‘No, I don’t.’
‘Then forget all about this lecture tomorrow.’
‘Maybe I will.’
‘Mrs Bridger had the right idea. She refused to go.’
‘That’s true.’
‘Promise me that you’ll shake off these anxieties and try to live a normal life again. I’m sure that Daddy said the same thing to you.’
‘He didn’t get the chance.’
Alice was shocked. ‘Do you mean that you haven’t told him?’
‘He’s never here long enough.’
‘If you don’t speak to him, then I will.’
‘No, you won’t,’ said Ellen, sitting up. ‘It’s my job to do that. And you’ve given me the advice I needed. I’m so grateful for that. I won’t borrow any more books like that from the library and I certainly won’t go to hear that lecture on The Unseen Hand.’
As he knew from experience, detective work could so easily become a series of false dawns. Just when he thought he’d garnered decisive evidence, Marmion had seen it exposed as nothing of the kind. It had taught him to be extremely cautious. Nevertheless, he felt a surge of excitement as he left the Lotus Hotel. Its manager had identified someone in a photograph as the missing person at the heart of the case. It could be a huge bonus. Set against the good news was the fact that Sir Godfrey Brice-Cadmore could be of no further help to him. Marmion had been saddened by the sight of him in his hospital bed and suspected that the profound shock of learning that his late wife’s name had been used by someone else might have contributed to his collapse.
Back at Scotland Yard, he went straight to the superintendent’s office. Claude Chatfield fired a warning shot across his bows.
‘If you’ve brought bad news,’ he said, ‘I don’t want to hear it. I had the commissioner in here earlier, demanding a sign of progress in this case. As he threatened, Mr Fleetwood has been complaining about us.’
‘That’s his prerogative, sir.’
‘So what’s your decision? Are you staying or going?’
‘I’ll stay if I may,’ said Marmion, closing the door behind him, ‘because I believe that my visit to Mr Chell may have marked a turning point in this investigation.’
Chatfield groaned. ‘We could certainly do with one.’
Marmion was succinct. He told him how the hotel manager had taken a long time studying one of the photographs before identifying the woman who’d stayed with them under a false name. Having set the relevant photo down on the desk, he pointed to the lady in question. In doing so, he’d hoped to bring a smile to the superintendent’s face, but Marmion instead saw the other man’s scowl darken. Chatfield was pessimistic.
‘The hotel manager was mistaken,’ he decided.
‘He gave me his word, sir.’
‘How could he identify a woman he could hardly see? It might be different if she was looking directly at the camera but she’s turning away. All that’s visible is the side of her face.’
‘Would you recognise your wife if that’s all you saw of her?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘It would be the same with my wife, sir. Mr Chell, you must remember, got to know the self-appointed Lady Brice-Cadmore on her previous visit to the hotel. He has an excellent memory.’
‘You told me earlier that he was a good judge of character.’
‘I stand by that.’
‘Then why was he so easily fooled by this woman?’ asked the other. ‘He allowed a criminal to stay at the hotel.’
‘We don’t know that she’s exactly a criminal, sir.’
‘She’s hiding behind someone else’s name, Inspector.’
‘Granted, but we can’t be sure that she’s doing it for criminal purposes. You’re assuming that she’s party to the murder when she might well be another victim of the person who committed it.’
‘Then where is she?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ said Marmion, ‘but I believe that the photograph might somehow lead us to her. If we know her real name, it will be much easier to trace her.’
‘But how the devil will you find out her name?’
‘She attended a ball held by the Old Berkshire Hunt. That means she was taken there as a guest by someone who might well be in this same photo. Our starting point will be the Master of the Hunt. He’ll know who organised that event and who might well have a record of those who were there.’
‘I suppose so,’ said Chatfield, grudgingly. ‘Sir Godfrey should be able to point you in the right direction.’
Marmion shook his head. He explained that the old man was no longer able to remember anything that might be of use to them. They would have to manage without him.
‘I have two requests, sir,’ he declared.
‘What are they?’
‘I’ll need to take Sergeant Keedy with me. My guess is that we may be involved in a long and tortuous search. It will be easier if we can divide the work between us.’
‘But you put Keedy in charge of dealing with the information that came in from the public.’
‘Someone else can do that, sir.’
‘I’m not happy about this,’ said Chatfield. ‘You’re asking me to send my two best detectives off on what could be a wild goose chase.’
‘The Old Berkshire Hunt prefers to chase foxes, sir.’
‘Don’t be flippant.’
‘Then there’s the second request I mentioned.’
Chatfield grimaced. ‘Why am I feeling the need to brace myself?’
‘It’s a simple question of need. A train might get us to Berkshire, but it won’t be able to take us here, there and everywhere. We must have the use of a police car.’
‘I can’t sanction that unless it’s for a very important reason.’
‘We want to solve a murder and a possible abduction, sir,’ said Marmion, seriously. ‘Can you think of a more important reason than that?’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Alice Marmion had brought a breath of fresh air into the house. She not only provided company for her mother, she’d relieved her of a burden she’d been carrying since she’d started reading The Invasion of 1910. Suddenly, none of its ominous predictions seemed to matter. Their hold on Ellen had been broken. Over a cup of tea in the kitchen, she expressed her gratitude.
‘I’m so glad that you came to my rescue, Alice. I could think of nothing else.’ She stirred her tea. ‘Will you stay the night?’
‘No, Mummy, I’d better get back in due course.’
‘Have you had any more thoughts about the wedding?’
‘Yes,’ said Alice. ‘I made the mistake of confiding in Iris and she keeps coming up with new ideas for it – expensive ones.’
‘Your father won’t like that.’
‘It’s not fair that the father of the bride always has to foot the bill.’
‘That’s traditional.’
‘It doesn’t mean that it’s right.’
‘Someone told me once that it was like paying a dowry, which is what they used to do in the old days.’
‘I always thought that was a terrible thing to be forced to do. It’s as if the father is paying someone to take a daughter off his hands because he can’t wait to get rid of her.’
‘That’s not the case here,’ argued Ellen. ‘Nobody is trying to get rid of you, Alice. If the decision was left to me, you and Joe would move in here and not have to worry about buying a place of your own.’
‘We want to be independent.’
‘Wait until your first child comes along. You’ll need to depend on us then. Have you talked about having a family?’
‘There’s plenty of time to do that when we’re married.’
‘Joe is quite a bit older than you, remember.’
‘I know. I tease him about it sometimes.’
‘You need to be fit and healthy if you have children.’
‘He’s one of the fittest and healthiest people I’ve ever met. Joe plays football whenever he has the chance and hasn’t been near a docto
r for years. Just before war broke out, he won the police half-marathon.’
‘Your father used to love running at that age.’
‘What stopped him carrying on?’
‘You and Paul arrived.’
It was bound to happen. Though they’d each resolved to keep off the subject of Paul, he was bound to intrude into the conversation sooner or later. A wedding meant a gathering of the family and it was more than possible that one of its principal members would not even be there. Rather than talk about her brother again, Alice created a diversion.
‘Iris came up with the most ridiculous idea.’
‘Did she?’
‘Yes, she said that we should take advantage of the fact that Uncle Raymond holds an important position in the Salvation Army. That means he has a brass band at his disposal.’
‘It is not coming to the wedding,’ protested Ellen.
‘Uncle Raymond and Auntie Lily will be very welcome,’ said Alice, ‘but the band can stay away. I refuse point-blank to come down the aisle to the strains of “Onward Christian Soldiers”!’
Keedy and Marmion had been friends as well as colleagues. Because of the former’s reputation as a ladies’ man, there’d been some awkward moments between them when he took an interest in the inspector’s daughter. Marmion kept asking himself how long it would last before Alice was discarded like her predecessors. Once the relationship had blossomed into a firm commitment, Keedy could feel the tension between him and Marmion gradually easing away. It was a source of great relief.
As the two men were driven out of London in the early evening, Marmion began to talk about the investigation. Keedy’s mind, however, was elsewhere. He was in a quandary. Wanting to keep a secret, he was conscious of the fact that he was sitting beside his future father-in-law. In hiding something from Marmion, he was not only being unfair, it might lead to a serious breach between them at a later stage. If the older man eventually discovered the truth, he would be furious. For that reason, Keedy elected to be honest with him. After waiting until his companion lapsed into silence, he spoke up.
‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, Harv …’
‘Then this is the perfect time. We’ve all of fifty miles or more to drive. What is it?’
‘Before you got married, did you have to save up?’
‘Of course – it’s a time when you really need money.’
‘Yet you didn’t move into your own house.’
‘We couldn’t afford to, Joe.’
‘I want to make sure that Alice and I can.’
‘Then I admire your courage.’
‘That’s because you know the pay scales in the Metropolitan Police Force. They’re not very generous. We get no allowance for the dangers we face on a daily basis. There is some payment for overtime, I know, but even that is rather niggardly.’
Marmion turned to him. ‘What’s got into you, Joe?’
‘I’ve had to face facts. I need to earn more.’
‘And how to you propose to do that?’
‘I’ve been looking for another job.’
‘You want to leave Scotland Yard?’ asked a horrified Marmion.
‘No, of course not,’ said the other. ‘I love the work and I like the people I do it with – even Chat, believe it or not. But if we want the sort of house we’re after, it will be more than Alice and I can manage. Don’t look so frightened,’ he went on as Marmion tensed. ‘I’m not going to ask you for a loan. I’ve always prided myself on paying my way, however much effort it takes.’
‘What’s this other job you mentioned?’
‘It’d be work as a nightwatchman in a factory.’
‘You can’t do a night shift, Joe. It would kill you.’
‘It’s only for six hours and the pay is quite reasonable.’
‘Forget it. Apart from anything else, you know that it’s forbidden to take on work outside the police. If you’re caught – and you would be, sooner or later – you’d be kicked out.’
‘I know,’ confessed Keedy, ‘but I’m still tempted somehow.’
‘Work more overtime, then,’ said Marmion, ‘but make sure you leave yourself enough hours of the day to have a good sleep. You’re only human, Joe.’
‘There is another way to do it.’
‘Do what?’
‘Get some more money out of my present job.’
Marmion grinned. ‘You’re going to replace Chat as superintendent, are you?’
‘I’m not joking, Harv.’
‘Then what are you going to do? March up to the commissioner, hold out a bowl like Oliver Twist and say, “Please, Sir Edward, can I have some more?” You’d be wasting your breath.’
‘I would be if I was doing it on my own.’
‘You’ve no choice.’
‘Yes, there is. I could be part of a union. Size makes all the difference. Unity is strength. If we all campaigned on behalf of a wage rise,’ said Keedy, earnestly, ‘they’d have to listen to us.’
Griselda Fleetwood had retired to her private suite at the Lotus Hotel. Heartened by the fact that the commissioner was taking a personal interest in the murder committed on her premises, she was thrilled by the possibility that her husband might be awarded a knighthood. It would be a just recognition of his philanthropy and her title would earn her the respect she coveted. Owning the hotel gave her the opportunity to rub shoulders with the aristocracy. With luck, she might soon become part of it. Standing at the window, she looked out at the streets of London as the first shadows began to fall across the buildings. She was still gazing down when she saw her husband’s chauffeur-driven car pull up at the kerb outside. His unexpected arrival delighted her.
‘Come and join me, Sir Harold,’ she purred.
Less than a minute later, she was opening the door to let him in. Expecting an embrace and a kiss, she was disappointed when he walked past her with a grim expression on his face. Whisking off his hat, he placed it on a side table.
‘Is anything wrong, Harold?’ she asked.
‘Sit down, please.’
‘You don’t look at all well.’
‘SIT DOWN!’ he yelled, the force of his command making her lower herself instantly to the armchair behind her. He sat on the sofa opposite. ‘I’ve been to see Buchanan.’
‘I thought you said we should keep away from him.’
‘I said that you should, Griselda, but it seems I was too late.’
She was flustered. ‘What on earth do you mean?’
‘Is it true that you consulted him about how to run a hotel?’
‘No, it isn’t.’
‘But you did take advice from some people.’
‘There were other hoteliers, yes. They were happy to give me free advice. The one person I kept clear of was Buchanan.’
‘Why was that?’
‘Something about the man made my skin crawl.’
‘He has a different tale to tell.’
‘Then he’s lying.’
‘According to Buchanan, you gave him permission to use your Christian name. He taunted me with the fact. You could only have done that if you were alone in his company at some point.’ Fleetwood’s eyes were glowing with anger now. ‘Is that what happened?’
‘I never went anywhere near the man.’
‘Then why is he claiming that you did?’
‘He just wanted to hurt you, Harold. If you went to confront him, he’d have been resentful. Buchanan simply struck out at you.’
‘It wasn’t done on impulse, I promise you. He’s far too cool a customer to lash out at me. He bided his time then slipped the knife between my ribs with a grin.’
‘What’s going on?’ she asked, worriedly. ‘And what’s all this nonsense about a knife between the ribs? As far as Buchanan is concerned, I’ve got nothing with which to reproach myself. I ought to be angry that you took him so seriously,’ she continued, moving to the sofa to sit beside him with a hand on his arm. ‘I’m your wife, Harold, and I’ve alwa
ys been thrilled to be so. Are you going to believe a duplicitous rogue like Fraser Buchanan over me?’
‘Something happened between you,’ he said, glowering.
‘I’ve only ever met the man twice and it was always when we were surrounded by other people. He’s not interested in me, Harold. I’m a happily married woman with a wonderful family. Buchanan is a bachelor with a roving eye,’ she told him. ‘Everyone knows that. Why look twice at a middle-aged woman like me when there are so many single ones available, half my age and twice as beautiful.’
‘They can’t compare with you, Griselda,’ he said, gallantly.
‘Then let’s hear no more about that evil man – all right?’
There was a long pause. ‘All right,’ he said at length.
‘Promise me you won’t ever see him again.’
‘I felt as if I wanted to punch him on the nose.’
She laughed. ‘And there was you, warning me to watch my language with Buchanan. All I was after was a chance to call him a few rude names. You came close to assaulting him!’
Shaking off his anger, he joined in the laughter.
Two streets away, a taxi pulled up outside the Unicorn Hotel. After getting out of the vehicle, Fraser Buchanan paid the driver then went up the steps to the entrance. As soon as he entered the lobby, the staff on duty there immediately stood up straight and gave him a dutiful smile. He went across to the reception desk and spoke to the duty manager.
‘Have you had any new bookings today?’ he asked.
‘Yes, Mr Buchanan.’
‘How many?’
‘Six in all, sir,’ said the man.
‘Did any of the guests come straight from the Lotus?’
‘Yes, sir – there were two of them. In view of what’s happened, they said they felt very uncomfortable there.’
With a broad smile on his face, Buchanan went off to the manager’s office to discuss a way to give the newcomers special privileges so that the Unicorn was their first choice in the future.
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