“Road making?”
“No, extraction. They have a lake of asphalt in Trinidad, apparently. Since marrying Ben’s mother, Susanna, in ’22, Crowley has worked at the dockyards in Port-of-Spain. A good job, overhauling marine engines. Pays well, but intermittent, and he’s pretty much lived up to his income what with four stepkids to bring up. That’s not from the police—it’s what he told me last night.”
“The dockyards. So he could have met Sam.”
“They both deny it. At that end, proving they knew each other would be difficult. At this end, we might have a chance.”
“If they were in it together, it would clear up a lot of the mystery, wouldn’t it? Suppose Frank agreed to help Sam become heir in return for taking the kids into his care.”
“And other valuable consideration, no doubt. Yes, it’s conceivable.”
“It would explain the attacks on Ben—counting Bel’s fall. Frank was trying to divert suspicion and didn’t want to hurt him. He could have made the attempt on Vincent in the wood. And if he knew when Sam was due to arrive, he could have met him at the station and pointed out Raymond to him.”
“Eleven twenty. We hadn’t yet arrived in Worcester.”
“Well, they could have somehow arranged to meet. You’ll have to find out what Frank was up to at the Wedge and Beetle.”
“I shall, believe me.”
“So Frank met Sam and Sam tried to push Raymond under a tram. Then he tried to stab Vincent in the garden.… They’re not very efficient, are they?”
“No. For two active fellows in the prime of life, they’re downright incompetent.”
“So perhaps it isn’t them,” Daisy said hopefully.
“I must find out whether Crowley’s received any letters or made any telephone calls since he’s been here. At the pub, perhaps, or post restante.” Alec made a note. “Or he could have found out about trains when he was in London and left a message somewhere prearranged.”
“Was Sam really on that ship?”
“He wasn’t on the copy of the crew manifest kept in Kingston.”
“Oh dear!”
“But that’s explicable. The chap who’s listed fell ill and Sam was taken on at the last minute. All it would take is a clerk forgetting to make the change. With everything so vague, the Admiralty won’t put out a request to all ships to look out for the Julianna. It’s a matter of waiting till she reaches Clydeside.”
“What else did the Kingston coppers tell you?”
“Nothing useful. Nothing I didn’t already know, except that Sam has no police record. Which could mean he’s never been caught, or could mean he’s never met with a big enough temptation. Other than the rumrunning caper, that is. That shows a tolerance for risk in pursuit of a sizable prize.”
Daisy didn’t want to pursue the idea of Frank and/or Sam as would-be murderers. Particularly Sam. She liked both, but Sam’s guilt would devastate Martha. “What about South Africa?”
“Raymond was carrying rough diamonds all right. He went to Antwerp between his first call at Fairacres and this visit. He showed what he’d brought to a couple of diamond merchants, and they were to prepare bids for his consideration on his return. Or something of the sort; I’m not clear on the details.”
“Anyone who knew who he was could have guessed he had them on him and followed him all the way from Cape Town, or from Antwerp, just waiting for an opportunity!”
“The middle of a busy street crossing in the heart of Worcester hardly seems the ideal opportunity.”
“Perhaps not. He wasn’t caught, though, was he. He could have had another try if Raymond hadn’t dropped dead.”
Alec looked sceptical. “I wish I thought so. As it is, we’re going to have to try to check everyone’s movements after they left the cathedral. I’m going to talk to the Worcester police about that.” He glanced at his watch, stood up, and collected all the papers together. “I must go. Smethwick’s going to drive me into Worcester in Raymond’s car and go on to London. I’ll meet Tom and Ernie and borrow a police car to bring them back. If you have any bright ideas, save them.”
“Darling, are you actually asking me for bright ideas? Wild speculation?”
“This business is such a confounded mishmash, I have a feeling it’s going to take a bit of wild speculation to solve it!”
THIRTY
Daisy decided that the weather was too good to waste, and that going for a walk was as good a way as any to inspire bright ideas. If she was going for a walk, she ought to call in at the Dower House, or she’d have her mother complaining of neglect again. If she didn’t take the twins with her, Mother would complain that she never saw them.