‘Plenty, thank you.’
Madeleine went into the kitchen to collect a large wicker basket then they left the house together and strolled along the street.
‘Who was that woman you mentioned earlier?’ he said.
‘Bonny Rimmer? She was Feeny’s sweetheart.’
‘And you’ve met her?’
‘We went to church together last Sunday.’
‘Is that where you and Inspector Colbeck were?’ he said. ‘When he took you off in that trap, I was bound to wonder. What’s so special about this girl, Maddy?’
‘Robert thinks she’ll help us solve the murder.’
‘What do you think?’
‘I was very hopeful at first,’ she said, ‘but not any more. If she was going to come forward, she’d have done so by now. To be honest, I don’t believe we’ll ever see Bonny Rimmer again.’
As soon as he noticed the two detectives coming into the crowded betting room, Hamilton Fido got up from his table and let his assistant take over. Crossing the room, he gave Robert Colbeck and Victor Leeming a cordial greeting and a warm handshake.
‘You seem in good spirits this morning, sir,’ noted Colbeck.
‘I’m always in good spirits, Inspector,’ said Fido. ‘The Derby gets closer and closer and the money keeps rolling in.’
‘Some of it will have to be repaid.’
‘Not if it’s been wagered on Odysseus or Limerick Lad.’
‘I see that the odds have shifted slightly, sir,’ said Leeming. ‘Your horse is now only 6–1.’
‘Are you tempted, Sergeant?’
‘Very tempted.’
‘But we’re not here to place any bets at the moment,’ said Colbeck briskly. ‘Is there somewhere a little quieter where we might talk to you, Mr Fido?’
‘Of course,’ said the bookmaker. ‘Follow me.’
He took them through a door, along a passageway and into a room that was used for storage. Fido was dressed more ostentatiously than ever and there was even more of a swagger about him.
‘How can I help you, gentlemen?’ he said obligingly.
Colbeck was direct. ‘Tell us how to find Miss Kitty Lavender.’
‘Kitty?’
‘She is the young lady with whom you stayed at the Wyvern Hotel, is she not? There’s no point in prevarication. My information comes from an unimpeachable source.’
‘Lord Hendry, no doubt!’
‘He was as unwilling as you to divulge her name at first, Mr Fido, even though he’d once tried to pass her off as Lady Hendry. The turn of events forced him to change his mind.’
‘What events?’
‘I’ll tell you that in a moment, sir. First, we’d like to know how we can make contact with Miss Lavender.’
‘I’m sorry, Inspector Colbeck,’ said Fido, trying to protect her until she was ready to come forward. ‘I’m not sure where Kitty is.’
‘We assumed that she’d be with you,’ said Leeming.
‘There are no women bookmakers, Sergeant.’
‘Staying with you, Mr Fido.’
‘I forego such delights during Derby Week,’ said the other with a grin. ‘A man in my position can afford no distractions whatsoever at such a busy time, however pleasurable they might be. No matter – I’m consoled by the fact that self-denial is good for the soul but, then,’ he added with a wicked smile, ‘I don’t suppose that you believe we bookmakers have souls, do you?’
‘Let’s talk about Kitty Lavender,’ said Colbeck. ‘It seems highly unlikely that she would want to miss the excitement of Derby Week. Do you happen to know if the young lady is here?’
‘I’ve not set eyes on her, Inspector.’
‘I understood you were on close terms.’
‘By the grace of God, we are.’
‘I’m not sure that God would approve of the attachment, Mr Fido,’ said Leeming, irritated by the glib reference to the Almighty. ‘Your union has not been blessed in His sight.’
‘That doesn’t prevent either of us from enjoying it, Sergeant.’
‘It would prevent me, sir.’
‘I’ll mention that to Kitty when I see her.’
‘And when will that be?’ asked Colbeck.
‘When this week is over, Inspector.’
‘Not before?’
‘Only if we should chance to meet.’
‘Where are you lodging at the moment?’
‘In my own home,’ replied Fido. ‘My coachman drives me back to London every evening and gets me here early in the morning.’
‘Would it not be more sensible to stay near Epsom?’
‘Accommodation is almost impossible to find.’
‘Do you know if Miss Lavender found any?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘You seem singularly uninformed about her movements, sir.’
‘Kitty is a friend,’ said the bookmaker, ‘and a rather special friend at that. Yet I don’t keep her on a leash. Kitty likes her freedom. She comes in and out of my life at will.’
‘I don’t think that anyone would be allowed to do that somehow,’ said Colbeck levelly. ‘You’re a man who prefers to exercise control. We saw that in the sad case of Peter Cheggin and the same rule no doubt obtains with Miss Lavender. You never fit into anyone else’s plans, Mr Fido – they fit into yours.’
‘You’re getting to know me too well, Inspector.’
‘Well enough, sir.’
‘What’s this about Lord Hendry and the turn of events?’
‘His house was broken into last night,’ said Colbeck. ‘His portrait of Odysseus was stolen.’ Fido laughed harshly. ‘He was less amused by the crime. We saw the painting. It was an outstanding piece of portraiture.’
‘What use is the portrait of a losing horse?’
‘Odysseus has not lost the race yet, sir, and Merry Legs has not won it. May I ask if you were aware that the painting existed?’
‘I was, Inspector.’
‘How did you come to know about it?’
‘Kitty mentioned it to me. She heard about it from Lord Hendry himself. He was inordinately proud of it.’ He looked from one to the other and saw their stern expressions. ‘Ah – so that’s why you’ve come to see me, is it? Lord Hendry has accused me of arranging the theft. Or perhaps he thinks I broke into the house myself.’
‘No,’ said Colbeck, ‘that’s not the allegation he made.’
‘Then what is he alleging?’
‘He feels that Miss Lavender was involved in some way.’
‘Kitty?’ Putting back his head, Fido laughed aloud. ‘What would she want with the painting of a horse?’
‘To cause Lord Hendry pain and embarrassment.’
Fido became serious. ‘She’s every right to do that, Inspector, and I’d back her to the hilt when she did so. But she’s no thief – nor would she know where to find one skilful enough to get in and out of the house without being caught.’
‘Would you know where to find one, sir?’ asked Leeming.
‘I know where to find whatever I want, Sergeant.’
‘So you could have advised Miss Lavender.’
‘The only advice I gave to Kitty was that she should speak to you. When she’s done that, and when you realise that she’s had nothing to do with any of the crimes committed, you might stop pestering the two of us.’
‘You were glad enough of our help when someone tried to poison your horse,’ said Colbeck.
‘In times of trouble, I always turn to the law, Inspector.’
‘That’s what Lord Hendry has done.’
‘Well, you can tell him to stop looking in my direction,’ said Fido irritably. ‘I didn’t steal his painting and nor did Kitty. You ought to be talking to Brian Dowd. He has good reason to upset Lord Hendry. So do lots of other people, for that matter. Lord George Hendry is not the most popular man in horseracing.’
‘We’ve learnt that, sir,’ said Colbeck. ‘Well, you must get back to the betting office. But if Miss Lavender shou
ld cross your path…’
‘I’ll be sure to point her in your direction, Inspector.’
‘Thank you.’
Fido gave them a smile of farewell before hurrying off down the passageway. Colbeck rubbed a hand across his chin and reflected on the conversation with the bookmaker. Leeming was terse.
‘He’s a liar.’
‘I don’t think Mr Fido has ever been acquainted with the truth.’
‘My guess is that Kitty Lavender travels back to his house with him every evening. A man like that just has to wear the trappings of success and the lady is one of them.’
‘Granted,’ said Colbeck, ‘but I don’t accept that he lives at home during Derby Week. It would be absurd to travel back and forth to London when the roads are so congested. He’ll have found a hotel or lodgings close to the racecourse. Find out where it is, Victor.’
‘How, sir?’
‘By following him when he leaves at the end of the day. With luck, Hamilton Fido will lead you all the way to Kitty Lavender.’
‘May I say how ravishing you look, Kitty?’ he remarked, appraising her with beaming approval. ‘At times like this, I begin to wish that we were not related.’
‘Whereas I’m grateful that we are,’ she said.
‘I thought I was your beau for the day.’
‘You are, Marcus.’
‘Then we must look as if we’re together,’ said Marcus Johnson. ‘Not as children of the same mother but as man and mistress.’
‘Why not husband and wife?’
He brayed at her. ‘Neither of us could manage that deception with any degree of success. It’s far too much to ask. Even when I was married, I never contrived to look like a husband and your blend of beauty and voluptuousness would rarely be found in a wife.’
He had come to pick her up from the house to take her to the racecourse. Kitty Lavender had, as usual, taken great pains with her appearance, wearing a dress of light blue shot silk with pagoda sleeves and a hooped skirt with several flounces. To complement the dress, she had chosen a round hat of leghorn straw, trimmed with flowers at the front and a large blue velvet bow at the back. Marcus Johnson wore a well-cut frock coat, fawn trousers and a purple cravat. As she took a final look in the mirror, he put on his top hat.
‘What a handsome couple we make!’ he declared, looking over her shoulder. ‘If he could see us now, Hamilton would be green with jealousy.’
‘He won’t be jealous of my half-brother.’
‘What a pity! I love exciting envy.’
‘How did you first come to know him?’ she asked.
‘I met him at Newmarket when I placed some bets with him. I was staying with friends near Cambridge at the time and I got Hamilton invited back for a night at the card table. He was impressed that I moved so freely among the aristocracy.’
‘Did he win at cards?’
‘Yes, Kitty,’ he replied, ‘but only modestly. He played like the bookmaker he is and hedged his bets. Had he been bolder and more venturesome, he would have won far more.’
‘Were you bold and venturesome?’
‘Of course – but, as it happens, I lost.’
‘That’s nothing new,’ she said, turning to look at him. ‘Yet you’ve had successes at the card table as well, I have to admit that.’
‘Good fortune comes in waves. I’m riding one at the moment.’
‘So am I, Marcus – thanks to you.’
‘Hamilton Fido seemed the obvious choice for you, Kitty,’ he said, ‘and you were in need of some adventure after wasting your favours on Lord Hendry.’
‘I regret ever meeting George now though there were some good times at the start. And like you, I do have a weakness for hobnobbing with the nobility. For that reason,’ she said, ‘I was prepared to endure some of George’s obvious defects.’
‘Too old, too ugly, too mean-spirited.’
‘And far too married.’
‘Why does his wife put up with the old rake?’
‘The wonder is that I endured him for so long,’ said Kitty with rancour. ‘My prospects have improved in every way since I met Hamilton. He’s ten times the man that George ever was.’
They left the house and climbed into the waiting cab. As it set off, Kitty adjusted her dress and tried to ignore the dull ache in her temple. Days after she had received it, the bruise caused by the slash of a cane reminded her that it had not yet healed.
‘Hamilton keeps on at me about Inspector Colbeck,’ she said.
‘Why?’
‘Because the inspector is determined to speak to me.’
‘You know my advice, Kitty,’ he said. ‘It was bad enough having your hatbox turn up in the middle of a murder investigation. Do you want to make it worse by facing the press? That’s what will happen if you cooperate with the police.’
‘Hamilton said that Inspector Colbeck is very discreet.’
‘He has reporters watching his every move. The moment you talk to him, someone will release your name to the newspapers and that could well bring some adverse publicity. You and I are twilight creatures, Kitty. We operate best in the half-dark of anonymity. If names and descriptions of us appear in newspapers, they could be read by people we are anxious to avoid.’
‘There are several of those in my life,’ she said, rolling her eyes, ‘and I daresay you’ve left a trail of disappointed ladies in your wake.’
‘I have,’ he said. ‘All the way from Paris to Perth.’
‘What were you doing in Perth?’
‘I had a brief dalliance with a countess.’
Kitty laughed. ‘You are incorrigible, Marcus!’
‘That makes two of us. We both have a ruthless streak. But you can rid your mind of Inspector Colbeck,’ he went on. ‘He won’t be able to find you in a month of Sundays. When the murder is eventually solved, your unfortunate connection to it will be soon forgotten.’
When she returned from the market, Madeleine Andrews did her household chores then spent the rest of the time working at her easel. It was late afternoon before she had a visitor. Having given up all hope of seeing Bonny Rimmer again, her spirits soared when she heard a tentative knock on the front door. She opened it at once and saw the girl standing there, nervous, frightened and overawed.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Bonny. ‘I was lost.’
‘You got here and that’s the main thing. Come on in.’
The barmaid stepped into the house and looked around. The living room was small but it was larger and more comfortable than the bare room that Bonny occupied at the Shepherd and Shepherdess. The place was neat and tidy. Everything had been recently polished. She stared at the painting of a locomotive on the wall.
‘It’s the Lord of the Isles,’ explained Madeleine.
‘Oh, I see.’
‘It was on display at the Great Exhibition and a friend kindly bought this for me.’ She was about to mention that the friend was actually Robert Colbeck but she thought better of it. ‘I have a keen interest in railways. My father’s an engine driver and I like to draw locomotives.’
She indicated the easel near the window. Bonny went across to inspect the drawing and stood back in amazement. She shook her head in disbelief.
‘You did this, Miss Andrews?’ she said.
‘Yes.’
‘It’s so clever. I could never do anything like that.’
‘I didn’t know that I could until I tried.’
Seeing how anxious her visitor was, Madeleine took her into the kitchen and made a pot of tea. When she had taken a few sips from her cup, Bonny Rimmer slowly began to relax. Coming to London for the first time was an unsettling experience for a country girl. The size and speed of everything was terrifying to her, and she felt as if she had stumbled into a foreign country. Madeleine tried to reassure her.
‘I’ll walk you to the station afterwards,’ she said.
‘Thank you, Miss Andrews – getting here was a real trial.’
‘London can be overpowering for
all of us sometimes.’
‘It scares me.
‘Did you bring anything with you?’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Bonny, putting down her cup to open her handbag. ‘There’s not much, I’m afraid.’ She took out a handful of items and put them on the table. ‘John asked me to look after these letters from his friend because he couldn’t read.’ A forlorn smile brushed her lips. ‘I was going to teach him.’
Madeleine looked at the meagre legacy of John Feeny. Apart from the letters, a few trinkets bought for Bonny and a rabbit’s foot he had given her for luck, the only thing there was a short note, written by Brian Dowd, confirming that Feeny had been taken on his payroll.
‘He was so proud to get that job,’ said Bonny. ‘Dozens of lads wanted to work at Mr Dowd’s stables but John was the one he chose. It was hard work but he liked it there – at first. He had dreams of riding in Mr Dowd’s colours and winning big races.’
‘It was not to be.’
‘No, Miss Andrews.’
‘But he lasted a couple of years,’ said Madeleine, seeing the date at the top of the paper. ‘Since he fell out with Mr Dowd, I’m surprised he kept this record of working there.’
‘He needed the address so that he could write to Jerry Doyle.’ Bonny gave a shy smile. ‘Or get someone else to write for him.’
‘I’m surprised the note was not damaged when he swam ashore.’
‘John was not stupid. He knew he might get wet on the voyage so he wrapped everything he had in a piece of oilskin. That includes this,’ she said, holding up a misshapen gold ring. ‘It belonged to John’s mother. He wanted me to take care of it until the day I could wear it as Mrs Feeny.’ Bonny slipped it on the appropriate finger. ‘You see, Miss Andrews? It fits.’
Madeleine was disappointed. She could see nothing there that would be of any use to Colbeck but she decided to hold on to some of it nevertheless. Bonny was quite happy to leave the letters and the note behind as long as she could take the wedding ring and the trinkets with her. They were her only mementoes of the young man she had loved. Madeleine thanked her.
‘When Inspector Colbeck has looked at these other items,’ she said, ‘I’ll make sure that you get them back.’
‘Will they be any use?’
‘That’s for the inspector to decide.’
‘You like him, don’t you?’ said Bonny.
The Iron Horse Page 23