‘Let’s see if we can secure a cab,’ said Ravenscroft turning up the collar of his coat.
‘I don’t fancy walking down to the Link in this weather. The heavens look as though they are about to open up on us.’
The two policemen walked up onto the Terrace where they hailed a cab and set off for Gladwyn’s house. The rain began to fall more heavily as they set off.
A few minutes later they arrived at the doctor’s residence.
After climbing down from the cab, Crabb instructed the driver to wait, and rang the doorbell.
‘Yes sir. Can I help you sir?’ said the maid opening the door.
‘Inspector Ravenscroft and Constable Crabb, to see Doctor Gladwyn, if you please,’ said Ravenscroft attempting to shelter under the entrance porch. ‘We are expected.’
‘Sorry sir. Doctor Gladwyn has been called away on urgent business, to attend to a sick patient I believe,’ replied the maid.
‘That’s alright my girl, we’ll wait inside. I’m sure your master won’t be long,’ said Crabb.
‘I believe he has gone to Hollybush sir. He may be some time.’
‘At what time was he called out?’ inquired Ravenscroft.
‘It was about thirty minutes ago sir.’
‘Must have been after he had sent the letter to us,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘Can you tell me who it was who called at the house?’
‘Yes sir. He was a strange looking gent. Quite tall he was, dressed in a ragged overcoat — and yes sir, he was blind as well.’
‘Must have been the same fellow who we saw hanging about outside here the other day, Crabb. What happened when this man called? Do you remember? I am a police officer and it is important that we speak with your master as soon as possible,’ said Ravenscroft quickly.
‘Well sir. I remember the gentleman was quite agitated. He kept saying his wife was dying and could the doctor come urgently and try and save her. Doctor Gladwyn said he had to see someone else first, but the man was quite insistent that Doctor Gladwyn come immediately. He kept repeating that his wife would surely die if the doctor delayed. Finally the Doctor got out the horse and trap, and the two of them left together.’
‘Thank you. You have been most helpful. You say they set off for Hollybush?’
‘Yes sir,’ replied the maid looking concerned.
‘Where is this Hollybush Crabb?’
‘It’s a good few miles away from here — on the other side of the hills sir. Just off the Ledbury to Tewkesbury Road — past the village of Eastnor. It’s near the Golden Valley, close to Raggedstone Hill. Should take us about thirty or forty minutes to get there sir,’ began Crabb
‘What was that you said?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘I said it’s on the Ledbury to — ’
‘No, what did you say after that?’
‘I said it’s near the Golden Valley, close to Raggedstone Hill.’
‘Raggedstone Hill,’ repeated Ravenscroft, deep in thought.
‘Yes sir,’ replied Crabb looking puzzled.
Ravenscroft thanked the maid, and the two men climbed back into the cab and gave instructions that the driver was to proceed with all haste in the direction of Hollybush.
‘Rather a coincidence that just after Gladwyn had sent us a letter, he should be called out to attend to a patient,’ said Crabb.
‘I find it more than a coincidence Crabb. I don’t like the sound of this blind fellow, who was hanging about the house the other day. I fear that Doctor Gladwyn’s life may be in danger. I’ll instruct the cab driver to go quicker. We are on urgent police business my man. Drive as quickly as you can!’
‘Old Patch will do his best sir. Weather is breaking up badly though. Are you sure you wants to go to Hollybush?’ inquired the driver.
‘We do indeed. A man’s life may be in danger.’
The cab sped on at a fast pace, travelling through the Terrace at Malvern, on past the Tudor, the Wyche Common, and Pitzer’s house, and out towards the Wells, spraying water onto the sides of the roads as it did so. The skies had now become black, and to Ravenscroft looking through the falling rain, the hills seemed to be taking on a more overpowering sinister appearance.
They past a number of elegant buildings before the cab made its way up a winding road, until they reached the top of the hill. Ravenscroft could just make out the outline of a large inn on their right hand side, and Crabb informed him that they had arrived at the British Camp.
‘This road will take us down towards Ledbury, sir,’ said Crabb.
After a few more turns the cab hurried quickly down the road that lead away from the hills. Ravenscroft could now barely see the sides of the road through the driving rain.
‘Not the best of days to be going out to Hollybush,’ shouted Crabb.
‘I thought the sun always shone on Malvern,’ said Ravenscroft.
The cab made a sharp turn to the left and they found themselves leaving the main road and heading out in an easterly direction along a country lane. After going through a small village and past a large house which was hidden from the road by a long tall wall, they found themselves climbing upwards again.
Suddenly their driver pulled up the cab. ‘Hollybush sir,’ he called through the noise of the falling rain.
Ravenscroft and Crabb alighted from the cab, and looked around. They appeared to be at a cross roads. To the left and right of them were large hills towering up into the mist and rain. Ahead of them the road seemed to drop sharply away from the range.
‘That’s Hollybush Hill over on our left sir, and I believe the other hill on our right is the Raggedstone,’ said Crabb closely clutching the top of his tunic around his wet neck.
Ravenscroft stared up at the forbidding hill on his right, and felt a cold shudder travel down the spine of his back.
‘Are there any cottages around here that you know of my man?’ asked Crabb.
‘There’s one er two further on past church at Hollybush, and one down track there,’ replied their driver pointing in the direction of the Raggedstone.
‘Let’s try that one first’ replied Ravenscroft climbing back into the cab.
‘Right you are sir. Up there Patch!’
The cab turned off the road and made its way along the bumpy track, the two men straining to see if they could see any other signs of life at the base of the hill.
Suddenly Ravenscroft cried out ‘Over there. I can see a building of some kind — and yes there is horse and trap in front of it!’
‘Could be Gladwyns sir,’ said Crabb anxiously.
As their cab came to a sudden halt and the two policemen jumped down, and ran over to the empty trap.
‘This looks like a medical bag of some kind,’ said Ravenscroft holding up the article in question from the seat of the trap. ‘Now where is Gladwyn?’
‘Over here sir!’ called out Crabb running towards the old stone cottage.
‘God, we are too late!’ exclaimed Ravenscroft.
Lying on the ground, face down, was the body of a man.
Ravenscroft quickly turned him over. ‘It’s Gladwyn — and look here there is blood on the side of his head where he has been hit by a weapon of some kind.’
‘This is it sir,’ said Crabb picking up the item from the ground ‘There’s still blood on it. Whoever killed him used this stone, and then threw it to one side.’
‘The cottage Crabb! Our murderer may still be inside. Draw your truncheon and follow me,’ said Ravenscroft racing up the path. Upon reaching the door of the cottage he lashed out with his leg and kicked it open.
The two men rushed inside. Ravenscroft looked frantically around the empty room.
‘Looks as though he’s got away sir,’ said Crabb.
‘Quickly! Outside!’ instructed Ravenscroft, turning on his heel.
The two men ran up the path towards the trap.
‘Look around you, Crabb. Whoever killed Gladwyn must have left only minutes ago,’ said Ravenscroft looking around frantically in all directions. ‘We obviously passed no one on either the road, or the path coming here. Therefore our killer has either made his escape by going further down this track, or by climbing upwards to the top of the hill.’