Murder at Aldwych Station by Jim Eldridge

Author:Jim Eldridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Friday 6th December 1940

Coburg found a very annoyed and impatient solicitor, Edwin Vickers, waiting for him when he got back to Scotland Yard.

‘This is outrageous, Chief Inspector,’ barked Vickers. ‘My client has been waiting, as I have, for you to arrive in order for this ridiculous farrago to be over.’

‘You should both be grateful for the delay. I have actually been out investigating another aspect of the case, which might have led to your client being exonerated.’

‘And has it?’

‘No,’ said Coburg. ‘But it could have, showing that we have made no prejudicial judgement against your client.’

Coburg and Vickers made their way down to one of the interview rooms in the basement, where a uniformed sergeant was already in place, standing against one wall and watching over the contents of the room, the bare wooden table and four chairs, with an eagle and protective eye.

‘I’ve sent for the prisoner, sir,’ the sergeant informed them.

‘He’s not a prisoner!’ snapped Vickers. ‘He’s here for interview.’

‘Technically, as he’s been remanded in custody, he is a prisoner,’ said Coburg. ‘For the moment.’

The door opened and Shelley Buttons was escorted in by two constables. Buttons wore handcuffs. The constables escorted Buttons to the waiting chair, and he sat down.

‘Why has my client been shackled in this way?’ demanded Vickers.

‘A precautionary procedure,’ said Coburg. He looked at the constables. ‘You may remove the handcuffs, Constable.’

The constable unlocked the handcuffs and clipped them to his belt. Buttons glared with barely suppressed anger at Coburg.

‘To begin, Chief Inspector, what is my client charged with?’

‘Your client has not been charged. He is here helping us with our enquiries into the murder of one Benjamin Martin, and the kidnap and attempted murder of one Rosa Coburg.’

‘Your wife?’ asked Vickers, surprised.

‘The same,’ said Coburg.

‘In that case, Chief Inspector, I insist that you excuse yourself from this case. There is a conflict of interest here that precludes impartiality of an investigation.’

‘Very well,’ said Coburg calmly. ‘Then, for the purposes of this interview, we shall limit ourselves to the murder of Benjamin Martin – although, as you will see, both cases are interconnected.’

‘I’ve never heard of this Benjamin Martin,’ grunted Buttons.

‘What about Henry Punt and Wally Maples?’ asked Coburg.

Vickers held up his hand. ‘One moment, Chief Inspector, before my client answers that question, I demand to know who these people are and why you believe they have any connection with my client.’

‘We have a statement from another party that he sent Mr Punt and Mr Maples to see Mr Buttons, and that Mr Buttons allegedly persuaded Mr Punt and Mr Maples to carry out some illegal acts for him. We believe these acts included kidnap, and also murder.’

‘Who is this other party?’ demanded Vickers.

‘Pat Riley,’ grunted Buttons. ‘It’s all crap, of course. He’s just disgruntled because I tried to buy his club from him and he didn’t like it.’

‘Do you have any proof of the allegation made by this Pat Riley?’ demanded Vickers.

‘That is the purpose of this interview, along with other interviews we are conducting with other parties,’ said Coburg.

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