Page 53 of Dead Beside the Thames
With his gaze narrowed on the stairs, Barnaby said, “One point we have established is that far from this being a ton matter, the reason Sedbury was murdered almost certainly lies somewhere around here.”
The other three looked at him. No one disagreed.
CHAPTER 11
The enlarged investigative team once again gathered in the drawing room in Barnaby and Penelope’s house. Together with their host and hostess, Stokes, Claudia, Charlie, Jonathon, and Bryan had only just settled on the chairs and sofas when the doorbell pealed, and seconds later, the marquess walked in.
Everyone rose, and Penelope and Barnaby welcomed Rattenby and saw him to the armchair by the hearth hurriedly vacated by Jonathon, who moved to the chair between his brother and Stokes.
As everyone resumed their seats, from under heavy lids, Rattenby surveyed them all, then commanded, “Tell me what you’ve learned.”
The question sounded more like a quiz, the marquess’s tone hinting that he knew far more about his late heir’s less-than-acceptable proclivities and was concerned about how much they’d uncovered.
Stokes responded by inviting Penelope, Claudia, and Charlie to share what they’d learned. “Even though you sent us word, it would be useful to have the critical points restated.”
For the marquess’s understandingwere the words that Stokes didn’t need to say.
Penelope shared a glance with Claudia, then opened with “It seems that Sedbury had a liking for what Lady Selborough termed ‘roughing it.’”
Her expression severe, Claudia cut in, “By which Aunt Patricia meant indulging in all manner of cruelties and darker dissipations.” Her tone rang with haughty disgust.
“Apparently,” Penelope continued, “Sedbury had chosen an area by the docks—or at least, somewhere near the river—in which to practice his despicable activities.” She looked at Stokes. “Given Duggan’s sense that Sedbury was looking forward to his meeting that night, it seems likely that the subject of the meeting was something to do with Sedbury’s contemptible deeds in that dockside area.”
“So,” Charlie concluded, “after he left Pall Mall, his destination might well have been somewhere near the Cole Stairs.”
Stokes nodded. “We canvassed the locals in the area surrounding the Cole Stairs and, informed by your report”—he tipped his head to Penelope, Charlie, and Claudia—“we learned that Sedbury had, indeed, taken to treating those in the local area as if they were his serfs.”
Barnaby confirmed, “Distinctly medieval behavior of the most cruel and vicious sort.”
“It was as if he’d decided that area was his personal territory, and he could do whatever he pleased. Anything and everything.” Jonathon looked almost accusingly at his father, and Barnaby saw the marquess faintly wince.
“Subsequently,” Stokes continued imperturbably, “one of Barnaby’s lads brought us the jarvey who took Sedbury up in Pall Mall, and the jarvey confirmed that he drove Sedbury directly toan intersection two short blocks north of the Cole Stairs, leaving him there at about a quarter to one o’clock.”
Stokes made a show of consulting his notebook, although Barnaby was sure he didn’t actually need to refresh his memory. “Subsequently,” Stokes went on, “we found three further witnesses to the fight between two men on the Cole Stairs at close to one o’clock. One of those men was Sedbury, the other his murderer. We have a sketchy description of that man—taller and broader than Sedbury, with possibly curly dark hair.” Stokes paused, then looked at the marquess. “In terms of motive and even opportunity, our suspects are legion, but courtesy of what we now know, it appears most likely that the reason Sedbury was killed relates to his activities in the area around the Cole Stairs.”
The marquess’s eyes narrowed. “So not anyone of the ton?”
Stokes calmly replied, “While not impossible, a killer hired by a member of the ton who happened to know enough to lure Sedbury to an area he considered his own to kill him seems considerably less likely.” He glanced at his notebook, then raised his gaze and said, “Based on what we now know, our next step is to find Sedbury’s killer. He will either be a local or someone known to the locals, and his size and strength will mark him.”
Bryan said, “There simply can’t be that many men of such a size in that one area.”
Stokes nodded. “So at last, we’re progressing. I’ll have constables crawling all over the area tomorrow, searching for our man.”
The marquess studied Stokes, then steepled his fingers before his chin. “I take it, Inspector, that you feel confident in your ability to lay hands on this man.”
Stokes paused, then replied, “I would like to say yes, but with us having asked questions about Sedbury all around the area, it’s possible he’s heard of it, realized we’re closing in, and fled. If he has, then catching up with him won’t be easy.”
Silence lengthened as the marquess and the rest of the company considered that prospect.
Eventually, the marquess lowered his hands and said, “I have thought long and hard about this situation—about the rights and wrongs of it—and subsequently, I consulted with several of my peers, as well as with my wife and sister and her husband.” He focused his steely gaze on Stokes. “As much as I would infinitely prefer that you dropped this investigation and left the matter of Sedbury’s murder unresolved, I’ve been counseled that I must, however reluctantly, accept that, in order for the innocent to be cleared of suspicion, we need Sedbury’s murderer identified.
“Nevertheless”—the marquess’s gaze swept the company—“I wish to make it plain that I am not in the least delighted by the prospect of having Sedbury’s distasteful activities investigated and aired for all the world to goggle over. That would rank as a final evil act, one enacted from beyond the grave to adversely impact the futures of his relatives, most especially Jonathon, Bryan, Claudia, Margot, and Conrad.”
The marquess paused, and his gaze grew weighty as it circled the faces of the company. “So I caution you all that, while I accept the need to pursue Sedbury’s killer, I expect and will continue to insist that all information regarding Sedbury’s activities remains closely held, shared only among those who need to know.”
Stokes met the marquess’s gaze and inclined his head. “I take your point, my lord, and accept your stipulation.” He glanced at the others. “We will do our best to catch the killer with the least possible dust raised.” He returned his gaze to the marquess. “Once we have our man, what happens next will be in the hands of the commissioner and the courts.”
The marquess held Stokes’s gaze, then nodded. “Just so. Very well.” He shifted his gaze to Penelope and Barnaby and inclinedhis head. “Mr. and Mrs. Adair. Inspector. And the rest of you. I will leave you to your deliberations.”
