Blood on the Line

‘We’ll do the same one day,’ he promised. ‘The trick is to plan ahead as they did. Though he has no regrets about helping people in great pain to die peacefully, he knew that he was committing a crime. That’s why he didn’t report me when we first met. He accepted that, in the eyes of the law, we were fellow criminals. Our friendship developed from there.’

‘My worry is that he and Susanna would feel impelled to report us if they knew what we did on that train.’

‘There’s no possibility of that happening, Irene.’

‘They’d be shocked.’

‘I’m sure they would,’ said Oxley, ‘but that doesn’t mean they’d go to the police. I know too much about them. If they betrayed us, their life here would crumble to pieces when I betrayed them.’

Irene relaxed. ‘I never thought of it that way.’

They heard a key being inserted in a lock, then there was a creak as the front door was opened. Their hosts had just returned from their morning walk. Younger and his wife came into the parlour.

‘We’re ready for a cup of tea,’ said Younger, affably. ‘Shall I ask Binnie to make some for you as well?’

‘Yes, please,’ said Irene. ‘Did you have a nice walk?’

‘It was very bracing,’ replied Susanna. ‘We went all the way to the railway station so that Gordon could buy a newspaper for you.’

‘Heavens!’ exclaimed Younger, taking the newspaper from under his arm. ‘I’m forgetting my manners. Here you are, Jerry,’ he went on, handing it over. ‘As our guest, you should read it first.’

‘Thank you,’ said Oxley.

‘Excuse me.’

‘I’ll need to speak to Binnie about luncheon,’ said Susanna as she followed her husband out of the room. ‘I’m not quite sure what we have in the larder.’

Left alone with Irene, Oxley sat back for what he hoped would be a leisurely read of The Times. Seconds later, he leapt up from his chair and stared in disbelief at the words in front of him. He read on with his mouth agape.

‘They know who you are, Irene!’ he gasped.

‘How can they?’

‘They’ve named you as my accomplice during the escape and given a full description of you. They’ve even listed some of the other crimes for which you’re being sought.’

Irene was on her feet to look over his shoulder. ‘That can’t be true!’ she cried. ‘I rarely used my real name. How on earth did they connect me with you?’

‘This is Colbeck’s doing,’ he said, angrily.

‘Does that mean we’re no longer safe?’

‘Not as long as he’s in charge of the investigation. Nobody else would have been able to identify you, Irene, but Colbeck managed it somehow. I told you that he was tenacious.’

She grabbed his arm. ‘What are we going to do, Jerry?’

‘There’s only one way to keep the police at bay.’

‘Is there?’

Oxley grinned malevolently. ‘We have to kill Inspector Colbeck.’

The public response was immediate. Lured by the promise of a large reward, a handful of people arrived at Scotland Yard claiming to have information about the fugitives. Gerald Kane was typical of them. He was a small, round, smirking individual in his thirties. Invited into Colbeck’s office, he took a seat and rubbed his hands excitedly. Ian Peebles was there to watch the inspector in action. Colbeck was excessively civil to their visitor.

‘We’re most grateful to you for coming here, Mr Kane,’ he said. ‘I don’t need to explain how important it is to catch these two people.’

‘They’re deep-dyed villains,’ declared Kane, ‘and I’m glad to be able to put them behind bars.’ He looked around. ‘Do I get the reward before I give my evidence or afterwards?’

‘Let’s not talk about the money at this stage, sir. We’d like to hear what you have to say so that we can assess its value to us.’

‘But I saw them, Inspector. I served them.’

‘Are you sure that it was Oxley and Adnam?’

‘I’d swear that it was.’ Kane took a deep breath before launching into what was patently a well-rehearsed speech. ‘I’m a watchmaker by trade and work for Mr Berrow in Makepeace Street. Of necessity, I have excellent eyesight. Most of my time is spent repairing watches and clocks but, whenever Mr Berrow steps out of the shop, I take his place behind the counter. That’s where I was yesterday when a gentleman entered with a female companion. Since she was carrying her gloves, I noticed that she was wearing a wedding ring, but I had the feeling that they were not married. Don’t ask me to explain why. There was just something about them. Anyway,’ he continued, ‘the gentlemen wished to buy a watch for his so-called wife and I showed them what we had in the shop. They took several minutes examining them, so I had plenty of time to observe them closely. It’s a habit of mine,’ he said with a sycophantic smile. ‘Our stock is extremely valuable. It therefore behoves us to take careful note of anyone who comes through the door. People – though I need hardly tell this to detectives – are not always what they seem.’

Colbeck already knew that he was lying but Peebles still believed they might be hearing crucial information. He was surprised when the inspector’s tone hardened.

‘Describe them, Mr Kane,’ snapped Colbeck.

‘Well, yes, I will,’ said Kane, importantly.

He then proceeded to offer what was an exact recitation of the details given in the newspapers about Oxley and Adnam. Kane might have been reading them out line by line. When he finished, he beamed as if expecting applause. He rubbed his hands again.

‘Can I take the reward now, please?’

‘Oh, you’ll get your reward, Mr Kane,’ said Colbeck. ‘You’ll be charged with telling lies to an officer of the law in pursuit of monetary gain. Constable Peebles …’

‘Yes, Inspector?’ said Peebles, stepping forward.

‘Take this man out and arrest him.’

‘Are you certain that he’s deceiving us, sir?’

‘The fellow is a barefaced liar.’

‘That’s not true!’ howled Kane. ‘I’d swear it on the Bible.’

‘Then you’d be committing a form of perjury before God,’ said Colbeck, ‘and that’s equally reprehensible. Get this man out of my sight, Constable.’

‘Come on,’ said Peebles, taking Kane by the collar and yanking him upright. ‘By wasting our time here, you’ve delayed a murder investigation. Out you go, Mr Kane.’

The watchmaker’s assistant was marched unceremoniously out.

Colbeck looked at the list on his desk. Kane’s was the fifth name on it. His four predecessors had also tried to trick their way to the reward and were now regretting their attempt to mislead Colbeck. With an air of resignation born of experience, he put a cross beside the name of the latest culprit. There was a tap on the door. When it opened, Leeming entered the room.

‘What happened, sir?’ he asked.

‘Mr Kane told us a pack of lies.’

‘When did you know that?’

‘The moment he asked about the reward,’ said Colbeck. ‘A genuine witness would simply want to see the arrests made. I know that policemen will never be popular but we do strive to keep the streets safe for people, and, when horrendous crimes of this nature take place, we do everything in our power to apprehend those who committed them. The public should be reminded of that regularly.’

‘I agree,’ said Leeming. ‘Oh, the superintendent told me to give you this.’ He handed over a letter. ‘He’d like your opinion of it.’

Opening the letter, Colbeck read it and his interest quickened.