Page 51 of Dead Beside the Thames
Barnaby stepped forward and, with an easy smile, said, “Still, it can’t hurt, can it? You see, the man you called ‘that devil’—Sedbury—wasn’t well liked in our circles, and from talking to those who live around here, we’re realizing he wasn’t anyone’s favorite in this area, either.”
“Favorite? Hah!” The woman crossed her arms over her chest. “He was a monster! Why, he near broke my Donnie’s arm just because the boy accidentally jostled him in the pub, and he used that evil whip of his on Jonas Henry and nearly cut off his foot! Then there’s the maids who live in fear of catching his eye, all scurrying around like mice these days. And I shouldn’t forget Old Man Higgins, who that brute pushed into a wall so hard it broke the poor old codger’s ribs. And that’s just the happenings I know of. No telling what you’ll learn if you ask a few blocks down.”
She paused to draw breath, then looked at Barnaby before transferring her gaze to Jonathon. “We all heard someone offed him last Saturday night. I don’t have a clue who did it, which is good because I’d not be inclined to tell on whoever did the world a favor and killed the blighter.” She regarded Jonathon severely. “Even if he was kin of yours, he was a bad ’un to the bone.”
Jonathon held her gaze and quietly said, “I know. Trust me, I know.”
She must have read something in his expression, because after a second, she nodded. “Aye. Seems you do.”
Satisfied, Barnaby thanked the woman, and Jonathon added his own thanks, along with a few shillings for her time. Barnabycommended Jordan and left him to continue along that lane, and he and Jonathon returned to the lane they’d previously been investigating.
They’d drawn a blank at another warehouse and had just come back outside when Barnaby saw one of the older lads, Finch, striding along with a man in a driving cape in tow.
Barnaby halted, and Jonathon stopped beside him.
Finch spotted Barnaby, and his face lit. He reached back and tweaked the man’s cape. “This way. This is the gen’leman I told you about.”
Barnaby smiled as Finch halted before him.
Finch beckoned the jarvey, who approached uncertainly. “This is the jarvey who took up the viscount in Pall Mall.”
Barnaby nodded to Finch. “Good work.” Barnaby waved the jarvey closer, then glanced at Jonathon and, to the jarvey, said, “You picked up a gentleman who looked like this man in Pall Mall on Saturday at close to midnight?”
The jarvey regarded Jonathon warily. “Aye.” After a second, looking puzzled, he added, “But it wasn’t this cove.”
“No. But can you describe the man you took up?” Barnaby asked.
The jarvey eyed Jonathon. “Very like this one, but maybe older. Meaner looking, anyways. And the man I took up carried a whip, coiled in his hand. Short-handled sort.”
Barnaby nodded. “That’s the man we’re interested in. So, from Pall Mall, where did you take him?”
“Here—well, close by.” The jarvey pointed northeastward. “He had me drop him off at the corner of Gold Street and Upper Shadwell.”
Gold Street ran for two short blocks from Upper Shadwell to the Cole Stairs. “Did he have you stop anywhere along the way?” Barnaby asked.
The jarvey shook his head. “Straight here from Pall Mall.” He paused, then added, “He first told me to go to Upper Shadwell, then when I turned onto the street, he told me to go on and stop at Gold Street.”
Barnaby nodded. “What time did you drop him off at Gold Street? Any idea?”
The jarvey screwed up his face in thought, then offered, “Best I can say is it was heading to one o’clock. The bells tolled for one as I was passing London Dock on my way back to Mayfair.”
“About a quarter before the hour, then.” Barnaby couldn’t think of anything more they needed from the jarvey. He thanked the man and paid him generously for his time and for driving all the way to the docks.
“Happy to be of service.” With a tip of his hat, the jarvey strode off, his cape swishing.
Barnaby turned to Finch, who was looking pleased as punch. Barnaby smiled. “Well done! Now, head back to Albemarle Street and tell Mostyn that you found the jarvey and that the man’s spoken with me, and we have all the information we need on that score. And, of course, Mostyn will have something for you.”
Barnaby had recruited Mostyn as his major-general in charge of the lads. Mostyn would know how best to reward Finch and would also get the word out to the other lads to stand down from their search.
“Yes, sir!” Beaming fit to burst, Finch saluted, then took off at a run.
Barnaby laughed. “Ah, to have the enthusiasm of youth.”
“And its energy,” Jonathon added.
“That, too.” Barnaby considered how the latest information fitted with what they already knew. “If Sedbury was brought straight here and dropped off at the top of Gold Street at aquarter to one, then the encounter on the Cole Stairs must have been the meeting he’d been looking forward to.”
Jonathon nodded. “No time to go anywhere else. Not before he was seen wrestling with some man on the stairs.”
