CHAPTER THIRTY
The Chief Clerk
“I am half inclined to like him, yet I feel afraid of him . . .”
Bury, Charlotte, The Diary of a Lady-in-Waiting
Tauton recovered first. “Mr. Stafford,” he said, with a fair imitation of jocularity. “We were just talking about you.”
“Were you?” Stafford’s voice was bland. “I can only imagine what you might have been saying.”
It was an invitation to confess or lie. Neither the officers nor Adam took him up on it. Stafford’s dagger-sharp gaze swept across the heaps of paper and then, more slowly, each of the three men.
“What brings you here, sir?” asked Adam finally.
“You do, Mr. Harkness,” replied Stafford. “Sir David came to Bow Street to speak with Mr. Townsend regarding Mr. Poole’s murder. As I expect you have already been informed.” He nodded to Goutier and Tauton.
“Sir David told me he was planning to go to Bow Street when we parted ways earlier,” said Adam. “I’m here with his permission, and the permission of Poole’s widow,” he added.
“I had no question about your right to be here,” said Stafford. “It is the logical step.”
Adam felt like he’d just been caught wrong-footed, but for the life of him, he was not sure why. Stafford had that effect on a man.
“Then what can we do for you, Mr. Stafford?” asked Goutier. “As you can see, Adam’s only just started his search.” He nodded toward the nearest heap of papers. “Was there something in particular you thought he should be looking for?”
Stafford’s face barely shifted, but Adam got the feeling he was impressed by the men’s refusal to be afraid. Stafford was a legend at Bow Street. The younger runners and constables made him something of an all-seeing boogeyman, and the clerks were happy to feed them exaggerated tales to stoke their imaginations.
At the same time, the man really was dangerous. He had made ferreting out secrets his life’s work. “There is something we should all be looking for,” said Stafford. “And you know what that is, too.”
Silence filled the room. All of them were waiting for someone else to say the words out loud. After a moment, Stafford shrugged, as if saying he was perfectly willing to concede the point.
“Was it the missing certificate or Poole’s murder that brought you here?” he asked. “Or both?”
Adam allowed his brows to arch ever so slightly.
“Yes, of course, you are no longer under any obligation to answer me,” said Stafford. “Although your associates here do not have that luxury.”
“Now, then, Mr. Stafford,” said Tauton. “It’s early in the game to be turning to threats, don’t you think?”
“Normally, I would agree, Mr. Tauton, but I’m afraid we are rather short of time,” said Stafford. “Therefore, I am forced to be more direct than otherwise. Witness the fact that I am here at all.”
“I had thought you might be here because Mr. Townsend is angry about current events,” said Adam.
Stafford shook his head heavily. “I’m afraid Mr. Townsend is making a series of mistakes.”
“You surprise me,” said Goutier. “What’s behind it, do you think?”
It was as much a challenge as a question. Goutier meant to see how far Stafford was willing to go.
As it happened, much further than Adam would have expected.
“Mr. Townsend’s old friend the prince is now the king,” Stafford said. “Despite how he talks, the truth is that His Majesty has rather less use and time for Townsend than His Highness did, and Townsend is feeling the lack, you might say.” Stafford’s voice filled with a soft, wintry disapproval. “He is anxious to prove he is still useful. Those who know that might find it easier than usual to put ideas into his head, especially during such stressful times.”
Adam had difficulty keeping the surprise out of his features. This was not in the least like Stafford. He’d never spoken this way in Adam’s hearing, not even about an accused criminal, let alone about the man who headed Bow Street.
So, the question now became, was this Stafford’s true assessment? Or was he only trying to convince Adam and Tauton and Goutier that he could be on their side?
That would be very like Stafford.
“You’re wondering how far you can trust me,” said Stafford.
“You’ll forgive us,” said Tauton.
“Being an officer makes one naturally suspicious,” added Goutier.
“And you have an excellent reputation for getting what’s needed from witnesses,” said Adam.
“Thank you,” replied Stafford, all modesty. “Unfortunately, I have very little with which to placate such natural suspicions.” He nodded toward Goutier. “But we are in a serious quandary, gentlemen. There has been a murder. There is a missing document that might very well affect the stability of the kingdom, and there are men and women who will not hesitate to use these facts to their own ends, and damn the consequences.”
Adam thought of the mob that had stopped his and Rosalind’s carriage the night before.
“What do you want?” asked Adam.
“Information,” said Stafford promptly. “If I can convince Townsend that I am working in the way that he wishes, that will keep him off your backs while you find the answers we all need.”
They were staring again.
“Yes, I am saying I wish you to push forward,” said Stafford. “And quickly, gentlemen. We must find the certificate, as well as how Poole met his demise. I am also saying that if you keep me informed, I will see that you are not unduly bothered by Mr. Townsend, and yes, I give you my word that the clerk I send will be reporting only to me and that I will not say anything unnecessary to Townsend about what, or who, has been seen in this room.”
Adam and the others remained silent for a long moment. Warning bells sounded low and strong in the back of his mind. There was one thing that hung unsaid, but he could not leave it to speculation.
“Did you meet Poole?”
Stafford narrowed his eyes. “We had an appointment for the afternoon of the day he died. Obviously, Poole never arrived.”
It was an interesting answer, and a very careful and compact one. “What else can you tell us?” Adam asked. What else will you tell us?
Stafford looked at him steadily. This time, he appeared more than ready to meet and match Adam’s silence. But Stafford also surely understood he was being dared to speak. How would he answer that dare? Despite all his years of experience, Adam found Stafford unreadable.
At last, Stafford spoke, deliberately and clearly.
“I did not kill Poole,” he said. “Nor did I suggest he should be killed. But I am not prepared to say the same of Mr. Townsend.”