Quest for a Killer by Alanna Knight Read Free Book Online Page B

strangled. A neighbour coming home from the public house reported that a man cannoned into him, who had rushed down the tenement stair. Questioned further, however, he admitted that he had had a lot to drink and, as he was unsteady on his feet, “pushed aside” might have been a more correct description of the encounter withthe running man. Also, he had been carried away by the drama of the two girls’ deaths, and cronies in the tenement had urged him to report to the police as he might possibly be a witness to identifying a murderer and – who knew? – there might also be a reward on offer.’
    ‘What do the police know of the girls’ families, background and so forth?’
    ‘Both respectable, employed at a laundry. And this is where the doubts about suicides come in.’
    ‘Did either leave notes?’
    ‘No, and that seems significant to me, if not to my colleagues. Especially as Amy was engaged to be married; the banns had been called at the local church and her fiancé’s ship was due in port any day. According to the neighbours Amy was very much in love, full of excited preparations, looking forward to her future life as a married woman. There was absolutely
no
reason why she should have taken her life…’
    ‘Perhaps this fiancé had changed his mind at the last minute. That would have been
one
good reason.’
    ‘No. When asked if this possibility had been considered, this neighbour, who insisted that she was like a mother to Amy, said she would have been the first to know. As for the other girl, Belle, she looks after her old grandfather who lost a leg at the Crimea. He, too, was distraught. He had been out with cronies that evening and she had promised to have his supper ready for him in his flat across the road.’
    He looked at me thoughtfully. ‘Strong evidence, don’t you think? Both the fiancé and the bereaved grandfatherinsist that the girls were close friends, healthy and happy.’
    The absence of suicide notes seemed to confirm Jack’s theory.
    ‘What do you want me to do?’
    ‘I would be very grateful if
you’d
look into these cases, give me your opinion. You are, as
I
remember, especially good at asking questions, ferreting out information that the police don’t consider important. I know from our time together that you have solved some remarkable cases thanks to what you call, if I am correct, observation and deduction.’
    He paused. ‘Will you do this as a special favour for
me
? This is strictly unofficial, but I think you can speed matters up. I need to get back to Glasgow rather urgently. Problems with the wee lass’s grandmother’s health.’
    A sigh from the heart and I thought of the wee daughter who was now motherless, and realised that Jack had always wanted children, but what an irony that he should be left in such circumstances.
    ‘I’m in despair, Rose, the lads don’t seem to have many original ideas and, in fact, something I encountered before and always deplored, they have already made up their minds regarding the killer’s identity.’
    ‘Who do they think—’
    ‘Oh, their prime suspect
would
be someone from the circus, of course.’
    I knew that to be true, and it was the reason why many innocent persons had gone to the gallows. There were instances when the police decided that a suspectwas guilty and obtained a speedy conviction by fixing the evidence.
    ‘You’ll do it, Rose?’
    ‘I’ll think about it.’
    He smiled. ‘Good. Here you are, then.’ And producing an envelope he laid it on the table. ‘These notes are a copy of all the evidence so far. I needn’t add – for your eyes only.’
    The carriage was waiting for him on the road. At the door, he turned. ‘One thing that isn’t in the notes which might be of use to your investigation, both girls were briefly employed at Rice Villa.’
    He grinned. ‘Might be useful, might mean nothing, but seeing that you are on friendly terms with Mrs Rice, I thought it worth mentioning.’
    As the carriage