Page 65 of Murder on the Brighton Express
Jack West had told us he’d seen the ‘mannish woman’ entering Ruth’s compartment, but Geraldine Lacroix claimed she’d only seen Thomas Salter moving about the carriage. After confronting the conductor about his evidence, we now knew he’d lied and that Salterhadn’tgot up, which meant Geraldine had also lied. It seemed she’d lied about the movements of her compartment companion, McAllister, too. She’d claimed he hadn’t left, but he’d just admitted he had. Was she trying to protect him? If so, how were they connected?
“Ruth was following Lord Pridhurst,” Harry said. “You met him in Brighton, and I assume it was he who pointed Ruth out to you.”
McAllister nodded.
“Did you see anyone else moving about the carriage on that journey to London?”
“No.”
“Did Geraldine Lacroix leave the compartment?”
“Who?”
“The woman who shared your compartment. She’s an actress. She works with one of the other passengers, Clement Beecroft, but they didn’t travel together.”
McAllister pointed a finger to his chest. “And you thinkI’mguilty? That sounds like a guilty act to me, not traveling together when they know each other. But no, she didn’t get up until we arrived at Victoria Station.”
“Are you sure?” Harry pressed. “You didn’t fall asleep at any point?”
“I was awake the entire time.” McAllister stood. “Are you finished?”
“Sit down,” Harry growled. McAllister sat. He was a slender man and not very tall. He knew he was no match for Harry. “We weren’t entirely honest with you. Ruth Price didn’t write that article exposing you as a cheat, but she was being courted by the man who did.”
McAllister’s eyes widened. “So, shewasspying on me on his behalf?”
“He was acting alone. As I said, she was there to spy on Pridhurst. What can you tell us about him?”
“He’s an investor in the company. He’s wealthy and well-connected.”
“Why did he meet you while he was holidaying in Brighton with his family?”
“He wanted to check on his investment.” McAllister shrugged. “I showed him around the factory. We discussed expansion plans.”
“Did he know that you’d cheated in the Thousand Mile Trial at that point?”
McAllister shot to his feet. “I didnotcheat. I’m going to sueThe London Tattlerfor slander. They’ve ruined my reputation.”
Harry straightened and McAllister took a step back. “If Pridhurst didn’t know about the scandal then, he must have been very upset to learn about it a few days later when he read that article. His investment is now worthless.”
“We’ll survive and he’ll get a good return.” McAllister folded his arms over his chest, tucking away his scarred left hand. “What does any of this have to do with that woman’s death?”
“You confronted her on the train because you thought she was about to expose you. Perhaps you weren’t the only one.”
“You think Pridhurst confronted her, too? I didn’t see him pass my compartment.” He frowned. “I suppose he could have ducked down, or crawled past. Very undignified, but he was desperate for the company to succeed. I got the impression he was relying on a quick return on his investment. When I showed him around the factory that day, he kept asking how soon we could move to bigger premises and increase production. Reading that slanderous rubbish about me in theTattlermust have come as a shock to him as much as it did me.”
Harry had no further questions and thanked him.
I’d found my voice, however, and had one more. “How did Ruth Price seem to you when you confronted her in her compartment?”
“A little on edge,” McAllister said. “She jumped when I entered but looked relieved to see me and not someone else. Relieved then surprised when she realized I was a man.”
So, Ruth was worried. She had an inkling she’d upset someone and expected a confrontation. The question was, who?
“That woman was alive when I left her. You must believe me.” McAllister removed a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the droplets of sweat on his brow. “Everything is falling to pieces. My reputation is in the gutter. Investors are pulling out. My wife will leave me if she finds out I borrowed her clothes. I can’t have murder pinned on me, too.”
He was a broken man, all because of one poor decision. I hadn’t expected to feel sympathy for him after he threatened us with the gun. He was also still a suspect and had lied and cheated in the race, so there was reason to believe he would lie again to save himself. Even so, I didn’t want to pile more problems on top of the ones he already had.
“Mr. Armitage and I will find the killer, Mr. McAllister. You can be certain justice will be done.”
