Barak smiled. ‘I said you were a twopenny-book man.’
Radwinter pointed to the tower. ‘See yonder, where Aske hangs. I’m told there was a wooden tower there before, and one night hundreds of years ago the citizens of York, bled dry by the Jews, chased them all in there and burned the lot alive. Best thing for cheating heathens!’ He turned and walked away. Barak’s face was white and it was my turn to grasp his arm and hold him.
‘Arsehole!’
‘He is. And he’s out of his depth, this has driven him frantic with worry. He is not capable of solving this, he only knows how to guard men and torment them. His control is starting to break.’ I shook my head. ‘As well it might. How in God’s name could anyone get poison in there, if Radwinter attends to everything?’ I took a deep breath. ‘Come, this belongs on Maleverer’s plate.’
Chapter Fifteen
THIS TIME MALEVERER saw us at once. He sat in his office behind a paper-strewn desk, his big dark head thrust back.
‘God’s body,’ he said heavily. ‘You pair bring nothing but trouble. For Jesu’s sake do not tell me Broderick is going to die.’
I started telling him all that had passed at the castle. There was a big lump of red sealing wax on Maleverer’s desk and he turned it over, squeezing its hard surface with his broad hairy fingers. When I finished he ran his other hand along the edge of his beard, as though trimming it with invisible scissors. ‘If what Radwinter told you is true, how in God’s name could anyone have got to Broderick? Is the physician sure it was poison?’
‘He believed so. He is to conduct some tests and return later.’
‘Tests!’ Maleverer screwed up his face with impatience. ‘Could anyone have got past Radwinter yesterday? Could he have fallen asleep in his room?’
‘I think not, Sir William. He is utterly dedicated to his task.’
He grunted. ‘That was my impression when I met him.’
‘And a poisoner would have had to get past the guardhouse first. Then open two locked doors, then administer the poison.’
Maleverer looked at Barak. ‘You can vouch for what the cook said about being one of Lord Cromwell’s informers?’
‘I recognized the names, Sir William.’
Maleverer looked at the wax, squeezing it as though he could squash the truth from it. ‘How was it done, then?’ He gave me an interrogative stare. ‘Well, lawyer, you’re the investigator of mysteries?’
‘I do not know, sir. But no one could have got to his cell without Radwinter knowing.’
‘Then Radwinter himself must be under suspicion,’ Maleverer said, setting his lips.
I hesitated. ‘He is no friend to me, sir, but I believe he is loyal to Archbishop Cranmer and reform. He would do nothing to help the conspirators.’
Maleverer frowned and bit at a long yellowish fingernail. ‘I will have Broderick and Radwinter brought to St Mary’s,’ he said. ‘Kept under my eye. I’ll have Broderick in the cell where Green was put, see it is guarded twenty-four hours a day. I’ll put young Leacon in charge of security, he seems a good man. Broderick himself has said nothing of how this happened?’
‘No. I believe he knows but will not say. He talks nonsense about the King’s poisoning him. Perhaps he means he has been driven to the extremity of taking poison because of what the authorities have in store for him. In London.’
Maleverer looked at me sharply, then grunted. ‘Very well. The cook can go in Broderick’s old cell at the castle for now while I check that story of how he got that job. And I’ll write to the Archbishop about Radwinter.’ He looked at me. ‘You told Radwinter nothing about the missing papers?’
‘No.’
‘You’ve said nothing to anyone else?’
‘Not a word. As you commanded.’
He grunted. ‘I will have to take this news to the Privy Council. The Progress is on the way here from Leconfield, it won’t take me long to reach them. I must get instructions.’ He leaned back in his chair and looked out of the window, still pressing and squeezing the unyielding wax, then threw it impatiently on the table to land with a bang among his papers. ‘What in Christ’s name is going on?’ he burst out fiercely. ‘It is as though we were dealing with some spirit of the air that can roam freely about St Mary’s and York Castle too, slip through locked doors and murder at will. And the King will be lodging here tomorrow. And the Scotch King coming too. That’s official now, by the way, that’s what the tents and pavilions are for, though nobody seems to know when he’ll arrive.’ He looked at me. ‘I’ve increased security. The King must be told there is a problem. God’s body, he will be angry.’
‘The figure we encountered in the chapterhouse was real enough, Sir William. I do not understand how Broderick was reached in the castle, but events here show the attacker has the run of the site, including King’s Manor. Strangers are not allowed to enter St Mary’s without authority. We are dealing with someone people would be expecting to see walking round both the house and grounds, someone whose presence would not be remarked.’
‘Then that means danger for the King.’
‘But if someone had secreted themselves at the manor with the aim of harming the King, would they then advertise their presence by attacking or killing people at St Mary’s?’
Maleverer nodded, stroking his black beard again, then gave a little grunt of laughter. ‘You have some brains, lawyer. I’ll give you that. Though after losing those papers your name will be mud among those who rule us. There may yet be repercussions for you.’ He smiled coldly. ‘You would probably rather go back to London, I imagine.’
‘Yes,’ I replied.
‘Afraid whoever knocked you out may try again, perhaps. Well, too bad, you’ll stay here unless I am told differently. And you’ll stay in charge of Broderick.’ There was a spatter of rain at the window and Maleverer looked out irritably. ‘The King will not wish to ride in this, he and the Queen will be in their litters, it will slow everything down. Ellerton!’ He shouted for a clerk, so loudly I jumped, and ordered the man to have his horse made ready. ‘You,’ he addressed us, ‘tell Leacon to arrange a guard of men to bring Broderick over. They’re to take a cart, tie him inside and cover it. I don’t want him seen in the city. You two can accompany him, see him to the cell. And as few as possible are to know he has been brought here.’
WE LEFT, DESCENDING the staircase to the Great Hall. Here, amid the glowing tapestries, painted ceilings and buffets shining with gold plate, cleaners were at work. With brushes and pans they cleared the last wood shavings and dust away, making sure the place was spotless. I saw Master Craike standing by the wall, shuffling papers piled on his portable desk. I could not help reflecting that if there was anyone whose wanderings about the precincts of St Mary’s would attract no notice, it was him. And no one would have easier access to keys, to the monastic church or anywhere else.
‘Good day, sir,’ I called to him. ‘All is ready?’
‘Ah, Master Shardlake, and young Barak.’ He looked at us a little uneasily, I thought. ‘Jesu, sir, you have a great bruise there.’
‘Ay, tho’ ’tis my neck that hurts.’
‘I am sorry for that, sir. Do they know who did it?’
‘Not yet. How does your work proceed?’
He sighed. ‘It is all a nightmare. I have been up since three finalizing all that must be done before tomorrow. Master Dereham, the Queen’s secretary, says he has been allotted a place at York’s best inn.’ He pulled a document from the desk and held it up. ‘It turns out not. There will be a great brabble about it.’
‘Master Dereham? A tall young popinjay in gaudy clothes? We saw him yesterday.’
‘He is a ruffian, but an old friend of the Queen’s from her youth in Horsham. She wanted him as her secretary. And what the Queen wants, she gets.’