Death of an Artist (Riley Rochester Investigates Book 5)

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘You have a very good memory,’ Riley said. ‘I wish all the people I spoke to were so forthcoming.’

  Mrs Seaton beamed. ‘I am very glad to have helped in some small way.’

  ‘Thank you, ma’am.’ Riley and Salter stood, ready to take their leave.

  ‘You still have not told me what this is all about, inspector. Naturally, I am curious.’

  ‘An ongoing investigation, Mrs Seaton, about which I hope I shall not have to trouble you any further.’

  ‘It’s no trouble at all. Please feel free to call again if needs be. I am almost always here during the daytime, but for Wednesday afternoons.’

  ‘What did you make of all that, sir?’ Salter asked, one the two detectives returned to the street and turned up their collars against a biting wind that blew an unpleasant stench from the river directly into their faces.

  ‘Mrs Seaton is highly susceptible and has no idea that Miss Mottram was lying to her.’ Riley set off for Charles Stanley’s premises at a brisk pace.

  ‘You think she had agreed to meet Vermont at his rooms for a romantic assignation, secure in the knowledge that Mrs Seaton was never there on a Wednesday?’

  ‘I think it very likely, but something went wrong. Miss Mottram arrived too early, or Mrs Seaton’s departure was delayed. I suspect that Wednesday is also the maid’s afternoon off, so the coast would have been clear. I didn’t ask for clarification on that point for fear that Mrs Seaton would guess the reason for the question. If we led her to believe that Daniel Vermont entertained an unmarried lady in her house, self-interest would have kicked in and she would have ceased to be so cooperative. Her reputation is important to her.’

  ‘You didn’t tell her that Miss Mottram is dead for the same reason, I imagine.’

  ‘There was no reason to upset her. Anyway, as far as Daniel Vermont goes, I want to gauge his reaction when we break the news. Watch him carefully, Salter, just in case I miss anything. If he doesn’t act surprised then we will know that he’s been forewarned by means of a telegram from his father, which will add to my suspicions.’

  ‘Either way, it ain’t looking too good for young Daniel.’ Riley suspected that the glee in Salter’s voice was partly attributable to the deflection of guilt away from his nephew. ‘We know Miss Mottram had grand ambitions, and we know young Daniel had an eye for the lass,’ Salter continued. ‘Perhaps she spread her legs for him, thinking it the fastest way to get his ring on her finger. But her expectations didn’t jibe with his. His father would throw a fit if his son and heir announced his engagement to the family’s governess, so she threatened to expose his involvement in her downfall and…well, there was only one way for Daniel to silence her. Permanently.’

  ‘All possible,’ Riley conceded, ‘but for the fact that Daniel wasn’t in Dulwich last night as far as we are aware. We need to clarify his whereabouts. We also need Maynard’s confirmation that Miss Mottram was still a virgin. If she was not, then your suggestions will take on more significance.’

  ‘If Daniel was in Dulwich, she wouldn’t have had any qualms about going into the orchard with him,’ Salter said.

  ‘We need to speak with the station master and see if he can remember whether she returned alone.’

  Such speculations brought them to the impressive entrance portico to Charles Stanley’s premises. Riley presented his card to the porter on duty and asked to see Vermont as a matter of urgency. They waited in a small side room and it was some minutes before Vermont appeared, looking mystified by the summons.

  ‘Lord Riley.’ He held out his hand, which Riley shook before introducing Salter. ‘I was told you are here in your official capacity. I confess to being at a loss to understand why, but if I can help with an investigation in any way…’ He spread his hands, his fresh-faced expression openly curious.

  ‘Is there somewhere private that we could talk?’

  ‘Of course. Please follow me.’

  Daniel led them up a marble staircase and into a small office on the first floor.

  ‘My private domain, such as it is. I’m not important enough to warrant anything bigger, but at least we won’t be interrupted here.’ He indicated chairs. Riley took one, as did Vermont himself. Salter remained standing.

  ‘You are acquainted with Miss Melanie Mottram,’ Riley said.

  ‘Miss Mottram?’ Daniel frowned, looking anxious. ‘This is about her? What’s happened? Is she all right?’

  ‘I regret to tell you that she is far from all right.’ Riley watched the young man closely. ‘In fact, she is dead.’

  ‘Dead?’ Daniel’s face paled and he shook his head in instinctive denial. ‘She can’t be. It’s not possible. I saw her recently.’ He looked up at Riley. ‘Are you absolutely sure it’s her? There must be some mistake. Have you been to my father’s house? I’m sure you will find her there, alive and well.’ He dropped his gaze again. ‘I am absolutely sure of it,’ he repeated, as if trying to convince himself.

  ‘Unfortunately there’s no mistake. Your father was the one to call us in, and he identified her body earlier today.’

  ‘Then I don’t understand. She was young and in the very best of health.’ He shook his head, sending sandy-coloured hair flying around his scalp. ‘What happened? She must have had an accident. Mel…I mean Miss Mottram was sometimes a bit reckless. Are my sisters all right? They were not with her, I hope.’

  ‘It was no accident,’ Riley told him. ‘She was deliberately killed.’

  ‘Murdered?’ His eyes widened with genuine-seeming shock. But then if he already knew, he would have had an opportunity to practise his reaction. ‘But why?’ He sent Riley a bewildered look. ‘Who would want to hurt her?’

  ‘That is what we hoped you would be able to help us ascertain. You and she were friends, I understand.’

  ‘We were. We both like art, and Miss Mottram was a promising artist in her own right.’

  ‘When did you last see her?’ Riley asked.

  ‘Let me see.’ Daniel paused to think. ‘I went home on Friday and she was there, attending to her duties.’

  ‘You did not spend any time alone with her?’

  Daniel looked away and Riley knew that he was about to become economical with the truth. ‘She was an attractive and vibrant young woman,’ he said, returning his attention to Riley. ‘I liked her very much indeed. More than liked as a matter of fact. You yourself are aware that gentlemen or our ilk garner a lot of attention from ladies, Lord Riley, most of it unwelcome. But Miss Mottram was different.’ He straightened his shoulders. ‘If you must know, I was seriously considering proposing to her.’

  ‘Was she aware that she had engaged your affections?’ Salter asked from his position against the wall.

  ‘Lord no! There were certain obstacles to be surmounted first.’

  ‘Your father would not have approved. He wanted better for you.’

  Daniel ran a hand through his hair. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did he realise which way the wind blew?’ Riley asked.

  ‘Possibly. I took Miss Mottram to the Founders’ Day celebrations at Dulwich College when my step-mother was too unwell to attend. Father noticed how relaxed Mel and I were in one another’s company and—’

  ‘Was it you who suggested that Miss Mottram attend?’

  ‘Yes. I thought if Father saw us together it might ease my path.’ He sighed. ‘But I miscalculated. He quizzed me upon my feelings for her later and warned me off in no uncertain terms.’

  ‘How did you respond?’ Riley asked.

  ‘Oh, I tugged my forelock and promised to toe the family line, of course.’ A note of bitterness had entered Daniel’s voice. ‘You’re aware, I suppose, that the family pile had to be sold and that we’re still strapped for cash, which is why I have to work for a living.’

  ‘We all have to do that,’ Riley said mildly.

  ‘Well yes, of course, but Father expects me to marry some heiress who will improve our fortunes as a family. I believe Virginia has one or
two lined up for my inspection. He’s thinking, of course, of my sisters’ futures and expects me to take on the responsibility of providing for them.’ He lifted his shoulders. ‘It’s a bit thick, given that it’s really his duty and that they’re only my half-sisters, but there you have it.’

  ‘If you knew there was no future for you with Miss Mottram, why did you meet her in London on her afternoons off?’

  If Daniel was concerned that Riley knew of their meetings, he gave no sign. Instead, he seemed exasperated. ‘Damn it, Lord Riley! A man’s entitled to a little pleasure. I knew that I probably couldn’t marry her. I resented the situation I found myself in but couldn’t disappoint Father to that extent. Even so, Mel was fun, didn’t take life too seriously and took me out of myself.’

  ‘Were you intimately involved?’ Riley asked in a mild tone.

  ‘Damn your impertinence!’ Daniel jumped from his chair, his fists clenched. Riley motioned Salter back to his wall when he stepped forward to intercede. ‘You have no right to ask such questions,’ he said in a more moderate tone, resuming his seat. ‘Have some respect for the recently departed, why don’t you?’

  ‘Unfortunately, in my line of work, I see the worst in human nature and must ask difficult questions at sensitive times.’

  ‘Of course.’ Daniel splayed his legs, leaned his elbows on his thighs and studied the floor. ‘I understand, and for what it’s worth, no, I did not overstep the bounds with Mel, strong though the temptation sometimes was.’ He looked up at Riley through eyes hazy with tears. ‘You must accept my word for it.’

  ‘Can you think of anyone who would have wished her harm?’

  Daniel shook his head. ‘She was very popular.’

  ‘Rivals for her affections?’ Salter asked.

  ‘If there was anyone, she never mentioned them to me. Sorry.’

  ‘What do you know of her background?’ Riley asked.

  ‘Only that she came from the West Country and had no desire to return to Devon. She enjoyed the lifeblood that flows through London, and came up as much as she possibly could. I took her to exhibitions, to dinner, and she talked about her ambitions. She wasn’t content being a governess and wanted to better herself.’

  ‘Through marriage?’ Riley suggested.

  ‘Through her art. There was a studio in Dulwich where she went whenever she could. There was some talk of one or two of her paintings being displayed at a Bond Street gallery. She was excited about that.’

  Riley raised a brow. ‘How did that come about? Your influence? Your father’s?’

  ‘The fellow who runs the studio brought it about. He gets agents sniffing around every so often. One of them saw Mel’s work and was impressed by it.’

  Riley glanced at Salter, glad that his nephew had attracted the attention of the right sort of people in the art world. Riley was surprised that he hadn’t mentioned the fact that Miss Mottram’s talent had impressed the agent.

  ‘Did you meet Miss Mottram in London yesterday?’

  Daniel shook his head without hesitation. ‘I had hoped to. She came up and waited for me at my lodgings, but I was delayed so she eventually took herself off. She told my landlady she had another engagement, which makes me wonder why she expected me to take the afternoon away from here and escort her to an exhibition.’ He sighed and spread his hands. ‘Now we shall never know—unless you find out, which presumably will lead you to her killer.’

  ‘Let’s hope so.’ Riley paused. ‘Where were you yesterday evening?’

  He looked on the point of objecting to the question, thought better of it and answered without hesitation. ‘I had dinner at my club, played a few frames of billiards with some chaps there and returned to my lodgings at about ten o’clock.’

  ‘Brooks’s Club?’

  ‘Yes. They will remember me, but I’m afraid I didn’t see anyone when I got home. My landlady retires early and there was no sign of the other tenants, so you will have to take my word for my movements and for the fact that I’m the last person in the world who had reason to want Mel dead.’ He shook his head. ‘A light has gone out in my life,’ he said, sounding bereft.

  Riley continued to question the increasingly distraught young man. He ascertained to his satisfaction that Daniel knew nothing of Miss Mottram’s relationship with Peter Renshaw or thought of Reggie Archer as anything other than an artistic inspiration. Salter waggled his bushy brows at that one but refrained from comment.

  ‘We have kept you from your duties for quite long enough,’ Riley said, standing to take his leave.

  ‘I am hardly likely to be use to man or beast for the rest of the day.’

  ‘I am truly sorry for your loss,’ Riley said, shaking his hand. ‘It is doubly difficult for you, I expect, because you can’t openly show your grief. What shall you do now?’

  He shrugged. ‘Take a few days, I suppose. Go down to Dulwich and see what transpires. Find the person who did this terrible thing, Lord Riley. Find justice for my sweet girl.’

  ‘We will do our very best.’

  The detectives returned to the street and hailed a cab to take them back to Scotland Yard.

  ‘He seemed genuinely shocked, sir,’ Salter said as they climbed into the conveyance that swerved towards the curb in response to Salter’s whistle.

  ‘He did, and full of remorse, too.’

  ‘You do suspect him still?’

  ‘I suspect everyone. You ought to know that about me by now, Jack.’ Riley leaned back in the uncomfortable and worn seat. ‘I’m not convinced that he didn’t see her yesterday.’

  ‘Then why deny it?’

  ‘Self-preservation. He knows it will make him the prime suspect, to say nothing of causing all sorts of problems with his father. Vermont warned him off the girl, if you recall. Anyway, if he killed her, then he would have been expecting a visit from us at some point and could have prepared his reaction.’

  ‘Even so, his grief weren’t feigned.’

  ‘Oh no. He loved that girl and was bitterly torn between family loyalty and personal aspirations. Of course, by admitting that his father knew of his feelings and had forbidden the match, he’s given us reason to suppose that his father had a pressing need to be rid of her.’

  ‘If the father thought that Daniel might follow his heart, he could have removed temptation from his path?’

  Riley gave a grim nod. ‘Precisely. But whether Daniel put that idea into our heads deliberately or not I have yet to decide. He’s either genuinely disingenuous or one of the most ruthless, cold-hearted killers I’ve ever encountered.’

  The cab dropped them at the Yard. Riley disembarked and paid the jarvey.

  ‘Let’s get into the warm and discuss our findings to date, as well as deciding which direction to take the investigation in next,’ he said.

  ‘I need to know what you intend to do about Reggie,’ Salter said, the moment the two detectives were closeted in Riley’s office with the door firmly closed. Both men glanced at Salter’s satchel, in which the murder weapon remained secreted.

  ‘I shall have to tell Thompson about the connection to you, Jack,’ Riley replied softly. ‘It will come out eventually, these things always do, and it will look suspicious if we haven’t revealed it.’

  ‘Danforth will have a field day.’ Salter scrunched his nose disdainfully. ‘He wants to split us up because he’s petty-minded and spiteful and because he resents who you are and what you know about him.’ Salter sniffed. ‘He’s trying to force you out, if you ask me.’

  Riley nodded, having reached the same conclusion himself. ‘Very likely.’

  ‘And my damned nephew has played straight into his hands.’

  ‘I won’t allow your nephew’s involvement to interfere with our working arrangement, Jack. I don’t like going over Danforth’s head and seeking Thompson’s support, but I will if necessary. Obviously, you won’t be able to sit in on the interview with your nephew, and I need your word that you and your family won’t have any contact with h
im until the case is resolved.’ He fixed Salter with a steely look. ‘If you do, it will place me in an impossible position.’

  ‘We won’t. The less I see of him the better. Like I say, he’s never been anything but trouble.’

  ‘He might surprise you yet.’ Riley stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

  ‘Something keeping you up at night, sir?’ Salter asked with an irreverent grin.

  Riley sent him a dour look. ‘He’s fought for the right to do what he does best, your nephew that is, and seems to have some of London’s top agents interested in the work produced at his studio.’

  Salter sniffed. ‘We don’t know that for sure,’ he said, sounding sceptical.

  ‘No, but—’ Riley looked up when Sergeant Barton put his head around the door. ‘What is it, Barton?’

  ‘Sorry to interrupt. Urgent message from Dr Maynard for you.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  Riley took the note Barton held out to him and the sergeant left the room. Riley opened it and scanned its contents.

  ‘Maynard’s started the post-mortem already and…Good God!’

  ‘What is it, sir?’

  Riley put the note down and stared at the opposite wall. ‘She was pregnant, Jack. Melanie Mottram was expecting a baby.’

  Chapter Seven

  ‘Bloody hell!’ Salter scratched his head. ‘That changes everything.’

  ‘It does indeed.’ Riley leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin as he mulled over this unexpected development. ‘Which of our suspects fathered the child though, Jack? Did she tell him and is that why she was killed?’