Time Rovers 03 Madman's Dance (24 page)

“Was the prisoner in costume as well?”

“Ah, no. Neither he nor his female companion.”

“Female companion?” Arnett quizzed, feigning surprise. “What was her name?”

“She didn’t give it out.”

“Tell us what happened that night when the prisoner arrived.”

“He acted in a belligerent fashion, demanding to see my mistress.”

“What did you do?”

“I asked her if she was willing to receive him. My mistress agreed. They spoke for a few minutes, and then he left.”

“And his companion?”

“She left with him.”

“Let’s move ahead to the night of the murder. You said the prisoner visited earlier in the evening. How long did he stay?”

“Only a few minutes.”

“How many? Two, five, ten?”

“Five, if that. He was out of there like a shot, and very angry.”

“Ah, yes, in your statement you indicate he left in a
fine fury
. Did he say anything?”

The butler glowered in Keats’ direction. “He said my mistress was an abomination and that the Devil would claim her soul someday.”

Trust the fool to remember every word.

“How dramatic,” Arnett remarked. “Did that sound like a threat to you, Mr. Landis?”

“It did.”

Before Wescomb could object, the Crown Prosecutor continued, “During his second visit that very evening, you stated the prisoner entered the house without your knowledge. Was the front door left unbolted?”

“No.”

“Did the sergeant have a key?”

“Not likely.”

“Did your mistress let him in?”

“My mistress did not greet guests at the door,” the butler replied tartly.

Arnett’s eyebrow went up. “Then how did he get inside the house? That is a puzzle, isn’t it?”

“Yes, sir.”

The lock picks?
Surely, Arnett wouldn’t dare suggest he’d broken into the house like a common criminal?

The Crown Prosecutor gave a pleased nod. “Thank you, sir. That will be all.”

Wescomb rose. “Mr. Landis, how long have you been a butler?”

“Five years.”

“How many positions have you held during that time?”

Landis instantly went crimson and tugged at his collar. “Six.”

“Why so many? Better opportunities?”

“Yes,” he responded quickly.

“Your previous positions have been terminated because of your fondness for drink, is that not correct?”

“One or two.”

“I have letters from each of your former employers, and they say—”

“All right, all of them.”

“Were you drinking before your mistress’ body was discovered?”

“I might have had a drop.”

“Of course. On the night of the party, you state that Sergeant Keats acted in a belligerent fashion. Could you explain further?”

“He arrived without an invitation and insisted he had to speak to my mistress. When I said she was willing to meet with him, he demanded to know if there was a party in progress.”

“Why?”

“Said he didn’t want to be there if there was.”

“Now that’s singular. Most of us like a good knees-up.” Chuckles in the room. “Why would Sergeant Keats not want to attend Miss Hallcox’s soiree?”

“I don’t know,” Landis replied, his fingers drumming nervously in his lap.

“What was the nature of this…
gathering?
”

The butler’s eyes widened at the word. It told him Wescomb knew precisely the nature of that evening. “It was…”

“Go on.”

“It was a…” He coughed, a haunted expression spreading across his face.

“We are waiting, Mr. Landis,” Wescomb prodded. No reply. “Perhaps I shall assist. Was this a debauchery, sir?”

Landis nodded stiffly as murmurs spread through the courtroom.

“How many were present?” Wescomb quizzed.

“About thirty or so.”

“Is that the usual number for one of Miss Hallcox’s
parties?
”

“About. Sometimes it was more, others less.”

“Were these participants above the age of consent?” Wescomb asked, his voice suddenly brittle. A collective gasp came from the audience at the implication.

“Of course,” the butler replied swiftly.

“Well, at least that’s a relief. You said Sergeant Keats emphatically stated he did not want to be at one of these events. Had he been to one before?”

Keats’ heart double beat. It was fortunate that Nicci burned through servants as fast as she did lovers, or someone might have remembered him from all those years ago,
en mirage
or not.

“Not that I know of,” the butler replied.

Keats exhaled silently.

“Still, it sounds as if Sergeant Keats was aware of your mistress’ reputation and had no desire to be tainted by it.”

Excellent!

“I object, my lord,” Arnett said, rising. “He’s leading the witness.”

“I agree,” the judge ruled.

“I shall take more care in future, my lord,” Wescomb replied politely. He turned his attention to the witness once again. “What was the sergeant’s reaction when you ushered them into the room where this orgy was unfolding?”

“He was very angry. He began to look for a way out. He seemed very worried about the young lady who was with him.”

“I can imagine. Your mistress spoke with them?” A nod. “Did you overhear their conversation?” Another nod. “Please tell us what it entailed.”

“My mistress was upset that he wanted to ask her questions instead of participating.”

“So he was on official business?”

“I can’t say that for sure. I didn’t hear much beyond that. I was called away to refresh the drinks.”

“Ah yes, I would guess that bacchanals are thirsty work.” There were chortles in the courtroom, earning Wescomb a scowl from Justice Hawkins. “How soon did they leave?”

“Almost immediately.”

“They did not participate in any manner?”

“No.”

“Let’s step forward to Saturday, the day of the murder. Please give us an account of who visited your mistress in the last…oh, twelve hours before her death.”

The butler paled. “But—”

“No need to reveal his name, Mr. Landis.”

“Her first visitor was…a lord at about half past three.”

“An elderly lord in his late eighties, was he not?” Wescomb asked.

“Yes.”

Turning toward the gallery, Wescomb delivered a knowing smile. “Such stamina at his age. I tip my hat to the man.”

Keats joined in the light laughter that rippled through the crowd. It was a masterful moment.

“Who else paid calls on Miss Hallcox that day?” Wescomb asked, not missing a beat.

“A banker at half past five, and then the sergeant.”

“Was Sergeant Keats expected that evening?”

“My mistress did send him a note.”

“When?”

“At approximately six.”

“Filling in her social schedule, was she?”

“I don’t think so, sir. She usually didn’t send her gents any letters.”

“Then how did she arrange these assignations?”

“Spoke with them directly.”

“So the note to Sergeant Keats was something unusual?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see what it contained?”

“No.”

“Come now, we all know that domestic staff peek at their employer’s correspondence.”

“I didn’t. Neither did Tilly.”

“That’s Miss Ellis, the lady’s maid?” A nod. “Was that Saturday a particularly busy day for Miss Hallcox?”

“A bit busier than normal, sir.”

“What color is the elderly lord’s hair?”

Landis delivered a startled look. “Silver-white.”

“What about the banker?”

“Brown.”

“And Sergeant Keats?”

Landis stared up at the dock. “Dark brown, I’d say.”

“Did any of the men who visited your mistress on that day have black hair? Or, perhaps, any of the servants?”

“No.”

“To your knowledge, had Sergeant Keats ever visited Miss Hallcox’s bedroom before?”

Landis stiffened. “Not that I am aware.”

“Then how did he know where it was?”

“I can’t say, my lord. Perhaps the mistress told him.”

Wescomb shifted closer to the man. “I visited Miss Hallcox’s residence and I inspected that set of stairs that lead to the second floor and your mistress’ bedroom. The only vantage point from which you might have seen the killer was from the side hall. Is that where you were?”

“Yes, sir.”

“By the time someone is climbing the stairs, only his back is visible. How can you account for your initial testimony to the police that you saw the sergeant’s face?”

“Ah, I…”

“Mr. Landis?” Wescomb prodded.

“I thought I saw him.”

“Mr. Landis, I remind you that you are under oath.”

“Ah…” The butler went pale. He swallowed heavily as his eyes tracked around the room. “I—”

“Mr. Landis, please answer the question,” the judge interceded.

“I didn’t see his face, only the back of him.”

“Was he wearing his hat and coat?” Wescomb asked.

“Yes. I called out to him, but he ignored me.”

“So all you saw was the back of a man clad in his outer garments climbing the stairs. Why did you think it was Sergeant Keats?”

“He was short.”

“So are a lot of men in London, Mr. Landis. In fact, in this courtroom there are a number of men of
reduced
stature.” Wescomb tugged on his waistcoat. “One final question, Mr. Landis. What was it that kept you so
engaged
that you missed the killer’s departure?”

The butler’s face flushed. “I was…instructing the downstairs maid in domestic matters.”

“Domestic matters?” he asked in a jovial tone. “I think not, Mr. Landis.” He swung away from the man and addressed the courtroom. “On the contrary, is it not true that while your mistress was suffering her death agonies, you were engaged in sexual liberties with the maid?”

“I didn’t know!” the man howled. “God, I didn’t know he would kill her!”

“No, you didn’t, just as you cannot be sure that it was Sergeant Keats upstairs with your mistress.” A palpable pause. “I have no further questions.”

Arnett rose. “Has someone put pressure upon you to change your original testimony?”

“No, sir.”

“Then why did you say you saw Sergeant Keats’ face when you were questioned by the police?”

“It was him. It had to be! No one else would hurt her.”

So you’d like to believe.

“No further questions, my lord.”

The next witness stood rigidly in the witness box, her eyes darting nervously eyeing the people around the room. When she was handed the Bible, she swore the oath in a quaking voice.

Arnett rose. “Is Annie Crickland your real name?”

“Yes,” she replied, “though I’m called Red Annie on account of my cheeks.”

“Where in Whitechapel do you live, madam?”

“Oh, here and there, wherever I can find a place to lay my head.”

“No fixed abode then?”

“No, sir,” she mumbled, looking down.

“Do you frequent the doss houses?”

“If’n I have the money, sir. They’re better’n the streets. Rozzers won’t let you sleep if you’re out there.”

How true.
As a constable, Keats had been ordered to keep the poor wretches on the move all night. It was no wonder they were exhausted and couldn’t work the next day. He’d skirted the rule every chance he got.

“On the evening of the thirteenth of October, did you encounter the prisoner at any time?”

“Yes, sir, near the White Hart.”

“That’s on Whitechapel High Street, is it not?”

“Yes.”

“What were you doing in that area?”

Keats ground his teeth. Arnett was going to make this hard for Annie, and the woman didn’t deserve it.

“I was having a wee nip to keep the cold away,” she told him, raising her chin in defiance.

“Even though the Whitechapel murderer is still at large?”

She shuddered at the mention of the Ripper. “Yes, sir.”

“What did the prisoner say to you?”

“He wanted me to go down an alley with him.”

Keats groaned to himself.

“For illicit purposes?” Arnett asked, pouncing on her response.

Wescomb was up again. “Leading the witness, your lordship.”

“I agree. Do watch that, will you?” Hawkins requested.

“As your lordship pleases,” the prosecutor replied smoothly. “What was the prisoner’s purpose with you, Miss Crickland?”

“He wanted to ask me questions.”

“Why not do that on the street, in plain view?”

“Not safe that way,” Annie replied. “Some folks don’t look kindly if you talk to the rozzers.”

“What did he ask you?”

“If I knew anything about that Irishman and all that gunpowder he’s got.”

The spectators started murmuring amongst themselves and it took Hawkins to bring the room to order. Keats chuckled to himself. Someone hadn’t bothered to tell Annie that the explosives were not to be mentioned.

“Mr. Arnett, this is your first warning,” a glaring Hawkins announced.

“Yes, my lord.” Arnett turned his attention to Annie, who seemed confused at all the fuss. “Confining your answers to those regarding the prisoner
only
, has he at any time offered you money in exchange for certain favors?”

Annie frowned. From Keats’ experience, she didn’t like toffs much, especially ones who talked down to her.

“If you mean did he go for an
upright,
no. He’s not that way.”

There was tittering in the court. Keats fought to keep the smirk off his face.

“Yet he asked you to go down an alley with him.”

“I already told you why he did that.”