The fire was burning on the left side of the arcade, where the frame structures were. As James continued to stand watching the blaze, he began to realize that the right side was untouched. Relief flashed through him. He felt a bit better.
He mentioned this to Chief Constable Coles, who nodded. Coles explained, “I hate to use the word ‘lucky,’ but you have been, in one sense, Mr. Falconer. It’s a warm night, no wind to blow the flames across to the other side, where you have a finished area. I think it’s safe there.”
“But the left side is a furious fire,” William said, and introduced himself to Coles. He and Natalie had been allowed through to join James. “It blazes on.”
“They’ll get it under control. We’re proud of our fire brigade, as you’re well aware I’m sure, Mr. Venables. Being a resident.”
Natalie said, “I’m Mr. Falconer’s assistant, Chief Constable. How do you think this happened?”
“We won’t know for sure until the firemen kill the fire and examine the ruined part of the arcade. I do believe this to be arson, a criminal act,” the chief constable explained. “Not much doubt.”
“Where are the two watchmen who sit at each end of the arcade? I hope they’re not injured,” James said worriedly, looking at the police chief intently.
It was Joe who jumped in to answer first. “I gor ’em out quick. They’re over there with two policemen. Safe as ’ouses, sir.”
“Thank God no one has been injured.” James turned to Coles. “What started the fire? Do you have any idea?”
“The chief of the fire brigade, the man with that big hose, says it could have been a bomb. But a badly made one, perhaps. However, it’s done plenty of damage, I’m afraid to say.”
“Dynamite?” William asked, his curiosity aroused.
“Most likely, Mr. Venables.”
“I thought dynamite wasn’t easy to get,” William remarked, staring at the chief.
“That’s true. The manufacturers sell only to demolition companies. But there’s always somebody ready to steal it, sell it for a few bob.”
Natalie asked, “I don’t understand anything about dynamite. What is it exactly, Chief?”
“It’s an explosive. The best there is, and it’s often used to blow up old buildings, and generally used in quarries. I only know that it is composed of nitroglycerin or ammonium nitrate. Maybe other things. But it’s powerful. The chief of the fire brigade could give you more information, Miss Parkinson.”
“Thank you,” she answered, and moved closer to James. He looked down at her, his face fraught with tension, and a terrible sorrow flooded his eyes. She said quietly, “We’ll rebuild, James. Take heart. We’re all here to help you.” Wanting to lift his spirits, she added, “Don’t forget you have a posse. And thank God the right side is seemingly untouched. Part of the arcade is there.”
“Thank you for comforting me, Natalie, and for being here. Who could have done this?” he asked hoarsely.
“God knows. The chief does believe it’s arson, though.”
“How could they get past Joe?” James shook his head.
“I don’t think it was done today,” Natalie said in a low voice. “It might have been placed there earlier and then set off from afar. Ask the chief what he thinks.”
James did so, and the chief nodded. “I came to that conclusion earlier, sir.” He added, “But I can’t be certain, not about dynamite.”
“How do you explode a bomb?” William asked.
“A bomb made of dynamite needs a fuse. The fuse has to be set alight with a match.”
“I see. So the arsonist has to physically light the fuse?”
“No other way, sir. And it better be a long fuse, otherwise the arsonist will get himself killed, Mr. Venables.”
“I understand,” William said, and suddenly began to cough.
There was now a great deal of smoke in the night air, accumulating as the fire was being doused and dying out in some areas. The stench of the smoke was stronger, and Natalie began to rub her eyes, as did Joe.
William came up to James and put an arm around his shoulders. “Whatever you need, just ask me. I am here for you. Look, would you and Natalie like to come home with me, spend the night. You are both very welcome.”
James swung to face his cousin. “That’s so kind of you, William. Right now I want to stay here. I must stay here. It’s my duty to wait until the fire is finally out. I know the firemen have managed to get it under control. However, I can’t leave until I know that the other side of the arcade is safe. At least that will be good news.”
“I understand,” William answered. “I wonder if Natalie wants me to take her back to the B and B.”
“You could ask her, but I’m certain she will insist on staying here,” James said.
She did. They all stayed, grouped together around James. Finally the fire died out at four o’clock in the morning, and there was a huge sigh of relief.
“Let us meet here at noon,” the chief said. “Hopefully we might have some answers for you, Mr. Falconer. My men and the firemen will examine the ruins looking for clues. They’re all experienced and very diligent.”
When they all met late the following morning at the partially ruined arcade, they were overwhelmed by the stench of smoke, which still lingered.
The left side of the arcade was totally ruined. It was a pile of rubble, fallen bricks, planks and bits of timber, and broken masonry. There were several small craters amongst the rubble, but the fire was out. And there was mud across the outside area.
James was in better shape. Although he hadn’t slept, he was relieved to see that the right side of the arcade was totally unharmed. It would need cleaning because of the smoke, but it was intact. Part of his dream lived.
Natalie and James arrived together. Joe showed up a few minutes later, as did the two watchmen. The last to arrive was William with his father, James’s uncle Clarence. Both of them carried hampers of hot tea, hot soup, and a selection of sandwiches to be shared later.
They grouped together in the undamaged right side of the arcade. After Clarence Venables was introduced to everyone, it was the police chief who spoke first.
Andy Coles addressed them, sharing the information the police already had. “We’re fairly certain this was a bomb blast, and we believe the arsonist entered the arcade through a grate on the outside of the arcade’s main brick wall. On the left. There is a visible grate there which can be levered off with a strong tool, and a ladder going down into the underground area. That is where there are water pipes and a sewage system.”
After clearing his throat, the chief continued, “The shops share a water closet. The bomb was placed in the underground sewer, on a ledge, and a fuse attached. The remnants are there. We found them earlier this morning. Any questions, please ask me.”
“Are you saying the bomb was put there earlier, and then the fuse set off later?” James inquired.
“That’s what the chief of the fire brigade believes. He thinks the arsonist returned, perhaps late last night, immediately before the bomb blew.”
“But Joe was there,” William said.
“He was mostly inside the arcade,” the chief pointed out. “The arsonist was on the outside of the main brick wall, the outer wall. If he had set everything up earlier and levered off the metal grate, that would have made it easier for him to lift the drainage grate and go down into the sewer a second time.”
Much to everyone’s disappointment the fire brigade and the police found no incriminating evidence whatsoever. They worked together with great diligence for several days, going over the damaged part of the arcade, seeking clues. Nothing was forthcoming.
“It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” the chief constable told James. “We’ve gone over the underground sewage area and found nothing to lead us to the arsonist. The remnants of the bomb tell us nothing.”
“What you said before is that the arsonist set up, left the arcade, then returned to light the fuse late at night,” James remarked. A brow lifted. “But no one saw him.”
The chief constable nodded. “Remember the drainage gate is on the land outside the main brick wall of the arcade. Nobody in the arcade could see him, because the wall blocked their view. Whoever the arsonist is, he had to be lithe, fast, and a good runner. Because of the quickness of the fuse burning.”
William stared at the chief constable, and said, “Yes, I went and looked at the grate.” He grimaced. “He got away with it, didn’t he?”
Andy Coles shook his head. “I won’t admit to that yet, Mr. Venables.” He glanced across at James and, after a slight hesitation, he said, “I can’t imagine the motive behind the bombing. What reason did the man have to destroy part of the arcade? Do you have an enemy in Hull? Someone who wants to do you harm, Mr. Falconer?”
“Not that I know of—” James broke off and looked reflective, as if he was searching his mind for a name. Once more he said, “No. I don’t have any enemies here. I hardly know anyone.”
“There is one other thing I want to clarify,” Coles said. “A bomb made of dynamite cannot be set off from afar—”
“Certain bombs can be, though,” William interjected. “I did a bit of research and discovered a bomb can be put into a package and left on a doorstep, as if the postman delivered it. Then whoever picks it up and moves it around will be blown to smithereens.”
“That is correct, Mr. Venables, but that kind of bomb is undoubtedly not made of dynamite. A bomb made with dynamite, that particular type of explosive must have a fuse, and that fuse has to be lit by a flame … a match. As I told you before.”
William nodded vehemently. “We understand that now, Chief, and by the way, we know how hard your men have worked, how long their hours have been. Don’t we, James?”
“Of course we do!” James exclaimed. “And I’m always hopeful that a bit of evidence will turn up. And thank you, Chief Constable. And please thank all your men for us.”
James stood in front of the ruins of his arcade. His vision—his idea—all his work, destroyed. He had persuaded Mr. Malvern to put up the money, and now they faced a huge bill for a sodden, charred ruin.
The police and the fire brigade had found nothing to help them track down the culprit. James had his own suspicions. But voicing them would only bring disgrace on the Venables family. With no evidence to back them up.
His dream seemed farther away than ever.