‘Did you believe Mrs Wendall, sir? Do you really think that Ezra intended to run his club in order to support her and settle down to a life of domesticity?’
‘I think she believed it, Jack. Unless I have lost my ability to judge people, I’d wager a small fortune that she didn’t have a hand in his death, unless for some reason he’d decided against giving Ida up. Two wealthy women fighting for the exclusive company of one man.’ Riley shuddered. ‘I admire his courage.’
‘Being influenced by a pretty face, are we, sir?’
Riley sent his sergeant a droll look. ‘This situation needs to be handled with kid gloves,’ he said. ‘At least until we know whether Verity told Ida about Mrs Wendall.’
‘I find it highly suspicious that Wendall died when he did and ceased to become an obstacle for Ezra’s plans.’
‘The same thought occurred to me, Jack. I don’t think Mrs Wendall arranged for her husband to be killed, but I wouldn’t put it past Ezra. Not that we shall ever be able to prove it—and it would be a waste of resources to try, since both men are now dead.’
‘I still can’t get over the fact that Verity seemed to think Ezra would be interested in her, or that she would return that interest even if he did. She’s as dry as a bone, that one, if you ask me.’
‘Oh, we are all guilty of temptation, Jack. I don’t suppose any man has ever flattered Verity before. Her husband certainly takes no interest in her, but Ezra would flirt with any woman who crossed his path. It was the way he behaved, and he probably found that the plain ones in particular were grateful. It would be an easy way to line his own pockets. For her part, Verity thought she had found a way to extract funds from Ida by inveigling Ezra into her household. Unfortunately, she failed to take into account the possibility that Ezra would transfer his affections to his new mistress and cut her out of the arrangement.’
‘A fatally dangerous mistake.’
Riley flexed his brows. ‘It’s looking increasingly likely.’
‘I thought your Lady Randall said that she introduced Lord Buckingham to Ezra,’ Salter said.
‘She did indeed, Jack.’ Riley chuckled. ‘I think I had better have another word with him. It seems unlikely that both women thought of him. Ida, I can understand. They are old friends. But I don’t think Mrs Wendall would have entered into an assignation with Buckingham.’
‘I assume we’ll be having Verity into the Yard to answer a few more questions,’ Salter said with relish.
‘Indeed we shall, but I want to speak with Ida again first. In the light of Mrs Wendall’s revelations, I don’t think Ida has been entirely honest with me.’ Riley ground his jaw. ‘No one connected to this business has been, and it’s time things changed. Go and find the others, Jack, and tell them to call off their search. We’ll go back to the Yard and decide what to do from there. There’s nothing to be gained from remaining here.’ Riley paused and snapped his fingers. ‘No, on second thoughts, have those three go round to Wendall’s premises. I assume they are close by?’
‘They are, sir. Jubilee Yard.’
‘Have them speak to the managers. Press them about Wendall’s accident. Were there any strangers loitering about the place when it occurred? Had any threats been made against Wendall prior to the accident from disgruntled customers or employees? You know the sort of questions to be asked.’
‘I thought you said it would be a waste of time to try and prove that Ezra killed him, and you’ve already decided that his delicate widow couldn’t possibly have done it.’
‘Perhaps not, but there’s one person still breathing who very well might have.’
‘Ah, Verity.’ Salter nodded. ‘Right. I see where you are going with this. Mrs Wendall reckons that she held a grudge against her brother.’ He scowled. ‘I don’t like the woman but could she really be that vindictive?’
‘Oh, I am absolutely certain of it,’ Riley said. ‘She is bitterly disappointed with the course her life has taken and is out to punish anyone she holds responsible for blighting it. Her brother for not being more generously inclined, I suspect, but most of all, Ida and Mrs Wendall for stealing Ezra away from her, and Ezra himself for being disloyal.’
‘Blimey, sir, that’s some theory and I can’t find no fault with it. My problem is that we don’t have an ounce of proof.’
‘No, Jack, we don’t. But if I’m right, then Verity Randall is one of the most cold-blooded and calculating killers it has ever been my misfortune to come up against.’
‘There must be a weakness somewhere that we can exploit, sir. There always is.’
‘Her weakness will be her accomplice. She didn’t push a stack of barrels onto her brother, and she didn’t whack Ezra over the head herself. We need to find that person, Jack, and find him fast.’
‘Her husband?’
‘I doubt it very much. In fact, he attempted to point the finger of suspicion towards his wife, if you recall.’
‘Won’t that put the kibosh on his political ambitions?’
‘I don’t think he actually has any and would prefer to find another way to keep the wolf from the door. It’s she who is ambitious for him.’
‘Perhaps he’ll help us to get to the truth, in that case. He knows her better than anyone and feels no loyalty.’
‘Now that, Jack, is an inspired suggestion and one that we might very well act upon.’
‘Happy to do the thinking for you, sir,’ Salter replied cheerfully.
Chapter Twelve
Back at the Yard, Riley and Salter mulled matters over as Riley flipped through his
