The Circus Train Conspiracy by Edward Marston

Author:Edward Marston [Edward Marston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749021320
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2017-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

The tankard of beer had revived him and the imminent prospect of food reminded him how hungry he was. Leeming was already starting to forget the boredom and discomfort of the train journey. His first task was to hand over the letter from Madeleine. Dying to open it, Colbeck nevertheless kept it in his pocket until the sergeant had delivered his report. He was interested to hear about the visit to Bristol and explained why he now thought Greenwood was innocent of the accusations hurled at him by Mauro Moscardi. Having had plenty of time to reflect on what he’d learnt, Leeming agreed with him wholeheartedly.

‘Moscardi and Greenwood are two of a kind,’ he said. ‘They’re like wild dogs barking at each other from a distance.’

‘And that’s all they do, Victor. They bark but never bite.’

‘Superintendent Tallis can do both simultaneously.’

‘Yes,’ said Colbeck, laughing. ‘He’s a circus act in himself.’

‘There’s something else I must tell you, sir. I daresay it will be mentioned in your wife’s letter but you ought to hear my version first.’

He went on to describe the trouble that Lydia Quayle had been having with a stalker and how the man had actually booked into her hotel. The news that he’d also stolen a dress of hers alarmed Colbeck.

‘This is rather more than unwanted attention,’ he said.

‘Miss Quayle was really frightened.’

‘I’m glad that Madeleine invited her to move into our house. Your action was very prompt, Victor. It was good of you to help her in that way.’

‘Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to catch the man.’

‘Somebody ought to do so.’

‘Well, it’s no use turning to the superintendent for permission to institute a search for him. He’d claim that no crime had actually been committed.’

‘A dress was stolen.’

‘That wouldn’t justify assigning a detective to the case in his eyes. You know what he’s like. I did all I could do in asking the constables on the beat in your area to look out for the stalker.’

‘That will help but the problem will remain until this individual is stopped.’

A waiter came into the lounge to tell them that their table was ready. Leeming took the opportunity to slip up to the room reserved for him, partly to get rid of his luggage but mainly in order to give Colbeck the chance to read Madeleine’s letter. When he eventually rejoined him, the inspector had a contented smile. Over the first course, Leeming heard what had been happening while he was away. He was abashed.

‘A positive identification of the murder victim and another attack on the circus,’ he said, morosely. ‘I always miss the excitement.’

‘I should have thought a visit to the superintendent provided enough of that.’

Leeming gave a hollow laugh. ‘Tell me more about this Mr Underhill.’

‘He’s a curious fellow,’ said Colbeck. ‘I ought to be grateful for all the information he supplied but he troubles me. The truth is that he’s given me far too much information about Mrs Pulver. I was swamped with unnecessary detail. It was almost as if he was planning to write her biography.

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