‘I understand.’
‘I don’t think that you do, Lucas.’
‘Then make me understand.’
‘I didn’t come to burden you with my troubles. I just want to take my place alongside you all during this time of trial.’
‘We’re delighted to see you,’ he said, releasing her. ‘Stanley may appear distant but he’s always had difficulty showing his emotions. In her own way, I’m certain, Agnes still loves you enough to want you here. As for Mother …’
‘What does the doctor say about her?’
‘He’s not very sanguine.’
‘She seems to have shrunk and lost all her spirit.’
Lucas nodded. ‘It’s only a matter of time.’
In the wake of the visit to the Derby Works, the priority was to get medical attention for Edward Tallis. He was evidently in distress and could not place much weight on one foot. Maurice Cope felt obscurely responsible for the mishap and wanted to make amends. He sent for a doctor to attend the patient then helped Colbeck to support the superintendent as he was taken to an office. Cope withdrew and left them alone. Tallis was in obvious pain but bore it well. His anger was reserved for the blast of the steam whistle that had caused the accident.
‘It’s my own fault,’ he confessed. ‘I should never have been misguided enough to go into that mechanical Hades. It was one long, cruel, ear-splitting obstacle course.’
‘One has to keep one’s eyes peeled,’ said Colbeck.
‘I only came because it gave me an opportunity to appraise Haygarth and that cringing, over-polite henchman of his. I endorse your opinion of both of them.’
‘Let’s not worry about that now, sir. Your injury takes precedence.’
‘I’ve had far worse.’
‘Indeed, you have, Superintendent. In Exeter, you were stabbed in the arm.’
‘Such things happen in the line of duty.’
Though Tallis was trying to brush the incident aside, Colbeck remembered the bravery he’d shown in trying to foil the escape of a prisoner. On that occasion, too, the superintendent had been more concerned with the inconvenience caused by the injury than the associated pain.
‘You forget that I was in the army,’ said Tallis. ‘One is almost bound to suffer injuries in action. Like any trained soldier, I learnt to shrug them off.’
‘You’re much older now, sir.’
‘What’s that got to do with it?’
‘Nothing,’ said Colbeck, seeing his eyes flash. ‘Nothing at all.’
Cope popped into the room to see if the patient was comfortable and to issue another string of apologies that the accident had occurred. Since he’d been in charge of showing the two men around, he felt that he was partly to blame. After treating them both to an ingratiating smile, Cope went out again.
‘Thank heavens he’s gone,’ said Tallis. ‘I hate sycophancy.’
‘I undertake never to lapse into it,’ promised Colbeck with a smile.
‘Are you being ironic?’
‘It’s wholly foreign to my nature, sir.’
‘Poppycock!’
‘We haven’t really discussed your visit to Melbourne,’ said Colbeck, changing his tack. ‘What was your estimate of Gerard Burns?’
‘He was shifty and disrespectful. I’m fairly certain he’s the killer.’
‘Why didn’t you place him under arrest?’
‘I chose to stand off for a while,’ explained Tallis. ‘It transpires that the prime minister is arriving to stay at the house in a few days’ time, and he is justifiably proud of his gardens. I didn’t wish to incur Lord Palmerston’s displeasure by putting his head gardener in custody when we don’t yet have enough evidence for a jury to convict Burns.’
‘I’ll keep looking for that evidence, sir.’
‘You’ll have to, Inspector. I can’t dash around the countryside here. I need to be back in London with my foot up.’
‘That’s the best place for you,’ said Colbeck, suffused with a sense of relief.
‘You sound as if you’re glad that I had that accident.’
‘Then the pain may have distorted your hearing, Superintendent.’
It was not long before Cope entered with the doctor he’d summoned earlier. Colbeck took the opportunity to slip out and make his way quickly back to the hotel. Arriving in haste, he almost bounded up the stairs. When he let himself into his room, he expected a greeting from Madeleine but he was disappointed. Stretched out on the bed, she was fast asleep.
On his way back to the railway station, Victor Leeming caught sight of the vicar, talking to Superintendent Wigg. He waited until the conversation had finished. When the vicar walked away, Leeming moved in swiftly to intercept the other man. His attitude to the two superintendents was markedly different. While he tended to cower in front of Tallis, he was prepared to be more outspoken with Elijah Wigg.
‘What brings you here?’ he asked.
‘Someone has to solve this crime, Sergeant, and — for all your credentials — you and the inspector seem wholly unequal to the task.’
‘That’s because we’ve had so little help from the local constabulary.’
‘We can’t help if you don’t take us into your confidence.’
‘You know every move we’ve made, Superintendent.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Wigg, ‘but only because I’ve had reports from my men. Neither you nor Inspector Colbeck have had the courtesy to keep me abreast of every new initiative you’ve taken.’
‘Events sometimes move too fast for us to do that.’
‘That’s a lame excuse, Sergeant.’
Leeming was irritated. ‘When we need you, sir, we’ll call on you.’
‘And how long will it be before that happens?’ asked the other, teasingly. ‘My feeling is that time is running out for you. Haygarth’s patience will soon be exhausted. He’ll see that it was a mistake to bring you from London and he’ll hand the case over to someone who knows this county and its people far better than you ever could.’
‘You are right about that, Superintendent. There’s only so much I wish to know about Derbyshire and I’ve almost reached that point. But if you’re in the mood to solve a murder,’ said Leeming, daring to provoke him, ‘why don’t you start with the one that took place in this village three years ago?’
‘That case is under review.’
‘It’s good of you to be so honest about your blunders, sir. If the case remains open, you keep reminding people of your failure. Most constabularies try to bury their mistakes and flaunt their successes. That means they have to be on good terms with the editors of their local newspapers, of course.’
Wigg was roused. ‘What are you implying?’
‘I merely made an observation, Superintendent.’
‘If you bandy words with me, I’ll complain to the Inspector.’
‘Then I must make a confession,’ said Leeming. ‘The observation was not mine. I was only quoting what Inspector Colbeck said to me. He thought you were unhealthily close to a certain editor.’ He enjoyed Wigg’s irate gurgle. ‘By the way, did you know that Philip Conway is being moved away from Spondon?’
‘The movement of reporters is of no concern to me.’
‘It ought to be. Mr Conway has been far more useful to us in this village than any of the six constables who live here. He knows how to dig out the little secrets that people prefer to keep hidden.’
‘I don’t care two hoots about Conway.’
‘Then why did you have him shifted from this village?’
‘I did nothing of the kind,’ said Wigg, whiskers bristling.
‘Someone used his influence with the editor.’
‘I resent that charge, Sergeant. I’m on good terms with the Mercury because I know the important part that a newspaper can play in the war against crime. The facts that I provide for publication are there to inform and reassure people. Any responsible constabulary would do the same.’ He jabbed Leeming in the chest. ‘Take back that vile slur you made against me. I did not have Conway moved.’
‘Then we must be mistaken,’ said Leeming, feeling that he’d prodded the man far enough. ‘If I offended you, sir, I apologise. But we would be grateful to hear all the evidence you and your men have so far gathered.’