The Bloomsbury Affair

by Anita Davison

  ‘Well, don’t tell anyone, but I enjoy your penchant for crime solving. It’s exciting. Like you.’ He caught her hand in mid-air and brought the tips of her fingers to his lips. ‘At least if we do it together you’re less likely to venture into the houses of killers and get yourself locked in cellars at their mercy.’

  She snuggled closer, recalling when she and Sally had been trapped in just such a situation. It was Sally’s optimism and quick thinking that had saved them then.

  ‘That was a mistake.’ Flora’s pride at having solved a crime sent her barging into a dangerous situation without thinking.

  ‘Inspector Maddox, sir, madam,’ Stokes announced from the door, sending them springing apart.

  ‘Good evening, Inspector.’ Bunny rose, skirting the sofa to welcome the visitor.

  ‘I apologize for disturbing you so close to the dinner hour.’ Maddox accepted Bunny’s handshake, then acknowledged Flora with a gracious nod.

  In his customary mustard check suit, he brought an earthy smell of old leather overlaid with horse manure into the room. That he had arrived unaccompanied she took as an encouraging sign that he was not about to arrest Ed.

  ‘Might I offer you a sherry?’ Bunny asked on his way to the sideboard.

  ‘I don’t see why not.’ Maddox rubbed his hands together in anticipation. ‘After all, I’m on my way home and officially off duty.’ He flipped up the back of his coat and sat on the upright chair Bunny indicated, giving the room a swift, penetrating glance. ‘Where is Lord Trent this evening? Not taken himself off to some gambling den in search of a little excitement?’

  ‘He’s upstairs, dressing for dinner,’ Flora said through gritted teeth. ‘I can assure you he hasn’t left this house all day.’ Though, if the inspector was aware of how restless Ed had been, he might arrest him for his own protection.

  ‘You’re not here to check up on him, I trust?’ Bunny frowned, the decanter hovering over a glass.

  ‘I would rather wait until the gentleman is here first to save having to repeat myself.’ He took a sip of sherry, rolled it around his mouth and peered into the glass.

  Ed entered the room, his gaze going straight to the inspector. ‘Stokes told me you wanted to see me.’

  Maddox placed his glass on a low table and stood, offering his hand which Ed took, but released it after the briefest of shakes.

  ‘Have you discovered yet how Mr Thompson was killed?’

  Maddox sat back in his chair, his hands folded across his midriff, regarding both Ed and Bunny through half closed eyes. ‘The victim received a single stab wound. And not to be too specific in the presence of a lady,’ he raised an eyebrow in Flora’s direction, ‘a thin-bladed knife was inserted between his ribs just below the heart and thrust upwards.’

  ‘I’m grateful you weren’t too specific, Inspector.’ Flora winced.

  ‘My apologies, dear lady. I’m simply quoting from the official report,’ he said, though there was no regret in his eyes. ‘The style of the weapon is significant, because when removed, the wound sealed, which explained the small amount of blood present. With his heart punctured, the young man bled internally and died quickly.’

  ‘Poor man,’ Flora murmured and glanced at Ed, whose face had drained of colour.

  ‘You’ve seen this type of injury before?’ Bunny asked.

  ‘I have.’ Maddox removed his ubiquitous notebook from an inside pocket and flicked through it. ‘These thin knives or stilettos, as they are sometimes known, are favoured by Italian immigrants in areas like Somers Town and St Pancras. The victim is often unaware of what has happened until it’s too late, by which time the assailant is nowhere near.’

  ‘Have you found this weapon?’ Bunny asked.

  ‘Not as yet, sir. Our enquiries are still in the early stages. We’re in touch with the Gloucestershire police, who have paid a call on Thompson’s Haberdashery in Cheltenham. A Mrs Drake informed them Mr Thompson inherited the premises from his mother, who died in December from blood poisoning after a domestic accident.’

  Flora’s internal debate whether or not to inform him this information was not news was decided by Bunny, whose hand came down on her shoulder in warning.

  ‘At this point, Inspector,’ he said. ‘My wife and I ought to reveal we visited Cheltenham the day of your last visit.’

  ‘I was wondering when you would mention that.’ Maddox sighed and shook his head. ‘Mrs Drake mentioned the nice young couple from London who were so interested in Mrs Thompson and her son.’ He clicked the edge of the notebook with his thumb, setting Flora’s teeth on edge. ‘She seemed to think you grew up in that area, Mrs Harrington. Or was that a fabrication?’

  ‘It was not.’ Flora avoided looking at him. ‘I was born and raised there. But, before you ask, we didn’t know Mrs Thompson, or her son. Had we done so, we would certainly have told you.’

  Maddox’s sceptical gaze flicked to Bunny, who added, ‘That’s quite true. It’s possible to live in a small town and not know everyone.’

  Flora chewed her bottom lip. Did Maddox also know of their visit to Dr Billings? Perhaps he was biding his time to drop it into the conversation?

  ‘I apologize if you feel we interfered,’ Bunny added. ‘At the time it seemed logical to find out what we could. I assure you we didn’t reveal anything to Mrs Drake which we shouldn’t have.’

  ‘I doubt there’s any point my protesting at this late stage.’ Resigned, Maddox took another sip from his glass before consulting his notebook again. ‘We have few details of her family other than the fact Sylvia Thompson’s parents are deceased and she was an only child.’ His eyes lifted to Flora’s. ‘Do feel free to stop me if you already know all this.’

  ‘What about Leo’s father?’ Flora asked, chastised but defiant. ‘Do you know anything about him?’

  ‘Only that they married abroad and she returned to England after his death.’ Maddox snapped his notebook shut and slid it to his pocket. ‘By any chance have any of you come across a gentleman by the name Mr Frederick Hunter-Griggs?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so.’ Flora glanced at Bunny and Ed but was met with only blank stares. ‘What has this person got to do with Leo Thompson?’

  ‘I hoped you might be able to enlighten me.’ Maddox retrieved his glass and examined the dark amber liquid through the cut crystal before taking a mouthful. ‘He is part-owner of an establishment called The Dahlia Hotel, in Bloomsbury.’

  Bunny widened his eyes at Flora, who gave him an I-told-you-so look.

  ‘That was it!’ Ed straightened. ‘It was called The Dahlia. I remember now.’

  ‘What name did you say, Inspector? Hunter…?’ Flora frowned, wondering at Ed’s sudden selective memory.

  ‘Griggs,’ Maddox supplied. ‘I spoke to the gentleman myself and he informed me they had no one named Thompson expected at the hotel, nor had anyone of that name stayed there during the previous three months.’

  ‘Perhaps Leo was staying at another hotel with the same name?’ Ed suggested.

  ‘There isn’t one, sir, and I haven’t finished.’ Maddox coughed into a fist. ‘When I asked Mr Hunter-Griggs if he knew anyone by the name of Thompson, he said no, but by coincidence that was his late stepmother’s maiden name.’

  ‘Sylvia Thompson was his stepmother?’ Flora finished for him, a tingle of excitement working its way up her spine. ‘Then Leo must have been his half-brother?’

  ‘It appears so.’ Maddox bestowed a smug smile on each of them before continuing. ‘The gentleman informed me he had not seen his half-brother for many years. Until recently. His father, Colonel Amery Hunter-Griggs, and his stepmother separated when Leonard, was four. She changed their name back to Thompson and moved to Cheltenham where her parents lived. Leonard has recently been reconciled with the Colonel and his children since Sylvia Thompson’s death.’

  ‘The Colonel is still alive?’ Flora interjected. ‘Then Sylvia wasn’t a widow?’

  ‘Indeed not.’ Maddox paused as if sa
vouring the moment. ‘Which is where this case becomes interesting. When I informed them Leo Thompson had been murdered, Mr Hunter-Griggs was most insistent that Leonard Hunter-Griggs as he has called himself since his mother’s death, is not only alive and well, but living at The Dahlia Hotel.’

  ‘What?’ Flora’s shock was echoed by Bunny.

  ‘But he can’t be?’ Ed leapt to his feet. ‘He’s dead. I saw him. Inspector, you have his body.’

  ‘I spoke to Colonel Hunter-Griggs myself,’ Maddox waved him back down again. ‘He was at the hotel when I called, even though he resides elsewhere. He proceeded to enjoy a joke at my expense for some time, employing every derogatory term for a metropolitan police officer I have ever heard. Not to mention a few I haven’t.’ He eased his collar with a finger, clearing his throat.

  ‘How uncomfortable for you.’ Flora clamped her lips together to prevent a laugh. ‘Did you talk to Leonard as well?’

  ‘I did not.’ Maddox frowned. ‘However, both the Colonel and his elder son, as well as several hotel staff, all claim to have seen the young man that day.’

  ‘But he told me his name was Leo Thompson.’ Ed’s breathing quickened on the edge of panic. ‘I didn’t make it up.’

  ‘It’s not unreasonable Thompson would adopt his family name now they are reconciled,’ Bunny said reasonably.

  ‘Then why not tell Ed he was using a different name?’ Flora asked.

  ‘Which is not relevant as the young man who died wasn’t Leonard Hunter-Griggs.’ Maddox shrugged.

  ‘There’s obviously been some sort of misunderstanding.’ Flora lifted her arms in surrender. She gave Ed a reassuring smile, but he turned away, his lips moving in silent questions. ‘One which I’ll have to unravel if I’m to get anywhere with this case,’ Maddox said. ‘I have a body in the morgue I need to identify before I can even begin looking into who killed him and why.’

  ‘Does that mean you don’t think Ed is a suspect now?’ Flora asked.

  ‘It’s not a simple as that, Mrs Harrington. Lord Trent was discovered bending over a corpse. Whoever the man was, questions still need to be answered.’

  ‘But I didn’t know—’ Ed broke off. ‘Oh, what does it matter? You don’t believe anything I say.’

  ‘We believe you, and Inspector Maddox will do everything he can to find out what happened. Won’t you, Inspector?’ Flora challenged the detective with a stare.

  ‘That’s my job, Mrs Harrington.’ Maddox drained his glass and pushed himself to his feet. ‘But I warn you not to question any more witnesses. If you’re seen anywhere near Piccadilly in the near future, I might have to have you arrested.’

  ‘On what charge?’ She bridled at his patronising tone. ‘Loitering with the intent to shop?’ He was becoming far too supercilious for her liking.

  ‘Thank you for calling, Inspector.’ Bunny shot Flora a warning look and opened the door, his free hand extended in an invitation for Maddox to leave ‘If there’s nothing else, I’ll show you out.’

  Their tandem footsteps echoed on the hall tiles, followed by their low goodbyes at the front door.

  ‘I thought you said your Inspector Maddox would sort everything out. He’s got it all wrong.’ Ed pulled a cushion onto his lap and plucked at the gold fringe with restless fingers.

  ‘I don’t understand it either.’ Flora slumped down beside him. ‘That the dead man was using someone else’s name is very strange.’

  ‘The inspector was pretty angry, wasn’t he?’ Ed rested his chin on the edge of the cushion. ‘He practically accused me of lying.’

  ‘I’d say that’s an exaggeration, but don’t look so despondent, he’ll get over it.’ Flora tried to imagine the lambasting Maddox must have endured at the hands of this Colonel Hunter-Griggs and couldn’t help sympathizing.

  ‘Did you have to tell him you and Bunny had gone to Cheltenham?’ His bottom lip jutted sulkily, Ed tossed the cushion aside.

  ‘You know we did. Mrs Drake mentioned we were there so we couldn’t lie about it,’ Bunny said as he returned to the room and resumed his seat, his expression thoughtful.

  ‘You didn’t say much when Inspector Maddox was here,’ Flora said. ‘Did any of what he said make sense to you?’

  ‘Not really, and there wasn’t much I could say.’ He retrieved his glass and rolled it slowly between his hands. ‘If this Leonard Hunter-Griggs is still alive, then who was the dead man on the train?’

  ‘There must be some sort of mistake,’ Ed muttered into his chest. ‘The man who died said he was Leo Thompson. Why would he lie?’

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ Bunny’s shoulders lifted in a resigned shrug. ‘But then why would this Colonel say his son was alive and well if he wasn’t?’

  ‘More importantly,’ Flora added. ‘Why did someone want Leo Thompson dead in the first place? And does that mean the man at the hotel is in danger?’

  ‘No more danger than I am,’ Ed muttered. ‘The inspector still thinks I’m a murderer.’

  Chapter 13

  Dinner was lukewarm, in more ways than one, with little conversation other than polite requests to pass the vegetables. The aroma of roasted pork and apples, which normally elicited enthusiastic compliments to Mrs Cope’s skills, went unnoticed. When the clearing of throats, intermittent coughs and the relentless tick of the grandmother clock began to grate, Bunny ventured a question.

  ‘Why did Sylvia Thompson tell everyone her husband had died?’

  ‘Possibly because a widow attracts more sympathy than a woman who has left her husband,’ Flora replied. ‘Although if Leo, or Leonard, is now living with his father and brother at their London hotel, how come Mrs Drake didn’t know that? She implied he was still living in Cheltenham?’

  ‘But is he?’ Bunny nodded at Ed. ‘As you pointed out earlier, Ed, Maddox didn’t actually speak to him.’

  Ed reached for the gravy boat, which hit the table top with a thump, spilling brown drops on the pristine white cloth.

  ‘Oops, sorry. It slipped out of my hand.’ He flushed a deep red and dabbed at the offending stains with his napkin.

  ‘Leave it, Ed. You’re making it worse. The staff will sort it out.’ Flora waved his inept efforts away.

  ‘To be honest, I’m at a loss.’ Bunny fastidiously removed his glass away from the gravy stains. ‘Why would a man pretending to be Leo Thompson end up dead and tell Ed he had a booking at the Dahlia Hotel when he was already living there?’

  ‘What do you think, Ed?’ Flora asked, sensing he wanted to say something but didn’t dare.

  ‘I’m as baffled as you are.’ Ed twirled his fork over his half-eaten meal.

  ‘Unfortunately, nothing has changed as far as Ed is concerned.’ Bunny twisted the stem of his wineglass. ‘The identity of the body is immaterial.’

  ‘Does that mean you think I am guilty?’ Ed split a worried glance between them.

  ‘No, it doesn’t. Although I’d like to know what Maddox really thinks,’ Flora said.

  ‘I don’t care what he thinks. He’s looking for a reason to arrest me, isn’t he?’ Ed crumpled his napkin in both hands and tossed it onto the table and scraped back his chair. ‘May I be excused?’

  ‘But, Ed, your dinner,’ Flora began.

  ‘I’m not hungry any more,’ he threw over his shoulder and strode from the room.

  Flora winced at the slam of the door. ‘You really upset him, you know.’

  ‘I believe we are the ones who ought to be upset.’ Bunny drummed his fingers on the table top. ‘I’m aware of how fond you are of him, Flora, but I cannot get rid of a feeling there’s something he’s not told us.’

  ‘You still think he’s lying about something?’

  ‘Don’t you?’ He slanted her a sideways look before taking a swig from his wine glass. ‘He can’t tell us because he’s talked himself into an impossible situation and feels he cannot back down now.’

  ‘Ed can be reckless at times, but he’s not dishonest,’ Flora insisted. ‘Perhaps we sh
ould focus on things we do know. For instance, Leo, or rather Leonard Hunter-Griggs, is staying at The Dahlia Hotel. Don’t you agree it’s rather odd the red coat was also delivered there?’

  ‘I concede that was good sleuthing to find out the name of the hotel, but red coats?’ He clicked his tongue and shook his head. ‘To my mind, we need to find out more about Leo or Leonard. The most obvious being why does he go by two names which are apparently being used by two different people?’ He screwed up his napkin and tossed it onto the table, scraped back his chair and rose. ‘I have a letter to write. I’ll be in my study if you need me.’

  ‘A letter related to Ed’s predicament I hope?’

  ‘Sort of, but I’ve no idea if it’s relevant or not, so if you don’t mind, I’ll keep it to myself for the time being.’

  The door closed with a harsh click, followed by the sound of Bunny’s footsteps receding briskly along the hallway.

  Flora remained at the table amongst the remains of their half-eaten dinner, the names Hunter-Griggs and Thompson circling in her head until a headache threatened. What didn’t help the situation was Bunny’s brusque secrecy and Ed’s mood. The ceaseless ticking of the wall clock drummed in her head ever louder until she became sorely tempted to throw something at it.

  *

  Flora apologized to a perplexed Stokes for the half-eaten meal and the untouched coffee pot on the sideboard when he came to clear away. Wishing him a goodnight, she went to her room, her head full of questions to which she had no answers. She had been about to summon Sally to help her undress when her gaze caught the needlework case she had bought in Cheltenham. On impulse, she moved away from the bell pull, swept the case beneath one arm and crossed the corridor to Ed’s room.

  At any other time, his sullen ‘come in if you must’ would have discouraged her, but ignoring it, she pushed open the door and strode inside.

  Ed sat at the bureau, still fully dressed, his chair set at right angles to the window through which he stared at the darkening garden. ‘Have you come to tell me off for my lack of manners?’ He chewed at a thumbnail but didn’t look at her.