Deliverance: A Justice Belstrang Mystery by John Pilkington (top 10 most read books in the world .TXT) 📗

‘Does it matter?’ The other glanced about to satisfy himself he was not overheard, then faced me. ‘I played fair with you, master, did I not? Treated your horse well, and brought him back?’ He paused, then: ‘You know I was duped by that bastard Hawes – I’ve no quarrel with you. Even if you suspected me of killing Peck, when all I did was fight him-’

‘There’s no need to remind me,’ I said, somewhat sharply. ‘Why not make your offer and be done?’

Combes hesitated, glancing at a vacant stool, whereupon Parry gave a sigh and nodded. At once the man sat down, his bulky form filling the small table. ‘I can take you there this very night,’ he murmured. ‘And my price is five sovereigns.’

‘Is it, indeed?’ Parry threw the would-be informant a scathing look. ‘You must dwell in cloud-cuckoo-land, friend. More, I don’t like you. I’ve half a mind to arrest you, if I can come up with a charge-’

‘The charge would be affray,’ I said at once. ‘Master Combes is a familiar face hereabouts… he knows what I speak of.’

Yet, despite my tone, I felt a pang of excitement. Combes would hardly make such an offer without being able to deliver… I glanced at Parry, and caught his eye.

‘Well then, why not simply tell me where to find Russell?’ he asked, after a moment. ‘I’ll give you two shillings: one in advance, and the other when we apprehend the fugitive.’

‘Shillings, is it?’ At that, the other grew angry. ‘You think I’m a fool? You could blunder about for weeks here and not find your man - and I swear no-one else will come to you as I’ve done. Frightened rabbits, most of them. Besides, if I told you, you’d likely go off without paying me a farthing!’

A moment passed, but Parry looked as if he would refuse to budge: a stubbornness was upon him. Was our quarry to escape justice, I wondered, now that the sergeant had a murderer in custody?

On a sudden, there seemed only one solution.

‘I’ll pay you two sovereigns,’ I said to Combes, causing all three heads to turn towards me. ‘The first now, the other when we’ve got Russell.’

‘Master Belstrang, I wouldn’t advise…’ Sergeant Parry began, but he was cut short.

‘Agreed,’ Combes snapped. ‘And I want my name left out. I came to you to get the money you promised me, after I was duped in the matter of your horse. You paid me a groat for feeding him, then I asked when you were leaving. That’s what I’ll say to any nosy varlet that asks – does it suit?’

I hesitated; Parry looked disapproving, but did not gainsay me. Only when I gave Combes a nod did he speak up.

‘It’s your money, sir, when all’s said and sifted. And if that’s how it’s to be…’ he gave a shrug, then eyed Combes again. ‘But I want to know which direction we’re going in. Nor do I want to move now – it’s too easy to lose a man in the dark. We’ll leave at first light – provided you swear Russell will remain where you say he is.’

To this Combes nodded quickly; he was edgy, and ready to make himself scarce. ‘I’ll await you on the road, at sunup, east of the village,’ he said. ‘There I’ll take my sovereign. Once I’ve guided you, I’ll take the other. After that I’m gone, and you’ll not ask after me again.’ But as he began to rise from the table, Parry stayed him.

‘One moment… east, you say? Where are we bound?’

‘For Purton,’ came the hurried reply – whereupon Parry’s constable, who had been frowning at the man, put out a hand to grasp Combes’s arm.

‘We’ve already searched there,’ he said harshly. ‘One of the first places we looked… do you think we’re dupes, like you?’

At that Combes’s eyes flashed. Turning angrily to the man, he wrenched his arm away, causing the other to rise. For a moment it looked as if another affray was about to erupt… but thankfully, it was averted.

‘You looked, you say?’ Combes sank down on to his stool again, mastering himself. ‘Mayhap you did, but did you search every last cranny? Would you even know where to begin?’

The constable paused, then sat down. Whereupon in some relief, I faced Parry again.

‘It’s his only escape route, all things considered,’ I ventured. ‘He can’t hide in the forest for ever. He’s waiting until the next trow sails… once he gets to Bristol, he’s away.’ I pondered the matter, then: ‘It’s clear he’s given up his life here. He knows it’s the last throw of the dice… he’s armed, and he’s desperate.’

‘And yet, this man seems to have known all along where he was,’ Parry said, looking hard at Combes. ‘How is that?’

On a sudden, I stiffened: a silence had fallen across the inn, with all eyes turned in our direction. In the corner beside the barrels, Henry Hawes stood stock-still. Everyone seemed to be waiting - then I caught the look of alarm in Combes’s eyes, and understood.

‘Away with you!’ I said loudly, rising swiftly and placing a hand on my sword. ‘I could arrest you for making threats! We’ll leave when we’re good and ready, and not before! Do you understand?’

Whereupon, amid the consternation that followed, I leaned close to Combes’s ear. ‘Daybreak, as arranged,’ I hissed. ‘Or I’ll put it about that you informed on the Willetts.’

With that I drew back, eying the man as he got to his feet. Hiding his relief at my action, he threw a scowl at the three of us and lurched away, shoving drinkers aside in his apparent anger.

Even the unlikeliest of men, I often find, can play-act most convincingly when they must.

FOURTEEN

The morning was chill; September was waning now, and a scent of