The Railway Detective irc-1

by Edward Marston

  Madeleine no longer feared for her life. If they had wanted to kill her, they would surely have done so by now. Instead, she had been imprisoned in a house that, judging by those she could see opposite from the attic window, was in a very respectable part of London. To her relief, she had been treated reasonably well and was subjected to no violence. What she missed most was conversation. The manservant who had brought her food had been ordered to say nothing to her, and the bearded man who tied her up that morning had confined himself to a few threats before carrying her downstairs over his shoulder.

  During a normal day, Madeleine would talk to her father, her friends, her neighbours and to various shopkeepers. Conversations with Gideon Little were more fraught but at least he represented human contact. She longed for that now. For some reason, she had been isolated in a way that only served to heighten her fears. The person she really wanted to speak to was Robert Colbeck, to report her misadventure to him, to seek his reassurance, to enjoy his companionship and to listen to the voice she had come to love for its bewitching cadences. Colbeck was her one hope of rescue. It gave them a bond that drew them closer. Knowing that he would be trying hard to track her down helped Madeleine to find a reserve of courage that she did not know existed.

  For her sake, she had to maintain hope; for Colbeck’s sake, she was determined to keep her spirits up. The agony could not go on forever. He would come for her in time.

  Adversity taught Caleb Andrews just how many friends he had. When he had first been injured, most of his visitors had been other railwaymen, people with whom he had worked for years and who understood how he felt when he heard of the damage to his locomotive. The kidnap of his daughter brought in a wider circle of friends and well-wishers. Once the word had spread, neighbours to whom he had hardly spoken before came to offer their help and to say that they were praying for the safe return of Madeleine. Andrews was touched by the unexpected show of concern.

  Frank Pike could hear the emotion in his voice.

  ‘There were six of them in here earlier this morning,’ he said. ‘I thought that the floor would give way.’

  ‘It shows how popular you are,’ said Pike.

  ‘I’d prefer to be the most hated man in Camden if I could have Maddy back home, safe and sound. I didn’t sleep a wink last night.’

  ‘What do the police say?’

  ‘That they’re doing everything they can to find her. Gideon spoke to Inspector Colbeck yesterday, who told him that he’d lead the search himself.’

  ‘That’s good news.’

  ‘Is it?’ said Andrews, doubtfully.

  ‘Yes. Inspector Colbeck caught those three men at the Crystal Palace. They included that ugly bastard who knocked you out. If he hadn’t been locked up,’ vowed Pike, flexing his muscles, ‘I’d have beaten him black and blue.’

  ‘He’s the least of my worries now, Frank.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘All that I can think about is Maddy.’

  ‘Did nobody see her being taken away?’

  ‘Only Gideon,’ said Andrews. ‘He claims that he was just passing the end of the street but I think he was standing out there and watching the house. He’s so lovesick, he’ll wait for hours for the chance of a word with Maddy. If she comes out of this, she’ll have reason to thank him.’

  ‘What did he see, Caleb?’

  ‘A policeman with a dark beard, talking to Maddy on the doorstep then helping her into a cab. The driver cracked his whip and off they went. Gideon had no idea that she was being kidnapped. Luckily, he called in here later on. I sent him off to raise the alarm.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘You’ve done it just by being here, Frank.’

  ‘I could send Rose over to fetch and carry for you.’

  ‘No,’ said Andrews, ‘your wife has enough to do as it is.’

  ‘You only have to ask.’

  ‘Rose would have to wait in the queue. I’ve got dozens of offers.’

  Pike grinned. ‘All these women, banging on the door of your bedroom – you always did have a way with the ladies, Caleb.’

  ‘Not when my arm was in a sling and my leg in a splint.’

  ‘They want to mother you.’

  Andrews became solemn. ‘I tell you this, Frank,’ he said. ‘If they paraded in here naked and danced in front of me, I’d not even look at them. There’s only one woman on my mind right now.’

  ‘Maddy.’

  ‘Why the hell can’t they find her?’

  The letter arrived late that morning. Written in capitals on a sheet of exquisite stationery, it was addressed to Inspector Robert Colbeck. The message was blunt.

  RELEASE ALL THREE PRISONERS OR MISS ANDREWS WILL SUFFER. WE WILL BE IN TOUCH TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

  A shiver ran through Colbeck. It gave him no satisfaction to see that his guess had been right. Madeleine Andrews was being used as a bargaining tool. Colbeck’s problem was that the Superintendent was not prepared to strike a bargain or even to pretend to do so. Releasing anyone from custody was like retreating on the battlefield to him. When Colbeck went to his office to show him the letter, Tallis was defiant. He thrust the missive back at the Inspector.

  ‘Nobody tells me what to do,’ he asserted.

  ‘Does that mean you are prepared to let Miss Andrews suffer, sir?’

  ‘Not deliberately.’

  ‘Ignore their demands and that is what will happen.’

  ‘It could be bluff on their part,’ said Tallis. ‘If they harm her in any way, they lose the one lever that they have at their disposal.’

  ‘I prefer to take them at their word, sir.’

  ‘Yes, Inspector. We know you have a fondness for releasing felons from custody. It was by your connivance that Mulryne walked free.’

  ‘Brendan Mulryne is no felon,’ retorted Colbeck.

  ‘He is in my eyes.’

  ‘He acted with outstanding bravery at the Crystal Palace.’

  ‘That does not excuse what he did.’

  ‘Mr Mayne felt that it did, Superintendent. I wonder what his reaction to this demand would be?’ he said, holding up the letter.

  Tallis was hostile. ‘Do not go over my head again, Inspector.’

  ‘Madeleine Andrews’s life may be at stake.’

  ‘So is your career.’

  Colbeck was unperturbed by the threat. Madeleine’s safety meant more to him at that moment than anything else. Baulked by his superior, he would have to find another way to secure her release.

  ‘Excuse me, sir,’ he said, politely. ‘I must continue the search.’

  ‘You can tear that letter up for a start.’

  Ignoring the command, Colbeck went straight back to his office and he was delighted to see that Victor Leeming had finally returned. The Sergeant had the weary look of someone who had pushed himself to the limit. Before he allowed him to deliver his news, Colbeck told him about the kidnap and showed him the letter. Leeming’s response chimed in with his own. Even if they did not intend to release the prisoners, they should enter the negotiations so that they could purchase some time.

  ‘One other thing you should know,’ explained Colbeck. ‘Early yesterday morning, a cab driver reported the theft of his vehicle while he was having breakfast. Later the same day, it was returned.’

  ‘You think that it was involved in the kidnap?’

  ‘Yes, Victor. No self-respecting cab driver would have agreed to take part in a crime like that. And the fact that the cab was returned is significant. These people will destroy a steam locomotive but they will not harm a horse. But how did you get on?’ said Colbeck, wrinkling his nose. ‘You smell as if you’ve just come from a slaughterhouse.’

  ‘Several of them, sir. And they all stink like old blue buggery. Do you know how many slaughterhouses there are in London?’

  ‘I’m only interested in one of them.’

  ‘Needless to say,’ complained Leeming, ‘it was the last that I visited. However,’ he wen
t on, taking out his notebook and referring to a page, ‘they did remember Vernon Seymour and they had an address. He lived alone in a tenement near Seven Dials. The landlord there told me that Seymour had come into some money last week and moved out. I saw the room where he lodged – it still had a whiff of the slaughterhouse about it.’ He flicked over a page. ‘According to the landlord, Seymour received a visit from a tall, well-dressed man with a beard. Shortly after that, he left the place.’

  ‘What about his brother?’

  ‘Harry came there from time to time, apparently. That’s all I can tell you.’ Leeming turned over another page. ‘But I had more success with the regimental records. Mr Tallis gave me a list of possibilities and told me where to find the records. Arthur Jukes, Vernon Seymour and Harry Seymour all served in India in the 10th Queen’s Regiment.’

  ‘Infantry?’

  ‘Yes, Inspector. It’s the North Lincoln.’

  ‘Any officers listed as retiring?’

  ‘Quite a few,’ said Leeming, running his finger down the page. ‘I went back five years and wrote down all the names.’ He handed his notebook over. ‘It’s probably easier if you read them for yourself.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  Colbeck ran his eye down the list. While he could never approve of Leeming’s scrawl, he had to admire his thoroughness. The names were listed alphabetically with their ranks, length of service and date of retirement noted alongside.

  ‘We can eliminate some of these men immediately,’ said Colbeck, reaching for the pen on his desk and dipping it in the inkwell.

  ‘Can we, sir?’

  ‘Yes, I refuse to believe that Colonel Fitzhammond is our man. He’s given a lifetime’s service to the army and will be steeped in its traditions.’

  He scratched through the name then put a line through three more. ‘We can count these officers out as well. They’ll be too old. All that they will want is a quiet retirement.’

  ‘I know the feeling,’ said Leeming.

  ‘Two of these men left the army within the last few months,’ said Colbeck, pen poised over their names. ‘They would not have had the time to set up such a complicated crime as the train robbery. We can cross them off the list as well.’ The pen scratched away. ‘That leaves five names. No, it doesn’t, Victor,’ he added, as he spotted a detail. ‘I think that it leaves two whom we should look at more carefully.’

  ‘Why is that, Inspector?’

  ‘Because they retired from the army on the same day.’

  ‘Coincidence?’

  ‘Possibly – or they could be friends who joined at the same time.’

  ‘When did they return to civilian life?’

  ‘Almost five years ago,’ said Colbeck. ‘Of course, we may be barking up the wrong tree but I have the feeling that we may have found something important here. My belief is that one or both of these men was involved in that train robbery.’

  ‘What are their names?’

  ‘Major Sir Humphrey Gilzean and Captain Thomas Sholto.’

  ‘Mr Tallis will never accept that army officers are responsible for the crimes. In his book, they are above suspicion.’

  ‘Then let’s first try these two names on someone else,’ decided Colbeck. ‘Men who served under them.’

  Standing in the hallway of Gilzean’s country house, Thomas Sholto stroked his beard and watched two servants bringing another trunk downstairs. He turned to his friend.

  ‘You do not believe in wasting time, Humphrey, do you?’

  ‘Forewarned is forearmed,’ said Gilzean.

  ‘What if Inspector Colbeck does not run us to ground?’

  ‘Then we have no need to implement our contingency plans. As you know, I’m a great believer in covering all eventualities. This luggage will be loaded into a carriage in readiness for a swift departure.’

  ‘Will our hostage be travelling with us?’ asked Sholto.

  ‘Only if we need to take her, Thomas.’

  ‘Given the opportunity, I’d have taken her already.’

  ‘Keep your hands off Miss Andrews.’

  ‘You should at least have let me share the same coach as her.’

  ‘No,’ said Gilzean. ‘The woman is frightened enough as it is. I do not wish to add to her distress by having you lusting after her. I prefer to encourage your virtues, not indulge your vices.’

  Sholto laughed. ‘I didn’t know that I had any virtues.’

  ‘One or two.’

  ‘What are you going to do with this resourceful Inspector?’

  ‘Keep him guessing, Thomas.’

  ‘How will you contrive that?’

  ‘By pretending that we really do intend to hand over Madeleine Andrews for the three prisoners. A letter will be delivered by hand to him tomorrow, setting up a time and place for the exchange to be made, two days from hence. Only when they arrive at the designated spot will they realise that they’ve been hoodwinked. By that time,’ said Gilzean, leading his friend into the library, ‘I will have emptied my bank accounts and put all my affairs in order.’

  ‘Would you really be prepared to turn your back on this house?’

  ‘Yes. It holds too many unpleasant memories for me now.’

  ‘That was not always the case,’ Sholto reminded him.

  ‘No, I agree. When I grew up here, I loved it. After my army days were over, I could think of no finer existence than running the estate and keeping a stable of racehorses.’ His face hardened. ‘I reckoned without the railway, alas.’

  ‘It does not actually cross your land, Humphrey.’

  ‘Perhaps not but it skirts it for over a mile. It’s far too close for comfort. Trains from the Great Western Railway go past all the time. If the wind is in the right direction, I can hear the noise of that damned whistle whenever I am in my garden. Nothing makes my blood boil so much as that sound.’

  ‘I hope that you do not have to sacrifice this place,’ said Sholto, gazing fondly around the room. ‘It’s a splendid house. There are some things that you’ll miss a great deal about this estate.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘One of them, in particular.’

  ‘All that has been taken into consideration,’ said Gilzean, knowing what he meant. ‘Whatever happens, I will return somehow from time to time to pay my respects. Nobody will prevent me from doing that. It’s a sacred duty. Besides,’ he went on, his face brightening, ‘I have another good reason to come back.’

  ‘Do you?’

  ‘Yes, Thomas. I simply have to be at Epsom on the first Wednesday in June. I intend to watch my colt win the Derby.’

  ‘What if he loses?’

  ‘That option does not even arise,’ said the other, brimming with confidence. ‘Starlight is a Gilzean – we never lose.’

  ‘Sir Humphrey Gilzean?’ asked Superintendent Tallis, eyes bulging.

  ‘Yes,’ replied Colbeck. ‘I’m certain of it, sir.’

  ‘Then I am equally certain that you have the wrong man.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘Do you know who Sir Humphrey is – and what he is?’

  ‘If my guess is right, he’s a man with blood on his hands. He not only organised the train robbery, he sanctioned two murders and ordered the kidnap of Miss Andrews.’

  ‘Do you have any other far-fetched claims to offer, Inspector?’ said Tallis, incredulously. ‘Are you going to tell me, for instance, that Sir Humphrey is about to assassinate the Queen or steal the Crown Jewels?’

  ‘No, Superintendent.’

  ‘Then do not plague me with your ridiculous notions.’

  ‘Sir Humphrey is our man. Take my word for it.’

  ‘Listen, Inspector. I can accept that men from the ranks, like Jukes and the Seymour brothers, may have gone astray but not someone who was once a senior officer. You have no concept of what it takes to become a major in the British Army. I do. It shapes you for life. Sir Humphrey is no more likely to have committed these crimes than I am.’

  Superintendent Tallis was peremptory.
Colbeck had come into his office to announce what he felt was a critical breakthrough in the investigation, only to have cold water liberally poured over his suggestion by his superior. Remaining calm in the face of the other’s intransigence, he tried to reason with him.

  ‘Will you not at least hear what we found out, sir?’

  ‘No, Inspector. The idea is ludicrous.’

  ‘Sergeant Leeming and I do not think so.’

  ‘Then I have to overrule the pair of you. Look elsewhere.’

  ‘We have,’ said Colbeck. ‘At a man named Thomas Sholto, who was a Captain in the same regiment. Have you heard of him as well?’

  ‘Not until this moment.’

  ‘Then you will not have prior knowledge of his innocence.’

  ‘Do not be impertinent.’

  ‘Well, at least do us the courtesy of taking us seriously.’

  ‘Why should I bother to do that?’ said Tallis, sourly. ‘It is quite obvious to me that neither you nor Sergeant Leeming are aware of who Sir Humphrey is. Did you know, for example, that he is a distinguished Member of Parliament?’

  ‘No,’ admitted Colbeck. ‘We did not.’

  ‘He has only been in the House for three or four years yet he has already made his mark. Sir Humphrey is already being talked of as a future minister.’

  ‘That does not prevent him from robbing a train.’

  ‘Why should he need to do such a thing, Inspector? He’s a rich man with a dazzling political career ahead of him. It would be sheer lunacy to jeopardise that.’

  ‘In his mind,’ argued Colbeck, ‘there was no jeopardy at all. Sir Humphrey did not expect to get caught. That is why the crimes were planned with such precision.’

  ‘Balderdash!’

  ‘If you will not listen to us, I’m sure that Mr Mayne will.’