Page 51 of Marriage and Murder
Jacobs startled, and alarm entered his eyes. He stared as Penelope swooped in and took possession of the tray with the jewels. With Madeline, who had the bracelet in her hand, Penelope compared the sizes of the genuine aquamarines Jacobs had spread on the tray with the fake stones that had been put into the bracelet.
On catching sight of the bracelet, Jacobs stiffened, then started to slowly rise.
Penelope looked up and confidently stated, “These are the stones that were originally in the bracelet.”
Jacobs sprang to his feet. In panic, he turned to flee through the stall behind his and into the next row, only to come face-to-face with Morgan, backed by Price. The constables had anticipated Jacobs’s reaction and had circled around to block his escape.
Stokes arrived, clapped Barnaby on the shoulder, and moved past and around Jacobs’s table to confront the jeweler. “Jacobs, you’re under arrest for the substitution and consequent theft of these aquamarines.”
Watching Madeline carefully put the aquamarines back into the pouch and drop the bracelet in as well, Jacobs sighed. “I should have known better than to have any dealings with that charlatan.”
“Oh?” Stokes said. “And which charlatan is that?”
Jacobs looked at him and frowned. “And who might you be?”
Stokes smiled wolfishly. “Inspector Stokes of Scotland Yard.”
Puzzled, Jacobs frowned harder. “Since when does Scotland Yard concern itself with lowly substituted stones?” He glanced at the others gathered about, then returned his gaze to Stokes. After a second of swift thinking, Jacobs asked, “Might it possibly be to my advantage to tell you everything I know about how I got those stones?”
Stokes studied him, then inclined his head. “Possibly. But I suggest we repair to Endless Street and surroundings more conducive to this conversation.”
Barnaby glanced around and saw that, unsurprisingly, they were attracting a good deal of attention.
Jacobs saw the same. Lips setting, he bent and pulled out his lockbox. “Just let me lock my goods away, and we can go.”
They all waited while Jacobs secured his wares, then hoisted the box in his arms. Flanked by Morgan and Price, Jacobs followed Stokes and O’Donnell out of the market, with Barnaby, Penelope, Madeline, Henry, and Connor trailing close behind.
They emerged from the market square and crossed Blue Boar Row, then turned up Endless Street.
A little way along, they came upon their carriage with Phelps waiting patiently on the box. Barnaby paused and turned to Connor, who’d been following at their heels. Barnaby smiled. “That was excellent work back there.”
Penelope and Madeline added their praises, and Connor brightened at their compliments. They left Connor to resume his normal duties beside Phelps—and no doubt, to regale the coachman with the latest exciting happenings—and continued along the street.
As they drew level with the police station, Madeline suddenly halted and, from the pocket of her jacket, drew out a small watch and checked the time. “Damn,” she muttered.
Barnaby and Penelope had paused and waited, as had Henry. When they all looked inquiringly her way, Madeline explained, “That took longer than I’d expected. I need to see the minister at St. Edmund’s Church to discuss Viola’s funeral, and while he’ll be at the church for the next hour or so, after that, he’ll be out on his visits.” She looked to where Stokes and his men were ushering Jacobs through the door and sighed. “As much as I want to learn who H is, I can’t put off seeing the minister.”
Penelope closed her hand over one of Madeline’s. “Go and see the minister. Whatever Jacobs tells us, if at all possible, we’ll wait for you before taking our next step.”
“I’ll go with you,” Henry said. “Best not to go about alone.”
“Indeed.” Barnaby nodded approvingly. “We’ll almost certainly still be here when you finish with the minister. Join us then.”
With some relief, Madeline nodded and took the arm Henry offered, and the couples parted, with Madeline and Henry continuing along Endless Street toward Bedwin Street and thechurch, while Barnaby and Penelope turned and followed Stokes and his men into the police station.
CHAPTER 9
With Penelope, Barnaby entered the police station to see Mallard walking into the foyer to join Stokes, O’Donnell, Morgan, and Price, who were gathered about Jacobs. The jeweler had taken on a distinctly hangdog look, and if anything, that expression deepened at Mallard’s approach.
While bending an unrelentingly severe look on Jacobs, Mallard said to Stokes, “I was just about to head out to look for you. I’ve got some information on that other gent you asked about, but it can wait until you’ve heard what Jacobs here can offer. We’ve had our eye on him for quite some years, but never had a chance to put a finger on him.” Mallard looked more cheerful. “Perhaps our luck has turned, and today is the day.”
Jacobs’s expression grew increasingly despondent.
They waited while Mallard arranged for Jacobs to be officially signed into police custody, then followed Mallard and the hapless Jacobs down the stairs to the basement and into an interrogation room.
The room was small and, with their rather large party crowding in, grew distinctly cramped. Being below ground, the stone-walled chamber was decidedly chilly. A bare room, itboasted a simple narrow table over which a single lamp hung, and four hard wooden chairs were the only seating.
Mallard directed Jacobs to the chair at one end of the table and waved Penelope, Barnaby, and Stokes to the three other chairs. Mallard himself retreated to stand against one wall, joining O’Donnell, Morgan, and Price, and with those others, settled to observe.
