‘We have indeed, Dean, but unfortunately the villain died before he was able to tell us anything regarding Evelyn and the Whisperie,’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘That is very unfortunate, as you say, Inspector.’
‘Tell me, Dean, what do you know about the Worcester Antiphoner?’
‘The Antiphoner? Ah, yes. Quite a remarkable work I believe. It should be somewhere in our collection, although I must admit that I have not seen the manuscript myself,’ replied Touchmore.
‘We think the work may have been lost some years ago,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Good heavens! I do hope not — first the Whisperie and now the Antiphoner. This is all very disturbing.’
‘We would like access to the library, if you would be so kind.’
‘Yes, of course, Inspector. I have the key here. Dear me. This is very upsetting,’ said the Dean, shaking his head and handing over a large key.
‘Thank you, sir, we will of course keep you fully informed.’
They made their way up the two flights of stairs, until they arrived at the door to the library, where Crabb unlocked the door.
‘I had forgotten how steep these steps really were,’ said Ravenscroft breathing hard, and mopping his brow. ‘I pity old Evelyn having to climb them every day.’
‘I see someone has swept up all the broken glass. Now, with such a vast collection, there must be some kind of index system. A ledger or some cards, or some such like. Look over there. I’ll take this side.’
The two men set to work. After a few minutes Ravenscroft lifted down a large ledger from one of the shelves. ‘Ah, here we are. What does this say on the front? Index to the collection. Now let’s see,’ he said, placing the large book on the desk and turning its pages. ‘Fortunately the manuscripts and books appear to be listed in alphabetical order, which should make things easier. Letter ‘A’ is at the beginning. ‘Ac. Am. Here we are — An. This is where the Antiphoner should be.’
‘It does not appear there, sir. Can’t have been part of the collection then,’ said Crabb shaking his head.
‘At first sight it would appear that your assumption is correct,’ said Ravenscroft, running his fingers along the edge of the page near the spine of the book. ‘But it is just as I thought. A page has been removed. If you run your finger along the edge here, it is quite rough. I think someone has cut out the page which gave details of the Antiphoner so that anyone who tried to look up the entry would find it not there and assume that the book had never been in the cathedral collection in the first place.’
‘Very clever, sir.’
‘So the Whisperie was not the first item to have been taken: the Antiphoner had also been stolen earlier!’
‘Then either Renfrew or Evelyn must have taken it.’
‘It looks like it. Either way, the work now appears to be in Renfrew’s collection. Of course, the manuscript could have been taken some years ago, and found its way to New York where Renfrew purchased it. I think we need to have urgent words with Dr Silas Renfrew and find out how exactly he acquired the item.’
Fifteen minutes later they alighted from their cab, outside the gates of Renfrew’s drive.
‘Wait for us here, my man,’ instructed Crabb.
The two men began walking up the driveway towards the imposing residence.
‘No good you asking there,’ said a voice from the garden.
Ravenscroft turned and saw a man with a garden fork in his hand, and a pile of weeds at his feet.
‘I am Inspector Ravenscroft and this is Constable Crabb. We are calling to see Dr Renfrew.’
‘No good there, as I just said. Master has gone away and shut up house.’
‘I see. When did he go?’
‘It were day before yesterday. Took Georgio with him, and sent the cook home. So it’s no use you knocking. All locked up,’ said the gardener, wiping his brow.
‘Do you know when he will be back?’
‘Don’t rightly know. End of week perhaps.’
‘I suppose you don’t have a key,’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘No. Master took all the keys with him. Anyway, it would be more than my job is worth to let you in, even if I had a key, which I don’t!’
‘I quite understand. Thank you,’ said Ravenscroft walking away.
‘Shall I say you called?’ shouted out the gardener.
‘No. We will come back later in the week when Dr Renfrew has returned.’
They mounted their cab, which swung out into the main road, to begin its descent back into Worcester.
‘We could get a warrant, sir.’
‘I don’t think Superintendent Henderson would allow us to do that, especially as we have no positive evidence that Renfrew stole the Antiphoner.’
‘We could always break in, sir.’
‘Constable Crabb, I don’t think I heard that,’ smiled Ravenscroft. ‘That would go down especially well with our superiors. No, we will just have to wait until he returns. Meanwhile, there is still more to find out about Cranston. He, too, may be in London, but it will not stop us from continuing with our enquiries. The birds may have flown Crabb, but remember that in time, they always return to their nests!’
INTERLUDE
LONDON
The small light flickered at the top of the steps as she made her way slowly upwards, treading carefully, not wanting to stumble in the darkness. She knew that he would be there, that he had carried out his task and that her vengeance could continue.
‘Come in!’ said the distant voice, as she pushed open the creaking door. ‘Shut the door and take a seat.’
It was the same dry, cold, clinical voice, with which she had grown familiar.
She made her way across by the light of the wavering flame on the table and sat down.
‘You were not followed?’
‘I kept to the dark alleyways; I was not observed. You have done well,’ she said, placing a small pouch of coins on the table.
‘Chapman was easy. There was plenty of time in the yard.’
‘You have the rings I asked you for? The newspapers mentioned that they had been taken.’
‘On the table, in the packet,’ instructed the voice.
She reached for the packet, opened it and tipped its contents on to the table. ‘Three brass rings.’
‘You have the extra payment?’
‘I have included it with the rest.’
‘Good. You wish me to continue with my work?’ The words came quickly and without emotion, as she had expected.
‘Of course, the name of your next victim is Elizabeth Stride. She lodges at 32 Flower and Dean Street. You will find it easy enough. I would desire you to bring me her ear-ring. I will pay you fifty sovereigns as before. I trust these terms are acceptable.’
‘They are, my lady.’
‘Then I will return exactly one week after you have carried out the deed,’ she said, collecting up the rings and replacing them in the packet.
‘That may not be possible.’
‘Why is that?’ she asked anxiously, fearing that Monk might not be prepared to carry out all that she desired.
‘I have other business to attend to.’
‘I see.’
‘Give me the name of one other. There may be an opportunity to remove her as well. Two on one night! Now that would be a challenge indeed!’
‘It would surely be too dangerous-’ she began.
‘I will be the judge of that!’ the voice snapped, ‘The fools have not caught me yet, and they never will. Give me the names of the others.’
‘There are to be two more. I will give you the name and address of your fourth victim, but not the last — she is the main cause of my hatred. I would have you prepare something different for her.’
‘As you wish.’
‘Catherine Eddowes. She lives with an Irish porter called John Kelly in Flower and Dean Street, but they are away from London at present, probably harvesting. You will have to wait for her return.’