Edward Marston - The Repentant Rake

Christopher smiled. 'To prove that your ward was innocent?'

'Oh, there's nothing innocent about it, Mr Redmayne. You should walk through its streets at night. All sorts of crimes take place there under the cover of darkness.'

'I dare say.'

'We have our share of murders, alas.'

'It was how we first met, Mr Bale. When one of my clients was killed.'

'I am not likely to forget.'

'Nor me,' said Christopher. 'It was my first commission. I spent all that time working on the drawings but the house was never built. At least, this latest commission will not be abandoned because of a murder,' he went on happily. 'Sir Julius insists that he still wants his new house.'

'Yes, Mr Redmayne, he mentioned that to me.'

Christopher was surprised. 'You've met Sir Julius?'

'He called on me earlier,' said Jonathan. 'When you came to fetch me, Sir Julius had only just left. He wanted to thank me for my part in the arrest.'

'Quite rightly.'

'Then he more or less ordered me to invite him in.'

'That sounds like Sir Julius Cheever.'

'We talked for a long time.'

'I knew that the two of you would get on.'

'You should not have told him about the Battle of Worcester,' said Jonathan, turning to him. 'It's something I never speak about.'

'Why not? Are you ashamed of your part in it?'

'Quite the opposite.'

'Then you must have enjoyed meeting one of your colonels in that battle.'

'I did, Mr Redmayne. Sir Julius is an interesting man.'

'And an unpredictable one.'

They crossed Ludgate Street and continued along Ave Maria Lane. Though they were chatting easily, both of them kept their eyes peeled for any lanes or alleys that might have been used in the ambush of Gabriel Cheever. At the next junction, they crossed into Warwick Lane itself and carried on until they almost got to Newgate Street. Jonathan spotted an alleyway to the left and decided to explore it, studying the ground with care as he did so. Unable to find what he was after, he gave up the search and went back to Warwick Lane to discover that Christopher had vanished. Assuming that his friend had turned into Newgate Street, he walked in that direction but a call brought him to an abrupt halt.

'Mr Bale!' shouted Christopher.

'Where are you?' asking Jonathan, looking around.

'Down here!'

Another narrow alleyway ran off to the left and bent sharply. Christopher's voice was coming from round the corner. Jonathan lengthened his stride and went down the alleyway. When he came round the bend, he saw that his friend was kneeling down.

'Take a look at these, Mr Bale,' said Christopher.

'Stones?'

'Hundreds of them.'

Jonathan joined him and bent down to scoop up a handful of small white stones. Holding them on the palm of one hand, he used the other to reach in his pocket. When he brought out the stones that had been caught up in the dead man's coat, he placed them beside the others. Christopher scrutinised them.

'A perfect match!' he observed.

'I've never seen stones like this anywhere in my ward,' said Jonathan, feeling their texture. 'They're like chippings from a statue. There must be a stonemason nearby.'

'Then he deserves our thanks,' said Christopher with a grin. 'I think we may have stumbled on the scene of the crime, Mr Bale. And all because you kept a few stones in your pocket.'

Jonathan looked around. A number of houses backed on to the alleyway. Some had doors to their gardens. Even in daylight, it was a fairly private place. At night, it would make an ideal venue in which someone could lurk.

'Who was this friend that Mr Cheever was visiting?' wondered Jonathan.

'His wife refused to tell me.'

'Her husband was killed here. I'm certain of it. They must have taken him to Paul's Wharf across the back of a horse.' He scratched his head. 'Why kill him when they could have stolen the diary while he was out of the house? And if they did have reason to murder Gabriel Cheever, why move him? Why not leave the body here?'

'They had to go to his house, remember,' said Christopher. 'My guess is that they were fearful of being discovered so they threw his body across a horse, took Gabriel with them, used his key to steal what they wanted then went down to the river to find a hiding place for the corpse.'

'Paul's Wharf. They dumped the body beside the warehouse,' recalled Jonathan. 'It had far less chance of being discovered there than in this alley.'

'They reckoned without Mr Warburton's dog.'

Jonathan tossed all the stones away. 'We need to search for witnesses,' he said. 'It may just be that someone heard or saw something suspicious that night. I'll start with the houses that back on to the alley.'

'You'll have to do that on your own, I fear,' said Christopher.

'It's not my job, Mr Redmayne. I want to help you to hunt down those accomplices. I know two of the constables in this ward. They can knock on doors in my stead. I'll go and speak to them. But thank you for bringing me here,' he said solemnly. 'Now we know where he was killed. That's put my mind at rest.'

'Good. I'll get back to Knightrider Street to continue the search.'

'For what?'

'Somebody with neat handwriting, Mr Bale.'

'Stay as long as you wish, Sir Julius,' said Lucy Cheever. 'You're very welcome.'

'I'll inconvenience you no longer than is necessary,' he said. 'But I would like to wait until Mr Redmayne gets back. Where has he gone, Susan?'

'For a walk with Mr Bale,' said his daughter.

'I met the worthy constable when you turned me out into the street.'

'I did not turn you out, Father.'

He gave a chuckle. 'You told me how close Mr Bale lived because you knew that I'd want to speak to the fellow. We had a long talk. Did you know he was a shipwright?'

'No,' she said.

'He spoke very highly of Mr Redmayne.'

'I can understand that.'

'So can I,' said Lucy. 'Mr Redmayne has been so good to me. Whenever I look at that face of his, I remember that he got those scars fighting for his life against Gabriel's killer.'

They were in the parlour at the house in Knightrider Street. Sir Julius was anxious for the latest news. One man might be in custody but there were accomplices still at liberty. He was very disappointed not to be able to confront his son's killer. It made him even more eager to take part in the hunt for the others.

'How long will they be?' he said impatiently

'I have no idea, Father.'

'But they will come back here?'

'Mr Redmayne promised that he would.'

'They have not gone all that far,' volunteered Lucy.

'I wish I'd been here when they left,' said Sir Julius, tapping his foot. 'I could have gone with them. They obviously went in search of more evidence.'

'It might be best if you did not interfere,' suggested his daughter.

'Interfere? It was my son who was murdered Susan.'

'His killer is now in prison. Thanks to Mr Redmayne and Mr Bale. They can manage very well on their own, Father, without having you under their feet.'

'I'm under nobody's feet.'

'No, Sir Julius,' said Lucy. 'Of course not. But Susan makes a sound point. They have worked so well on their own, it might be easier if they continue that way.'

'What am I supposed to do – sit on my hands and wait?'

'Yes,' said Susan firmly.

'It's foreign to my nature.'

She laughed. 'You need hardly tell me that.'

'I want to be involved in the action?' he declared.

Sir Julius pulled himself to his feet and crossed to the window. Susan gestured an apology at Lucy who responded with a tolerant smile. Both women were relieved when he saw something that made him hurry out of the room to open the front door. Hoping that Christopher had returned, Susan went out after him. Lucy waited with trepidation, unsure whether or not Christopher had kept his promise. She had entrusted him with a secret that could be dangerous in the wrong hands. As soon as he came into the room with the others, however, she knew that he had not betrayed her. His greeting was warm, his smile full of gratitude.