Fatal Enquiry by Thomas Will

Author:Thomas, Will [Thomas, Will]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781466837195
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It had been a long and eventful day and it was time to go home. Somehow, being away for a while had cemented the house in Newington as home in my mind. I missed its denizens and wanted more than anything to be there, and now, finally, I stood at number 3 Lion Street, Barker’s private address, where I had lived for the past two years.

Holding my breath, I turned the doorknob and stepped inside. The hall looked the same. There was the hat stand with its array of sticks waiting to be used, and the standing clock by the stairs. The house smelled of beeswax and lemon oil and the must of old books. Everything was prepared for the return of its owner. My advent was inconsequential. Hard by the entrance, Jacob Maccabee’s door opened and he emerged with his sawn-down shotgun pointed in my direction. The first time I’d met him our butler had pointed this same shotgun at me in defense of the house.

“Oh, it’s you,” he said, lowering the gun. “Thank Hashem.”

The man looked shattered. His eyes were hollow and dark and he looked thinner than when I’d seen him last.

“It’s good to see you, Jacob,” I replied. Then I realized I had called him by his first name. I’d always called him Mac before. It was what Barker called him. When I was sore at him, which was most of the time, I called him Mr. Maccabee. I suppose I had actually been concerned for his welfare.

“Where’s the Guv?” he asked.

“He’s gone underground. I know he’s worked out some plan, but he’s keeping it to himself. I was arrested and released, pending my trial for assaulting an officer of the law.” I noticed his hands were shaking. “You look as though you’ve had a hard time of it.”

“That dratted Nightwine broke in here with members of the Elephant and Castle gang. They burst in through the back door when I was on my knees polishing the linoleum. There was a half dozen of them at least. They locked me in my room, and kicked me about when they got bored. They stayed for several days, eating everything in the pantry and drinking all the beer. Worst of all, they used a jimmy and broke open the safe. I don’t know what they got away with, but they were exultant. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them.”

“No one expected you to stop them,” I told him. “You’re not a bodyguard and things can be replaced. You know the Guv is not sentimental.”

“Still, I should have done something.”

“Where’s Harm?” I asked, suddenly thinking of Barker’s dog.

“He’s outside guarding the house.”

I strode down the hall and opened the back door. Harm came waddling over the bridge, looking neglected, but basically sound. I bent down to wait for him and he brushed up against my hand, a trifle warily.

“Hello, boy,” I said, scratching him behind the ears. “Looks like we all survived the ordeal.”

The Pekingese sniffed at my laces and wagged his tail absently.

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