“So you tore up the extortion note?” Marcsaid as they approached Jarvis Street.
“Wouldn’t you? It was vile andlibellous.”
“If we did have it, I could prove to JamesThorpe that this Duggan was a serious criminal and offered extremeprovocation. He did strike you in the thigh, you say?”
“Yes. But that was not the reason I struckout. I didn’t even bother to mention it in my statement.”
“That may have been unwise. This Duggansounds like a dangerous character. You say that Cobb indicated,before they released you, that Duggan was involved in a fracas lastweek at The Sailor’s Arms?”
“Yes. I saw it myself, and Mrs. Budge toldCobb about it after she saw Duggan’s body in the alley. She didn’tknow his name, though, till Nestor Peck identified him as hiscousin.”
“There’s something very strange about that.Nestor’s been a loner for years.”
“Chief Sturges is going to send Cobb out totalk to him, and do some further investigating.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t have to – at least asfar as you’re concerned.”
***
“Wilf here brought over these sworn statements andnotes about an hour ago,” James Thorpe was saying. “I’ve had achance to read through them and to question the chief and theconstable about points that needed clarifying. In addition I havein hand Dr. Withers’ report. Mr. Edwards has had ten minutes toperuse the documents on behalf of Mr. Langford. I take it then thatwe are ready to begin.”
Marc did not like the expression on themagistrate’s face. It was the look he got when the duty he feltbound to perform was truly painful. The interested parties wereseated before him in his comfortable chamber at the rear of theCourt House.
“We have Mr. Langford’s admission that he hada strong motive to silence Albert Duggan, that he lost his temperand knocked the fellow senseless. His own walking-stick was used toclub Duggan to death – two vicious blows that caved the back of hisskull in. Unless Mr. Langford is willing to retract his statementor materially alter it, I do not see why he should not be detainedas the most probable perpetrator of the crime.”
“But, sir, as I understand it,” Marc saidquietly, “there was a fifteen- or twenty-minute gap between thetime Mr. Langford fled the scene and the arrival of Constable Cobbthere. If Mr. Langford’s statement is the truth, then someone elsecould have come upon the unconscious Duggan and, for reasons yet tobe determined, picked up the abandoned walking-stick and finishedhim off.”
“And why, even if they should by incrediblehappenstance come upon the prone fellow, would they have reason tokill him?”
“An attempted robbery perhaps. With Duggancoming awake and trying to thwart it.”
“Pretty far-fetched, Marc.”
“It’s possible also that one or more of themembers of the Shakespeare Club was coming down the back stairsduring that critical twenty minutes, and got curious.”
“That’s preposterous,” Thorpe said. Althoughfair-minded and strict in his judicial role, Thorpe was also a highTory and protective of those who mattered. “What possible contactwould any of those gentlemen, fine citizens all, have with thelikes of Duggan, a drifter from Quebec, if I’m not mistaken?”
“I’m not suggesting they were involved in anyway, sir. But they may have seen or heard something that will helpexonerate Mr. Langford. For example, if one of them, while leavingthrough the cloakroom, saw Brodie strike Duggan on the cheek andflee up the alley, without bludgeoning him, then that would becritical testimony, would it not?”
Thorpe rubbed his chin. “I agree.” Lookingsomewhat relieved, he said, “So this is what I propose to do.Before I go to the Attorney-General, I’ll ask you, Wilf, to seekout corroborating or exculpatory witnesses and take theirstatements. Bring the results back here to me tomorrow morning atten o’clock. In the meantime, I’m going to have to detain Mr.Langford at the jail until that time.”
“Surely he could be released on bond?” Marcsaid.
“We’ll see about that tomorrow,” Thorpe said.The meeting was over.
Ten minutes later, Calvin Strangway thejailor took Brodie Langford by the arm and led him towards thetunnel that linked the Court House and jail.
“Jesus,” Cobb said, “I don’t like the looksof this.”
“Me neither,” Marc said.
SEVEN
Marc joined Sturges and Cobb as they walked downChurch Street towards City Hall.
“Cobb, I want you to track down any possiblewitnesses today an’ report to me by seven o’clock. I’ll have Gussielined up to take notes or prepare affidavits.”
“Don’t worry, Sarge. There’s no way Brodieclubbed a fella to death in cold blood. I’ll find the bugger thatdid it, an’ when I do, he’ll be lucky if I don’t do the same tohim.”
“I’m heartened to see you take investigatingseriously,” Marc said to his long-time associate in such work.“Deadly serious.”
“I’d advise you to let the hangman take careof the killer,” Sturges said to Cobb. Then he turned to Marc. “Butif you’re gonna be Brodie’s lawyer, you can’t be headin’ out withCobb to do the interrogatin’. It’s now a police matter.” This lastremark was uttered with a sigh of disappointment. Sturges hadabsolute faith in Marc’s ability to ferret out the most cunning ofmurderers.
“That may be so, Sarge. But if Marc was to dosome of his own private investigatin’ an’ we was to bump into oneanother whilst on the job, so to speak, it’d be silly to pretend weweren’t in the same place, wouldn’t it?”
“Well, Brodie hasn’t been formally charged,”Sturges said as they turned onto Front Street. “But I want you twoto be discreet, eh?”
“Tack-full, ya mean?” Cobb said.
“You know you can trust me,” Marc said.
“And I do, Marc. But you’ve got to promise mehere and now that if you learn anythin’ important – anythin’- you’ll not hold back on us.”
“Agreed,” Marc said, “unless Brodie isformally charged and I take him on as a client. After that, ofcourse, I’ll play the lawyer – by the book.”
Sturges left them to return to the policequarters. Cobb had already decided to begin his investigativeeffort at The Sailor’s Arms. Thursday morning was one of Nestor’sregular workdays, and both the Budges were on Cobb’s list ofmaterial witnesses. And if Duggan really did live with Nestor, thestone-cottage beside the hatchery would need a thoroughgoing-over.
“I’ve got a meeting with Robert and FrancisHincks right now,” Marc said when Cobb had revealed his plans.“I’ll need to alert them of my possible prolonged involvement withBrodie.”
“An’ you could corner Miss Ramsay an’ deliverthe bad news. I figure Brodie could use a little friendly companybefore the day’s out.”
“I intend to do that, certainly. But thisbusiness couldn’t have come at a worse time for me.”
“Is there a good time to be accused ofmurder?”
“Parliament is due to open in two weeks orso, and the new governor is relying on Robert’s crew for almostdaily advice on how to manage the dozen moderate Tories we’vetargeted to support the Union Bill in the Assembly.”
“Without lettin’ on you’re doin’ so,” Cobbadded – to Marc’s surprise, for Cobb portrayed himself asblissfully uninformed about the machinations of politicians, evenones he liked and agreed with.
“Yes. We’ve been meeting secretly, at leastwe hope we have.”
“Well, I’m gonna find myself at Nestor’scottage about eleven o’clock. If you happen to be in thevice-inity, you could join me in searchin’ that dark an’depressin’ hovel.”
“I’ll be there,” Marc said. “And I’ll bringthe lantern.”
***
When Cobb arrived at The Sailor’s Arms, he was notsurprised to find it shuttered. While there were no regular orregulated hours for public houses, most of the respectable taproomsopened up sometime after noon on weekdays and observed the sanctityof the Sabbath. He rapped on the thick front door with histruncheon. It was a full minute before he heard footsteps comingalong inside, as he was certain they would. He knew how to knockwhen he wanted an answer.