Page 87 of A Whisper in the Shadows
“Very well. I’ll tell you about it on the way to the Lion’s Heart.” They walked east along London Wall, with Tilda between the two men. “It seems we were right about Mrs. Walters’s dishonesty. Mrs. Burley reported that she saw her with Phelps at a pub on Sunday. They seemed close—intimate, I mean—with their heads bent together.”
“How can you be sure it was Mrs. Walters?” Hadrian asked.
“I can’t, of course, but Mrs. Burley’s description of the woman matched that of Mrs. Walters. Mrs. Burley asked if she could be the same woman I saw Inspector Chisholm escorting away last night, and I said it could. Now Mrs. Burley may call at the police station to see if she can help.”
Hadrian chuckled. “She is very much a busybody, isn’t she?”
“Quite,” Tilda said. “She mentioned seeing the woman at the pub with Phelps because we were speaking about his potential liaison with Mrs. Atkins. Mrs. Burley indicated that he may not have been as committed to their association as Mrs. Atkins was.”
“That is interesting,” Maxwell said. “Could jealousy have been a motive for Mrs. Atkins to kill him?”
“Jealousy or a need to keep Phelps’s attention completely on her,” Tilda replied. “I don’t think Mrs. Atkins likes to share.” She glanced at Hadrian, whose expression flickered with distaste.
“Mrs. Burley and I also spoke about Eaton’s fraud, and whilst she is very upset, I’m not convinced she would have committedmurder. She was thrilled to learn that my brother would be working as the new canvasser and will ensure that the people who were swindled would be reimbursed.” Tilda wondered what would happen if their investigations concluded before Hadrian could meet that objective. They hadn’t discussed that.
“That all sounds most helpful,” Maxwell said.
“I haven’t told you the most interesting thing I learned.” Tilda waggled her brows. “Mrs. Burley saw Phelps leave his house late Saturday.”
“The night that Eaton was killed,” Hadrian said.
Tilda nodded. “Phelps returned to the house with Nevill after midnight. Mrs. Burley did not see them leave, but she noted that the regular night soil man was not on the route that night. She observed his cart parked in front of Phelps’s house, then two men pushed the cart toward London Wall without stopping at anyone else’s yards. She knew it wasn’t the regular night soil man—a man called Oldham who lives in Evans Court—because it’s usually him and his son. However, these were two grown men in cloaks, which she also found strange, because they seemed overdressed for such strenuous work.”
“You think they were Phelps and Nevill?” Hadrian asked. His eyes glowed with excitement and his tone was slightly elevated.
Tilda had the sense this information was of particular interest to him. Did it have anything to do with what he’d seen whilst shaking hands at the inquest? Tilda could hardly wait to find out. “Since the cart was parked in front of Phelps’s house, it makes sense. And I can’t dismiss the idea that a night soil cart is a perfect vehicle in which to transport a dead body to the Thames.”
They all stopped on the pavement. Maxwell pivoted toward Tilda. “You think they killed Eaton together?”
“We must consider the possibility,” Hadrian replied, though Maxwell had asked Tilda.
Hadriandefinitelyknew something that supported Phelps and Nevill working together. Tilda wished she could think of a way to be alone with him to hear what he knew!
“Except we don’t know that Eaton was at Phelps’s house that night,” Maxwell pointed out.
“That’s true,” Tilda said, glancing at Hadrian, whose jaw had tightened. He gave Tilda an almost imperceptible nod, and she knew in that moment that Eatonhadbeen there. Hadrian had seen it.
Tilda’s pulse picked up speed. “Mrs. Burley didn’t report seeing Eaton going to Phelps’s house that night, but she could have missed him, since she doesn’t spy ateverymoment.” She met Hadrian’s gaze and silently communicated that she understood.
Maxwell’s brow furrowed. “We should speak with the night soil man.”
“I agree,” Tilda said. “However, we need to meet Clement at the Lion’s Heart now. I suggest we call on the night soil man tomorrow morning.”
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to join you as I promised the mercantile house one last day of work.” Maxwell exhaled. “I’ll be anxious to hear what you learn. Well done tonight, Miss Wren. You’re an excellent investigator.”
“Thank you,” Tilda replied, and they started walking again. “I’d also like to pay a visit to the police station in the morning. Mrs. Burley is busy tomorrow, so she won’t be going. I want to tell Inspector Chisholm what we’ve learned. I’m hoping he’ll allow me to interview Mrs. Walters regarding the new information I obtained from Mrs. Burley, that Mrs. Walters did, in fact, lie to us about when she arrived in London.”
“He won’t like you treading on his investigation,” Maxwell warned. “Just be sure to have a reason to speak to Mrs. Walters that pertains to the fraud we’re investigating.”
“Certainly,” Tilda said. “I’m anxious to speak with her about the friendly societies her husband started. My hope is that we will be able to persuade her to finally provide all the information she’s withholding.”
“I’ll be sorry to miss it,” Maxwell said with a soft grunt.
“One last thing.” Tilda looked at Hadrian. “Mrs. Burley has in mind to match you with her niece and has invited us all to dinner next week.”
Hadrian’s nostrils flared as he regarded her. “How did you respond?”
“I said I’d speak with you about it. With any luck, we’ll have solved these investigations and won’t be here.” She decided now was as good a time as any to ask about helping those cheated by Eaton and Phelps. “What will happen with the Amicable Society once we leave? I’m not sure anyone besides Ravenhurst—and you too, Maxwell—is committed to reimbursing those who were swindled.”