The Droitwich Deceivers (9 page)

‘Who knows, Mrs Ravenscroft, who knows?’ replied Shorter throwing his arms wide. ‘Pray look around you ma’am. Somewhere in this room there may be a scrap of small paper which may provide us with the information you are looking for – but where to begin? Where to begin? Here you see around you the accumulated knowledge of the last twenty years of the Droitwich Advertiser. You see my dilemma?’

‘I do indeed,’ said Lucy sighing.

‘Somewhere in the dark recesses of this room, hidden between a thousand sheets of ancient newsprint may be the precious item which we seek. But then, of course, it may not be there at all. Cast out into the wilderness weeks ago with items of a similar disposition. All I can offer you is the distant hope that the item under discussion may present itself when one is least expecting it. That is all I can say.’

‘I see,’ said Lucy looking downcast, realizing that her mission was facing failure.

‘If you would care to leave me your address, I will certainly forward the information onto you, should it come to light.’

‘Thank you.’

‘If you would be so kind as to write on this piece of paper.’

Lucy took the pen and wrote out her name and address, but without any degree of conviction, knowing that in all probability her piece of paper would befall the same fate as the Huddlestone item.

‘Thank you, Mrs Ravenscroft. Never fear, I shall safeguard your information with the utmost care, and will contact you the moment the missing item comes to life.’

‘Tell me, Mr Shorter. I don’t suppose you happen to know how many people replied to the advertisement?’

‘Ah, I do indeed. Two – to be precise!’

‘How do you know that?’ asked Lucy startled by this sudden disclosure.

‘See here,’ said Shorter proudly pointing to the
advertisement
in the newspaper. ‘See those pencil marks. We – I – always make a record by the side of an advertisement when it receives a reply. Two marks mean two people replied.’

‘I’m impressed,’ said Lucy smiling. ‘I wonder if it would be possible for you to tell me the names of those two people?’

‘Ah, now you are asking a very difficult question.’

‘I am sorry.’

‘Two replies,’ muttered Shorter casting his eyes upwards at the ceiling of the room.

Lucy stood in silence, not wishing the disturb the editor’s thoughts.

‘Two replies. Unfortunately I cannot help you, alas. I believe the replies were enclosed within envelopes to be forwarded, with the box number and address of the
newspaper
written on the outer envelope.’

‘I see,’ said Lucy trying not to sound too disappointed. ‘Thank you, Mr Shorter, you have been most helpful. If you are able to find the address of Mrs Huddlestone then I would be most grateful if you would contact me. There is a distressed mother waiting for news of the child she
unfortunately
gave away. Anyway, I will not take up any more of your precious time.’

‘Gave away her baby you say. Gave away her baby. Where have I read those words before. Yes of course! One moment, please, Mrs Ravenscroft,’ said Shorter eagerly turning over a few copies of the newspaper.

Lucy came nearer, wondering what item of information was about to be revealed by the newspaper man.

‘Yes, yes, I have it. Local girl commits suicide!’ said Shorter reading from a page. ‘Distressed state of mind, after loss of her only child!’

‘Good heavens, how terrible!’ exclaimed Lucy.

‘“The inquest was held at The Raven Inn, last Wednesday morning, concerning the apparent suicide of one Belinda Parkes, age 18, formerly employed as a housemaid at Hill Court, Dodderhill, Droitwich. George Richardson, a local bargeman, stated that he had discovered the body of a young woman in the canal near Crutch Lane, the previous Thursday morning. He pulled the body from the waterway and was able to identify the young woman as Belinda
Parkes, as both he and the deceased had been former members of the congregation of Dodderhill Church. Mrs Greenway, cook at Hill Court, stated that the deceased woman had been of unsettled mind for the past week or more. Apparently she had given birth to an illegitimate child three months previously, but shortly after its birth had given up the child for adoption. She had become anxious regarding the welfare of her infant, and had become
increasingly
distressed when she had been unable to visit her child. The Coroner recorded a verdict of death by suicide.”’

‘How awful!’ said Lucy turning away, bringing a hand towards her face, and seeking to control the tears of sadness that began to form in her eyes.

‘My dear Mrs Ravenscroft, please do accept a chair. I would not have read this article out loud, had I considered that it would in any way distress you. I hope you are not related in any way to the deceased?’

‘No, not at all. It is just that another young lady, of similar misfortune, visited me yesterday, and recounted how she had replied to the advertisement in your newspaper – and how she had given away her only child to this Mrs Huddlestone,’ said Lucy blurting out the words.

‘I see, how sad,’ sympathized Shorter.

‘And when she sought to visit her child, she discovered that both the woman and child were not living at the address she had been given.’

‘Dear me,’ said Shorter shaking his head. ‘It would seem that this Belinda Parkes had also replied to the same
advertisement
, and that the same misfortune had clearly befallen her.’

‘Mr Shorter, if you will excuse me. Thank you once again for your assistance,’ said Lucy forcing back the tears as she walked quickly out of the room.

‘My dear Mrs Ravenscroft, please stay until—’ began Shorter, but his visitor had already made her way down the long flight of steps, and had disappeared from view.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Droitwich

‘W
ell Tom, have we any news?’

It was later that same day, and Ravenscroft and Crabb met once again outside the church of St. Augustine at Dodderhill.

‘Nothing sir. None of the lock keepers report anything unusual. Just the usual barges going up and down the canal with their cargoes,’ replied Crabb.

‘How far is it until the Droitwich canal joins the Worcester–Birmingham canal?’

‘No more than two or three miles until you get to Hanbury Wharf, I believe. After that the boats either turn north to Stoke Works and Tardebigge on their way to Birmingham, or south towards Worcester.’

‘So whoever abducted Miss Chilton could be anywhere with her by now. What I don’t understand is why anyone would have taken her in the first place. The family have received no calls for money for her return,’ replied Ravenscroft deep in thought.

‘It is certainly a strange case, sir,’ added Crabb.

‘Yes, and since your departure Tom, the case has taken a new direction. I believe I mentioned to you that Mrs
Ravenscroft was attempting to discover what had happened to a young child which had been given away by her mother. Well, today she visited the local newspaper office here in the town, where she learnt that a few months ago a young housemaid by the name of Belinda Parkes had likewise given her baby away in reply to an advertisement.’

‘What is the connection to our present case, sir?’

‘Nothing, or so I thought, until I learnt that the housemaid came from Hill Court, and furthermore she was so overcome by not being able to recover her baby that she committed suicide.’

‘Poor girl,’ sympathized Crabb.

‘At first I had not thought that all these cases were connected, but now that I have learnt that the maid worked at Hill Court, I am not so sure.’

‘What shall we do next then, sir.’

‘Let’s go and have a word with Mrs Greenway, the cook. Apparantly she gave evidence at the girl’s inquest.’

‘Ah! If it isn’t Mister Ravenscroft again,’ said the cook rising from her seat at the table as the two men walked into the kitchens of Hill Court.

‘Good day to you Mrs Greenway, and to you Mister Jukes,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘This is Constable Crabb.’

‘Sit yourselves down gentlemen, whilst I makes you a cup of tea,’ smiled Mrs Greenway.

‘Nothing for me, I thank you,’ replied Ravenscroft accepting the chair.

‘Your constable looks as though he could do with
something
to eat. Why don’t you try a slice of my home made fruit cake?’

‘Thank you. I don’t mind if I do,’ said Crabb accepting the other chair.

‘Have you any news of Miss Mildred?’ asked a concerned Jukes.

‘I’m afraid not. We have contacted all the stations in the county, and some of my men are making enquiries along the canal path,’ replied Ravenscroft.

‘The poor mite. Never did any harm to anyone. Now look what has happened to her,’ sighed the cook passing over a piece of cake on a plate to Crabb.

‘Actually it is another matter that I have come to ask you about Mrs Greenway. What can you tell me about Belinda Parkes? I understand that she was employed here and that you gave evidence at her inquest?’ asked Ravenscroft.

‘Oh the poor girl. So unfortunate. She was another who had done no harm to anyone. Forced to give away her baby she was.’

‘Why was that?’

‘Sir Charles, he would not have her in the house unless she got rid of the baby. The poor girl was at a loss, her with a young babby about to be cast out – at her wits end she was. Then she saw the advertisement in the Droitwich Guardian. Nice couple in Cheltenham wanted to adopt a baby. Seemed like a godsend at the time.’

‘Tell me Mrs Greenway, do you know whether Belinda gave any money to these people when they took her baby?’ asked Ravenscroft becoming more and more interested in the cook’s revelations.

‘Yes. Five pounds I believe. Belinda had a little money put by, but Jukes and I helped her out.’

‘That was very Christian of you both,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘I don’t suppose you know the name of the couple who took the child?’

‘Henderson, or something like that, I think,’ replied the cook.

‘I think it was Huddlestone,’ corrected Jukes.

‘Huddlestone. Yes, that was it. Huddlestone.’

‘And what happened afterwards, after Miss Parkes gave the baby away?’

‘Well she pined something terrible for that babby. Regretted it as soon as she had given her away. Full of remorse she was,’ sighed the cook.

‘Did she try and get the baby back?’ asked Crabb his mouth full of cake.

‘She tried, but it were no use,’ said Jukes.

‘She couldn’t find where those Huddlestone had gone. Vanished into thin air they had,’ said Mrs Greenway. ‘She was so distressed. Took her own life. Said there was nothing worth living for now that she had given her babby away, and that the Lord would never forgive her for what she had done. It were a terrible business,’ replied the cook, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

‘I know this is rather a delicate question, but did Miss Parkes ever confide in you as to the name of the father?’ asked Ravenscroft leaning forwards across the table.

‘No. She never said.’

‘Probably some young lad in the town,’ suggested Jukes.

‘I don’t suppose you have any papers or personal effects belonging to Miss Parkes?’

‘Nothing. There were a few letters and such like, but we burnt everything.’

‘Thank you Mrs Greenway, you have been most helpful,’ said Ravenscroft rising from his seat.

‘You don’t think any of this has anything to do with Miss Mildred’s disappearance?’ asked the cook looking perplexed.

‘I cannot say at the present. The two events seem
unrelated
, but we must keep an open mind. Come, Crabb, we have things to do.’

‘Well sir, that does not seem to bring us any more forwards in our investigations,’ said Crabb as he and Ravenscroft strode through the kitchen garden.

‘No. It merely confirms what Mrs Ravenscroft has told me.’

‘I suppose those Huddlestones could have taken Miss Chilton, as well as those babies?’

‘I cannot see why they should. The Huddlestones placed an advertisement in the local paper asking for a baby to adopt, pocket the five pounds when they acquire the children, give a false address, and then move on elsewhere no doubt. I fear for the babies they’ve acquired. It seems highly unlikely they would return to the area to kidnap Miss Chilton. If they had taken Miss Chilton, I feel sure they would undoubtedly have asked for money by now. I believe we are dealing with two different cases here. I think we will have to put the Huddlestones on one side for now, especially as all that happened several months ago, and concentrate on the missing girl.’

‘What do we do now sir?’

‘I must admit that I am at a loss as to our next move, until we have the results from those telegrams you sent out to the lock keepers. Why don’t we go to the Gardeners Arms and see what they can tell us about our friend Old John. By the way, how did you enjoy your cake, Tom?’

‘Delicious sir, nearly as good as Mrs Crabb makes.’

‘Hm, Queen Anne must have changed the recipe.’

A few minutes later Ravenscroft and Crabb entered the bar of The Gardeners Arms in Vines Lane.

‘Good day to you, gentlemen,’ said the burly landlord from the other side of the bar.

‘Good morning to you, landlord.’

‘You must be Ravenscroft? What can I get you?’

‘Two tankards of your finest ale. I believe you know my constable,’ replied Ravenscroft.

The landlord nodded in Crabb’s direction and began to fill the tankards. Ravenscroft looked round the room with its old wooden tables and chairs, its brown stained walls and the faded photograph of a cricket team above the bar.

‘You found that girl yet?’ asked the man after a few seconds had elapsed and he had placed the two containers of drink on the counter.

‘I’m afraid not. We think she may have been taken on one of the barges.’

‘Could be.’

‘I don’t suppose you know anything about her
disappearance
?’ asked Ravenscroft after sampling the ale.

‘Can’t help you there, I am afraid. Told your constable I had seen nothing the day that girl disappeared,’ replied the landlord leaning on the counter.

‘You noticed nothing unusual?’

‘That’s what I said.’

‘No one out of the ordinary who might have called in here on that day? A stranger who had just arrived in the town?’ persisted Ravenscroft.

‘Only the regulars.’

‘What can you tell me about Old John?’

‘Old John!’ laughed the landlord. ‘Old John. Bit simple in the head if you ask me, but he’s harmless enough. Why? What’s he been doing now?’

‘Nothing in particular,’ replied Crabb.

‘We have encountered him upon two occasions in the churchyard,’ added Ravenscroft.

‘I’m not surprised. He spends all his time up there. He
must be more fond of the dead than the living. Some says he even sleeps on top of the tombs.’

‘Has he always been like that?’ asked Ravenscroft.

‘For as long as I can remember. We give him some of our
leftover
food, and some folk in the lane give him what they can. Used to work at the big house when he were young, I believe.’

‘You mean Hill Court?’ asked Ravenscroft.

‘So folk says. Before I came here of course. Can I get you gents another one?’

‘I think one will surfice, excellent as it is,’ replied Ravenscroft draining his tankard. ‘What can you tell me about Belinda Parkes?’

‘One of the maids at Hill Court?’

Ravenscroft nodded.

‘Sad business. Drowned in the canal just over yonder. Bit weak in the head or so they said. Something about a baby, I believe. Gave it away by all accounts. I ask you, what kind of mother gives away her own kind? It ain’t natural, is it?’

‘No indeed. Did she ever frequent your establishment?’ asked Ravenscroft.

‘No.’

‘Well, thank you for your time.’

‘I wish you well with your investigations. The sooner that girl is bought home the better,’ said the landlord wiping down the counter.

‘You are sure that you saw no one come down the path from the church that afternoon? I ask because your inn is quite near the entrance to the path?’ asked Ravenscroft as he and Crabb began to leave the room.

‘As I told your constable, I saw no one come down from the church.’

‘Thank you. We will take our leave,’ said Ravenscroft opening the door.

‘I did see someone go up though,’ said the landlord turning away.

‘You saw someone going up the path?’

‘Mr Russell. Seemed in a hurry, he did.’

‘Mr Russell you say?’

‘That’s what I said.’

‘Russell. Why on earth didn’t you tell this to my constable when he asked you yesterday?’ asked an annoyed Ravenscroft.

‘Ah well, he didn’t ask me who went up the path: only if anyone had come down it, so I said no one. Now if he had asked me—’

‘Very well!’ sighed Ravenscroft holding his hands up. ‘Come on, Crabb, let us go and see Mr Russell.’

Ravenscroft bought down his fist on the old oak door. ‘Mr Russell. Mr Russell, I’d be obliged if you would open the door.’

‘Shall I go and look in the barns, sir? He could be holding the girl in one of them.’

‘We shall see,’ said Ravenscroft banging on the door once more.

‘All right, all right. I’m coming,’ said Russell opening the door suddenly. ‘Oh it’s you Ravenscroft; you’re making enough noise to wake the dead.’

‘I would like further words with you Mr Russell, if I may. May we enter?’

‘Not convenient at the moment,’ said Russell stepping out of the building and closing the door behind him. ‘Say what you have to say out here.’

‘You did not tell us, on our previous visit, that you were at Dodderhill church on the day Miss Chilton disappeared,’ said Ravenscroft, trying to sound as serious as he could.

‘You never asked me. Who says so, anyway?’ replied Russell adopting a defensive manner.

‘The landlord of The Gardeners Arms. He saw you go up the path in the direction of the church, shortly before Miss Chilton went missing.’

‘I suppose I might have gone up that way. What’s it to you anyway?’

‘It is everything to me Mr Russell, especially when a young girl has been taken against her will. What were you doing in the churchyard?’ demanded Ravenscroft observing Russell closely.

‘What do people do in churchyards? They visit the graves,’ replied Russell caustically.

‘Don’t waste my time, Mr Russell. What were you doing in the churchyard that afternoon? Did you take the girl?’

‘Of course not. I never saw the girl. I was visiting the churchyard to pay my respects to my late mother. She died some twenty years ago and is buried there. I like to take some flowers for her grave, from time to time. There is nothing wrong with that, is there?’

‘How long were you there for, in the churchyard?’ continued Ravenscroft.

‘Ten minutes perhaps.’

‘Did you see anyone while you were there?’