Silk by Chris Karlsen

Author:Chris Karlsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical thriller, historical suspense, jack the ripper, victorian thriller
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Published: 2017-04-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Ruddy and Archie shut the door to Jameson’s office and walked in silence back to their desks.

“How does my arse look?” Ruddy asked, turning his back to Archie.

“Looks like it always does. Why?”

“I wasn’t sure I had any left after the chewing we just got.”

Archie sank into his chair and sipped on his now cold tea. “I don’t know what he expects us to do about a leak. We’re not the ones doing it so why dump the finding out on us?”

“Better him than the Commissioner. He’s the next to lay blame on our doorstep.” Ruddy pulled the drawing of the button from his case file. “We need a lead on this case something fierce. Although an arrest on the arson case might appease Jameson for a short time. We’d work a bit of good press from that.”

“What do you want to do first, today?”

Ruddy stood and put on his hat. “Let’s finish interviewing the people on our list. Then, let’s have a chinwag with Mr. Marsden about his source.”

#

Ruddy and Archie flashed their badges to the front desk clerk at the London Gazette. “We want to speak with Geoffrey Marsden,” Ruddy told him.

The clerk’s head shifted slightly with a quick glance to a desk in the corner of the room. “Give me a moment and I’ll see if he’s here.”

Ruddy put a hand on the man’s shoulder halting him mid stand. “Too late.”

A narrow-faced, prissy looking man in a light blue floral cravat and light blue waistcoat tried to hide the nameplate on his desk as they approached. Ruddy always thought cravats too dandified, which added to his predetermined dislike of the reporter.

“Don’t bother moving the nameplate. We know who you are,” Archie said and leaned over to take the nameplate out of the reporter’s hand. He set it in the same place Marsden had it.

“I know who you are,” Marsden said. “I’ve seen you coming and going from the station. Too lofty to speak with any of the press. What do you want, Inspector?”

Archie gave Ruddy a light jab to the ribs. When Ruddy turned, Archie tipped his head toward the others in the room. Everyone’s eyes were on the three of them.

“Let’s take a walk,” Ruddy told Marsden.

“I’d prefer to talk here.”

“I don’t. You can voluntarily take a walk with us or you can leave in manacles,” Ruddy said flat voiced.

Marsden leaned back in his chair. “In manacles? Don’t make me laugh. On what charge?”

Ruddy smiled. “As Mr. Lytton said, the pen is mightier than the sword. You’re not the only creative person among us.”

“You’ll never find a charge that will hold me for long.”

“Long enough to make you miserable. The special cell for drunkards you might find especially foul,” Archie said.

“What’ll it be?” Ruddy asked.

“Fine. I’ll go with you but don’t think I won’t tell the superintendent of this abuse.”

“I’m sure he’d love to talk with you too.”

Marsden rose and put on a frock coat worn at the cuffs. Ruddy noticed.

Outside, Archie and Ruddy walked him into an alley concealed from most of the foot traffic behind a closed factory.

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