Admiring her spirit, Fido kissed her impulsively. Then he walked across to a side-table and poured two glasses of brandy out of a crystal decanter. He handed one to Kitty and became pensive.
‘Tell me about this portrait of Odysseus,’ he said.
A heavy drizzle was falling when he arrived at the house in Camden. As she let him in, Madeleine Andrews sounded a note of mock reproof.
‘This is the second time you’ve brought rain, Robert.’
‘I’d hate you to associate me with bad weather,’ he said with gallantry, ‘because you always bring sunshine into my life.’
She laughed, thanked him for the compliment and accepted his kiss. Then she hung his damp hat on a peg behind the door. Sitting down beside each other, they held hands.
‘Have you been at Epsom all day?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘There were more people there than ever.’
‘You did say that I might get to see the Derby this year.’
‘And I hope to honour that promise, Madeleine.’
‘What happened today?’
He told her about the attempted poisoning of Merry Legs and about his meeting with Brian Dowd. Shocked by news of the crime, she reserved her main interest for the comments about John Feeny.
‘He and Mr Dowd parted on friendly terms?’ she said.
‘That’s what Dowd claims.’
‘Well, it’s not what Bonny Rimmer told me. She heard it from Feeny himself and he had no cause to lie to her. He had to leave Ireland because he’d no chance of finding another job there. Mr Dowd said he’d make sure of that.’ She pulled a face. ‘Is that what he calls parting on friendly terms?’
‘I suppose there’s been no word from Bonny,’ said Colbeck.
‘Not yet.’
‘Do you expect to hear from her?’
‘I’m depending on it,’ said Madeleine. ‘When I spoke to her on Sunday, she was very emotional. She still hadn’t resigned herself to the fact that she’d never see John Feeny again. She wanted time to collect her thoughts. When she’d done that, she said she’d be in touch with me. I told her how vital that was.’
‘Did you give her this address?’
‘Yes, Robert, and I gave her the directions to get here. At first she was frightened at the idea of coming to a big city but I managed to still her fears. Since I knew she’d worry about the cost of travel, I took your advice and gave her the money you provided.’
‘It was the least I could do for her,’ he said.
‘That was typical of you.’
‘She’s a key witness, Madeleine. Bonny Rimmer knows things about John Feeny that nobody else could tell us. I’ll pay any travel expenses that she incurs.’
‘Has the superintendent given you your money yet?’
‘No,’ replied Colbeck dolefully. ‘I have to find the killer before Mr Tallis will refund my expenses. He still claims that my visit to Ireland was largely a waste of time.’
‘That’s ridiculous!’
‘Try telling that to him.’
She giggled. ‘After listening to some of the things you’ve said about him,’ she recalled, ‘I’ll avoid him like the plague.’
‘Even though he’s a colleague of yours?’
‘I don’t work for the Detective Department.’
‘Not officially,’ he said, ‘but you work for me and that amounts to the same thing. You’re the most charming assistant I’ve ever had.’
‘What about Sergeant Leeming?’
Colbeck laughed. ‘Even his wife wouldn’t dare to call Victor charming. Nature decided that. However, he’s everything a policeman should be and that’s all that matters in the long run.’
‘Where will you be tomorrow?’
‘Back at Epsom with Victor.’
‘Have you heard any talk about the Derby?’
‘We’ve heard little else, Madeleine. Everyone is talking about the prospects of Lord Hendry’s Odysseus – except Hamilton Fido, that is. He is as certain as can be that the favourite will be beaten. The odds may not reflect this but, in his heart – if a bookmaker can be said to possess such a thing – he believes that Merry Legs will win.’
‘Father is tempted to back Princess of Fire.’
‘Mr Fido says she’s only in the race for experience.’
‘Who will you be backing, Robert?’
‘I really don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve been trying to separate the horses from their owners in my mind and I’m finding that difficult. The horses are all fine animals, I daresay, but the owners are a rather unprepossessing trio. Lord Hendry is dry and aloof. Hamilton Fido is as trustworthy as a paper bucket filled with seawater. And Brian Dowd, I learnt today, doesn’t always tell the truth.’
‘So where will you put your money?’
‘I’m rather tempted by Aleppo.’
‘If I come to the Derby, I’ll cheer him to the echo.’
‘Don’t be so hasty, Madeleine. I haven’t decided on a horse yet. As for the Derby,’ he went on, ‘you’ll be there one way or another.’
‘Father will be very jealous. He’s working that afternoon.’
‘Then he should be grateful he’s not driving one of the special trains to Epsom. We travelled on one today. It was packed to capacity.’
‘But at least the trains do go to Epsom now.’
‘Yes,’ he agreed with a nod. ‘In the old days, you had to take the train out of Nine Elms Station, courtesy of the Brighton and Southampton Railway. When you got out at Kingston, the cab drivers charged you the most exorbitant fees to drive you the few miles to Epsom. All that’s changed now. You can catch a train at London Bridge Station and go all the way.’
‘I hope to do exactly that on Wednesday, Robert.’
He responded to her smile. ‘You will, Madeleine,’ he said fondly. ‘I just hope and pray that Bonny Rimmer comes to see you before then. We need her help. And there’s something else we need as well.’
‘What’s that?’
‘A period of calm before the Derby is run,’ he told her. ‘We’ve had enough crimes to deal with already. What we require now is a long, quiet, restful, law-abiding passage of time.’
Drizzle had turned into driving rain. It was so persistent that the dogs were locked in their kennels instead of being let out to roam around the house. In the middle of the wet, blustery night, everyone was fast asleep in bed. Nobody heard the shutters being forced nor the tinkle of glass as a panel was smashed to allow a hand to reach through. When the catch was released, the sash window was lifted right up and the thief clambered over the sill. Glad to be out of the rain at last, he looked around in the gloom.
‘Now, then, Odysseus,’ he said to himself, ‘where are you?’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lord George Hendry was absolutely distraught. Stunned, wounded and hollow-eyed, he sat in his library and stared up at the gilt frame that had once surrounded the portrait of Odysseus. The horse had now bolted. The frame still hung over the marble fireplace but the oil painting had been cut out and removed. He was inconsolable. Lord Hendry was not simply mourning the loss of his colt and of the large amount of money it had cost to immortalise the animal on canvas. To him, the theft was a dreadful omen. Odysseus might not, after all, win the Derby. Its owner was facing ruin.
It was still early morning when Inspector Robert Colbeck arrived at the house in response to the urgent summons. A servant showed him into the library but Lord Hendry did not even notice him at first. Colbeck had to clear his throat to gain his attention.
‘Good morning, my lord,’ he said.
The other looked up. ‘Ah, you’re here,’ he said dully.
‘When I heard the news, I came as quickly as I could.’ Colbeck glanced at the empty frame. ‘I can see why you’re so distressed.’