she continued, ‘with all the fuss, we forgot to tell you that Johnny telephoned last night. He wants to talk to you about adding a week to the tour and finishing in Hammersmith as a tribute to Hedley’s girl – he thought of dedicating the week’s performances to her. Do you think the family would like that, or is it too soon?’
‘I think they’d be very touched,’ Josephine said. ‘If it can be made to work, it’s a wonderful idea.’
‘Good. He’s going to see if people are free. It might mean delay-ing rehearsals for
‘I’m sure no one will mind,’ Josephine said, adding privately to herself that the longer she could put off going through another play, the better.
‘Actually, we were a bit bewildered by the rest of the conversation,’ Lettice added. ‘It scarcely sounded like the real Johnny.
Apparently, he’s given Fleming three months off on full pay to sort out some personal problems. I don’t know what’s come over him.
We half-wondered if we should do a few sketches for
There was an abrupt knock at the door and Ronnie got up to answer it. ‘Archie, dear,’ she said, letting him in. ‘Where are you going today? I believe you can get season tickets if you intend to make a habit of rail travel.’
Josephine was relieved to see that Archie’s wrath had been replaced by composure tinged with embarrassment. ‘Is there any news of Marta?’ Lydia asked as soon as she saw him.
‘I’m afraid not,’ he said, sitting down and accepting some tea. ‘I really am sorry, Lydia. I know that whatever professional duty I have to find her, it’s nothing compared to how much you must long 281
for news. I promise I’ll tell you as soon as I know anything. And I owe you an apology, too, Josephine.’ He looked at her a little sheepishly, but a smile hovered at the corners of his mouth. ‘So I’ve decided not to arrest you after all.’ He drank his tea, and continued more earnestly. ‘We’ve checked the hospital records, though, and they confirm what Marta told Josephine about her time there. In fact, she didn’t tell you how bad it was.’ He glanced at Lydia.
‘Go on, Archie,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry about me.’
‘Well, I managed to speak to someone who was a young nurse there at the time – she’s moved on now – and she remembers Marta very clearly. The depression was severe, it seems, and this nurse didn’t mince her words about how Marta was treated by those in charge. Apparently, she made a couple of attempts to take her own life just after Elspeth was born, then simply resigned herself to her fate.’
‘It’s hard to imagine how she got through it at all,’ Josephine said.
‘Yes, but that’s not everything. The reason this woman remembers Marta so clearly is because of what happened when the baby was taken away from her a few weeks later. Her husband came to fetch it, she says, and he brought a young boy of about five or six with him. Marta clung to the baby, desperate not to let her go, but of course it was no use. When the husband – Vintner – had Elspeth in his arms, he turned to the young boy and told him to go and give Mummy her present. The child went over to Marta and, when she bent down to him, he spat in her face. The sisters just stood by and watched. The woman I spoke to left the hospital the very next day – she said she couldn’t bear such cruelty.’
Lydia was pale by now, and even Ronnie and Lettice were too shocked to speak. ‘Have you spoken to Rafe Vintner yet?’
Josephine asked at last. ‘It seems that everyone’s a victim in this. I can’t imagine how being filled with so much hatred must have affected him at that age.’
‘Yes, and I couldn’t begin to tell you how it’s grown over the years. I’ve only spoken to him briefly because he’s still in hospital and fairly weak from that knock on the head, but I don’t think I’ve 282
ever seen so little remorse. He’s trying to blame his mother for everything, but that doesn’t surprise me.’
‘He won’t get away with it, surely?’ Josephine was horrified.
‘Oh no, if only because he can’t resist making it clear how clever he’s been, even as he tries to push all the responsibility onto Marta.
He’s his own worst counsel – so keen to make sure I’ve appreciated all the little signs he’s left along the way. You know, I still think that’s the most chilling part of these murders for me – the extent to which each scene was designed to humiliate his victims.’
‘Were the dolls his?’ Josephine asked.
‘We’ll find out when we can interview him properly, but I’m sure they were. Now we know what we know, the doll with the broken hand and the wedding ring was clearly a reference to Marta’s infi-delity. The iris was a jibe at Arthur, and the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that the choice of nicotine was, too. It’s used by gardeners, don’t forget, and I’m sure the irony wasn’t lost on him when he was planning the worst possible death for Bernard Aubrey.’
‘And the locked door?’ The question was from Lydia, and Archie could imagine how the memory of that terrible discovery had stayed with her.
‘I’m not certain yet, but there’s no doubt Swinburne used the bridge between the two theatres to get to Bernard’s office that night and leave the bayonet on the desk,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he expected the room to be empty – nicotine would have killed most people long before they got up those stairs –
and, if so, he’ll have had the shock of his life to find Bernard there, alive or dead. Perhaps he just panicked and locked the door without thinking – everybody makes a mistake eventually.
Whatever happened, we’ll get to the bottom of it.’ He thought for a second, remembering his promise to Grace Aubrey. ‘Vintner and I have a lot to talk about, so the sooner he’s fit enough, the better I’ll like it.’
‘But will there be enough evidence to convict him?’ Lydia asked, an urgency in her voice.
Archie looked at her reassuringly. ‘Yes, we’ve got a very good case, and Walter’s confession was lodged with Aubrey’s solicitor, 283
which helps tremendously.’ He turned apprehensively to Josephine. ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to testify against him, though.
