“Lots of people and general confusion, perfect place for an expert pickpocket. One to push him at the tram—the police surgeon, Pardoe, found a suspicious bruise on his back.”
“He said ‘Someone pushed…’ The bobby assumed he meant someone pushed him out of the way of the tram.”
“One to push him towards the tram; one to save him and abstract the loot at the same time, then scarper with it.”
“Only he was foiled by the secret pocket.”
“At any rate, it’s not a possibility I can dismiss, though the chances of identifying the putative culprits are dim. The local coppers are working on it, but not exactly enthusiastically.”
“Was his wallet pinched?”
“No. Either the whole theory is bosh, or they were after bigger game and not interested in the few pounds it contained.”
“Someone who knew he had diamonds on him. Someone at Fairacres?”
“They might have found out about the diamonds. They’d have a hard time summoning up an expert pickpocket, though, in the few days they’ve been here.”
“Unless one of them is already a pickpocket. Frank? We don’t know anything about how he makes a living—at least, I don’t.”
“One to push and one to pick. In collusion with…?”
“Martha’s Sammy. I hate to say it but … They both come from the West Indies. Sammy travels a lot. He could well know that one of the family emigrated to Trinidad and go looking for descendants. Oh, wait, Frank isn’t a descendant.”
Alec laughed. “No. Much more likely to be someone Raymond had business dealings with in London, or on the Continent, or someone from South Africa.”
“Hence the cable? To the Cape Town police?”
“To them, and to the business. He had business cards in the wallet, so I thought I’d better inform them of his death.”
“I sent a wire to Tommy, telling him. I expect he’ll notify Raymond’s immediate family. Alec, I’ve just thought: Could he have been stabbed with something very thin, like the Empress Elizabeth? She walked on and then collapsed and died, just like Raymond. If I’m remembering it right, the wound hardly bled at all.”
“Dr. Pardoe would probably have seen it, presumably in the centre of the bruise. He’d certainly find out when he does the autopsy.”
“I suppose so.” Daisy didn’t care to think about the autopsy. She changed the subject. “Darling, there was a letter from Tommy to Edgar, but as he’s still out with the children, Geraldine read it.” The truth, if not quite the whole truth. “He says Martha’s Sammy has turned up! That’s really what I was coming to tell you. Sammy was supposed to reach Worcester this morning and should arrive at Fairacres this afternoon.”
“Hmm. I’ll take another look at a possible connection between Frank and Sammy. Pearson’s satisfied with his credentials?”
“To a degree. He’s apparently sure enough of his descent from Julian, but he wanted more time to study the papers he brought, which he wouldn’t leave with him. Sammy wouldn’t leave with Tommy, that is. I think Geraldine’s inviting Tommy to come down as soon as possible.”
“Good idea.”
“The other thing I have to tell you is that the Super rang and gave me an earful.”
“The local man, or Crane?”
“Crane. As you weren’t immediately available, he said I’d ‘do.’ He just wanted someone to rant at. He said you can assist the locals, but you won’t get days off to make up for it.”
“What cheek!” said Alec. “Worcestershire will pay the Met for my services, but they’ll take it off my holiday!”
“Perhaps he’ll relent. He refused to send Tom and Ernie, though, till you’re certain it’s murder. In that case, he’ll make sure you get the two of them. Because they’re accustomed to my … assistance in your cases, he said, rather snarkily. All the same, he actually sounded almost genial in the end. Do you suppose he’s getting resigned?”
“Resigned?”
“To me.”
“I doubt it, love. He’s been told blowing up is bad for his blood pressure. Blood pressure—Great Scott! I wonder whether…”
Daisy waited a moment for him to finish, then asked, “Whether what?”
“Never mind. The autopsy will tell us. As for the Super,” Alec added sourly, “no doubt he’s enjoying ruining another holiday for me.”
“Come on, darling, you know you’re dying to get your teeth into it.”
“Always supposing there’s actually something to get them into. And you keep your teeth out of it! I wish you could take the children home, but you’ll have to appear at the inquest.”