‘Ah, yes,’ he replied in a normal voice. ‘The ladies who want to be bishops. Poor things. They’ve been at it for a few days now, and getting rowdier by the moment. Not exactly the behaviour one would think might tempt the Church to consider their demands. However, yes, certainly you may use your mobile anywhere you like. There is no service scheduled until later this afternoon.’
Once I reached Alan, he had to find a place quiet enough that he could hear me, and then I had to ask Walter where we were, so he could find us. ‘Alan, it’s really scary out there! I don’t know what we would have done if Walter hadn’t been able to get us away. Where are you?’
‘We did what you did, and took refuge in a church – the Abbey. There’s not a lot of peace and quiet, though. Too close to the action. And it may take us a little while to get to you. I’m going to ask a verger if there’s a back way out. Stay put and wait for us.’
We finally achieved lunch, not at the lovely restaurant Lynn had planned, but at a Pret a Manger in Victoria Place, the shopping centre in Victoria Station. As fast food goes, theirs is really pretty good, and quite a lot healthier than the fat-laden concoctions one finds in other places. And after fighting our way through the crowds, we were all a bit too hot and dishevelled for any posh place. Besides, this place was crowded and noisy, an ideal spot for a private conversation.
After we’d fetched our food and found a place to sit, the first thing Tom asked was, ‘Did you manage to save your hat, D?’
‘I did.’ I held up the slightly battered hatbox. ‘The box suffered a bit, but the hat is fine. I took it off at the first sign of trouble. I’d rather have lost my purse than this!’ I took it out for admiration, and all agreed I could wear it to Royal Ascot the next time I was invited, or, of course, to a Buckingham Palace garden party.
‘Or even to church on Sunday, which is somewhat more likely. Now. What do you two know about that fracas in Parliament Square? Did the Abbey people know anything about it?’
‘The vergers were quite knowledgeable, as we were far from the first bystanders to seek sanctuary there. The demonstration started on Monday, while the commission was meeting, apparently in the hope that a woman would be nominated for our position, even in advance of the legislation that would permit her appointment.’
‘Some hope,’ said Lynn crisply. ‘The mills of God may grind slowly, but they’re greased lightning compared with Parliament.’
‘Indeed. At any rate, when the shortlist was announced late on Tuesday, the demonstrators weren’t happy about it, and their numbers grew. Then Brading was killed and the women seemed to believe, using a thought process not entirely clear to me, that his death gave their cause a better chance of success, with the result that you saw today.’
‘As if!’ Sue was indignant. ‘They’re fools if they think causing a riot is going to make anyone believe they’d be good bishops. I don’t go to church much myself, but even I know that a bishop is supposed to be – well – dignified and that. And acting like louts isn’t doing any good to any other women’s causes, either.’
‘Amen to that,’ I said, lifting a glass in salute. ‘That’s the trouble with organized protest. If it isn’t very carefully organized and controlled, it can degenerate so quickly into chaos, and worse. I wonder, though, that Mr Lovelace wasn’t there, seizing the opportunity to make a speech.’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Walter, with a glint in his eye, ‘you were going to ask me about him, weren’t you? It does sound as though you’ve already taken his measure.’
‘I’ve gained an impression, but Alan and I would both like yours.’
‘The man’s a charlatan and a hypocrite,’ said Tom in disgust. ‘Taking credit for what other people have done, and lulling everyone with that smooth tongue of his. I despise him.’
‘He’s worse than that,’ said Walter, lowering his voice. ‘I did a lot of research a few months ago about London churches, past and present, for a paper I was writing, and I picked up quite a few interesting ideas. Research is a lot like detective work, you know, Mr Nesbitt.’
‘I do know,’ he said. ‘And it’s Alan.’
Walter ducked his head. He was still near enough his childhood to be embarrassed at calling an older man by his first name. ‘Yes, well, anyway. The thing is, I was especially interested in St Barnabas’, because I used to go there pretty regularly, though I was never actually on the parish roll. And you know how somebody once said that truth was not in accounts, but in account books?’
Several of us nodded. I remembered the phrase from Josephine Tey’s incomparable The Daughter of Time.
‘Well, I was able to look into St Barnabas’ accounts practically from the dawn of time, because I was with the BM at the time, and that’s a pretty respectable credential. And since it’s such a big church and I’d never officially become a member, nobody really looked at me twice.’
‘You think,’ said Alan, ‘that if they had known you were a parishioner, or at least an attendee, your access to the records would have been restricted?’
‘I’m damn sure they would have been! Sorry, Dorothy. But, you see, I was looking at both historical record books and modern ones. And only someone who’d attended services recently and seen how much money was going into the collection would have been able to compare that with the recorded income. And I tell you, Mr – Alan – there’s something rotten in the state of Denmark. Or the parish of St Barnabas’.’
‘Fraud,’ said Alan.
‘I can’t prove it,’ Walter admitted. ‘It’s based on personal observation. But it’s so terribly easy to steal from a church collection, isn’t it? All that cash, with no way to know who gives how much. Probably others besides the rector would have to be involved, and I think some of the parishioners pay by cheque, or even direct debit for the few rich ones, but most of those people are poor, Alan! They give all they can afford, and more, because they trust Lovelace. They love the man, and believe in him, and all the time he’s stealing from them. It makes my blood boil!’
‘Mine, as well,’ said Alan. ‘This is a very serious charge, Walter, and one that will have to be looked into. But you do realize that there could be any number of reasons for the apparent discrepancy? You say the congregation is poor, and Dorothy and I observed that for ourselves. Not all of them, but the majority, I’d say.’
He looked at me, and I nodded.
‘So it’s possible what you saw was a great many coins, but of little value, adding up to a less impressive total than you believe.’
‘It wasn’t just coins,’ said Walter stubbornly. ‘Banknotes. Five, ten, even twenty pounds. Euros, too, and they’re easy to spot, with those huge numbers. I suppose some people in the parish have family on the Continent who send them money, or come for a visit. I usually sat in the back, so the plate came around to me almost last, and I tell you, if there wasn’t at least a thousand pounds in there, I’m a Chinaman. And that was just one of the plates.’
‘Plates,’ I said. ‘Not those bags on long poles? Though, come to think of it, they used plates when we were there, didn’t they, Alan?’
‘I don’t remember, Dorothy. You may be right. We were well to the front, and I didn’t notice particularly. But that’s a point, actually. It would be far easier to pocket some of the contents of an open collection plate than a locked bag.’
‘Well, goodness knows I don’t care for the Reverend Mr Lovelace,’ I put in, ‘but there’s another side to be considered. It was obvious that money was being spent in the neighbourhood, and in the church itself. The style didn’t appeal to me, but there was the central heating, for one thing. And everything was bright and clean, no signs of neglect or poverty. How do you explain that, if Lovelace is raking some off the top?’
‘I don’t. Fraud was never my department. But I still know some people in the Met who specialize in that sort of thing. You must understand, though, Walter, that I can’t ask them to launch an investigation without more evidence than your observations.’
&nb
sp; ‘That’s why I’ve done nothing about it myself. I’m good at paper research, but my abilities end there. I’d hoped that you and Dorothy might be able to dig a bit deeper into the mess.’
Alan and I looked at each other. I was the one who replied. ‘We’re here in London for two reasons, Walter. And, Sue, this mustn’t go any further.’
‘Right.’ That was all she said, but I felt she could be trusted. After all, if Walter loved her …
‘Okay, then. You know Alan is on the Crown Appointments Commission, looking for a new bishop for Sherebury. And you know that Lovelace is one of the nominees for that position, and that another was murdered last week.’
Walter nodded.
‘So we came for Alan to get a look at Lovelace, and to meet and talk with him. But we’re also acting as unofficial investigators into the murder. No one likes to think that a clergyman could be a murderer, but it’s happened before now, so all three of the remaining nominees are potential suspects.’
‘I’d back Lovelace any day,’ said Tom.
‘Me, too,’ said Walter. ‘At any odds you like. So, what can I do to help you nail him?’
‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ said Alan. He looked around. The room was rapidly clearing, as the lunch crowd went on to their other pursuits. ‘We can’t talk here. Perhaps …’
‘Come to our place,’ said Lynn promptly. ‘Lots of room, lots of privacy.’
So we walked the few blocks to their house and settled in the sitting room while Lynn went to make us some coffee. I slipped off my shoes and massaged my feet.
‘I dressed for elegant shopping this morning, not for tramping the pavements. Ooh, that feels good. Now, Alan, what did you have in mind?’
‘Nothing terribly brilliant, I’m afraid. What I propose is this: I will phone St Barnabas’ this afternoon and book an appointment with Mr Lovelace, for tomorrow if at all possible. You will, of course, come with me, Dorothy, acting the dutiful wife for all you’re worth.’
‘What if he doesn’t have time to see you? Or pretends he doesn’t?’
‘A member of the Crown Appointments Commission? He’ll make time. And, Walter, I want you to come with us. I’ll introduce you as a young friend of ours, living in London, who has heard about his good works and is eager to help. Do you think your acting abilities are up to that?’
Walter gulped. He is an open, candid young man with a face that, like mine (I’m told), reveals his thoughts. I look dubiously at Alan.
‘I want you, Walter, to be our undercover agent. Dorothy and I can’t spend a lot of time in London just now, but it’s important that we learn anything we can about Lovelace. First, if he is what you believe, we certainly don’t want him to be our next bishop. In fact, we’d like to see him prosecuted and out of the Church completely. Second, we’re looking for a killer, and if Lovelace is engaging in criminal activities, it would give him an excellent motive to silence anyone who knew about them.’
‘Alan, don’t you see—’ I burst out.
He held up his hand, watching Walter.
The boy wasn’t stupid. ‘So if he figured out what I was doing, he’d have an excellent reason to silence me.’
‘Yes.’ Alan was still watching his face.
‘I hope,’ said Walter, sitting up very straight, ‘that you don’t think that would stop me doing what I think is right.’ He had turned a bit pale, and Sue, sitting at his side, put her hand on his.
‘If I thought that, I wouldn’t have asked. But I do want you to understand that what I’m asking you to do could be dangerous. I think the risk is slight, if you go about this the right way, but it’s certainly there.’
Walter took a deep breath. ‘Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. I would do anything in my power to put that bastard where he belongs.’ This time he made no apology for his language, which, in fact, I thought was apt.
SEVEN
‘I don’t like it, Alan,’ I said. ‘You know the police will be looking into Lovelace’s record, and they’re trained to spot that sort of shenanigans. Why put Walter in harm’s way?’
‘Because he can get on it right away. The police will be looking at Lovelace, first, in connection with Brading’s murder – trying to determine an alibi, that sort of thing. Despite what you often read in the kind of fiction you prefer, the police aren’t stupid.’
‘Well, I know that!’ I said indignantly. ‘Look who I married!’
Alan smiled. ‘Point taken. The police are, however, hamstrung by regulations. They would need a warrant to search the books. I’ve told you how often we knew, in Belleshire, who had committed a crime – knew it beyond all possible doubt – but were unable to prosecute because of some irregularity in the evidence, some mistake in procedure, some obscure point of law. Now, I concede that they’re necessary, these laws about evidence and procedure. I even embrace them. They protect the innocent. Unfortunately, they also sometimes protect the guilty. That’s why I want you, Walter, to dig up evidence I can present to the Met, evidence that will warrant a full investigation.’
‘Evidence of fraud?’
‘Or anything else juicy enough to bring the coppers into the act. But the first thing you must do is ingratiate yourself with the good rector.’
‘It is Lovelace we’re talking about, isn’t it?’ Walter snickered.
‘And for a start, you’ll have to rid yourself of that tone of voice. Try to remember what you thought of him early on. Flatter his vanity. Project your concern for the people of his parish, and your admiration of his work. Can you do that convincingly, do you think?’
‘I’ll see to it.’ Sue spoke firmly. ‘Alan, you don’t need to introduce us. If the Reverend Mr Bloody Wonderful knows you’re a retired policeman, he might get suspicious. He can’t be stupid, or he wouldn’t be where he is. No, I’ve had an idea. We’ll go to him for pre-marital counselling, and then Walter can go into his act.’
They argued about that for a while. My mind drifted away. It was obvious that Walter was going to get involved in this, one way or another. I hated to think what Jane would say when she heard about it. She was our dearest friend, but her tongue could blister paint when she chose, and she was fiercely protective of Walter, her only family.
Was there no other way? Could Alan and I … but no, plainly we couldn’t. We had no possible excuse for poking around in the finances of a London parish.
‘You’d stand a much better chance of getting in with my introduction.’ Alan’s voice rose rather heatedly. ‘He’s going to be much too busy to bother with pre-marital counselling. He probably has staff for that.’
‘But the connection with you cuts both ways,’ Walter insisted. ‘We can’t risk it.’
‘Look.’ I held up a hand. ‘You’re both right. And there’s only one way around the problem – that I can see, anyway.’
Five heads turned toward me.
‘A bribe,’ I said crisply. ‘He likes money. Offer him money to do your counselling.’
Five faces wore looks of incredulity.
‘Oh, you should see yourselves! I don’t mean you to do it that baldly. You go in, Walter. Perhaps with Sue on your arm, perhaps alone. You decide. You tell his secretary or whoever bars the door that you have two reasons to see Lovelace. First, to discuss with him a major gift to … to whatever seems to be his pet project at the time. You can find that out easily enough. Second, to hope that he just might find time to do some counselling, because you and this lovely lady plan to be married … well, you’ll have to set a date.’ I glanced at Sue. She seemed absorbed in my narrative. Maybe they really did plan to marry sooner or later.
‘That should get you in,’ I went on. ‘It’s up to you from then on. Lots of enthusiasm for whatever cause you pick. Lots of time to do volunteer work. You stress that you don’t need to do anything glamorous; behind-the-scenes secretarial work will be fine if that’s what he needs most. And it will be, I can assure you. I’ve been active enough in various organizations through the years to know
that volunteers usually want to do something they think is meaningful, but grow weary of dull routine very quickly. And then you ice the deal with a cheque.’
‘And there’s the rub,’ said Walter. ‘The fly in the ointment. The spanner in the works. Choose your cliché, and I’ll come up with five more. Sue and I could top the proverbial church mice in the poverty charts. As soon as we land jobs, we’ll be fine, but meanwhile we’re living on bread and Marmite, and not too much of the latter. Thanks, by the way, for feeding us today. As for large cheques, we could certainly write one, but it would bounce higher than the London Eye as soon as Lovelace took it to the bank.’
‘That’s where Alan and I come in. You supply the brains and the derring-do. We supply the funds.’ I looked at Alan. ‘At least, I imagine you wouldn’t mind blowing a bit of our savings to feed London’s poor, or whatever the money will go to.’
‘I mind very much using it to line Lovelace’s pockets,’ he said warmly. ‘But presumably Walter will see that doesn’t happen. Or if it does, and it’s the means of bringing him to justice, then it’s spent in a truly good cause. By all means, my dear, squander such of our substance as you think wise. I’m told the alms-houses in Sherebury are really quite nice.’
Of course, Lynn insisted that Walter and Sue stay for a substantial supper, and sent them home with a large bag of leftovers. ‘Nonsense,’ she said when Walter protested. ‘We have plenty of food, but we were once young church mice ourselves. And now that we’ve met, you can expect a supper invitation now and then. When you both get jobs, you can take us all to the Savoy for lobster and champagne.’
When they had left, we sat around over drinks and mulled over the day’s events. ‘I was really horrified by that demonstration in Parliament Square,’ I said.
‘Why, love? Were you really frightened? I wish I’d been with you.’
‘No, not so much that. At least, yes, I was scared. It looked as though things could turn really nasty.’
‘In New York or Chicago, they might have,’ said Tom soberly. ‘With both the police and a lot of the onlookers carrying guns, it could have turned into a full-scale riot.’
Day of Vengeance Page 6
