The Silver Locomotive Mystery irc-6

by Edward Marston

  He tossed the coffee pot to Kellow who instinctively caught it. Colbeck dived forward to grab the pistol and turn its barrel away so that the bullet went harmlessly up into the air when the gun went off. Leeming, meanwhile, grappled with Effie. Though she screamed, struggled and tried to bite his hand, she was soon overpowered and handcuffed. Hugh Kellow put up more of a fight. Pushing Colbeck away, he dropped the coffee pot and tried to use the butt of the pistol on the detective’s head. Colbeck ducked out of the way and flung himself at the man’s legs. Kellow was brought crashing to the ground.

  The two men rolled over on the grass with Effie yelling at the top of her voice and trying to kick out at Colbeck as he finished up on top. Lifting her up, Leeming carried her yards away from the brawl. Kellow did not give in easily. Driven into frenzy by the thought of execution, he fought like a demon. Colbeck managed to knock the pistol out of his grasp but he had to take several punches to his face and body. With a supreme effort, Kellow flung him sideways then rolled over on top of him, spitting into his eyes then trying to gouge them with his fingers. Colbeck responded with a solid punch to the nose and felt Kellow’s blood dribbling over his face. The two men flailed around on the grass, neither of them giving any quarter. They grappled, twisted, pushed, pulled, squeezed and traded punches.

  There was a point when Leeming thought he might have to intervene but it quickly passed. Colbeck was far too strong and experienced. In the course of his career as a detective, he had had to make many arrests of violent men. It had built up his stamina. Though the silversmith was fighting to save his life, he was no match for Colbeck. His strength at last began to fade. In a last bid to escape, he tried to get up and run away but his legs were scythed from beneath him by Colbeck’s foot. Kellow fell headfirst on to the grass. Before he could move, he felt a knee in his back and a pair of handcuffs being snapped on to his wrists. Bruised, dishevelled and with his frock coat torn, Colbeck stood up and hauled his prisoner to his feet. Kellow was breathless and exhausted. Effie was weeping.

  Colbeck bent down to pick up the silver coffee pot and brush away some specks of dirt. He inspected it carefully all over.

  ‘It’s in perfect condition,’ he said, approvingly. ‘It will go to its proper home at long last.’

  The two prisoners were given a temporary home in the police station nearby. While Effie and Kellow had their first experience of being locked up, Colbeck cleaned the blood from his face and brushed some of the dirt from his coat. Two policemen were sent off to secure the property bought by Kellow so that nothing could be stolen. Leeming had the coffee pot locomotive in a leather bag. He was puzzled when Colbeck asked him to wait at the police station.

  ‘But we have to take the prisoners back to London, sir,’ argued Leeming, eager to relay word of their triumph to Edward Tallis.

  ‘All in good time,’ said Colbeck.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘I have some business to take care of, Victor.’

  ‘Shall I come with you?’

  ‘I think not. This is an expedition that can only ever involve two people. You’d be highly embarrassed and feel that you were in the way. We’ll not be long.’

  ‘As you wish, sir,’ said Leeming, wondering what he meant.

  Colbeck went through into the outer office where Madeleine was talking to the desk sergeant. She was surprised that he was alone.

  ‘What about your prisoners?’ she asked.

  ‘They can wait.’

  ‘Why the delay?’

  ‘Let’s step outside,’ he suggested, ‘and I’ll explain.’

  Colbeck took her out and surveyed the streets facing them. He was irritated by the tear in his coat but, since it was under his arm, it was not very noticeable. It certainly would not prevent him from taking what would be an extremely important walk. Madeleine was still bewildered.

  ‘What about the sergeant?’

  ‘Victor can cool his heels while we take a stroll.’

  ‘Where are we going, Robert?’

  ‘We’re going to take advantage of a unique opportunity,’ he said, holding her hands. ‘It seems perverse to come to a Jewellery Quarter without buying some jewellery. I thought that we might look in a few windows.’

  ‘Why?’

  He smiled at her. ‘Why else?’

  Madeleine could not believe what she was hearing. It made her head spin. As his smile broadened into a grin, her heart began to pound and she felt unsteady on her feet. Standing outside a police station in Birmingham seemed the most unlikely place for her to receive a proposal of marriage. Yet, in another sense, it was highly appropriate. She knew that Colbeck was wholly committed to his work as a detective and that any wife of his would have to accept that. Madeleine was happy to do so. She loved him enough to take him on any terms. Yet she was still troubled by uncertainty.

  ‘Do you mean what I hope you mean, Robert?’ she asked.

  ‘I think it’s high time we put your father’s mind at rest,’ he replied, taking her hands. ‘I know that he thinks I’m trying to lead his lovely daughter astray. I need to show him that my intentions are honourable.’

  ‘Everything you do is honourable.’

  ‘When you have a ring on your finger, he may finally learn to trust me. You won’t have to put up with his badgering any more. If, that is,’ he went on, ‘you accept me.’

  Madeleine was overjoyed. Her mind was filled with dozens of things she wished to say but her lips refused to open. All that she could do was to luxuriate in the moment. Something she had dreamt about for years had finally become a reality. It was intoxicating.

  ‘Well?’ he pressed. She nodded her head vigorously. ‘Thank heaven for that. I had a horrible feeling that you’d reject me.’

  ‘There was never any danger of that, Robert,’ she said, finding her voice at last. ‘The answer is yes – yes – yes!’

  Colbeck removed his hat so that he could kiss her on the lips. Then he embraced her warmly. They stood there in silence for some while, savouring the moment. Eventually, she looked up at him.

  ‘What made you decide to ask me here?’ she asked. ‘It’s hardly the most romantic place. You caught me completely off guard.’

  ‘Is that a complaint?’’

  She laughed with pleasure. ‘No, no, I’m delighted.’

  ‘And I’m thrilled, Madeleine. Fate must have brought us here for a purpose and it wasn’t simply to arrest two people. I’m sorry it wasn’t quite how you might have hoped it would be but I just couldn’t help myself. When we were waiting for Victor to get into position at the rear of the house, I had this sudden impulse. I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you and not simply be an occasional visitor to your house. I love you, Madeleine.’

  ‘I love you, Robert – even with those bruises on your face.’

  He put a hand to his cheek. ‘When your father sees the state I’m in, he’ll think that you’ve beaten me into submission.’

  ‘I don’t care what he thinks.’

  Neither do I.’ He offered his arm and she took it. ‘Let’s see what Birmingham has to offer us in the way of rings, shall we?’

  Edward Tallis was so pleased to hear of the arrests that he produced a bottle of brandy from a drawer and poured a generous amount into two glasses. Handing one to Victor Leeming, he raised the other one in a silent toast before taking a long sip.

  ‘I think we deserved that, Sergeant,’ he said. ‘Congratulations!’

  ‘Thank you, sir,’ said Leeming, taking a more tentative sip. ‘Though the person you ought to be congratulating is the inspector.’

  ‘Were the fellow here, I’d happily do so. Where is he?’

  ‘He’ll be here before too long. He wanted to make sure that the prisoners were in safe custody.’

  Leeming knew full well that Colbeck was taking Madeleine Andrews back home before returning to Scotland Yard but he did not tell that to his superior. Nor did he let him in on the secret that the inspector was now engaged to ma
rry. Madeleine had returned from Birmingham with an expensive ring on her finger. Leeming was touched to be the first person who knew about the betrothal and he had wished the couple health and happiness.

  ‘Mind you,’ said Tallis on reflection, ‘any praise I give to the inspector must be tempered with criticism. He did make a mistake.’

  ‘He’ll be the first to admit it.’

  ‘The pair of you went chasing after Stephen Voke in the certainty that he was the villain – so much for Inspector Colbeck’s reputation for infallibility!’

  ‘Even the best horse stumbles, sir.’

  ‘Quite so, quite so,’ confessed Tallis. ‘I myself am not free from blame here. I stumbled badly in Wood Street. In telling Mr Voke that he’d alienated his son by his behaviour and created a desire for revenge in his assistant, I fear that I may have pushed him another step towards the frightful decision to take his own life.’

  ‘That was hardly your fault, sir,’ said Leeming, surprised by the frank admission. ‘Leonard Voke was a fine silversmith but he was a poor father and a miserly employer. The wonder is that he got anyone to work for him. I’m sorry for what happened to him but I fancy that he brought it all on himself.’

  ‘My conscience is still troubled.’

  ‘I don’t see that it should be.’

  ‘My manner can be too forthright at times.’

  Leeming was about to agree with him wholeheartedly but chose to sip his brandy instead. He did not wish to imperil such a unique occasion. As a rule, the superintendent’s office was a place of great discomfort for him. Yet the sergeant was actually enjoying a visit there for once. Nothing must be allowed to spoil that. As the brandy coursed through him, Leeming remembered someone else who merited praise.

  ‘If I might make a suggestion, sir,’ he began.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘Superintendent Stockdale of the Cardiff Borough Police has been extremely helpful to us at every stage. I believe that he deserves a letter of thanks from you – if not from the commissioner.’

  ‘I’ll be glad to write it,’ said Tallis.

  ‘Then the inspector can deliver it by hand tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘He’s going back to Cardiff so that he can return the stolen property to Mrs Tomkins. After all this time, she’ll be so relieved to get her hands on that silver coffee pot. Inspector Colbeck is looking forward to the moment when he can at last give it to her.’

  * * *

  There was no performance of Macbeth on Sunday but Madeleine Andrews nevertheless enjoyed the visit to Cardiff. After a train journey together, she and Colbeck had the pleasure of delivering the coffee pot locomotive to Winifred Tomkins and of repaying her husband the money that was stolen. Elated beyond measure, Winifred pressed for details.

  ‘Where did you find it, Inspector?’ she asked, caressing it.

  ‘It was in Birmingham, Mrs Tomkins.’

  ‘Whatever was it doing there?’

  ‘Mr Kellow had bought a shop in the Jewellery Quarter and intended to work there under a false name. He had no intention of ever parting with your locomotive but,’ he said, modestly, ‘I persuaded him to do so.’

  ‘I feel ashamed that I ever doubted you.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Tomkins. ‘I shall be writing to your superior to tell him how grateful we are for what you and Sergeant Leeming did for us. Having this coffee pot at last changes everything.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it, sir,’ said Colbeck.

  Winifred sniggered. ‘Lady Pryde will be so put out.’

  ‘I assume that you won’t be inviting her in for coffee.’

  Tomkins guffawed. ‘Not blooming likely!’

  The visitors stayed long enough for an exchange of pleasantries then they withdrew. When they left the Tomkins residence, Madeleine was still dazed. She looked back at the mansion.

  ‘I’ve never been in a house that big,’ she said. ‘It was like a small castle. How can two people need somewhere so palatial?’

  ‘They’re making a statement to the world, Madeleine.’

  ‘Then it’s a very loud one.’

  ‘Loud and altogether too ornate for my liking,’ said Colbeck. ‘I hope you’re not expecting us to have a home like that.’

  ‘I’ll be happy anywhere with you, Robert.’

  ‘That’s reassuring.’

  Driven back into the city, they went in search of Jeremiah Stockdale, who had just returned from a service at St John’s Church. They met at the police station. The superintendent was very interested to meet Madeleine and – when told of it – he congratulated them on their betrothal. He could not, however, keep his eyes off the bruises on Colbeck’s face.

  ‘Do I take it that Mr Kellow resisted arrest?’ he said.

  ‘Very briefly,’ replied Colbeck.

  ‘Where is he now?’

  ‘He and Effie are safely locked up behind bars. They had hoped to open a jeweller’s shop in Birmingham but they were not welcome there. Some ruffian actually kicked their shop window to pieces.’

  He gave an attenuated account of what had happened, drawing attention to the part played by Madeleine. Stockdale was impressed.

  ‘Effie was no mean actress herself,’ he said, ‘but you seem to have been her equal, Miss Andrews.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she replied.

  ‘Acting skills have been at the heart of this whole business,’ remarked Colbeck. ‘We had Effie playing the role of a bereaved sister, Kate Linnane appearing as Lady Macbeth and as a kidnap victim, and Madeleine taking on the mantle of a servant.’

  ‘Miss Andrews gave the most effective performance,’ decided Stockdale, ‘because it helped to catch two killers. I don’t have the slightest pity for them. If I lived in London,’ he added, ‘I might be tempted to see what sort of a performance they give on the scaffold.’

  ‘I’ll be too busy working on the next case to do that.’

  ‘So will I, Inspector. Cardiff throws up new problems each day.’

  ‘But it’s not without its charms,’ said Colbeck.

  ‘Oh, it’s a fine town,’ agreed Stockdale, chuckling. ‘That’s why I settled down here. Clifford Tomkins and Archelaus Pugh keep telling me that Merthyr is bigger and better but this is the place for me. I hope to see out my three score years and ten here. Merthyr may have a glorious past but it’s Cardiff that will have a glorious future.’

  Colbeck offered his hand. ‘Thank you for all that you did, Superintendent,’ he said, feeling Stockdale’s firm grip. ‘You had much more than an honourable mention in my report on the investigation.’

  ‘I was glad to work beside the Railway Detective,’ said Stockdale. ‘You and Sergeant Leeming once helped me with a case that took me to London. It was good to be able to return the favour.’

  ‘I sincerely hope that we work together again.’

  After a round of farewells, Colbeck and Madeleine left the police station and stepped out into the wide thoroughfare of St Mary Street. It was a fine day and the town was bathed in bright sunshine. People drove past in traps or open carriages. Shop windows shimmered, pavements had been swept clean and pedestrians were wearing their Sunday best. It was a good day to visit the town.

  ‘Superintendent Stockdale is not the only man who deserves thanks,’ said Colbeck. ‘People like your father are the real heroes.’

  ‘Why is that, Robert?’

  ‘They drive the trains that helped us to move about the country so easily. That was a godsend. Without them, we’d have struggled to bring this investigation to an end.’

  ‘What happens now?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m going to show you the sights of Cardiff,’ he replied. ‘When we’ve found a restaurant and had a meal, we’ll see all the things that the superintendent has been telling me about.’

  Madeleine issued a warning. ‘We mustn’t be too late back.’

  ‘Why is that?’

  ‘Father will be expecting me.’

  ‘There’s no hurry. Let him wait. I
t will give him more time to read Dombey and Son.’

  ‘What train will we catch this evening?’

  Colbeck grinned. ‘The slowest one,’ he said.

  About the Author

  EDWARD MARSTON was born and brought up in South Wales. A full-time writer for over thirty years, he has worked in radio, film, television and the theatre and is a former chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association. Prolific and highly successful, he is equally at home writing children’s books or literary criticism.

  www.edwardmarston.com

  Available from

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