Chapter 22 – Jones Comes with a Message

The doors of Station Four burst open to admit Haley and the small entourage of policemen that were flanking him.

A half hour before, the chief inspector had called from the Aubrey-Serrs’ residence to let them know he was coming. Only a few minutes later, several men had gone outside to wait for him. By the time his cab had pulled up, there were six of them—not counting the reporters which had to be held back by a line of constables.

As they had gone inside, Haley ignored the questions shouted at him from the press, but he and the other policemen talked. All their comments were muted and fast.

“You’ve had no word?”

“None.”

“What about Penn?”

“What about him?”

“Is someone still at the house?”

“I left Crewe there.”

“Crewe?”

“He’s a kind soul. That’s what they need right now. Kindness. He knows the station number.”

“How’s the family?”

“The baron has seen a doctor. The rest are coping.”

Two of the policemen exchanged glances behind Haley’s back. The chief inspector was known for being careful with his words, and the men had learned to recognize the practical nature of such subjective words as “coping.”

“Is there anything we can do?” one of them ventured.

“Yes!” Haley barked. “We can find Lady Serrs!”

Lucas felt a hand on his elbow and turned. It was Darcy Ellsworth. Haley didn’t have a partner, but if he did, his first choice would have been Sergeant Ellsworth.

“Have you had any dinner, sir?”

Haley chuckled, but it was quiet and jaded. “No, Ellsworth.”

The sergeant turned to the nearest constable and muttered some instructions.

Another policeman said, “We’ve got the patrols out, just like you asked for, sir, and two of our women are going through the photos, looking for anyone that matches the baron’s descriptions.”

“Good. Ellsworth, do we have the map set up?”

“Here, sir.”

The sergeant guided him into the main office. Three desks had been shoved aside to make room for the crowds that needed to gather near the wall.

“Inspector,” Braddock said, “have you seen the papers?”

“I don’t need to see the papers.”

“But they’re saying it was Penn—”

When Haley slammed his hand down on a nearby desk, a sudden silence fell over the whole room.

The inspector took a deep breath so when he spoke his voice would stay calm; these men and women didn’t deserve to be shouted at.

“Enough about Penn. Three men have already been sent out to try to find him. Do we need to waste any more time or people?”

“But, sir—”

“Braddock, you’ve been here a long time. Do you really think Penn would have done something like this?”

The constable could feel the pressure from all the listening ears. In defiance of them, he drew himself up and said loudly, “No, sir. I don’t.”

“And I don’t care what the papers are saying. We have a job to do.”

The room came back to life as the officers returned to their various tasks.

Ellsworth was briefing Haley on everything that had been done when the constable manning the front desk tapped on the inspector’s shoulder.

“Chief Inspector, someone’s here to see you.”

Haley turned and caught sight of the shamefaced man standing behind the policeman.

“Jones,” Haley said.

The reporter took off his hat.

Haley ignored him and spoke to the officer: “I said no reporters.”

“Inspector, please,” Jones begged, “I have to talk to you. It’s urgent.”

“You’ve had your statement,” Haley said. “Get out of this station.”

“I’m not here for the Quotidian! This is a personal matter.”

“I’m busy.”

“It will only take a second. Please, Chief Inspector.”

Haley put the papers he was holding down on the desk beside him. “You have one second.”

Jones pulled a folded letter from his pocket and passed it over. Haley broke the seal and ran his eyes over the contents. He looked at the reporter.

“Do you know what’s in this letter?”

“No, sir. Not a word.”

Haley folded the paper back up. “Excuse me, Ellsworth. I need to have a word with Mr. Jones.”

Haley drew the reporter over to an empty corner of the office. The two of them spent the next three minutes in a conversation conducted entirely in whispers. Ellsworth couldn’t help stealing a few glances. He almost felt bad for the reporter. Whatever Jones was saying, he was obviously upset, and whatever Haley was hearing made him scowl in a way the sergeant had only seen twice before.

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Those were…memorable times.

When the two men broke away, Martin Jones left. Haley returned to the map and picked up the papers he’d been holding, but rather than resume his work, he handed them to Ellsworth.

“Something’s come up,” Haley said. “I need to leave.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Carry on as you have been. If anything new comes in, let me know. You know the number to my flat?”

“Well, yes, sir—”

“Call me there. If I don’t answer, assume I’m on my way back to you. If the new information requires an immediate choice, I want you to make it.”

“Me?”

Haley stopped and put a hand on Ellsworth’s shoulder.

“Darcy, I trust you. You’re smart and well trained—”

“Well, I would hope, as you’re the bastard that trained me!”

Haley smiled. “As I said, you’re well trained, and I will support you, whatever happens. I’m sorry. I know this is asking a lot, but I promise I’ll do everything I can to get back to you as quickly as possible.”

“Sir, does this have anything to do with Lady Serrs’ kidnapping?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Ellsworth offered his superior a reluctant nod. As Haley turned to leave, the sergeant said in a subdued voice, “Sir, about those three men.”

Haley glanced around the room, then stepped closer so Ellsworth could speak quietly.

“I’ve put one man out on each of them. I didn’t—I didn’t know if I could assign any more.”

“Milford?”

Ellsworth nodded.

“That’ll do then. Are they good officers?”

“Very reliable. Very…discreet.”

“Thank you. You’ll hear from me soon.”