Chapter Three #3
His son blew out a breath. “I went into my office early this morning, after I woke at your townhouse and told Cassandra and Charlie good morning. I wanted to retrieve the legal papers I’d drawn up at Anthony’s request; I didn’t want them stolen.”
Fair enough. “Did you retrieve them?”
“No. I was distracted by the body.”
“Why were you prowling about so early this morning.”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I was awake when the Saturday paper was delivered.” The young man grew somber and quiet. The jangle of the iron chain between his manacles sounded overly loud in the silence. “Of course I saw the headline.”
Gabriel nodded. “It must have occurred early enough last night so that it could be included in the paper ahead of printing, but only just.”
“Why would you say that?” Henry asked.
“When I examined the body, I looked at Mr. Corbett’s pocket watch. The glass covering the face had broken, perhaps when he fell to the pavement, and the clock stopped with the hour shown as just before two in the morning.”
Henry’s Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow.
“Of course I saw him when I alighted from a hansom cab. There was no way to avoid him on my way to the office. I… I recognized him immediately.” His voice was hushed and full of emotion.
“The way he laid there…” With the shake of his head, Gabriel knew his son was hurting.
“I suppose I ceased to think at that point. I just jumped into action.”
“You went to him, kneeled down in the event he wasn’t dead.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.” Henry nodded. “Then I saw the blood… So much blood.” His voice broke. “I searched his person. That was how the blood got on my gloves. I found the pistol halfway beneath his body, partially covered by his greatcoat.”
Gabriel frowned. “I taught you better than to tamper with evidence at a crime scene.”
“I know that, but as I said, I wasn’t thinking.”
“Did you recognize the pistol?”
“Yes.” Henry nodded. “It belonged to Anthony. In fact, when last we spoke, he said he’d recently acquired it.”
“Why?”
“He said certain… things had happened in recent months that he wanted to have protection for both him and his wife.”
“Did he tell you what those things were?”
“He hinted at them.” When Gabriel cocked one of his eyebrows, Henry sighed. “When last we spoke, Anthony said his father-in-law wasn’t a good man, that some of his views regarding society and the future of England were embarrassing and would prove dangerous.”
“I can appreciate that.” Now wasn’t the time to delve deep into the duke’s personal life. “Was it his father-in-law Mr. Corbett wished protection from?”
“I couldn’t say, but he was frightened. I’d never seen him like that.”
“Did that attitude have to do with the secrets he alluded to when you had dinner with him?”
“Yes, I believe so. He was terrified everything would come to light, or at the very least, to a head in a rather public way, and he didn’t want to bring his child into the world where his father-in-law’s title and name would be dragged through the muck.”
“Did the rest of your wife’s family share her father’s views?”
“I don’t know.” Henry shook his head. “Perhaps some of them? He has six children, but I rather doubt all of them got on with the duke.”
“Why?”
“Anthony said there were always arguments at every family function.
“Ah.”
A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“According to Anthony, the duke asked him to do something that was so egregious, Anthony was completely rethinking his whole life.” Then his son pinned him with a hard look.
“He wanted to take his wife and flee England, go to America and start their lives over because of it.”
No doubt that was the motive for the murder, or at least part of it. “Did he tell you why, Henry? Tell me without words.” There were far too many people within earshot, and he wanted to keep the information tight if he could.
Slowly, Henry nodded.
“Very well.” Gabriel stood, prepared to jump out of the wagon.
“Do you think I killed Anthony, Papa?”
“I do not. I think you are in mourning for a good friend and you weren’t thinking straight.”
He held up his manacled wrists. “Can these be removed then?”
“Absolutely, but you’ll no doubt be remanded into my custody, which means you’ll need to stay with Mary and I until the case is solved.
” Seconds later, he clambered out of the wagon.
To the young agent, he said, “Remove the restraints. I’ll speak with Chief Inspector Morritson regarding Mr. Bright. ”
“Right away, Inspector.”
He peered back into the wagon at his son. “I’m taking full responsibility for Mr. Bright. Bring him over once I finish with the chief inspector.” Then, with a nod at Henry, Gabriel made his way back across the street.
Good God this case had barely started but already it had all the hallmarks of an overly large megrim, which was usually what happened when a duke was involved. Most of them considered themselves above the law and outside of consequence.
Did that extend to becoming a suspect in a murder? Or that his whole family would need to be questioned for the same? That’s what he would find out.