Terror by Gaslight (3 page)

‘They were due at twelve o’clock, sir.’

‘Indeed. I had intended to come back early today, deal with them, and then work at home this afternoon. Instead, I find myself going out abominably late.’ He grunted irritably. ‘You will have to send them away. Tell them today is not convenient.’

‘Oh. Yes, sir.’ Mrs Butters was clearly nervous. The visitors might be stern, important men. ‘What reason shall I give?’

‘None. Dammit, woman, I don’t have to explain myself to people. Just tell them to go!’

Meredith Austin was an impatient man, indifferent to the feelings and problems of others. He had been fond of his mother, and had cared for her dutifully through her long final illness. That had seemed to exhaust his supply of human kindness. No one had helped him then; he had seen
no reason to help anyone else since. He had emerged from those difficult years with a determination to achieve prosperity and status. His office was the centrepiece of his life and he bitterly resented any enforced absence from it.

His housekeeper stood for a moment, looking uncertain.

‘That will be all, Mrs Butters,’ snapped Austin. ‘You’ve heard my orders.’

And then came a brisk emphatic knock at the front door.

‘That’ll be them now,’ said Mrs Butters. ‘They’ll be on the doorstep when you go out.’

Austin pondered. All Heath Dwellers were expected to grant these men an interview. If he didn’t see them now, they’d come back. He changed his decision with a sigh.

‘Very well, Mrs Butters. As they are here, I’d better see them. Then they won’t need to return and spoil another day.’

As Mrs Butters departed, Austin sat at his desk, frowning. He noticed one of his scarves on the seat of an armchair, and it seemed to cause him some alarm. He hurried across, picked up the scarf in a disorderly tangle, and thrust it into one of his desk drawers. He had resumed putting things into his briefcase when Mrs Butters ushered the visitors in.

She did her best to manage a formal voice as she struggled to read from the card she had been given.

‘Major Henry Steele,’ she announced. ‘Private Invigorator and Inquiry Agent.’

‘Investigator, actually,’ said the taller of the two men, advancing with outstretched hand. ‘I’m Henry Steele, and this is my colleague, Mr John Mason.’

When Steele retired early from British Military Intelligence, he had kept his service rank, but his sergeant, whose simultaneous release he had paid for, had warmly embraced civilian status.

Austin’s glance took in the new arrivals as he shook their hands. Steele, in light green Donegal tweed, was lean and
very upright, with greying hair and sharp features. Mason was a little shorter but a lot broader, built like a prizefighter. He wore a plain brown suit that had probably served him well for several years.

Austin spoke briskly. ‘You’d better sit down. I can spare you twenty minutes. This house has been in turmoil, and I am already four hours late for work. I’m sure you’re aware of the tragedy that took place on our doorstep last night.’

‘We are, sir,’ Steele confirmed. ‘We wondered if we should still impose on you. But then, as this latest outrage seems related to matters we are due to discuss, we thought perhaps you would bear with us.’

‘Very well,’ said Austin. He took a round silver watch from his waistcoat pocket and propped it upright on his desk. ‘I am at your disposal for a further nineteen minutes. But I should start by telling you that when the Heath Association discussed employing your services, I spoke against it.’

‘So we heard.’ Steele spoke dispassionately. ‘I gather it went to a show of hands, and you and Dr Frankel were the only dissenters.’

Austin was not pleased that Steele should know this, but decided not to make an issue of it. ‘There was nothing personal in the matter. Frankel and I both feel that, as we pay extortionate rates and taxes, we are entitled to full protection from the constabulary without paying additional fees.’

‘I sympathize, sir,’ said Steele genially. ‘And I have to say that, for our part, we were not keen to get involved. It appeared to be a routine job for dogged police work. But then we noticed that there were strange aspects that intrigued us.’

‘Strange? It seems to me a straightforward instance of a homicidal maniac who must, sooner or later, be caught and hanged.’

Steele demurred. ‘Not quite straightforward, I think.
Mason, you have a list of the victims to date. Would you kindly read it out for us?’

‘Shall be done,’ said Mason, taking a folded sheet of paper from his pocket. He straightened it out, cleared his throat, and began his recital.

‘Ambrose Rennie, a clerk, stabbed to death on 7th October in Parliament Hill Fields.’

‘Near the Stone of Free Speech, I think,’ said Steele.

‘On 28th October, James Tate, a professional boxer, was similarly killed, after leaving a public house in the Vale of Health.’

Steele interrupted again. ‘Note, however, it was established that the man was not drunk, and should have been well able to defend himself.’

‘November 11th,’ Mason continued, ‘Philip Agnew, a trader, was murdered on the Heath, and then pushed into one of the ponds.

‘Last night, Robert Kemp was fatally stabbed outside this house. In the first three atrocities, death was due to a single stab wound, but no weapon was found near the scene of the crime. We believe the same is true of last night’s murder. Is that the case, sir?’

Austin shrugged. ‘I understand the man was stabbed. I have not concerned myself with any other details.’

‘Note,’ said Steele, ‘that all these crimes took place on Sunday nights, between the hours of 9 and 11 p.m.’

‘The killer is a lunatic, as I said,’ observed Austin testily. ‘No doubt he is obsessive.’

‘He is also audacious. The third and fourth murders took place in spite of police patrols, brought in after the second death, and doubled after the third. Truly, a man now needs a strong reason to venture on the Heath at night.’

‘British citizens will not let a thug deter them from going about their normal purposes.’

‘Ah, yes, one has to have a purpose. Which brings us to Robert Kemp. I believe he was a friend of your daughter’s.’

Austin bridled instantly. ‘You have been misinformed, sir. Kemp was merely a family acquaintance. He was not a friend. And he had no particular association with any one of us.’

‘Oh. I had supposed that Kemp was on his way to visit the young lady.’

‘Good God, man! My daughter does not receive young men in the absence of her father!’

Steele remained cool. ‘You were not at home last night, then?’

‘I was not!’ snapped Austin. After a brief pause, he decided to add, ‘Your man can add to his jottings that I was at my club.’ Austin was annoyed to see that Mason was making notes.

‘But your daughter would not have been alone, surely. I believe you have two daughters residing here, as well as that pleasant housekeeper who let us in.’

‘Major, I thought you were here to ask about the Heath Maniac. I was not expecting questions about my family, or my household. The point is, the man Kemp was not expecting to call at this house. Clearly, he was passing this way on some other business. When he was attacked he came to the nearest door for help.’

Steele was non-committal. ‘Let us assume so. Mr Austin, was Kemp a fit and vigorous young man?’

‘He seemed so to me. I met him on only two or three occasions.’

‘Then we come to the most surprising aspect of this case. You note that all the victims have been healthy young men in the prime of life.’

‘It had not occurred to me, but now I see that it is so.’

‘Is it not curious that none of them was able to put up any sort of resistance?’

‘I assume each attack took the victim by surprise.’

‘Well, I’m sure they were not expecting it. But one might anticipate that, in at least one of the first three crimes, the initial blow would be less than fatal. One of the victims might have survived long enough to grapple with his assailant: the boxer, perhaps.’

‘Possibly they did, but were overcome,’ Austin suggested.

‘Not so, Mr Austin. In no case were there any signs of a struggle. Is that correct, Mason?’

Mason looked up from his notes. ‘Yes, sir. Perfectly correct, sir. No cut hands, no bruised knuckles. Just one deep stab wound to the heart every time.’

‘This man is obviously a skilled assassin,’ said Austin.

‘Also a lucky one,’ said Steele. ‘And devilish clever. To get close enough to deliver the deadly blow without the victim seeing or hearing him.’

Encouraged by Steele cueing him in, Mason now ventured an observation. ‘Almost as if he arrives on wings, like the Angel of Death.’

Steele bestowed a little smile on his companion. ‘My colleague enjoys a touch of fantasy, Mr Austin. But I assure you our inquiries will be totally down to earth. We shall not be seeking any sort of winged creature. We shall be tracking down a wicked human being. And we shall find him.’

‘Then the local community will be very grateful to you, sir.’ Austin shifted in his seat, his movement suggesting an early end to the interview. ‘I hope our brief discussion has helped you clarify your thoughts.’

‘I think it has,’ said Steele. ‘But I hope we may detain you a little longer. There are certain facts we need to ascertain.’

‘The police were here for many hours this morning,’ Austin responded. ‘They obtained enough facts to fill an encyclopaedia. I suggest you liaise with them.’

‘We shall do so, of course,’ said Steele. ‘But our approach
doesn’t always coincide with that of the constabulary. I think first of the psychological aspect. I ask myself what sort of man would have the motive for these vile crimes.’

Austin seemed astonished. ‘Motive? You seek a coherent motive? We are dealing with a madman!’

‘Are we? Then what drove him mad? Would his family and friends not notice that he was mad?’

‘Why should he have a family? He’s probably a lonely wretch, living in lodgings in Kentish Town. Or a perverted vagrant from the stews of Cleveland Street.’

‘Of course, we shall search those areas. But first I intend to visit the wealthy and prosperous, who often attract envy and resentment, and therefore enemies.’

‘Your last point is true enough. But how is it relevant? No one wealthy or prosperous has been attacked.’

‘Not directly. But the Heath Association tell me that the climate of fear is affecting all its members. Traders are losing revenue because people are avoiding the area. Already property values are falling. Thus the Maniac is effectively damaging local society.’

‘That, of course, is why the Association sought your help.’

‘Quite. It is also the reason why we need your further assistance.’

Austin sighed, sat back in his chair, and thought for a moment. Then he grudgingly conceded. ‘Very well, Major. I must submit to your questions a little longer.’ He opened a silver box on his desk, took a pinch of snuff, and inhaled it vigorously.

‘Thank you,’ said Steele. ‘Mr Austin, it’s just possible that one of these big houses on the Highgate Road could unwittingly provide sanctuary for this monster. I need to know who is resident in each household. Also whether there are any rooms, attics or outbuildings which are not normally in use.’

‘You seem to know already, sir, that my household consists
of myself, my daughters, and a housekeeper. There is a garden shed, if that is of any interest to you.’

‘It might be,’ said Steele, glancing to check that Mason had noted the fact. Then he turned back to Austin. ‘Do you have a gardener?’

‘I no longer keep a permanent gardener. A man comes in twice a week.’

‘I see. From the description of your family, I assume you have the misfortune to be a widower.’

Austin’s response was chilly. ‘You assume wrong, sir.’

Steele waited briefly, hoping the other man would expand on the subject, but he showed no signs of doing so. Steele took the plunge.

‘As I said, Mr Austin, I need to know the circumstances of all local residents. May I ask where Mrs Austin is?’

‘You may ask, sir, but I may not tell you.’

‘I understood I was to have your full co-operation.’

‘I cannot tell you where she is, Major, because I do not know. She chose to leave me ten years ago. I do not know her whereabouts. We do not speak of her.’

Steele inclined his head a little. ‘I am sorry I had to raise the matter. You have my sympathy.’

‘Save your sympathy, sir, for the rogue with whom she ran away.’

‘Ah. There was a man involved.’

Austin’s temper was rising. ‘If you choose to call him a man! A young whipper-snapper, full of airs and graces, enough to steal an honest man’s wife, but not man enough to face him!’ While speaking, Austin had picked up a heavy ebony ruler from his desk and was now squeezing it with both hands.

‘Steady, sir, you are distressing yourself,’ said Steele. And then he noticed a thin line of blood, trickling back towards Austin’s right wrist. ‘Good Lord! You are bleeding!’

Austin controlled himself with difficulty. He took his bleeding hand off the ruler and peered at the palm, which was covered with blood. ‘I cut my hand yesterday. A small flesh wound, which seems to have reopened. It is nothing.’

‘It will not remain nothing if you continue to reopen it,’ Steele cautioned. ‘I urge you to wash and dress the wound.’

‘I shall attend to it in due course. Now I have to go to my office. Monday is a busy day, and I have lost five hours already. Must there be more questions?’

‘Just a few, if you please. I take it you are in business, Mr Austin?’

Austin had put down the ruler and taken a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket. He was winding it round his hand as he replied, ‘I am senior partner in a firm of insurance brokers.’

‘Ah. How came you to cut your hand yesterday?’

‘I cut it with my razor. I foolishly left it open on the rim of the basin. When I reached for the soap, I accidentally grasped the blade.’

‘Alas, the kind of mistake we all make.’

‘I think that’s enough about my mishap. I cannot think it has any bearing on the problem you are here to investigate.’

Steele was not deflected. ‘Interesting that you did it with a razor. I had supposed you might have hurt yourself with one of those daggers.’ He rose, and walked to the wall which displayed the weapons Austin had recently adjusted.