‘Him being otherwise engaged leaves his shrew of a wife free to remove a man she disapproved of,’ Salter pointed out. ‘I know we already had this discussion and agreed that she couldn’t have done it herself, but we do know that Ezra was seen with a woman and that he was drugged, so that makes a difference.’
‘It’d be a hell of a risk,’ Carter said.
‘True,’ Riley agreed, pondering upon Salter’s insistence that Verity was involved and knowing better than to dismiss his sergeant’s instincts out of hand. ‘She was the family member who voiced her objections to Lady Randall’s affair the most vociferously.’
‘Would she do that if she was the guilty party, sir?’ Peterson asked.
‘Possibly, since she was known to disapprove. It would look odd if she suddenly changed her tune,’ Riley replied. ‘And highly suspicious. Let’s try and get a decent description of the woman Ezra was seen with, Jack, then we will have a better idea if it was Mrs Gideon Randall or not.’
‘Fair enough, sir.’
‘I need you to look into Patrick Randall as well,’ Riley added. ‘Decide between you who does what. The Randall gentlemen were both occupied with ladies last night. Patrick was with a Mrs Jane Hardy, and claims to have spent the entire night with her. Tread carefully, Carter. The lady is married and we will not embarrass her unless we think she is being dishonest.’
‘Ha!’ Salter grunted. Riley sent his sergeant a warning look, and he kept his opinion about her conduct to himself.
‘What about Sir Philip and Lady Randall?’ Soames asked. ‘Are we sure that neither of them is the guilty party?’
‘They were at an engagement and returned home together. That has been confirmed by several of the household servants. Whether one of them went out again is another matter. Have a word with their coachman, Carter, see what he has to tell you. If either of them did leave the house with the specific purpose of heading to Clapham, I doubt whether he or she was stupid enough to go in their own carriage.’
‘How would they have got back if they did go?’ Peterson asked. ‘The trains would have stopped running.’
‘A very good point, Peterson,’ Riley replied, impressed not for the first time with his newest recruit’s powers of reasoning. ‘A cab, one assumes, which wouldn’t be a problem for Sir Philip, but for a lady of quality out alone at that time of night it would be a very different matter.’ Riley shook his head. ‘If Lady Randall had argued with Ezra, or wanted rid of him, there are easier ways she could have gone about it.’
‘Right,’ Salter agreed. ‘She could have just dismissed him. Can’t see any reason to bump him off in such a manner. It ain’t as though he could buy her silence about their affair, since Sir Phillip knew all about it.’
‘His masters at Whitehall might take a less tolerant approach,’ Riley mused, ‘but I don’t see Ezra as a blackmailer. From what I know of his character, it’s not his style. He would have done all in his power to retain Lady Randall’s affections, and I am satisfied that he was successful in that regard.’
Salter nodded. ‘I tend to agree, sir.’
‘Lady Randall’s daughter Sarah Heston and her husband Mark were at the Adelphi with friends. They took a box so it should be easy to verify with the theatre manager that they actually did so. They went on to the Savoy for supper. Check that too, please, Soames.’
‘Sir.’
‘So, gentlemen, to recap. We have reason to suspect James, but you will have checked out the rest of the family’s alibis for me by the end of the day. In the meantime, Sergeant Salter and I will speak with the victim’s family and with the landlord of the tavern where he spent his last hours. Let’s meet back here this afternoon and compare notes.’
A scraping of chairs against the boarded floor preceded his constables leaving the room.
‘Give me fifteen minutes to hear an update on my inspectors’ other cases, Jack, and then we can depart.’
A short time later, the detectives were installed in a hansom bound for Clapham.
‘Of course, the omnibus is always good enough for me,’ Salter said, sniffing. ‘That or the train.’
‘Quicker this way,’ Riley replied absently.
‘You’re quiet, sir. What are your initial impressions?’
‘Who do I think did it?’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t have the first idea but I am very interested in Ezra’s involvement with the Earl of Buckingham.’
‘What involvement?’
‘Sorry, Jack. I forget to enlighten you earlier. Something my sister’s husband mentioned last night raised my suspicions. I heard rumours about Buckingham not behaving well and I know for a fact that he’s permanently short of cash. I also know that he was once romantically involved with Ida.’
‘That don’t narrow it down a lot, guv’nor.’ Salter rubbed his nose. ‘Why would one of your lot involve himself with a scheme for a club in Clapham which, I assume, is what you are thinking?’
‘That, Jack, is what I would very much like to know, but if I had to hazard a guess, it would be the lure of a quick profit. Men from all walks of life like to gamble, or watch fights, or see animals tearing each other to shreds.’
‘True, I suppose,’ Salter agreed. ‘Can’t see the appeal myself, but there you have it.’
The cab made its way past the grand houses of affluent merchants that bordered Clapham Common. It progressed into less affluent streets and finally deposited them beside a row of rundown terraced
