‘How the devil did you…’ Bishop stopped abruptly and scratched his head. ‘Well yeah, he filled her head with tales of glamour and easy money, but I knew what would be expected of her. It would be a damned sight more than serving drinks and looking good, that’s for sure. I tried to make her understand that but Sal weren’t having none of it.’
‘She won’t now that Dawson’s dead; killed immediately after leaving your premises,’ Riley said, his voice hardening.
‘I can see how it looks, which is why I didn’t admit to knowing about the club, but I didn’t leave this room on the night in question until after the doors were closed. Ask anyone.’ Bishop glowered at Salter. ‘Perhaps that’s what you should have been asking when you were in here last night, disturbing my regulars, if it’s me you think killed him. Despite appearances to the contrary, I ain’t daft. I won’t pretend to be sorry he’s gone but if I wanted to kill him, I’ve got more sense than to do it outside me own premises and bring suspicion down on meself.’
‘Perhaps, but his demise was awfully convenient from your perspective,’ Riley remarked. ‘Surely you can see that.’
‘True, I can’t deny it. All I have to deal with now is a broken-hearted daughter, who’s sulking and not speaking to me, like it was my fault or somefink. But she’ll get over it and, more to the point, there won’t be no questions hangin’ over her reputation.’
Salter nodded and Riley could see that his sergeant felt some sympathy for Bishop’s position. As the father of impressionable young daughters himself, it was easy for Riley to understand his sergeant’s position.
‘Did you hear any rumours about Dawson being engaged to be married?’ Riley asked.
Bishop blinked. ‘Not a dicky bird,’ he replied without hesitation, brightening up immediately. ‘Blimey, that would have sent half the female population of Clapham into mourning if it was public knowledge. Are you sure about your facts?’
‘No,’ Riley told him. ‘It’s just a suggestion that was made to us by someone we spoke to. I would prefer it if you kept it to yourself for now.’
‘Right you are. The last thing I want to do is upset my Sal any more than what she already is. Now that the blaggard’s dead it don’t do no harm for her to think she was the love of his life.’ He snorted. ‘Daft bint!’
‘Very well,’ Riley said in a mild tone. ‘But it would help your case no end if you could tell me more about the woman with whom Dawson was seen in conversation on the night in question. We can’t get an accurate description but urgently need to speak with her. You just said yourself that you hear and see everything in this place, so what can you tell us about her?’
‘She was average height, thin with a sharp nose. Couldn’t see the colour of her hair or her eyes. It was dark in here and she wore a hat with a veil. But I could tell that they were arguing. Well, she was annoyed about something, but John kept his head and it looked like he was trying to calm her down an’ all.’ Bishop spread his hands. ‘That’s honestly all I saw.’
‘Very well. Thank you.’ Riley stood. ‘That will be all for now but we may have more questions and, just so that you are aware, I am still not entirely satisfied that you didn’t kill the man in a desperate attempt to protect your daughter.’
‘Well,’ Bishop replied, folding muscular arms across his torso. ‘When you get some evidence, feel free to come back, but you won’t find any, ’cause there ain’t none to be had.’
‘Did you believe him, sir?’ Salter asked as they left the tavern.
‘On balance, I think I probably did. But then again, is there anything a father wouldn’t do to protect a vulnerable daughter?’
‘I hope I never have to find out, sir.’
‘Amen to that, Jack.’
‘Where to now, guv’nor?’
‘I need to speak with Sam Dawson.’
‘We’ll find him at his work and I still recognise enough of the old Clapham to know where that is.’
‘There does seem to be a population boom,’ Riley remarked, glancing down the crowded street.
‘Houses springing up overnight like mushrooms. Accommodation for London’s clerks and the middle classes who work in the city.’ Salter sniffed. ‘I used to know almost everyone around these parts by sight. Now I’m hard pushed to recognise anybody. Stolen the heart of the place, so it has, all this building malarkey. D’you know, they even dug up the old lavender fields to make way for bricks and mortar. It don’t seem right.’
‘People have to live somewhere, Jack.’
‘Aye well, I suppose…’
‘Sir!’ They looked up to see Peterson rushing towards them. ‘Lord Rothsmere’s butler confirms that Gideon was there until about eleven.’
‘I thought as much,’ Riley said. ‘And we know he was with his mistress soon after that, so he’s in the clear. Did you have any luck tracking down Verity’s footman?’
‘Sorry, sir. It’s his day off.’
‘Ah, it’s too much to hope that everything would go right for us.’ Riley sighed. ‘Right, Peterson, go and find Carter and Soames down by the common and help them to enquire at the big houses. We’re looking, as you know, for the reclusive lady who was supposedly engaged to be married to Ezra.’
‘Right you are, sir.’
Riley and Salter made their way to the terrace of houses being built on what had once been farmland on the edge of Clapham.
‘Wouldn’t mind one myself,’ Salter said. ‘At least they have indoor plumbing. Can’t afford it on my pay, though.’
‘I thought you didn’t approve of the new housing, Jack.’
Salter scrunched up his features. ‘Don’t mean I wouldn’t live in one if I could.’
An
