Murder at the Dolphin Hotel

by Helena Dixon

In the distance Matt could hear cheering coming from the ballroom and guessed the partygoers were removing their masks. He slid his own mask off and tucked it in his jacket pocket. The constable followed suit.

  ‘Was your wallet the only thing the assailant took?’ Matt asked.

  ‘My watch is still on and my silver hip flask is in my pocket. I had about fifty pounds in my wallet.’

  Matt’s eyebrows raised slightly at the sum Bobby had been carrying. ‘I think Vivien has just started her final set. Would you like some help to get you to your room, to get you cleaned up before she comes offstage?’

  Bobby drained the last of his brandy, pulling a face as he did so. ‘No, I’ll be just fine.’ He struggled to his feet, swaying slightly. ‘Any more questions, officer?’ he asked the police constable.

  ‘Not for now, sir. Will you be available tomorrow if the inspector wants to check anything with you?’

  ‘Sure, I’ll have to wire my bank for more money, so I won’t be going anywhere till we’re due to board our ship home.’ He staggered to the door and a few minutes later they heard him clumping his way up the staircase.

  ‘What do you think, constable? Any local villains likely to have set upon Mr Delaware?’

  The policeman looked pleased to be asked for his opinion. ‘That were a fair sum of money he had in his wallet, but that watch looked expensive and the flask would have been easy to pawn.’

  ‘Perhaps the attacker was interrupted?’ suggested Matt.

  ‘Maybe, sir, or maybe they were satisfied with the cash once they saw how much there was.’

  Vivien had changed into a crimson dress for her final hour, with a gold headband studded with red stones. Matt wondered how she would take the news of Bobby’s assault and robbery. It could have been a random attack, but something about it didn’t add up. Bobby had stormed out of the hotel in a bad mood, maybe to meet someone who had demanded money. Walter Cribbs had also left the building and Colin Wakes and Kitty’s father were also still around. He didn’t like it; he didn’t like it at all.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Matt found Kitty sitting at a table near the bar sipping a cocktail. Her mask lay in front of her. She frowned at him. ‘Where have you been?’

  ‘It’s a long story.’

  She was shocked when he told her what had happened to Bobby. ‘That is so strange. On the other side of town where the poorer houses are, I’m sad to say you expect more crime, but this part of town is very safe and there were so many people about tonight because of the ball.’ She glanced at the stage. ‘Vivien will be very upset.’

  ‘Bobby didn’t want to tell her until she’d finished the show.’

  ‘Do you think this is to do with the ruby?’ Kitty asked.

  Matt helped himself to a sip of her drink, drawing an indignant glare from Kitty. ‘Could be. Perhaps they wanted to search him and when it wasn’t in his pockets, they took his wallet instead.’

  Kitty glanced at her watch. ‘Vivien is about to sing her final number.’

  He took hold of her hand. ‘Dance with me.’ He had enjoyed their last dance together; it had been a bright moment in an otherwise scary time.

  She frowned, uncertainty playing in her eyes at his unexpected request. ‘All right.’

  He led her to the dance floor, and he placed his arms around her as Vivien’s soulful voice filled the room.

  ‘You’re a better dancer than Walter Cribbs,’ Kitty teased.

  ‘Why thank you, Miss Underhay, I’ll take that as high praise.’

  She laughed as he swept her around the floor. She moved well and he allowed the nightmare of the tunnels to be replaced with happier thoughts and the feel of her slender frame next to his.

  The music finished and Vivien began her farewell speech. Kitty and Matt eased their way to the side of the stage, ready to intercept her afterwards. The band leader presented her with a huge bouquet on behalf of the Dolphin and the show ended.

  ‘Vivien!’ Kitty hurried up the couple of steps to the stage.

  The chanteuse frowned when she saw Kitty and Matt. ‘Thank you for the flowers, Miss Underhay.’

  ‘They were my pleasure; you have a truly wonderful voice.’ She paused before adding in a softer tone, ‘Vivien, I have some bad news for you.’

  The older woman paled and swayed on her high heels. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I’m so sorry but Bobby has been attacked tonight outside the hotel, on the embankment. He’s all right but rather battered. The assailant took his wallet.’

  ‘Where is he?’ Vivien asked, alarm showing in her dark brown eyes.

  ‘He insisted on returning to your suite, he refused a doctor,’ Matt said.

  Vivien clutched her flowers to her. ‘I must go to him. That fool man will get himself killed one of these times.’

  ‘This has happened before?’ Matt asked.

  Vivien’s mouth twisted in a bitter line. ‘He’s a white man married to a black woman; we are no strangers to violence.’ Her voice was harsh.

  ‘Would you like us to come with you?’ Kitty asked.

  Vivien was already walking off the stage. ‘No, thank you. I can take care of Bobby.’

  It was after three a.m. when Kitty was seated with Matt in her grandmother’s suite, her hands around a large cup of warm sweet milk laced with whisky.

  ‘What a night.’ Matt had taken off his tie and undone the collar of his shirt. Kitty was too tired to fight her eyes, which kept stubbornly straying to the dip at the base of his neck.

  She kicked off her shoes for the last time and stretched out her toes. ‘My feet have been killing me for at least the last six hours.’ As she moved, the note she’d tucked into her stocking top hours earlier crackled against her skin. With all the other events of the night she’d forgotten about it.

  Exhaustion tugged at every part of her and she couldn’t face looking at the contents of the note right now and discussing it with Matt. If it was from her father, she wanted to read it by herself and see what he had to say before sharing it with anyone else.

  Matt rose and walked towards the door. ‘I’ll say good night, you look all in. Thank you for the dance.’ He smiled at her and her heart gave an unexpected flutter.

  ‘Good night, see you tomorrow.’

  Once he’d gone, she locked the door and pulled the table in front of it to ensure it was secure. She carried the remainder of her drink into the bedroom and undressed. Once she was settled in bed, propped up against a pile of pillows, she sipped the rest of her drink and opened the note.

  My dearest Kitty,

  I had hoped to be able to spend some time with you this evening, but circumstances are against me. I fear that I have to leave this area soon for both my safety and yours. I would dearly love to see you for just a few minutes before I go. It would have been nice if you had found the ruby that Elowed had been guarding for me, but if it’s not to be then that is fate. There are others looking for it who are quite dangerous, and I cannot risk any harm coming to you, my dear child. I have done much in my life to be ashamed of and little to be proud of; you are the one thing I am most proud of, dear girl. I will be at St Saviours church tomorrow night at 9.30 p.m. after the bell ringers finish their practice. I understand the church will be open for a short while. If you could find it in your heart to meet me there to say goodbye, you would make an old man very happy. If not, then I will understand. I wish you health, wealth and happiness, my dear, for all of your life.

  Your father, Edgar Underhay. xx

  Tears ran freely down Kitty’s cheeks as she read her father’s note and she was glad she hadn’t shared it with Matt. It was deeply personal, and his sentiments had greatly affected her. She was not so naïve as to believe that he might not have an ulterior motive for wanting to see her and that he might still hope she’d bring the ruby.

  She read the note once more before folding it carefully and slipping it inside the Bible she always kept in the drawer next to her bed. She turned out the light and snuggl
ed down to sleep, unable to keep her eyes open any longer. She would decide what to do and whether to tell Matt in the morning.

  Kitty rose late, her thoughts still no clearer on what she should do. She desperately wanted to see her father, if only to hear his side of events. She longed to know more about his marriage to her mother and if he could shed any light on what might have happened all those years ago.

  If what he said in his note was true and he really was about to leave, then this would be her one and only chance to speak to him. She might never get to see or hear from him again. If she told Matt, she knew he would try and dissuade her from going, or worse still, tell Inspector Greville.

  Kitty moved the table back into its rightful place and called reception to request that her breakfast be brought to her room. There was also the question of what to do with the ruby. To her mind, it would be much simpler if her father took it and it was gone from her possession. Surely with both the gem and her father gone, normality would return.

  The maid knocked the door and entered with her tray. Kitty settled herself at the small table her grandmother used for dining and tucked into her scrambled eggs and bacon. She never had been good at thinking on an empty stomach.

  By the time she had drained her second cup of tea she had started to feel much better. The more she thought about the murders, the less likely it seemed that her father could be responsible. He didn’t know Hubert Farjeon and could hardly have been blackmailed by him. It appeared far more likely that Colin Wakes was the most obvious suspect in all cases, given his record and what they knew so far. It was entirely possible that he had been responsible for assaulting Bobby, especially if he was desperate for money. He wouldn’t have taken the flask or Bobby’s watch in case he was recognised if he tried to pawn it.

  Meeting her father would be a big risk and she would have to find a way of leaving the hotel without Matt discovering she had gone out. Was it foolhardy? Yes, but some things in life were worth taking risks for and she wasn’t stupid.

  By mid-afternoon a dull grey drizzle had set in and Kitty’s nerves were starting to fray. Vivien had dined alone in the dining room at lunch time, having ordered a tray for Bobby who seemed to be keeping a low profile.

  ‘I need to attend the bank,’ she said to Matt, who had joined her for lunch. She wanted to get out of the hotel to clear her head.

  ‘Would you like me to accompany you?’ Matt asked. She knew he would find a way to insist on going with her even if she said she’d rather go alone. In truth, she didn’t mind, she would feel safer if he were there. It would also mean he would be less likely to think she would go out alone that evening.

  It was still raining, a soft, light rain, when they left the hotel. Kitty held her sturdy black umbrella over both their heads. ‘I really don’t wish to ruin another hat. I fear this one has never properly recovered its shape after my last outing in the wet.’

  Their route took them past the entry where Matt had found Bobby a few hours earlier. Kitty couldn’t resist taking a peep as they walked past. What had he been up to? He must have gone outside to meet someone.

  The town was quiet as they walked past the boat float towards the Butterwalk. The dreary day had obviously deterred the day trippers and holidaymakers. Instead, mostly town folk were busy about their daily affairs. Kitty smiled and said hello to a few people she knew in passing.

  Her business at the bank did not take long and once concluded, she rejoined Matt outside the florist’s, ready to walk back to the hotel. Matt discovered he had a small errand that he needed to run at the post office as he had been carrying a letter around with him for the past few days which he needed to send to his mother, so they varied their route for the return journey.

  ‘We can cut through here,’ Kitty said, pointing out a narrow entryway which connected the street they were on with one which ran almost parallel to it. ‘It’s a little quicker and might shelter us from this beastly rain.’

  The alley did give some shelter from the drizzle and as they emerged onto the street the other side, Kitty gasped and clutched Matt’s arm. ‘Matt, over there, I’m sure, yes, it’s Colin Wakes.’

  She recognised Colin from when he used to call for Cora after she’d finished her shifts at the hotel. Now he looked in bad shape. His coat was dirty, and he was unshaven.

  ‘Stay here,’ Matt ordered, and set off towards Colin.

  Colin locked his gaze with Kitty and realised he’d been sighted. He immediately began to run, back towards the more run-down area on the far side of town.

  ‘Hi, you, stop!’ Matt raced after him.

  Kitty ignored Matt’s instruction and followed them as quickly as her heels and skirt would allow. Her breath came in harsh gasps as she rounded the corner in time to see Matt grab hold of Colin’s jacket.

  Colin immediately tried to wriggle free and failing, aimed a punch at Matt. Matt dodged out of his way, but his balance shifted on the wet, slippery cobbles. Colin spied his chance and gave Matt a hard shove, knocking him into the side of the building against a wooden post.

  Matt released his quarry as he fell, and Kitty hurried over. Colin seized his chance to run off, disappearing into the maze of alleys that made up that part of the town.

  ‘Matt, are you all right?’ Kitty stooped to see Matt wincing and clutching his shoulder.

  ‘I had him, damn it. This wretched shoulder.’ He managed to get to his feet.

  ‘Are you hurt?’ Anxiety gripped her as Matt continued to clutch his arm, pain etched into his face.

  ‘I’ll be okay, I’ve injured this arm before.’

  ‘Come on, let’s get back to the hotel. I’ll call the doctor and we can tell Inspector Greville that Colin has been sighted.’ Kitty bit her lip. Matt’s face had paled, and she could see he was struggling with every step. She was relieved when the half-timbered façade of the Dolphin finally hove into sight and Matt was able to take a seat in the small office behind the front desk.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Kitty called the doctor and Inspector Greville. The inspector arrived first, the doctor being delayed at a house call to a woman having twins. Matt had recovered a little of his composure at least, with the aid of some brandy, when the inspector entered the office.

  ‘I came as soon as I received your message. My men are out searching house-to-house in the town. Tell me what happened?’

  Matt gave the policeman an outline of the events leading up to Colin making his escape. ‘I swear he was the man in the tunnel.’

  ‘And now you are injured?’ The inspector looked concerned at Matt’s obvious discomfort as he tried to support his injured arm and shoulder.

  ‘Just rotten bally luck. I took a bullet on this side in the war and I think I hit the corner of the building right on the injured spot. My pride is smarting as much as anything else.’ Matt attempted to play down his pain.

  ‘You have to catch this man, Inspector,’ Kitty said. ‘He’s obviously our murderer.’

  The inspector stroked his moustache. ‘We are doing our best, Miss Underhay. I agree he is clearly very dangerous.’

  There was a knock on the door to the office and Doctor Carter was shown into the small space. ‘Sorry I was delayed, two healthy baby boys safely delivered.’ He beamed at the group from under the brim of his hat. Kitty thought he looked like an innocent middle-aged baby cherub, with his smooth round face and bright blue eyes twinkling behind his little round spectacles. ‘Now then, let the dog see the rabbit.’ He placed his bag down on the table and peered at Matt’s arm.

  ‘I need to get back to the station. If there are any developments, I’ll let you know.’ The inspector addressed the last part of his remark to Matt who was being assisted to remove his jacket, somewhat gingerly, by Doctor Carter.

  Kitty was about to make her excuses to slip out so the doctor could remove Matt’s shirt to examine him privately when Doctor Carter commandeered her into the role of nurse.

  She felt somewhat awkward standing by, handing t
he doctor rolls of bandage, tape and scissors as he cut off Matt’s vest and began to strap his chest and shoulder. She took a sneak peek and saw the white raised ridges of scar tissue all around Matt’s shoulder blade. He had clearly been much more badly wounded during the war than she had realised.

  Matt had his eyes closed tight while Doctor Carter did his work. A few times she heard his breath escape through his teeth in a hiss when the good doctor was a little firm with the strapping. Eventually he was done, and the doctor assisted him with his shirt over his good arm, before securing the heavily strapped injured arm in a sling.

  ‘Here.’ Doctor Carter produced a small brown bottle containing a few pills from his bag. ‘Take a couple of these now and two more tonight and rest that arm. By tomorrow it should start to ease a little, but it will probably take a good week before you can remove the strapping.’

  Matt didn’t look very happy with the doctor’s prognosis as Kitty thanked him and showed him out of the office into the lobby.

  ‘You heard the doctor. You’d better go to your room and rest. Would you like me to have a tray sent up to you?’ Kitty bustled around collecting his things.

  ‘This is ridiculous. I can’t believe Colin managed to get away.’ Matt winced as he stood ready to leave.

  ‘The cobbles were very slippery, and he got you off balance,’ Kitty soothed as she helped him up the stairs. She escorted Matt to his room and insisted he rest. She organised a tray of tea and for the daily papers to be sent up so that he might amuse himself, listening to the radio and catching up with the news whilst he rested.

  She knew Matt wasn’t happy at being out of action. In a way it would make it easier for her to leave the hotel unseen later on that evening after work. She assuaged her feelings of guilt at not sharing her father’s letter with Matt by justifying to herself that he needed to rest.

  Alone in her grandmother’s suite, she secured the door and made her preparations. Taking the ruby from the secret safe in the window seat, she wrapped it well inside an old handkerchief. Deciding against a handbag, she picked out an old, dark blue coat and made a small slit in the lining just large enough for the ruby to fit inside. It nestled between the rough woollen coat fabric and the satin lining in a small pocket. She would be able to retrieve it and hand it to her father, but if anyone were to hunt in her pockets, they would find nothing except a clean handkerchief and some small change.