‘I’ve just bent it a little, that’s all – like everyone else.’
‘What will Robert say if he knew that my father was a criminal?’ she teased. ‘If you break a law, it’s his duty to arrest you.’
‘Then he’ll have to arrest thousands of other people as well, Maddy. A stupid law won’t stop us putting money on the Derby. It’s every Englishman’s right to have a bet.’
‘Time to go,’ she said, glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘I’ll come part of the way with you, Father. I need to go to the market.’
He put a hand to his wallet. ‘Do you have enough money?’
‘Plenty, thank you.’
Madeleine went into the kitchen to collect a large wicker basket then they left the house together and strolled along the street.
‘Who was that woman you mentioned earlier?’ he said.
‘Bonny Rimmer? She was Feeny’s sweetheart.’
‘And you’ve met her?’
‘We went to church together last Sunday.’
‘Is that where you and Inspector Colbeck were?’ he said. ‘When he took you off in that trap, I was bound to wonder. What’s so special about this girl, Maddy?’
‘Robert thinks she’ll help us solve the murder.’
‘What do you think?’
‘I was very hopeful at first,’ she said, ‘but not any more. If she was going to come forward, she’d have done so by now. To be honest, I don’t believe we’ll ever see Bonny Rimmer again.’
As soon as he noticed the two detectives coming into the crowded betting room, Hamilton Fido got up from his table and let his assistant take over. Crossing the room, he gave Robert Colbeck and Victor Leeming a cordial greeting and a warm handshake.
‘You seem in good spirits this morning, sir,’ noted Colbeck.
‘I’m always in good spirits, Inspector,’ said Fido. ‘The Derby gets closer and closer and the money keeps rolling in.’
‘Some of it will have to be repaid.’
‘Not if it’s been wagered on Odysseus or Limerick Lad.’
‘I see that the odds have shifted slightly, sir,’ said Leeming. ‘Your horse is now only 6–1.’
‘Are you tempted, Sergeant?’
‘Very tempted.’
‘But we’re not here to place any bets at the moment,’ said Colbeck briskly. ‘Is there somewhere a little quieter where we might talk to you, Mr Fido?’
‘Of course,’ said the bookmaker. ‘Follow me.’
He took them through a door, along a passageway and into a room that was used for storage. Fido was dressed more ostentatiously than ever and there was even more of a swagger about him.
‘How can I help you, gentlemen?’ he said obligingly.
Colbeck was direct. ‘Tell us how to find Miss Kitty Lavender.’
‘Kitty?’
‘She is the young lady with whom you stayed at the Wyvern Hotel, is she not? There’s no point in prevarication. My information comes from an unimpeachable source.’
‘Lord Hendry, no doubt!’
‘He was as unwilling as you to divulge her name at first, Mr Fido, even though he’d once tried to pass her off as Lady Hendry. The turn of events forced him to change his mind.’
‘What events?’
‘I’ll tell you that in a moment, sir. First, we’d like to know how we can make contact with Miss Lavender.’
‘I’m sorry, Inspector Colbeck,’ said Fido, trying to protect her until she was ready to come forward. ‘I’m not sure where Kitty is.’
‘We assumed that she’d be with you,’ said Leeming.
‘There are no women bookmakers, Sergeant.’
‘Staying with you, Mr Fido.’
‘I forego such delights during Derby Week,’ said the other with a grin. ‘A man in my position can afford no distractions whatsoever at such a busy time, however pleasurable they might be. No matter – I’m consoled by the fact that self-denial is good for the soul but, then,’ he added with a wicked smile, ‘I don’t suppose that you believe we bookmakers have souls, do you?’
‘Let’s talk about Kitty Lavender,’ said Colbeck. ‘It seems highly unlikely that she would want to miss the excitement of Derby Week. Do you happen to know if the young lady is here?’
‘I’ve not set eyes on her, Inspector.’
‘I understood you were on close terms.’
‘By the grace of God, we are.’
‘I’m not sure that God would approve of the attachment, Mr Fido,’ said Leeming, irritated by the glib reference to the Almighty. ‘Your union has not been blessed in His sight.’
‘That doesn’t prevent either of us from enjoying it, Sergeant.’
‘It would prevent me, sir.’
‘I’ll mention that to Kitty when I see her.’
‘And when will that be?’ asked Colbeck.
‘When this week is over, Inspector.’
‘Not before?’
‘Only if we should chance to meet.’
‘Where are you lodging at the moment?’
‘In my own home,’ replied Fido. ‘My coachman drives me back to London every evening and gets me here early in the morning.’
‘Would it not be more sensible to stay near Epsom?’
‘Accommodation is almost impossible to find.’
‘Do you know if Miss Lavender found any?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘You seem singularly uninformed about her movements, sir.’
‘Kitty is a friend,’ said the bookmaker, ‘and a rather special friend at that. Yet I don’t keep her on a leash. Kitty likes her freedom. She comes in and out of my life at will.’
‘I don’t think that anyone would be allowed to do that somehow,’ said Colbeck levelly. ‘You’re a man who prefers to exercise control. We saw that in the sad case of Peter Cheggin and the same rule no doubt obtains with Miss Lavender. You never fit into anyone else’s plans, Mr Fido – they fit into yours.’
‘You’re getting to know me too well, Inspector.’
‘Well enough, sir.’
‘What’s this about Lord Hendry and the turn of events?’
‘His house was broken into last night,’ said Colbeck. ‘His portrait of Odysseus was stolen.’ Fido laughed harshly. ‘He was less amused by the crime. We saw the painting. It was an outstanding piece of portraiture.’
‘What use is the portrait of a losing horse?’
‘Odysseus has not lost the race yet, sir, and Merry Legs has not won it. May I ask if you were aware that the painting existed?’
‘I was, Inspector.’
‘How did you come to know about it?’
‘Kitty mentioned it to me. She heard about it from Lord Hendry himself. He was inordinately proud of it.’ He looked from one to the other and saw their stern expressions. ‘Ah – so that’s why you’ve come to see me, is it? Lord Hendry has accused me of arranging the theft. Or perhaps he thinks I broke into the house myself.’
‘No,’ said Colbeck, ‘that’s not the allegation he made.’
‘Then what is he alleging?’
‘He feels that Miss Lavender was involved in some way.’
‘Kitty?’ Putting back his head, Fido laughed aloud. ‘What would she want with the painting of a horse?’
‘To cause Lord Hendry pain and embarrassment.’
Fido became serious. ‘She’s every right to do that, Inspector, and I’d back her to the hilt when she did so. But she’s no thief – nor would she know where to find one skilful enough to get in and out of the house without being caught.’
‘Would you know where to find one, sir?’ asked Leeming.
‘I know where to find whatever I want, Sergeant.’
‘So you could have advised Miss Lavender.’
‘The only advice I gave to Kitty was that she should speak to you. When she’s done that, and when you realise that she’s had nothing to do with any of the crimes committed, you might stop pestering the two of us.’