Page 36 of Death of a Courtesan
Chapter Eight
Riley smiled at Maynard’s shocked expression.
‘All the men she entertained whom we have thus far spoken with say the same thing about her rules. Penetration was not permitted. She didn’t even like to be touched.’ Riley lifted one shoulder in a negligent shrug. ‘It seemed like a logical explanation.’
‘How on earth could she have risen to the position of authority that she held in that brothel if she was a virgin?’ Salter asked, shared a perplexed look with Maynard.
‘Perhaps because of that very thing,’ Riley said. ‘She was intelligent, we already know that much. Something, probably an advance of a sexual nature that appalled her, drove her away from home when she was only fifteen and most likely hardened her attitude towards men in general. She was a pretty girl, remember, so she had probably been receiving more than her share of attention for several years. Her mother was influenced by her sister-in-law not to believe her version of events when she reported the unwanted attention so she decided to get her revenge on the male sex in general. She got into flagellation somehow. She would have heard about it when Mrs Sinclair took her under her wing and recognised it as a means of venting her anger. She would defile men, make them dependent uponher,and then laugh in private at their perversions. But none of them would touch her, body or soul.’
‘Well, Lord Riley,’ Maynard said. ‘It sounds to me as though you have your work cut out in discovering which of her victims decided to take his revenge. I will allow Mr Huxton to identify his daughter and then they are all yours.’
‘Send them to me in your office when they’ve finished, if you please. Salter, arrange transportation for Huxton and his brother. They will be coming back to the Yard with us for a frank conversation once they’ve done the necessary here.’
And so it was, an hour later, that both men sat, looking somewhat stunned, in separate interview rooms.
‘I say,’ Huxton said when Riley and Salter entered his room first. ‘What’s the meaning of keeping us here like suspects?’
‘I understand you identified your daughter,’ Riley replied calmly. ‘Once again, please accept my condolences on your loss.’
Huxton, whose eyes looked red and swollen, nodded. ‘Thank you.’ A tear trickled from the corner of one eye but he didn’t seem aware of it. ‘I wish I could understand how things came to such a sorry state. My daughter turning to prostitution, and now dead. My wife dead of a broken heart. My own life rendered meaningless. I should have done something… anything. I will always blame myself.’
‘You’ve had time to reflect since our conversation yesterday,’ Riley said. ‘Have you reached any fresh conclusions regarding your daughter’s reasons for leaving home?’
Huxton sighed. ‘Despite what’s happened, I cannot convince myself that my brother behaved inappropriate towards Mary. He insists that he did not and I believe him.’
‘Of course you do,’ Salter said derisively.
‘What do you mean by that, sergeant?’ Huxton’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. ‘Are you implying that I would take my brother’s part against my own daughter?’
‘I’m not implying anything, sir. I’m simply making a point. If you accept that your daughter told the truth and that none of you believed her, then you really must accept responsibility for subsequent events.’
‘It stands to reason that you would prefer not to think that badly of your own brother,’ Riley said, waving a placating hand towards Salter, who seemed to be allowing the parental side of his character to take precedence over interview technique once again.
‘I wasn’t there when the original allegation was made,’ Huxton said in a considering manner. ‘If I had been, Mary would have come to me with her accusations and the matter would have been resolved. Derek did not, would not, have overstepped the bounds of his responsibilities as an uncle, and no one will convince me otherwise. However, I suppose it’s possible that someone else did,’ he conceded.
‘She would unjustly accuse her own uncle?’ Salter asked in an incredulous tone.
‘I dare say she felt confused and afraid.’ Huxton shook his head, his voice reduced to a pathetic whisper. ‘If I had been there…’
‘Did you make enquiries when you first heard of her allegations?’ Salter asked. ‘Did you talk to the people who were closest to her?’ He leaned towards Huxton, his expression contemptuous. ‘Do you even know who her friends were?’
‘I was more concerned with trying to find my daughter than delving into her affairs, sergeant. Surely you can understand at least that much.’
Salter sat back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, lingering contempt in his expression.
‘For what it’s worth, if you had been there, the allegation probably wouldn’t have arisen,’ Riley remarked.
‘What do you mean?’ Huxton leaned forward. ‘Are you implying that my daughter lied in an effort to draw attention to herself?’ He shook his head. ‘She would not have done that.’
‘Then it follows that she must have told the truth,’ Salter pointed out.
‘As I say, it might be possible that someone she knew but didn’t want to name overstepped the bounds—’
‘Then why accuse her uncle?’ Salter asked. ‘She must have known how much trouble that would create for him and her. Why not simply remain quiet?’
Huxton dropped his head into his hands. ‘You can have no idea how ardently I wish I could give you an answer to that question. I think of little else. Sometimes I think I have completely lost my mind…’
‘Did your daughter and your brother have a congenial relationship?’ Riley asked.
