Edward Marston - The Stationmaster's farewell

All that he knew so far was what had been contained in a telegraph from Colbeck. The prime suspect, Bernard Browne, had been absolved of the murder and three further arrests had been made. Tallis longed to hear a fuller explanation. When he heard someone tapping on his door that afternoon, he hoped that it would be Colbeck, coming to give him a detailed account. Instead, it was Victor Leeming who opened the door with his usual feeling of dread.

‘Good afternoon, sir,’ he said. ‘We’ve just returned from Exeter.’

‘I’ve been waiting for you. Where’s Inspector Colbeck?’

‘He has an appointment with his tailor.’

‘His tailor !’ roared Tallis. ‘I want him here so that I can question him. What on earth is he doing at his tailor’s?’

‘He’ll be wearing a new suit at the wedding, sir.’

‘I’m not interested in his private life, Sergeant.’

‘The inspector sent me to deliver the report, sir,’ said Leeming, taking a pad from his pocket. ‘He was kind enough to make some notes for me.’

‘I’m sorry that his kindness didn’t extend to me,’ said Tallis, mordantly. ‘I want to hear from the man who was in charge, not from his assistant.’

The sergeant was sufficiently hurt to forget his fear of the superintendent.

‘I played my part, sir,’ he said, stoutly. ‘I was the one who overpowered Howard Gurney after he tried to choke me to death and I was involved in the arrest of Dr Swift as well. Inspector Colbeck was instrumental in solving the crime but it’s unfair to dismiss me as if I just stood on the sidelines and watched. The inspector is always ready to pay tribute to what I’m able to do and I think it’s time that you followed his example.’

Startled by Leeming’s spirited retort, Tallis was chastened. He pointed to a seat and his visitor sat down, pad in hand. Tallis spoke kindly to him for once.

‘You’ve earned your share of praise, Sergeant,’ he said, benevolently, ‘and I’ll be the first to acknowledge it. Now tell me what really happened in Exeter.’

Involving only family and a small number of friends, the wedding was far too small an affair for such a large church. Those clustered at the front of the nave took up only a tiny proportion of the seats available. Colbeck and Madeleine were untroubled by that. They didn’t notice anyone apart from the vicar who married them. They were both so elated that the only things they would later remember of the service were the exchange of vows and the pronouncement that they were man and wife. Madeleine was radiant in her wedding dress and Colbeck was at his most elegant. They were a striking couple. The two of them floated happily through the whole event, forgetting horrors in the recent past and thinking only of their future together. As they came down the aisle arm in arm, they distributed smiles among the congregation.

Some uninvited guests had watched the ceremony from the back of the church. Madeleine picked out two middl-eaged women, seated together and ignoring the bride and bridegroom. Their gaze was fixed firmly on Caleb Andrews. When the couple came out through the main door, they were greeted by the cheers of well-wishers and curious passers-by. Running a thankful eye over them, Colbeck was met by a surprise. The sturdy, well-dressed man quietly withdrawing from the crowd was Edward Tallis. He’d come to give his tacit blessing, after all.

Colbeck was touched. It was a sign of progress.