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have come or gone.
 The door in the garden wall to Cosmo Place was locked but not
barred, Pitt explained.  Other clients had keys. We don t know
who. There s no record of it. The French doors were self-closing, so
there s no way of knowing if anyone left that way after she was dead.
As to why, that s obvious he didn t wish anyone at all to know he
was there.
 Why was he there?
 I don t know. Mrs. Serracold thinks he was a skeptic, trying to
prove Maude Lamont a fraud.
 Why? Academic interest, or personal? Find out, Pitt.
 I intend to! Pitt retorted.  But first I d like to know who he is!
Narraway frowned.  You said  Roland Kingsley ? Is he the same
man who wrote that damning piece about Serracold?
 Yes . . .
 Yes, what? Narraway s clear, dark eyes bored into Pitt s.  There s
something more.
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SOUTHAMPTON ROW
 He s afraid, Pitt said tentatively.  Some pain to do with his
son s death.
 Find out about it!
Pitt had been going to say that Kingsley s personal opinions did
not seem as virulent as those he had expressed in his letter to the
newspapers, but he was not sure enough of it. He had nothing but
an impression, and he did not trust Narraway, did not know him
well enough to venture something so nebulous. He was uncomfort-
able working for a man of whom he knew so little. He had no sense
of Narraway s personal beliefs; his passions or needs, his weaknesses,
even his background before their first meeting, were all shrouded in
mystery to him.
 What about Mrs. Serracold? Narraway went on.  I don t like
Serracold s socialism, but anything is better than Voisey with his
foot on the ladder. I need answers, Pitt. He sat forward suddenly.
 This is the Inner Circle we are fighting. If you doubt what they can
do, think back to Whitechapel. Think of the sugar factory, remem-
ber Fetters lying dead on his own library floor. Think how close
they came to winning! Think of your family!
Pitt was cold.  I am doing that, he said between his teeth. It
cost him an effort precisely because he was thinking of Charlotte
and the children and he hated Narraway for reminding him of it.
 But if Rose Serracold murdered Maude Lamont, I m not hiding it.
If we do that, then we re no better than Voisey is, and he ll know
that as well as we do.
Narraway s face was dark.  Don t lecture me, Pitt! he spat.
 You are not a constable on the beat blowing his whistle if some-
body picks a pocket! There s more than a silk handkerchief or a
gold watch at stake, there s the government of the nation. If you
want simple answers, go back to arresting cutpurses!
 And precisely what did you say was the difference between us
and the Inner Circle, sir? Pitt exaggerated the last word, and his
voice was sharp and brittle as ice.
Narraway s lips tightened, and there was anger deep in his face,
but there was a flash of admiration also.
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ANNE PERRY
 I haven t asked you to protect Rose Serracold if she s guilty, Pitt.
Don t be so damned pompous! Although it sounds as if you think
she might be. What did she go to this wretched woman for anyway?
 I don t know yet. Pitt relaxed into the chair again.  To con-
tact her mother, she admits that, and Kingsley said that was the rea-
son she gave Maude Lamont, but she hasn t told me why, or how it
can matter so much she s prepared to deceive her husband and risk
his career if some Tory journalist wants to make a fool of her.
 And did she contact her mother? Narraway asked.
Pitt looked at him with a sudden tingle of shock. Narraway s
eyes were clear, without irony. For an instant it was as if he had be-
lieved either answer were possible.
 Not to her satisfaction, Pitt replied with certainty.  She is still
searching for something, an answer she needs . . . and fears.
 She believed in Maude Lamont s powers. That was a statement.
 Yes.
Narraway breathed in and out silently, very slowly.  Did she de-
scribe what happened?
 Apparently, Maude Lamont s appearance changed, her face
shone and her breath seemed luminous. She spoke with a different
voice. He swallowed.  She also seemed to rise in the air, and her
hands to elongate.
The tension eased out of Narraway s body.  Hardly conclusive.
Many of them do that. Vocal tricks, oil of phosphorus. Still . . . I sup-
pose we believe what we want to believe . . . or what we dread to.
He looked away.  And some of us feel compelled to find out, how-
ever much it hurts. Others leave it forever hanging unknown . . .
can t bear to take away the last hope. He straightened up sharply.
 Don t underestimate Voisey, Pitt. He won t let desire for revenge
get in the way of his ambition. You aren t that important to him. But
he won t ever forget it was you who beat him in Whitechapel. He
won t forget, and he certainly won t forgive. He will wait for his
time, and it will be when you can t defend yourself. He won t be pre-
cipitated, but one day he ll strike. I ll watch your back for you as I
can, but I m not infallible.
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SOUTHAMPTON ROW
 I met him . . . in the House of Commons, three days ago, Pitt
replied, shivering inside in spite of himself.  I know he hasn t for-
gotten. But if I walk in fear, then he s won already. My family is out
of London, but I can t stop him. I admit, if I thought there were any
escape, I might be tempted to take it . . . but there isn t.
 You re more of a realist than I gave you credit for, Narraway
said, and there was a grudging respect in his voice.  I resented
Cornwallis for wishing you onto me. Took you as a favor to him,
but perhaps it wasn t after all.
 Why do you owe Cornwallis any favors? The words slipped
out before he thought about it.
 None of your business, Pitt! Narraway said tartly.  Go and
find out what the devil that woman was doing . . . and prove it!
 Yes, sir.
It was only when he was outside again in the street in the late
sunlight and the roar and rattle of traffic that Pitt stopped to wonder
whether Narraway had meant Rose Serracold or Maude Lamont!
122
CHAPTER
SIX
When Emily opened the newspaper the day after the discovery of
the murder in Southampton Row, her immediate interest was in
the political reports. An excellent picture of Mr. Gladstone caught
her eye, but for the time being she was more concerned with the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]