stood up, restoring the pad to his pocket.

  ‘Very well, sir,’ he said. ‘If you insist. May we leave by this garden door? I should like to see where Mr Kemp came in from the Heath.’

  Austin was by now thoroughly exasperated. ‘You may go by any door you wish, sir, as long as you go!’ He spoke sharply to Mrs Butters, who had appeared in response to his summons. ‘These gentlemen are leaving by the garden door. Fetch their coats at once!’

  As Mrs Butters went to comply, Austin had more fierce words for the visitors. ‘Pray do not pry or probe in my garden. The police have done enough damage there already.’

  ‘I cannot give any undertaking, sir,’ said Steele. ‘I must tell you that, as well as our commission from the Heath Association, our friends at Scotland Yard have asked us to give them our views on this matter.’

  ‘Tchah! Clearly a case of too many cooks! My lawyer will demand recompense for any nuisance!’

  Mrs Butters gave the men their hats and coats and, as they put them on, sh
e opened the garden door.

  ‘Good day to you, Mr Austin,’ said Steele, as he and Mason stepped outside. ‘And thank you for your assistance.’

  Austin could not bring himself to reply. And then, as the housekeeper closed the door on the men, he turned his fury on her.

  ‘Mrs Butters!’ he thundered. ‘You have disgraced my house!’

  ‘I beg your pardon, sir?’ The woman’s voice mingled fear and bewilderment.

  ‘You may well ask my pardon! Those meddling busybodies discovered dust on this ornament!’ Austin took the top dagger from the wall and waved it under his housekeeper’s nose. ‘How the devil did you let that happen?’

  ‘I’m sorry, sir. I must have missed it. All these goings-on.’

  Her master plunged the dagger into a pile of newspapers on a table. ‘I am surrounded by disloyalty and incompetence!’ He was shouting now. ‘I am hounded by spies and enemies! You are not to allow those men in the house again, d’you understand?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Where is Miss Harriet? She is the cause of all this turmoil, with her foolish flirtations and silly ideas. Where is she?’

  ‘She is not in her room, sir. I think she is having a bath.’

  ‘Had she not defied me, we should not have been involved in this infamy!’

  ‘I’m sure she meant no harm, sir.’

  ‘Silence, woman! She disobeyed my orders about that rascal Kemp! And all this disruption is the result! She should be taught a lesson!’ Austin seemed to make a decision. ‘By God, she shall be taught a lesson! She shall pay a penalty she will not forget!’

  The angry man picked up his briefcase and strode to the hall door. There he paused, turned, and glared at his housekeeper.

  ‘I’ve already told you, Mrs Butters, that I shall certainly be late home tonight, due to all these appalling events. Now it seems I shall be even later, thanks to your persuading me to receive those presumptuous pests!’

  ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ said Mrs Butters, yet again. These were words that were often used in this house, though never by Meredith Austin.