Farriers' Lane - Anne Perry [139]
“P.C. Paterson?” Oswyn repeated the name thoughtfully. “I don’t think so. Why?”
“He was the constable who carried out a great deal of the investigation.”
“Oh yes. Wasn’t he the one who found the final proof? The flower seller who saw Godman in Soho Square just after the crime. Good piece of work. Hero of the moment, Paterson. Why?”
“He was murdered on Tuesday night.”
Oswyn’s surprise and his sorrow both looked acutely real.
“Oh dear—I’m so sorry! What a damned shame. Very promising young officer.” He shook his head. “Dangerous trade, policing. But then of course you know that.”
“It was not in the course of duty, sir. He was murdered in his own home. Hanged, to be precise.”
“Good God!” Oswyn was totally stunned. The blood fled from his skin, leaving it pasty white, and all the sense of well-being and geniality that had been so much a part of him vanished. “How dreadful—how—Who was it?”
“We have no idea so far.”
“No idea! But surely—” He stopped abruptly, confused and profoundly unhappy. “You cannot think it had anything to do with Kingsley Blaine! I mean …” Instinctively his hand went up to his throat and he pulled at his collar, loosening it a fraction. “Why, for God’s sake?”
“That is what I am trying to determine, sir.” Pitt watched him closely. “I had questioned Paterson in some detail regarding his original investigation of the case. I am wondering if something I said prompted him to an act, a word to someone which may have resulted in his murder.”
Oswyn passed a hand over his brow, temporarily hiding his face from Pitt. “Are you trying to say that Godman was not guilty, and someone else is, and that person is now murdering anyone who appears likely to reopen the case? That makes little sense, Inspector. Have you been attacked?”
“No,” Pitt admitted. “But then I am still as confused as I was at the beginning. I have discovered no evidence at all to suggest Godman was not guilty. In fact the more I learn, the more certain it seems he was.”
Oswyn breathed in deeply and shook himself a little as if suddenly immensely relieved. “Indeed.” He swallowed hard. “Indeed. A tragic and extremely ugly case, but settled at the time.” He bit his lip. “I have been a servant of the law all my life, Inspector. I should—er—I should hate to think we could have made such a mistake. It would—jeopardize much that I believe to be of immeasurable value to the British people. Indeed, it is a model for the world.” He sounded oddly pompous, as if he did not entirely mean it. “A great deal of the law of the United States of America is based upon our common law. I suppose you were aware of that—yes, of course you were. The law is above us all, more important than any individual.”
“Surely the law can only be measured by how it deals with the individual, Mr. Oswyn?”
“Oh. I think that is too—too sweeping a statement, too simplistic, if you will forgive my saying so? There are profound issues at stake—” He stopped suddenly, his face pink. “But that does not help you in your quest to find out who murdered Mr. Stafford, or this unfortunate constable. How can I possibly help you?”
“I am not sure that you can,” Pitt conceded. “The last thing he did before he was killed was send a letter to Judge Livesey saying that he had learned something terrible and wished to tell him as soon as possible. Unfortunately—” He stopped. The color had fled again from Oswyn’s face and he looked ill.
“He—er …” Oswyn stammered. “He—he wrote to Livesey? What—what was it he had learned? Did he say? Do you know?”
Pitt was about to say no, then changed his mind.
“The letter was to Judge Livesey. It was he who found him, when he went the following day.”
“But what was in the letter?” Oswyn said urgently, leaning forward across the desk towards Pitt. “Livesey must have—”
“That is why I have come to see you, sir,” Pitt said, speaking the truth, and knowing a lie would be understood. “The Farriers’ Lane case—”
“I don’t know! I thought Godman was guilty. I still do.” There was a beading of sweat on his lip now. “I cannot say differently. I know nothing, and speculation