The Silver Locomotive Mystery

‘Thank you, sir,’ said Leeming, taking a more tentative sip. ‘Though the person you ought to be congratulating is the inspector.’

‘Were the fellow here, I’d happily do so. Where is he?’

‘He’ll be here before too long. He wanted to make sure that the prisoners were in safe custody.’

Leeming knew full well that Colbeck was taking Madeleine Andrews back home before returning to Scotland Yard but he did not tell that to his superior. Nor did he let him in on the secret that the inspector was now engaged to marry. Madeleine had returned from Birmingham with an expensive ring on her finger. Leeming was touched to be the first person who knew about the betrothal and he had wished the couple health and happiness.

‘Mind you,’ said Tallis on reflection, ‘any praise I give to the inspector must be tempered with criticism. He did make a mistake.’

‘He’ll be the first to admit it.’

‘The pair of you went chasing after Stephen Voke in the certainty that he was the villain – so much for Inspector Colbeck’s reputation for infallibility!’

‘Even the best horse stumbles, sir.’

‘Quite so, quite so,’ confessed Tallis. ‘I myself am not free from blame here. I stumbled badly in Wood Street. In telling Mr Voke that he’d alienated his son by his behaviour and created a desire for revenge in his assistant, I fear that I may have pushed him another step towards the frightful decision to take his own life.’

‘That was hardly your fault, sir,’ said Leeming, surprised by the frank admission. ‘Leonard Voke was a fine silversmith but he was a poor father and a miserly employer. The wonder is that he got anyone to work for him. I’m sorry for what happened to him but I fancy that he brought it all on himself.’

‘My conscience is still troubled.’

‘I don’t see that it should be.’

‘My manner can be too forthright at times.’

Leeming was about to agree with him wholeheartedly but chose to sip his brandy instead. He did not wish to imperil such a unique occasion. As a rule, the superintendent’s office was a place of great discomfort for him. Yet the sergeant was actually enjoying a visit there for once. Nothing must be allowed to spoil that. As the brandy coursed through him, Leeming remembered someone else who merited praise.

‘If I might make a suggestion, sir,’ he began.

‘Go on.’

‘Superintendent Stockdale of the Cardiff Borough Police has been extremely helpful to us at every stage. I believe that he deserves a letter of thanks from you – if not from the commissioner.’

‘I’ll be glad to write it,’ said Tallis.

‘Then the inspector can deliver it by hand tomorrow.’

‘Oh?’

‘He’s going back to Cardiff so that he can return the stolen property to Mrs Tomkins. After all this time, she’ll be so relieved to get her hands on that silver coffee pot. Inspector Colbeck is looking forward to the moment when he can at last give it to her.’

* * *

There was no performance of Macbeth on Sunday but Madeleine Andrews nevertheless enjoyed the visit to Cardiff. After a train journey together, she and Colbeck had the pleasure of delivering the coffee pot locomotive to Winifred Tomkins and of repaying her husband the money that was stolen. Elated beyond measure, Winifred pressed for details.

‘Where did you find it, Inspector?’ she asked, caressing it.

‘It was in Birmingham, Mrs Tomkins.’

‘Whatever was it doing there?’

‘Mr Kellow had bought a shop in the Jewellery Quarter and intended to work there under a false name. He had no intention of ever parting with your locomotive but,’ he said, modestly, ‘I persuaded him to do so.’

‘I feel ashamed that I ever doubted you.’

‘Yes,’ said Tomkins. ‘I shall be writing to your superior to tell him how grateful we are for what you and Sergeant Leeming did for us. Having this coffee pot at last changes everything.’

‘I’m glad to hear it, sir,’ said Colbeck.

Winifred sniggered. ‘Lady Pryde will be so put out.’

‘I assume that you won’t be inviting her in for coffee.’

Tomkins guffawed. ‘Not blooming likely!’

The visitors stayed long enough for an exchange of pleasantries then they withdrew. When they left the Tomkins residence, Madeleine was still dazed. She looked back at the mansion.

‘I’ve never been in a house that big,’ she said. ‘It was like a small castle. How can two people need somewhere so palatial?’

‘They’re making a statement to the world, Madeleine.’

‘Then it’s a very loud one.’

‘Loud and altogether too ornate for my liking,’ said Colbeck. ‘I hope you’re not expecting us to have a home like that.’

‘I’ll be happy anywhere with you, Robert.’

‘That’s reassuring.’

Driven back into the city, they went in search of Jeremiah Stockdale, who had just returned from a service at St John’s Church. They met at the police station. The superintendent was very interested to meet Madeleine and – when told of it – he congratulated them on their betrothal. He could not, however, keep his eyes off the bruises on Colbeck’s face.

‘Do I take it that Mr Kellow resisted arrest?’ he said.

‘Very briefly,’ replied Colbeck.

‘Where is he now?’

‘He and Effie are safely locked up behind bars. They had hoped to open a jeweller’s shop in Birmingham but they were not welcome there. Some ruffian actually kicked their shop window to pieces.’

He gave an attenuated account of what had happened, drawing attention to the part played by Madeleine. Stockdale was impressed.

‘Effie was no mean actress herself,’ he said, ‘but you seem to have been her equal, Miss Andrews.’

‘Thank you,’ she replied.

‘Acting skills have been at the heart of this whole business,’ remarked Colbeck. ‘We had Effie playing the role of a bereaved sister, Kate Linnane appearing as Lady Macbeth and as a kidnap victim, and Madeleine taking on the mantle of a servant.’

‘Miss Andrews gave the most effective performance,’ decided Stockdale, ‘because it helped to catch two killers. I don’t have the slightest pity for them. If I lived in London,’ he added, ‘I might be tempted to see what sort of a performance they give on the scaffold.’

‘I’ll be too busy working on the next case to do that.’

‘So will I, Inspector. Cardiff throws up new problems each day.’

‘But it’s not without its charms,’ said Colbeck.

‘Oh, it’s a fine town,’ agreed Stockdale, chuckling. ‘That’s why I settled down here. Clifford Tomkins and Archelaus Pugh keep telling me that Merthyr is bigger and better but this is the place for me. I hope to see out my three score years and ten here. Merthyr may have a glorious past but it’s Cardiff that will have a glorious future.’

Colbeck offered his hand. ‘Thank you for all that you did, Superintendent,’ he said, feeling Stockdale’s firm grip. ‘You had much more than an honourable mention in my report on the investigation.’

‘I was glad to work beside the Railway Detective,’ said Stockdale. ‘You and Sergeant Leeming once helped me with a case that took me to London. It was good to be able to return the favour.’

‘I sincerely hope that we work together again.’

After a round of farewells, Colbeck and Madeleine left the police station and stepped out into the wide thoroughfare of St Mary Street. It was a fine day and the town was bathed in bright sunshine. People drove past in traps or open carriages. Shop windows shimmered, pavements had been swept clean and pedestrians were wearing