Page 21 of Needs Must
Such things happened often.
He knew so frustratingly little about Donna Harte, mainly because she had volunteered almost nothing about herself, which was unusual enough to have attracted Cal’s interest.
And held it.
Most of the ladies he encountered lost no time in boasting about their myriad accomplishments. Cal did not even know Mrs Harte’s maiden name, but he was sure that she was a lady of quality. Well, as sure as he could be. At that precise moment he was having trouble trusting his own judgement.
‘Did you meet this man Harte?’ Cal asked, pulling his thoughts back to the here and now.
Bagshott nodded. ‘Through another man. He was very enthusiastic about becoming involved and was responsible for introducing others.’
‘Was he a gentleman?’ Jules asked.
‘Harte?’ Bagshott paused to consider his response. ‘He certainly had aspirations to become one,’ he eventually said. ‘Ambition burned through his veins. I could sense it, but no, he was not top drawer.’
‘Do you have a direction for him?’ Jules asked.
‘Somewhere in Chichester, I believe.’ Bagshott waved a hand. ‘I don’t precisely recall, but I doubt he’s still there now. I suspect that he’s intelligent enough to know that one does not issue threats and leave oneself open to confrontation on any terms other than one’s own. He would hardly make himself a target by sitting passively by in his own home, waiting for me to confront him.’
‘He’s a coward?’ Jules asked.
‘He’s a murdering bastard!’ Bagshott spat in response. ‘And, one assumes, a coward too. Otherwise he would confront me in person and discuss his grievances man to man.’
Chichester, Cal thought. Could the close proximity of that city to Arndale village be the reason why Mrs Harte had chosen to settle here? But if so, why? And more to the point, why live in poverty? It was totally baffling. And gave Cal pause. Angry and disillusioned he might be, but he would offer the lady the opportunity to explain herself before condemning her outright.
‘What other men made trouble for you?’ Jules asked. Cal nodded his approval. It was a good question.
‘There were four, but none of them apart from Harte are still alive. One I told you about earlier. He blew his brains out, poor fellow. The other two died of natural causes. I kept my eye on them, so I know that for a fact.’
‘What more can you tell me about Harte?’ Cal asked.
‘I took a dislike to him,’ Bagshott admitted without hesitation. ‘He was arrogant and self-assured. A handsome dog who seemed to think that the world owed him a living. He certainly thought well of himself. I’ll tell you this much, I have never met a man in possession of such fierce ambition before, which is saying something.’
‘He went to Jamaica, I believe,’ Cal said.
Bagshott nodded. ‘Yes, after the Rothstein fiasco and his thuggish threats, he made himself scarce.’
‘Which leads you to believe that he killed your wife.’
‘Precisely. I certainly wouldn’t put it past the cowardly cove.’ Bagshott ground his jaw. ‘He didn’t have the backbone to confront me, so he went after a softer target, leaving me to live with my grief and guilt for the rest of my days.’ He gave a mirthless chuckle. ‘As I said before, perhaps he realised that would be a greater punishment than actually killing me.’
‘Did he own property in Jamaica?’ Cal asked. ‘A plantation?’
Bagshott shook his head. ‘I heard it said that he managed one, which would have suited him down to the ground, wielding the whip – quite literally – and no doubt cooking the books.’
‘I should have thought that you would welcome a confrontation with the man who ruined your life,’ Cal said. ‘So why do you need me?’
‘I am not hiding behind you, my lord, if that is what you’re suggesting.’ Bagshott looked down his long nose at Cal, disgruntled. ‘This is my fight, and I would prefer for you not to be dragged into it.’
‘A little late for that. By coming to see me, youhaveinvolved me.’
Bagshott grunted. ‘A confrontation with Harte is long overdue, and I relish the prospect. But the man is more cunning than a fox and is out to make trouble. It’s clear that he knows how to bear a grudge. He is also charismatic. Members of both sexes gravitate towards him like bees to honey and if he and his entourage descend upon the area mobhanded, well ….’ He spread his hands. ‘This is your backyard so I felt you should be aware of the possibilities. Dissatisfaction among the hoi polloi has never been more pronounced, and men are easily influenced. The situation could become problematical.’
Making Cal aware of potential rabble rousers and admitting to what he had done had not been Bagshott’s real purpose, Cal realised. He had assumed that he’d be able to strong-arm Cal into fencing off his woodland in order to make it easier for the man to protect his own property. He had only told the absolute truth ? or his version of it ? when he realised that Cal would not be manipulated.
‘Very well,’ Cal said, ‘leave it with me, and let me know at once if you hear from Harte again. I will have people looking out for strangers and will increase my keepers’ patrols on the boundary with the woods.’ Cal stood, indicating that the interview had run its course, and held out a hand.
‘Good of you, all things considered,’ Bagshott said, taking Cal’s hand in a firm grasp.
