Page 41 of Death of a Courtesan
Chapter Nine
Riley and Salter returned to the Yard, mulling over what they had just learned for the duration of the journey.
‘This Clement,’ Salter said. ‘I find it hard to believe that the man Stout heard shouting the odds in a tavern was actually a wine merchant based somewhere like Dover Street.’
‘Perhaps there is more than one Clement. Stout insisted that he man he heard ranting hailed from Billingsgate, and he is almost never wrong. However, we shall investigate tomorrow and doubtless discover what’s what.’
‘It can’t be a coincidence, Adelaide being seen in the company of a vintner,’ Salter said as they arrived at the Yard and made their way to Riley’s office. ‘Your theory about her striking back against her family’s stronghold is looking more and more likely.’
‘No, Jack, it’s no coincidence.’ Riley threw himself into his chair and took a moment to consider the matter. ‘The more I learn about her background the more convinced I become that she was intent upon seeing her entire family destroyed. She lived and, it seems, died thirsting for revenge.’
‘She intended to undermine her family’s business?’ Salter looked dubious. ‘How would a slip of a girl manage that? I don’t care how knowledgeable she was or how much money she’d accumulated, she still wouldn’t be taken seriously.’
‘She would not have had enough capital to set up in competition. Huxton’s Vintners supply a lot of the gentlemen’s clubs and private residences that can afford quality produce—but still, she clearly had something in mind. Since we are unable to ask her, hopefully Clement will enlighten us when we speak to him.’ Riley yawned behind his hand. ‘Go home, Jack. I will see the superintendent alone.’
‘Don’t you want to see Tennyson today and ask him about his criminal record?’
‘It can wait. Everything can. We know from the reports submitted by Peterson and his colleagues left inside Mrs Sinclair’s establishment that nothing untoward happened there after our departure. Tennyson is still carrying on with his usual duties and the girls are twiddling their thumbs, bemoaning their lack of income. We’ll make Tennyson our first visit tomorrow and then give Mrs Sinclair permission to reopen. Who knows, perhaps the perpetrator will want to see what effect his handiwork has had on business. Stranger things have been known to happen. After seeing Tennyson and Mrs Sinclair we’ll call upon Adelaide’s brothers and then the mysterious Clement.’
‘Right you are then, sir. Good night.’
‘Good night, Jack. My regards to your wife.’
Riley made his way to the superintendent’s office to give his promised daily report. He explained that Carter and Soames had interviewed Adelaide’s other clients on the night in question but neither had anything to say that would help the enquiry. All that concerned them was keeping their name out of things since they were both married men with reputations to protect. He then went on to tell his superior about his visit to the Huxtons and Mrs Arnold’s revelations regarding a second man by the name of Clement who just happened to be a vintner. Thompson listened without interrupting—a feat that had always eluded Danforth— who felt the need to exert his authority by questioning or contradicting whatever Riley told him.
‘You believe the girl told the truth about her uncle?’ he asked.
‘What I believe, sir, doesn’t signify. I think Adelaide was an intelligent young woman out for revenge against a family that had let her down. How, I have yet to decide but hopefully a visit to Clement in the morning will shed some light.’
‘You are satisfied that Danforth didn’t kill the girl?’
‘I can’t see that he had any reason to unless, of course, she attempted to blackmail him. If she was foolish enough to try it we will never be able to prove it, but as I say everything I have thus far learned about the girl points to her being anything other than foolish.’
‘It would give Danforth a compelling motive though.’
‘True, but the moment he felt threatened by Adelaide, he could have used his position here to act swiftly and decisively.’
‘Shut the establishment down, you mean?’ Thompson nodded, not waiting for a response. ‘Or simply make Adelaide disappear.’
‘Precisely. If he had reason to kill her, he would surely have found a less obvious way of doing so. He’d hardly draw attention to killing her on a night when he’d know his presence there would come to light. In my view the chief inspector is guilty only of lack of judgement. This killing was symbolic. Someone wanted her found in order to send a warning or cause maxim embarrassment for Mrs Sinclair.’
‘It could have been one of Sinclair’s rivals, you think?’
Riley shrugged. ‘Anything’s possible.’
‘It’s a damned mess.’ Thompson shook his head. ‘Anyway, I can’t see any way back from this for Danforth, no matter what the outcome.’
‘He’s never tried to make himself popular, so if his involvement does leak out he can’t expect an easy time of it.’
‘I might have to move him back into uniform and put him in another division.’
Riley made no response, aware that the superintendent was thinking aloud rather than asking for his opinion.
‘Right, Rochester, I’ll leave things in your capable hands. Report to me again tomorrow.’
‘I will do that, sir,’ Riley said, standing. ‘Good night.’
By the time Riley reached home, his thoughts had moved from his current investigation and now dwelt upon the uncomfortable state of affairs between himself and Amelia. It was a situation that he would have to rectify before they arrived at his sister’s soiree. How, he had yet to decide. He bathed and changed in a state of considerable distraction, secure in the knowledge that Stout would attend to his duties without interrupting his cogitations.
