IN THE LOUNGE, EVERYONE WAS CLUSTERED around the table. I found two more cups from the seemingly inexhaustible supply and prepared them for Miss Kleinman and Mr. Tolland.
“What’s going on out there?” Miss Henderson asked.
“Mr. Tolland’s arrived. Miss Kleinman is going to have to tell him what happened. Does anyone know how he takes his tea?”
“Cream, I think,” Miss Henderson answered. She seemed uncertain, so I decided black was safe unless I could manage to bring the cream and sugar with me.
“I feel sorry for her having to break this kind of news to him,” Miss Peters said. “Insurance people do not like hearing that they’ll have to pay out claims.”
Mr. Morris put down his cup. “Well, at least the pieces that were taken were already insured under the new policy. I would hate for the Kleinmans to suffer any serious setbacks. They’ve been so good to me over the years.”
Miss Eaton put the plate of biscuits in front of him. “You always did have a soft heart,” she said fondly.
Mr. Morris smiled a bit. “I suppose I do. Under the current circumstances, I’m certain Mr. Kleinman will agree to have the Heart of Night insured now.”
“He isn’t,” Mr. Garver said as he came into the room and helped himself to the teapot. “I heard him arguing with Miss Kleinman about it again when I came in this morning. Miss Fairfield, the constable wants to see you next.”
Miss Fairfield put down her cup and went quietly to the door. I wanted to tell her Constable Kittering was far nicer than his superior, but she left before I could say anything.
Mr. Morris ran his hand through his hair. “I wonder if I would have any influence over Mr. Kleinman’s getting the Heart of Night insured.”
Miss Eaton shook her head. “No, no I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring that up.”
Miss Peters took one of the biscuits then held the plate out to Mr. Garver. “But if the thief were to return...”
Mr. Garver took a biscuit and dunked it in his tea. “Perhaps if we all went to see him.”
Miss Eaton shook her head. “If Miss Kleinman can’t influence him, then certainly nothing we would say could. We’d just end up on his bad side for interfering and make him more stubborn when Miss Kleinman brings it up again.”
“I suppose that’s possible,” Mr. Morris said.
“Probable, really,” Miss Eaton answered.
Mr. Morris sighed. “I suppose it’s best to leave it to her. But if a robbery didn’t make it obvious that he should...”
Privately I agreed with that sentiment, but I knew I had no influence, so I gathered up the cups and went to deliver them to the office.
When I got to Miss Kleinman’s office, everything seemed quite cordial, but it was very quiet, and Miss Kleinman was pleating and unpleating the edge of her sleeve. I suspected things weren’t going as well as she might have liked. She looked up when she heard my footsteps. “Tea, thank you. Mr. Tolland, would you like some?”
“No, I think I’ve said all that needs to be said today. I can expect to get a copy of the report from Scotland Yard?”
“I will personally make certain Inspector Wainwright sends it to you. And then the policy will be in force on the items that we’ve already cataloged?”
“Yes, your secretary telephoned last week to ask that very question. I thought he was very efficient.”
“He telephoned you?” Miss Kleinman looked up.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“No, no, Mr. Tolland. I’ll straighten it out. Thank you for your help.”
“Then I will see you tomorrow, and we can continue with the cataloging. If that is not possible, please send word to the office.”
“Of course. Shall I show you out?”
“I can manage. Good day.” He nodded in my direction as he passed and walked swiftly down the corridor.
When we were alone, I asked, “There was a problem, wasn’t there?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. Everything seems so strange with the robbery, innocent things look wrong somehow.”
“Do you want to tell me? Hear how it sounds?”
“I don’t have a secretary. Neither does Daniel. I suppose Miss Crawford might seem like one since she helps me with the bookkeeping, but there is definitely no man here who could be mistaken for one.”
“Could it have been Mr. Kleinman?”
She shook her head. “I suppose, but Mr. Tolland knows him. He would have said it was him, not mistaken him for a secretary. Maybe someone else took a message and got confused, but still the name would have been a clue. But I’m probably being silly. I’m not used to being the victim of a crime. It makes everything seem, I don’t know, dangerous.” Miss Kleinman sank down in her chair and took a long sip of her tea. “Well, at least he’s coming back to finish it. That’s something.”
“So they will honor the new policy?”
“He seems to think they have no choice; everything that was taken seems to be from the first safe by the door, the one we started inventorying yesterday. You may as well sit down and drink his tea.”
I sipped from the cup more to have an excuse to stay than anything.
We sat in silence and clicking teacups for a while until Miss Kleinman asked, “Miss Pengear, you said you knew a tinkerer?”
“That’s right. Did you need one?”
“Do you consider them dependable?”
“Very. Is this something to do with the insurance?”
“It is. Mr. Tolland seemed to think the insurance company would try to say that the thefts were our fault because our lock wasn’t secure enough. I was hoping you would know someone who could be a neutral third party.”
“I’m afraid he heard the staff talking about the possibility of the lock being breached.”
“That would explain it, then. But you do know someone?”
“I do, and I’ll ask her. I’m sure she’ll come.” I pushed my cup aside. “Do you think it’s a possibility?”
“Not really, but I have to be sure.”
“How exactly does the system work?”
“It’s really just a bunch of locks and tumblers. The shape of the hand pushes the tumblers into a certain position inside the door, and the key is made to fit that shape. Different shape hand, different shape key needed.”
“So if someone had a plaster cast of the hand and the matching key–”
“It wouldn’t do anything. It’s simple, but it requires a high degree of accuracy, and it accounts for the softness of the fingers. A plaster cast would get the shape close, but not close enough to work.”
“So it would need to be something more accurate than a plaster cast.”
“That’s what I was told, and it seemed to make sense at the time. But Mr. Tolland needs to be certain, it seems. I suppose I should tell Inspector Wainwright. It might help the case if he knows how the lock was breached.” She put down her cup. “And I’ll have to arrange for the report to be sent to Mr. Tolland. I might as well get it over with.”
We found Inspector Wainwright in the vault room again. He looked up when we entered but didn’t speak.
Miss Kleinman broke the silence. “Mr. Tolland from the insurance company said he will need a copy of your report to process the claim.”
“I will see that it is sent over.” Inspector Wainwright scanned the list. “You are certain that this is an accurate list of the missing items?”
“As accurate as I can make it under the circumstances.”
Inspector Wainwright nodded and put the list in the back of his notebook. “Now, why do you think they took those particular pieces?”
“Probably the same reason I started there myself when we were making the inventory; the safe they were in is the closest to the door, so the easiest to get into.”
“Do you have detailed descriptions of the pieces that were stolen?”
“We do, in fact very recent ones. I will have Miss Pengear make you copies and drop them off.”
I could tell how much Inspector Wainwright liked that idea, but all he said was, “Very well. I will have one of the constables go over the point of entry with your security people so it can be reinforced to prevent another break-in.”
“I’m certain that will put everyone’s mind at ease. I should tell you that Mr. Tolland from the insurance company had some questions about the lock so we will be having an independent tinkerer come and have a look at it. If you would like to be present, I can have word sent when it has been scheduled.”
“I will see if sending a representative will be beneficial to the case.” He turned back to his notebook.
When Inspector Wainwright didn’t say anything more, Miss Kleinman asked, “When will your men be done here? I need to be able to give my clients some idea of when I can reschedule their appointments.”
Inspector Wainwright looked up. “It seems to be a fairly straightforward robbery. I think we can finish up this evening, so you’ll be able to re-open in the morning.”
“Thank you. I’ll inform the staff. Is there any reason to keep them here?”
Inspector Wainwright turned to Constable Kittering.
“I’ve gotten the basics from all but Miss Pengear and the Kleinmans, sir.”
“Then I see no reason to delay them. But they are to keep themselves available for further questioning. You and Mr. Kleinman will be needed for further questioning.”
“Of course. I'll let the staff know.”
Inspector Wainwright sighed. “I suppose I had better accompany you.”
Miss Kleinman didn’t seem to like that idea, but she didn’t say anything as he followed her out of the room.
The staff was still assembled in the lounge when we entered. They all turned to Miss Kleinman, who addressed them before Inspector Wainwright could get a word in. “The inspector says we will be able to re-open the store in the morning. You can all go home for the night. Mr. Kleinman and I will see that everything is locked up properly.”
Inspector Wainwright broke in. “You will all need to remain available for further questioning. I also need you to think back and identify anyone you may have told about the security arrangements here or any other information that might be relevant.”
Miss Peters spoke up. “We were just saying, I’ll bet he used a plaster cast of a hand to get in.”
“That’s not possible,” Miss Kleinman said quietly.
“But if he did, I bet there’d still be bits of plaster inside the mechanism.”
Inspector Wainwright glared at her, but he turned to Constable Edwards and said, “Check the inside of the lock. See if you find any plaster dust or anything that could explain how the lock was breached.”
Constable Edwards nodded and hurried out. The rest of the staff started hunting up their coats.
Miss Kleinman turned to me. “Miss Pengear, may I have a word?”
I glanced at Inspector Wainwright and considered asking if he wanted to interview me, but he didn’t seem in the mood to be teased. I was beginning to think he was going to avoid questioning me all together when he spoke without looking up from his notes, “I think it would be easiest all around if, in addition to the descriptions, you type up an account of what you saw when you arrived. You have been questioned often enough that I think you know what is required.”
So I wouldn’t have to talk to him. “Of course. I'll bring it with me in the morning.” I followed Miss Kleinman into the back of the lounge. I was half-afraid that she thought I was involved, half-worried that she was going to ask me to look out for someone in the investigation. It was neither.
“I’m sure you can understand that we want the paperwork for the insurance finished as soon as possible.”
“Of course.”
“Would it be possible for you to come tomorrow for the full day? I’ll pull someone off the floor to act as the third witness. I think it will still take a couple of days to finish, but I’d be more comfortable...”
“Of course. I don’t have anything pressing lined up at the moment.”
“Thank you. I think we can arrange a bonus for the inconvenience.”
“That’s very generous.” It wasn’t inconvenient, but I wasn’t silly enough to say the bonus wasn’t necessary. I debated whether now was the time to ask the question that had been nagging me. “Are you going to insure the Heart of Night.”
“Of course I want to, but my brother is still being stubborn. I think he intends to fight me on it until Lady Suffolk takes it back with her.” She shrugged. “But that isn’t your problem. I will include payment for the inspector’s copies of the descriptions as well. Just add your normal cost per word or page or however you do it. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I hunted up my coat and recovered my typewriter, then left Kleinman and Co., prepared to brave the Underground with everyone else.
As I made my way towards the Underground station, I saw a short woman of about fifty come out of the shop two doors down. A broad-shouldered young man in his twenties followed her out carrying a bucket and a mop. She paused to lock the door then continued towards Kleinman and Company. That had to be the charwoman, Mrs. Donovan. I started to follow.
When they were in sight of the alley, the young man stopped suddenly. I suspected he’d seen Constable Kittering outside. When he handed Mrs. Donovan the bucket and mop, I was certain. I got close enough to hear him say something about mates and pubs and the Green Horseman, then she patted his cheek, took the mop and continued on her way while he made for the Underground. I pulled off my gloves and shoved them into my handbag, hoping Inspector Wainwright wouldn’t have noticed I was wearing them when I left then turned and went back to the shop.
I arrived at the employee entrance of Kleinmans' in time to see Inspector Wainwright facing a barrage of words from Mrs. Donovan.
“A robbery? Here? But they’re so careful on their security. And they have that new machine in back. Always think it’s going to snap my fingers off, although it never has yet.”
Inspector Wainwright was trying to herd her into the office, but Mrs. Donovan leaned her mop against his arm and started for the supply cupboard. He stuck the mop against the wall, where it promptly fell to the ground. “Madam, I will need to question you...”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing now? I have five shops on this block still to do, so don’t step on the newly cleaned floors while you talk.”
“Madam, I– What are you doing here?”
I smiled. “Forgot my gloves.”
Inspector Wainwright’s gaze went directly to my hands. I could tell he was trying to remember for certain if I’d had my gloves when I left or not, but Mrs. Donovan distracted him by starting to fill her bucket at the tap by the door.
“Madam, there has been a robbery...”
“That I know nothing about. Now move so I can get my mop.” Mrs. Donovan grabbed her mop and strode down the hallway, spilling water as she went. As she passed me, I noticed her hand was shaking. So it was bravado, not courage.
I gave Inspector Wainwright my sweetest smile. “It seems Mrs. Donovan is a very busy woman with a tight schedule. If you don’t want to question her while she cleans, perhaps you could help her with her work, and then there would be plenty of time for questions afterwards.”
Mrs. Donovan chuckled.
Inspector Wainwright looked ready to tell me what he thought of my suggestion when Miss Kleinman came through from the sales floor. “Miss Pengear. Did you forget something?”
“My gloves.”
“I thought I saw some in the lounge. Were they yours?”
What a lucky coincidence, or she wasn’t quite as distracted as she seemed. “I’ll check. Thanks.”
I left the lounge door open so I could hear what was going on across the hall. Inspector Wainwright stood in the office door as he questioned Mrs. Donovan. “You come here every evening?”
“That’s right, except Sundays.”
“And you have a key to that door.”
“That’s right.”
“Have you loaned it to anyone?”
“No, never. Wouldn’t keep a job here long if I did.”
“Where were you last night?”
“There was a dance for the young people at the church hall. After I finished here, I went to keep watch over the refreshments table and help tidy afterwards.”
“Did anyone see you there?”
“Father O’Brien, half the congregation, everyone in the mother’s circle...”
“I see. Does anyone else come with you when you’re–that is an active crime scene. Do not clean in there!” There was a good bit of scuffling and the sound of a metal bucket scraping on the floor. “Does anyone else come with you to clean?”
“Sometimes my son comes along to help me carry things, but I don’t remember that he was here last night.”
So if it could be proved he was, she wasn’t lying, just forgetful. I’d typed enough interrogations for Scotland Yard to know that meant he’d been there and she didn’t want to say. If he hadn’t, she’d have been certain of it.
Inspector Wainwright’s voice got fainter as he followed her to the sales floor. “What is his name?”
“Charlie, and don’t step on what I just washed.”
I glanced around the room as I pulled my gloves from my bag. There were none in the lounge.
“Where was he last night?”
“At the dance with me.”
“And the same people will verify it?”
“I’m sure they will.”
“Including Father O’Brien?”
“It was a dance. They were dancing. He can’t watch everyone at once.”
“Where will I find Charlie?”
“He said he was meeting friends at the pub. He’ll just tell you the same as me.”
“And where does he―Miss Pengear, are you still here?”
“Just leaving.” I held up my gloves.
Inspector Wainwright glared at me then realized Mrs. Donovan was getting away from him and went back to questioning.
Outside, I thought about what I had overheard. I knew where Charlie had gone. If it had been Inspector Burrows, I would have quietly told him the name of the pub, but if had been Inspector Burrows, he would probably have teased it out of Mrs. Donovan himself and I wouldn’t be worrying about whether or not Charlie would get a fair hearing. But if Charlie was a good suspect, I had to tell Inspector Wainwright how to find him. Unless...
I found a bookshop with a copy of the London Post Office Directory and paged through it until I found a listing for the Green Horseman. It seemed to be in a respectable part of town and almost on the way from here to Kate’s shop, so I consulted my Underground map and set off.
It’s not really investigating, I told myself as I waited on the platform. I was just making certain I wasn’t wasting Inspector Wainwright’s time with random information. I just needed to get a look at this Charlie up close and see if he was a good suspect. If he was, I’d leave him to the mercy of Inspector Wainwright. If not... I sighed. If not, I supposed I’d have to find some way to help him.