The Irish horse seemed to be pulling slowly away, then it was the favourite who put in a finishing spurt. Aleppo stayed in touch with both of them but Merry Legs began to falter and lose ground. The race was only between three horses now. Using their whips and yelling their commands, the jockeys sought to pull every last ounce of speed out of their mounts. As they thundered towards the post, Odysseus made a supreme effort and Limerick Lad strained to match it.
The noise reached the level of hysteria and the whole of the stand was on its feet to cheer the horses home. With Limerick Lad and Odysseus riding neck and neck, it looked as if it might be a dead heat. Then Aleppo showed perfect racing temperament by saving his spurt until the critical moment, edging past the others over the last twenty yards to win by a half a length. Another Derby had delivered a shock. In the massive explosion of sound that followed, it was minutes before most people were aware of the full result.
Aleppo was the winner, Limerick Lad was second and the favourite was pushed into third place. Gladiator had stolen up to take fourth place from Merry Legs but that did not appease those who had backed him. The Derby was over for another year and the murder investigation could be resumed.
When the hordes descended on the bookmakers, it was difficult for the detectives to reach Hamilton Fido. They had to force a way through the crowd. Madeleine Andrews had been left with the superintendent so that Colbeck and Leeming could go about their work. In the sustained clamour, they could hardly make themselves heard. When they finally got to the betting room, they caught a glimpse of Hamilton Fido over the heads of the people in front of them. Beside the bookmaker was a beautiful young woman. Certain that it was Kitty Lavender, Colbeck redoubled his efforts to move through the crowd.
But he was not the only person eager to get close to the woman. Lord Hendry had an even more urgent appointment with her. Crazed by the failure of Odysseus, knowing that he faced financial ruin and enraged by the sight of Kitty Lavender and Fido together, he rushed towards them, using his cane indiscriminately to beat a way through. Panting for breath, he confronted them.
‘You’re a harlot, Kitty Lavender!’ he shouted. ‘I won’t fight a duel over you because you have no honour to defend.’
‘That’s enough!’ yelled Fido, stepping between the two of them. ‘I’ve told you before, Hendry. If you dare to insult Kitty, you answer to me.’
‘This is all I have to say to you!’
Pulling out a pistol from beneath his coat, he fired at point-blank range and sent a bullet burrowing into Fido’s forehead. There was a moment of abrupt silence and everyone instinctively drew back. The whole atmosphere in the room had changed in a flash. Then the bookmaker fell backwards into Kitty’s arms and she let out a scream of absolute terror. The detectives were the first to recover. All decorum was abandoned now as they shoved people aside to get to the killer.
Lord Hendry did not wait for them. Flinging his pistol aside, he twisted the handle of his cane, drew out the sword that was concealed inside it and used it to create a space for his escape. He went swiftly through the door at the rear of the room and slammed it behind him. Colbeck and Leeming were the only men brave enough to follow him. When they finally reached the door and opened it, a horrifying scene greeted them. Having lost his money, his property and his reputation, Lord Hendry had decided that he had nothing left to keep him alive with any dignity. Falling forward onto the point of the weapon, he had pierced his heart and was writhing in a pool of blood.
Colbeck thought of all the classical texts in the man’s library.
‘It was a Roman death,’ he said. ‘He fell on his sword.’
It took a long time to calm everyone down and to have the two dead bodies removed by policemen. A pall of sadness now hung over the room. Devastated at the death of her lover, Kitty Lavender was also tortured by the realisation that she was indirectly responsible for it. In becoming, in turn, the mistress of two men, she had ensured a violent end for both of them. She was anguished.
Colbeck had to be extremely patient with her. Having escorted her to a private room, he waited until the immediate shock had passed. It was followed by a wide-eyed bewilderment.
‘Why did George do it?’ she wailed. ‘Why?’
‘I think he was pushed to the brink of despair,’ said Colbeck.
‘He didn’t have to kill Hamilton.’
‘He felt that he did, Miss Lavender.’
‘It was madness – George has ruined everything.’
‘This crime is rooted firmly in another one,’ said Colbeck quietly, ‘and you are the only person who can help me to solve it. A hatbox bought for you by Lord Hendry was stolen from the Wyvern Hotel. Do you remember that?’
‘How could I ever forget, Inspector?’
‘You were staying there with Mr Fido at the time.’
‘Yes, I was.’
‘My belief is that the theft was deliberate. There were items of far greater value left in your hotel room but the thief only took the hatbox. Can you follow what I’m saying, Miss Lavender?’
‘No,’ she said, tears running freely.
‘Someone came to that hotel with the express purpose of stealing your property. No other guest was robbed – only you. The thief must therefore have known where you were and that you would have your hatbox with you.’
‘Nobody knew, Inspector,’ she said. ‘Hamilton and I wanted to be alone together. That’s not the kind of thing that I’d advertise.’
‘A casual word to a female friend, perhaps?’
‘No.’
‘A hint to someone close to you?’
‘I talked to nobody.’
‘Then we must be looking for a mind-reader,’ concluded Colbeck. ‘Someone who knew you well enough to guess where you would stay with Mr Hamilton because the Wyvern Hotel might have a particular significance for you.’
Kitty Lavender almost choked and Colbeck had to support her while she coughed violently. When she had recovered, her face was ashen and she was trembling all over.
‘Marcus,’ she said in a hoarse whisper.
‘Who?’
‘Marcus Johnson, my half-brother. I believe you met him.’
‘Did you tell him where you’d be staying?’
‘Not exactly,’ she recalled, ‘but he knew that Hamilton and I were going to spend the night together. He’d introduced us. Without him, I’d never have got to know Hamilton.’
‘Was he aware of your relationship with Lord Hendry?’
‘Yes – Marcus helped me to escape from it.’
‘So he might know where that hatbox came from.’
‘Of course, Inspector.’
‘And might even have followed you to the hotel.’
A tremor passed through her. ‘I’ve just remembered something else,’ she said, eyes filling with dread. ‘Hamilton and George both urged me to speak to you but my step-brother stopped me from doing so. Marcus said that I should avoid the police at all costs.’
‘Why do you think he told you that?’
‘I’m beginning to wonder.’
‘It was because he was afraid, Miss Lavender,’ said Colbeck. ‘He was afraid that his name would be mentioned and a new line of inquiry would be opened up. He was not thinking of you – he was protecting himself.’
‘If Marcus stole the hatbox…’ her voice trailed away.
‘Then he also murdered the lad whose head was put in it.’
‘He’d never do anything like that!’ she protested.