Page 46 of The Murder of Thomas Cardwell
“Well,” Gibson muttered, “other than stupidity.”
Ruth threw him a chiding look and continued, her voice firm with conviction, “The three of them will not be going to jail.”
Jordan added, “In the eyes of the police, Gibson, Harrison, and Josh ended up assisting the authorities. The information they provided was vital in allowing the police to shut down the scheme, arrest Chesterton, and prevent the latest consignment of guns from leaving our shores.”
Mrs. Cardwell fixed her faded-blue eyes on Jordan. She considered him as if weighing his assurances, then she nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Draper.”
The young maid appeared in the doorway and bobbed a curtsy. “Luncheon’s on the table, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Cindy.” Mrs. Cardwell looked at Jordan. “Please join us, Mr. Draper.” The vestige of a smile edged her lips. “Ifnothing else, your presence will ensure our good manners don’t allow us to sink into maudlin silence.”
Jordan suspected that prediction was accurate. He dipped his head. “I will stay on the condition that you call me Jordan.”
Again, Mrs. Cardwell studied him briefly, then her lips curved more definitely. “Jordan, then.” She rose, bringing everyone else to their feet. “Now, to the dining room. Regardless of the circumstances, we all must eat.”
Jordan offered Mrs. Cardwell his arm, and pleased, she took it, and they led the group to the dining room, which lay on the opposite side of the hall, toward the rear of the house.
He ushered Mrs. Cardwell to what was plainly her seat at the head of the oval table.
Settling into the carver, she waved him to the chair on her right, while Ruth moved to the next chair along, and Gibson and Bobby took the chairs opposite Jordan and Ruth.
The table was set with a cold collation comprising platters of cold meats, cheeses, and fruit plus a basket of buns and slices of fresh crusty bread. They all helped themselves, and in the occasional comment made by one or other participant, Jordan detected a note of customary family banter, subdued by the circumstances though it was.
Gibson sat directly opposite Jordan and was the quietest of those at the table.
Jordan had ample opportunity to study Gibson’s expression while they ate, and it would have been obvious to the meanest intelligence that Gibson was blaming himself for Thomas’s untimely demise.
A glance at Ruth confirmed that she, too, was seriously worried by the apparent direction of Gibson’s thoughts. Prompted by he wasn’t sure what, Jordan stated, “One of the issues within this case on which all the investigators—the Adairs as well as Inspector Stokes and myself—have unequivocallyagreed is that none of the Cardwells, or Harrison Moubray or Josh Keeble, are in any way to blame for Thomas’s murder.”
At that, Gibson, who had been staring, apparently unseeing, at his plate, glanced up.
Jordan caught his gaze and went on, “It might seem emotionally correct to imagine”—he threw Ruth a swift glance—“that Ruth setting Thomas on the trail of Gibson’s newfound income or”—Jordan switched his gaze to Bobby—“Bobby going to see Thomas or”—he returned his gaze to Gibson—“Gibson’s arrangements with Chesterton, or Harrison’s or Josh’s, in some way contributed to Thomas’s murder, but such thinking only serves to downplay the role of the man guilty of the crime.Hewas the one who met Thomas, went into Thomas’s office as a friend of sorts, then seized Thomas’s letter knife and stabbed Thomas.”
Jordan glanced at Mrs. Cardwell. “I apologize for such plain speaking, ma’am, but the only person who needs to feel deep and consuming guilt over Thomas’s death is that man.”
Mrs. Cardwell met his gaze and graciously inclined her head. “Thank you, Mr. Draper—Jordan. I believe that needed to be said.” Her gaze passed over the faces of her surviving children, then she stated, “To take on undeserved guilt is not a virtue, especially as, in this case, doing so denies the part Thomas himself played in the matter. We shouldn’t forget that he was seeking to bring about the best possible outcome for this family—that was forever and always his aim—while also doing right by the country, and we shouldn’t, by denying his responsibility for his own actions, diminish that.”
Those sentiments clearly gave her children pause.
Briefly reviewing the state of the investigation and considering what else he might share, Jordan realized there were several connections yet to be corroborated. Recapturing Gibson’s gaze, he said, “In fact, looking at where theinvestigation stands at this time, we’ve yet to prove that Thomas ever saw Chesterton or followed him to the warehouse and learned about the guns. At present, that’s all conjecture—simply the best explanation we’ve thus far stumbled on to explain Thomas’s action in appealing to my employer for assistance in contacting the authorities. It’s possible that what moved Thomas to make that appeal—the knowledge that actually led to his murder—was something else entirely.”
Gibson frowned. “So it might not be the gun-running scheme at all?”
“As I understand things”—Ruth threw Jordan a questioning glance—“what got Thomas killed might just as easily be something he learned about one of his clients or even someone else.”
Jordan nodded in agreement. The point called to mind the possible threat to Ruth herself.
Plainly curious, Bobby asked Jordan about how he came to work with the investigators.
Answering that question brought the issue of working for Roscoe into the open. Jordan glanced at Ruth, then at Mrs. Cardwell. “Although it’s not common knowledge, Roscoe was born to the nobility. My father was—still is—the man-of-business to Roscoe’s family, and when Roscoe left to come to London and establish himself here, I left my father’s practice and became Roscoe’s man-of-business. I’m responsible for keeping all his accounts—much as Thomas did for his clients.”
Gibson was frowning, following the tale. “But you have just one client.”
Jordan nodded. “Roscoe’s enterprises are extensive, and then there are all the other businesses that contract to his.”
“Like Hemingways’ Linens, who Thomas represented,” Ruth said.
Jordan continued, “Normally, day to day, I’m kept very busy, but in this instance, Roscoe decreed that I spend my time helping the investigators. Roscoe doesn’t approve of violence, especially perpetrated on someone he knew, even if his acquaintance with Thomas was through me.” Jordan paused, then with a faint smile added, “While I’m chasing the murderer, Roscoe’s lady is filling my shoes and keeping the books up to date.”
