Spring Showers Box-set

by Avell Kro

  “I so do appreciate you coming up here to meet with me. I wanted to talk with you about…”

  Helmsley opened the door again. “Sir Lester, Mr. Randall Strathmore and Lady Anne Chilton and

  Lady Margret Chilton.”

  As the trio entered Sir Lester whispered to Dolly, “After dinner, I would like us to meet in my study.

  I have something I would like to share with you in private.” He then changed the volume of his

  speech “Detective Williamson this is my wife Lady Anne and my sister, Lady Margret”

  “And we have already met, good to see you again Detective,” said Randall.

  “A pleasure to see you again, Mr. Strathmore” replied Williamson. He was unaware of Strathmore’s

  attendance.

  “As the rude Yankee, I will ask what the ladies are thinking. What happened to your face sir?”

  Dolly laughed “I hope it won’t put you off your meal.”

  “Oh, no sir but it looks so very painful,” said Lady Anne.

  “What really hurts, and you will have to excuse the hoarse voice, is my throat,” shared Dolly.

  “I was on the scene at the Baden Gas Works explosion and there was an altercation between myself

  and another man. I would rather not share the gory details in mixed company”

  Lady Anne implored “Don’t spare us we sneak into the penny dreadfuls when in London. It’s quite

  a rush to hear it from the front lines”

  Dolly was not going to share what happened it was too gruesome and fresh. “Ladies, I came out a

  little worse for wear but let me say the whole scene was horrific with hundreds killed in the blast

  and more injured. Rest assured that we will find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

  “I hope that it won’t take you away from finding our father’s killer.” Injected Lady Margret.

  A bel rang.

  “Ah, dinner is ready for us,” said Sir Lester

  A footman opened the pocket doors and the group followed Sir Lester to the dining room.

  Sir Lester sat at the head of the table to his left was reserved for Detective Williamson, to his left

  was Lester’s sister, Margret, across from Lester at the foot of the table was Lady Anne between

  Ann and Lester and directly across from Dolly, Randall Strathmore took his seat.

  “Randall what is this I hear you’re leaving?” asked Lady Anne.

  “Yes, catching the train up to Birmingham for some business then to Sweden I plan to take the

  Swedish Royal Air Cruise to New York next week after my business is concluded,” said Randall.

  “I hear that ship is mad with amenities,” replied Lady Anne.

  Randall was pleased to share what he knew about the ship. “Yes it is the finest airship running,

  Prussian built, the absolute finest appointments but I am taking it for the speed. It will berth in

  New Jersey in four days.”

  “We must try travel by airship, Darling,” Anne said to her husband.

  Lady Margret changed the topic” We were interrupted by the dinner bel , Detective I think you

  were just about to tell us about our father’s case,” There was silence while Lady Margret waited for

  a response and Dolly did the mental calculus on how he should answer. Sir Chilton interrupted

  “Margie this really isn’t the place for that conversation.”

  The detective had two doors to choose from now, the first to politely follow-on to Sir Chilton’s

  comment and stay on the civil and banal or take advantage of the situation and press the two men

  in mixed company. Dolly still had no idea why Chilton had invited him but, he was certain the

  likelihood of a second invite was low so he had little to lose if the questions became too intense for

  the other guests. He slid off the napkin ring placing the fancy linen on his lap. In front of him was

  a calotype menu listing eight courses it would be a long night of fine food. He scanned the table

  setting with all the china and tableware. why not add a few things to the menu? If his suspicions

  were right one or both these men may have been involved. “If you’re comfortable with the subject

  ladies I do have some things to share on the case and your association with the Moya family that might shed some light.” replied Dolly.

  Lester gestured to the ladies, in particular, his wife, knowing his sister would not let go until she

  felt that the detective was doing his utmost to find the murderer. “Ladies?”

  “oh yes please do, sir,” Anne replied. Margret was being served the first course and turned from the

  footman to nod her agreement.

  “Continue Detective,” said Sir Lester.

  Let me begin by saying I have a main suspect that has been corroborated by two independent

  sources. “Someone saw the murder?” asked Lady Margret. The Detective continued “Not an

  eyewitness but reliable sources that have connected this person to the crime.”

  The footman filled Dolly’s soup bowl with a savory beef and vegetable broth, Dolly also started to

  serve up his dishes “I had some questions for you Sir Lester, about the night of Emilio’s murder.

  Why did he want to meet with you?”

  “He was asking to invest with Babbage and his lot and wanted to draw on funds,” answered Lester.

  “and you told him.” coaxed the Detective who was watching Randall. He had his eyes down more

  absorbed with the soup than the conversation. “That I needed to familiarize myself with the

  investment and the conditions of investment in the trust. The Moya estate is complex and the

  source and method of the investment would need to be evaluated.”

  “and how did he take your response?’ asked Dolly as he finished his soup. “He was not happy with

  my answer. He said that he would think about who would be the best trustee for the estate and his

  personal inheritance now that my father passed,” answered Lester signaling to have his bowl

  taken away.

  Dol y followed with another question “So he was going to hold the trustee position over your

  head?"

  "I suppose but it wasn't only his decision for the main trust he would need his brother to agree,"

  said Lester.

  The footmen next brought out smoked eel starting with the ladies then moving to the head of the

  table. “Mr. Strathmore, when you met with Señor Moya, later that night did he ask you to take on

  the role of Trustee?”

  “He did, and as we discussed earlier we talked about other sources of overseas investment for

  Babbage,” answered Randall.

  “Randall, why am I hearing about this, now?” asked Sir Lester. Dolly wondered if the revelation

  would sow some distrust and he would see the true colors of one or both men.

  “With the news of his death, I thought it best to let it go and follow along with him to his grave.

  Lester, it may have just been his drink talking. I met with him afterward to find out more about

  this Babbage opportunity” Chilton stopped eating to give Randall his full attention. “Go on

  Strathmore,” said Chilton.

  “There really isn’t more Lester. I have clients in the States with the funds and the desire to invest

  that don’t give a tinker’s damn about the Mechanist guild and their quarrel with Babbage and they

  have money to invest. I saw a chance for the firm to make a nice fee syndicating an investment,”

  finished Randall.

  “Strathmore, If Moya weren’t dead would you have entertained becoming Trustee?” “Lester, I

  would not support Emilio’s ploy to leverage control over the steward, however there is a certain


  logic that a family with almost all of their holdings in the western hemisphere should have a

  trustee in the same.”

  “The eel is delicious, Lady Anne,” said the detective.

  “Our cook has been here for decades I don’t know what I would ever do when she decided to leave

  us. Wait until you see what she has prepared for our dessert” replied the Lady “Mr. Strathmore

  you’re not having any?”

  “It does not agree with me, thank you,” replied the Yankee.

  Dol y thought to himself that at least he doesn’t eat his own kind, then he spoke. “When was the

  last time either of you talked with Hernando Moya?” The two men looked at each other waiting for

  the other to answer, finally, Chilton committed “I have not seen Hernando in over a year.” When he

  finished Randall continued “I have had some wires and letter correspondence, but I have not seen

  him for at least a year. I would need to look at my diary, but it would have been a visit to Haiti

  because of business.”

  “Wel I have what may be some startling news, “French authorities have advised me that Señor

  Hernando Moya was murdered in April of this year.”

  The smell of smokey fish was overtaken with the buttery herb aroma of chicken fricassee

  presented with rice. Carrots and green beans served as a mixed vegetable dish. As the main

  courses were served Dolly continued “When we met before Mr. Strathmore you suggested that

  Hernando may have been behind his brother’s murder out of envy and greed. Now that we know

  that Hernando was killed prior to his brother who could benefit?”

  “Lester, have you reviewed the documents?” asked Randall. “I have” he replied. Dol y watched the

  two men interact. He was looking for tells on either of the men. Lester scrunched his chin and

  brow thinking then spoke “There will be details for sure, small disbursements here and there, but

  the bulk of the fortune remains in The trust of Don Ernesto and goes to the benefit of heredity.

  While the holdings are international the Trust was formed under English Law and will be

  adjudicated in the United Kingdom.”

  “This gets back to your question, Lady Margret, as to your father’s murder. Evidence points to a

  woman that had dealings with the Moya family in Haiti. The French Colonial Authority believes

  that she was a runaway slave from the Moya plantation. If their murders were revenge for their

  treatment of her that does not answer why she would murder Sir Francis? And the that begs the next question are other partners at the firm in danger of her revenge?” Dolly let that sit with the

  group and at some more of his dinner. He called upon to the footman “Could I get another rol ? You

  know the butter here is so much better than the rancid stuff in the city.” The whole time he talked

  his eyes moved about the table to measure reactions.

  Lady Anne spoke, “Are my Lester and Randall in danger, Sir?”

  “I would say that depends on if the killer got what she really wanted out of that vault?” Dolly kept

  in mind the note the killer had left and her warnings to leave her to her escape but he needed to

  know if she had help from within the partnership, Chilton’s death was still a nagging question to

  him.

  Sir Lester placed his utensils on his plate and took his napkin off his lap but had barely eaten his

  main. “Gentlemen please join me in the study for a drink and a cigar?”

  Was that it? “That sounds like a terrific idea,” said Dolly, but I won’t have that meeting unarmed. “If

  I may be excused I am going to go up to my room for a moment I have some tablets for the pain I

  need to take or I will be visited by a throbbing headache.”

  Lady Anne broke in “Oh, Detective you can’t leave yet there is a pavlova with summer berries for

  dessert”

  Dol y sat back down and replaced his napkin “I wouldn’t want to miss the pavlova” Chilton’s

  confidences could wait until after dessert.

  * * *

  10:30 PM Meadhurst Manor Sir Lester’s Private Study

  The gentlemen were in the study having cigars and brandy. Dolly did have tablets to take, but he

  also grabbed his two-barrel 0.47 caliber Lancaster and placed it in the small of his back in his

  waistband. He wanted to make sure if the meeting in the study revealed a co-conspirator he would

  be prepared. It was a horror to be sitting on the gun but he had no other options to be safe and

  discrete. The pain of the pistol in his back was a constant reminder to pick up a smaller caliber

  gun he could also sport as a second.

  Their talk turned away from the Moyas and focused on politics and who might be behind the

  explosion at Baden.

  Randall Strathmore stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray then groaned and he lifted himself out of

  the chair “I smoked that fella way past where it lost its taste, but even bitter it was a fantastic

  smoke. I have an early day tomorrow to make my train to Birmingham. Good night gentleman.”

  “Good night sir,” said Sir Lester spinning his brandy in its snifter, this was his third and the Scotch

  and wine over dinner had left Lester in his cups.

  “Good evening Mr. Strathmore and safe travel on that airship of yours.” said the detective.

  Strathmore took the last swig from his glass and made his way out.

  Dolly sat and waited.

  “Strathmore is a good egg, Detective,” said Sir Lester slouched in his chair he had taken off his

  dinner coat and was in shirt sleeves. “Mark my words detective that man will become one of the

  wealthiest and most powerful men in the United States. You would do well to make him a friend”

  Dol y decided he needed to press, given Lester would only get more drunk. "I’ll keep that in mind. I

  think I will make my way to bed” He feigned getting up. That was all it took to stoke Chilton.

  “One-moment Detective, back at Chilton House you asked if there were other documents missing.

  From what we could tell everything in the vault was in order other than MY DAMN GOLD

  MISSING!” Lester came back to point after his rage. “Sims mentioned that my father did keep

  some files, not in the Chilton House but a strong box in a hunter's lodge on this property. I had

  never heard of the safe and my father and I were very close.” Lester's eyes were watery.

  “I went out to the lodge to find this strong box. My father must have wanted me to find it given he

  told Sims of its location. It only took a few tries to find the combination. It was my birthdate. While

  I cannot ascertain if anything was missing from the safe given that a week ago I had no idea the

  box or its contents existed, what was in there was interesting.”

  “I will assume that I am sitting here, that you found something relevant to the case.” replied Dol y.

  “I think it may be.” Sir Lester got up and stumbled over to a painting near his desk. The painting

  hung on hinges and swung to the side revealing a wall safe. He fumbled at the combination finally

  opening the strongbox after several attempts. Sir Lester removed a file and dropped the folder in

  the detective's lap.

  Dol y began looking at the documents they were the Last Will and Testament of Don Ernesto de

  Moya. Dol y looked up “Can you tell me why you think these documents are relevant?”

  "Those were the wishes of Don Ernesto when he was alive. That is how he expected his fortune

  and holdings would be distributed to his heirs. I was the trust
ee for Señor Emilio Moya, therefore

  quite familiar with holdings, inheritances, and allowances. Those were not the documents I

  worked from for the past sixteen years since he passed. Look at the declarations and the

  disbursements in the appendix. If I were Hernando or Emilio I would have taken issue with these

  documents.” said Lester as he got up and grabbed the brandy bottle to refill his and Dolly’s snifter.

  "Why would your father have these documents?"

  "I don’t know, Detective," answered Lester. Then he continued, "I don't know why my father would have been party to this. Ernesto was his friend and his wishes would not have cost the firm a

  pence in fees. it only served to help the brothers and their reputation. Why? Why would he hide

  this"

  "Would anyone else in the firm have benefited from the changes?" asked Williamson.

  "No, no, no. The firm only collects fees for the management of the assets." Lester exclaimed.

  "Mr. Strathmore told me at the club when I interviewed him that the Moyas and specifically Hernando had made your firm and other investors very wealthy. Would any of those investments

  be affected detrimentally by the revelations in this document?"

  Lester sat back in his chair his eyes went up to the ceiling and his head rocked side to side. "Some,

  maybe all. Who am I to say, character and reputation are important in the world of finance."

  Dolly looked again at the declarations section of the Will, “I think you have your answer Sir Lester,

  this wasn't about the Trust but about Hernando and Emilio's other enterprises and your father

  may have been complicit to protect all the firm’s co-investments with the Moyas. Your fathers

  decision to hide these documents may have cost him his life.” Dolly almost said, soul.

  There was a knock at the door. “What is it? Lester snapped”

  “Sir I have a wire type for the detective,” said the voice outside the door.

  “Bring it in, Helmsley,” said Sir Lester.

  Helmsley entered the room and stood at Dolly’s side with a silver tray extended. the Wire Type

  tape was coiled loosely on the platter.

  Dol y uncoiled the tape and read the small type.

  TRANSMITTAL 24061858 21:42

  TO: MEADHURST T01

  Williamson, Fredrick

  FROM: Royal Teletype Bethnal Station Ca