Craddock (27 page)
Authors: Paul Finch,Neil Jackson
“
Good morning’s work, sir,” he said. “So you got back from Top Lock uneaten.”
Good morning’s work, sir,” he said. “So you got back from Top Lock uneaten.”
Craddock related what he’d learned from William Childs. Behind him, meanwhile, the shouts and arguments had reached a new pitch of intensity. Suddenly, there were shrieks and cries. Craddock and Munro glanced around – and saw the workhouse runaways clinging together all the harder, refusing to be led off by Repton.
“
We ain’t goin’, we’re not!” the older one shouted. “We’re staying wi’ t’others …”
We ain’t goin’, we’re not!” the older one shouted. “We’re staying wi’ t’others …”
“
God’s sake, lad, you’re being let off!” the sergeant said.
God’s sake, lad, you’re being let off!” the sergeant said.
Now Laura McKye intervened, throwing her arms round the two children in sisterly fashion, trying to calm them. “It ain’t them as is doing it, I told you,” she said.
“
Who else then?” asked the younger runaway.
Who else then?” asked the younger runaway.
“
We’ll tell the beak what you’re about, we will,” said the older, pointing at Repton.
We’ll tell the beak what you’re about, we will,” said the older, pointing at Repton.
Craddock strode forwards. “What’s the problem here?”
The rest of the young prisoners had fallen silent. Worried, uncertain glances passed between them. The major looked at Repton, who shrugged. Oddly, it was Laura McKye who spoke up.
“
They won’t listen to me, Major Craddock. They reckon it’s you peelers as is doing away wi’ us.”
They won’t listen to me, Major Craddock. They reckon it’s you peelers as is doing away wi’ us.”
“
Doing away with you? What are you talking about?”
Doing away with you? What are you talking about?”
She turned to the runaways. “Told you … he doesn’t even know.”
“
He’s making that up,” the elder one hissed back.
He’s making that up,” the elder one hissed back.
“
Laura McKye!” Craddock snapped. “Step away from those two. In fact …” he indicated the door behind the charge-table, “through there, now!”
Laura McKye!” Craddock snapped. “Step away from those two. In fact …” he indicated the door behind the charge-table, “through there, now!”
The girl hesitated to go. For the first time, a look of bewilderment crossed her smudged features.
“
It’s just an office,” Craddock said, and to prove the point, he led the way.
It’s just an office,” Craddock said, and to prove the point, he led the way.
Once in there, seeing that he’d spoken the truth, she relaxed a little. Craddock bade her sit in the armchair by the fire, then beckoned Munro in and told him to close the door.
“
Now,” Craddock said, “what’s this nonsense?”
Now,” Craddock said, “what’s this nonsense?”
She sniffed, began twining her fingers in the ribbons at the front of her petticoat. “Some of us … ain’t round no more.”
The officers glanced at each other.
“
You mean they’re dead?” Craddock asked.
You mean they’re dead?” Craddock asked.
She shrugged. “Disappeared, like.”
“
Arrested?” Munro said. “ Moved on?”
Arrested?” Munro said. “ Moved on?”
She gave a pitying cackle. “Moved on? … Lord ‘elp us! The likes of us? With winter coming?”
“
How many of you have disappeared?” Craddock asked.
How many of you have disappeared?” Craddock asked.
She tried to think. “Well … Charlie Atkins, Ned Turley, Godfrey Simple … how many’s that? Three. More ‘n’ that, though. Ten, eleven perhaps …”
“
Eleven?” said Craddock with disbelief.
Eleven?” said Craddock with disbelief.
It was appalling to him that as many as eleven children could disappear and nobody notice their absence, yet it was quite easy to believe. This was the way society had gone in the glorious age of Empire.
“
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Munro asked in a low voice.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Munro asked in a low voice.
Craddock nodded. “Fred Childs.”
“
Sir, these urchins … a lot of them sleep under the canal bridges at night. And the canal tow-path’s probably the quickest way to and from Top Lock.”
Sir, these urchins … a lot of them sleep under the canal bridges at night. And the canal tow-path’s probably the quickest way to and from Top Lock.”
“
Then there’s that shadow,” Laura added.
Then there’s that shadow,” Laura added.
Craddock glanced at her. “What shadow?”
“
That shadow what comes scuttling after us of a night. Fair frightens us to death, it does.”
That shadow what comes scuttling after us of a night. Fair frightens us to death, it does.”
“
Scuttling?”
Munro said.
Scuttling?”
Munro said.
“
Yeah. Never seen it proper, but you hear it quite a lot. Of a night, like I say.”
Yeah. Never seen it proper, but you hear it quite a lot. Of a night, like I say.”
At first, neither officer could speak. Munro was thoroughly confused, but Craddock could only think of one thing: that crazy pitter-patter he’d heard in the ruins at Top Lock – like something walking on more than two feet.
“
Sergeant Rafferty!”
he bellowed.
Sergeant Rafferty!”
he bellowed.
Rafferty appeared at the door. “Sir?”
“
Take this young lady to the mess, and give her something to eat and drink. While you’re at it, take a full statement from her.” He turned to the girl. “Laura … you will tell Sergeant Rafferty everything you’ve told me, and more. Give him the names of all your friends who’ve disappeared.”
Take this young lady to the mess, and give her something to eat and drink. While you’re at it, take a full statement from her.” He turned to the girl. “Laura … you will tell Sergeant Rafferty everything you’ve told me, and more. Give him the names of all your friends who’ve disappeared.”
Rafferty was puzzled. “What about the other pickpockets, sir?”
“
Holding-cells, for the time being. I’ve a horrible feeling we’ve bigger fish to fry.”
Holding-cells, for the time being. I’ve a horrible feeling we’ve bigger fish to fry.”
Rafferty stuck his pencil into his pocket, and led Laura from the room.
“
There’s also the matter of Tom Childs,” Munro said. “He’s been in custody a day and a night now, without charge.”
There’s also the matter of Tom Childs,” Munro said. “He’s been in custody a day and a night now, without charge.”
Craddock sat down to think. “If I charge him with highway robbery, Jack, you know as well as I do, he’ll get fifteen years hard labour. At his age, that’s a death sentence.”
“
We can’t hang onto him indefinitely.”
We can’t hang onto him indefinitely.”
“
I don’t intend to hang onto him indefinitely. But I’m certainly not releasing him yet.”
I don’t intend to hang onto him indefinitely. But I’m certainly not releasing him yet.”
Twenty minutes later, Craddock and Munro were in the doorway to the mess-hall, watching Laura McKye wolf down some bread and butter, and drink noisily from a jug of milk. Rafferty sat on the bench beside her, scribbling details in his pocket-book.
“
Do you think …” Craddock began quietly, “do you think the loss of a man’s child could unhinge him to such a degree …”
Do you think …” Craddock began quietly, “do you think the loss of a man’s child could unhinge him to such a degree …”
Munro glanced round. “You don’t suspect the Reverend Pettigrew?”
“
Tom Childs does. At least … he suspects Krueger.”
Tom Childs does. At least … he suspects Krueger.”
“
That doesn’t necessarily implicate the master.”
That doesn’t necessarily implicate the master.”
“
You haven’t been up there. The servant was too frightened to enter the house, the wife goes about like a wraith … she won’t even speak.” As if he’d suddenly reached a decision, he stepped forwards. “Laura McKye!”
You haven’t been up there. The servant was too frightened to enter the house, the wife goes about like a wraith … she won’t even speak.” As if he’d suddenly reached a decision, he stepped forwards. “Laura McKye!”
The girl glanced up.
“
Laura McKye … I have a proposition for you, which might just mean that this morning’s arrests can be put behind us …”
Laura McKye … I have a proposition for you, which might just mean that this morning’s arrests can be put behind us …”
Craddock pulled the drape aside on the carriage window. She’d only been gone a short while, but Laura already made a solitary figure as she trudged up the slope of broken slag to the distant ruins of the Top Lock colliery. Overhead, the dark clouds of late afternoon were roiling. There was no rain yet, but a distinctly damp chill had set in.
The very thought of going alone to the derelict site had terrified the girl, and it had taken the major some time to persuade her that help would never be more than a shout away. So fearsome was Top Lock’s reputation among the street-children that the promise she and her fellow pickpockets would be released without charge – on
this
occasion – had been of restricted bargaining value. Only when Craddock had solemnly informed her that this might be their only chance to find out where the missing youngsters had vanished to, had she finally, warily, consented. It was interesting and perhaps unexpected to note that her concern for her friends was stronger than her concern for herself.
this
occasion – had been of restricted bargaining value. Only when Craddock had solemnly informed her that this might be their only chance to find out where the missing youngsters had vanished to, had she finally, warily, consented. It was interesting and perhaps unexpected to note that her concern for her friends was stronger than her concern for herself.
“
She’s a brave one,” he said under his breath.
She’s a brave one,” he said under his breath.
Munro was less comfortable. “Sir … with all respect, this is more than a high-risk policy.”
“
What choice do we have, Jack?”
What choice do we have, Jack?”
“
But if either one of those men should attack the girl?”
But if either one of those men should attack the girl?”
“
We arrest them. And that’s the object. As things are, we’ve nothing to hold them with, no grounds to search … we must try to lure them out.”
We arrest them. And that’s the object. As things are, we’ve nothing to hold them with, no grounds to search … we must try to lure them out.”
Munro nodded curtly, as if he knew this already but was unhappy with it. He opened the carriage door and clambered out. “Let’s make sure we don’t lose sight of her.”
Craddock followed him. Sergeant Rafferty was on the driver’s bench. Behind him, on the roof, perched constables Coogan and Butterfield.
“
Sergeant Rafferty,” Cradodck said, “you will stay here. Bring the carriage up should I signal you. You two … go south to Kirkless Hall, and work your way north along the canal. Comb the entire eastern edge of the Lock, and stay alert. Is that understood?”
Sergeant Rafferty,” Cradodck said, “you will stay here. Bring the carriage up should I signal you. You two … go south to Kirkless Hall, and work your way north along the canal. Comb the entire eastern edge of the Lock, and stay alert. Is that understood?”
Coogan and Butterfield trooped away.
Craddock turned to Munro. “Shall we go?”
Munro was still unsure. “Do you think we’ve brought enough men?”
Craddock struck off up the slope, stick in hand. “We can’t neglect the rest of the township on a hunch, Jack. Come now, we mustn’t dally.”
They walked over increasingly rough and rugged terrain. Most of the colliery tip was a blasted, semi-volcanic wilderness, largely comprised of soft clinker, which here and there gave though to deep sink-holes. There were also crevices in the ground, from which sulphurous fumes emerged. Occasionally, the brow fell away entirely into perilous gullies dense with rank vegetation, or down towards the flashes – silent, yellow lagoons, infamously toxic and reputedly bottomless. Way ahead meanwhile, the girl was now a distant ghost on the outskirts of the colliery buildings.
Craddock glanced back. Down on the muddy track, the black box of the police-carriage waited. The hefty shape of Rafferty was visible beside it, puffing on his pipe.
“
Is he close enough, should we need him?” Munro wondered.
Is he close enough, should we need him?” Munro wondered.
“
Three’s a crowd,” Craddock said, after some consideration.
Three’s a crowd,” Craddock said, after some consideration.
Munro was about to reply, when he spotted something and fell instantly to a crouch. Craddock copied him – and saw that, perhaps two hundred yards to the west, a figure had emerged from a patch of scrub-thorn. By the hulking physique and tight, black suit, it was Krueger. They watched him tensely. He hadn’t seen them, and, likely as not, wouldn’t, because his attention was focussed on the slight form of Laura. He checked furtively around and began to follow her at a stroll.
“
He looks like a man who can’t believe his luck,” Munro whispered.
He looks like a man who can’t believe his luck,” Munro whispered.
“
His luck’s about to run out,” Craddock said.
His luck’s about to run out,” Craddock said.
Hurriedly, but keeping low, they pursued him. But it wasn’t easy. When Laura vanished into the colliery complex, Krueger began to run – at a lurching, predatory gait, his shoulders hunched forwards, his big arms pistoning. He covered the ground with powerful strides, and, in less than a moment, had gained half the distance on her.
“
I think we should’ve come armed,” Munro said.
I think we should’ve come armed,” Munro said.
“
Too late now,” Craddock replied. “Quickly!”
Too late now,” Craddock replied. “Quickly!”
They too began to run. Krueger also vanished from view, and in that same second there was a series of dreadful shrieks – the high-pitched tones of a young female.
“
Holy Mother of God!” Craddock gasped. He’d expected something to happen, but not so quickly. “Call Rafferty!”
Holy Mother of God!” Craddock gasped. He’d expected something to happen, but not so quickly. “Call Rafferty!”
Munro stopped and turned. Placing his whistle to his lips, he blew a single shrill blast. It was ear-piercing, and, although the big sergeant was maybe half a mile away, he would easily hear it. Hopefully Krueger would too, and be warned off – but an instant later the girl’s screams were abruptly silenced.
“
If he’s harmed that child, I’ll crack his skull!” Craddock said.
If he’s harmed that child, I’ll crack his skull!” Craddock said.
“
All respect, sir,” Munro panted, “that skull will take some cracking.”
All respect, sir,” Munro panted, “that skull will take some cracking.”
However, by the time they reached the first ruined outbuildings, there was no sign either of Krueger or the girl. On all sides, broken doorways gaped, window-shutters hung loose on blank emptiness; the silence was suddenly shattering. Directly ahead lay the rusting rails of a former mineral-line. Eastwards, it led to the Top Lock junction and the abandoned railway shelters, while westwards, it wound past the pithead and through the screens and washery. There was no indication which way the miscreant might have run.
Craddock pointed west. “That way, Jack. Go.”
The major himself took the eastwards route, but nowhere in the overgrowth of thorns and weeds was there any sign that a person had recently passed. Of course, a veteran bush-ranger like Krueger was probably well-versed in covering his tracks, especially if the police-whistle had warned him that pursuit was close behind. Craddock cursed under his breath. He stopped to take new bearings. The brick shells of the maintenance shops stood to the left, and a few yards beyond those were the inky shadows under the railway shelters. That very morning, he’d balked at entering there. Its tar-paper canopies looked solid enough – doubtless a network of steel joists supported them, but all manner of rubble cluttered its floorway: rotted planking, loose bricks, not to mention the dislodged sections of rail and sleeper, all thick with rust or slimy with mildew. The darkness in its furthest recesses was opaque.
Craddock felt a creeping sensation as he gazed in. Was that a rustle of movement he’d just heard? Was that a vague, child-like whimpering? The major suddenly realised that he was breathing very deeply, that the sweat on his neck was the clammy sweat of fear.
Gripping his stick tightly, he took a cautious step forwards – then there was a wild clattering of rubble, a furious crashing and banging, and a snorting and a pawing of the ground. Craddock spun around violently, a shout of panic trapped in his throat.
Rafferty could only apologise as he jumped down from the driver’s bench. He’d pulled the team up directly behind the major.
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