The Northminster Mysteries Box Set 1: Books 1-3 by Harriet Smart

Author:Harriet Smart [Smart, Harriet]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Anthemion
Published: 2018-12-08T05:00:00+00:00

THE DEAD SONGBIRD

Chapter Thirty-six

“Fildyke?” Giles said, looking at the custody register. “And Josiah Harrison?”

“Mr Carswell and Constable Jones brought them in, sir,” said Sargent Boyd.

“So I see,” he said, consulting the charge sheet. “Harbouring a fugitive and gross indecency. Is this correct, Boyd?”

“According to Mr Carswell.”

“Harrison is not technically a fugitive, only wanted for questioning,” said Giles. “Where is he?”

“In the infirmary cell. Alcohol poisoning, Mr Carswell said.”

“So not in a fit state to be interviewed tonight?”

“I would say not, sir; you would have to ask Mr Carswell about that, but he’s gone out.”

“With Lord Rothborough,” said Superintendent Rollins, joining them at the desk. “About an hour since.”

Giles went down to the cells and found Fildyke looking sullen and petulant.

“You’ve no right to keep me here, sir,” he said, jumping at the sight of Giles. “I demand to be released. I have friends, you know, who will not take kindly to my being treated like this.”

“These friends, who might they be?”

“The Dean.”

“Oh yes, the Dean. That’s interesting, Mr Fildyke. What is the Dean to you, precisely? He has mentioned you to me, as well.”

“A friend. Cannot two gentlemen be friends, sir?”

“You make quite a claim for yourself there, Mr Fildyke,” said Giles. “I would not imagine that Dean Pritchard would see it in that light. He might consider it degrading to be associated with you in any way, given the activity in which Mr Carswell found you engaged.”

“The Dean is my friend and will soon put this to rights. I must write to him. I demand that I may write to him. You cannot deny me that!”

“Very well, you may have the materials to write,” Giles said. “In the meantime, I suggest you spend the next few hours thinking straight about the situation you are in, and how you may best save your sorry skin by cooperating with us as fully as possible. We will talk again tomorrow, Mr Fildyke, and at length.”

He then looked in on Harrison who was fast asleep, like an innocent child. He decided that was another interview that could wait until morning; he was not yet clear enough in his mind what line to take with him. This business with Fildyke had confused everything. A night of waiting might make both men more tractable and the threads more easy to untangle.

Giles went and ate his own dinner, with only Snow for company. When he was done, he stood staring at the papers he had pinned to his wall, trying to make sense of them. Snow pressed against him, demanding exercise and attention. It was developing into a foul night, but he decided that a cold walk in the rain was a good remedy for the fog of his mind. Besides, there was a call he needed to pay. He put on his mackintosh cloak and ventured out, with Snow trotting happily alongside him.

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