Death of a Scoundrel (Riley Rochester Investigates Book 4)

by Wendy Soliman

  Briefly, the sorrow left her eyes, to be replaced with an iron resolve, offering Riley a glimpse of what had captivated Rod. There was more to Alice Fanshaw than physical beauty, he realised. She possessed drive, determination and a deeply-seated morality. Francis Woodrow would not have been the first man to proposition such a temptress, Riley suspected, but Alice had found the strength of will to resist the prospect of earning a few easy shillings by way or reward. She had her standards—perhaps drummed into her by a mother who didn’t want to see history repeat itself—and remained determined to make her own way. Until Rod Woodrow swept her off her feet and placed her on a pedestal. Now he was gone and Alice was thirsty for revenge.

  ‘Don’t commit yourself until you know what it is that I am asking of you,’ Riley said gently.

  ‘I reckon you wouldn’t be here if you had any other choice, and I won’t know a moment’s peace until the person who did this wicked thing is punished, so I tell you true, sir, whatever it is, I’ll do it.’

  ‘Very well. We need to lure the killer into a trap, Alice, with you as the bait.’

  She swallowed. ‘Not sure I understand you, sir.’

  ‘That box you held for Rod contained incriminating letters written to him by influential people. Letters that those people wouldn’t want falling into the wrong hands, or their reputations would be ruined. None of them know that they are now in our possession but—’

  ‘I don’t think they would know about me, sir.’ She looked dubious. ‘Rod was ever so careful to keep me to himself. Anyway, I think I see what you’re getting at.’ She wrinkled her brow as she pondered upon Riley’s words. ‘If they were to learn of my existence and knew I had that box, there’s no saying what they’d do to try and get it back.’

  ‘Clever girl!’ Riley beamed at her, impressed by her quick thinking. ‘One of Rod’s friends, a society lady, is having a reception early tomorrow evening in Rod’s memory. I shall ensure that all the suspects are there, and with your agreement, let word slip that we are looking for you but don’t know your name or where to start looking.’

  ‘Well then, I don’t see how…’

  ‘Rumours spread like wildfire in such situations, Alice, and everyone in that room will know of your existence within ten minutes of it being confided in the strictest confidence to just one person. They will discover that we don’t know your name or where your work but we do know that you are exceptionally pretty and used to walk in Holland Park with Rod on your afternoons off.’

  ‘We did, sir, sometimes and I’m guessing you want me to go there again the day after tomorrow.’

  Riley pushed down his own feelings of unease. Holland Park was the scene of his beloved niece’s abduction during a previous case. God forbid that the same thing should happen to this brave child. He intended to flood the area with policeman who would keep Alice in their sights at all times, but even so, any number of things could go wrong.

  ‘If you think you can find the courage.’

  ‘I don’t lack courage, sir.’ Alice sat a little straighter. ‘Rod said it was one of the things he admired about me.’

  ‘I am perfectly sure that he did. If you are absolutely sure then, Wednesday rather conveniently happens to be the day after the reception.’

  ‘I shall go there,’ she said without hesitation.

  ‘You won’t be alone. A dozen policemen will be there in various guises, watching over you.’

  ‘I ain’t afraid, sir.’ She lifted her chin, looking fiercely determined. ‘Like I told you already, Rod always used to say that nothing frightened me and I aim to prove him right.’

  ‘You have nothing to prove to us and I want you to be absolutely sure you know what you are getting yourself into before agreeing to the plan.’

  ‘Just tell me what to do, sir.’

  Riley did. Half an hour later he left Alice looking brighter than he had ever seen her, eyes fiery with resolve, ready to play her part in avenging the man she had loved.

  ‘What now?’ Salter asked.

  ‘I’d like you to call upon the solicitors who drew up Rod’s will and find out who the beneficiaries are.’

  ‘I know you’re thinking of young Alice, but he ain’t got anything much to leave.’

  ‘You’re forgetting all that money we found in his rooms.’

  Salter removed his hat and scratched his head, looking perplexed. ‘But that was the produce of criminal activity, sir.’

  ‘Really?’ Riley flexed a brow, projecting mild surprise. ‘Has any crime been reported that I am not aware about?’

  ‘Well no, but we know where it came from.’

  ‘Not for sure. Besides, those that paid him will not thank you for trying to repay them, thus drawing attention to something they went out of their respective ways to keep quiet. They can afford to take the loss.’

  ‘And if Alice is named as his beneficiary, her future will be secured.’ Salter nodded. ‘I can live with that. The poor chit deserves a chance. Otherwise, with her looks and no one to take care of her interests…well, it’s easy to see how she’ll finish up.’

  ‘Quite. You go and talk to that solicitor, then take yourself off home. I’m going to see Lord and Lady Torbay. I can’t attend Lady Eldridge’s reception and start dropping hints about the investigation; that will seem too obvious. However, I hope to persuade Jake and Olivia to do it for me.’

  Salter chuckled. ‘I don’t doubt for a moment that they’ll oblige, sir. Good night.’

  ‘Good night, Jack.’

  Riley was received warmly at Grosvenor Square. There was no sign of the children, so Riley was able to speak openly to Olivia and Jake, with Parker listening intently. Over a glass of excellent claret, he explained everything they had thus far discovered or concluded. He left out all mention of Celia’s letters. Only he and Stout were aware of their existence and Riley intended to keep it that way.

  ‘I have met Mrs Kempton a few times,’ Olivia said, wrinkling her nose. ‘She lost her place in society when she married Kempton and tried very hard to regain it by making a favourable impression upon me as well as others, but I never could take to her. Now I understand why. Clearly, I am a good judge of character.’

  ‘Of course you are, my dear,’ Jake replied. ‘After all, you had the sense to marry me.’

  ‘Well, a good judge most of the time,’ Olivia conceded, making everyone smile.

  Riley went on to explain about his intended ruse to draw the killer out.

  ‘I think I would like Miss Alice Fanshaw,’ Olivia said, ‘she sounds very brave.’

  ‘Rod Woodrow definitely planned to marry her and set her up in business. Hopefully, he will have had the foresight to name her as his beneficiary. Salter’s speaking to his solicitors now. If that proves to be the case, then she will be financially secure. Otherwise, well…’ Riley spread his hands. ‘We can but hope that Madame Elaine will give her a permanent position.’

  ‘I order my hats from her,’ Olivia said, ‘and will take it upon myself to encourage her to do so. The child must be proficient, otherwise Madame would not have taken her on, no matter who asked her to do so.’

  Riley inclined his head. He should have known that Olivia would take control of the girl’s future. She had a soft heart and had probably not forgotten how lonely, isolated and afraid she had felt when she’d been falsely accused and temporarily imprisoned for the murder of her first husband. A murder that she would almost certainly have been hanged for committing had Jake not managed to prove her innocence.

  ‘Anyway, I need word spread,’ Riley said, ‘in the strictest confidence, obviously—'

  ‘Which is the surest way to ensure that it reaches every ear in the room,’ Olivia added, rolling her eyes.

  ‘Quite.’ Riley smiled. ‘I wondered if I could prevail upon you to attend Lady Eldridge’s reception tomorrow and do the spreading, so to speak. Everyone knows that we are close and will assume that you have my ear.’

  ‘Certainly we will go,’ Olivia said,
having glanced at Jake and received a confirming nod. ‘What do you wish me to say?’

  ‘Wait for someone to raise the subject with you. As you say, given our connection someone is bound to do so. Then admit that I am stumped. I have lots of suspects but no definitive proof. However, the astonishing thing is that I’ve discovered Rod’s guilty secret—’

  ‘A woman from the lower classes with whom he had fallen hopelessly in love!’ Olivia interjected, her eyes gleaming with mischief. ‘I agree with you, Riley. It will be beyond the powers of the most discreet of women to keep that juicy en dit to herself.’

  ‘This nameless women whom you can’t track down,’ Jake put in, ‘probably holds all of Rod’s private papers and diaries for safekeeping. You are desperate to get your hands on them but frustrated because you can’t find the lady. All you know for sure is that she and Rod frequented Holland Park on a regular basis in the afternoons, assured of privacy there at this time of the year when it’s so cold, but you can hardly accost every female who strolls through the park alone. Your superiors have forbidden you to do so for fear of them complaining, adding to your frustration.’

  ‘Exactly so.’ Riley inclined his head. ‘It’s a long shot but I can’t think of any other way.’

  ‘If Lord Durand knows that his daughter wrote to Rod then he will be desperate to recover her letters,’ Olivia said. ‘And William Woodrow can’t risk anything in writing coming to light about his paying his brother hush money. Kempton won’t try to recover his wife’s letters for a second time though,’ she added. ‘Not after having already been incarcerated for that offence.’

  ‘But his wife won’t want them to come to light,’ Riley replied. ‘After all, Olivia, you just mentioned how hard she tried to ingratiate herself with you. She is clearly desperate to be accepted by our set, and having her indiscretions flaunted in public will not further her cause.’

  ‘How can you be sure that they will attend the reception—the Kemptons, that is? Jake asked. ‘I doubt whether Lady Eldridge would think it invite them.’

  ‘I shall call upon her and ask her to make a point of doing so, as well as swearing her to secrecy. As one of Rod’s victims she can be relied upon to remain discreet. I will ask her to tell Mrs Kempton that she heard Rod mention her in the warmest of terms on several occasions. That will ensure her attendance.’

  ‘The Kemptons wouldn’t refuse an invitation from a lady of her standing anyway,’ Olivia pointed out.

  ‘Leave it to Olivia, Riley,’ Jake said, rolling his eyes. ‘You couldn’t have selected a more dependable messenger.’

  ‘I shall take that as a compliment,’ Olivia replied, smiling at both men.

  ‘Who, as a matter of interest, do you think actually did it?’ Jake asked, standing to refill their glasses.

  Riley grimaced. ‘It pains me to make the admission, but I have absolutely no idea. Kempton would be top of my list, but for the fact that Rod would never have admitted him to his rooms, and would certainly not have offered him a drink.’

  ‘You want me in that park tomorrow, I imagine,’ Parker said. He had listened to their conversation but this was the first contribution he’d made to it.

  ‘I was going to ask precisely that,’ Riley replied, encompassing both Parker and Jake with his gaze. ‘I shall recruit Stout too. I cannot involve too many of Scotland Yard’s finest for fear of their being recognised, even if they are disguised as park keepers or casual passers-by.’

  ‘Just let me know when and where,’ Parker said, ‘and I’ll be there.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Bring Amelia to dinner tomorrow evening,’ Olivia said. ‘The reception is early, you say, from six until eight. You will want to know how it went and who took the most interest in what we had to say.’

  ‘Thank you. We shall be delighted.’

  Riley took his leave shortly thereafter and made the call upon an enthralled Lady Eldridge, who proved more than willing to oblige him by inviting the Kemptons.

  ‘You think Kempton did it?’ she asked, eyes agog. ‘I don’t know the man personally, but one hears rumours his about bullying tactics, don’t you know.’

  ‘His is one of the names on my list of suspects, Lady Eldridge, but I cannot prove his involvement.’ He paused. ‘At least not yet. It will not surprise you to learn that Rod and Kempton’s wife were intimate friends.’

  Lady Eldridge chuckled. ‘I’ve seen the woman so no, that would not surprise me. Rod really was a busy boy.’

  Riley wanted to tell her that she had no idea just how busy, but resisted. Instead he asked for and received her solemn word that she wouldn’t betray his trust.

  It was late and there was nothing more Riley could do to advance his preparations that evening. He returned home and told Stout what he had in mind. His man was quick on the uptake and agreed to liaise with Parker regarding their own particular roles in Alice’s protection.

  ‘The young lady will sit beside the pond, you say, my lord?’

  ‘There is a fair amount of tree cover in that quadrant, which will serve our purpose but unfortunately that of the suspects too. They will want to observe Alice for a while, make sure she is the person they seek and not there to meet someone wholly unconnected with Woodrow before they approach her. Those trees will make an excellent place to watch her from.’

  ‘We should watch the trees in that case.’

  ‘Some of you should. The rest shouldn’t lose sight of Alice. I would prefer to have the killer slip through my fingers rather than risk the girl coming to harm.’

  ‘Quite so, although no one is likely to harm her. Not before he has possession of the offending letters. He’d be more likely to follow Alice to see where she lives, in the hope of breaking in and finding the box of letters.’

  Riley nodded his agreement. ‘Even so,’ he said.

  ‘How many other men, besides Parker and myself, will be there?’

  ‘Probably only two or three. I thought of using more but, upon reflection, too many will likely deter our murderer. Parks are not busy places at this time of year, and anyone loitering in the cold would appear suspicious to a jittery person.’

  ‘That should be enough people to keep her safe, my lord. Where will you be?’

  ‘Close by in a carriage, but out of sight. If I am seen then the whole rigmarole will have been for naught. It might very well be as it is,’ Riley sighed. ‘However, it’s worth a try. I depend upon you to keep Alice in your sights, Stout. I don’t like putting her in danger. I don’t like it at all.’

  ‘I suspect the young lady will happy to help, given that the murderer ruined her future by killing the man she intended to marry. It will make her feel as though she’s being useful.’

  Riley agreed, but by the time he arrived at Amelia’s residence that evening he was still unable to shake off a feeling of unease. Amelia assured him that nothing could happen to Alice with so many people watching over her. She agreed with Stout’s opinion that in Alice’s position she too would have wanted to involve herself, but even this failed to reduce his concerns.

  He arrived early at the Yard the following morning, fighting a headache and a sense of impending disaster. His first port of call was the superintendent’s office. Danforth was already inside with their superior and didn’t look happy to see Riley.

  ‘What is it, Rochester?’ he asked tersely, earning himself a scowl from the superintendent, whose office they were in—a point which appeared to have slipped Danforth’s admittedly limited mind.

  ‘I apologise for the intrusion,’ Riley replied calmly.

  ‘Come in, Rochester. I wanted a word with you,’ Thompson said. Riley closed the door behind him and took the chair beside Danforth. ‘What progress?’ he asked.

  ‘I updated the chief inspector, yesterday, sir,’ he replied, unsurprised that Danforth had not enlightened Thompson. ‘I assumed he would have—’

  ‘I was about to,’ Danforth blustered. Riley fixed him with a look that said he knew it was a
lie. Danforth flushed and was the first to look away.

  Riley took control, outlining his plan and confirming that Alice had agreed to it with enthusiasm. Thompson pondered upon what he had just been told for a protracted moment.

  ‘I don’t like involving the girl,’ he said, echoing Riley’s own concerns. ‘Are you sure there’s no other way?’

  ‘I cannot think of one, sir, and believe me, I’ve tried.’

  ‘In that case, I accept your judgement.’

  ‘I personally think that Rochester should take a harder line with the women Woodrow blackmailed, but he seems to think that’s unnecessary,’ Danforth complained

  ‘I am acquainted with the ladies in question, sir,’ Riley replied, addressing his comment to the superintendent and ignoring Danforth. ‘I have discovered their whereabouts at the time the crime was committed and am completely satisfied they could not possibly have done it.’ It wasn’t quite true, but close enough not to be an outright lie. ‘If I considered otherwise then my personal circumstances would not prevent me from doing my duty.’

  ‘They never have before, Rochester, and I commend your discretion. It’s a fine line to tread, given the situation. We’re all supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law but it would be a naïve person who believes things actually work that way.’ His gaze rested upon Danforth. ‘And I could do without society’s leaders berating me for being too heavy-handed. Very well. Go ahead. Speak with Barton and borrow whatever men you need from him. Keep me informed. I would like this one resolved sooner rather than later.’

  Riley left the superintendent’s office, barely able to contain his temper. He had been right to suppose Danforth had planned not to inform Thompson that he’d granted Riley permission to proceed with his trap, leaving him to take the fall if things went wrong. Stepping in to take the credit if they did not.

  ‘I should have listened to you and persuaded Thompson to get rid of Danforth when we had the chance,’ he said to Salter, whom he found awaiting him in his office.

  ‘He’s got in it for you worse than ever now he’s re-established himself here, sir,’ Salter replied. ‘He hates knowing that you…well, know all his dirty little secrets.’