‘It is as well that you did not. We already have three murders on our hands.’
‘I know I have been incredibly foolish in taking the money, but that is all I have done Mr. Ravenscroft, I swear to you. I did not kill any of those three men,’ implored the warden.
‘What about the newspaper containing the railway article Mr. Armitage?’
‘Yes. Of course I read the item, and I did indeed mark it in the paper. I did have words with Pitzer about his being both a trustee and a director of the railway company, but he just smiled and assured me that the inmates would be taken care of.’
‘Did you believe his assurances? Your sister says you became very angry.’
‘No, I just thought that all he was interested in was making money. Money, Mr. Ravenscroft, is what makes Malvern run. All they are interested in there, is in making money, and whether it is taken from the water cure patients, or made out of the building of new houses or railways, it makes no difference. Yes, I became bitter; bitter because a lot of good people were going to be made homeless in this obsession with money.’
Ravenscroft thought hard for a moment or two. Armitage had finally admitted his opposition towards the new railway company in general, and towards Pitzer in particular, but he now began to wonder whether such dislike could have led the warden to have committed the murders he was investigating. Perhaps his own desire to protect Lucy was arguing against such a possibility? But then if Armitage had not murdered Pitzer and his colleagues, then who had? Finally he turned to Armitage and addressed him. ‘Mr. Armitage your sister is in great need of you. She has been through a great deal. It was not easy for her to tell me of her situation. You are very close — and it is because of that I have decided to release you, for the present. However I must emphasise that you remain under grave suspicion of the murders of Pitzer, Sommersby and Gladwyn. When new evidence comes to light it may exonerate you from all implication and blame. I will only release you however, if you give me your solemn promise that you will not try to leave the area. You are to remain at either your sisters or at the almshouses. Do I make myself clear?’
‘Yes. I thank you — and yes you have my word, that I will not leave the area,’ said Armitage looking directly at Ravenscroft.
‘Good — and you and your sister need not concern yourselves anymore with Mr. Troutbridge. I will make sure he will be of no further trouble to you. You are not, on any account, to go anywhere near him,’ said Ravenscroft standing up.
‘You will have my word, Inspector.’
The two men shook hands.
Ravenscroft led Armitage from the room and reunited him with his sister. ‘Miss Armitage I am releasing your brother for the present, on condition that he resides either with you, or at the almshouses,’ said Ravenscroft.
Lucy embraced her brother.
A few minutes later, Ravenscroft and Crabb escorted the brother and sister outside to the waiting cab.
‘Mr. Ravenscroft, — Samuel — I cannot thank you enough,’ said Lucy suddenly embracing Ravenscroft. ‘Oh, I am so sorry, I am embarrassing you,’ she said conscious that Crabb and her brother were watching, and quickly recovering her composure.
‘Take care of your sister, Mr. Armitage,’ said Ravenscroft, helping Lucy to mount the cab.
‘You can be well assured on that point, Inspector,’ replied the warden.
As the cab turned onto the roadway, a perplexed Ravenscroft was left wondering if he had done the right thing in releasing Armitage — and whether he would ever see Lucy Armitage again.
CHAPTER NINE
Ravenscroft faced Troutbridge across the table, and the two men looked at one another in silence for some moments.
‘Now then Troutbridge, you are in very serious trouble. We now know that you have been blackmailing Mr. Armitage and his sister, and have been receiving regular payments for your silence. A total reprehensible act which is only befitting the lowest dregs of our society,’ said Ravenscroft opening a folder of papers before him. ‘It is no good denying this — we know everything. Blackmail is a serious offence. The last person I put away for a crime similar to yours was given seven years hard labour. Add on the sentences for keeping a ferocious animal, and letting that animal attack a police officer, and we are looking at a minimum sentence of 15 years penal servitude. Do you know what that means Troutbridge? Well, I will tell you. You will be on the treadmill for twelve hours a day, or you will be breaking up stones out on the wilds of Dartmoor, or if you are fortunate enough you may be unpicking hemp for up to fifteen hours a day until your hands are little more than bloody stumps. I have known fit grown men physically stronger than you who have been broken within three years; many of them did not survive and died in prison.’
He could see the look of fear spreading across Troutbridge’s face. He told himself that it would not be long before he had the farmer where he wanted him. ‘I don’t think you will ever come out of prison. Your farm will be seized and sold up, your animals slaughtered. Is this what you want?’
‘What do you think,’ answered the other, still with a note of defiance in his voice. ‘If you knows everything, what else do you want?’
‘What I am going to do is to offer you a way out from this terrible mess you have got yourself into.’
Ravenscroft could see the look of puzzlement working its way across Troutbridge’s face. He looked down at his papers, letting his prisoner sweat for some moments before he continued. ‘There is one way in which you can help yourself, and one way only.’
‘What? I’ll do anything,’ replied Troutbridge eagerly. Ravenscroft knew that he had netted his quarry.
‘First — you will repay all the money you have taken from Armitage.’
‘I don’t have it.’
‘Then you must find it. You have one week from today to deposit the full sum with my constable at this police station. If the money is not forthcoming, your file will be reopened and you will face trial on the three counts I listed a few moments ago. Secondly, you will swear never to approach either Mr. Armitage or his sister ever again, and that you will never utter a word of what you know surrounding the birth of Miss Armitage’s son. Again, your file will be kept here, so that if there is any breach in this matter you will find yourself being rearrested and put on trial. Thirdly you have six months in which to sell your farm and leave the county. You must move at least one hundred miles away from Malvern. After six months I will inform my colleagues in the three counties that if they catch sight of you, you will be apprehended and sent to prison, straight away. These are my conditions. There will be no debate or questions asked. You either accept them now, or you will appear before the magistrates tomorrow morning.’
Ravenscroft closed his file and looked Troutbridge straight in the eye.
‘I suppose I don’t have a choice,’ muttered Troutbridge turning away, the look of anger still in his eyes.
‘That is where you are wrong. There is always a choice. It is up to us individually to see that we make the correct decisions. You have been offered a last chance to start anew, somewhere far away from here. You are a fortunate man. Tell me your answer now, or the offer will be withdrawn. I am a busy man,’ said Ravenscroft standing up suddenly, and indicating that the interview was at an end.