The Londum Omnibus Volume One (The Londum Series Book 4)

by Tony Rattigan

  ‘I agree. Colonel, could we have a room where we could interview the men privately? The sooner we get cracking on this the sooner we can hopefully tie it up.’

  ‘Certainly, Sir Arthur. Major, would you kindly see to that? Perhaps a room in the mess? Sir Arthur, if you need anything else we are at your service.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you, Colonel. Rest assured, we will do our utmost to bring this matter to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.’

  Cobb and Sir Arthur shook hands with the colonel and then allowed themselves to be led away by the Adjutant.

  ***

  Cobb and Sir Arthur left Chelsea Barracks late that evening. It had been a frustrating afternoon; they had interviewed each member of the guard detail and got nowhere. No one owned up to it and all of them had an alibi apart from when they were guarding the strong-room, when they were alone. But that included half the guard so there were no obvious suspects there. Cobb had suggested starting with the soldiers as logic dictated one or more of them must have been involved but the interviews had proved fruitless.

  All of them had been searched at the Palace then placed in quarantine. As a double check, their billet at the barracks had been turned out as well. Nothing was found. If it was one of them, then he must have hidden it at the Palace or immediately passed it on to an accomplice. But Cobb didn’t see how they could have done that without being seen by one of the others. Unless of course all twelve of them were in on it, which Cobb doubted. It didn’t make any sense.

  Finally, Cobb had to admit to Sir Arthur that questioning the men was getting them nowhere. He suggested that the next move was to go to the scene of the crime so he could try and work out how it had been done. Sir Arthur gave instructions to Colonel Trap-Handler to keep the men they had been questioning locked away from anyone else until further notice. Then he arranged to have his carriage brought around and the two of them left for the day.

  ***

  Next morning at King James’ Palace, Cobb walked around the strong-room slowly studying the floors, the walls and the ceiling of the windowless, underground room. Sir Arthur watched him silently from the doorway. Cobb completed his examination of the room and then went to the cage, which contained the strong-box that had held the Seal.

  The cage was from floor to ceiling, about eight feet high, twelve feet wide and stretched back for twelve feet either side, to where the bars were cemented into the wall. Cobb walked into the cage and examined the empty strong-box. After a few moments he came out and knelt by the door of the cage scrutinising the lock.

  The metal bars of the cage were painted black and as Cobb studied the lock he noticed a scratch mark in the paint. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck and he involuntarily sucked in his breath sharply as he saw that around the keyhole there was a semicircular mark where something had scratched a groove as it turned.

  He got slowly to his feet and brushed down his trousers. He walked around the room again, checking the floor and ceiling. He went back and looked at the lock again. Once more he walked around the room but this time he was just looking at his feet, deep in thought. Sir Arthur watched, curiously. Finally Cobb said to Sir Arthur. ‘I think I’ve seen everything I need to, for now.’

  ‘And your conclusions?’

  ‘Let’s talk outside.’

  The two men walked up the stairs and informed the Army Guard Commander that they were leaving. He arranged for their carriage to be brought to the front of the house. They climbed aboard and they pulled out of King James’ Palace.

  They sat in silence for a few moments then Sir Arthur asked Cobb, ‘Okay then, have you figured out how they got in and stole the Seal?’

  ‘I haven’t got a clue.’

  ‘Oh dear, I was relying on you, Cobb.’

  ‘But it doesn’t matter that I don’t know how they did it … because I think I know who did it.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘The Great Seal, its speedy recovery is very important, isn’t it?’

  ‘Vital,’ replied Sir Arthur.

  ‘So I can name my own terms.’

  ‘Yes … you can name your own price if you get it back.’

  ‘No, no, I’m not talking about money,’ said Cobb. ‘I believe I can get the Seal back but it has to be “no questions asked”. I bring it back, you don’t ask me where it came from or who took it. Deal?’

  Sir Arthur paused for a moment, ‘Okay, you’ve got a deal but it has to be done quickly.’

  ‘Drop me at my house and I’ll get right to it.’

  When they reached Cobb’s house, he climbed out and said to Sir Arthur, ‘I’ll be in touch,’ he told Sir Arthur.

  ‘Please don’t be too long.’

  Almost exactly an hour later Cobb’s Hansom cab pulled up in the square in front of Jim Darby’s house. After being dropped off at his house, Cobb had gone in and got something he needed, then he had taken a cab to Jim’s.

  Jim’s house was in one of those Londum squares that have a little park in its centre surrounded by railings. There was a fountain in the centre and a few benches for the public.

  Cobb paid off the cabbie and then walked up the stairs and rang the bell. After a few minutes Jim himself opened the door.

  ‘Cobb, what a lovely surprise! Come in, come in.’ He held the door wide and stood aside.

  ‘Sorry to disturb you but I need to talk to you urgently.’

  Jim closed the door behind Cobb and led him into the drawing room.

  ‘No maid to answer the door?’ asked Cobb.

  ‘I have someone who comes in a couple of times a week to clean up and do the laundry but most of the time I take care of myself.’

  ‘So we’re alone then?’ asked Cobb.

  ‘Yes. Can I take your coat?’

  ‘No, that’s all right thanks, I’ll keep it on.’

  ‘How did you know where I live? I don’t remember telling you.’

  ‘I’m a detective, remember?’

  ‘Ah yes, of course … silly me. Can I offer you a drink?’

  ‘Not for me thanks, I’m cutting back.’

  ‘Glad to hear it, you did tend to enjoy it a bit too much didn’t you?’

  ‘Ancient history,’ said Cobb.

  Jim poured himself a drink and sat on the couch. ‘Have a seat,’ he said Cobb.

  ‘No, that’s okay, I’ll stand.’

  Jim was beginning to notice the tension in Cobb. ‘What’s up Cobb? You seem a bit formal, you’re not here in any official capacity are you?’

  ‘Well, I’m hoping that it doesn’t have to become official.’

  Jim crossed his legs, took a sip of his drink and said, ‘Go on.’

  ‘I’ve come here to recover the Great Seal of Pils-Holstein … which you stole from King James’ Palace.’

  Jim didn’t waste any time or effort trying to argue his innocence; he just took a swig of his drink and looked at Cobb. Cobb just stared back at him.

  Finally Jim spoke. ‘Damn, you are a good detective aren’t you Cobb? How did you know it was me?’

  ‘Your lock pick, you left the same mark on the strong-room lock as you did on Adele’s suitcase.’

  ‘Blast, I meant to get that fixed.’ Jim smiled and thought for a moment. ‘Okay, just supposing that I do have it, what now?’

  ‘You give it to me and I’ll return it. I give you my word that I won’t say where it came from but I must have it back. Otherwise, I take you in and we ransack your house until we find it. But I don’t want to do that, if I can get it back quickly and quietly then that’s fine by me.’

  ‘Why are you involved in this? Surely it’s a police matter?’ asked Jim.

  ‘If the police got involved word would soon get around, so I’ve been asked by some very important people to get the Seal back before it causes a major diplomatic incident.’

  ‘But it’s just a trophy!’

  ‘Damn it Jim! You don’t know the problems you’ve caused! We need to keep good relations with Pils-Holstein. We need t
heir permission to transit through their country in time of war in Europe. And from what I’m told that may not be too far away. If the Pils-Holstein delegation leave this country without the Seal then Albion’s ability to respond to threats in Europe will be severely damaged.’

  ‘So you’re saying I should return it for the good of Albion?’ asked Jim.

  ‘Yes. And for your freedom. That’s the deal.’

  Jim sat there sipping his drink, thinking it over. Cobb wandered around the room looking at the ornaments to give him time.

  Finally Jim put his drink down and stood up. ‘Okay, I’ll get it.’ He left the room, returning a few minutes later carrying an object wrapped in black velvet, which he placed on the table.

  Cobb unwrapped the velvet revealing the Great Seal. It was exactly as Sir Arthur had described it, oval in shape, nine inches long and made of solid gold. The Pils-Holstein double-headed eagle crest was embossed on the front. He turned it over and checked the hallmarks on the back; they were just as Sir Arthur had described them to him. Satisfied that Jim would not have had time to have it duplicated and this was indeed the real Great Seal, Cobb wrapped it up in the velvet again.

  ‘Why did you steal it, Jim? You can’t do anything with it except melt it down and sell the gold.’

  ‘Because it was there, what do you think?’ Jim sighed and said, ‘Actually, it happens to be priceless to the right people.’

  ‘And who would they be?’

  ‘Perhaps … its rightful owners,’ said Jim.

  ‘You mean the ones that can pay the most for it,’ replied Cobb, sarcastically.

  ‘No. I mean … oh never mind.’

  ‘Listen Jim … I knew before that you weren’t strictly honest but I could always overlook that as long as it happened away from my patch. Besides, it looked like you always gave the proceeds to charitable causes, like that thing in Brimidgham.’

  ‘You knew that was me?’ asked Jim.

  ‘Yeah, I figured it out.’

  ‘Very clever of you.’

  ‘But to steal something like this, just for profit, just for greed, I’m afraid all it does is prove to me that you are just a common thief after all.’

  ‘Is that all you think I am then, a common thief?’

  Cobb didn’t speak, just held up the velvet wrapped bundle.

  ‘And you won’t allow that I may have done it for reasons besides money?’ asked Jim.

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Reasons that I am not at liberty to discuss.’

  ‘Sure Jim, whatever you say,’ said Cobb, the disbelief apparent in his voice. ‘What I’m saying is … I don’t think we can be friends anymore. I am a detective after all, it’s my job to put people like you away.’

  ‘So why aren’t you putting me away now?’

  ‘Call it one last gesture of friendship.’

  ‘Last gesture of friendship? I’m sorry you feel that way Cobb, because I still regard you as a friend.’

  ‘Sorry Jim, that’s the way it has to be.’

  ‘So be it, it’s your decision. I’ll miss you though, we had some laughs.’

  Cobb couldn’t meet his eyes. ‘Well, I’d better be going now, I have to return this,’ he said, picking up the velvet wrapped bundle. ‘I give you my word,’ said Cobb. ‘I won’t mention your involvement in this, you’re in the clear.’

  Jim sat back down on the couch and picked up his drink. ‘For Albion,’ he said bitterly, raising his glass.

  Cobb didn’t reply; just let himself out of the house. When he was on the pavement he put his hand in his pocket and applied the safety catch to his revolver. He hadn’t been sure how Jim Darby was going to take his visit and so he had stopped at his house first to pick up the gun. Friend or not, Jim Darby was a dangerous man and Cobb couldn’t afford to take him for granted.

  As Cobb walked down the street looking for a cab, a carriage went past him. He halted on the edge of the pavement, waiting to cross over the road. As he looked up and down the street checking to see if it was safe to cross, he noticed that the carriage had stopped outside Jim Darby’s house. He watched for a moment as a woman got out of the coach, he caught a glimpse of her face under her hood as she dismounted. Very attractive, looked classy too. Not one of Jim’s “friends” from the Golden Gryphon by any means. She ran up the steps to his door, which was quickly opened as if he had been waiting for her.

  ***

  The king and the prime minister stood on the steps of Buck House watching the carriages leaving that were taking Grand Duke Luga to Wellington Station, where the Royal train was waiting to take them to Dubris to catch the ferry back to Gaul.

  ‘Dear Gods,’ muttered King Victor, ‘that was embarrassing, having to apologise for the theft. Any word on who did it?’

  ‘No Your Majesty. Apparently that was part of the deal to get it back. The Seal gets returned, no one gets charged.’

  ‘Good job for them. If it was up to me I would have them strung up by their testicles in Hyde Park for all the trouble they’ve caused us.’

  ‘Yes, Your Majesty always was in favour of penal reform.’

  ‘Don’t start … don’t start with me Parmesan, I’m not in the mood,’ he said, coldly.

  ‘As you wish Sir. Still the situation could be worse.’

  King Victor looked at him sceptically. ‘How?’

  ‘Well, there are still a few months before the treaty runs out and negotiations haven’t completely broken down.’

  ‘How much is this going to cost Albion?’

  ‘Not as much as if we don’t get that treaty.’

  King Victor sighed, ‘Make it happen.’ He turned and walked back into Buck House.

  ‘Yes Your Majesty,’ the prime minister replied and then went down the steps to his waiting carriage.

  ***

  After the visiting occupants had moved out of King James’ Palace on their way back to Pils-Holstein, the cleanup crew arrived. Although there were staff there during any visitor’s stay, after each departure a dedicated team of servants descended on the Palace, whose job it was to clean up after the departing dignitaries and prepare the building for the next occupants.

  All the linen, cutlery, glassware and crockery were replaced. All the soft furnishings were cleaned and the whole building was scrubbed, dusted, cleaned and polished from top to bottom. And as well as the inside of the house, the grounds were also tended.

  Besides the grounds around the Palace, there was an internal private garden exclusively for the use of the visiting Royals. During their stay, nobody but them was allowed in there. Given that this was generally only seen by Royalty, the head gardener took it upon himself to tend this private sanctuary himself. He delegated the outer grounds to his underlings but this domain was his alone.

  He tended the bushes, trimming and tying back plant life where necessary, so they didn’t overhang the pathways. Then he raked the lawn. As he approached the area near the wall, at one end of the lawn, he noticed that the earth had been disturbed. He looked around him in amazement, none of his staff would have been in here without consulting him first and he hardly expected that the last set of visitors would take to digging up the lawn during their stay. It wasn’t what Royals did!

  He dug into the soil with the toe of his boot. It was still loose so it hadn’t been dug up that long ago. Curious now he went back to his wheelbarrow and swapped his rake for his spade. Returning to the site of the disturbance he began to dig. He’d removed about six inches of topsoil when there was an unpleasant ‘crunch’ as his spade dug into something. More carefully now, he reversed his hold on the spade so the blade was facing towards him and began to scrape away the soil instead of digging into it. He quickly uncovered what had made the crunching noise, it was white and about foot long. It looked like a tree root and he grabbed it to pull it out of the ground. To his horror it came out of the ground and he found himself holding a human hand and part of an arm. He dropped it and staggered back in shock.

  But he was
made of stern stuff, he had seen some grisly sites while fighting for the British Army in Bharat when he was a younger man and he went back to the diggings and cleared some more earth away. Buried in the ‘grave’, for that is what it surely was now, not a piece of disturbed earth but a grave, he found the bodies of two persons, one male and one female.

  Muttering a prayer under his breath, he laid his shovel aside and went to raise the alarm.

  ***

  Cobb and Adele were out shopping. They had bought most of the things that they needed but Adele still wanted to go to a butcher. Cobb reluctantly led her down Baker Street to 221B.

  ‘Look, there’s Murriarty’s Fine Meat Emporium over the road, let’s try there!’ he said eagerly.

  ‘No. Those big markets are too impersonal. I prefer the smaller shops, they’re friendlier. Like this one,’ she said, pointing at the sign.

  Soames and Woodson

  Family Butchers

  With a sinking feeling Cobb followed her into the shop. Woodson was at one end of the shop measuring some pheasants with a tape measure. He looked up as the two of them entered the shop.

  ‘Ah, good morning Mr. Cobb, Miss,’ he nodded to Adele.

  ‘Good morning,’ replied Cobb. ‘What’s with the tape measure?’

  ‘We’ve had some pheasants delivered from our supplier. Soames says they’re all right but they seemed a bit small to me so I was just measuring them. What can I do for you?’

  ‘I’d like a pound of lamb mince, please,’ said Adele. To Cobb she said, ‘I’m going to make a Shepherd’s Pie for dinn-’

  Adele broke off as the most awful wailing broke out from the rear of the shop. It sounded like a cat being slowly sawn in half or the sound you would make if you ice-skated down a slate-tiled roof.

  ‘What in the name of the Gods is that?’ asked Cobb. He had to raise his voice to be heard.