The Railway Detective irc-1

by Edward Marston

Tallis was halted in his tracks. Whatever else he did, he could not countermand the orders of his superior. Colbeck not only had the Police Commissioner on his side, he had, by effecting the three arrests at the Crystal Palace, earned the admiration of the whole department. A vital breakthrough had at last been made in the investigation. To harry him after such a triumph would be seen as sheer vindictiveness. Tallis retreated to the safety of his desk and took out a cigar from its case. Inhaling deeply as he ignited it, he watched Colbeck through the smoke.

  ‘I will remember this, Inspector,’ he said, sternly.

  ‘It is all a matter of record, Superintendent.’

  ‘What do you intend to do now?’

  ‘Question the three men in custody,’ said Colbeck. ‘They may not give us the name that we want but we can still squeeze some information out of them. Arthur Jukes is their leader. I’ll start with him. To be frank, I hoped that you might join me, sir.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘You know how to speak to an army man.’

  ‘That’s true,’ said Tallis, slightly mollified, ‘though all three of them are a disgrace to their regiment. If they were still in uniform, they’d be court-martialled.’

  ‘Make that point to them,’ advised Colbeck. ‘If I introduce you as Major Tallis, it will increase your authority. Do you agree, sir?’

  Tallis straightened his back. ‘Yes, Inspector. I think that I do.’

  ‘And we will need the services of an artist.’

  ‘An artist?’

  ‘To draw sketches of the three men,’ explained Colbeck. ‘I want to see if Caleb Andrews recognises any of them. Since he is unable to come here to identify the prisoners, we will have to take a likeness of them to him. He might pick out the man who assaulted him.’

  ‘The fireman can do that – what was his name?’

  ‘Frank Pike.’

  ‘Arrange for him to call here.’

  ‘I will, sir,’ said Colbeck, smoothly, ‘but I think that Mr Andrews is entitled to have a first look at these three men. After all, he was the real victim.’

  ‘True enough.’

  ‘He also deserves to know that we have taken such an important step forward in the investigation. When we finish questioning the prisoners, I’ll go across to Camden to apprise him of the situation. I have more than one reason for wishing to see him,’ he added, thinking of Madeleine. ‘Please put an artist to work as soon as you can.’

  Thomas Sholto moved swiftly. In the space of a few hours, he had gathered sufficient information about Robert Colbeck to take back to the house in Upper Brook Street. Sir Humphrey Gilzean was waiting for him. When his manservant showed the visitor into the drawing room, Gilzean got to his feet with urgency.

  ‘Well?’ he said.

  ‘I arrived just in time, Humphrey.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘When I got to Scotland Yard, there was a crowd of reporters waiting to hear details of the arrests. I mingled with them.’

  ‘Did you get inside?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Sholto, ‘I pretended that I worked for a provincial newspaper. Nobody paid any attention to me, tucked away at the back.’

  ‘Who gave the statement? Inspector Colbeck?’

  ‘No, it was Superintendent Tallis. A military man, by the look of him. He introduced us to the Inspector but would not let him answer any questions. Tallis has taken some severe criticism in the press,’ explained Sholto. ‘He wanted to make sure that he was seen in a better light this time. That’s why he stole all the attention.’

  ‘So what exactly did take place at the Crystal Palace last night?’

  ‘Three men lay in wait near the locomotives. When Jukes and the others gained entry, they were promptly arrested.’

  ‘Three against three? Why did they not fight their way out?’

  ‘They tried, Humphrey, but they were soon overpowered.’

  ‘Inspector Colbeck is a brave man,’ said Gilzean, ‘but he took a foolish risk when he fought on equal terms. He is obviously no soldier or he would have had a dozen policemen at his back.’

  ‘Nevertheless, he got the better of Jukes and the Seymours.’

  ‘How on earth did he come to be there in the first place? Was it a complete coincidence or a case of inspired guesswork?’

  ‘Neither,’ replied Sholto. ‘According to the Superintendent, they realised that the shipment of glass for the Great Exhibition was the intended target of the Kilsby Tunnel explosion. That led them on – at least, it led Inspector Colbeck on – to the conviction that the locomotives on display at the Crystal Palace were in potential danger. Last night was the third during which he kept vigil.’

  ‘A patient man, clearly.’

  ‘And a powerful one. It seems that he tackled Arthur Jukes on his own and beat him into submission – even though he had to take a few blows himself.’

  ‘Jukes is a tough character. He would have fought like a tiger.’

  ‘The tiger has now been caged.’

  Gilzean nodded soulfully. It had given him pleasure to organise the train robbery, to inflict damage on a railway company and to outwit the detectives who were put in charge of the case. The murders of William Ings and Daniel Slender had been necessities rather than sources of enjoyment, though they had also been carried out in order to muddy the waters of the investigation. Someone, it now transpired, was able to see clearly through muddy waters and it was troubling.

  ‘What manner of man is this Robert Colbeck?’ he asked.

  ‘A positive dandy.’

  ‘Yet able to acquit himself well in a fight.’

  ‘I’d not like to take him on, Humphrey.’

  Sholto went on to give of description of Colbeck’s appearance and behaviour. Since the Inspector was clearly known to the other reporters, Sholto had taken the trouble to talk to as many of them as possible, picking up all kinds of anecdotes about Colbeck. He retailed them to Gilzean, who assimilated all the facts he had been given.

  ‘Tall, handsome, single,’ he noted. ‘He must be a ladies’ man.’

  ‘Apparently not.’

  Gilzean was curious. ‘Are you telling me that he seeks exclusively male company?’

  ‘No,’ said Sholto. ‘I would never accuse him of that.’

  ‘Then he must have a social life of some kind.’

  ‘One of the reporters told me that Colbeck is something of a mystery. He trained as a lawyer, went to the bar, then, for some inexplicable reason, chose to become a policeman.’

  ‘There’s no such thing as an inexplicable reason, Thomas. A man would only make such a radical change of direction if he were prompted by just cause. It would help us if we knew what it was.’

  ‘There was one rumour.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘Someone told me that there had been an incident in his past,’ said Sholto, ‘involving a broken engagement.’

  ‘Now we are getting somewhere!’

  ‘It was some years ago, apparently.’

  ‘Who was the lady in question?’

  ‘I did not get a name.’

  ‘See if you can discover what it is, Thomas,’ said Gilzean. ‘We may be able to use it as a lever. Inspector Robert Colbeck must have some human contact, surely. No parents still alive, no brothers or sisters, no close friends – I do not believe it. There has to be someone.’

  ‘How can we find out?’

  ‘By having him followed.’

  ‘That will not be easy.’

  ‘He does not spend twenty-four hours a day at Scotland Yard. And when he leaves, I doubt if he always goes home to an empty house. Have him followed, Thomas,’ he instructed. ‘We’ll soon unravel the mystery of Robert Colbeck.’

  When she finally had some time to herself, Madeleine Andrews chose to read the newspaper cuttings that she had kept since the train robbery. Her father’s injuries were mentioned but the name that she paid most attention to was that of Robert Colbeck, wondering how she could manage to meet him again without seeming forward
. Madeleine recalled their last conversation and smiled. She was still annoyed that she had been followed to Scotland Yard by Gideon Little but that did not prevent her feeling a pang of sympathy for him. If he were so obsessed with Madeleine that he would shadow her across London, he had to be pitied. She hoped that he would find someone else to whom he could transfer his stifling affections.

  There was a loud knock at the door. Fearing that it might be Gideon Little, she was minded to ignore the caller at first but her father’s yell from upstairs made that impossible. It might well be another visitor for him and she was grateful for anyone who could offer him some distraction. Putting the cuttings away in a drawer, therefore, she went to open the front door.

  ‘Oh, my goodness!’ she cried.

  Her exclamation blended pleasure with sheer fright. While she was overjoyed to see Colbeck standing there, she was shocked at the sight of the bruising on his face.

  ‘Hello, Miss Andrews,’ he said, raising his hat.

  ‘What happened to you?’ she asked with concern.

  ‘That is what I came to tell you.’

  She noticed the bandage. ‘And your hand is injured as well.’

  ‘A minor problem. Is it convenient for me to come in?’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ said Madeleine, backing away and wishing that she had known that he was about to call. ‘Forgive my appearance.’

  ‘I see nothing whatsoever wrong with it.’

  ‘This is my working dress, Inspector.’

  ‘And very charming you look in it, Miss Andrews.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Do you wish to see Father?’

  ‘Yes, please. I have some good news for both of you.’

  She led him up the staircase and he watched her hips swaying entrancingly to and fro in front of him. Stepping into the bedroom, he was greeted by a look of surprise from Caleb Andrews.

  ‘Have you been fighting, Inspector?’ he said, staring at his face.

  ‘A light scuffle, Mr Andrews,’ replied Colbeck. ‘Nothing more. My injuries pale beside yours even though we may possibly have come up against the same man.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Three arrests were made last night. The men were all members of the gang involved in the train robbery.’

  ‘At last!’ said Madeleine.

  ‘We still have to round up the others, of course, but we feel that we are definitely closing in on them now. Last night was a turning point.’

  ‘Tell us why, Inspector,’ urged Andrews. ‘We want the details.’

  Without even saying that they had been acting on his initiative, Colbeck told them about the successful ambush at the Crystal Palace and gave them the names of the three men in custody. Madeleine clapped her hands together in delight but her father shook his head.

  ‘Those names mean nothing to me,’ he said.

  ‘Perhaps their faces will, Mr Andrews.’

  ‘You’re going to bring the rogues here for me to see them?’

  ‘I already have,’ said Colbeck, taking some sheets of paper from inside his coat and opening them out. ‘These are only sketches, mark you, but I think that the artist caught the salient features of each man. Here,’ he went on, passing the first sketch to Andrews, ‘this is Harry Seymour. Do you recognise him?’

  ‘No,’ said Andrews, squinting at the paper. ‘No, I don’t think so.’

  ‘What about his brother, Vernon?’

  ‘Let me see.’ He took the second sketch then shook his head. ‘No, this is not the man either. He was bigger and with an uglier face.’

  ‘Perhaps it was Arthur Jukes, then,’ said Colbeck, showing him the last drawing. ‘Ignore the black eye,’ he advised. ‘That’s what I gave him when he had the temerity to fight back. Those whiskers of his are ginger, by the way.’

  ‘It’s him!’ asserted Andrews, waving the paper. ‘This is him!’

  ‘Are you certain?’

  ‘As certain as I am of anything. This is the devil who hit me.’

  ‘Then that’s one more charge for him to answer.’

  ‘Frank Pike was there as well,’ recalled Madeleine. ‘He probably got a closer look at this man than Father.’

  ‘I intend to call on Mr Pike to show him these sketches,’ said Colbeck. ‘If he agrees with your father that Jukes is the man, he can come and see him in person, just to make sure.’

  ‘Take me along as well, Inspector,’ said Andrews.

  ‘No, Father,’ said Madeleine. ‘You must stay here.’

  ‘I want to tell that villain what I think of him, Maddy.’

  ‘Mr Pike will surely do that on your behalf,’ said Colbeck, taking the sketches back and slipping them into his pocket. ‘Well, I’m delighted that we have such a positive identification.’

  ‘How many other men are involved?’ wondered Madeleine.

  ‘That has yet to be determined, Miss Andrews, but we intend to hunt down each and every one. Apart from the robbery, there are two murders and an explosion at Kilsby Tunnel to be laid at their door.’

  ‘And an attempted outrage at the Crystal Palace.’

  ‘Blowing up those wonderful locomotives?’ said Andrews, still appalled at the idea. ‘That’s worse than a crime – it’s downright evil.’

  ‘They were all saved for the visitors to enjoy them,’ said Colbeck. ‘And what amazing machines they are! After spending three nights lying beneath Liverpool, I got to know her extremely well. Mr Crampton is a brilliant man.’

  ‘A genius, Inspector.’

  ‘I only wish that I could persuade Sergeant Leeming of that. He hates trains, I fear, and being forced to sleep under a locomotive did not endear him to the notion of rail travel.’

  ‘Who is Sergeant Leeming?’ said Andrews.

  ‘Your daughter will explain – she’s met him. Well,’ said Colbeck, ‘now that I’ve passed on the glad tidings, I’ll be on my way.’ He smiled at the invalid. ‘I’m pleased to see that you’re looking somewhat better, Mr Andrews.’

  ‘I can’t say the same about you, Inspector.’

  ‘That’s not very tactful, Father,’ said Madeleine.

  ‘It’s an honest comment, Maddy.’

  ‘It is,’ agreed Colbeck. ‘When I saw myself in the shaving mirror this morning, I had quite a shock. It looks far worse than it feels.’

  After trading farewells, he went downstairs and made for the front door. Madeleine was at his heels, determined to have a word with him alone. When he let himself out, she stood on the doorstep. Colbeck kept his top hat in his hand while he talked.

  ‘I hope that the news will act as a tonic for your father,’ he said.

  ‘It will, Inspector. It has certainly cheered me.’

  ‘I have the feeling that he can be a difficult patient.’

  ‘Quite impossible at times.’

  ‘Fretful and demanding?’

  ‘Only on good days, Inspector.’

  They shared a laugh and he watched her cheeks dimple again. She had a way of putting her head slightly to one side that intrigued him. For her part, she noticed the sparkle of interest in his eyes. It implanted a distant hope in her breast.

  ‘Where are you going now?’ she asked.

  ‘To call on Frank Pike,’ he replied. ‘After that, I have to go straight back to Scotland Yard.’

  ‘Do you never rest, Inspector?’

  ‘Not when I am in the middle of an investigation.’

  ‘Your family must miss you terribly.’

  ‘I live alone, Miss Andrews,’ he said, glad of the opportunity to reveal his circumstances. ‘My parents died some years ago and I have never felt it entirely fair to invite anyone to share the life of a detective.’ He pointed to his face. ‘What wife wishes to see her husband coming home like this, especially after he has been absent from the marital couch for three nights?’

  ‘Some wives have to put up with a lot more than that, Inspector.’

  ‘By choice?’

  ‘Of course,’ she said, earnestly. ‘If
a woman really loves her husband, then she will happily endure all the disadvantages that his job might bring. I know that that was my mother’s attitude. Being the wife of a railwayman has many drawbacks, believe me.’

  ‘Is that why you spurned the opportunity yourself?’

  ‘Not at all.’

  ‘But I understood you to say that you had rejected your suitor.’

  ‘Only because he was not the right man for me,’ she explained. ‘It was nothing to do with his occupation. If Gideon had been the husband of my choice, it would not have mattered whether he were a railwayman or a road sweeper.’

  ‘I see that you are a romantic, Miss Andrews.’

  ‘I have always thought of myself as a practical woman.’

  ‘Even a practical woman can have romantic inclinations,’ he said, holding her gaze for a long time. ‘However,’ he added, putting his hat on, ‘I must not keep you talking out here in the street. You have things to do and I have somewhere to go. Goodbye, Miss Andrews.’

  ‘Goodbye, Inspector.’

  She offered her hand in the expectation that he would shake it but Colbeck instead brought it to his lips and planted a gentle kiss on it. Madeleine was thrilled and he was pleased with her reaction. The tender moment between them did not go unobserved. Seated in a cab a little way down the street was a man who had followed Colbeck all the way from Scotland Yard. Watching the two of them in conversation, he felt that he would have something of great interest to report.

  Superintendent Tallis could not believe his eyes. As he stepped into the corridor, he saw Brendan Mulryne walking jauntily towards him, a broad smile covering his battered face. The Irishman offered his hand.

  ‘Good day to you, Superintendent,’ he said, cordially.

  ‘What, in the name of Christ, are you doing here?’ demanded Tallis, declining the handshake. ‘You should be locked up.’

  ‘I’ve been released on bail.’

  ‘On whose authority?’

  ‘Mr Mayne himself,’ said the Irishman. ‘I’ve just spoken to him. He wanted to congratulate me on the help that I gave at the Crystal Palace. I’m moving up in the world,’ he went on, chuckling. ‘I never thought that I’d get to meet a Police Commissioner face to face.’

  ‘You should not have been at the Crystal Palace in the first place.’