The Stationmaster's farewell

‘Who knows?’

‘I’d be surprised if they had any friends,’ said Leeming. ‘They’re an unlovable couple, sir. In fact, I think that’s another reason why their shop failed. I can’t believe that customers enjoyed dealing with them.’

‘In that case,’ decided Tallis, ‘they must have stayed at an inn.’

‘When they’re so short of money?’

‘Damn it, man! They must have stayed somewhere.’

‘Not necessarily,’ Colbeck put in. ‘It’s conceivable that they committed the murder on the night before Guy Fawkes Day, concealed the body under the bonfire then took the train back to Dawlish.’

‘The sergeant should have pressed them for details.’

‘That would have given the game away, Superintendent,’ said Leeming. ‘They’d have realised that they were suspects and clammed up completely.’

‘Perhaps I should have a word with them.’

‘Oh, I don’t think that would be a good idea,’ said Colbeck, firmly.

He sat back so that the waiter could remove his plate. Letting Tallis loose on their suspects was something that Colbeck was determined to avoid. Both he and Leeming were searching for ways to get rid of the superintendent altogether. With the best of intentions, Tallis nevertheless managed to impede an investigation. When he’d once joined them in Yorkshire to take charge of a case involving suicide and murder, he’d been hopelessly ineffective and unwittingly obstructive. It was only when Tallis had returned to London that they’d been able to move the investigation forward.

‘Let’s turn to you,’ said Tallis, eyeing Colbeck. ‘Why did you spend a whole morning at the home of a raving lunatic?’

‘That’s an unkind description of the lady, sir.’

‘What else would you call her? When someone runs amok in a cathedral, then she’s clearly of unsound mind and should be locked away.’

‘Mrs Rossiter is an important person in this investigation,’ insisted Colbeck. ‘She worked alongside Mr Heygate for many years and was able to supply some useful information. Common decency compels us to assist her in her hour of need. Mr Quinnell accepted that she’d been a good servant of the railway company and offered to pay for any medical attention.’

‘The fact remains that you learnt nothing of value this morning.’

‘Yes I did, sir. I learnt that Mrs Rossiter and her sister live in straitened circumstances and I discovered that Dr Swift has an excellent tailor.’

‘You’re being flippant.’

‘I came to understand the lady’s position more clearly,’ said Colbeck, ‘and, as a result, extend her much more sympathy than you are able to summon up at present. Doesn’t it tell us something about the stationmaster’s character that he could inspire such devotion in a woman?’

‘She was the victim of romantic folly.’

‘We’ve all been guilty of that at some time in our lives,’ volunteered Leeming.

‘Oh no, we haven’t,’ growled Tallis, reaching for his glass. ‘Passion of that nature is always dangerous. It can distort the mind — as in this case.’ After taking a sip of his wine, he announced his decision. ‘Michael Heygate and his wife must be looked at more closely,’ he said. ‘We can soon establish if they stayed at an inn here on that particular night. I’ll get the local police to make enquiries. We might as well get them to do something.’

‘That’s unjust, sir,’ said Colbeck. ‘Superintendent Steel and his men have been willing and cooperative. You must take their limitations into account. It’s not easy policing a city over which the bishop holds such sway.’

Tallis gave a nod of assent. ‘The man is a confounded nuisance.’

‘Then why did you take his complaints so seriously?’ asked Leeming.

‘Yes,’ said Colbeck, ‘why didn’t you simply send a reply to the effect that you had every confidence in us? That would have saved you a long journey and you’d have been spared a bruising interview with Bishop Phillpotts.’

‘I didn’t realise at the time that the fellow would be so unpleasant and domineering,’ said Tallis. ‘I’ve stayed here because my leadership is needed.’

‘It’s also needed in London, sir. In fact, the need there is far greater. A case like this comes along once in a blue moon in Exeter, whereas the capital is plagued by serious crime. That’s where you should be.’ Colbeck nudged Leeming. ‘Don’t you agree, Victor?’

‘I do,’ said Leeming, enthusiastically. ‘Why not leave everything to us, Superintendent? We can manage on our own. Go back to Scotland Yard.’

‘Don’t you dare tell me what to do!’ said Tallis, flaring up. ‘As for managing on your own, how can you question a suspect properly when all that you do is discuss the atmospheric railway with him?’

‘I was interested to know how it worked.’

‘I’m more interested to know how you work, Leeming.’

‘I’ll make a point of speaking to Michael Heygate myself,’ said Colbeck.

‘You should have done that in the first place,’ snarled Tallis, ‘instead of bothering with a woman who’s obviously taken leave of her senses. So far, you have three suspects. The police are still combing Exeter to find the most likely one and the other suspect is acting as stationmaster. In fact,’ he continued, ‘I met Mr Woodford this morning and I have to say that he did not strike me as a potential killer.’

‘I’m not sure that he’d have the strength or the nerve,’ said Leeming.

‘Neither do I,’ agreed Colbeck. ‘I can’t see him battering anyone to death. But I think that Mr Woodford is more than capable of hiring someone else to do the deed.’

Dorcas Hope’s career as a manageress was brief. As soon as it was evident that Agnes Rossiter would be away for some time, the former manager of the refreshment room at Newton Abbot station was brought out of retirement. Dorcas was relegated once more to the role of assistant. Timothy Vesey was a short, compact man in his sixties with a gnarled face and a slight stutter. He was much less talkative and self-important than Mrs Rossiter and Dorcas liked him. They worked well together. Woodford made sure that there were no problems. As he stepped into the room for the fourth time that day, he called out to Vesey while keeping his eyes on Dorcas, who was bending over a table as she wiped it clean.

‘Is everything under control in here?’ he asked.

‘Yes, it is,’ replied Vesey.

‘The next train is due in eight minutes.’

‘It will find us in a state of complete r-r-readiness, Mr Woodford.’

‘I expect no less.’

‘Is there any news about Mrs Rossiter?’ wondered Dorcas.

‘There’s none that I’m aware of, Miss Hope.’

‘I heard a rumour that she’d run wild in the cathedral.’

‘Don’t listen to tittle-tattle,’ advised Woodford. ‘It’s always wrong.’

‘They say the police had to take her away.’

He drew himself up. ‘What did I just tell you?’ he warned. ‘I won’t have my staff passing on idle gossip. Mrs Rossiter is unable to perform her duties here. That’s all you need to know.’

Dorcas was cowed. ‘Yes, Mr Woodford.’

‘Perhaps you’d care to step outside for a minute.’

‘I’m sorry. I won’t even mention the rumour again.’

‘I’d like to speak to you on another matter,’ he said, opening the door and taking her on to the platform. ‘There was no need for Mr Vesey to hear this.’ He stood very close to Dorcas. ‘What did Inspector Colbeck say to you?’

‘He asked me a few questions, that was all.’

‘What sort of questions?’

‘Well,’ she said, ‘he wanted to know everything I could tell him about Mr Heygate. He was very interested to hear that I was looking after Peter. That was thanks to you, Mr Woodford. I don’t think that Mr Quinnell would have let me have the canary if you hadn’t spoken up for me.’

‘You were the best person to take charge of Peter.’