His fatal legacy, p.15
His Fatal Legacy, page 15
Amy took Emily from the nanny and gently rocked her, smiling when her eyes slid shut with contentment. ‘I can’t believe how beautiful she is,’ she said as the nanny discreetly left the room.
‘Me neither,’ said Robert, gazing at his daughter with awe. ‘I thought Jane was the only angel but now I have two.’
‘Oh, Robert, that’s so sweet.’
‘I know we once said you’d make a terrible father and husband,’ said Henry, ‘but you’ve certainly proved us wrong.’
‘I’ve never known happiness like this, Father.’
‘I know exactly how you feel,’ he replied, smiling at Amy.
As touching as all this was, Robert was still suspicious of this sudden visit. It could just be paranoia, but it seemed too timely with Knapp’s murder occurring just a few hours ago. Perhaps they were here for the reason they’d said – they hadn’t seen each other in over a week and they missed them and he knew how much his mother doted on Emily. He decided to believe the latter.
‘I noticed you’ve got a new front door,’ said Henry.
‘Yes,’ replied Robert, his paranoia raising its head again. ‘The other one got dented.’
‘How?’
‘I’m not sure. One day the dent wasn’t there, the next it was. I suspect the clumsy postman was responsible. He once fell into our rose bushes when he slipped on some ice. He probably didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to be liable. Besides, the new black door is much more tasteful than the gaudy red one. What are you looking at, Father?’ he added when Henry continued to peer curiously at him.
‘That bruise to your face really does look fresh. It could have happened yesterday.’
‘Well, it didn’t. It’s just taking time to heal.’
‘Don’t snap,’ Amy told her son. ‘You’ll disturb Emily.’
‘I’m sorry, I’m not snapping, it’s just that once again, he doesn’t seem to believe me.’
Henry held up his hands. ‘I believe you, Robert. I’m just concerned for your health, that’s all. From experience, I know internal damage can be caused in the boxing ring.’
‘My health is perfectly fine,’ he pouted, folding his arms across his chest.
Henry had to force himself not to smile. Robert was a rich, successful man with his own family but on occasion he did resemble a sulky little boy.
When Emily started to cry half an hour later, the nanny came to take her away. Amy kissed her cheek before handing her back. ‘Good timing, Emily, because we must be leaving.’
‘So soon?’ said Robert. ‘You’ve not seen Jane yet.’
‘I know and that’s a shame, but Henry is expecting a visit from Knapp. He’s due to come to Alardyce to discuss something with him.’
Robert forced himself not to react. ‘That gorilla?’ was all he said.
‘Apparently he has some information for me,’ said Henry. ‘I asked him to look into Andrew Charteris, as you and I discussed. Knapp is very good at finding out people’s secrets.’
Robert wasn’t sure whether he was imagining the scrutinising look Henry gave him, so he didn’t react to it. ‘From my experience of Knapp, all he’s good at is hitting people in the stomach and throwing them about the room. That’s what he did to me at Uncle Abel’s.’
‘Never mind, you came out of it unscathed,’ smiled Henry, clapping him on the shoulder.
‘Tell Jane we’re sorry we missed her,’ said Amy, pulling on her gloves. ‘You must come round to dinner on Friday. Bring Emily too.’
‘We will. Thank you, Mother,’ he said, kissing her cheek.
Robert walked them to the door to wave them off, only allowing his fury to show when he was alone in his study. They’d only come round to see how he reacted to the mention of Knapp’s name. Obviously they’d heard about his murder and assumed he was responsible. It explained why Henry had kept staring at his swollen cheek so suspiciously and why he’d asked him about the door. Knapp must have informed Henry that he had information about his stepson, most likely about his attack on Harriet, but he’d wanted to break bad news like that in person, it certainly wasn’t something he could put in a telegram. It was fortunate Jane had been out, or in her innocence she might have mentioned Knapp’s visit. He must convince her not to speak of it to anyone.
Robert took a deep, calming breath. Everything was all right. Knapp was gone, taking everything he knew to the grave, and there was nothing linking him to the crime, the Comyns were far too careful for that. However, he couldn’t prevent the ill will from brewing up inside him against his parents. They’d used subterfuge to try to trick him. Why hadn’t they come straight out with it and asked him? That he could have respected. It was the sneakiness he couldn’t bear.
Well, he was making plans to clear the city of all his enemies and the Richardson family were next. If his parents weren’t careful, they would find their own names added to his list. One thing he’d learnt recently was to have faith in his own power. No one could bring him down.
17
‘What did you think?’ Amy asked Henry once they were back in their carriage.
‘Well, he was very defensive about the bruise to his face,’ he replied. ‘I’m sorry, Amy, but that wasn’t done a week ago. I don’t care what excuses he gave about loose teeth, that just doesn’t happen. He also seemed very touchy about his front door.’
‘So you’re saying Knapp barged into his home, dented his front door and punched him?’
‘I think that’s the most reasonable scenario.’
Amy peered out of the window. ‘Where are we going? This isn’t the way to Alardyce.’
‘We’re going into the Old Town.’
‘Really?’
‘Don’t look so excited, Amy Alardyce. We’re not plunging into the city’s dark heart. We’re going to Knapp’s office.’
‘Knapp has an office?’
‘Yes. Why is that so surprising?’
‘I assumed he worked out of some smoky tavern frequented by scarred individuals with no teeth.’
Henry smiled. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, my dear, but he has a very respectable office on the corner of Fleshmarket Close.’
‘What a thrilling name,’ she smiled.
‘And it’s the closest we’re getting to the city’s underbelly.’
‘I do hope you don’t expect me to wait in the carriage.’
‘I thought you might like to do some shopping while I go inside.’
‘Why would I want to go shopping? I don’t need anything.’
‘You might enjoy it. You could get yourself some jewellery or a new hat.’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘This is because I’m a woman, isn’t it? I’m not qualified to walk into an office.’
‘Not at all. I just thought you might prefer to visit the shops. It’s not often we come into the city.’
‘I have no wish to buy a hat or jewellery. I’m coming with you.’
The carriage dropped them off on the High Street at the entrance to the close, which wasn’t far from Police Chambers. Amy winced at all the people teeming on the street and the carts rumbling along the cobbles and was reminded of why she rarely ventured into the city. She much preferred the peace and quiet of Alardyce.
Together they walked down the narrow wynd to a door halfway down the close. Henry pushed open the door and they ascended a flight of rickety stairs to the first floor into a surprisingly well-furnished office full of sturdy and practical yet ugly mahogany furniture. There was nothing decorative like a nice painting, vase or ornamentation of any kind. Everything had a purpose. Knapp didn’t have time for fripperies.
‘Hello, Frank. Is Mr Knapp in?’ Henry asked the man who was sitting at a smaller desk at the opposite side of the room to Knapp’s large imposing one.
‘I’m afraid not,’ replied Frank. ‘To be honest, Sir Henry, I’m a little worried. He went out last night and I’ve not seen him since. Did he show up for his appointment with you this morning?’
‘No, he didn’t, which is why I’m here. I’m worried too. Knapp never misses an appointment.’
‘I’ve been sitting here fretting about what to do,’ replied the thin, agitated man. ‘He doesn’t like anyone checking up on him, but I think something’s wrong. However, if all’s well and I go to the police, I’m afraid of what he’ll do.’
Amy could imagine this nervous creature lived in abject terror of Knapp.
‘Does Mr Knapp have any other appointments today?’ said Henry.
‘Yes, sir. One this afternoon at five o’clock.’
‘If he doesn’t turn up for that, let me know, and I will instigate proceedings personally, then you won’t be blamed.’
‘Oh, thank you, sir. That would be wonderful.’
‘Send me word when you hear about his five o’clock appointment.’
‘I certainly will.’
‘Do you know where he went last night?’
‘He was going to speak to some informants in the Old Town.’
‘Which part of the Old Town?’
‘One of the roughest. He didn’t specify which. I only know because he wore his cheapest suit, he always does when he ventures into those parts.’
‘Do you know what he was going to talk to his informants about?’
‘He mentioned some assault.’
‘Assault, on whom?’
‘He didn’t say. All I know is that it happened a week ago.’
‘What day last week?’
‘Friday. I distinctly remember because he came in here on the Saturday absolutely furious. He was ranting and raving and throwing things around.’ Frank indicated a dent in the wall just behind his head. ‘He threw my paperweight. If I hadn’t ducked, then that dent would now be in my forehead.’
Henry glanced at Amy before looking back at Frank. ‘Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.’
With that, Henry and Amy left and climbed back into their carriage, which was waiting for them on the street.
‘I don’t like what Frank had to say at all,’ said Henry as they set off back for Alardyce.
‘Friday was the night Robert had that boxing match,’ replied Amy. ‘What if…’ She trailed off, not wanting to put it into words.
‘What if the thrill of the match excited him so much he got carried away and took it out on some poor innocent woman?’
She nodded, looking pale and a little afraid.
‘I’ve been keeping a close eye on the newspapers and there’s been no report of any more attacks on women.’
‘If it occurred in one of the worst areas of the city, then perhaps the attack wasn’t reported.’
‘I do know that a lot of the poorer classes turn to Knapp for assistance rather than the police, who they don’t trust.’
‘So, if Robert did attack a woman in the Old Town the night of the fight, then Knapp could well have found out about it. The woman in question might have turned to him.’
‘And Knapp realised it was Robert, hammered at his front door so hard he put a dent in it and punched him in the face.’
‘What terrifies me even more than that,’ said Amy slowly, ‘is what if Knapp’s disappeared because Robert wanted him to disappear?’
‘He’s already killed three people, so it’s certainly not beyond him. However, even though he beat Tompkins, Robert could not have got the better of Knapp.’
‘He wouldn’t need to get his hands dirty. He has the means to pay others to do things for him.’ She closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek. ‘Dear God, please let us be wrong.’
‘We might be,’ said Henry, taking her hand. ‘For all we know, Knapp’s fallen ill and is in hospital somewhere, the postman dented Robert’s door and his face is just healing slowly, as he said. We could be jumping to conclusions.’
‘I really want to believe that, but Matthew’s visitation tells me otherwise. He said the heat in Robert’s blood is rising, that he’s becoming who he was meant to be and that he’s got up to far more than we know.’
‘Did he also say he’ll be waiting for you when you pass?’ said Henry, eyes flashing.
‘Yes.’
‘That’s it, I’m talking to Magda.’
‘Like you said, it could be my imagination.’
‘You’ve changed your tune.’
‘I just think we’ve got more pressing matters to attend to than Matthew’s spectre.’
‘I still want to discuss it with Magda.’
‘As you wish.’
Henry inwardly sighed. This would have to happen now, just as he’d decided to tell Amy about Edward’s body resting in the family crypt. How could he drop that on her when she was going to have to deal with more of her son’s perversions? Henry didn’t think they were letting their imaginations run away with them. He was certain Robert had something to do with Knapp’s disappearance and they’d just aroused his suspicions by their visit to his house. Every time life seemed to be getting back on an even keel something else happened to ruin their happiness.
Back at Alardyce, Amy went up to the schoolroom to play with the children and help them with their lessons to distract herself from her worries. Henry brooded in the library, anxiously awaiting news from Frank, which arrived sooner than expected.
Frank himself turned up at the house, pale-faced and wringing his hands.
‘Oh, Sir Henry,’ he said when he was led into the library by a footman. ‘It’s terrible news, terrible indeed.’
‘Sit down,’ said Henry. ‘You look dreadful.’
‘I feel it, I’ve had such a shock. Mr Knapp’s dead, sir. They found his body mutilated down some stinking wynd in the Old Town.’
‘Mutilated?’
‘His stomach had been slashed open and his throat cut. It looked like he’d been in one hell of a fight too, pardon my French, sir. The police told me his innards were poking out of his stomach,’ he rasped before closing his eyes and shuddering.
‘My God,’ breathed Henry.
He poured a whisky for himself and Frank, shoving the glass into the man’s shaking hands.
‘Thank you,’ rasped Frank before gulping down the very expensive single malt. ‘Who could get the better of Mr Knapp? I don’t understand. He seemed invincible. My only thought is that more than one ruffian was responsible.’
‘You could be right. What are the police’s thoughts on the matter?’
‘They agreed that they’re looking for multiple perpetrators.’
‘Have they any idea who?’
‘It could be any number of suspects, sir, in that part of town. It might not have been personal. It could have been a mugging and he fought back.’
‘Or it could be linked to a case he was investigating. Did Mr Knapp keep any records?’
‘Sometimes, not always. It depended on the case he was working on.’
‘I wonder if you could search the office, find if there’s any record of what he was doing in the Old Town that night.’
‘I can, but I think the police will get there first. There’s some inspector who’s very keen on finding who killed him. He was a good friend of Mr Knapp’s.’
‘What’s this inspector’s name?’
‘Murphy, sir. He’s Irish. Mr Knapp has Irish blood too. I mean had,’ he ended sadly.
‘If you hear anything of interest, please let me know as soon as possible. I’m very keen to help find who did this.’ Henry opened a drawer in his desk, took out some money and pressed it into Frank’s hand. ‘Before the police know, if possible.’
‘Leave it with me, sir,’ he said, eyes lighting up at the sight of the money.
When Frank had left, Henry went upstairs in search of Amy. He found her sketching with the children. The governess she’d once been still existed inside her.
‘I need to talk to you,’ he said.
She caught the look in his eye and nodded. ‘Carry on with your sketching, children,’ she said. ‘I’ll be back to look at your work.’
They retreated into one of the spare bedrooms to talk. Henry relayed to her everything Frank had told him.
‘Oh, God,’ breathed Amy. ‘Robert did this, didn’t he? I just know it. He paid someone to kill Knapp because he had damaging information about him.’
‘We don’t know that yet. The police are investigating. A lot of crime goes on in the Old Town, it could have been a mugging that went wrong. The evidence indicates he was attacked by more than one person, he may have been overwhelmed.’
‘You’re right,’ she said, taking a deep, calming breath. ‘We can’t accuse Robert unjustly. It might undo all the progress he’s made.’
‘Frank’s going to see if he can discover why Knapp was in the Old Town that night.’
‘What if he finds mention of Robert? He could use it as a blackmail opportunity or take it to the police.’
‘He gave me his word he’d come to me first.’
‘And you believed him?’
‘Yes. He’s one of those people who has a tremendous, if misguided, faith in the upper classes. He’ll think I have a better chance of getting justice for Mr Knapp than the police.’
‘And what if he does produce evidence of Robert’s involvement? What will you do then, condemn him to the gallows?’
‘Of course not, but better I have it than the police.’ Henry took her hands in his own. ‘He won’t hang, I promise you, Amy, but if he is guilty, we have to do something about it. If he keeps getting off scot-free, his behaviour will only spiral even further out of control.’
‘He only cares about Jane’s good opinion. We could threaten to tell her.’
‘She wouldn’t believe us, just like she didn’t believe us when we told her about how he attacked Daisy.’
‘You’re right and they might keep Emily from us.’
‘We have to tackle this in a way that doesn’t alienate them from us.’
‘Just after they were married, Robert said he would keep from us any grandchildren they might have if we interfered in his life, and he will carry out that threat, I have absolutely no doubt.’
