by Kerry Tombs
‘Have you any news of Miss Mildred?’ asked a concerned Jukes.
‘I’m afraid not. We have contacted all the stations in the county, and some of my men are making enquiries along the canal path,’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘The poor mite. Never did any harm to anyone. Now look what has happened to her,’ sighed the cook passing over a piece of cake on a plate to Crabb.
‘Actually it is another matter that I have come to ask you about Mrs Greenway. What can you tell me about Belinda Parkes? I understand that she was employed here and that you gave evidence at her inquest?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Oh the poor girl. So unfortunate. She was another who had done no harm to anyone. Forced to give away her baby she was.’
‘Why was that?’
‘Sir Charles, he would not have her in the house unless she got rid of the baby. The poor girl was at a loss, her with a young babby about to be cast out — at her wits end she was. Then she saw the advertisement in the Droitwich Guardian. Nice couple in Cheltenham wanted to adopt a baby. Seemed like a godsend at the time.’
‘Tell me Mrs Greenway, do you know whether Belinda gave any money to these people when they took her baby?’ asked Ravenscroft becoming more and more interested in the cook’s revelations.
‘Yes. Five pounds I believe. Belinda had a little money put by, but Jukes and I helped her out.’
‘That was very Christian of you both,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘I don’t suppose you know the name of the couple who took the child?’
‘Henderson, or something like that, I think,’ replied the cook.
‘I think it was Huddlestone,’ corrected Jukes.
‘Huddlestone. Yes, that was it. Huddlestone.’
‘And what happened afterwards, after Miss Parkes gave the baby away?’
‘Well she pined something terrible for that babby. Regretted it as soon as she had given her away. Full of remorse she was,’ sighed the cook.
‘Did she try and get the baby back?’ asked Crabb his mouth full of cake.
‘She tried, but it were no use,’ said Jukes.
‘She couldn’t find where those Huddlestone had gone. Vanished into thin air they had,’ said Mrs Greenway. ‘She was so distressed. Took her own life. Said there was nothing worth living for now that she had given her babby away, and that the Lord would never forgive her for what she had done. It were a terrible business,’ replied the cook, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
‘I know this is rather a delicate question, but did Miss Parkes ever confide in you as to the name of the father?’ asked Ravenscroft leaning forwards across the table.
‘No. She never said.’
‘Probably some young lad in the town,’ suggested Jukes.
‘I don’t suppose you have any papers or personal effects belonging to Miss Parkes?’
‘Nothing. There were a few letters and such like, but we burnt everything.’
‘Thank you Mrs Greenway, you have been most helpful,’ said Ravenscroft rising from his seat.
‘You don’t think any of this has anything to do with Miss Mildred’s disappearance?’ asked the cook looking perplexed.
‘I cannot say at the present. The two events seem unrelated, but we must keep an open mind. Come, Crabb, we have things to do.’
* * *
‘Well sir, that does not seem to bring us any more forwards in our investigations,’ said Crabb as he and Ravenscroft strode through the kitchen garden.
‘No. It merely confirms what Mrs Ravenscroft has told me.’
‘I suppose those Huddlestones could have taken Miss Chilton, as well as those babies?’
‘I cannot see why they should. The Huddlestones placed an advertisement in the local paper asking for a baby to adopt, pocket the five pounds when they acquire the children, give a false address, and then move on elsewhere no doubt. I fear for the babies they’ve acquired. It seems highly unlikely they would return to the area to kidnap Miss Chilton. If they had taken Miss Chilton, I feel sure they would undoubtedly have asked for money by now. I believe we are dealing with two different cases here. I think we will have to put the Huddlestones on one side for now, especially as all that happened several months ago, and concentrate on the missing girl.’
‘What do we do now sir?’
‘I must admit that I am at a loss as to our next move, until we have the results from those telegrams you sent out to the lock keepers. Why don’t we go to the Gardeners Arms and see what they can tell us about our friend Old John. By the way, how did you enjoy your cake, Tom?’
‘Delicious sir, nearly as good as Mrs Crabb makes.’
‘Hm, Queen Anne must have changed the recipe.’
* * *
A few minutes later Ravenscroft and Crabb entered the bar of The Gardeners Arms in Vines Lane.
‘Good day to you, gentlemen,’ said the burly landlord from the other side of the bar.
‘Good morning to you, landlord.’
‘You must be Ravenscroft? What can I get you?’
‘Two tankards of your finest ale. I believe you know my constable,’ replied Ravenscroft.
The landlord nodded in Crabb’s direction and began to fill the tankards. Ravenscroft looked round the room with its old wooden tables and chairs, its brown stained walls and the faded photograph of a cricket team above the bar.
‘You found that girl yet?’ asked the man after a few seconds had elapsed and he had placed the two containers of drink on the counter.
‘I’m afraid not. We think she may have been taken on one of the barges.’
‘Could be.’
‘I don’t suppose you know anything about her disappearance?’ asked Ravenscroft after sampling the ale.
‘Can’t help you there, I am afraid. Told your constable I had seen nothing the day that girl disappeared,’ replied the landlord leaning on the counter.
‘You noticed nothing unusual?’
‘That’s what I said.’
‘No one out of the ordinary who might have called in here on that day? A stranger who had just arrived in the town?’ persisted Ravenscroft.
‘Only the regulars.’
‘What can you tell me about Old John?’
‘Old John!’ laughed the landlord. ‘Old John. Bit simple in the head if you ask me, but he’s harmless enough. Why? What’s he been doing now?’
‘Nothing in particular,’ replied Crabb.
‘We have encountered him upon two occasions in the churchyard,’ added Ravenscroft.
‘I’m not surprised. He spends all his time up there. He must be more fond of the dead than the living. Some says he even sleeps on top of the tombs.’
‘Has he always been like that?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘For as long as I can remember. We give him some of our leftover food, and some folk in the lane give him what they can. Used to work at the big house when he were young, I believe.’
‘You mean Hill Court?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘So folk says. Before I came here of course. Can I get you gents another one?’
‘I think one will suffice, excellent as it is,’ replied Ravenscroft draining his tankard. ‘What can you tell me about Belinda Parkes?’
‘One of the maids at Hill Court?’
Ravenscroft nodded.
‘Sad business. Drowned in the canal just over yonder. Bit weak in the head or so they said. Something about a baby, I believe. Gave it away by all accounts. I ask you, what kind of mother gives away her own kind? It ain’t natural, is it?’
‘No indeed. Did she ever frequent your establishment?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘No.’
‘Well, thank you for your time.’
‘I wish you well with your investigations. The sooner that girl is bought home the better,’ said the landlord wiping down the counter.
‘You are sure that you saw no one come down the path from the church that afternoon? I ask because your inn is quite near the entrance to the path?’ asked Ravenscroft as he and Crabb be
gan to leave the room.
‘As I told your constable, I saw no one come down from the church.’
‘Thank you. We will take our leave,’ said Ravenscroft opening the door.
‘I did see someone go up though,’ said the landlord turning away.
‘You saw someone going up the path?’
‘Mr Russell. Seemed in a hurry, he did.’
‘Mr Russell you say?’
‘That’s what I said.’
‘Russell. Why on earth didn’t you tell this to my constable when he asked you yesterday?’ asked an annoyed Ravenscroft.
‘Ah well, he didn’t ask me who went up the path: only if anyone had come down it, so I said no one. Now if he had asked me—’
‘Very well!’ sighed Ravenscroft holding his hands up. ‘Come on, Crabb, let us go and see Mr Russell.’
* * *
Ravenscroft bought down his fist on the old oak door. ‘Mr Russell. Mr Russell, I’d be obliged if you would open the door.’
‘Shall I go and look in the barns, sir? He could be holding the girl in one of them.’
‘We shall see,’ said Ravenscroft banging on the door once more.
‘All right, all right. I’m coming,’ said Russell opening the door suddenly. ‘Oh it’s you Ravenscroft; you’re making enough noise to wake the dead.’
‘I would like further words with you Mr Russell, if I may. May we enter?’
‘Not convenient at the moment,’ said Russell stepping out of the building and closing the door behind him. ‘Say what you have to say out here.’
‘You did not tell us, on our previous visit, that you were at Dodderhill church on the day Miss Chilton disappeared,’ said Ravenscroft, trying to sound as serious as he could.
‘You never asked me. Who says so, anyway?’ replied Russell adopting a defensive manner.
‘The landlord of The Gardeners Arms. He saw you go up the path in the direction of the church, shortly before Miss Chilton went missing.’
‘I suppose I might have gone up that way. What’s it to you anyway?’
‘It is everything to me Mr Russell, especially when a young girl has been taken against her will. What were you doing in the churchyard?’ demanded Ravenscroft observing Russell closely.
‘What do people do in churchyards? They visit the graves,’ replied Russell caustically.
‘Don’t waste my time, Mr Russell. What were you doing in the churchyard that afternoon? Did you take the girl?’
‘Of course not. I never saw the girl. I was visiting the churchyard to pay my respects to my late mother. She died some twenty years ago and is buried there. I like to take some flowers for her grave, from time to time. There is nothing wrong with that, is there?’
‘How long were you there for, in the churchyard?’ continued Ravenscroft.
‘Ten minutes perhaps.’
‘Did you see anyone while you were there?’
‘No. No one.’
‘Are you sure, Mr Russell?’
‘I’ve told you, Ravenscroft, there was no one there — oh, there was Old John of course.’
‘Old John!’ exclaimed Crabb.
‘Yes, he was sitting on one of the tombs. He’s often there.’
‘Was he still there when you left?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Yes, I think so.’
‘What happened when you left the churchyard?’
‘I walked down the path back to the Vines.’
‘But the landlord of the Gardeners said he did not see you come down that way,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Then he must be mistaken. Oh yes, of course, I took the other path that comes out nearer the bridge.’
‘I must say, Mr Russell, I am not entirely happy with your answers.’
‘I’ve told you all I know. You will just have to accept what I say.’
‘I must insist that I search your premises,’ said Ravenscroft taking a step forwards.
‘Whatever for, man?’
‘I believe you may be holding Miss Chilton against her will.’
‘That is ridiculous. Why would I want to take the girl? I have no interest in this matter.’
‘If you would permit my constable and myself to enter,’ said Ravenscroft moving towards the door.
‘The deuce I will!’ retorted Russell, moving to bar the detective’s way.
‘Mr Russell, I must insist that we enter. If you are not holding the girl, then you have nothing to hide,’ insisted Ravenscroft. ‘If you hinder our progress I will have no alternative but to arrest you and take you into custody.’
‘All right, all right man. Stop. Look it’s deuce difficult at the moment. Man to man, I’m entertaining a lady — in private, if you get my drift,’ said Russell in a quieter tone of voice. ‘Discretion and all that.’
‘That’s as maybe. Step aside Mr Russell, or my constable will take you into custody,’ demanded Ravenscroft.
‘Confound it,’ sighed Russell reluctantly moving to one side.
‘Thank you, Mr Russell,’ replied Ravenscroft quickly entering the building, closely followed by Crabb.
The policemen found themselves in the large living room of the farmhouse. Ravenscroft looked around at the massive oak table and chairs in the centre of the room and at the old family portraits that adorned the walls.
‘I hope you are content now,’ said Russell.
‘I thought I heard a sound upstairs,’ said Ravenscroft running out of the room and ascending the stairs two steps at a time. Flinging open the closed door at the top of the landing, he was confronted by a familiar figure.
‘Miss Petterson!’ exclaimed Ravenscroft.
‘I am so sorry, my dear,’ said Russell barging past Crabb at the entrance of the room. ‘I tried to stop them, but they insisted. They think we have taken the girl.’
‘Miss Petterson, I am surprised to find you here,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Don’t say anything, Jane. Look Ravenscroft, Miss Petterson has done nothing incorrect. It is just that if her employer, Sir Charles, were to discover our . . . our association he would certainly dismiss Miss Petterson from her post. You know how he hates me,’ said Russell stepping over to the governess and placing his hand on her arm in a protective manner.
‘I see. Miss Petterson?’
‘I can confirm what James — Mr Russell — has said,’ said the governess in a quiet tone of voice, her face flushed, her hands trembling.
‘We cannot afford to be seen in public, it would be the ruin of both of us. That was why I was not inclined to let you enter. I have Miss Petterson’s interests at heart. You must understand that, Ravenscroft,’ continued Russell.
‘So that was why you went up to the church that afternoon?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Yes, I knew that Jane would be there. We had arranged to meet at three o’clock. I waited inside the church. Miss Petterson arrived a few minutes later.’
‘I see, Mr Russell. This certainly puts a new complexion on the case. How long were you and Miss Petterson inside the church together?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘It must have been for ten or fifteen minutes,’ offered the governess.
‘And all this time your charge was outside?’
‘Yes. It was important that Mildred did not see us together. We could not risk that she would tell her father.’
‘Plenty of time for her to have been taken,’ muttered Crabb.
‘I know, our behaviour was negligent. I thought Mildred was happy and safe outside. I was mistaken. I cannot forgive myself for what I did,’ replied the governess beginning to cry.
‘There, my dear. You were not to know that all that would happen. If anyone is to blame for all this, then it is I, Inspector, for placing Miss Petterson in a compromising situation’ said Russell putting a comforting arm round her shoulder.
‘Mr Russell, do you still maintain that you saw Old John in the churchyard when you entered the church?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Why, yes.’
‘And you, Miss
Petterson — did you see Old John when you entered the church?’
‘No. Had John been there, I would not have let Mildred play there alone. John is harmless, I know, but—’
‘He could have been hiding behind one of the stones, or round the other side of the building?’ interrupted Crabb.
‘Yes, I suppose so. You don’t think John has taken Mildred?’ asked the governess.
‘I don’t know what to think,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘What happened when you came out of the church?’
‘I called for Mildred, and when I realized that she was not there, I ran back into the church and told Mr Russell.’
‘And what did you do next, Mr Russell?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘I ran out into the churchyard and together we made a quick search of the grounds. When we realized that Mildred was no longer there, it was decided that I would go down towards the town to see if she had wandered off there, whilst Jane, Miss Petterson I mean, returned to the house in case Mildred had gone there.’
‘Tell me, Mr Russell, when you searched the churchyard was Old John still there?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘No, the churchyard was empty,’ replied Russell.
‘Were you and Miss Petterson in the habit of meeting together inside the church? It is very important that we know.’
Russell looked at the governess before replying. ‘Yes, we have met there on the same day of the week, and at the same time, for the past three weeks.’
‘And was Miss Chilton with you on each of these occasions?’
‘Yes,’ replied the governess.
‘And was she left outside on each occasion?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then it is possible that her abductor may have met and conversed with the young lady before on one of these days?’
‘Yes, I suppose that might . . . oh no, you think that she knew the person who took her away?’ asked Miss Petterson.
‘Thank you, Mr Russell. You would not object if we made a thorough search of your buildings?’ Asked Ravenscroft ignoring the last reply.
‘Yes, I do mind actually. I mind very much indeed. We have told you the truth,’ snapped Russell.
‘James, it can do no harm,’ said the governess attempting to placate the farmer.
Russell nodded, and Ravenscroft and Crabb began to leave the room.
‘It would have been more helpful if you had told us the truth from the start of our inquiries, Miss Petterson. A great deal of valuable time has been lost,’ said Ravenscroft crossly.