In view of Peter’s evident inability to take notes for a while, he was despatched to the Abbey to inform Abbot Champeaux of developments. When he had gone, Holcroft gingerly took the sack from Baldwin.
“This Torre-did he have a wife or family? Was there anyone who might be able to recognize him from this body?”
Holcroft scratched his jaw. “Not really. He wasn’t local. Only came into town occasionally.”
They walked through the cookshop to the street. “So that is why he was not reported as having disappeared,” Baldwin said. “There was no one to miss him, poor devil.”
“No, sir.”
“Did you see him at the tavern?” Simon asked.
“Yes, he was there when I arrived; we drank together for a bit.”
“Did you see him get into a row or anything?”
“Well, he did have a problem with those Venetians staying with the Abbot. They were rushing out in a hurry, just as he was coming in and the youngster pulled his knife. But it was only a silly dispute, nothing much. Nothing to kill for. Torre just looked at the lad and walked away.”
“But the boy had almost drawn a blade,” Baldwin mused. “Italians can take such matters seriously. And they are prone to subtle means of revenge.”
“Was Torre alone after that?” Simon probed. He was sure the port-reeve was holding something back. He had a shame-faced look to him.
“He went with Lizzie for a while.”
“This ‘Lizzie’ is the same girl who was friendly with Elias?”
“She’s a prostitute in the tavern,” Holcroft explained.
The knight said, “Did you see Elias when he and his friend left the tavern?”
“No, sir, no I didn’t. Why?”
“Because the alewife told us that Elias and his friend left, then Elias came back shortly afterward. If he and Torre both enjoyed this girl ‘Lizzie,’ Elias might have become jealous. It has happened before. This might well give us a motive for the murder. Let us go and see her now.”
Holcroft swallowed hard. If Sir Baldwin could believe that Elias might have killed just because another man had taken Lizzie, what would the knight think if he heard about Holcroft’s own feelings toward the girl? “Sorry, sir, but she’s not here now. All prostitutes are outlawed during the fair.”
Baldwin asked blandly, “Really? You think she’s left the town, then?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Where does she usually live?”
“At the tavern.”
“Fine. Well, let’s go there, put this head with the body, and find out where she has gone.”
While Holcroft went out to reunite Roger Torre’s head with its body the others entered the tavern. It was busy as usual, and Simon had to force his way to a table. To his surprise, Baldwin stood talking to the watchman in the doorway before joining him. A few minutes later, the alewife appeared and took their order.
By the time Holcroft returned, his hands thoroughly washed, he was in need of strong ale. Carrying the sack with its revolting contents had been deeply unsettling.
Before she could hurry away with their orders, Baldwin asked Agatha, “Mistress, you have a girl working for you here, called Lizzie. I would like to speak to her.”
“I’m sorry, sir. This is fair-time. She’s not allowed in while the fair is on.”
“She is not here? That is a great shame. Do you know where she has gone?”
The alewife frowned, her attention moving from Baldwin to the port-reeve. “No, I have enough to do trying to keep my customers happy without worrying about the likes of her.”
She stormed out, and Holcroft stared pointedly at the knight. “See? I told you she wouldn’t be around. Prostitutes and lepers are banned during the fair.”
“I have a feeling that Agatha could help us more if she wished,” Baldwin said mildly. There was a delay for a few minutes, and then the alewife returned, carrying mugs and a jug. She set them down, mouth tightly pursed. “Agatha,” Baldwin said persuasively, “could you rack your brain to try to think where Lizzie might be staying now?”
“I can’t think,” she said firmly.
“I see.”
She gave him a suspicious look, which turned to anger as Daniel walked in gripping a smiling young woman by the elbow.
“What are you doing with her? What right do you have to-?”
“Sir Baldwin, I caught her trying to escape through the back door after this alewife had spoken to her,” Daniel announced.
“Thank you. Mistress, please fetch us another jug of ale, We will not keep your servant long.”
Holcroft was gaping. “But…but what are you doing here still, Lizzie? You were supposed to have gone hours ago.”
Simon glanced at him. “It’s all very well to ban prostitutes from the town while you hold your fair, but where do you expect someone to go when they have no relations and nowhere else to run to?”
“Agatha has some explaining to do,” Holcroft said heavily. “So do you, my girl.”
“No, not really,” said Baldwin reasonably. “After all, the whole idea is that prostitution should not be rife during the fair, and Agatha stopped Lizzie from plying her trade. However, being a Christian soul, she did not throw the girl out on the street. I think the Abbot would be delighted to hear that she had shown such mercy.”
Lizzie looked pointedly at the watchman’s hand on her arm. Baldwin waved dismissively. Daniel let her go and sat next to Holcroft.
“Lizzie, I am trying to find out who might have committed a murder,” Baldwin said, and explained about the body. As he spoke, Agatha returned and set a jug down, keeping an eye on Lizzie all the while. Simon could see she was nervous that she might be arrested and fined for keeping prostitutes during the fair. His attention returned to Baldwin as the knight continued, “He must have died not far from the inn’s doors. Did you hear or see anything last night? Someone calling for help-a struggle?”
“No, sir. Nothing.”
“Agatha? What about you?”
“Me, sir?” She threw Lizzie a quick look. “No, nothing.”
“I see. Were there many people in here last night?”
“I’ve already told you who was here and who wasn’t,” the alewife snapped. “Look, I’m busy. There are people here who want serving, and you asking questions isn’t going to help me pay my rent.”
Baldwin watched her as she flounced off among the throng, then looked up at the girl. “Lizzie, please sit down. This will not take long, but it would be discourteous to expect a woman to stand while her questioners all sit.”
Daniel moved over-a little too enthusiastically for Baldwin’s taste, and the knight threw him a sour look.
For the first time, Baldwin studied the girl. If he had to guess, he would say that she was a little over twenty, and very attractive; she had not yet lost the sheen of youth. She was a brunette, and her hair was chestnut with auburn tints where the light caught it. Her face was square but very feminine, and her lips were full and seemed to smile with an easy joy. Baldwin could easily understand how she could entice the men of the town. All too often he had noticed the harsh measuring look in the eyes of other women of her trade, but in Lizzie’s brown eyes all he could see was an ingenuous happiness which surprised and warmed him.
“You work from here?” he asked. Her eyes went immediately to Holcroft. “Er, Lizzie, I think the port-reeve would agree with me that the Abbot will not need to know too much about where you live and how you work. Abbot Robert is concerned about the murder of a man, and other things really do not worry him. Oh, and I seem to recall that the port-reeve will be retiring soon, and making way for a new man, is that not right?”
Holcroft gave a shrug. “I reckon the Abbot couldn’t care less about minor offenses when he has a dead body to account for, and there’s no need for me to trouble him with things he’s not worried about-and yes, I do retire in a few days, so I’m not going to make difficulties.”