“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“It’s enough for me to work on for the trial.My strategy always is to look for viable alternatives. And you’vegiven me plenty.”
“Would you put Constance Brown in withthem?”
“It’s far-fetched, but she could have beenwearing a man’s coat.”
“She seemed like a very determined person.And she sure hated Mrs. Cardiff-Jones. I think she had a lot moremotive than poor Mr. Gagnon.”
“And there’s still this John Perkins toquestion,” Marc said. “You’ve done a good job in shaking up thealibis of the others. I’ve got more than I need, I believe, tomount a strong defense. I should be able to get Gillesacquitted.”
“You got time to work on it, what with theelection and all?”
“It’s been difficult,” Marc said, givingJunior another jounce. “I’ve used the mornings mostly. In theafternoons I hire a fast horse and patrol the back roads of theriding looking for intimidators. I’ve seen quite a bit of action -alas.”
“Made you feel like a major again, eh?”
“Well, I have had to brandish my pistol morethan once.”
“What’s the count?”
“Pretty much even. But a lot more farmsupporters are just finishing the harvest and will come in towardsthe end of the campaign.”
“If they can run the gauntlet, eh?”
“It’s my job to protect them,” Marc said.“And also to see Gilles Gagnon acquitted. Fortunately I’vepersuaded a judge that Gagnon be granted bail. He’s due to bereleased tomorrow morning.”
“Well, he’s in good hands,” Cobb said.
NINE
John Perkins lived at the west end of Queen Street,near the edge of town. Cobb approached the half-log cabin andrapped on the door. The door was opened a few moments later by ayoung woman in bonnet and apron, who was very much pregnant.
“What can I do for you, sir?” she saidpolitely.
“I’d like to speak with yer husband. I’mDetective-Constable Cobb and I’m here on a police matter.”
“He’s just inside. Please come in.”
Cobb stepped into the cabin. It was dark andgloomy, a single, sparsely furnished room with a curtained-offbedroom at the far end. A lone candle flickered on a rough-hewntable, upon which sat a teapot and two mugs. Perkins was seated atthe table, his chin in his hands. He looked up when Cobbentered.
“This is a detective from the police,” saidMrs. Perkins. “He’s come to see you.”
“Police?” Perkins said, starting to get up.“What next?”
“Please sit down, Mr. Perkins. My name’sCobb. I’ve come to ask you a few questions about the death of yourmistress, Mrs. Cardiff-Jones.”
“But I know nothing of that business,”Perkins said, sitting back down.
“That’s what I’ve come to find out,” Cobbsaid.
“Would you like some tea?” Mrs. Perkins said.“It’s fresh.”
“That would be nice,” Cobb said.
Mrs. Perkins went to an open cupboard andtook down a mug. She passed Cobb a mugful of steaming tea.
“I heard the lady was murdered,” Perkinssaid.
“She had acid thrown in her face and diedwhen she fell on a spike on her fence,” Cobb said, sitting down andtaking a sip of tea.
“That’s horrible,” Perkins said. “I had nolove for the woman after what she did to me, but nobody deserves todie like that.”
“You mean firin’ you?” Cobb said.
Perkins looked startled, and a flash of fearwent across his face. “You know about that?’
“I do.”
“She fired me for no reason whatsoever. SaidI was spying on her, when all I did was answer a question from themaster – truthfully.”
“So you had good cause to be mad?”
“Of course I was angry and upset. I’ve got awife who’s expecting a child this month and debts to pay off. Andthe woman refused to give me a reference even though I’ve workedthere satisfactorily for eight years.”
“He won’t be able to get another job easily,”Mrs. Perkins said, hovering behind her husband.
“I’m sorry about that. But you, sir, wereoverheard threatenin’ to do harm to Mrs. Cardiff-Jones.”
“Who told you that?”
“Never mind about who. You said you’d geteven, isn’t that right?”
“He never meant it, did you, John?”
“I was very upset,” Perkins said. “I justflew off the handle a bit, that’s all. In front of the maids. Imeant no real harm.”
“But the lady is dead shortly thereafter,”Cobb said quietly.
The fear came back into Perkins’ eyes. “Youdon’t think that I had anything to do with her death?”
“Where were you on the night of thecrime?”
Perkins tried to catch his breath. “I was . .. I was home here. All evening. I was drinking a little, to drownmy sorrows.”
“And can Mrs. Perkins vouch fer you?”
“Liz was out visiting her sister.”
“I didn’t get back until ten o’clock,” Mrs.Perkins said. “John was here. A little drunk. I put him tobed.”
“So you were all alone the rest of theevenin’” Cobb said to Perkins.
“Of course I was. We have no money to beentertaining guests.”
“Were you mad enough to throw acid in Mrs.Cardiff-Jones’s face?”
Perkins flinched. “I was not! Where would Iget acid?”
“At any apothecary’s.”
“Well, I didn’t. Why would I? When I had timeto cool off, I realized my best hope was to throw myself on themercy of Mr. Cardiff and ask him for a reference. He liked me alot.”
“But he fired you?”
“He didn’t want to, but she hadcontrol over him.”
“Maybe he’ll take you back,” Mrs. Perkinssaid. “Now that she’s dead.”
“I’ve got a glove here I’d like you to tryon, Cobb said.
“What ever for?” Perkins said.
“It was found near the body.”
Cobb pulled the glove from his pocket.
“But that’s a gentleman’s glove. It’d be amonth’s wages.”
“I need to see if it fits.”
“Very well.” Perkins pulled the gloveawkwardly towards his right hand. It slipped on easily.
“But it’s not mine!”
“We’ve never seen it before!” Mrs. Perkinssaid excitedly.
“It don’t prove nothin’” Cobb saidplacatingly. “But neither does it eliminate Mr. Perkins as asuspect.”
“Is there any more you want of me?” Perkinssaid.
“No, sir. That will be all. Thank you fer yercooperation.”
Cobb drained his tea, and left. He heard abuzz of dialogue start up behind him. He felt sorry for Perkins,but the man was still very much a suspect, with motive andopportunity. Cobb went to the police quarters to write up hisnotes. Then he went straight to Briar Cottage.
***
It was late in the evening when the meeting tookplace in Baldwin House. Present were Robert Baldwin; his father,Dr. William Warren Baldwin; Louis LaFontaine; Francis Hincks; andMarc Edwards. They had come to discuss the progress of the electionand the release on bail of Gilles Gagnon the next morning. Louis,who had just come from a late visit to his lieutenant, looked paleand tired. It had been a gruelling campaign – before the voting andduring it. And the weight on his mind of Gilles Gagnon’slife-threatening predicament was overwhelming.
“Thank you for persuading the judge to letGilles out,” Louis said to Marc when the meeting had been called toorder.
“There’s only a week till the trial,” Marcsaid, “but I didn’t want Gilles to spend one minute more in thatdank place than was necessary.”
“There’s a lot of anti-French sentiment beingstirred up among the Tories,” Hincks said.
“And not just the Tories, I’m afraid,” saidRobert. “I’ve heard rumblings among our supporters in thetownship.”
“That may account for the closeness of therace,” said Marc. “What is the latest count?”
“Our scrutineers have it almost dead even. Ithink we may be two votes up,” Hincks said.
“Well, a few of the farmers on our side arestill taking their crops off the fields,” said Robert. “They’llshow up in the next few days and turn the tide.”