Morton opened the attachment of Joan Leighin her uniform. She was standing beside a man dressed in a First WorldWar soldier’s uniform, which confirmed that the picture had little value forthe Mercer Case, although Morton always appreciated putting a face to aname. He printed the picture and added it to the wall under Joan’s name.
The next email was from a HenryGoacher. Hello Morton! Received your letter about my granny,Clara Ellingham. Dear old lady, she was. You’re in luck! Granny kept a diary her whole life and, much to my wife’s consternation, I havea whole bookcase full of them! I’ve always intended to publish them oneday as a kind of social history—perhaps when I retire. Anyway, I’ve had agood look through the diary for 1911 and Granny makes several mentions of yourMary Mercer—is she a relation of yours? I have scanned and (hopefully)attached the relevant pages. All for now, Hen Goacher.
Morton found himself holding his breath ashe clicked to download the seven attachments, each entry saved as aphoto. Onscreen appeared the first entry, written in a typical Edwardianscrawl. It took a moment for Morton to break into the style and letterformation before he could read each entry. He scanned for any salientelements.
3rd Jan. The short time having my own bedroom is nowover. A new girl, Mary Mercer has started as third housemaid. Seemsnice enough but no previous experience. Her sewing is awful! Still,good to have a bit of company in the evenings I suppose.
18th Jan. Mary Mercer really is a mischievous one! Todayshe was caught in Lord Rothborne’s bed! Fortunately he was not in it atthe time…
30th Jan. Mary really has been down of late. She hasn’t takenwell to being a domestic servant—think she has dreams and ideas above herstation. I’m having a great difficulty getting off to sleep owing to herconstant crying at bedtime.
8th Feb. Found a note under Mary’s pillow from her cousin, Edwarddeclaring his love! Hopefully now she might cheer up a little. Whispered my discovery to Eliza but that wretched scullery-maid, Joan,overheard and has been teasing Mary.
10th Feb. Mary confided in me today that Edward took her to thefolly the other night and proposed! How delightful.
5th April. I’ve got a growing suspicion thatMary might be in the family way. I haven’t spoken to her about it, butshe is much more guarded when changing and the last few mornings she has beenill. Do hope not, for her sake.
15th April. Returned from a great time inScotland. Bit of a to-do at B’friars—Mary’s packed up and gone. Vanished. She didn’t go home and now Edward’s sick with worry—evenorganised search parties to look for her. Eliza and I joined in, a littlehalf-heartedly I must confess, but to no avail. Guess she’s run offsomewhere—maybe to have the baby in peace?
Mortonprinted each entry then re-read them. They added further proof that Maryand Edward were an item and gave further credence to the idea that Mary waspregnant by April 1911. Morton stuck the sheets to the wall, then clickedto open the last email—the one from Jenny Greenwood. Here theyare! Had such a lovely day—please keep me posted!! Jenny x. Heopened the three certificates, paying the closest attention to George’s birthcertificate. He had been born 1st November 1911 to Cecil andPhiladelphia Mansfield. As he went to stick it to the wall, Mortonnoticed the timeline that he and Juliette had created. Just then, anotherkey piece of the jigsaw fell into place. He couldn’t quite believe whathe was seeing; the Mercer Case had just taken another twist.
The photograph taken on Empire Day in 1911caught his eye and he remembered how Mrs Cuff had distanced herself from theother servants. Morton was sure that she had learned the truth about whathad taken place all those years ago and was surreptitiously sharing herfeelings with history.
Morton looked at his watch: 1:46a.m. He still didn’t feel tired but knew he needed to give up soon and atleast try and get some rest. Just before he stopped for the night,Morton decided to bring the Mercer Case right up to date and so he set aboutprinting and sticking to the wall all his recent discoveries. Up went thephoto of Jack Maslow and Edward Mercer, as did the information from the vicarof Winchelsea and the Voter’s Lists showing Martha Stone. He consideredagain that Martha had vanished between 1960 and 1965. One key eventoccurred in that period: Edith’s death. He knew from Ray Mercer that shehad returned for her twin’s funeral in 1962. Maybe she stayed. Morton ran a death search for Martha Stone in the British death indexes andfound her. She died in the same quarter of the same year, and in the sameregistration district as Edith. Morton ordered her death certificate on apriority service.
As he switched off his laptop and turnedout the study light to make his way back down to bed, Morton considered that itwas almost time to arrange a meeting with Ray Mercer.
Chapter Twenty-Four
18thDecember 1925
EdithLeyden quickly finished dressing in the dim light of her bedside lamp. With a fleeting glance in the mirror, she placed her red cloche hat on her headand buttoned up her matching red coat. A burning nervousness andexcitement inside her overcame the chill of the early morning. She hadtaken the room for one night in the tiny terraced boarding house on theoutskirts of Liverpool city centre. The cab that she had ordered was duein a matter
