Chapter 24 #3
“He didn’t say her surname, just ‘Delia.’ But I thought the name sounded familiar.
He said they were supposed to elope but something bad had happened.
That’s when I recalled her name from the newspaper and that she’d been killed.
I asked him if she was the same Delia. He started to sob, made a bloody fool of himself.
” Dowd’s shoulders twitched, and his features creased with discomfort.
“He swore he didn’t kill her, that he was her rescuer.
He said he’d saved Delia from her father and freed her so they could marry. ”
“That almost sounds like he kidnapped her,” Tilda said gently. And yet, if Mobray saw himself as Delia’s protector, that certainly aligned with his perception of Spring-heeled Jack as some sort of hero.
Dowd nodded. “I thought so too. He blubbered about how Delia hadn’t deserved what happened, that she was just trying to be happy.
I asked again if he had anything to do with the kidnappings or the murder of Delia Chadwick.
This time he admitted he’d taken her but explained they’d planned it together.
They were going to elope with the money they ransomed from her father.
” He grimaced as he paused his story briefly. “That sounded awfully cold to me.”
Tilda exchanged a grim look with Hadrian. “Did he explain how Delia ended up dead? It doesn’t sound as if he wanted that.”
“He only repeated that it wasn’t his fault. In fact, he was insistent about it. He even grabbed me and made me look into his eyes as he swore he didn’t kill her. He was crazed.”
“I don’t suppose you asked him who did kill her?” Tilda asked.
“Of course I did, but he ignored my question. He started sobbing again and said they never should have taken Lady Priscilla, that he hadn’t wanted to. If they hadn’t, Delia would be alive.”
Tilda was desperate to know why. “What happened after he kidnapped Lady Priscilla?”
“He wouldn’t say, and I was beginning to lose track of his story.
He was a mess, and it was getting harder to understand him with his sobbing and his drunkenness.
After a while, he calmed and said he needed to make sure the ransom money was given to those in need, as Spring-heeled Jack would do.
Then he gave me another two hundred pounds—he had the banknotes on him—and begged me not to repeat what he’d told me.
” Dowd looked at them with sorrow. “I’d decided to leave London with the money he gave me, but then I saw the handbills yesterday and I knew I had to come forward.
I was working up the courage, and then I read in this morning’s paper that Mobray had died.
” He sniffed. “If I’d gone to Scotland Yard yesterday, perhaps Mobray would still be alive. ”
“Perhaps,” Tilda said kindly. Even if he was, it was possible he would be hanged for his crimes. “You mentioned Mobray said ‘they’ shouldn’t have taken Lady Priscilla. Was he working with someone?”
“I think so, but I didn’t ask. He’d stopped answering my questions and was just blubbering by then.” Dowd’s mouth pulled into a solemn frown. “Poor bloke.”
“I wonder if the other person killed Delia,” Hadrian said.
“He has to be,” Dowd said somewhat passionately. “I know Mobray, and he wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“I apologize, but you’ll need to repeat all that to Detective Inspector Teague,” Tilda said. “We’ll take you to him.”
They walked Dowd to the performance area but stayed at the periphery. Tilda went to fetch Teague whilst Hadrian remained with Dowd.
Teague appeared surprised when she approached. “I thought you left.”
“On our way out, we ran into Mobray’s accomplice.” She glanced toward where Dowd and Hadrian stood together beneath a tree.
“He just showed up here?” Teague asked as he pivoted toward Hadrian and Dowd.
“He saw the handbills about Mobray. However, he’s not the accomplice for the kidnappings,” Tilda added quickly.
Teague turned back toward her. “What do you mean?”
“He only helped with the stunt near the Strand the other night. I’ll let him explain the rest.” She walked with Teague and introduced him to Dowd.
“We’re going to be on our way,” Tilda said.
“Is there nothing to follow up on?” Teague flicked a glance at Dowd.
Tilda shook her head. “Not really, though some things are clearer. We need to find Mobray’s true accomplice.
Ravenhurst and I are going to call on Redmayne.
I’m troubled by the vicious, personal tone of the note he received yesterday.
There must be some connection between him and Mobray or his accomplice, whoever that is.
” That was as much as Tilda could reveal to Teague.
“That bothers me too,” Teague replied. “Let me know what you find out.” He turned to Dowd. “Now, tell me everything you told them—and more if you can think of it.”
Hadrian escorted Tilda back toward the entrance. “Chadwick is going to be devastated when he learns his daughter was part of the kidnapping and ransom scheme.”
“Yes.” Tilda felt very bad for him, despite his treatment of her. “I hope we can find out what happened to her. Why did she end up dead? And why did Mobray regret kidnapping Lady Priscilla?”
“Now that we are all but certain there’s an accomplice, hopefully he’ll be able to answer those questions,” Hadrian said. “We just have to find him.”
Tilda nodded. “After your vision with the cap, I believe Redmayne may very well hold the key to finding his daughter.”