Page 67 of Death of a Courtesan
‘None taken. Just so long as it isn’t any of my murderers you’re attempting to acquit.’
‘Isaac knows better than to take on anyone charged by you. Unlike some of your colleagues, you make sure of your facts before preferring charges.’
Riley inclined his head in acknowledgement of the ambitious young barrister’s compliment. ‘Thank you.’ He paused. ‘I think.’
‘Riley came looking for a favour, Tom,’ Olivia said, ‘and we thought you might be able to help him.’
Tom gave an affable smile. ‘If I possibly can. Not that I would ordinarily go out of my way to help the police. It goes against the grain, don’t you know, but I’m willing to make an exception in your case.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
Despite his avowed aversion to representing defendants arrested by Riley, there was still an outside possibility that Tom might defend whoever was charged with Adelaide’s murder. For that reason Riley didn’t go into detail about his investigation and knew that Jake and Olivia wouldn’t enlighten Tom either. He merely asked if there was a way to discover who represented a murder victim’s interests.
‘I would imagine a query to the law society might bear fruit,’ Riley finished by saying. ‘But, frankly, it would take too long for one of my detectives to plough through all the red tape. Olivia suggested that you might know a way around the system.’
‘I know a few people in the clerks’ office. Do we know what name the girl used?’
‘Ah, I see what you mean. I suppose she would have had to use her legitimate name if she wanted her affairs to be equally legitimate but I very much doubt if she gave her family’s address. And I know for a fact that nothing of a legal nature arrived for her at Maiden Lane, so we must assume that she used an accommodation address.’
‘I’ll see what I can do and get back to you tomorrow.’ Tom took no notes but Riley knew he would remember all the important points without referring to them. ‘Will that be soon enough?’
‘Better than I hoped for.’
‘Anything for the services of law and order,’ Tom replied with a wry smile.
‘We’ll make a prosecutor of you yet,’ Riley joked.
‘Not a chance. No money in it.’
Riley laughed. ‘Ever heard of job satisfaction?’
‘Can’t say that I have.’
Riley stood shortly thereafter to take his leave, feeling reenergised now that he had a new line of enquiry to pursue. Olivia’s suggestion could very well work, and Riley was annoyed because he hadn’t thought of it himself.
‘Don’t forget that you are engaged to dine with us tomorrow evening,’ Olivia said, smiling at him when Riley again took her hand and kissed the back of it.
‘I look forward to it,’ he assured her.
And, he thought, as he sauntered along the now thankfully dry pavements, he looked forward to spending an evening in Amelia’s company even more.
