Churchyard and Hawke (26 page)

‘Unfortunately, Lord Hogg told Delville he wasn’t going to give money to any more of them - or to him if he carried on seducing Laneglos servants. Delville must have been satisfied he could rely on you saying nothing, but he would have been very worried about poor Enid. I don’t think she was capable of keeping a secret like that.’

‘She wasn’t.’ Connie agreed, ‘but surely you don’t think it was him who killed her . . . to keep her quiet?’

‘That’s what I need to find out. If she was killed for that reason then she died unnecessarily, because Delville was cut out of Lord Hogg’s will anyway, although, of course, he didn’t know that until his stepfather died.’

At that moment the gaoler emerged from the main prison building and, reaching into his pocket Amos drew out a half-crown and passed it to her. ‘Here, it’s not much, but it will help you get some extra food while you are in here awaiting trial. In the meantime I’ll have a word with the inspector who is giving evidence in your case and make sure he tells the court you were seduced by a man who had considerable power over your future and that he let you down.’

‘Why would you do that - and why have you given me this money?’ Connie asked suspiciously.

‘Because I think you have been the victim of a thoroughly unscrupulous man - and you have helped me move a step forward in my hunt for the killer of Enid Merryn.’

CHAPTER 35

Back at the Bodmin headquarters once more, Amos paid a visit to Alfie Banks in the police cells before returning to the chief constable. He found the Hoxton criminal in a sullen mood.

‘Have you thought any more of what I was speaking to you about last night, Alfie, the murder of Enid Merryn?’

‘Why should I, it’s got nothing to do with me?’

‘Now why doesn’t it surprise me that you’d say that? The problem is that I’ve now learned a great deal more about what went on that night. I’ve also learned the name of the man who planned what was meant to be the biggest criminal attack on a single target in the history of this county . . . possibly in the history of the whole country. Now, if a simple little servant girl who meant nothing to anyone, except perhaps her mother, threatened the success of such an ambitious plan, what would those involved in it do, especially if their leader was a gang leader from Hoxton with a record of violence? Think about it, Alfie, and at the same time think about the fact that the two suspects in this poor girl’s murder are you . . . and the son of a noble family who probably mixes socially with the judge and might even be a close friend of him. Now, when the case comes to court and the jury-men of some standing in the community - have a choice of which of you they convict of murder, who do you think they are going to choose?’

‘I’ve already told you, I haven’t killed anyone.’

‘I’m almost inclined to believe you, Alfie . . . but I am a realist. Guilty or not, we both know that juries don’t always get it right. Suppose you tell me exactly what happened on the night you and Jimmy burgled Laneglos. . . .‘

Amos travelled to Laneglos with the chief constable, in the latter’s carriage, and Tom Churchyard went with them. Along the way Amos related to Gilbert much of what he had learned that morning and said he had brought Tom along with him in case they decided to arrest the Honourable Charles Delville.

‘Do you really believe we have enough evidence to link him with the Merryn murder?’ Gilbert queried, thinking of the furore it would cause in the county if he not only had the late Lord Hogg removed from the family vault - but had his stepson arrested at the same time!

‘No, but if we can persuade Delville’s valet to corroborate Shannon’s written statement we will be able to put a case together involving him in the burglary at Laneglos.’

‘Surely a valet’s loyalty is to his employer? A jury of Delville’s peers will certainly think so. Besides, he’s hardly likely to say anything to convict Delville? Quite apart from any other consideration he would be out of work and never be employed as a valet again.’

‘I think the valet is ready to quit his job with Delville anyway, sir,’ This from Tom, ‘Delville is always threatening to dismiss him because he can’t afford to keep him on and I don’t believe he has received any pay for quite some time.’

‘Then why on earth does the valet stay with him?’

‘I think he’s been hoping that Delville will one day have enough money to pay him what he’s owed. If he left he’d have nothing and never be able to get his back pay. At least by staying with Delville he gets board and lodging and if he’s not called to give evidence against him should have no difficulty in finding another post. A valet who stays with an employer who can’t afford to pay him could be considered more loyal than most.’

‘That’s true,’ mused Gilbert, ‘By all means sound him out . . . but be discreet. We need to concentrate on persuading Lord Hogg that a post mortem on his late father is to everyone’s advantage. We don’t want to antagonise him by arresting his step-brother at this point. If it is proved the late Lord Hogg was poisoned it will be to everyone’s advantage to have his murderer dealt with according to the law . . . but we will not speculate on that until we are in possession of all the facts.’

When the party reached Laneglos, Tom was sent off to seek out Flora and make inquiries about the Honourable Charles Delville’s valet, while Amos and Chief Constable Gilbert met with Lord Hogg in the peer’s study. The meeting went very much as both policemen thought it might.

At first, Lord Hogg was horrified that they should even consider removing the body of his father from the family vault and carry out a post mortem on it. He objected very strongly to such a procedure, but eventually Amos and Gilbert were able to convince him that however distasteful such a course of action was, if a poisoner remained at large in the Laneglos household there were likely to be other victims - even the present Lord Hogg himself.

It was finally agreed that the body of the late Lord Hogg could be removed from the vault in the family’s church but with as much secrecy as was possible and it was to be returned to its resting place when the result of the autopsy was known, but this time with the family’s chaplain present to lay him to rest once more in accordance with the rites of the Church.

It seemed the object of their visit had been achieved, however Amos still feared the Laneglos viscount might change his mind. As they were leaving, he asked after Lady Hogg and her stepson replied that her health seemed to have improved, adding, ‘No doubt it has something to do with the nurse that Doctor Hollis obtained to take care of her. She is frighteningly efficient and has taken complete charge of the sick room and all that goes on there. ‘I understand she learned her business with Florence Nightingale, nursing in the hospital at Scutari during the Crimean War.’

Amos was interested immediately, ‘I wonder if I have met her? I was in the hospital there for a while, when I was wounded’

‘I’ll send for her and we can find out . . . if I can persuade her to leave the sick room for a few minutes.’

The nurse, Priscilla Goodman, was a small, brisk woman, who exuded confident efficiency. She thought she could recollect seeing Amos at Scutari, but in view of the many thousands of soldiers who passed through the hospital, she could not be certain.

However they spoke of a number of doctors and nurses who were known to them both . . . and then Amos mentioned Harvey Halloran. The nurse became suddenly animated. ‘You know Harvey? How is he, did he make a full recovery from his wounds? We never thought he would live when he first arrived at Scutari, but he was a determined and strong man and when he was up and about again he became one of the hospital’s stalwarts. He was a wonderful man!’

‘He still is,’ Amos said, ‘For a while he was my second-in-command in the Crimea and is now one of the stalwarts of the Cornwall constabulary, stationed very close to here, in Bodmini as the force’s sergeant major. Perhaps Lord Hogg will allow him to visit you while you are here?’

‘Of course!’ Lord Hogg had been listening to the conversation between Amos and Priscilla Goodman with great interest. ‘I am fascinated with all aspects of the war. I had two cousins who fought there, one was sadly killed. The other, a Lancer, was in the famous charge of the Light Brigade, at Balaclava. Fortunately he was one of those who survived. He occasionally visits Laneglow. You must come here and meet him, Superintendent. In the meantime, please inform Sergeant Major Halloran he is welcome to call on Miss Goodman whenever he wishes.’

When they left the great House, Chief Constable Gilbert said to Amos, ‘Talking of the Crimea certainly thawed our relations with Lord Hogg. Until then I was still unsure that we would be able to go ahead with the autopsy on his father without him raising some objection. Well done, Amos.’

‘I think we succeeded in doing more than thaw relations, sir.’ Amos said. ‘By visiting the efficient Miss Goodman, Halloran will be able to find out about the household routine and who had access to Lady Hogg and the food and drink that came to the room. It could prove important to our investigations - especially if Doctor Sullivan finds that the late Lord Hogg was poisoned.’

They had left the house now and coming around one of the wings of the house they saw Tom and Flora coming towards them talking so intently to each other that they did not immediately notice the two senior policemen standing outside the front entrance.

‘Who is that with Churchyard.’ the chief constable queried.

‘It’s Flora Wicks, the Laneglos housekeeper.’ Amos replied.

‘She is rather an attractive girl - and very young to have such a responsibility. She and Churchyard seem to be getting along very well.’

Amos smiled, ‘Yes, my wife has high hopes for the two of them.’

‘Good, they could both do far worse. Churchyard has a future in the force and I like my senior officers to be happily married . . . like you and Mrs Hawke.’

CHAPTER 36

While the two senior policemen were being received by Lord Hogg, Tom had found Flora. Her expression of delight when she saw him was a fleeting one, but it gave him an unexpected thrill of pleasure.

‘What are you doing at Laneglos?’ she queried, ‘None of the maids told me you were here.’

‘I came with Amos and the chief constable,’ he explained. ‘They are here for a meeting with Lord Hogg. Amos asked me to find you and ask some questions about the Honourable Charles Delville’s valet.’

‘Why, what has he done?’

‘I don’t think he’s done anything wrong . . . unless you know of something that we don’t.’

‘I don’t, in fact he has always been politeness itself in my dealings with him, but to be perfectly honest I wouldn’t be surprised at anything that was done by someone associated with the Honourable Charles.’

‘I know you don’t like him, Flora, but has he done anything in particular lately to upset you?’

They were talking in a passageway that led to the kitchen and a maid wielding a feather duster on the end of a long bamboo pole was within hearing. Glancing towards her, Flora said ‘Everyone seems to have upset me today, but come along to my lounge, we can talk there.’

Once in the housekeeper’s lounge, Flora motioned for Tom to sit in an armchair, then sitting down heavily on another, she asked. ‘Now, what is it you want to know about Robson Chalmers, the Honourable Charles’s valet?’

‘I’d like to speak to him . . . but, first, what’s troubling you, Flora? Who’s been upsetting you.’

‘Well, actually it’s my employer, Lord Hogg . . . or, to be more accurate the future Lady Hogg.’

‘Is she here at Laneglos already?’

‘No, but she is beginning to make her future status felt. I suppose I have always known that I am very young to be housekeeper of a grand home like this, but I feel I have carried out my duties quite as well as my predecessor.’

‘You mean . . . she is having you dismissed?’ Tom was dismayed at the thought of Flora going away from the area.

‘Not exactly, but she wants to appoint her long-term lady’s maid as housekeeper at Laneglos. Lord Hogg was very nice about it, he said there was no question of my being dismissed. I would simply revert to being the assistant housekeeper but retaining the salary I am being paid now.’

‘Will you accept that?’

Flora shook her head. ‘However generous the offer might be, I could not remain here as assistant to someone who has taken my place. It would not only be humiliating, but very difficult. As housekeeper I have needed to be firm with some of the servants on occasions, that is what the position calls for. With that authority taken away I would become one of them and I don’t think I would have a happy time.’

‘If . . . if you leave, when will you go?’

‘Not immediately, Lord Hogg will not be marrying until sometime early next year. A date has not been fixed yet.’

‘But . . . what will you do if you leave Laneglos?’ Tom was still stunned by her revelation. There were so many plans he had begun to formulate in recent weeks . . . and all of them included Flora. But she was speaking again.

‘. . . Lord Hogg said I must think about it and not decide immediately. He said he will understand if I feel I must leave and that I will go with excellent references. He said there was also an opportunity of going to the dower house as the Dowager Lady Hogg’s housekeeper but I don’t think I could bear the thought of seeing more of the Honourable Charles.’

‘I don’t know what to say, Flora. I was hoping . . .’ Tom broke off, unable to find words for what he wanted to say.

‘What were you hoping, Tom?’ Flora urged.

‘Well . . . you and me . . . We have been getting along so well . . . I thought . . . .’ Words failed him but Flora came to his rescue.

‘It’s something I have been thinking a lot about too, Tom, but we haven’t known each other for very long. Perhaps when we have known each other for a little longer . . .’

‘Hopefully we will by the time you need to make up your mind about leaving Laneglos.’

‘I think we might, Tom. I hope so.’ Aware of where their conversation was going and that the housekeeper’s lounge at Laneglos was not the right place to take the conversation any farther, she said, ‘. . . but we came here to talk about Robson Chalmers - and it’s fortunate that you came to see him today. He will be leaving Laneglos tomorrow and I don’t think we will be seeing him again. The Honourable Charles has told him he cannot afford to keep him on and he is packing up Charles’s things and taking them up to London tomorrow, where he will be paid off. Charles has already gone there.’