Inspector Colbeck's Casebook

HELPING HAND

Having spent so many years in the army, Edward Tallis knew the importance of a disciplined way of life. As far as possible, he kept everything to an unvarying routine, leaving for work at precisely the same time every morning and organising each day in a similar manner. No matter how busy he was, he always found time for a brisk walk around noon to maintain fitness and to disperse the stink of cigar smoke that always clung to him. After leaving Scotland Yard that morning, he walked along Victoria Street. He was a big, straight-backed man with a moustache that he liked to stroke as if it were a favourite cat. His stride was long and his speed impressive. Few people could keep pace with him.

Tallis was about to cross a side street when he became aware of commotion to his left. Farther down the street, people were yelling and jeering at someone. Unable to see the object of their scorn, Tallis walked towards the crowd. They were gathered around the window of a butcher’s shop, howling abuse at a man who’d just emerged from the alley that ran alongside the building. Leading the verbal assault was the butcher himself, a solid man in a long apron that almost touched the floor.

‘Bugger off!’ he shouted, waving a fist. ‘Take that lousy cur of yours away or I’ll be after the pair of you with my cleaver!’

Other people felt obliged to add their own threats and some of the worst insults came from women. Tallis’s voice rose above the hubbub.

‘What’s going on?’ he asked, the authority in his tone imposing an instant silence. ‘What is this fellow supposed to have done?’

‘Just look at him, sir,’ replied the butcher. ‘You can see that he’s a miserable good-for-nothing. I caught him sleeping in the yard at the rear of my shop. These people are my neighbours. We don’t want him here but he just won’t leave.’

‘You’re not giving him any chance to leave,’ argued Tallis. ‘How can he move when you’ve got him trapped here? If you all disappear, I’m sure that he’ll take the opportunity to be on his way.’ When they hesitated, his voice became peremptory. ‘Go home,’ he ordered. ‘I’m a detective superintendent in the Metropolitan Police. I’ll deal with this situation.’

Deprived of the pleasure of baiting the man, some complained and others rid themselves of a few expletives but they all drifted away under Tallis’s stern gaze. With a dark scowl, the angry butcher withdrew into his shop and slammed the door behind him. Tallis was at last able to take a proper look at the person who had been at the centre of the rumpus. Tall, skinny and dishevelled, he was of indeterminate age. The lank hair that hung down from under his battered hat merged with his ragged beard. His clothing was tattered, his boots falling apart. What had enraged the crowd was his sinister appearance. One eye was closed shut and there was a livid scar down his cheek. Cowering behind him was a small, bedraggled dog with its tongue hanging out. The animal had been frightened by the crowd but the man had shown no fear, taking their invective on the chin as if used to such contempt.

‘What’s your name?’ asked Tallis.

‘Joel Anstey, sir.’

‘I fancy that you’ve been in the army.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Anstey, saluting. ‘I was proud to serve Queen and Country.’

‘I feel the same.’ He stepped forward to examine the man’s face. ‘Where did you get those injuries?’

‘It was in the Crimea. A few weeks after we arrived there, I had my cheek sliced open by a Russian sabre. A year later, I lost my eye. But I don’t regret my days in the army, sir,’ he went on. ‘I spent the happiest years of my life in uniform.’ He gave a dry laugh. ‘Would it surprise you to know that I was considered handsome at one time? What woman would look twice at me now?’

‘And did you sleep in the butcher’s yard?’

‘No, sir — I merely climbed in there to see if he’d thrown out any old bones.’ He indicated the dog. ‘Sam is hungry.’

‘You look as if you both are.’

‘When the butcher found us, he threw a bucket of water over Sam.’

‘Well, you were trespassing.’

‘We did no harm, sir.’

Tallis sized him up. The man was articulate and respectful. There was no trace of self-pity. Evidently, he cared more for the dog than for his own welfare.

‘You sound as if you were born here in London,’ observed Tallis.

‘I was, sir — in the parish of St Martin-in-the Fields.’

‘There’s a workhouse just behind the National Gallery.’

‘I’m not so desperate as to go there,’ said Anstey with a flash of indignation. ‘Besides, they’d turn me away. I’m able-bodied and far too young. I’m still well short of forty.’

Tallis was taken aback because the man looked considerably older.

‘What was your trade, Anstey?’

‘Before I went in the army,’ replied the other, ‘I was a saddler but you need two good eyes to handle leather and, in any case, I’ve lost the trick of it. I’m not asking for money, sir,’ he insisted. ‘I just want work so that I can earn my keep and feed Sam properly. We need a helping hand, that’s all.’

Tallis was moved by his plea. Poverty and homelessness were ever-present in the nation’s capital. Untold thousands lived on the streets and scratched out a bare existence as best they could. Joel Anstey’s story was a familiar one but it somehow touched the superintendent at a deep level.

‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he said.

‘I’m surprised at the superintendent,’ said Madeleine. ‘I don’t wish to be unkind but he never struck me as a compassionate man.’

‘Tallis has the occasional impulse to help someone,’ said Colbeck with a smile, ‘and he’s a good Christian. Something about this person obviously spoke to him. When he asked me if we could find him a few days’ work, I said that we could.’

‘Why can’t this man tend the superintendent’s garden?’

‘He doesn’t have one, Madeleine. He lives alone in a set of rooms. And as you know, Victor’s little house has no garden at all. That’s why Tallis turned to me.’ He put affectionate hands on her shoulders. ‘I didn’t think that you’d mind.’

‘I don’t, Robert,’ she said, ‘but I suspect that Draycott will.’

Colbeck groaned. ‘Ah, I was forgetting him.’

‘He likes to rule the roost in the garden.’

‘I’ll warn Anstey not to tread on his toes.’

‘Draycott can be very touchy.’

‘We’re not having him throwing his weight around, Madeleine. When all’s said and done, we pay Draycott’s wages. If we choose to let someone else work in the garden,’ said Colbeck, reasonably, ‘then nobody is in a position to stop us.’

‘I still foresee trouble.’

‘Keep the two of them apart — that’s the secret.’

When Anstey reported for work on the following day, he snatched off his hat and stood in front of Madeleine with his head bowed. Forewarned about his rather menacing appearance, she pretended not to notice his face and took him around to the garden with his dog. Long and fairly narrow, it featured a series of small, rectangular lawns edged with flower beds.

‘My husband likes a formal garden,’ she explained.

‘I can see that, Mrs Colbeck. It’s well looked after.’

‘The gardener pops in two or three times a week. His name is Draycott. There’s no telling if he’ll turn up today. What I’d suggest you do is to weed the patch at the far end. It’s hidden behind the trellis and is badly overgrown.’

‘What about a rake and such like?’

‘I’ll unlock the shed for you,’ she said, holding up the key. ‘Then I’ll see if I can’t find a bone for the dog as well as a bowl of water.’

‘His name is Sam,’ said Anstey, ‘and he’s as thankful as I am.’

‘That’s good to hear.’

‘I’m not afraid of hard work, Mrs Colbeck. I’ll soon prove that.’

Madeleine warmed to him. Though his facial injuries were unsightly, his voice and manner suggested a decent, honest man who’d fallen on hard times. Like Tallis, she was ready to offer a helping hand.

‘It’s never happened before,’ he said.

‘What hasn’t?’

‘Having a favour done by the police. Between you and me, I usually steer clear of them. Police don’t like the look of me. They’re always moving me on.’

Madeleine unlocked the shed and showed him the range of garden implements inside. After selecting a hoe and a rake, he walked to the end of the garden with the dog trotting after him. Coat off and sleeves rolled up, Anstey was soon at work. It was time for Madeleine to go up to her studio and she was soon absorbed in putting the finishing touches to her latest painting. With a brush in her hand, she lost all track of time and her concentration was only broken when she heard the sound of a raised voice in the garden. Rushing to the window, she looked down to see Nathaniel Draycott, brandishing a sickle and berating his new assistant. Madeleine rushed off to separate them before the argument got out of hand.

Robert Colbeck spent the morning in court, giving evidence against a man he’d caught stealing a substantial amount of money from the railway company employing him. When he got back to Scotland Yard, he went straight to the superintendent to give his report. Embezzlement had been going on for almost a year and had only been halted by Colbeck’s intervention. Tallis was pleased to hear that a guilty verdict was almost guaranteed and that the man in question would face a long prison sentence.

‘Did you enjoy your time in court?’ he asked.

‘I always do, sir. I loved working as a barrister until I reached a point where I decided it was more important to catch criminals than simply prosecute them. I’d never trade my life at Scotland Yard for a return to the bar.’

‘I’m relieved to hear it, Colbeck.’

‘Will that be all, sir? The sergeant and I have suspects to interview.’

‘Then off you go,’ said Tallis, waving a hand. ‘No, wait,’ he added. ‘I meant to thank you for taking Anstey on.’

‘It’s only for a few days,’ Colbeck pointed out.

‘It makes no difference. It’s paid employment and it will boost his spirits. Do you know what his last job was?’

‘No, Superintendent, I don’t.’

‘He was earning nine pence a day breaking up stones with a sledgehammer. Anstey had to work alongside convicts. It was demeaning. That’s why he left.’

‘I hope that he won’t find gardening beneath him.’

‘He’ll be very appreciative of the kindness you and Mrs Colbeck have shown him. He won’t have to rub shoulders with desperate criminals and he’ll be able to work in pleasant surroundings. After sleeping rough and being hustled from pillar to post, Anstey will find your house a haven of peace.’

Madeleine had difficulty calming down the two men. Anstey was plainly upset at being called an interloper while Draycott was throbbing with fury at the thought that he’d be supplanted. He was also livid that Sam had relieved himself in one of the flower beds. Madeleine explained that Anstey was there to do the kind of menial jobs that would actually help the gardener but Draycott was in no mood for appeasement. He was a short, squat man in his late fifties with a wrinkled face and an expression of permanent disapproval. Because he was so dependable, Colbeck and his wife tolerated his many idiosyncrasies and learnt not to interfere. As long as he was in charge, Draycott lapsed into a kind of contented cantankerousness. There was no whiff of contentment now.

‘If I must put up with this …’ he said, pointedly.

Madeleine was firm. ‘You must, Mr Draycott.’

‘Then I insist on telling him what to do.’

‘That seems fair enough to me. Don’t you think so, Mr Anstey?’

‘Yes, I do,’ said Anstey, guardedly.

‘You’re not to touch anything in the shed unless I say so,’ cautioned the gardener, ‘and that dog of yours is to be kept off the lawns and the flower beds.’

‘Yes, Mr Draycott.’

Anstey spoke through gritted teeth but he nodded politely when he was given a list of tasks. Since it was clear that the two men had hated each other on sight, Madeleine was having second thoughts about taking Anstey on but she did not wish to upset her husband or, indirectly, Edward Tallis. She stayed with them until a form of truce had been established. Draycott then announced that he had other gardens to visit and stalked off. Though Madeleine was glad to see him go, Anstey stared after him with muted hostility. During the fierce argument, his pride had been wounded. She sought to soothe his hurt feelings.

‘Don’t be put off by Draycott’s manner,’ she said, airily. ‘He’s always rather prickly, even with us at times. It’s just his way.’

‘I see, Mrs Colbeck.’

Anstey attempted a smile but there was no warmth in it. He was still simmering. In the irascible gardener, he’d clearly made an enemy.

For the rest of the day, Madeleine heard no more from him. Whenever she glanced through the window, she saw him working away at the various chores he’d been given by Draycott. She sent out refreshments on a tray and didn’t forget the promise of a bone and some water for Sam. Colbeck had suggested that he was paid at the end of each day so that he had money in his pocket. Madeleine could see the pleasure Anstey felt as the coins were pressed into his hand. He and the dog went off happily.

When he got back that evening, Colbeck asked his wife what had happened. On hearing about the clash between Anstey and Draycott, he was disturbed.

‘It’s just as well that you were here to hold them apart,’ he said worriedly. ‘I know that Draycott has given us good service but I’m not having him threatening anyone with a sickle. When I next see him, I’ll have a word with him.’

‘I fancy that he won’t be around for a while, Robert. He loathed Anstey and may well wait until he’s gone.’

‘The superintendent is bound to ask after Anstey. What will I tell him?’

‘Say that he’s been an asset to us. He worked really hard.’

‘What about his brush with Draycott?’ asked Colbeck.

‘Oh, I shouldn’t mention that to him. It’s all in the past now. We won’t get any more unpleasantness like that.’

Joel Anstey arrived early the following morning so Colbeck had the opportunity of making his own estimation of the man. Though he wore the same clothes, Anstey had paid to have his hair cut and beard trimmed. He’d also bought a pair of second-hand boots. He removed his hat when he met Colbeck and thanked him time and again for taking him on. He promised that the dog would keep well away from the lawns and the flower beds. For his part, Colbeck was impressed by the man’s manner and by his willingness to work at a tedious job. Unlike many who lived on the streets, Anstey could read, write and had served an apprenticeship in a reputable trade. Army life had equipped him with other skills.

‘You deserve better than we can offer, I fear,’ said Colbeck.

‘I’ll take what I can get, sir.’

‘Then I’ll leave you to get on with it.’

It was a glorious day with the sun beating down on the garden. Sweating profusely, Anstey worked steadily on. Madeleine made sure that he had plenty of water to drink and gave orders for food to be sent out to him. She was able to immerse herself in her own work and forget all about her assistant gardener. Draycott’s absence allowed peace to reign in the garden. It was late afternoon when a servant came up to her studio. The gardener was asking to speak to her. Madeleine went downstairs at once. Expecting to meet Anstey, she was put out when she was confronted by the bristling Nathaniel Draycott.

‘Call the police, Mrs Colbeck,’ he advised.

‘Why ever should I do that?’

‘You’ve got a thief on the premises.’

‘I don’t believe that, Mr Draycott.’

‘You heard me,’ he said, impatiently. ‘I warned Anstey not to poke about in my shed. I let him borrow some of my tools but he was not to touch anything else. He disobeyed my orders.’

‘I can’t believe that,’ she said.

‘It’s true, Mrs Colbeck. He’s the only other person who’s been in that shed.’

‘I know. I watched him put all the tools carefully back in there before I locked it. I opened the shed again this morning and he took out the same things. Whenever I’ve glanced into the garden, he’s been nowhere near the shed.’

‘He’s a sly devil,’ said Draycott. ‘He sneaked in there when you weren’t looking, I daresay. I wouldn’t trust him an inch.’

‘Did you challenge him about the missing items?’

‘No, I didn’t because I’d only have lost my temper. I need you present, Mrs Colbeck.’ His lip curled. ‘I hate thieves. They’re the lowest of the low.’

If there was going to be another explosive meeting between the two men, Madeleine wanted to be there. While she retained her trust in Anstey, she didn’t think that Draycott would make empty accusations. She went with him into the garden and summoned the other man. As he walked towards them, Anstey looked defensive.

‘What have you done with my pipe and tobacco?’ demanded Draycott.

‘Let me handle this,’ said Madeleine, exerting control. She turned to Anstey. ‘It seems that certain things are missing from the shed. Do you know anything about them?’

‘He stole them — it’s as clear as day!’

‘If you keep shouting like that, Mr Draycott, I’ll have to ask you to leave.’ He took a step back and glared sullenly. ‘Let me repeat the question, Mr Anstey.’

‘There’s no need,’ said Anstey. ‘I haven’t touched his pipe and tobacco.’

‘What about my trowel, my sickle and the knife I use to sharpen sticks? Yes,’ Draycott went on, ‘and other small things have gone missing as well.’

‘Well, I never took them.’

‘You’re a thief and a liar!’

‘I told you to keep your voice down, Mr Draycott,’ said Madeleine, sharply. ‘Since you can’t do that, I suggest that you go home until you can speak in a more civilised manner. Go on — off you go.’

Draycott issued a flood of apologies but Madeleine was immune to his pleas.

‘He’s the thief,’ he protested, ‘and I’m the one who has to go.’

Shooting a look of disgust at Anstey, he slunk off. Madeleine waited until he’d left before she repeated her question once more. Anstey spread his arms.

‘What possible use do I have for a trowel, a sickle and a knife?’ he asked. ‘I’ve got all I need for my work. If you still think I’m a thief, search my coat. It’s hanging on the trellis.’ He pulled out the pockets of his trousers. ‘As you can see, I have nothing about me. You and your husband have been good to me, Mrs Colbeck. I’d never let you down, I swear it.’

Madeleine was in a quandary. She wasn’t sure whether to pay Anstey off so that she could get rid of him altogether or to give him a day’s wage and invite him back for the morrow. The latter course of action would infuriate Draycott and suggest that she rated the word of a casual labourer above that of a loyal employee. Whatever decision she made would upset one of the men. She even toyed with the idea of paying Anstey for another day’s work but telling him not to return. To know that the man had been effectively dismissed might assuage Draycott’s anger a little but nothing short of arrest would really satisfy him.

She wrestled with the problem for a long time before asking herself a simple question. What was the point of being married to a famous detective if she didn’t make use of him when a crime had allegedly taken place?

‘Come back early in the morning,’ she said to Anstey, ‘before my husband leaves for work. I’ll pay you for today, of course, then there’s another day’s work if you wish to take it.’

‘I’ll take it,’ said Anstey, gratefully. He studied her for a few moments. ‘Before I go, I need to ask you something, Mrs Colbeck.’

‘Go on.’

‘Did you believe what Mr Draycott said about me?’

Feeling great discomfort, Madeleine searched hard for a noncommittal answer.

‘Let’s discuss it tomorrow,’ she said.

Because he got back home very late, she didn’t burden Colbeck with the problem she’d encountered. Madeleine waited until they were having breakfast next morning. She freely confessed that she didn’t know if she’d done the right thing.

‘I don’t think that Anstey will come back,’ she said.

‘Oh, he’ll be back, I assure you.’

‘What if he did steal those things?’

‘Then he’s hidden them somewhere in the garden so that he can take them with him today and sell them for a small profit. Draycott could be mistaken, of course,’ said Colbeck, reaching for his cup of tea. ‘We’ve noticed before that he has lapses of memory. He might just have mislaid the items he thinks were stolen.’

‘No, Robert, he wouldn’t do that. He’s very possessive about his tools.’

‘Who else does he work for?’

‘He has three or four gardens to look after, including the one next door, of course. I’ve spoken about him to Mr and Mrs Grayston.’

‘What’s their opinion of him?’

‘Much the same as ours,’ she replied. ‘They say that Draycott is inclined to be grumpy but he’s as honest as the day is long. He’s been their gardener for years.’

‘So who do we believe — a man like Draycott with a good record of service or some fellow plucked off the street by the superintendent?’

‘Anstey did it,’ she decided. ‘That’s why we’ll never see him again.’

The doorbell rang. ‘I fancy that may be wrong,’ said Colbeck with a grin. After draining his cup, he stood up. ‘I’ll get to the bottom of this.’

Taking him into the garden, Colbeck asked Anstey to show him exactly what he’d done on the previous day. The man responded quickly. While Sam went scampering off towards the far end of the garden, Colbeck was given a brief tour by Anstey who pointed out a whole range of things he’d done. Colbeck glanced down at the green patches on the man’s knees.

‘You forgot to mention the weeding,’ he said. ‘I think you spent a lot of time kneeling on the grass in that neglected area behind the trellis.’

‘My back was breaking by the time I’d finished.’

‘I can imagine.’

Anstey licked his lips. ‘It wasn’t me, sir,’ he said. ‘I’m no thief.’

‘I haven’t accused you of anything.’

‘Mr Draycott did. He’ll say anything to get rid of me.’

‘Let’s have no criticism of Draycott,’ warned Colbeck. ‘He’s an experienced gardener. The truth is that I simply don’t have time to take a proper interest in what happens out here. If it were not for Draycott, all this would be a jungle.’

‘He’s done a good job,’ conceded Anstey, ‘though he’s let those bushes at the far end grow far too much. They’ll need pruning in the autumn.’

‘I’ll take your word for it.’

Colbeck asked him a series of apparently innocuous questions about his past, probing away in the hope that he’d find the true measure of the man. Anstey’s replies became more and more hesitant. For the first time, he began to look shifty. They were still deep in conversation when Madeleine brought Draycott into view. The gardener surged towards the two figures.

‘Lay hold on him, Inspector!’ he cried. ‘He stole my tools.’

‘What evidence do you have of that?’ asked Colbeck.

‘I have the evidence of my own eyes, sir. Only one person has been working near my shed over the last couple of days and that’s the rogue standing next to you. Nobody else could have taken my things,’ he stressed, ‘unless, of course, you think that Mrs Colbeck is guilty.’

‘Heaven forbid!’ exclaimed Madeleine.

‘I think we can rule out my wife,’ said Colbeck, good-humouredly, ‘but suspicion is bound to fall on you, Anstey. Did you go into that shed?’

‘Yes, I did,’ admitted the other, ‘but it was only to put some things away.’

‘And to take others out,’ sneered Draycott. ‘Admit it — you were tempted.’

All eyes were turned on Anstey. He looked away and moved his feet uneasily.

‘Is that right?’ pressed Colbeck. ‘Did you yield to temptation?’

‘No,’ said Anstey, meeting his gaze. ‘I didn’t. When I found those flagons of beer hidden away in there, I wanted to slake my thirst because it had been hot work. But I held back. Because that beer was not mine, I never even touched it.’

It was Draycott’s turn to look hunted. Madeleine was shocked.

‘What’s this about beer?’ asked Colbeck, fixing him with a stare. ‘You were told when you first came here that no alcohol was allowed. How long have you been drinking in secret in the shed?’

‘Oh, I don’t drink it, sir,’ gabbled Draycott, ‘I’m looking after it for a friend.’

‘Don’t insult my intelligence, man!’

‘I’m not the criminal here, Mr Colbeck — he is.’

He pointed at Anstey but nobody else was looking. Colbeck and Madeleine were diverted by some excited yapping. The dog had obviously found something. Anstey ran to the bottom of the garden to see what was happening and the others followed. Sam had been thorough. Having sniffed around the base of some bushes, he’d found that he could easily get through to the neighbouring garden by moving a loose branch. At his feet was a trowel that he’d retrieved from next door.

‘I’ll wager that it belongs to you, Draycott,’ said Colbeck, guessing what must have happened. ‘You’re employed by Mr and Mrs Grayston, aren’t you? I wonder if they know that you can get from their garden into ours and back again with relative ease. I believe that, on the first day we had Anstey, you came back when nobody was looking and moved some tools from the shed to the other side of those bushes. Then you had the gall to accuse him of a crime.’

‘I told you it wasn’t me,’ said Anstey.

Draycott gave a nervous laugh. ‘It was only in fun,’ he said. ‘I was playing a little joke, that’s all. I never really meant to get him into trouble.’

‘Well, I mean to get you into trouble,’ said Colbeck, clapping a hand on his shoulder. ‘You’ve been hiding beer in the shed, gaining illegal access between this garden and the one next door, subjecting Mr Anstey to threatening language and behaviour, contriving to incriminate him and lying your head off when you’re caught out. I’m sure that I can think of a few other charges to add to the list. But don’t worry,’ he continued, ‘it’s only in fun. It’s my little joke.’ Draycott hung his head in shame. Colbeck’s gaze shifted to Anstey. ‘It seems that we’ve just lost a gardener. I don’t suppose that you’d care to help us out a little longer, would you?’

‘Yes, please!’ cried Anstey in delight.

‘The first thing you can do is to repair that gap between the two houses. Like us, our neighbours are entitled to privacy. Neither we nor they want anyone coming in from next door whenever they choose.’

‘Oh,’ said Madeleine, fondling the dog, ‘I think there’s something we must do before that. We must find Sam another bone. He deserves it. I yield to none in my admiration of my husband’s abilities as a policeman but — just for today — Sam is the real detective.’