‘You didn’t spend as many years in uniform as I did, sir. When you get big crowds, the pickpockets come out in their hundreds.’
‘That boy could have been no more than six or seven.’
‘Children younger than that have been trained to steal,’ said Leeming sadly. ‘They’re corrupted at an early age. I don’t blame the lad. It’s the mother who should take the punishment.’
‘I hope you don’t spend all your time looking for pickpockets.’
‘By no means, sir.’
‘There are more important crimes to solve.’
‘Inspector Colbeck and I are well aware of that,’ said Leeming, ‘and we have our superintendent snapping at our heels to make us find the killer of John Feeny. Our problem is that we keep getting distracted by related crimes.’
‘Such as?’
‘The attacks on both Odysseus and Merry Legs – someone is determined to keep them out of the Derby.’
‘Don’t forget what happened to me,’ said Dowd. ‘Limerick Lad can win the race but I’m honest enough to admit that he might not do it unless he has Tim Maguire on his back. That’s why my jockey has been the target, Sergeant. Tim is my guarantee of success.’
‘Limerick Lad likes soft going, I’m told.’
‘The more rain we have, the better.’
‘I hope that it holds off for the race itself.’
‘Yes,’ said Dowd. ‘The world and his wife will be here tomorrow. There’s nothing quite like Derby Day. I hope that the sun shines brightly during the races but I’ll be praying for more rain tonight.’
‘Were you on your way to the grandstand?’ asked Leeming, glancing towards it. ‘If you are, I’ll walk with you, if I may.’
‘Please do, Sergeant. I have some friends to meet there.’
Leeming fell in beside him. ‘I’ve arranged to meet Inspector Colbeck,’ he said. ‘Left to myself, I’d rather see some of the sights. There’s a six-legged pig on display and the Smallest Man in England is in one of the booths. Then there’s a huge Polynesian woman who has tattoes
‘Oh?’ Dowd was curious. ‘What was he doing there?’
‘We had a report of a crime that took place last night.’
‘Indeed?’
‘Lord Hendry’s painting of Odysseus was stolen,’ said Leeming. ‘Other things may have been taken as well, for all I know, but it was the loss of the painting that sent the inspector haring over there.’
‘I’ll be interested to hear what transpired.’
They picked their way through the crowd. Races were not due to begin for a couple of hours yet but Epsom Downs were already submerged beneath a rippling sea of humanity. The noise was deafening and the buzz of excitement was almost tangible. The two men chatted about the races on the day’s card and Dowd recommended a bet on one of his own horses, Quicklime, in the last event of the day. As they got near the grandstand, they saw Robert Colbeck waiting at the appointed place. After an exchange of greetings, the inspector looked enquiringly at Leeming. The sergeant shook his head.
‘There are no problems at the stables, sir. Odysseus is fine.’
‘Thank you, Victor,’ said Colbeck.
‘What’s this about a painting being stolen?’ asked Dowd.
‘It was taken in the night, sir. Lord Hendry is heartbroken.’
‘Don’t look to me for sympathy. It was rash of him to have a portrait of his horse painted before the race was even run. That was tempting Fate. But I’m surprised that anyone was out and about last night,’ he went on. ‘That storm should have kept everyone indoors.’
‘Unfortunately,’ said Colbeck, ‘it kept the dogs indoors or they would have been guarding the house.’
‘It’s not a disaster,’ said Leeming. ‘Lord Hendry could always have another portrait painted.’
‘Only if Odysseus wins the Derby,’ said Dowd waspishly, ‘and
‘Then why is Odysseus still the favourite?’
‘Wonders never cease.’
‘Limerick Lad has dropped back slightly in the betting.’
‘That suits me – we get better odds. But you must congratulate your sergeant,’ said Dowd, turning to Colbeck. ‘I watched him catch a couple of pickpockets in the crowd just now.’
‘Well done, Victor,’ said Colbeck. ‘You always had sharp eyes.’
Leeming shrugged. ‘I just happened to be in the right place, sir.’
‘That’s an essential part of policing.’
‘I hope you’re both in the right place when it comes to catching John Feeny’s killer,’ said Dowd earnestly. ‘I want to know who that merciless bastard is.’
‘So do the rest of us, sir.’
‘Well, I must be off – don’t forget what I told you, Sergeant.’
‘Quicklime in the last race,’ said Leeming.
‘Tim Maguire is riding him.’
‘Then I’ll be sure to put a bet on him. Goodbye, Mr Dowd.’ They waved the Irishman off. ‘I’m glad I saw him this morning.’
‘He was in a better mood than when we last met,’ said Colbeck.
‘You didn’t accuse him of lying this time, Inspector.’
‘That’s true.’
‘What happened at Lord Hendry’s house?’
Colbeck told him about his visit and how profoundly depressed the owner had been at the theft of his beloved painting. The piece of information that Leeming seized on was the suggestion that a woman might be implicated in the crime.
‘Did you get her name, Inspector?’
‘Only after a long battle,’ said Colbeck.
‘Who is she?’
‘Kitty Lavender.’
‘Do you have an address?’
‘She lives in London but Lord Hendry was certain that she’d be staying somewhere nearby during Derby Week.’
‘How do we find her?’
‘By speaking to Hamilton Fido,’ said Colbeck. ‘He and Miss Lavender will doubtless be sharing the same accommodation.’
‘Do you think she had anything to do with the theft of that painting?’ said Leeming.
‘I’m keeping an open mind about that. What I do think is that last night’s incident is related to all the others. If we solve one of the crimes, we will effectively be solving them all. The same person is behind them. Who knows? Her name may even be Kitty Lavender.’
‘You did say that a woman might help to unravel this mystery.’
‘I still hold to that view,’ said Colbeck. ‘In fact, we may find that we get help from more than one woman.’
Having packed the food into his satchel, Madeleine handed it to her father. Caleb Andrews thanked her with a kiss then slung the satchel from his shoulder. He was just about to leave the house to go to work.
‘You’ll have to make your own lunch tomorrow,’ she warned.
‘Why?’
‘Robert is taking me to Epsom.’
‘Then you’ll be able to see your father making money,’ he said chirpily. ‘I picked out the winner.’
‘Which horse did you bet on – Princess of Fire?’
