Friday 27th December 1929
Newcastle city centre, known to locals as the Toon, was coming back to life after two days of Christmas holidays, with shops up and down Percy and Northumberland Streets offering their unsold seasonal stock at rock-bottom prices. Clara would normally avoid the sales like the plague, not caring enough for a bargain to brave the throngs of consumers, elbowing each other to get to the cut-price tat. Unfortunately, today she didn’t have a choice.
Clara met her new assistant Bella outside Fenwick’s at nine o’clock, and together they bypassed the long queue of shoppers and headed round the back to the staff entrance. Clara had spent the previous evening – after doing all she could to ensure Peggy Rose was well looked after in the police holding cell – writing up a report on her other case. She had drawn primarily from Bella’s notes but had added some material of her own: her speculation that Jack Danskin might have some involvement. She made it very clear that she had no evidence of this, but suggested that Howie Best, when questioned – by Mr Carlton or the police – ought to be probed about any further accomplices. On the way up to Mr Carlton’s office in the lift, Clara asked Bella her thoughts on this.
‘Mr Danskin? Now there’s a thought. He did hire old Howie. Surely he should have looked into his background. That would be Mr Danskin’s job, wouldn’t it. What’s the word I’m looking for? To vet him? Is that right?’
‘That’s exactly the right word, Bella. Danskin should have vetted Howie and everyone else he hired on Mr Carlton’s behalf. But that’s assuming Howie had some kind of record or history of this. He might just have started behaving this way when he joined Fenwick’s.’
Bella snorted. ‘Maybe just the thieving. But a man like Howie would have been trying it on with the lasses for years. That doesn’t just start overnight. There’s a word for men like that … now what is it … starts with a p …’
‘Predator?’ offered Clara.
‘Aye, he’s that too, miss. But that’s not the word I was looking for.’ She raised her finger in the air. ‘Pervert! Aye, that’s it. I was thinking of pervert.’
The lift came to a stop on the fourth floor and the women got out. ‘What I can’t understand,’ said Clara, ‘is how his wife puts up with it.’
‘Maybe she doesn’t have a choice?’
Clara shrugged, thinking of her sister. ‘Maybe not.’
A few minutes later Mr Carlton’s secretary had ushered the ladies into his office. The remains of a cigar burnt out in an ashtray as the shop manager insisted the ladies take a seat. He looked at Bella curiously. ‘I hope Miss Cuddy is not here as a suspect, Miss Vale.’
Bella flashed an angry look. Clara gave her a warning shake of the head. ‘Of course not, Mr Carlton. Miss Cuddy here is the hero of the day.’ She then went on to explain how she had proceeded with the case, how she had recruited Bella to act on her behalf and what Bella had discovered. She then explained her concerns about Jack Danskin. ‘It’s all there in the report, Mr Carlton. As I say, I have no evidence that Danskin is involved, but I do wonder how he didn’t manage to get to the bottom of this when you asked him to.’
Carlton nodded thoughtfully. ‘Well, I can’t say he didn’t do anything. He did put me on to your uncle, Miss Vale, and that’s how you found my case file. But when Bob Wallace died, he didn’t pick the job up again. Which he ought to have done, don’t you think?’
Clara nodded. ‘I do. But as I say, there’s no actual evidence of anything. Howie Best, on the other hand … well, you can read the report for yourself. Now, I’m not saying Mr Danskin is involved, I’m just suggesting that you keep him in mind when you – or whoever you get to take this forward – question Best further.’
Carlton grunted. ‘Yes, thank you. I’ll have to speak to the board about this. We will need to decide whether to keep this in-house or go to the police. Your help has been invaluable, Miss Vale.’
‘And Miss Cuddy’s,’ added Clara. ‘I couldn’t have done it without her. Which brings me to my next point of business …’
Half an hour later and Bella and Clara were going back down in the lift. ‘Well, Bella, how do you feel about that? Are you ready to start work with me? Formally?’
Bella grinned. ‘Aye, miss, I am. I’m surprised Mr Carlton didn’t insist on me working me notice.’
‘It was very kind of him to let you go with a full month’s pay. And that works out well for both of us. You see, Bella, I have to go to York for a couple of days and I need someone to watch the office when I’m away. It will give you time to go through the files and get to know the business. And I might need you to follow some things up and pass on messages for me, depending on what I find out in York. Do you think you could do that?’
‘Aye, miss, no bother.’
‘Good. Oh, and I have a handbook on detection I would like you to read too. It will bring you up to speed on the basics of the job.’ She smiled at her new assistant. ‘Although I think you’re already a natural.’
Bella looked pleased as punch. The lift opened and she turned to lead Clara back out through the staff entrance. But Clara stopped. ‘Do you mind if we go into the shop? There’s something I need to get. Something to do with my other case.’
Clara and Bella slalomed their way through frenzied bargain hunters to get to the cosmetics department. When there, Bella spoke to the woman in charge of the department and she let Clara and Bella behind the counter, pointing them to the shelf where the face cream was kept. After a brief search, Clara emerged with a jar of Ella cream – the same cream that Sybil and Isobel had used. Clara paid for the cream, opened the jar and sniffed. It definitely smelt less belladonna-ish. She would still need to analyse it in the lab to determine the baseline of belladonna (which was a common additive to cosmetics), to determine how much additional belladonna had been added to Isobel and Sybil’s cream. For now she had a few questions for the department manageress.
‘Is this a new product?’
‘Yes. It came out in the autumn.’
‘Is it sold in all stores?’
‘I have no idea. But I would expect just high-end shops as it’s quite expensive. It’s part of a test run. We’ve been asked to take the names of any ladies who buy it so that the company can contact them later to find out if they are happy with the product.’
‘You have to take the names?’
‘We don’t have to, no, but we get a commission for signing customers up for the survey. It is of course completely up to the customer if they take part. Would you like to take part, miss? You will get a voucher from Ella Cosmetics as a reward.’
‘Yes, I have no problem with that.’ She gave the manageress her contact details, but her mind was ticking. Could this possibly help with her case? ‘Do you have contact details for the Ella rep?’ asked Clara.
‘I do. But it will be upstairs in the office. Can you wait a few minutes?’
Clara said she could. As the woman left, Clara noticed a couple – a man and a woman – approaching the cosmetics counter and examining the perfume testers. The couple noticed her at the same time.
‘Miss Vale!’ said Bessy Jones. ‘Are you working here at Fenwick’s too? Goodness me, how do you fit it all in?’
Jack Danskin chuckled. ‘So how’s the investigation here going?’
‘It’s progressing,’ said Clara, allowing him to believe she was there as part of the shoplifting case.
‘And you’ve got Bella involved too, I see. Not quite undercover, are you?’
‘Well, I won’t be if you announce it to all and sundry, will I?’
‘Testy, testy!’ Danskin laughed.
Bessy frowned up at him. ‘That’s enough, Jack.’ Then she turned back to Clara. ‘Look, Miss Vale, I’m glad I’ve seen you. I wanted to apologise for my behaviour yesterday. You were just doing your job and I had no right to give you such a hard time about it. I’m sorry.’
Clara was surprised but appreciated the rapprochement. ‘Thank you, Miss Jones. I understand that it’s a stressful time for everyone. And that you are naturally worried about your safety.’
Bessy nodded. ‘Yes, I am. But now that I’ve got Jack with me, I’m not half as worried.’ She placed an intimate hand on his forearm.
Clara noticed it. Had things progressed that far yet? she wondered. But Jack and Bessy’s love life was none of her business. ‘I’m sure you’ll be quite safe,’ she said.
‘I will now that the killer has been arrested. Good heavens, though! Who would have thought Peggy Rose had it in her?’
‘Well, we don’t know that she actually did do it yet,’ observed Clara. ‘She has only been arrested on suspicion of murder. New evidence may present itself to exonerate her. Or to point the finger at someone else.’
Bessy’s eyes grew wide. ‘You mean the killer might still be out there?’
‘It’s possible,’ said Clara. ‘The case is far from closed.’
Bessy’s beautifully manicured brows furrowed. ‘Are we still going to Leeds then? Tubby said that now the police have their man – or in this case woman – we will carry on with our tour. He said the police can’t keep us here any longer.’
‘I have no idea,’ said Clara, truthfully. ‘When are you opening in Leeds?’
‘Only next weekend now. It was supposed to be this weekend, but everything has been delayed because of the murders. We’ll be leaving on Monday. At least that’s what Tubby said.’
Clara frowned. ‘Has Tubby cleared this with Inspector Hawkes?’
‘I believe he has got his solicitor to demand the players’ release from the “don’t leave town” request,’ answered Jack. ‘Hawkes will now have to get a magistrate to enforce it. And with a suspect in custody, and the company not travelling that far, I doubt he’ll be able to.’
Bessy paled. She turned to Jack. ‘Will you come with us then? If what Miss Vale has said is true, that Peggy might not have done it after all, then the killer might still try to get me.’
Jack patted her hand. ‘Of course I will. As long as I’m needed.’
And as long as you’re paid, thought Clara. She noticed the cosmetics department manageress approaching. She did not want Jack Danskin listening in to her conversation, so she abruptly said goodbye to the couple, grabbed the manageress’s arm and steered her away towards the glove department. Bella, who had listened to the exchange with Danskin and Bessy with fascination, followed quick on her heels.
‘Sorry about that,’ said Clara to the surprised manageress, who looked set to protest. ‘I’d rather those two not hear this. Could I ask for your discretion please, madam? I’ll make sure Mr Carlton knows you’ve been extra helpful.’
Promise of a positive word to the top brass seemed to do the trick and the manageress relaxed. ‘Of course, Miss Vale. I shan’t say a word to anyone. Right, here’s the information you need.’ She passed Clara a handwritten note with the name and address of the cosmetics supply company. Its offices were in York.
Back at the office, as cold as a refrigerator after being shut up over the Christmas holiday, Clara typed up a letter with near-frozen fingers and gave it to Bella. ‘Take this to Dr Charlie Malone at the medical school, please. Firstly, tell him I’m leaving for York at twelve o’clock if he wants a lift down. He can meet me at my house. But before he does, ask him to put this letter on a Newcastle City Police Pathologist letterhead and send it off. First-class post, please. Can you make sure it gets sent off this morning please, Bella? And then, can you send this telegram please.’ She wrote out a short note. ‘It’s to tell the cosmetics company that a letter from the pathologist’s office is on the way and that I and the pathologist will be visiting them this afternoon. I’ll drop in to see them when I’m in York. Assuming they’re open today and not shut until after New Year! I’ve given our telephone number here, too, in case they have any questions. Can you man the fort this afternoon and tomorrow, please, when I’m away?’
Bella looked giddy with excitement but managed to keep up with the rapid instructions. ‘Of course! Oh, Miss Vale, is this a real murder case? My first day on the job?’
Clara smiled. ‘It is! How’s that for timing, eh?’
‘Beats watching women stealing silk knickers!’ Bella laughed. She headed for the door, still wrapped up in her coat, hat and scarf. ‘Oh by the way, miss,’ she said, pulling on her gloves. ‘Me brother-in-law’s a plumber. D’ya want me to ask him to look at your radiators? I might be able to get him to do it today.’
Clara beamed. ‘Bella Cuddy, you’re a godsend!’