Reaching for his pen, he dipped it into the inkwell and composed his reply.
Tapper Darlow had not been idle. When he returned to his office in Newcastle, he instituted a series of enquiries at once. Clerks were deputed to look into recent changes of staff in the NCR. What they discovered was conveyed to Colbeck by means of a telegraph. Three people had left the railway company in the last few months. Significantly, one of them had taken up a post with the NER. Colbeck showed the telegraph to Leeming.
‘Do you detect the note of triumph, Victor?’ he asked. ‘Mr Darlow seems to think that he’s solved the crime. All we have to do is to arrest this Geoffrey Enticott and the mystery surrounding the derailment will disappear.’
‘If only it was as easy as that.’
‘He implies that we needn’t bother with the other two men who left the NCR. The fact that Enticott works for the North Eastern Railway is proof positive of guilt in his eyes. Mr Darlow is desperate for the villain to belong to the NER.’
‘But according to the telegraph, he works as a manager for the company.’
‘So?’
‘How can he find the time to watch the camp through a telescope when he has full-time commitments to the NER? I’m allowing for the fact that the man found on that hill by Gianni Moscardi’s gang is the person we’re after.’
‘I’d need more evidence before I accept that,’ said Colbeck. ‘As for Enticott, if he was engaged to do the NER’s dirty business, he could easily hire someone to act on his behalf. I’ll sound him out and, if he’s not involved in any way, I’ll look at the other two people mentioned by Mr Darlow.’
‘I could do that for you, sir.’
‘You’ll be otherwise engaged.’
‘Will I?’
‘Yes, Victor. When I sent a request to Superintendent Tallis, I hoped at least for a modicum of cooperation.’ He extracted a telegraph from his pocket and passed it over. ‘This was his reply.’
Leeming read it aloud. ‘How dare you!’
‘It has his distinctive whiff, does it not?’
‘He sounds as if he’s offended.’
‘Then the first thing you must do,’ said Colbeck, ‘is to exonerate me. Explain to the superintendent that abbreviation is at the heart of sending a telegraph. Because my words were kept to a bare minimum, he may have misunderstood the tone in which they were sent.’
‘Wait a moment,’ said Leeming. ‘Did you say I have to speak to him?’
‘Indeed, I did. You’re going to London immediately.’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve mentioned the first thing for you to do. The second is to deliver a letter to Madeleine for me and – if you arrange to call the next day – bring one for me in return. Thirdly, you can spend the night at home and tell your children about some of the sights you’ve seen in the circus.’
‘Thank you, sir. Estelle and the boys will be thrilled to see me.’
‘Tomorrow morning, you find out where Greenwood’s Circus happens to be and visit them. Since it was beneath the superintendent to gather information about them for me, you’ll have to do it instead. You have no objection, I take it?’
‘None at all,’ said the other, beaming.
‘Collect your things from the Station Inn and catch the first train to Carlisle.’
‘Carlisle? Don’t you mean Newcastle, sir?’
‘You heard me aright the first time. We only came north up the eastern side of the country so that we could get a feel for the landscape of Northumberland. A train from Carlisle will take you all the way to Euston. Make sure that my father-in-law gets to hear about it,’ said Colbeck, taking the telegraph from the sergeant’s hand. ‘He’ll be appeased when he hears that you favoured his beloved LNWR.’
Because the two detectives had suddenly left the camp, it fell to Cyrus Lill to face the wrath of Mauro Moscardi and his brother.
‘Where on earth have they gone?’ demanded Moscardi.
‘The inspector is on his way to Newcastle while the sergeant is heading south to London.’
‘London!’ echoed the other. ‘We need him here.’
‘No, we don’t, Mauro,’ said his brother. ‘We don’t need either of them.’
‘With respect,’ said Lill, ‘I think that you do.’
‘We’ve already found the man who derailed the train.’
‘You found a man who aroused your suspicions but that’s all you did. You have no proof that he was definitely the culprit.’
‘Why else was he watching the camp?’ asked Moscardi.
‘Lots of people do that, sir. Circuses always arouse interest. Mulryne told me that he’s had to send dozens of people on their way today. They’ll do anything for a glimpse of the animals.’
‘This man was not like that. He was in hiding and had a telescope,’ recalled Gianni. ‘When he was approached, he took to his heels. If he had a good reason for being there, he’d have explained himself.’
‘I agree,’ conceded Lill. ‘Thanks to one of your men, we have an excellent description of him. Sergeant Leeming has sent it to all the constabularies in the county. If he’s from around here, we have a good chance of tracking him down.’
‘I’m glad to hear that the sergeant has finally done something useful,’ said Moscardi. ‘I just wish that he hadn’t fled back to London when we need him here.’
‘He’s pursuing a line of enquiry suggested by you, sir.’
‘Oh?’
‘The inspector has sent him to find Greenwood’s Circus.’
Moscardi was pleased. ‘Someone has listened to us at last!’
‘It’s only right that we look closely at every suspect.’
‘Sam Greenwood is not just a suspect,’ said Gianni. ‘He and my brother have waged a vendetta for many years. This is his latest attempt to cripple us.’
‘As to that, sir, Sergeant Leeming will find out the truth.’
‘Meanwhile, what is the inspector doing in Newcastle?’
‘He’s following another line of enquiry. Since he’s certain that an employee of the NCR must be involved somehow, he’s gone to interview someone who recently left the company and who now has loyalties elsewhere.’
When he reached Newcastle-on-Tyne, Colbeck had a stroke of good fortune. Since the man he was after had joined another company, it was likely that he’d moved south to its head office. In fact, however, he’d taken a week’s leave to oversee the sale of his house in Northumberland. When he went to the address given to him by Darlow, therefore, Colbeck found that Geoffrey Enticott was actually there. The latter was of medium height but carried himself so well and with such confidence that he appeared taller. Enticott was excessively well groomed. Colbeck put him in his mid thirties. When he heard his visitor’s name, the man recognised it at once.
‘Well,’ he said, appraising Colbeck, ‘this is a surprise. I never thought to find the Railway Detective on my doorstep. Do please come in.’
Colbeck entered the house. Once pleasantries had been exchanged, Enticott explained why he happened to be there that day. When he heard the reason for Colbeck’s visit, however, his manner changed abruptly. He became resentful.
‘Are you telling me that I’m a suspect?’
‘Not at all, sir,’ said Colbeck. ‘We just hope that you can help us with our enquiries. As a former employee of the NCR, you’ll know the exact place where the train was derailed.’
‘So will the thousands of people who go past it by train on a daily basis.’
‘You were principally dealing with freight, I’m told.’
‘Is there anything wrong with that?’
‘You’d have been in charge of scheduling ballast trains and those carrying sleepers to any new sidings that were being built.’
‘I did the job that I was asked, Inspector. Unlike you, I did so without having to upset people with insulting questions.’
‘Can you account for your movements over the past two or three days?’
‘I’ve been in negotiatio
n with an estate agent.’
‘That wouldn’t have taken up all your time.’
‘You’d be amazed how protracted such things are.’
‘Let’s go back two days,’ said Colbeck. ‘Were you here all day?’
‘Indeed, I was, and my wife will testify to the fact. So will a number of other witnesses. If you’re trying to place me near Fourstones, you’re wasting your time.’
Colbeck smiled. ‘I think that perhaps I am.’
When he arrived at the house, the first thing that Colbeck had looked at was the man’s hands. There was no bandaging on either. Whoever had been hiding up on the hill with a telescope, it had not been Enticott. In any case, he was far too fastidious about his appearance to crouch in any bushes and risk scuffing his shoes or tearing part of his attire. Had he been involved in the derailment, he would have engaged an accomplice. Colbeck looked him up and down. Enticott was expressionless.
‘Why did you leave the NCR?’
‘I was offered a promotion with another company.’
‘Did they approach you,’ asked Colbeck, ‘or were you already in their pay?’
‘That question is more than insulting.’
‘I only put it to you because of information I’ve received. It seems that you left the NCR after a row with the board of directors. You kept urging them to secure the company’s future by merging with the NER.’
‘That was a sound commercial judgement.’
‘Mr Darlow doesn’t think so.’
‘Tapper Darlow is an old fool. The NCR will never flourish under him.’
‘It will lose its identity if it’s gobbled up by your company. Correct me if I’m wrong,’ Colbeck went on, ‘but the NER was the result of an amalgamation merger between the York, Newcastle and Berwick, the York and North Midland and the Leeds Northern – including the Malton and Driffield Junction, I believe.’
Enticott gave him a grudging nod. ‘You’ve done your homework well.’
‘Meanwhile, you’re having trouble with the NER on which, incidentally, I travelled to get here yesterday. It’s formed an alliance with the West Hartlepool Railway, which is encroaching on your territory east and north of Leeds.’
‘We can fight them off.’
‘That’s as maybe but it would be easier to do so if you’d taken over the WHR. Your company tried to do that earlier this year but the deal was stillborn, thanks to legal and financial difficulties.’
‘Where is all this leading, Inspector?’
‘I’m trying to emphasise that the NCR would be a much-needed prize for the NER. That’s why you lobbied on its behalf, didn’t you?’
‘I was not employed by the NER at the time.’
‘But you had a firm promise of employment, I daresay.’
Enticott faltered for a second then quickly recovered. ‘If you intend to charge me with a crime,’ he said, holding out his hands, ‘please do so but you will end up with a very red face in court. Come on,’ he continued, ‘I’m waiting for the handcuffs.’
Since they were thrust under his nose, Colbeck had the opportunity to scrutinise both hands. Neither of them bore an injury but he had the feeling that, metaphorically speaking, he could see traces of blood on them.
‘Thank you for your hospitality, Mr Enticott,’ he said, moving to the door.
‘Does that mean my name has been cleared?’
Colbeck turned back. ‘It means that I’d like to have the address to which you’re soon moving,’ he said, quietly. ‘I feel that we should keep in touch.’
He was pleased to see Enticott swallow hard.
Since the offer had been made, Lydia accepted it gratefully. She and Caleb Andrews hired a cab to take them back to her hotel. Simply having a man beside her made her feel more secure and he was plainly enjoying his role as a bodyguard. While she went up to her room, Andrews hovered by the reception desk and admired the decorative objects on the stands and side tables. Lydia, meanwhile, tripped confidently up the stairs and used the key to let herself into the room. When she turned up the gaslight, she saw that someone had closed the curtains. In one way, she was sad to leave because it was a very comfortable room and the hotel served all her needs. But it was no longer a refuge from the stalker. She had to go.
Packing everything into the trunk took some time, especially as she folded each item with great care. Eventually, only one last dress was left and she went back to the wardrobe. When she opened the door, however, it was completely empty. The dress was not there. She could not believe that anyone from the hotel would dare to steal it. That left only one possibility and it shook her to the core.
He’d been in her room. He’d taken her dress.
Lydia began to shiver uncontrollably.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Since his first task was the least pleasurable, Victor Leeming decided to get it out of the way as quickly as possible. Even at that hour, he knew that Tallis would still be at Scotland Yard. The superintendent had no social life. His day began and ended with the problem of policing a city that was awash with criminal activity. Fighting off the familiar feeling of dread, the sergeant went straight to Tallis’s office, gritted his teeth and tapped apologetically on the door. The barked reply from within was more of a warning to disappear than an invitation to enter. Leeming nevertheless turned the doorknob and went in.
‘Ah,’ said Tallis, ‘you’ve come at last. I had a telegraph from Colbeck to warn me of your arrival. I’m told that an apology is forthcoming.’
‘Yes, sir – I’m very sorry it took me so long to get here.’
‘I don’t want your apology, man. I want the one sent by the inspector.’
‘Oh, of course,’ said Leeming with a nervous laugh. ‘I’d forgotten that. You misunderstood Inspector Colbeck’s earlier telegraph. It was not meant to sound so abrupt. He was trying to use as few words as possible to speed things up. He sends his profound apologies, sir.’
‘So I should think.’
‘The inspector has also sent a report for you,’ he went on, taking it from his pocket and handing it over. ‘It explains why he’s so eager to have information about the whereabouts of Greenwood’s Circus.’
‘I’ve never even heard of it.’
‘I daresay that the circus has never heard of you, sir.’
What was intended as a droll remark came out as a waspish quip and earned him a look of thunder. Getting to his feet, Tallis snatched the report from his grasp. As the older man read it, Leeming stood there in silence and resolved to say as little as possible from that point on. That decision was soon revoked.
‘Right,’ said Tallis, briskly, ‘I’ve heard what Colbeck has to say. Give me your version of events, Sergeant.’
‘It’s exactly the same as the one in your hand, sir.’
‘Don’t be so obtuse. The two of you are not joined at the hip. You’ve seen things that the inspector did not. While he was questioning Mr Moscardi, for instance, you were taken to the grave where the body was found. Describe the experience in detail.’
With Tallis looming over him, Leeming had difficult finding his voice.
‘Well, sir,’ he whispered, ‘it all began with this monkey called Jacko …’
An hour after discovering the theft, Lydia was still inconsolable. Though she was now safely back at the Colbeck house, she remained visibly on edge. Seated beside her on the sofa, Madeleine was holding both of her hands.
‘There’s still a chance that someone from housekeeping took the dress.’
‘They’d have no cause to do so, Madeleine.’
‘Did you challenge the manager?’
‘Of course,’ said Lydia. ‘He was upset that I should even make the suggestion. Every member of the housekeeping department was of good character, he insisted. In all the years he’d been there, they’d never had one complaint against them.’
‘Well, I have a complaint to make,’ said Andrews, butting in. ‘I’d like to know why a respectable hotel like that allows a complete stran
ger into the room of one of the guests.’
‘He swore that nobody sneaked past the receptionist. You heard him.’
‘Then how did the stalker get into your room?’
‘There is one explanation,’ said Madeleine, pensively. ‘He didn’t sneak into the hotel at all. He was there as a guest.’
‘That’s right,’ agreed Andrews. ‘The cunning devil could have booked a room there for himself. What a clever girl you are, Maddy.’
‘It’s a horrible thought,’ cried Lydia. ‘If I’d stayed at the hotel tonight, I might have been sleeping under the same roof as him. And since he obviously has a way of getting into my room, he could let himself in when I was asleep and …’
She burst into tears. Madeleine wrapped her in both arms and rocked her gently to and fro. It was minutes before Lydia regained her composure. It was a mark of just how deep her anxiety was. When they’d first met, the feature that Madeleine had noticed about her was her equanimity. Even when talking about her murdered father, she’d somehow remained self-possessed. It was only when she decided to return to the family from which was estranged that she’d called on Madeleine for help. That iron self-control had now vanished completely. Lydia was scared.
Sitting up again, she plucked a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes. Madeleine’s suggestion had unnerved her. The stalker had dared to book a room in the same hotel. His intentions took on a more threatening appearance.
‘There’s no certainty that he did stay there,’ said Andrews, trying to reassure her. ‘If he did, then he gave himself away. His name will be in the register.’
The Circus Train Conspiracy Page 8