Page 58 of Ghost in the Garden
Having reluctantly seenConstance into a hackney to return to the Lamberts’ house, Solomon drowned his misgivings by questioning all the hackney drivers at the stand, including the new ones as they turned up. It was time consuming but instructive.
It was dark by the time he arrived back at the office to find the lamps lit and both Janey and Knox drinking tea in her tiny office.
“Any callers?” he asked casually, having established that Juliet Silver was no longer on the premises, although her trunk and bags remained in Constance’s parlor.
“No,” Janey said, “but there’s a note on your desk. Cup of tea, guv? I mean sir.”
Solomon accepted. “Did you manage to keep Mrs. Lambert in sight? Where did she go?”
“Around a load of buildings and offices. The offices is mostly landlords, Mr. Knox says, and the buildings tenements you wouldn’t even want your enemies living in.”
“Did she go to Gregg’s office?” Solomon asked, perching on a corner of the desk.
“Nah, nothing half so respectable looking.”
“What was she doing? Was she buying property for her husband?”
“Maybe, or just seeing what’s available. She had that big cove with her most of the time, and also another she picked up at one of those offices. She seemed to be looking over the buildings quite thoroughly.”
“Looking for dangerous flaws?” Solomon speculated. Constance seemed to be right that Angela was concerned by the St. Giles disaster.
“Yes,” Knox said. “Partly. Pretty sure she was collecting rents too. Fraser does that in the St. Giles properties, but these others were all over the place. Whitechapel, Cheapside.”
“Did she go into Devil’s Acre?”
Knox shook his head. “Lamberts aren’t that daft. They come from there. If one of their buildings collapsed in the Acre, they’d get rough justice right away. I doubt they own anything there. Too risky. I suspect her visits today were to minimize risk as well as collect the rents.”
“Is that why she came to your building in St. Giles?”
“Maybe. Or seeing if she could cram in more people. My Cathy spoke to her, said she listened and was sympathetic. But nothing happened.”
“Was Lambert there too when your wife spoke to her?”
“No, they never came at the same time. Lambert only came to see Fraser. Then the rent usually went up.”
“Although Gregg was your landlord.”
“Officially. Lambert’s always liked other people to do his dirty work, keep him out of trouble. Especially now he thinks he’s respectable.”
Which was one of the many things that made Solomon uneasy. Even if Lambert hadn’t killed Gregg with his own hands, why would he have had it done in his own house? Why hide the body there so long? Even if one of his staff had overstepped and done the killing without permission, why would they have left Gregg in the wine cellar, where only Lambert went?
Lambert and Duggin, the “butler.”
A sudden chill shook Solomon. He really didn’t want Constance in that house for another night.
*
In the kitchen,Alfie Duggin heard the knock on the door and glanced up from his tea to see Angela’s girl, Silver, breeze through the open door.
“Has she rung?” Silver asked, taking off her hat and coat.
“Not yet,” Ida said. “She’s only just in herself.”
“I’ve got time to put these away, then,” Silver said, heading for the stairs.
“Might even have time for a quick cup of tea,” Ida said kindly to her back.
“Come on, then, you’ve all had your tea,” Duggin said to the remaining staff. “Jump to it. Here. Pat.” Duggin stood to corner the “footman” and lowered his voice. “Keep your eye on her.”
