Blood on the Line

‘What’s happened?’ asked Leeming.

‘They sailed on the Arethusa.’

‘Are you certain of that, sir?’

‘I’m absolutely certain.’

‘But they wouldn’t have used their own names, surely? That would have been far too dangerous.’

‘They appreciated that,’ said Colbeck, staring at the receding vessel. ‘They’re travelling as man and wife under a false name.’

‘And what name would that be, sir?’

‘It’s one that convinces me that it must be them, Victor.’

‘Oh?’

‘They are calling themselves Mr and Mrs Robert Colbeck.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

‘This is a meagre reward for three days in Manchester,’ said Tallis, gnashing his teeth in disappointment. ‘All that you’ve brought back is the information that the suspects have fled to America.’

‘I don’t call that a meagre reward, sir,’ said Colbeck.

‘You were too late, man. They’ve flown the coop.’

‘We only just missed catching them, sir,’ Leeming pointed out. ‘It was the inspector who guessed that they’d flee the country and that Miss Adnam would be sure to visit her father beforehand. His theory was proved right even though, when he first put it forward, you had doubts about it.’

‘That’s beside the point, Sergeant,’ said Tallis.

‘Our journey was not in vain. We established the facts.’

‘I wanted arrests and you failed to make them.’

They’d returned to Scotland Yard to account for their absence and to inform the superintendent that the fugitives were no longer on British soil. Tallis was appalled by the news. Instead of reaching for a cigar, however, he heaped criticism on his detectives for what he described as their lack of urgency. The attack was unjust and Leeming smarted under its severity. Colbeck, however, remained unruffled. That served to inflame Tallis even more.

‘I don’t know how you can stay so calm, Inspector,’ he said. ‘At this very moment, someone is crossing the Atlantic with your name on his passport. If that fact became known to the press, we’d be held up to ridicule. The department would be pilloried in every newspaper.’

‘The situation is not irretrievable, sir.’

‘Don’t talk such drivel.’

‘We can still capture them.’

‘How?’ asked Leeming, goggling. ‘They’re out of our jurisdiction.’

‘I think we can overcome that obstacle, Victor.’

Tallis descended into sarcasm. ‘What did you have in mind?’ he asked. ‘Are you planning to swim after the vessel and catch it up?’

‘I’ve a much better idea than that, Superintendent.’

‘May we know what it is?’

‘You will have to, sir,’ said Colbeck, ‘because you’ll need to give the sergeant and I your seal of approval.’

‘What sort of approval?’

‘We’re going on a voyage to America.’

Leeming gasped. ‘I can’t go sailing across an ocean. I have obligations.’

‘We both have an obligation to catch felons responsible for the deaths of three policemen as well as for a multitude of other crimes. Yes, I know it’s a long way,’ said Colbeck, ‘but the effort will be well worth it.’

‘You can’t be serious about this,’ said Tallis.

‘I was never more so, Superintendent. We may have no jurisdiction in New York but there’s such a thing as extradition. If it’s handled correctly, the authorities will comply with our request. Well,’ he added, ‘would you want to allow two brutal killers to walk into your country without even being challenged?’

‘But think of the time involved,’ said Leeming, anxiously.

Tallis was practical. ‘I’m thinking of the cost involved.’

‘Your budget is not at risk, sir,’ said Colbeck. ‘I’m so committed to the notion that I’ll volunteer to pay for the tickets myself. Victor and I will sail from Liverpool on the next available vessel.’

‘What about my wife and family?’ wailed Leeming.

‘I’m afraid that they can’t come with us.’

‘They’ll miss me, Inspector.’

‘It’s all in a good cause. Try to think of it as an adventure.’

‘Where’s the adventure in being away for weeks on end?’

Colbeck lowered his voice. ‘Do you want the killers of Constable Peebles to get away scot-free?’

‘No, sir – of course, I don’t.’

‘I second that,’ said Tallis, wholeheartedly. ‘They must pay the ultimate penalty somehow.’ He reached for a cigar then changed his mind and withdrew his hand. ‘It’s a bold plan, Colbeck, but it has a fatal flaw in it.’

‘I’ve yet to detect one,’ said Colbeck.

‘They have a head start on you. They’re already on their way. Mr and Mrs Robert Colbeck will get to New York long before you.’

‘That’s true,’ said Leeming, relieved. ‘We’d never catch them. Good as it is, I’m afraid that the idea will have to be abandoned.’

Tallis nodded. ‘Sadly, I have to agree.’

‘Then neither of you is familiar with the shipping lines,’ said Colbeck. ‘I’m surprised at you, Victor. You actually saw the Arethusa slowly disappearing down the Mersey. Didn’t you notice something about her?’

‘Only that she was out of our reach,’ said Leeming.

‘The Arethusa is a sailing ship. She relies entirely on wind power. That means the crossing will take time. If we book passages on a steamship – driven by propeller and wind – the chances are that we’ll arrive in New York at least a fortnight before them.’ He was amused by their startled reaction. ‘A tall ship may look more graceful as it rides the ocean waves but a steamship is more efficient. I checked the approximate crossing times for both vessels when I was in Liverpool. We can wait over a week and still get to New York ahead of the Arethusa. What do you say, Superintendent?’

‘It’s certainly worth exploring,’ said Tallis. I’d have to speak to the commissioner, of course, but I can’t see that he’d object.’

‘Well, I object,’ said Leeming. ‘It’s simply too far to go.’

‘We should be prepared to go to the ends of the earth in pursuit of murderers,’ asserted Colbeck. ‘Think what it will do for us, Victor. If we can show that there’s no escape from justice, the publicity will be priceless. Criminals will think twice about fleeing abroad.’

‘Yes,’ said Tallis. ‘If you succeed, reporters might actually say something nice about me in their newspapers for a change. And since Leeming is so unhappy about keeping you company, Inspector, I’m tempted to do so myself.’

Colbeck was alarmed. ‘No, no, sir, that won’t be necessary.’

‘It will help me to atone for my part in Constable Peebles’ death.’

‘You’ll do that by sanctioning the plan.’

‘Scotland Yard can manage without me for a few weeks.’

‘It will be over a month, sir – perhaps more. You can’t be spared from your desk for that long,’ said Colbeck,