“What time was this, Polly?” Beech interrupted.
“I don’t know, sir. I wasn’t taking much notice. Probably about two in the morning.”
“What happened then?”
“Lady Harriet came round and the first thing she asked was, ‘Where is my husband?’ Dodds said, ‘He’s upstairs, madam, and he’s dead.’ I thought she was going to faint again and I said again to Mr Dodds that we should get a doctor. Then she grabbed my hand and said, ‘Polly, you have been very courageous tonight.’ Then she said to Dodds that she didn’t want me to be questioned by the police and that he was to take me to her old convent immediately. I protested and said I wanted to stay with her but she said no. She wanted me safe and she wouldn’t see a doctor until she knew I was safe. Dodds told me to go and get my hat and coat and be quick about it. So I did.”
Beech thought for a moment and then he asked, “Polly, did you see any blood on Mr Dodds at all?”
“No, sir.”
Beech looked at Tollman. “Whoever stabbed Lord Murcheson would have had blood on their clothes from the arterial spurt.” Tollman nodded in agreement. Beech turned back to Polly. “When Mr Dodds came for you, in the basement, and took you up to the bedroom, did you see any blood on Her Ladyship’s nightdress.”
Polly shook her head. “No sir. It was only when we sat her up to dress her that the blood started coming between her legs.”
Beech continued. “So when you went to get your coat and hat, what happened then?”
“I came down the stairs and Mr Dodds was coming back in the front door …”
“Where had he been?” Beech interrupted.
“I don’t know, sir. I didn’t think about it. He just told me to say my goodbyes to the mistress and to be quick. I went into the library and she kissed me and told me to be brave and not to tell anyone what had happened. Mr Dodds would take me to the convent and then come and get me when everything was settled. Then Dodds dragged me away and he hailed a taxi cab on Park Lane and took me to the convent.”
“What about when he came to fetch you from there. What did he say then?”
Polly tried to hold back her tears at that point. “Well he told one of the sisters that Lady Harriet was better and I felt that everything was going to be alright. But when we got in the taxi cab he had waiting, he told me that was a lie. Lady Harriet had been taken to hospital, near to death and he was taking me somewhere else for my own sake. He said that the police thought that I had murdered His Lordship and he had promised Lady Harriet that he would hide me. I said I thought I should go to the police and tell them the truth, and he said that Lady Harriet would be upset if I did that. So I asked why I couldn’t stay at the convent and he said that I had to keep moving around. Then we got to Mrs Perkins’ place and he told her that she had to keep me there until he came back. I don’t think Mrs Perkins liked Mr Dodds. He took her in another room and I heard him shout at her … I couldn’t make out what he said. She looked upset after he had gone. She said I couldn’t stay there … no matter what Mr Dodds said … and she asked me if I had any family I could go to. I told her I was a Barnardo’s orphan and she said I should go back there and gave me some money.”
“So how on earth did you end up at the Grove Hospital, Polly?” Victoria enquired gently.
“I got on the bus to go to Liverpool Street. I didn’t want to go back to Barnardo’s. I didn’t want them to think I’d done something bad. Someone had left a newspaper on the seat in the bus and on the back there was an advertisement. It said, ‘Have you had scarlet fever? If so, you could come and work at the Grove Fever Hospital.’ Well, I had scarlet fever when I was a child at Barnardo’s, and the advertisement said they were paying good money for cleaners and ward orderlies, so I got off the bus and got on another one that was going to Tooting. I didn’t mean to be so much trouble!” she wailed. “I didn’t do anything bad, ma’am! Mr Dodds will tell you. I was only looking out for my mistress!”
Victoria put her arm round the girl to comfort her.
Beech sighed. “Unfortunately, Mr Dodds is dead, Polly.”
Polly’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
“He was stabbed in the chest, like Lord Murcheson, and, from what you have said today, it seems very likely that he was stabbed by the same person.”
* * *
Sissy and Elsie sat outside Prince Edward Ward in nervous anticipation. They had arrived about half past five, only to be told by a formidable Ward Sister that visiting hour was not until six and they would have to wait.
“Who are you visiting?” she had asked. “Visiting is restricted to relatives only, you know.”
“We’re visiting George Harris. I am a relative, on his mother’s side,” Elsie had said, off the cuff. “Mrs Rigsby, and this is my sister,” indicating Sissy at her side.
Sissy had decided to elaborate. “He probably won’t remember us. We haven’t seen him since he was a baby. There was a bit of a disagreement with his father. Nasty man,” she’d said, grimacing.
The Ward Sister had looked entirely disinterested and had said, “You may wait there. A bell will ring when the visiting hour starts.”
“She’s a bit of an old tartar, isn’t she?” Elsie had murmured as they’d duly taken their places on the bench in the corridor.
“Well, they have to be stern, don’t they? Especially on the men’s ward. Can’t stand any nonsense from the male patients, can they?” Elsie had nodded in agreement.
Now, the bell rang, and everyone on the benches stood up and began to make their way through the doors. Elsie took a deep breath.
“My heart’s going like a hammer and tongs,” she said.
“Mine too,” replied Sissy. “Come on, Else. We’ve come this far. Brave it out!”
They went through the doors nervously. “How will we know him?” whispered Elsie.
“Simple,” said her sister, pointing, “he’s the young lad over there. The only one with no visitors.”
George looked up quizzically as two plump cheerful ladies appeared at the end of his bed.
“Hello George. I’m Elsie. I’m Constable Rigsby’s mum,” said one.
“And I’m Sissy, Constable Rigsby’s Aunty,” said the other, then she added, “We’ve got a proposition for you.”
CHAPTER 20
The day did not start well. Caroline rang to say that there had been an explosion in a munitions factory overnight and she was wanted in surgery.
“Fifteen dead and thirty-five wounded. All women except for one male supervisor. Half of them have gone to the London and the other half have come here,” she explained breathlessly to Victoria on the telephone. “I’m so sorry to let everyone down.”
“Don’t be silly,” Victoria replied with concern. “Even if you had been here, you would have been too tired to do anything. We can manage.”
“Victoria, I need you to tell Peter something for me.”
“Yes, of course. Do I need to write it down?” She searched frantically around for a pad and pencil.
“No, no,” Caroline said, “Just tell him that I was talking to Esme and she let slip that she saw a nurse come to visit Lord Murcheson, one night—not the fateful night, I should add, but on an earlier occasion. Apparently, Dodds used to insist that no one came downstairs after nine o’clock at night but she had a cold and came down to make a hot drink and she saw the nurse arriving. Now it could have been Dr McKinley’s nurse … well, I would think so … and the nurse that Peter and I saw yesterday, I think, was in the second stages of syphilis. She could have been providing … er … extra services to Lord Murcheson, which is how he contracted the disease. That’s all. How is Polly Sutton?”
“She’s fine. We put her up in a room with Esme and I should think she’s still asleep. She didn’t do it, Caroline. She gave us a detailed account of that night. She thought Lady Harriet had done it but her statement pretty much proved that Lady Harriet couldn’t have done it. Also … here’s the thing … it doesn’t seem like Dodds
did it either …” Victoria stopped speaking because she could hear Caroline speaking to someone else.
“I’ve got to go now, Victoria. I’m needed. Good luck for this morning.” Then the line went dead.
Beech and Tollman arrived early. Billy was up and about before they arrived and appeared in his civilian clothes. Lady Maud commented, at the breakfast table, on how smart he looked.
“Although I do rather like a man in uniform, I must confess,” she said, winking at Billy, who grinned.
Victoria could see that Beech was fretting over the news that Caroline would not be available for the surveillance operation this morning.
“I’m not happy with you following this woman on your own,” he said in a worried tone of voice.
Victoria was exasperated. “Really! I do wish everyone would stop treating me like cut glass!” She glared at Beech, which caused Tollman and Billy to take an unusual interest in their toast in embarrassment.
“I could take Caroline’s place,” announced Lady Maud in a firm voice, that brooked no argument.
“What!?” Beech was taken aback. “No. That’s preposterous!”
“Do tell me why,” said Lady Maud acidly. “I am perfectly capable of accompanying my daughter on a brisk walk around the West End. If this woman suspect should turn violent, I can always cosh her with my umbrella or my handbag. In fact I shall borrow one of Mrs Beddowes’ flat irons and put it in my handbag after breakfast.”
This made Victoria giggle and Billy grinned again. Tollman allowed a small smile to play around his lips and Beech just looked outmaneuvered. He sighed in defeat.
“Very well. But … Maud … no theatricals please. The purpose of the exercise is to be as inconspicuous as possible.”
“Well, I was hardly going to burst into song in the middle of Piccadilly,” she murmured sarcastically, making Billy choke on his toast and start a coughing fit.
“Cough it up, lad,” said Tollman cheerfully, banging Billy hard on the back. “Take a swig of tea.”
Billy nodded and obeyed, both laughing and coughing at the same time.
“So,” said Beech loudly, trying to assert his authority, “the plan is this—Maud and Victoria will casually walk along opposite the house; Rigsby, you will lounge around in a doorway opposite the house; Tollman … you and I will be on the same side, up toward St James’. When this woman enters, we will wait until she comes out and then we will all follow her at a respectable distance from her and each other. Rigsby, you must never lose sight of the two ladies and Tollman and I will never lose sight of you. And Rigsby, if you see any trouble, you must sprint ahead to aid the ladies. Understood?”
Everyone nodded. Just then there was a knock at the door and Mary entered.
“Beg pardon, Chief Inspector, but there is a telephone call for you.”
“Oh?” Beech looked puzzled and followed Mary out to the hall.
“The trick is, ladies,” counseled Tollman, “that when you are following a suspect—undercover like—you must act completely natural. Never get too close to them. Stop occasionally to look in a shop window. Don’t draw attention to yourself.”
“What do we do if she gets on a bus, or goes down the Underground or hails a cab?” asked Victoria.
“Good question, Mrs E.,” said Tollman approvingly. “That would be the point at which Billy and I would take over. We need a pre-arranged signal if she looks like she’s boarding transport. Then Billy here can sprint after her and, hopefully, get on the same bus or train. I doubt that she’ll get a cab but, if she does, we’ll have to get one to follow it.”
“I could open my umbrella,” volunteered Lady Maud, helpfully.
“That’ll do it,” said Tollman. “That’ll do nicely.”
Beech returned looking flustered. “I’ve been summoned to the Yard,” he announced. “Apparently this wretched munitions factory explosion may have been deliberate sabotage and I have to interview the factory manager. Matter of National Security.”
Everyone looked anxious until Beech said, “Well, there’s nothing for it. Tollman, you’ll have to be in charge of this one. We can’t abandon things now. I know it’s a great deal of responsibility but I’m sure you can cope. It goes without saying that you will be responsible for the care and safety of the ladies.”
“Yes, sir. Don’t worry, sir. Billy and I know what we’re doing.”
“I’m sure you do.” Beech turned to the women. “Ladies, please do exactly as Mr Tollman bids you. Nothing rash. No heroics.”
Mother and daughter assured Beech that they would take great care and be sensible, and he reluctantly left for Scotland Yard.
“Right,” said Lady Maud, “I’m going to get that flat iron and then I will get my hat, coat, and umbrella.”
* * *
Everyone was in position in Piccadilly by eight o’clock. Billy was, ostensibly, reading a newspaper in a doorway. Lady Maud and Victoria were taking an unusual interest in the billboard of the Criterion Theatre and Tollman was loitering on the corner of St James’. Despite it being only eight thirty in the morning, there was a considerable amount of traffic. Buses were disgorging shop girls at Piccadilly Circus, delivery vans were weaving their way around the pedestrians and bleary-eyed soldiers were sitting on the steps around Eros, recovering from a heavy night “up West.” Tollman’s only concern was that Victoria and Lady Maud looked a little out of place at this hour of the morning. It was too early for such obvious well-bred ladies to be shopping and he hoped that they wouldn’t be spotted by the suspect.
After about half an hour their patient wait was rewarded. A woman carrying a canvas bag approached the door of the house and knocked. The door was opened and she stepped inside. Billy was just about able to make out the face of the porter as he hustled the woman in. He looked across to Victoria to make sure that she had seen the woman enter and they nodded at each other. He smiled as he noted the determination with which Lady Maud was gripping both her handbag and umbrella. After no more than two minutes, the woman appeared again, this time clutching the canvas bag to her chest. Billy folded his newspaper up and prepared to move. To his dismay, she walked across the road, almost toward him, and stood at the bus stop. He waited for another two or three people to join the queue and then he sauntered over to stand behind them. He looked around and noted with some amusement that Lady Maud was frantically trying to open her umbrella as per the arranged signal.
Bless her, he thought, she’s doing her best.
Tollman casually joined the queue behind Billy.
“Keep your eyes ahead, lad,” he muttered. “And sit well apart from me.”
Billy duly obeyed and when the bus arrived, he sat to the right, two seats behind the woman and Tollman sat to the left, even further back. Billy briefly looked out of the window to where Victoria appeared to be consoling a disappointed Lady Maud and he smiled. Never mind, Your Ladyship … you’ll have better luck next time. The bus drew away. It proceeded up Regent Street, stopping once or twice for passengers, and then turned into Oxford Street. At the first stop, the woman got up. So did Tollman, but Billy waited until the bus was almost about to pull away before he dashed off, which allowed him to be a comfortable thirty yards behind Tollman, who was a similar distance behind the woman. They followed her as she walked up a street off to the right and they stayed in the same positions until she crossed the junction of Wigmore Street and Harley Street. Tollman walked up the steps of the first house and waited for Billy to pass. He indicated that Billy should take the lead now. Billy nodded and quickened his pace and he heard Tollman come back down the steps behind him and begin to match his footsteps. Then the woman crossed the road, stopped outside a house, took out a key, and let herself in. Tollman shouted, “Now, lad! We need to catch her with that money still on her!”
Billy sprinted across to the house and began hammering on the door. The astonished woman opened it, canvas bag in her hand, and before she could speak, Billy stuck his foot in the door, flashed his warrant card a
nd said, “You’re nicked, madam.”
A breathless Tollman arrived and panted, “We are arresting you under The Offences Against the Person Act 1875. And, madam, you are under suspicion of committing so many offences under that Act that I do not have time to list them all now.”
The woman looked shocked and she backed into the house, helpless and unable to speak. Billy and Tollman pushed their way inside and Tollman produced handcuffs from his pocket.
Tollman noted the plush surroundings and, in particular, a telephone mounted on the wall.
“PC Rigsby, kindly telephone West End Central and request a Black Maria. Madam, I must ask you to give me that bag you’re holding and submit to handcuffs, otherwise I shall add ‘resisting arrest’ to your long litany of crimes.”
The woman handed over the bag and Tollman attached the cuffs. He looked in the bag and produced a brown paper bag containing plenty of paper money.
“Constable Rigsby, I am asking you to attest that I am in possession of—” he rapidly counted the large notes “—fifty five pounds.”
“Noted, sir,” replied Billy, as he agitated the cradle of the telephone and raised the earpiece to his ear. “West End Central Police Station,” he ordered in response to the operator’s query. “And make it quick, love.”
Tollman turned back to the woman, who was, by now, sullen and defeated.
“What’s your name, madam?” Tollman enquired briskly.
“Ada Yardley,” her reply was brief.
Tollman looked around. “What sort of place is this, then?” he asked, noting the plush sofas and flowers and magazines. “It wouldn’t be another knocking shop by any chance would it?”
Ada laughed drily. “In Harley Street?” she said sarcastically. “Don’t you know a doctor’s office when you see one?”
“Can’t say that I do, madam. Not having ever had the money to visit a Harley Street doctor. So, why, may I ask, are you here?”
Murder in Belgravia Page 25