Murder at the Savoy by Jim Eldridge

Author:Jim Eldridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2021-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Charles Tillesley was at the reception desk, engaged in conversation with the concierge, when Coburg and Lampson arrived at the Savoy; and as soon as he saw them he hurried over.

‘I’m so glad you came,’ he said. ‘You got my message?’

‘No,’ said Coburg. ‘We’ve been out most of the day. We decided to call back and see if there have been any recent developments.’

‘Indeed,’ said Tillesley. ‘Ella Kemble has disappeared.’

‘Disappeared?’ echoed Coburg.

‘She never came in to work today. I sent someone to her address to see if she was all right, there’s quite a lot of colds going round, but her landlady said she hadn’t seen her since yesterday morning, when she left to come to work.’

‘So, she didn’t spend the night at home?’

‘No.’ He looked anguished. ‘What’s happening? On the same day Daisy Scott is murdered, and another of the maids disappears.’

‘Leave it to us, Mr Tillesley. If you give me Ella Kemble’s address, I’ll call there and see what her landlady has to tell me.’

‘Certainly,’ said Tillesley gratefully. He handed Coburg a piece of paper. ‘I had this ready to give you when you arrived. It’s Ella’s address in Clerkenwell. Her landlady is a woman called Mrs Sarah Hobbs.’

‘Thank you, Mr Tillesley,’ said Coburg. ‘I can give you a couple of pieces of information about Daisy Scott. She was three months pregnant. And, before she was stabbed, she was poisoned.’

Tillesley stared at him, uncomprehending. ‘But why stab her if she was already dead?’

‘That’s the question I’m also asking,’ said Coburg. ‘I’ll let you know if I have more from Mrs Hobbs about Ella.’

As Coburg and Lampson headed for the car park, Lampson said: ‘Suspicious, Ella Kemble just vanishing like that?’

‘Very,’ agreed Coburg.

‘So, we’re heading to Clerkenwell?’

‘No, I am,’ said Coburg firmly. ‘You go home and keep an eye on that son of yours. I’ll drop you off at St Pancras New Church.’

‘That’s a bit out of your way, guv,’ said Lampson. ‘It’s more direct to Clerkenwell from here if you head due east …’

‘If I decide to go a different route, that’s my choice,’ said Coburg.

‘Yes, but under the regulations concerning the economic use of petrol …’ began Lampson.

‘Or you can walk,’ said Coburg.

‘Point taken,’ said Lampson.

After dropping his sergeant off by St Pancras New Church at the edge of Somers Town, Coburg drove to Clerkenwell and the address in Hardwick Street he’d been given for Ella Kemble. For the moment, the Sisters of Josephine would have to wait.

Ella Kemble’s landlady, Mrs Hobbs, a pleasant, motherly woman in her fifties, was bewildered.

‘I’ve never had anything like this happen before,’ she told Coburg. ‘For her to go off without a word.’

‘Is her rent paid up to date?’ asked Coburg.

‘It is,’ said Mrs Hobbs. ‘She’s never been behind with the rent, not like some have been in the past.’

‘When did you actually see her last?’

‘Yesterday morning, half past seven. The same time she always left for work.’

‘How was she dressed? Did she have her maid’s uniform on?’

‘She did. I saw it beneath her coat,’ nodded Mrs Hobbs.

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