Page 39 of Death of a Courtesan
Huxton looked confused by the question. ‘On occasion. Why do you ask?’
‘What type?’
‘Usually a carnation. A red carnation. It’s become a symbol of the family’s business. All senior employees wear them, including my brother and nephews.’
Riley and Salter exchanged a glance. ‘Your nephews are in London?’
‘They are.’
‘And will be in your London premises tomorrow as well.’
‘Yes.’
‘Tell them we will be calling to talk to them.’ Riley stood, indicating that the interview was over. ‘Thank you, Mr Huxton, you are free to go, but we will probably want to speak with you again.’
‘Anything I can do to help, inspector,’ Huxton replied, leaving the room with a speed that belied his desire to be of assistance.
‘He’s our man,’ Salter said with conviction. ‘And I ain’t saying it just because I don’t like him. That carnation proves it.’
‘It certainly casts doubts upon his account,’ Riley agreed as the two men made their way back to Riley’s office. ‘But it’s not enough to hang him. Not by any means.’
‘You think he’s our killer too, don’t you, sir?’
‘I believe he did make advances to the girl when her father wasn’t around, aware that his sister would take his side if Adelaide spoke out. We know Ruth Huxton disapproves of good looking women but is actively protective of the brothers she raised as though they were her own children. Ruth probably influenced Adelaide’s mother into not believing her daughter’s account, thinking that would be the end of the matter. But Adelaide had backbone and refused to be subjected to her uncle’s unwelcome attentions, so she left home.’ Riley threw himself into the chair behind his desk as he continued to articulate his thoughts. ‘She used her wits to accumulate a small fortune by exploiting men’s weaknesses, but she had a plan for her future and was, I suspect, on the point of enacting it.’
‘Is that why she was loitering outside her family’s warehouse? Do you think she knew her mother was dead?’
‘If she did, it would explain a lot of things. She would blame her uncle, her father, probably her brothers too for not protecting her and indirectly causing her mother’s demise, to say nothing of her own downfall into prostitution. We know she was vindictive, so where would she strike?’
‘At the seat of the family’s wealth. Its business empire,’ Salter said slowly. ‘You think she was going to try and undermine it? How?’
‘We need to talk to her brothers about that tomorrow. But, in my opinion, Adelaide had inherited brains as well as beauty and wouldn’t be held back by being a woman in a man’s world. We now know she leaned a lot about wine during her formative years and she probably planned to use that knowledge to exact the ultimate revenge against her family. Retaliation for what had happened to her and for her mother’s death.’ Riley shrugged. ‘It’s just a theory, and I don’t have a shred of evidence, but I can’t think of any reason why she would risk going anywhere near the family’s business premises otherwise.’
‘If we can find anyone who knew why she intended to leave Mrs Sinclair’s employ, then we will get a step closer to proving your theory, sir.’
‘Quite.’ Riley glanced at the clock and got to his feet. ‘It’s later than I realised. Let’s have a bite to eat, Jack, then a visit to Mrs Arnold in Half Moon Street is overdue, I think. If we can eliminate her as Adelaide’s reason for leaving Maiden Lane we will have taken a step forward.’
They arrived at Half Moon Street mid-afternoon, but Riley and Salter had difficulty in gaining an answer when they knocked on the door. On the point of giving up and returning later, they were eventually rewarded by the sound of bolts being drawn back. A burly individual stuck his head round the half-opened door and scowled at them.
‘We ain’t open until this evening,’ he said.
‘Police,’ Salter replied, sticking his foot in the door before the porter could slam it closed again. ‘Here to see Mrs Arnold.’
The man grumbled but allowed them access to a house similar in many respects to Mrs Sinclair’s establishment, albeit shabbier.
‘Wait in here,’ he said reluctantly, opening the door to a small salon. ‘I’ll tell her you’re here.’
Salter prowled around the room, muttering to himself. Riley spent the time cogitating upon what they had learned thus far, which was precious little. He had a disconcerting feeling that Adelaide’s murder might never be solved. The girl had learned to keep her feelings and aspirations to herself and didn’t confide in anyone, probably because she had tried speaking out to her family at the time of her greatest need, with such discouraging results. Someone, somewhere, had to know something that would point them in the right direction, he told himself in an effort to remain focused. Someone always did. It was simply a case of continuing to delve, pulling back the layers of deception until a clue leapt out at them.
Riley was aware that if he failed to solve the case, Danforth’s career would be at an end. His involvement with Adelaide would become known and cast permanent suspicion over his character, despite the fact that he hadn’t killed her. Well, Riley was satisfied that he didn’t kill her, but he could just as easily have done so. His innocence was as much in doubt as everyone else’s connected with the crime, until such time as Riley could prove otherwise. He disliked Danforth and had little respect for him. It would be easy to abandon him to the court of public opinion, but Riley’s conscience wouldn’t permit him to take the easy path. Besides, Adelaide deserved better than that.
‘You wished to see me.’
Riley looked up as the door opened and a woman who looked as though she had dressed in a hurry filled the aperture. He introduced himself and Salter, and established that she was Mrs Arnold, proprietress of the establishment. She looked to be in her early fifties, but the passage of time had not been kind to her. A heavy network of wrinkles marred her face and her hair was threaded with grey. Mrs Sinclair preserved her appearance and maintained a dignified demeanour. Mrs Arnold did not.
‘You want to speak to me about Adelaide, I suppose,’ she said, seating herself and waving Riley and Salter back to their own chairs.
‘You knew her?’ Salter asked.
