Anne Perry [Pitt 24] Long Spoon Lane (pdf)

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And Gracie. Gracie would be furious with him for not
having been clever enough to have thought of something bet-
ter. He would no longer be any kind of hero in her eyes.
What could he arrest Jones for, legally? He was guilty of
extortion, but there was no way to prove it, because no one
was going to say that they had paid him unwillingly; they did
not dare to. Or the next thing they knew, they would receive
a visit from the police, who would find stolen goods care-
fully planted in their houses, or forged money, or papers of
some sort.
He sat up in the bed, cold air hitting his body through his
nightshirt. That was it! He had not visited all the public
houses in his area yet. There were more to collect from to-
morrow. What if one of them paid Jones in forged money?
That would be easy enough to arrange. There was nothing
criminal in paying extortion with forged money. And Tell-
man could lay his hands on a few notes easily enough. There
was at least one magsman in the Bow Street area who owed
him a favor and would be glad enough to acquit it. What did
a forged note cost? Little enough in these circumstances.
He would have to do it carefully, of course. He would go
144 Anne Perry
around after Jones, make sure he took it, then arrest him. The
bogus notes, whose forger he could never give away because
he did not know him, would be grounds to hold him in prison
for several days, even a week, quite long enough for Pitt to
have an excellent chance to meet his masters.
Now Tellman was too wide awake to sleep, but his mind
was made up. All that was still left to decide was who would
he take with him to make the arrest. He dared not do it alone
in case Jones fought, which he well might. In an area like
Mile End or Whitechapel, there were enough dark alleys or
closed-in courts for him to pull a knife on Tellman, and es-
cape. No one would come to Tellman s aid, and he dared not
look to the local police anyway. Any one of them could be as
corrupt as Jones himself, could even be Jones s master, or a
middleman between the two.
He lay down, and did eventually sleep fitfully, but woke up
with his mind turned again immediately to whom he could
trust to take with him.
In the event he had very little choice. It was either Stubbs
or Cobham. Cobham was new, and disinclined to take orders
easily. He tended to question, to want reasons for everything,
and there was no time for explanations. It had to be Stubbs.
All he knew about him was that, like Tellman himself, he
was the oldest of a large family. He spoke occasionally of his
mother but never his father. Perhaps he was dead. Stubbs
might have ambitions or loyalties of his own, but that was
true of everyone. Fear of that could stop Tellman from ever
taking a step at all. That was one of the worst things about
corruption, it crippled action, it blurred any decision until in
the end you doubted everyone, even your ability to be right
about yourself. It was a cool morning with a slight mist over
the river and he set out very early to collect the forged note.
By eight o clock he had seen the landlord of the public house
most likely to pay it on to Jones without giving him the
slightest hint that there was anything unusual in this install-
LONG SPOON LANE 145
ment. But just to be as sure as possible, Tellman reminded
him of the unpleasantness he would face were the operation
to fail, as well as the advantages to his future if it succeeded.
By nine o clock he was at Bow Street as usual, about his
duties and keeping well away from Wetron s path. He de-
cided not to risk telling Stubbs he would require him; in-
stead, by lunchtime, he collected Stubbs from where he was
writing up his paperwork in the ledger and said he had a job
for him. Stubbs, who hated writing, was delighted to accept.
They went together and questioned a pawnbroker about a
stolen silver urn and pair of candlesticks. It was something
Tellman could perfectly well have done alone, and they went
farther east as if to continue the search. They had an amiable
lunch at the Smithfield Tavern, then walked quietly towards
the public house where Tellman expected Jones to collect ex-
tortion money. He had considered picking him up earlier,
closer to where he lived, and following him until he reached
the one where the note was. However, if Stubbs were loyal to
the Circle, or anyone in it, in debt to them, or afraid, or even
simply careless, he might manage to get some warning to
Jones.
So they were obliged to wait. The sky clouded over and
occasional showers made them colder and left them shiver-
ing. Stubbs was growing steadily more puzzled, and less
happy.
Tellman chose not to explain. It would involve too many
details he was not willing to discuss.
Another shower drifted past. Momentarily, hailstones rat-
tling against the windows of the shop behind them. Then
Jones appeared, striding along the pavement, coat flapping,
black hat jammed on his head. He went into the public
house, and emerged ten minutes later, wiping the back of his
hand across his mouth, and set out across the cobbles to the
far side of the street.
Come on! Tellman said sharply. He s the one we want.
What for? Stubbs asked, obeying with alacrity. He
146 Anne Perry
stepped into a puddle and swore under his breath. Who is
he?
Passer of forged money, Tellman replied.
Ow do yer know? Stubbs caught up with him as, ahead
of them, Jones ducked into an alley to take a shortcut
towards his next stop.
It s my job, Tellman replied, crossing after Jones and
going straight into the alley. He was reluctant to follow into
a place he did not know, and where he could easily be am-
bushed, but he dared not lose Jones. Out of his sight for more
than a moment or two, he could pass the money on and the
whole arrest would fall through. The police corruption ate at
Tellman like an ulcer in his flesh, and to fail in the battle
against it for what amounted to cowardice would be unbear-
able. And he would have let Pitt down. That was almost as
bad.
The alley was dark, the rain clouds graying the sky and
making the shadows heavy between the high walls. Jones
was ahead of him, rapidly approaching another man, who
was thickset with a massive chest and short, slightly bowed
legs. He had a powerful, hatchet-shaped face with deep-set
eyes. He stood in the center of the alley, right across Jones s
path, but Jones did not hesitate, and certainly made no move
as if to turn or back away from him.
Tellman had no choice. Once the money passed hands he
would have no excuse to hold Jones.
We ve got to take him, Tellman said quietly. This would
put to the test beyond doubt which side Stubbs was on. Tell-
man s stomach knotted and his throat constricted so tightly
for a moment he could barely breathe. He strode forward and
lunged at Jones, grasping him from the back, twisting his
arm around while keeping his body as a shield between him-
self and the other man. If he had a weapon of any sort it
would be temporarily useless. He could hear Stubbs s feet on
the cobbles behind him.
LONG SPOON LANE 147
Police, Mr. Jones, Tellman said very clearly. I m arrest-
ing you on suspicion of passing forged money.
Jones yelped, partly in surprise, but mostly in pain as he
tried to wriggle away; Tellman s grip on his arm tightened.
You won t find nothin on me! he said in outrage.
You re Bow Street, the hatchet-faced man said softly. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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