An Assassination on the Agenda (A Lady Hardcastle Mystery) by T E Kinsey

Author:T E Kinsey [Kinsey, T E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2024-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

Freed from the immediate influence of his superiors, Sergeant Bryer turned out to be very good company. He sat in the kitchen with Lady Hardcastle and me as we drank our tea and chatted to him about the area. He had grown up not far from Betts Street and had joined the police as soon as he was able.

‘My dad wanted me to work on the docks – it’s a good livin’, but it ain’t ’alf tough work. I reckon I’d ’ave done all right, but there’d been an old sergeant when we was kids – Sergeant Steel, ’e was called. His beat brought ’im past our ’ouse and ’e always told us it was his job to keep us all safe, to look after everyone. He made sure the villains kept to themselves. “You want to steal from the docks, you can take your chances, but you leave these people alone – these are your people. You come round ’ere makin’ trouble and I’ll ’ave you in the clink so fast your feet won’t touch.” Tough as old boots ’e was, but he always had a kind word for us. I wanted to be like him.’

‘You’re a credit to the uniform, Sergeant,’ said Lady Hardcastle.

‘I try to be.’

‘Do you know Benny Butcher?’ I asked.

He laughed. ‘Everyone knows Benny Butcher, miss. They all love him round here. He’s a wrong ’un, but he’s what you might call a noble villain. He grew up under old Sergeant Steel’s watchful eye an’ all, see? He cheats and robs his way through life and I daresay the detectives’ll catch up with him one of these days – I don’t reckon he’s earned so much as an honest farthin’ since he was old enough to walk. Gawd knows he belongs in gaol, but he looks after the people round here. Him and his lads don’t nick nothin’ from honest people, and woe betide any chancer from outside who tries.’

‘We’ve known him for a while, and we’ve seen that for ourselves. Have you any idea where he is?’

‘None at all, miss. When they told me Benny’s door had been kicked in and someone killed, I thought it would be him. His luck was bound to run out sooner or later. If our lads didn’t arrest him, one of his rivals would do for him.’

‘Do you know who the actual victim is?’

‘That’s Tommy Adams – one of Benny’s bravos.’

‘Do you agree with Chief Inspector Cromwell? Do you think Benny killed him?’

Bryer laughed. ‘Not a chance. Best mates, them two. And it ain’t Benny’s style – Benny likes the razor. He wouldn’t shoot no one, and certainly not in his own gaff. Tommy must have been lookin’ after the place while Benny was away.’

‘Why might that be necessary?’ asked Lady Hardcastle.

‘Can only mean trouble with another gang, I reckon. Benny must’ve thought him or his drum were gonna be a target.’

‘Another gang? Any likely suspects?’

‘Too many to name.’

‘It looks like Tommy was shot with a small pistol,’ I said.

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