‘Have you … have you told my husband any of this?’
‘No, not so far.’
‘So … it’s blackmail then, is it?’
‘No, no, no, no,’ he assured her. ‘I promise you it’s nothing of the sort. I figured out that Simon Ellis was your son and I thought I’d come to you and suggest that you let your husband know about him.’
‘And reveal my shame to the man I love?’
‘Mrs. Wilkes, I’ve spoken to your husband and it seems to be a major gap in his life that he doesn’t have a son of his own that he can pass his business on to. Perhaps given the chance, he would welcome someone to fill that role. And if it were your son, well, that’s the next best thing, isn’t it?’
She came and sat on the couch, facing him. ‘Do you think that’s possible?’
Cobb nodded. ‘Why don’t you tell me about Simon?’
She twisted her hanky in her hand for a moment and then seemed to reach a decision to come clean. It was as if she was relieved that she could confess to someone about it. ‘You were right, when I was in my early twenties I fell in love with the handsome and dashing, Lt. Roger Ellis. Oh it was wild, the parties, the Officer’s Mess Balls, the walks in the park on summer days with Roger in his uniform. It was all so glamorous, it was enough to turn a young girl’s head. How could a girl resist a man like that? Fortunately, he loved me too and eventually we became engaged. The plan was that he would go out to Bharat for a time, establish himself with the regiment and then I would join him there and we would be married. Unfortunately, the Mutiny broke out shortly after he arrived there. He was one of the early casualties.
‘Word came back to Albion that he had died; just about the time I discovered I was pregnant. Of course I was in a state, no fiancé and a baby on the way. If he’d have been alive we might have done something about getting married and then produce the baby, claiming it was premature but that was out of the question now. I didn’t know where to turn.’
‘What did you do?’ asked Cobb.
‘Well his parents were very supportive; Roger was their only son so they were willing to take the baby, Simon, and raise him themselves, at their estate on the East Coast. It was the only link to him they had left, so I agreed and that’s what happened. I managed to see him from time to time over the years, so he knew I was his mother, we never hid that from him.’
‘So, why is he in town now?’
‘You know what it’s like, a young man wants to make his way in the world. His Grandparents are both dead now and he has no ties there anymore, so he wanted to come up to the big city and make something of himself. I let him come up and I’ve been funding his stay while he looks around for prospects and a chance to make a name for himself.
‘Of course, I’ve been seeing him as much as I can to try and make up for the years when I wasn’t around. It’s been wonderful having him here with me, I must admit.’
‘What will you do now?’ asked Cobb.
She sighed. ‘I suppose I’ll have to stop seeing him for a while if it’s making my husband suspicious. What will you tell him?’
‘Well … I’ll just tell him that his wife is categorically not having an affair and the young man he saw you with, was the son of one of your charity friends.’
‘Why would you do that for me?’
‘Let’s just say that I grew up without a father and I know what a hole that can leave in your life. It just seems to me that Simon might welcome a father figure in his life and Mr. Wilkes wants a son, so …’
‘Do you really think that might work?’ she asked.
‘There’s only one way to find out,’ he replied. ‘Anyway, I’d better be going, you probably have a luncheon engagement and you don’t want to be late.’
‘You’ve given me a lot to think about Mr. Cobb, I thank you for your decency in not telling my husband. I’m indebted to you.’
‘My pleasure. I’ll let myself out, have a good day, Mrs. Wilkes.’
Low-Lifes and High Principles
Mrs. Stiverley, while being informative about Adele, hadn’t been too helpful in locating her. Cobb was going to have to resort to more traditional methods. He needed someone who had a good network of informants that he could use to find Adele. That meant one man, “Gentleman Jim” Darby.
Cobb had never found out exactly what Jim Darby did. He reckoned that he was some type of crook but had never been able to discover precisely what sort. He affected good clothes and manners, a real “toff”, hence the nickname “Gentleman Jim”. He lived in one of the better parts of the City but chose to spend his time amongst the lower elements of Londum’s East End. This didn’t make him crooked of course; lots of the upper classes sought their pleasures amongst the seedier attractions of Londum, the gambling houses, the prostitutes and the opium dens. But Jim Darby actually mixed with these people, calling them his friends.
He wasn’t a crime lord or even a minor gang boss, the petty criminals didn’t work for him, but he used to look after these types, often against their own kind. He was also known to donate money to Homeless Shelters and Charity Missions that looked after the people of the streets.
Nobody knew where that money came from. Perhaps he was a jewel thief or something like a con man. Who knew? Cobb had never spoken to anyone who had found out.
But Cobb knew that Darby could go where he, Cobb, could not. People would talk to Darby whereas they wouldn’t talk to Cobb. If Cobb wanted to use the eyes and ears of Londum, then he would have to do it through Darby. But how to get to talk to him? You didn’t get an interview with Jim Darby unless you were invited to one. How to get word to him that Cobb wanted to see him? Then it occurred to Cobb … Willy Templeton. Cobb knew that Willy sometimes ran errands for Darby, Willy could get word to him and Cobb knew where to find Willy.
***
Kensington High Street was busy with all the well to do people doing their shopping. The young bucks in their fine overcoats sauntered along the street with their ladies on their arms. The gaily-coloured bonnets of the young ladies brightening the grey street, as the weak autumn sunshine struggled to lighten the day.
Cobb stood at the entrance to an alleyway, inconspicuously studying the street. Ah, there he was, there was Willy Templeton. One of the Kensington shoppers, a well-dressed man, was being unobtrusively followed by the smaller man, who was less elegantly attired. You wouldn’t spot it unless you were looking for it, but Willy overtook his prey and cut in front of him, seemingly accidentally bumping into him. Yes, thought Cobb, there it was, the hit. As Willy had collided with him, he had stolen his wallet.
Cobb stepped back in the alley as Willy approached. Just as he drew level with the entrance Cobb stepped forward, grabbed him by the arm and guided him into the alley without anyone noticing.
‘Morning Willy. Keeping busy? How’s your sister?’
‘She’s fine Mr. Cobb, fine. She got away on the train all right, thanks to you.’
‘So, what are you up to today?’
‘I was just out for a stroll, honest, that’s all, just a stroll.’
‘Oh behave Willy, I saw you pick that mark’s pocket!’
‘Not me Mr. Cobb, I promised my sister that I’d be going straight now, as the Gods are my witnesses.’
‘Yeah and I’ve got a Granny in the Marines!’ retorted Cobb.
‘You’ve got a Granny in the … what?’
‘Oh never mind,’ said Cobb, thinking to himself that sarcasm was a dying art. ‘Your tip off about that raid on the jewellery store worked out nicely, thanks for that. Anyway, I need a favour now, Willy.’
‘Er … anything for you Mr. Cobb. Just name it.’
‘I need to speak to Gentleman Jim Darby. I want you to get word to him that I would like to set up a meeting; I can put some business his way. He can name the time and the place, but it has to be soon. Got it?’
‘Yes Mr. Cobb, got it.’
‘Fine, well that’s that then,’ said Cobb letting go of Willy’s arm.
> ‘Is that all Mr. Cobb? I can go now?’ Willy asked anxiously.
‘Yes,’ replied Cobb, ‘you’re free Willy.’
As Willy turned and shuffled quickly up the alley, he smiled to himself. Cobb hadn’t asked him to hand over the man’s wallet.
Watching Willy making himself scarce, Cobb also smiled. Reaching into his own pocket, he took out the stolen wallet, which he had lifted from Willy. He put it back in his pocket and went back out onto the main street and looked around. The man who had had his wallet stolen was standing looking in a shop window. Cobb drifted over and stood next to him, also apparently window-shopping. Cobb took the wallet out of his pocket, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, ‘Excuse me, you appear to have dropped your wallet.’
The man felt his pockets, realised his wallet was missing and accepted its return, thanking Cobb profusely. Cobb strolled off into the crowd.
***
The next day, Cobb received a note through his door inviting him to meet with Jim Darby that evening.
Cobb arrived at the appointed meeting place, at the appointed time. 9:00 pm at The Golden Gryphon pub. Cobb paused to survey the pub and the surroundings. It was a brightly lit, welcoming establishment, somewhat out of place situated in the centre of these sleazy, dangerous streets of the East End.
The thick Londum fog rolled around the streets, making it difficult to see to the other end of the road, so Cobb was on his guard. He had noted the casual male strollers and the “Ladies of the Night” stationed at regular intervals along the railings that bordered the pavements on each side of the road, so he wasn’t too surprised when one of them sidled up to him. Cobb was just about to send her on her way when recognition clicked in. ‘Annie? Is that you?’
Cobb had known Annie Parker since he was a young, “wet behind the ears”, bobby on the beat.
‘Indeed it is Mr. Cobb and ‘ow are we this evenin?’
‘I’m fine thanks Annie. I thought you had given up walking the streets?’
‘I ‘ave that Mr. Cobb. Got me own ‘ouse now I ‘ave an’ me own girls workin’ for me. An it’s a respectable place an’ all.’
‘Glad to hear that.’ As they were talking Annie had sidled up to him and was running her hands under his jacket and around his waist as if he were a prospective customer and she was trying to entice him into sampling her wares. He was just about to protest when he realised that he was being expertly frisked. ‘It’s okay Annie, I’m not armed.’
‘Can’t be too careful where Mr. Darby is concerned.’
‘Oh, so you’re not here working?’
‘Bless you no, Mr. Cobb. Mr. Darby wanted someone that knew you by sight to sort of “meet you and greet you” you might say.’
Cobb surrendered and let her get on with it. Besides, she was a woman so it was a more pleasant experience than the last time it had happened to him.
Finally she was done and linking arms with him, she said, ‘Righto dearie, let’s go an’ meet Mr. Darby shall we?’
‘So what’s your connection to Darby?’
‘E’s a right gent ‘e is. Lent me the money to start up my own ‘ouse, ‘e did.’
‘You mean he owns your brothel?’
‘It’s a rest centre for tired businessmen, I’ll ‘ave you know. An no, ‘e doesn’t own it, he’s not a brothel keeper. ‘E just lent me the money to buy it an’ I’m repaying ‘im, all proper an’ business like.’
Annie led him into The Golden Gryphon and they paused near the bar while she looked around the room. The place was bustling with activity, all the tables were full and the customers at the bar were three deep. The waitresses worked their way around the room, carrying jugs of beer and plates of food and over in the corner a drum and fiddle duo played a lively tune.
Taking his arm again, Annie pushed her way through the crowd, heading for a booth in the opposite corner to the drum and fiddle band. They arrived at a table where a man sat in white tie and tails; this wasn’t unusual even in a place like this. The upper classes dressed up when they went out, even when cruising the East End. He was a good-looking, clean-shaven, fair-haired man, which probably explained why the two hustlers sitting either side of him were two of the more attractive ones in the room.
Annie and Cobb stopped in front of his table and made the introductions. ‘This is Mr. Cobb, I’ve checked ‘im an’ ‘e’s clean.’
“Gentleman Jim” Darby stood up and extended his hand. He was about the same height as Cobb, around the six feet mark. ‘Pleased to finally meet you Mr. Cobb. I wondered if our paths would cross one day. Please have a seat.’
Cobb nodded to Annie and sat down. Darby turned to Annie and said, ‘Thank you for your help tonight Annie, much appreciated.’
‘My pleasure Mr. Darby, if that’s all, I’ll be getting off ‘ome then.’ Darby wished her good night and she left the pub. Then he turned to the two girls sitting either side of him and holding each of them by the hand, Cobb caught a flash of gold coin, said, ‘Ladies, would you excuse us? I have some business to talk over with my friend here that’s not for such delicate ears as yours.’ The ladies excused themselves and left, giggling.
Cobb said, ‘Do you mind if I move chairs? In a place like this I prefer to have something solid at my back.’ Darby smiled and waved a hand. Cobb moved to the end of the table so he had the wall of the booth behind him and a good view of the whole room.
‘You’re in no danger here Mr. Cobb, you’re with me. Unless you try something against me, no one will harm you.’
‘That goes for you too,’ replied Cobb.
Darby laughed. ‘I believe I was in a club once when you raided it, but we’ve never actually met. I understand you’ve left Caledonia Yard and are now in business for yourself. So how is the detective business?’
‘I make ends meet. Now, about why I’m here tonight …’
‘Mr. Cobb, please, I can’t talk business on an empty stomach. I was just about to eat, would you care to join me?’
Cobb looked uneasily around the room, ‘Erm … well …’
‘It’s okay Mr. Cobb, they prepare my food specially, it’s not what the other customers get, it’s quite safe. Steak and eggs sound all right?’
‘Okay then,’ Cobb agreed.
Darby waved over the waitress and gave their order. ‘And a bottle of my champagne please.’
Cobb and Darby made small talk while they waited for the food. They talked about the Great Exposition which had just opened in Hyde Park and the grand glass and steel building in which it was housed, “The Glass Palace”. Occasionally Darby’s eyes would break away from Cobb’s face and sweep the room, on the lookout for trouble, Cobb imagined. All the while the waitress kept their glasses topped up.
At one point there was a cry from a female across the room. Darby was instantly alert. One of the prostitutes had stood up and was trying to leave the table but a drunk was holding her arm and refused to let her go. Darby stood up and looked as if he was going to intervene, but the drunk’s friends persuaded him to let go of the girl. He did, grudgingly and the girl quickly left the pub.
‘Who are they?’ asked Cobb.
‘I don’t know, they’re not from round here,’ replied Darby, sitting down again.
Cobb and Darby went back to their drinks and conversation but a few moments later the drunk stood up and weaved his way to the pub exit and followed the girl out. ‘Excuse me for a few moments would you Mr. Cobb, I’ll be right back,’ said Darby. To leave the pub he had to go past the table where the drunk and his friends had been sitting. They noticed him leaving and after a moment they too, made their way to the exit. There were three of them and Cobb thought to himself, now that’s just not fair. So he left the pub to follow the procession.
Darby found the drunk and the girl down a side alley behind the pub. He was holding the girl against the wall by her throat. Darby grabbed him by the bicep of the arm that was throttling the girl and squeezed until the man lost the feeling in his hand and had to let go
.
‘Now that’s not nice, hurting a lady. Why don’t you apologise and be on your way?’ asked Darby as he let go of the man’s arm and stepped back. The drunk cursed and swung at Darby with his good arm. Darby ducked under it and rammed a fist into his midriff. The drunk buckled and fell to his knees, retching. That looked like the end of it but then his friends joined the party.
One of them grabbed Darby from behind while another stood in front ready to pummel him. Darby elbowed the one behind him in the face and then head butted the one in front of him. Unfortunately the third man had acquired a large piece of wood from somewhere and he brought it crashing down across Darby’s shoulders. Darby went down on all fours and one of the other men kicked him in the stomach. The man holding the wood raised it up for another blow but before he could bring it down, Cobb suddenly appeared out of the darkness and punched him in the kidneys. It was a crippling blow, which dropped him to his knees, positioning him nicely for a sharp jab in the neck, just behind the ear, which took him out like a light.
Cobb stepped over his inert body and tackled the one that Darby had head butted while Darby got up and dealt with the one he had elbowed. It was only a few moments before the only people left standing were Cobb, Darby and the girl, who stood there open mouthed in astonishment. Darby sent her home, with a few kind words and heavier by a few gold coins while he and Cobb made their way back to The Golden Gryphon.
They sat down at their table again and Darby poured them both another drink.
Darby sipped his drink and said, ‘It was good of you to follow me out there and watch my back, I appreciate it. Not many men would have done that.’
‘I need you to do a job for me,’ replied Cobb. ‘You can’t do it if you’re lying mangled, in a gutter somewhere.’
‘I’d like to think there’s more to you than that.’
Cobb just shrugged. ‘I just thought the odds against you were unfair, that’s all.’
Darby saluted Cobb with his glass, ‘I like you Mr. Cobb. You can call me Jim. And I shall call you …?’