‘Geraldine, you have to believe me, I was horrified when I found out—’
‘I remember his hands crawling all over me. He used a blindfold, did he tell you that part? He said it was a game.’ She was hysterical now, shouting at the top of her voice.
‘He never—had intercourse—with you.’
‘He would have if you hadn’t found out when you did.’
‘I arrived early one afternoon to collect you. The door was open, so I walked in. Charles had—his hands were inside your skirt. You were asleep, you couldn’t possibly have known what was going on. I think he’d given you Valium, just a little pill. I started hitting him, screaming at him. He admitted he’d done it several times before. He blindfolded you because he was ashamed of his actions. He couldn’t look at you, but he couldn’t stop himself. He promised you wouldn’t remember anything.’
‘All I remember was being touched in the dark. All the bullshit you fed me about my nyctophobia! It wasn’t fear of darkness.’ No wonder she had barricaded herself from Nicholas, and fled from Joseph’s room. No wonder she had frozen at Charles’s touch.
‘I just wanted what was best for you,’ said her mother. ‘We had your welfare to consider. If I had gone to the police, the scandal would have made all our lives hell.’
‘So you helped him to cover it up. Then you let me go back there, even though you knew the truth. How could you do that? Knowing what he’d wanted to do?’
‘You have no idea what he was like.’ The tremor in Gwen’s voice was a declaration of damage. ‘No idea. He knew my position with Jack and he used it.’ She refilled her glass with unsteady hands. ‘He’s a very forceful man. I threatened to go to the police, but he persuaded me not to. He said he would help your father’s business. I refused to let him see you again. He said he couldn’t help himself. What could I do? He was highly thought of; he knew royalty. He would have lost everything if the scandal had come out. I felt so ashamed.’
She wiped her eye with the back of her hand, pacing back to the drinks cabinet. ‘When your father and I met, Jack was a different man. Full of energy, exciting to be with. Then he lost interest in me. He lost his drive, his ambition.’
‘You knocked it out of him.’
‘He said he no longer saw the point of wanting to improve our social standing. He was offered a directorship with one of the finest guild companies in Britain and he turned it down! I turned to Charles for help, and then his foolish, weak mistake cost us everything. After finding him with you, I thought I had the upper hand. I didn’t, of course. He just carried on, talking his way around me. I found myself doing anything I could just to keep him quiet, to keep him from harming us.’
‘Jack must really despise you,’ Jerry said viciously. ‘No wonder he keeps your letters in his desk drawer.’
‘What letters?’ Gwen threw her glass back on the cabinet counter with a crack. Whisky splashed on the floor.
‘The notes you and Charles sent each other. When he couldn’t call the house. Jack found them, and he saved them. It’s his proof, you see. It’s how he keeps his hatred of you alive.’
Gwen was crying now, smearing her lipstick with the heel of her hand. ‘I just wanted the best for us all. I should have made you my priority. But it was my life, too.’
‘And now you have nothing.’
Jerry turned from the room and closed the door as her mother sank into the corner chair with her face in her hands.
The Royal Free Hospital was one of the few buildings in North London with any electricity that night, and shone like a fog-smeared beacon as they approached it. The hospital’s emergency generators had taken over, and the patients and nurses could be seen at the windows moving through a sickly half light.
Two squad cars had already arrived in the visitor’s car park before them. Both were empty. May slipped into the Mini’s driving seat.
‘If everything’s all right here,’ Bryant called, walking backwards towards the main entrance to the hospital, ‘I’ll join you up at the house.’
‘Good luck.’ May started to reverse the Mini out of the forecourt. Bryant was about to enter the main foyer of the hospital when his partner reappeared.
‘What’s the matter?’ asked Bryant, startled.
‘On second thoughts, we’ll do this together,’ May said. ‘I don’t want anything happening to you.’ He alighted from the car with his head tilted, straining to listen. ‘Can you hear something funny?’
‘Don’t let your imagination run away with you.’ Bryant was about to head inside when he heard the noise himself. Someone was banging on the glass above them. As they looked up there was a loud crack, like the shot from a gun.
Spears of glass showered down as the body fell, its scream mingling with shouts of horror from the room behind the burst window, six floors up.
The figure in white hospital garb hit the ground headfirst as the detectives jumped aside. The sound of flesh and bone impacting on concrete was like no other on earth. The victim lay before them, the body arched into a position that could only be possible if its spine had been fractured.
Almost at once, the police began to arrive at ground level. One junior constable turned white and vomited. Sergeant Longbright came running across the foyer.
‘He bluffed his way into the room, Sir,’ she told Bryant, trying to catch her breath. ‘He was wearing a doctor’s coat and walked right past the night nurse. We arrived just after, and that constable there,’ she pointed to the one being sick, ‘walked into the room to find him strangling the life out of the patient with a length of wire. We were just in time.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Bryant, looking over at the corpse.
‘Peggy Harmsworth started to come out of the coma a couple of hours ago. She’s going to be all right. That’s the man who tried to kill her.’
‘My God,’ said Bryant. ‘If the first thing she saw when she woke up was someone throttling her, it’s surprising she didn’t go right back into a coma. What happened then?’
‘He ran at the window before anyone could stop him, went through head first. Why would he do that?’
‘Just obeying orders, Janice,’ said Bryant, patting her on the shoulder. ‘Let’s get to Christian Whitstable and his daughter.’ He made for the hospital entrance, dragging May in his wake. ‘There are more like him on the way. We have no idea how many.’
In the corridors of the fifth floor, dim emergency lights dragged at their shadows. The hall ahead was deserted and silent. Longbright slowed to a walk. ‘I don’t understand,’ she began, alarmed. ‘I left a detail of men to guard Peggy’s room. They were here just a few minutes ago.’
‘Which is Christian Whitstable’s ward?’
‘He and his daughter are in a separate room, the last door on the left.’
Bryant, May, and Longbright approached as swiftly and quietly as they could manage. Bryant was the first to arrive. The door was wide open. In the half light he saw Christian Whitstable, up and out of bed, warning him back. As he walked further into the room, he saw the reason why.
‘He has my daughter,’ said Christian, never moving his eyes from the white-coated figure in a paper face mask, standing against the far wall of the room. Two other officers stood impotently nearby. Flora Whitstable was held close against the masked figure’s leg, a rubbergloved hand fastened across her mouth, a scalpel shining at her pale throat.
‘All right, nobody move an inch,’ said Bryant quietly, holding up his hands. ‘He has nothing to lose. He must fulfill his obligation or die.’
The killer had no interest in his victim. Like his accomplice, he was performing a task against his will; paying off a debt of honour that demanded the ultimate payment of a taken life.
How many of these assassins had struggled with their consciences? It explained why Daisy Whitstable had been spared. What a terrible dilemma her killer must have faced. Unable to comprehend why such a young life had been targeted for termination, he must have known that sparing the girl
would place his own life in danger.
Did the man standing before Bryant have any idea of the complex forces that had brought him to this spot tonight? Was he prepared to complete his task with a clear conscience, like Bella Whitstable’s murderer? Or was he suffering the uncomprehending agony of being here?
‘I know you don’t want to harm the girl,’ said Bryant gently. ‘We know all about the duty you’ve been instructed to perform. If you let her go, I promise to help you.’
The killer took a step towards them. The hand tightened, the blade touched Flora’s neck. Bryant could hear the assassin moaning softly behind his face mask.
‘Listen to me,’ Bryant said, standing motionless. ‘You were supposed to finish the job after the tiger failed to do so. Neither of these two must be allowed to live. Am I right? Just nod once if I’m right. I won’t come any closer.’ He raised his hands in a gesture of peace. ‘Please, just nod your head. Show us that you understand.’
Reluctantly, the assassin gave a slight nod.
‘Put down the knife,’ said Bryant. ‘Your orders are no longer valid. There’s been a mistake. You don’t have to do this now. I know the burden you’re under, and I want to relieve you of it. I believe you are a man of honour. Terrible things are happening around us. You don’t have to do this any more; I beg you, let us help.’
As they watched, the eyes above the mask glossed and spilled, and the man began to tremble, the pressure of the moment racking his body, tearing at his soul. Flora darted forward as the knife clattered to the floor. Longbright stepped in with the other officers and took control.
‘Give the black bastard what’s coming to him,’ said Christian Whitstable, wrecking the moment.
Before anyone could move, the tormented assassin fell to the floor with a terrible guttural wail, overcome with shame.
* * *
‘We have to get to the safe house before we lose any more.’ Bryant hitched his raincoat about him. They had returned to the hospital forecourt, which had been sectioned off with makeshift barriers. The lights were still out in the streets, and the rain was falling in soaking waves. This was no time to think of himself. Without knowing how many assassins were on their way to the Hampstead house, everyone was in danger.
May looked back at the hospital as he climbed into the Mini.
‘Let’s bring back the daylight,’ he said.
49 / Under Siege
As the headlights of the rusty yellow Mini caught the lettering on the Mulberry Avenue street sign, they found that the route to the Whitstable house had been cordoned off with miles of yellow plastic tape. Police cars blocked the road ahead.
‘I asked them to be discreet about this,’ grunted Bryant. ‘Pull over here. We won’t get any closer.’ As they walked towards the house, Raymond Land came running forward.
‘What the bloody hell is going on?’ he demanded. The rain was falling in a thick soaking drizzle. Land looked as if he’d recently fallen in a pond. ‘You two cannot place the whole division on alert without my authority. Your damned sergeant should have known better than to take such an order. What if there’s another emergency tonight?’
Thank God for the courageous and wonderful Longbright, thought Bryant. ‘Then we’ll pull someone out of here,’ he suggested. Behind him, May sneezed. ‘I’d stay away from us, Raymond, our colds are getting worse.’
‘We spent part of this evening standing in filthy, freezing water,’ May explained.
‘I’m not interested in the state of your health,’ said Land sarcastically. ‘Could someone give me an update on the situation?’
‘We’re reaching the end of a long, bizarre journey—’
‘Then what the hell are we all doing here? Your sergeant gave me some cock-eyed story—’
‘There are still a few loose ends to clear up.’
‘Like what, might I ask?’
‘A squad of assassins is on its way here to wipe out the remaining Whitstables. This could turn into the Alamo.’
‘What are you talking about? How many “assassins”?’
‘I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know how many members of the family they’ve been instructed to finish off, either, but if they can arrange to slip a starving Bengal tiger into a suburban house I think we should be ready to expect the worst, don’t you?’
The detectives stepped past their astonished superior and walked towards the house.
‘Well, I’m surprised you two have the nerve to show your faces in here again,’ said a sour-faced Berta Whitstable, examining the detectives by the light of her raised hurricane lamp. Even at this time of night she was dressed in expensive, garish clothes. She looked like Joan Crawford playing Rochester’s first wife. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if you were somehow responsible for killing us off.’
‘I can assure you it’s nothing to do with me,’ said Bryant, removing his wet trilby and placing it on the hat stand. Candles had been placed in saucers and ashtrays throughout the hall. The flickering yellow gloom had reversed the century, returning the building to its true status as a Victorian mansion. ‘Gather the family together please.’
‘Who the hell do you think you are, Mr Bryant?’ Berta’s eyes narrowed in fury. ‘You can’t just keep ordering us about. This is still William Whitstable’s house, and you are trespassing on—’
‘Just fuck off and get the family, will you?’ said Bryant wearily. ‘Pardon my French. It’s late, and the night is far from over.’
Berta stormed off up the stairs, calling for the others in an injured, tremulous voice.
‘How many officers do we have altogether?’ May asked Land.
‘Eight,’ he replied. ‘Nine counting me.’
‘Is that all?’
‘Four are at the hospital with your sergeant,’ the detective superintendent explained. ‘I think you’ll find that the rest are Met boys making a protest at the way you two have been conducting this case.’
‘God, why did they have to pick tonight, of all nights?’ cried May. ‘Have we got all of the windows covered?’
‘As far as it’s possible to cover them,’ said Land.
‘At least we’ve managed to get the men well armed. There are dense woods behind the property. No way of stopping a sniper in there, I’m afraid.’
‘You see?’ Bryant told his partner. ‘If William Whitstable had lived in a council house this wouldn’t be a problem.’
He looked up to see a crowd of arguing, angry-faced relatives heading down the stairs towards him bearing torches and lanterns. ‘My God, it looks like they’re getting ready to go and set fire to Frankenstein’s castle. Right, let’s get everyone into the dining room.’
As usual everyone was talking at once, but this time fear showed beneath the anger and confusion. The dining room was illuminated by a large crystal chandelier filled with fresh candles. Shadows bounced crazily about the ceiling. Bryant half expected to see Edgar Allan Poe taking notes in a corner.
Bryant turned to the gathered family as his partner seated the last of the older children.
‘You might not realize it, but this house is under siege,’ he began. ‘We have good reason to believe that assassins will try to attack one or more of you during the night.’ Better to frighten them into behaving themselves, he thought. ‘I want you to keep away from the doors and windows, and stay as near to the centre of the house as possible. We’ll protect the outside of the building as best as we can, but we can’t guarantee you one hundred percent safety. After this night, however, we can promise that you will have nothing more to fear.’
‘You mean you’ve finally pulled your finger out and managed to catch someone,’ snorted Isobel Whitstable. ‘Perhaps you’d like to tell us who the culprit is.’ ‘Now is not the time,’ said May, pulling his old friend to one side. ‘We’re duty-bound to protect them.’ He led Bryant away as the Whitstables began hurling insults after him. One of the children threw a plastic beaker at his head. ‘You’re a pair of hopeless old failures,’ the boy jeered
.
‘I can’t believe they’re being so rude,’ said May.
‘They’re going through a nightmare,’ said Bryant. ‘They don’t even know if they’ll be alive in the morning.’ He turned to one of the officers standing inside the front porch. ‘Have you seen anyone around? Any sign of disturbance at all?’
‘Nothing yet, Sir.’
‘The sight of you lot has probably put them off.’ He scratched his chin thoughtfully. ‘On the other hand, the people we’re after are more loyal and diligent than the men who employed them. They’ll be determined to carry out their instructions if they can. It’s the only way they can ensure their own safety.’
‘You sound as if you know more of what we’re dealing with than you’re prepared to tell us,’ complained May.
‘John, I’ve done some reading from Maggie Armitage’s books about Indian cults. These chaps can put themselves into states of heightened awareness. Look, there’s no point in you getting any wetter. Why don’t you oversee operations inside the house? I can take the perimeter.’
‘I suppose it’s better than leaving you to get into a fight with them,’ sighed May. ‘Just be careful.’
Outside, rain drummed through the trees in the woodland beyond, crackling like a forest fire. Land was seated in the front patrol car making a call. Around the house, disconsolate soaked policemen stood in pairs, unsure what they were watching for.
It’s going to be a long night, thought Bryant.
Inside the house, things were just as bad. May was having great difficulty holding the family together in one room. The children had a habit of ducking out the moment his back was turned, the men’s moods ranged from threatening to abusive, and the women were bitterly contradicting one another.
‘I have to use the bathroom,’ announced Berta Whitstable, rising from her armchair and pushing her way through the door in a jangle of jewellery. ‘I really can’t believe we’re prisoners in our own property. Private property.’
As she reached the foot of the stairs, however, she hesitated. Several of the candles on the landing had blown out, and the first floor was virtually in darkness. As she climbed, she found herself listening for sounds from above. The ill-dressed detective had shut the lounge door behind her, and she could no longer hear the familiar hubbub of the family arguing.
Seventy-Seven Clocks Page 38