Edward Marston - Inspector Colbeck's Casebook

As the five of them strolled towards the building, Madeleine could feel the boys’ excitement. It was a visit about which they could boast to their friends. She took great pleasure from their obvious enjoyment. Madeleine was also pleased to liberate their mother from the task of managing them on her own. Estelle was deeply grateful. Andrews was in his element, taking charge and basking in reminiscences of his years as a railwayman.

‘What do you want to be when you grow up, David?’ he asked.

‘An engine driver,’ replied the boy.

‘There you are, Maddy. That’s exactly what I told you.’ He put a hand on the smaller boy’s shoulder. ‘What about you, Albert?’

Albert grinned. ‘I’m going to be a better engine driver than my brother.’

Superintendent Tallis picked the letter up from his desk and handed it to Colbeck.

‘That will tell you all you need to know, Inspector.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

‘They should have called us in earlier. A theft of this magnitude is a serious crime. They were foolish to imagine they could solve it themselves.’

‘How much was taken?’ asked Colbeck, scanning the letter.

‘A substantial amount,’ replied Tallis. ‘They were too embarrassed to tell me the exact figure. The pay clerk had just begun his rounds so the bag was filled with money.’

‘That means we’re looking for an employee of the company who is aware of the routine on payday. In fact, we may be after two of them.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘It would be much easier to steal and replace that bag if the pay clerk is momentarily distracted. What’s his story?’

‘That’s for you to find out — he’s been suspended.’

Colbeck was surprised. ‘He’s not a suspect, surely.’

‘It seems that he is.’

‘Men rarely get to become pay clerks unless they’re extremely trustworthy. According to the letter, this fellow — Ben Grosvenor — has been with the LNWR since it came into being over ten years ago. If he had any inclination to steal from it,’ said Colbeck, ‘I don’t think he’d have waited a whole decade.’

‘Take the sergeant and speak to Grosvenor.’

‘I will, sir, and then we’ll visit the exact spot where the switch occurred.’

‘You’ll find the place crawling with railway policemen.’

Colbeck rolled his eyes. ‘Where were they when the crime was actually committed?’

‘A good question,’ said Tallis, who shared Colbeck’s reservations about the railway police. ‘A pay clerk should have been given some sort of protection.’

‘He was doubtless relying on his long experience, sir. Thefts of this kind are highly unusual. I’m sure that the clerk never believed he was in any danger.’

‘Well, he was. You’re after a cunning devil, Inspector — smoke him out.’

Colbeck put the letter in his pocket. ‘Even the most cunning criminals have a habit of making a mistake, Superintendent,’ he said, confidently. ‘All that we have to do is to find out what it was in this case.’

When they stepped into the engine shed, the boys were overawed. It was like the interior of a cathedral with twenty-four Doric columns made of steel supporting a metal fretwork that held up the roof. At the centre of the shed was the turntable. Tracks ran into bays between the columns. There were locomotives galore. Some were in service, others were waiting until they were needed and others again were being examined to see what repairs were necessary. Noise was amplified in the huge cavern. Madeleine and Estelle took a few moments to adjust to it but Andrews and the two boys were instantly at ease. With Andrews as their guide, David and Albert went from one locomotive to another, having the salient points of each pointed out to them then climbing up onto the footplate. Both boys were enthralled.

The women watched from a safe position. Estelle was mesmerised.

‘Is this where you come to paint, Madeleine?’

‘It’s where I come for ideas,’ replied the other. ‘I make sketches of a particular engine here but the real work takes place back in the studio.’

‘I wish that I could do something like that,’ said Estelle. ‘Victor is always telling me to take up an interest but my hands are full at the moment. Running the house keeps me busy and you know what a problem the boys can be.’

‘They’re no trouble at all this morning, Estelle.’

‘That’s because they’re interested in something. It’s when they get bored that they start arguing and fighting. Because he’s the youngest, I usually have to take Albert’s side but he’s very often the person who causes the upset.’

‘Bringing up children is never easy.’

‘No,’ said Estelle with a mirthless laugh. ‘You’ll find that out one day.’

It was a casual remark but it struck home with Madeleine. Though the two boys could be a nuisance, there was no real harm in them. As she watched them, she experienced a sudden envy. Andrews was both educating and entertaining them. It occurred to Madeleine that he would make a wonderful grandfather.

Andrews lifted the boys onto the footplate of another locomotive.

‘They’re having the time of their lives,’ said Estelle.

‘That’s Menai ,’ observed Madeleine. ‘It was designed by Alexander Allan. The LNWR had almost three hundred engines with an Allan design built at Crewe. Only my father could tell you why they were so popular. He drove some of Allan’s goods and passenger engines.’

Estelle was impressed. ‘You really love railways, don’t you?’

‘I have to — I’m married to Robert.’

Ben Grosvenor was a sorry sight. His misery was for once justified. Having been a faithful servant of the LNWR, he was the victim of a crime yet had been made to feel like its perpetrator. Being suspended from his post was a profound shock. At a stroke, his reputation and his confidence had been shattered. He sat in a chair in his living room and shuddered as he contemplated the future. Grosvenor was a bachelor so there was no comforting wife to help him through the crisis. He was alone and adrift.

‘Tell us, in your own words, what happened,’ said Colbeck, gently.

‘I didn’t do it, Inspector,’ croaked Grosvenor. ‘I couldn’t do it.’

‘We know that, sir. Your record of service is exemplary.’

‘Why did they kick me out, then?’

‘You haven’t been dismissed,’ said Leeming, ‘only suspended.’

‘It amounts to the same thing, Sergeant. They won’t want me back after this.’

‘You never know, sir.’

‘I’ll never get another job as a pay clerk.’

‘Let’s worry about the job that — technically — you still have,’ said Colbeck.

The detectives had arrived at the little house to find him anguished. Although he lived alone, the place was spotless and they both noticed the full bookshelf in the alcove. Grosvenor was an avid reader. There was a crucifix on the mantelpiece and a sense of order in the room.

‘We can’t help until we know all the facts,’ Colbeck pointed out.

‘I understand, Inspector.’

Leeming had his notebook ready. ‘Go on, sir.’

It was days since the incident but the details remained uncomfortably fresh in Grosvenor’s mind. He began slowly, describing his routine and the way that he always kept rigidly to it. Devastated by the loss of the money, what hurt him even more was the theft of his ledger.

‘That book tells the story of my life,’ he bleated, ‘and it’s been a good, honest life with the LNWR. Being a pay clerk puts you in a very responsible position. I was always keenly aware of that.’

As they listened to his sad tale, Colbeck and Leeming were very sympathetic. Grosvenor made no excuses. A lapse on his part had led to the disappearance of a large amount of money. Angry scenes had occurred among men expecting him to pay them their weekly wage. The pay clerk had endured abuse and threats of violence. When the full account had been given, Colbeck had a first question.