Chapter Twenty-seven
Twenty-seven
His name was Nick Tobin. He reminded Benedict of a terrier—small, wiry and probably very fleet of foot.
But he wasn’t running now. He was more than pleased to talk to Benedict and Logan—for a price.
He pocketed the money that Benedict placed on the table, took a long pull on his ale and told his story. It was not a long tale.
“Aye, a gennelman ’ired me to drive his carriage for him,” Nick said. He wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his well-worn coat. “Said he was meeting a lady who didn’t want to be seen in public with him. That’s the way it is with some of them high-class whores. But I expect you gennelmen know that.”
Benedict tamped down his anger. “The lady mistook the carriage for a cab.”
“Well that’s ’ow it was supposed to work,” Nick said patiently. “I was to make it look like she was getting into a cab. How was I to know she was a lunatic?”
“What made you think she was mad?” Benedict asked.
“Cut me customer up somethin’ terrible, she did.” Nick shook his shaggy head. “Never saw the like. Blood all over those fine cushions. A real shame. Then she jumped out and ran off hollerin’ like a madwoman.”
“What happened to your fare?” Logan asked.
“When the bint ran off the customer flew into a right panic, I can tell ye that much. He screamed at me to get him away from that street. Naturally I did what he said to do. Not like I wanted to hang about, either.”
“Where did you take him?”
“As soon as we was away from the madwoman I opened the trapdoor in the roof and asked him where he wanted to go next. Imagine my surprise when I saw all that blood.”
“Did he instruct you to take him to his address?”
Nick appeared surprised by the question.
“No, sir. He never said where he lived, sir. He ordered me to take him to an address in Crocker Lane and that’s what I did.
When we got there I ’ad to help him up the front steps.
He pounded on the door. Bleeding all over the steps, he was.
Someone opened the door. Me customer went inside. That was the end of it.”
“Not quite,” Benedict said. “What about the carriage?”
“A man came out of the house and gave me some money. He said it was to pay me for my time. He said he would deal with the horse and that strange carriage. I was to take myself off and forget what had happened. And that’s exactly what I did.
Next thing I know, I ’eard that two gennelmen wanted to talk to me and would make it worth my while.
” Nick squinted at Logan. “Course, I didn’t know that one of the so-called gennelman was from the Yard. ”
Logan gave him a cold smile. “We appreciate your cooperation.”
“Always pleased to do a favor for the Yard,” Nick said.
“It won’t be forgotten,” Logan promised.
Nick nodded, satisfied.
Benedict studied him. “You do realize that the carriage you drove that day belonged to the killer they call the Bridegroom?”
Nick stared at him, deeply offended. “No, sir, that’s not possible. That was a gennelman’s carriage, I tell ye. Real fine vehicle it was, even if it was odd inside. Not the kind of vehicle a crazed killer like the Bridegroom would go about in now, is it?”
“I want the address of the house in Crocker Lane,” Logan said.
Nick turned wily. “Well, now, that’ll cost you a bit more, sir.”
Logan looked as if he was about to argue the point. Benedict shook his head ever so slightly and took out more money.
“The answer had better be correct,” Benedict said.
“It’s not like I’d forget a fare like that,” Nick said cheerfully. He rattled off a number.
Logan narrowed his eyes. “Where were you going to take them?”
Nick’s bushy brows scrunched together. “Take who, sir?”
“The gentleman and the lady who did not want to be seen getting into the carriage,” Logan said evenly. “Where were you supposed to take them?”
“Can’t help ye there, sir. Never did find out exactly where we was headed on account of the little whore going crazy like she did. I was supposed to get my instructions after we picked her up.”
Logan and Benedict got to their feet.
“One more thing,” Benedict said.
Nick looked up. “What’s that, sir?”
“What was it about the carriage that struck you as odd?”
“The way it was all sealed up inside. Reminded me of one of those wagons they use to transport prisoners. The windows were covered with wooden shutters. There were even bars in the trapdoor in the roof. The door could be locked from the outside so no one could break in, I reckon.”
“Or escape from the vehicle, perhaps?” Logan suggested.
“Aye, if ye locked it from the outside, the person inside would be trapped, right enough,” Nick said. “Hadn’t thought about that bit. My client allowed as to how he was afraid of being attacked by robbers when he traveled around London.”
“He had a point,” Benedict said. “The streets are dangerous.”
“Aye, sir, that’s the truth, it is.”