A Death at a Gentleman's Club Read online

  16It also occurred to me they would make an excellent subject for the Times’ cartoonist.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Fitzroy is Remarkably Informative

  ‘Fitzroy!’ I said, torn between relief and anger. ‘What on earth are you doing?’

  The spy raised an eyebrow. ‘What does it look like? I am amending the record of members.’

  ‘Have you no shame!’ I said.

  Fitzroy cocked his head on one side, appearing to consider my question seriously. ‘I do not believe so. It would be most cumbersome in my occupation.’

  ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘Redacting.’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘What I am doing it is called redacting. I am removing names on behalf of the Crown.’

  ‘Do you mean a member of the Royal family is on the membership rolls?’

  ‘I couldn’t possibly tell you that. Now, draw up a chair and tell me how you are faring. I confess I am also being distracted by the notion of you marrying a sheep. If we cleared that up I believe I could focus more easily on the matter at hand.’

  I pulled over a chair. I knew better than to wait for Fitzroy to do it for me. ‘You are teasing me,’ I said.

  ‘Perhaps a little, but it is a most arresting image.’

  ‘My mother…’

  ‘Is she still here?’ interrupted Fitzroy.

  ‘In the coffee lounge.’

  ‘Damn, we should probably let those people go. Is it your mother who wants you to marry a sheep?’

  ‘No, but if I do not marry Bertram then I will be required to live in The Bishop’s Palace and marry an older, sensible, and sobering suitor.’

  ‘Ah, hence the sheep. I see. I think it would be a far better idea to marry Bertram.’

  ‘Perhaps you might care to explain that to him,’ I said.

  ‘If necessary I will so instruct him,’ said Fitzroy in a voice that boded ill for the absent Bertram. ‘But for now, we have a murder to solve. Richenda was most informative. By the way, she thinks I am a plain clothes detective. Please do not disabuse her of this notion. I understand that Lovelock’s memoirs are at the heart of the case, but as yet we do not know if they even exist. I take it you have considered blackmail?’

  I nodded. ‘A moment ago. But if that was so, there must have an incident that made the murderer take action.’

  ‘A tipping point,’ said Fitzroy, angling the pages I was attempting to surreptitiously read away from me.

  ‘He had been parading around with the briefcase for some time according to the members.’

  ‘If he was about to complete the manuscript, or worse, had engaged with a publisher, then it would be time for the murderer to act.’

  ‘Why should Lovelock engage with a publisher?’ I said.

  ‘Exactly,’ said Fitzroy. ‘If the purpose of his enterprise was to increase his personal funds only an offer of significant payment would entice him to publish. Regular payments from blackmail are often thought preferable to a single lump payment, unless it is very large.’

  ‘And if he was blackmailing someone then he would have to realise that if the blackmailee - is that a word? - might be liable to take serious action, and would he not then take great precautions not to let that individual know that his secrets were about to be cast upon the world?’

  Fitzroy gave me a charming smile, reminding me he could be most engaging when he wished. I immediately felt worried. What did he now require me to do?

  ‘What?’ I said warily.

  The spy shook his head. ‘I was merely thinking that if you had been born a man, what an asset you would have been to my department.’

  ‘I thought I was an asset,’ I said, feeling annoyed despite my avowed decision to back away from this work.

  ‘You are,’ said Fitzroy, ‘But I am limited in the ways I can utilise you. British society is still in fear of intelligent women. Anyway, back to Lovelock: we have to factor in his addiction.’

  ‘That heroin makes a user feel heroic, I know. As a long-term user, he might have felt himself to be superhumanly empowered and thus safe from his blackmail target.’

  ‘It is a tangle,’ said Fitzroy. ‘I have people searching discreetly for the manuscript, but I do not hold out much hope of finding it. The briefcase was discarded in an empty room upstairs. Possibly the person who left it there wanted us to believe it was empty all along but, bearing in mind I suspect our culprit was once an agent himself, they may be sending a message that it is gone and we should leave well alone. I suppose the time has come to tell you that the department has no wish for the contents of the manuscript to be released into the public arena either.’

  ‘You would let a murderer go free?’

  ‘I would prefer not to,’ said Fitzroy. ‘My response to blackmail is never to pay.’

  ‘Let them publish and be damned?’

  ‘A more permanent solution is generally preferable.’

  I raised my eyebrows. ‘You don’t need to speak in euphemisms with me, Eric. I have played my part, even peripherally, in your world for long enough for my innocence to no longer be an issue.’

  Fitzroy closed the tome in front of him with a slam. ‘That is not something I ever intended.’

  I shrugged. ‘What do you know of the Treaty of Berlin?’

  Fitzroy paled. He recovered quickly, but I saw the shock on his face. ‘We are right, aren’t we?’ I said. ‘It is all about something that happened between June 13th and July 13th 1878 in Berlin, isn’t it?’

  ‘Not exactly,’ said Fitzroy. ‘I suspect it concerns an event that occurred around June 10th 1878.’

  ‘Then you must know who was involved,’ I said angrily. ‘Why have you kept us in the dark?’

  Fitzroy stood abruptly and began to pace around the small confines of the room. I had seen him like this before. It usually meant that something was troubling him deeply - and generally it was something he was trying like the devil not to let me know. ‘There was an incident, a diplomatic one.’

  ‘Concerning Bulgaria?’ I hazarded.

  Fitzroy paused momentarily, but his back was to me, so I could not see his expression. Then he continued to pace. ‘Possibly,’ he said. ‘However, while I know the names of many of those involved, I only know the codename of the man I believe to be responsible.’ He turned and looked at me, an expression of sadness, or even apology, on his face, ‘As you will have realised, I am far too young to have been at the event in question. When I inherited the situation from Hyperion, my superior at the time, years ago, I looked over a file on the incident and made the decision that no further action was required. The case appeared to be stagnant and I had far more pressing concerns on my time. I may have been too hasty. I did not make a connection that I should have done until it was too late.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ I said. Fitzroy sat down again and fiddled with the edge of one of the ledgers. ‘What was the codename for the agent you suspect?’ I asked.

  ‘Helios. Greek word for…’

  ‘The Sun. I know, my father taught me Greek.’

  Fitzroy gave me an odd look I could not read.

  ‘Did he have a particularly fiery temper?’ I asked lightly.

  ‘What he had was Pyrois, Aeos, Aethon and Phlegon, codenames for the civilian assets under his remit. From what I read in the file, Phlegon was a traitor, working for a foreign agency, the Russians. For reasons unknown to us he must have displeased them, and they murdered him. Fearing that the identity of the other assets might have been compromised by him, the whole team was pulled out and a new one sent in. Helios disappeared, with the department’s blessing, and the assets returned to be reintegrated into normal civilian life with our help.’

  I frowned. ‘And what does Hyperion think?’

  ‘He died a long time ago. An ailment of old age, but he never gave any thought to writing a memoir, private or otherwise. It would have made my life a hell of a lot easier had he done so. Spies aren’t the most trusting of people -
even with other spies. Hyperion took many of his secrets to the grave, including the identity of Helios.’

  ‘And you have been picking up the pieces ever since?’ I asked.

  ‘On occasion,’ said Fitzroy. ‘What was a damaging secret once can fade into a minor embarrassment, or even into a mostly ignored footnote to history.’

  ‘But not all of them?’

  ‘No. Sadly, actions taken in this business can have repercussions down the decades.’

  ‘For whom?’ I asked.

  Fitzroy sighed. ‘In my experience, those who did not deserve them.’

  ‘So, in a sense you are clearing house?’ I said.

  ‘When I am not trying to prevent a war with Germany that will see a loss of life the like of which most people today could not even imagine.’

  ‘It must be difficult for you,’ I said.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Everything,’ I said with a smile. Fitzroy laughed. ‘Well, you understand more than most. That’s something I suppose.’

  ‘What happened to Pyrois, Aeos, and Aethon?’ I asked.

  Fitzroy’s face hardened. ‘All dead,’ he said. ‘That is what I missed. I tried to warn the last of them, but…’

  ‘So, was Lovelock one of these three?’

  ‘No, and that is part of why I almost missed him entirely. He was stationed at the British Embassy at the time, as a junior secretary. He helped cover up the - incident - in Berlin. He was sidelined afterwards into general posts. I think it was hoped he’d never put all the pieces together.’

  ‘But he did.’

  Fitzroy nodded. ‘I fear so. He must also have realised his career has been stymied because of what he had seen and heard.’

  ‘So, the memoirs were revenge?’ I asked.

  ‘Possibly,’ said Fitzroy. ‘He could make himself a man of the moment by revealing what Phlegon did - if he did anything that is.’

  ‘You mean you suspect that Helios did whatever it was that created this incident and laid the blame on Phlegon?’

  Fitzroy smiled once more. ‘Yes. At the time it was believed that Phlegon was exposed as a double agent for Russia. He was to be rewarded with lands in New Bulgaria.’

  ‘How did he get Phlegon to shoulder the blame – oh,’ I said. ‘He killed him, didn’t he?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Fitzroy. ‘Helios claimed he caught on to Phlegon betraying his country. Only now I believe it was the other way around. At the time Helios’ standing was such in the department that no one ever considered he could be the traitor.’

  ‘You said you tried to warn the last of them,’ I said thinking back. ‘Do you mean Helios killed the other three civilian assets? How was that not noticed?’

  ‘You mean how did I miss that? Because he took his time. He was patient and he was careful. He must have kept watch on the assets and, over time, discreetly dealt with what he believed were the only people who could have worked out the truth. We had similar training, so I know much of what he is capable,’ said Fitzroy.

  ‘Set a devil to catch a devil?’ I suggested. I tried to keep my tone light, but this history was disturbing me deeply. I had never witnessed Fitzroy blame himself for, well, anything. The resulting mood it engendered in him was darker and more vengeful than I had seen before. I will not say I was afraid of him at that moment, but I took comfort from knowing others were within earshot.

  The door opened. I turned, expecting to have to repulse Evans, only to see Bertram on the threshold. His face was full of the excitement of discovery. ‘Euphemia,’ he cried looking at me. ‘I have been looking for you everywhere. I have discovered a strange substance was added to the fire in the smoking room. It appears to have made the smoke thicker than usual. It is undoubtedly a murder.’ Then he registered the man sitting beside me. ‘You,’ he said, ‘how long have you been here?’

  ‘Long enough,’ said Fitzroy, ‘to know this day will not end well.’

  Chapter Fifteen

  I Research More Deeply into the Puzzle and Bertram is Very Cross

  Bertram came into the room and perched on the edge of the table where the ledgers were. I could not help feeling it was like watching two dogs vying for superiority. Although this gave Bertram the greater height, he clearly demonstrated it was not a comfortable position. Fitzroy, in contrast, merely leaned back in his chair, very much at his ease.

  ‘It’s all very well for the two of you to get excited over the fact this is almost certainly a murder, but if you are correct then you also have to catch the criminal,’ said Fitzroy.

  ‘But you are here now,’ said Bertram. ‘Euphemia has doubtless told you everything, as she always does. I presume you always knew she was the granddaughter of an Earl. You probably even know the Earl.’

  ‘I do,’ said Fitzroy pouring petrol on the fire. ‘and I did. It is my job to stay abreast of events.’

  ‘As it is my role to stay in ignorance,’ said Bertram, more or less falling off his perch. He staggered slightly but kept his dignity intact.

  ‘It is good to hear you noticed the residue in the fire. I too noticed that after I had viewed the body. Poor old Lovelock has been indulging in his magic medicine for many years. I had not imagined he would be so frail. It really would not have been difficult for the killer to give him the extra dose. I take it you found the second injection site? Like most addicts he injected in his foot, near the base of his toes.’ Fitzroy indicated the area on his immaculate brogue. ‘Whereas the murderer left a pin prick in his arm. Clearly not a user himself. In fact, someone so ignorant of heroin use might almost be said to abhor it.’

  ‘As you do,’ I guessed.

  Fitzroy nodded.

  ‘So, another piece of evidence pointing at Helios,’ I said.

  ‘Indeed. Now, I have security matters to attend to. If you could root out the murderer that would be excellent,’ said Fitzroy, rising.

  ‘We had a thought earlier that it might be the son of someone, rather than the man himself.’

  Fitzroy hesitated. ‘I am unaware that Helios ever had family.’

  ‘Because you have chosen to be single does not mean he did,’ I said.

  Fitzroy frowned. ‘It would be a singularly selfish man to beget a family doing the work we do.’

  I laughed. ‘You already said the man is a traitor, so why is it so difficult to comprehend that he is selfish too? Is not the whole basis of being a traitor that one rates someone or something else above one’s country?’

  ‘Yes and no,’ said Fitzroy. ‘People may betray their country for a variety of reasons. Love is one of the worst.’ He gave himself a slight shake. ‘I do hope you are wrong, Euphemia. It would complicate matters to a level that… What is the matter with you?’ he addressed Bertram.

  ‘I am furious,’ said Bertram. I turned to see a deep scowl on his face. He held himself rigid with suppressed passion. ‘I have had enough of being your lackey.’

  Fitzroy breathed a sigh of deep exasperation. ‘Not now,’ he said. He moved to leave the room, but Bertram remained in his way. ‘Explain things to him, Euphemia,’ said the spy, as he brushed roughly past Bertram. His impact on Bertram’s shoulder was audible. My fiancée gave a little grunt of pain and then flushed in embarrassment, but Fitzroy had left the room.

  ‘You had better sit down,’ I said, pretending not to notice the clash. ‘He relayed a lot of information.’

  Bertram sat down, still scowling. ‘Why am I not surprised?’ he said.

  It took some minutes to catch Bertram up with everything I had been told. I also found myself going back over details and correcting myself. It was not as if Fitzroy had allowed me to make notes. To do Bertram justice, despite his temper, he listened intently and asked a few pertinent questions.

  When I finished he looked a little startled. ‘So, we are on the trail of a multiple killer?’ he said.

  ‘I hadn’t thought of it like that,’ I said. ‘But I suppose we are. If Fitzroy is right, the motive all the way along has been to prevent the leaki
ng of certain events surrounding the Treaty of Berlin from the British envoy.’

  ‘Except he did not quite finish telling you that, did he? You said he mentioned something about it not being between the dates we were given for the treaty? And that also, in more recent years, he attempted to warn someone who was an innocent civilian asset, but who died anyway. Murdered? He didn’t give you a name, did he?’

  ‘He isn’t being his normal thorough self,’ I said. ‘Altogether, he is rather out of sorts.’

  ‘Why? Did his dog die?’ said Bertram with no sympathy.

  ‘I have no idea.’

  ‘Anyway, the less said about that dreadful man the better. As soon as this is all over you can put him out of our lives.’

  I felt a twinge of regret but managed to suppress it. Bertram was talking about our lives together again and that would have to content me. That I felt most discontented about leaving Fitzroy’s world, with its puzzles and intrigues, would be something I would have to keep to myself if I ever wished to tie the knot with Bertram. Involuntarily I sighed.

  ‘What?’ said Bertram sharply.

  I thought quickly. ‘You are right, we still have a tangle to unravel, and while we have new information I do not think it moves us on very far. If at all. This has to be about loss and gain. Undertaking this murder, if Fitzroy is correct, is part of a long game Helios has been playing. He is tidying away the evidence bit by bit. Why? Fitzroy’s department no longer even know his real name. Whoever Helios is, he has a new life and new identity. And yet, he has chosen to kill Lovelock.’

  ‘Presumably because Lovelock knows who he is and what he has done,’ said Bertram.

  ‘But then why not go to the relevant authorities?’ I said. ‘I mean, the average person might not know who to approach, but someone who has moved in government and civil service circles presumably would.’

  ‘Unless he thought there was a spy there,’ said Bertram.

  This made me laugh. Gradually a smile dawned on Bertram’s face. ‘I see what you mean,’ he said chuckling. ‘If anything, we have too many of the wretches.’