Peril on the Royal Train (35 page)

‘It doesn’t bear thinking about,’ said Tallis. ‘They’ll crucify us.’

‘That’s why we may have to overrule Inspector Colbeck.’

‘Do you want me to recall him from Glasgow?’

‘No, no,’ said Mayne, ‘he’s there to hunt for the men behind this vile conspiracy. If he catches them, all well and good. The royal train will leave on the date specified. But if he
doesn’t
manage to do that, I’m going to urge Prince Albert to delay the trip to Balmoral.’

‘You have my full support, Sir Richard.’

‘There’s always the chance that the Prince will not listen to me, mark you. He’s his own man. Nobody can make him do something against his will. We’ve seen many instances of his obstinacy. But I think that I can marshal a convincing case.’

‘I’d be happy to speak up in support of you.’

‘You won’t be needed, Tallis.’

‘But we could present a united front at Buckingham Palace,’ insisted the other. ‘In terms of age, seniority and experience, we outrank Colbeck completely.’

‘This is not a contest between us and the inspector,’ said Mayne, sharply. ‘It’s just a sensible precaution to take. Naturally, my hope is that he will be able to identify and arrest the people involved in this plot very soon. At the same time, I’m aware how difficult a task that is.’

‘We have such little evidence to help us, Sir Richard.’

‘That hasn’t hampered Colbeck in the past. He conjures evidence out of thin air. I pray that he may do so again. It’s only by sheer luck that we stumbled upon this conspiracy. Consequently, there’s only limited time in which to work.’

‘I’m very conscious of that.’

‘It’s almost as if we have a gun to our head,’ said Mayne. ‘Incidentally, have you written to Colbeck’s father-in-law yet to thank him for providing us with the information that revealed the existence of this plot?’

‘I was doing so when you came in, Sir Richard,’ lied Tallis.

When he saw no stationery on the desk, Mayne was sarcastic.

‘Really?’ he said. ‘What form of communication did you intend to use? Were you going to ape the Red Indians and send up smoke signals with your cigar? I think Mr Andrews deserves something more tangible than that – don’t you?’

Going swiftly out of the room, the commissioner left Tallis squirming in discomfort. The superintendent took out some writing paper then reached for his pen.

Victor Leeming could think of better ways to spend his time than by going on a train journey to Perth. He couldn’t imagine that he’d learn anything of practical value to the case. All that the trip meant to him was an extended period of boredom on his least favourite mode of travel. When he reached his destination, the first thing he did was to visit the station hotel to take his bearings and to revive himself with some refreshment. Craig had once boasted that the Caledonian had provided a royal suite of rooms at the hotel, including a retiring room and a dining room. Leeming saw none of them. All that he wanted was a base from which to operate.

Perth was a garrison town on the banks of the River Tay. Known in the past for its fair aspect, it had changed with the coming of the railways and was now an important junction. On the cab ride to the barracks, Leeming saw both of its faces, the pleasant streets and green parks vying with the tumult of industry. When he got to the barracks, he told the driver to wait, not anticipating a long stay. As it turned out, the visit was unduly short. Leeming got no further than the main gate. Two sentries were on duty in the dark uniforms that had given them the name of the Black Watch. As he walked towards them, he tried not to look at the knees peeping out from beneath their kilts. Both men were armed. When Leeming got within five yards, one of the sentries pointed his rifle at the visitor.

‘Tha’s far enough,’ he warned.

‘I’ve come to see your commanding officer,’ said Leeming.

‘He’s no’ heer.’

‘Then I’ll speak to your second in command.’

‘Ye’ve no right to speak to anyone in the barracks.’

Leeming explained who he was and showed a warrant card to prove it but he still didn’t get through the gate. Both men glared at him with muted hostility.

‘Perhaps you can help me, then,’ said Leeming.

‘I doot tha’, my friend,’ replied the sentry.

‘I’m investigating a train crash on the Caledonian railway.’

‘Then why are ye botherin’ us?’

‘Gunpowder was used. I’m told that it came from these barracks.’

‘It’s a bloody lie!’ exclaimed the man.

‘Aye,’ said his companion. ‘Where did ye get tha’ nonsense from?’

‘Are you telling me that it’s not true?’ pressed Leeming.

‘I’m telling ye to be on your way,’ said the first man, using his rifle to indicate the cab. ‘And ye can stop listening to tales aboot us.’

Leeming looked beyond them at the buildings in the distance. There was a deserted air about them. A few soldiers were visible but there was no sense of a bustling garrison. The place was uncharacteristically silent.

‘Where is everybody?’ he wondered. ‘This place is dead.’

‘The regiment’s overseas,’ said one of the men. ‘If ye want to see the colonel, ye’ll have to go to India.’

‘Ask the cab driver how much it will cost ye,’ added the other.

Their mocking laughter pursued him back to the vehicle. Leeming was not dismayed. He’d got the answer for which he came. It had only been possible to steal gunpowder from the barracks because it had a depleted garrison.

 Colbeck could see how nervous the shepherd was and wondered what was making him so uneasy. Glad to see Angus again, he patted the seat beside him to indicate that the dog could ride in the trap but the animal preferred to run free and yap at the turning wheels. Farr sat beside Colbeck to act as his guide. He explained how he’d seen someone driving in the same direction even though there was no track. Colbeck told him that he was right to report the incident. He kept Farr talking in the hope that it would instil some confidence in him but the opposite happened. The shepherd seemed to have lost his nerve. Although he’d discovered something, he wasn’t at all sure that it was worth bringing the inspector all the way from Glasgow to see it.

‘I could be wrong,’ he admitted.

‘I doubt that, Jamie. You’ve good instincts.’

‘When I first saw it, I was fair excited.’

‘And now you’re having second thoughts,’ said Colbeck. ‘Is that it?’

‘Aye, Inspector.’

The trap lurched sideways. ‘You’re right about this being a strange way to bring a vehicle. There are humps and hollows and heaven knows what to contend with. How much farther is there to go?’

‘It’s up in yon trees,’ said Farr, pointing.

They’d lost sight of the railway line and were climbing up the hill between bushes and shrubs. Angus decided that he’d lead the way instead of following and he raced ahead, plunging into the stand of trees then emerging again with his tail wagging and his tongue hanging out. Colbeck snapped the reins to make the horse break into a trot then pulled him to a halt when they reached the trees. He and Farr jumped to the ground. The shepherd nodded.

‘In heer, Inspector,’ he mumbled.

‘Lead the way, lad.’

Farr went into the trees and walked to the clearing where he’d seen the ruts. Colbeck bent down to examine them. They led out of the trees and on to the stony ground beyond where they disappeared.

‘These were made recently,’ decided Colbeck.

‘Aye, tha’s what I thought.’

‘Who’d want to bring a cart to such an isolated spot?’

‘Did I do right to call ye?’ asked Farr, hesitantly.

‘You certainly did. This would be an ideal hiding place from which to launch a second attack on the railway. It’s completely sheltered yet within easy reach of the line. I’ll wager that it’s overhung by a rocky outcrop that could be turned into a small avalanche.’

Colbeck stood up and walked towards the railway line. Farr trailed behind him. Before they’d gone more than a dozen yards, however, they were stopped by the frenzied barking of the dog. Angus had found something. He was digging his paws in the ground to unearth it. The two of them went back to see what he was doing. Farr thought his dog had found a bone but Colbeck saw something else come into view. It was a steel rim. Kneeling beside Angus, he used both hands to scoop up the earth and toss it away. They were soon looking at the top of a small barrel.

‘What d’ye think it is?’ asked Farr.

‘I
know
what it is, lad. Your dog is a real detective.’

‘What has he found?’

Colbeck smiled up at him. ‘Gunpowder.’

Tam Howie was making some entries in his account book when he had an unexpected visitor. Gregor Hines was shown into his office. The old man claimed that he’d been out walking and had looked in to pay his respects. As a retired businessman, he knew better than to interrupt his friend during the working day and had therefore timed his arrival at the end of the afternoon. After shaking his hand, Howie offered him a seat. Hines lowered himself slowly into it with a throaty chuckle.

‘Thank you, Tam,’ he said. ‘At my advanced age, there’s only so much time I can spend on these old legs.’ Offered refreshment, he refused with a gesture. ‘If I started eating and drinking, I’ll nod off to sleep and then where would you be?’

‘I’d leave you alone in that chair overnight,’ said Howie, amused.

‘I do believe that you would.’

They exchanged pleasantries and asked after each other’s wives but Howie knew that it was not a social call. Gregor Hines had come to confront him. It was not long before the old man adopted a stricter tone.

‘It was good to see you at the kirk on Sunday,’ he began.

‘That’s where you’ll always find me on the Sabbath.’

‘But where were you on Saturday?’

‘Flora and I went for a picnic,’ replied Howie.

‘You’re not known as a man who likes picnics, Tam.’

‘I enjoyed this one.’

‘Why did you take Ian Dalton with you?’

‘How do you know that we did?’

‘The three of you were seen catching a train on Saturday.’

Howie thrust out his jaw. ‘Is there any law against that, Gregor?’

‘No, there isn’t,’ said Hines, ‘but there ought to be a law against doing it on the Sabbath. However, I don’t need to tell you that, do I?’ He fixed a watery eye on Howie. ‘It must have been an odd sort of picnic that you had.’

‘We simply went for a ride in the country.’

‘It was just you, your dear wife and Ian Dalton.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘What about Morag? She’s a dear wife as well, isn’t she?’

‘Morag chose not to come.’

‘Is that what Ian told you? I wonder if he even bothered to ask her. I kept a close eye on the pair of them at the kirk on Sunday. Not to put too fine a point on it, there was unease between them. Oh, nothing too dramatic,’ Hines went on. ‘Indeed, most people wouldn’t have noticed that anything was wrong. But I’ve been married for over fifty years. I’ve learnt to detect the little nuances of connubial bliss and, in the case of Morag Dalton, they were less than blissful.’

Howie’s patience was frayed. ‘Why don’t you say it, Gregor?’

‘The three of you are up to something,’ asserted the other.

‘We went for a picnic. It’s possible we’ll go for another.’

‘Be warned, Tam.’

‘Ian is a friend. Flora and I like him.’

‘Don’t bring disgrace down upon our kirk.’

‘That’s a terrible thing to accuse me of doing,’ said Howie, angrily. ‘Flora and I have devoted ourselves to the kirk for many years. We’ve given money freely and taken on mundane tasks if they needed doing. You’ll not find anyone more devout.’

‘Your devotion is not the problem,’ said Hines. ‘I think you’ve taken it to extremes. Do I need to be more specific?’

There was tension in the air. Hines had thrown down a challenge and backed it up with a piercing stare. Howie fought to control his temper. In a row with the old man, he might say something that gave him away. Besides, he liked and respected Hines. They’d had their differences over the years but it hadn’t led to any personal animosity. Hines was acting in good faith. Troubled that their kirk might one day be at the centre of a criminal investigation, the old man felt moved to speak out. Howie accepted his right to do so. But
he
had rights as well and one them was to do whatever he felt necessary to reinstate the Sabbath as a day of rest. Gregor Hines would never condone the action he’d taken so it was best to keep him unaware of it.

Howie sought to pacify him. ‘It’s good to see you,’ he said, patting him on the shoulder. ‘And I know that you have concerns about me.’

‘My real concern is for Morag Dalton.’

‘Don’t fret over her. Their marriage is a happy one.’

‘It wouldn’t be so happy if she lost her husband,’ said Hines, ‘and I’m not suggesting that a healthy man like Ian is likely to expire before too long.’ He raised both hands. ‘I’ve said my piece, Tam. Throw me out.’

‘Can’t I at least offer you a cup of tea?’

‘You can offer it but I’ll only refuse for the second time.’ With a great effort, he struggled to his feet. ‘How’s business?’

‘It couldn’t be better. Unlike you, most people can’t wait to drink the tea I import. It’s a much healthier drink than alcohol. Nobody ever got inebriated on a cup of China tea.’

‘You should say that in your advertisements, Tam.’

‘I may just do that,’ said Howie with a laugh.

Gregor Hines stumbled across to the door before delivering his parting shot.

‘You’ve a lovely wife, a flourishing business and an established place in the community and the kirk.’ His smile was full of sadness. ‘Don’t lose them all, Howie.’

It was the second time that Caleb Andrews had called at the house while brandishing a letter. Madeleine was so pleased to see him in a state of exhilaration that she didn’t mind breaking off from her work. The letter had been delivered by hand and it was full of gracious compliments. Andrews handed it over like a child allowing a best friend to see his new toy. While his daughter read it, he chortled.