Curse of the Poppy (Penny Green Series Book 5) Page 25

  “Let me rephrase my question,” I said.

  “I’m sure there’s no need.”

  “Would Commissioner Dickson approve of the work you’re doing?”

  Chief Inspector Cullen scowled. “Sometimes unconventional methods need to be employed. The commissioner trusts me to make the right decisions.”

  “But what are you doing about the murders? And about Inspector Blakely?” I demanded, jumping onto my feet.

  “Sit down, Miss Green,” snapped Cullen. “Can you make me a promise?”

  I reluctantly sat down. “It depends what it is.”

  “If I tell you where Inspector Blakely is will you leave the business of these murders for me to sort out?”

  I stared at him as I began to grasp the meaning of his words. “So you do know more about James’ whereabouts than you were letting on!”

  “Will you promise to leave these murders to me and my men to handle?”

  “What do you mean leave them to you? Does that mean I’m no longer allowed to report on them?”

  “Exactly that, and you’re to stay away from everyone who has the remotest connection to the victims.”

  “But I cannot agree to such a thing! I promised Emma Holland I would help her!”

  “There’s nothing you can do to help her, Miss Green.”

  “Someone broke into her home!”

  “Let me allay your fears. It was on my orders that someone broke into her home and stole her brother’s diaries. She and the other members of her household were not in danger at the time, and neither are they now.”

  “You ordered the diaries to be stolen?”

  “They contained secret information.”

  “Secret for whom?”

  “You let me worry about that, Miss Green.”

  “But I don’t understand. Why couldn’t you just have asked her for the diaries? In fact, Inspector Blakely had planned to ask her for them himself.”

  “It would have been dangerous for them to officially be in the possession of the police. Blakely would have been targeted as soon as he had hold of them. He simply had no idea what he was getting himself into.”

  “Then tell me where he is!”

  The chief inspector did not reply. Instead, he nodded to one of the men, who promptly left the room.

  “Are we agreed that you will keep out of this whole business, Miss Green?” he asked.

  “I cannot understand why you would ask me to do such a thing. There have been four brutal murders and you’re expecting everyone in London to simply look away.”

  “That’s not what I expect. I am merely asking you to occupy yourself with something else at the present time. This is too dangerous for the likes of you.”

  “What do you have against me, Inspector?”

  “You know that I’m not a man to mince my words. I’ve told you enough times that I consider you an interfering ink-slinger. If you were a man you’d have had the sense to steer clear of all this, but being a woman you can’t see any sense at all. It’s a dangerous combination. Now this is my last warning, stop your work on this story.”

  Footsteps neared the door again and one of the dark-suited men returned to the room followed by another man.

  It was James!

  Chapter 62

  I leapt to my feet and James’ eyes locked with mine.

  “Penny,” he said quietly with a nod. There was a darkness around his eyes and he was unshaven. His dark grey suit was creased in places, as if it were the only clothing he had worn for the past few days.

  “Are you all right, James?” I asked, stepping closer. “I’ve been so worried!” I wanted to embrace him but didn’t feel comfortable doing so in front of Chief Inspector Cullen and his accomplices.

  “I’m fine, thank you.” His voice was unusually formal. “How are you?”

  “Surprised to be here, but extremely relieved to know that you’re all right. It has been a strange few days.”

  “Reunited at last!” said the chief inspector with a grin. “You’ll have missed each other a great deal, no doubt. I apologise that the situation has called for this, but sometimes desperate measures are required. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to undertake something so clandestine, and it won’t be the last. But we’ll get the better of these people eventually. All that’s required at the moment is a little patience while they decide how to react to our latest move. I feel certain that everything will be restored to a perfect equilibrium before long.”

  “I’m sure it will, sir,” said James.

  “Good. I’ve explained to Miss Green that she must keep away from anyone with a connection to the murder victims. This will be extremely important now that we’re reaching the most critical stage of this investigation. You’d be impressed by how much she’s moved about today, Blakely. She has visited Miss Holland, Mr Billington-Grieg, Mr Sheridan and Mr Chakravarty.”

  “That sounds just like Penny,” said James, giving me a weary smile.

  “It does indeed,” said Chief Inspector Cullen, “but she’ll end up becoming the next victim if she’s not careful. I didn’t want another death on my hands, and I’m sure you wouldn’t have been too happy about it either, Blakely. Now that you’re both out of harm’s way I shall sleep a little easier tonight. Do please excuse me, I have to get back to the Yard for the next stage of the investigation. How I wish you could accompany me, Blakely, but sadly it’s too risky.”

  “What is the next stage?” I asked.

  “You’ll find out soon enough, Miss Green. I shall update you once this whole messy business is over.”

  He quitted the room, leaving me and James in the company of the two men who had kidnapped me from the street. James pulled up one of the chairs and sat beside me.

  “I’m still struggling to believe you’re really here,” I said. “I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been, not to mention Charlotte. We tried everything we could think of to find out what had happened to you.”

  “You and Charlotte?” A bemused smile spread across James’ face.

  “She’s been so worried, James. I wish we could tell her that you’re safe.”

  “I’m certain we will be able to reassure her soon. How is she?”

  “Extremely concerned about you. She’ll be so happy to see you again. How did you get here? What happened?”

  “The Yard received a series of threats. The severed finger was only a small part of it.”

  “What sort of threats?”

  “Cullen intercepted a number of them, some of which were aimed at my family.”

  “You received threats against your family?”

  “The Yard did. I was kept from seeing them, as I’m told they were too distressing. The finger was bad enough.”

  “Chief Inspector Cullen told you all this?”

  “Yes, and he persuaded me to hide away here for a few days in the interests of my family’s safety. I couldn’t breathe a word of it to anyone in case those who had issued the threats found out.”

  “So you have to stay here until the threat has disappeared?”

  “And presumably the same applies to you, Penny.”

  “I’m not aware of anyone having threatened me. Chief Inspector Cullen told me I was in danger, but I’m not sure whether I believe him or not. I can understand why he feels the need to protect you, but why me? He doesn’t even like me.”

  James gave the dark-suited men a quick glance, which reminded me that everything I said would likely be reported back to him.

  “Tell me what has been happening, Penny,” said James.

  The light in the room began to fade as I spent a good few minutes telling James all that had occurred in the time since he had been away.

  “Cullen told me about the Mawson murder,” he said. “It helped me accept that I was better off out of the way. These people are extremely ruthless.”

  “Chief Inspector Cullen seems to think you would have put yourself in even more danger had you borrowed Alfred Holland’s diaries,�
�� I said. “No doubt it was dangerous for Emma Holland, too, and that’s why he had to take them. But you can’t stay here, James, not when your family and Charlotte have no idea what has happened to you. It’s not fair on them. Have you asked if you can leave?”

  “A number of times, but Cullen told me it’s not safe. If I let anyone know where I am it would put them in danger. I’m desperate to get out of here, but I cannot risk my family being harmed or losing my job. I suppose Cullen knows what he’s doing. He has been in similar situations before.”

  “Has he?”

  “Apparently so.”

  “Where are we, exactly? Do you know?”

  “On the Haringay Park Estate in North London.”

  “I know it now. We’re just north of Finsbury Park, aren’t we? Many new homes are being built here.”

  “And this is one of the most recently built properties. The Metropolitan Police has a few houses like this to keep people safe when necessary.”

  “Were you also kidnapped from the street?” I asked.

  “No!” James gave me a look of incredulity.

  “So you weren’t brought here under duress with a hood tied over your head?”

  “Fortunately, no.” His face grew increasingly alarmed. “Is that what they did to you?”

  “Yes.” I glared at the two men in the room with us. “What sort of police officer orders people to do such a thing?”

  “It was utterly despicable to treat you in that manner, Penny. I had no idea.”

  “Do you believe everything Chief Inspector Cullen tells you?” I asked James in a low whisper.

  “I have done until now. Most of it, anyway. I don’t see why he should have any cause to be untruthful to me, but I don’t understand why he would treat you in this manner either. No one deserves to be frightened like that.”

  “He told me that sometimes a sudden shock is needed.”

  “For what purpose?”

  “To invoke fear and compliance, would be my guess.”

  One of the men glanced over at us, as if he didn’t like the fact that I was whispering.

  “We’re much easier to control when we’re frightened, aren’t we?” I continued. “I think Chief Inspector Cullen exaggerated the danger so that he could get you out of the way.”

  “To purposefully stop me investigating?” whispered James. “But why should he want to do that?”

  The suspicious man got up from his chair and walked over to us. “No whispering,” he said, “I need to hear every word you’re saying. Either speak up or I will insist on silence.”

  James and I glared at him.

  “So you came here after you met with the gang at Marylebone Lane station?” I asked James.

  “Yes. Cullen arrived there just as I was finishing my meeting with them and Inspector Bowles. He explained that the Yard had received a threat directed at my family and that, for my safety and theirs, he had decided I should come and stay here for a few days. I didn’t want to come, of course, but he assured me that it would only be for a short while.”

  “It’s been three days now. Has he told you what he’s doing about the murders?”

  “He says the Yard has to tread carefully because of the danger we are all in.”

  “It sounds as though he’s not doing a great deal.”

  “Of course he’s investigating. He simply said that we need to tread carefully.”

  “Whatever that means. Now he’s supposedly managing the next stage of the investigation, yet we’ve no idea what that means either. We’re powerless, James. The pair of us can do nothing at all. Have you tried leaving this place?”

  “Not yet. I’ve been trying to remain on good terms with Cullen, but I’m beginning to lose my patience. I asked if I would be able to leave today and he replied that a complication had arisen. I suspect now that he was referring to you.”

  I laughed. “I’m the complication?”

  “It seems that way.” James smiled. “Aren’t you always?”

  I lowered my voice to a whisper, though I knew I wasn’t supposed to. “I feel sure that Chief Inspector Cullen has no intention of letting us go any time soon. We have to escape.”

  “Have you forgotten what I told you?” said the man, getting to his feet again. “We’ll have silence now.”

  James and I exchanged an exasperated glance.

  I waited patiently for the man to return to his seat before looking up at James again.

  “We need to escape,” I mouthed silently. “Tonight.”

  Chapter 63

  A stout lady named Mrs Walker arrived at the house a short while later with a meal of bread and cold tongue. I tried to engage her in conversation while she made coffee.

  “Inspector Cullen’s paid me to come ’ere and ’elp as ’e needs it,” she said, refusing to give anything more away.

  After our meal James retired upstairs to his room and I was shown to a room at the back of the house. It contained a table and a settee, which was to serve as my bed for the night. Mrs Walker gave me a blanket and told me she would return to the house early the following morning and bring me a basin and a jug of water so I could wash.

  I lay down on the settee, covered myself with the blanket and listened to the sounds of the house. James was in a room upstairs but I didn’t know where the two men were. I presumed they also had rooms upstairs. Was this place a safe haven offered for my protection? Or was I being held prisoner? I wasn’t entirely sure.

  It was apparent that James still trusted and respected Chief Inspector Cullen. He demonstrated a level of respect for the man that I had never shared.

  Perhaps the chief inspector was managing the situation as best he could, but I felt suspicious of his motives. Maybe I was wrong to doubt him, and perhaps I didn’t fully understand the loyalty and duty felt among police officers, but something about my current situation felt wrong. Chief Inspector Cullen was trying to control me, and I felt sure that he was also trying to control James. He had assumed we would be happy to stay in this house together, apparently safe from the dangers outside, but I knew that I had to leave, either with or without James.

  There was a large sash window in the room. A little while after darkness had fallen I got up and tried to open it. To begin with the frame wouldn’t budge, but it eventually gave way with a judder that shattered the silence. I quickly returned to the settee, my heart pounding in my throat, and pulled the blanket back over me.

  I heard footsteps on the floorboards upstairs and held my breath, wondering if I would hear one of the men coming down the stairs. After a short while the steps subsided and silence returned to the house.

  I would have liked nothing more than for James to escape with me, but it seemed too risky to go upstairs. What if I disturbed the men who were supposedly guarding us? My escape route was just yards away. I didn’t want to leave James behind, but at least I knew that he was unharmed and I could share this good news with Charlotte. I would also have a chance to find out exactly what Chief Inspector Cullen was up to.

  I estimated that half an hour had passed before I attempted to open the window again. I wondered if the men took turns to watch over us, working in shifts. I could not simply assume that everyone in the house was asleep.

  I approached the window once again, slowly pushing it open to avoid making such a dreadful noise. It juddered slightly a couple of times, so that I had to stop and hold my breath for what seemed like minutes at a time as I listened out for footsteps. The frame was eventually raised high enough to allow me enough space to climb through. I peered outside and saw what appeared to be a small garden. Beyond it I could see the outline of rooftops against the night sky.

  Now was my chance.

  I went back into the room to fetch my bag and listened for a few more minutes. I had hoped James would come to find me, but I could only suppose that he was already fast asleep. I felt consumed with guilt about leaving him behind, but once I had made my escape I could send help. I felt quite certain that Commission
er Dickson would not agree with Chief Inspector Cullen’s methods once he discovered what was happening.

  I groped around in the dark for my carpet bag, then walked back over to the window.

  Was I making a mistake escaping like this? Were there greater dangers beyond my temporary prison?

  I carefully climbed out of the window and stepped into the dark garden. I felt grass underfoot as I crept toward the boundary walls. I had no idea how tall they were, but I knew that I wouldn’t feel at ease until I was safely away from this place.

  It was then that I heard the frame of the window I had just climbed out of move, as if someone had pushed it open just a fraction wider. I remained as still as a statue, desperately holding my breath.

  There was no further sound. Whoever it was had determined to move as stealthily as I had.

  Could it be James?

  A sharp shove to my shoulder knocked me to the ground. I tried my best to stifle a cry as my assailant emitted a grunt of pain.

  “Penny?” came a whisper from nearby.

  “James! I’m here!” I whispered back. I tried to suppress the laughter rising into my throat, partly from relief and partly from fear.

  “I think they’re on to us; we have to move!” came the reply.

  “I don’t know how we can get out of here!” I whispered in return.

  I turned and saw a lantern shining in the room I had just escaped from.

  “Oh James, they’re coming!”

  “Follow me!” he hissed.

  “I can’t see you!”

  I groped around for his hand and eventually found it, gripping my fingers tightly around his. He pulled me up from the ground and I followed blindly in his footsteps, tripping over tussocks of grass along the way.

  “Oi!” came a voice from behind us.

  I felt my stomach jump up into my chest and willed my legs to move more quickly than ever before as I followed James into the darkness.

  “There must be a wall or a fence somewhere!” I whispered.