Peril on the Royal Train Read Online Free PDF Page A

physical violence was involved, Colbeck had learnt that there was no better man to have at his side. Leeming was a born fighter. It was only before they were really engaged in an investigation that he was morose and homesick. The inspector had his own reason for wanting to bring the visit to Scotland to a speedy conclusion. Married the previous November, he was still enjoying the delights of his new estate and missed his wife every bit as keenly as Leeming was missing his spouse. Detective work, however, took precedence. Madeleine had understood that when she’d married Colbeck and accepted the situation without complaint. Unlike the sergeant’s wife, she’d been able to take part in the investigative process in the past, so she had a clearer insight into what it entailed.
    ‘We’ll be up against competition,’ said Colbeck.
    ‘What do you mean, sir?’
    ‘Well, for a start, there’ll be an inquiry set up by the procurator fiscal. It’s an office unique to Scotland. Procurator fiscals are public prosecutors who investigate all suspicious deaths and fatal accidents. This crash comes very much under their jurisdiction. They’ll institute a form of inquest.’
    ‘Then they don’t need us here, do they?’ said Leeming, hopefully.
    ‘The railway inspector will also want to decide on the precise cause of the crash. The same thing happened after that disaster on the Brighton line. You’ll remember the problems we had with his counterpart there.’
    ‘I do, indeed – he told us that we were wasting our time.’
    ‘We had to disillusion him on that score,’ said Colbeck, smiling at the memory. ‘Let’s hope we have a more cooperative inspector this time. As for the local sheriff, I’m not quite sure how far his powers stretch.’ He heaved a sigh. ‘Then, of course, there are the railway police. They usually resent us more than anyone.’
    ‘In other words, we could have a lot of interference.’
    ‘I’m certain of it, Victor. The Scots are very territorial. We’re unwanted intruders, part of the nation that invaded and subdued them. My guess is that some people will do everything they can to get in our way. Expect a lot of opposition.’
    ‘That’s a disappointment,’ said Leeming with light sarcasm. ‘I was hoping that they’d put the flags out for us and organise a brass band. When are we going to go somewhere where they actually
want
us?’
    ‘We’ll simply have to win them over, that’s all.’
    ‘The best way to do that is to go straight back to London. It’s an idea that would win
me
over as well.’ When the train began to slow down, he peered through the window. ‘Thank heaven for that!’ exclaimed Leeming. ‘This journey seems to have taken days. Was it really worth all this effort?’
    ‘Yes, it was,’ said Colbeck, seriously. ‘Three railwaymen were murdered. The only way to offer consolation to their grieving families is to solve the crime. It will take a lot more effort to achieve that objective but every last second will be worth it.’
     
     
    Even in daylight, some of the bolder thieves had returned for more booty. McTurk had laid a trap for them, hiding some of his men near an overturned wagon that had spilt its cargo of meat down the embankment. The superintendent himself was crouched beside a wagon piled high with leatherware from the tanneries of Carlisle, reasoning that it would be less of a target than prime beef and lamb. His instincts were sound. Thinking that everyone there was distracted by the work of clearing the line, a couple of young men in ragged clothing crept furtively towards the crates of meat. It was too big a temptation to resist. When they felt they were safe, the pair of them darted out of cover, ran to a crate and lifted it between them. Intending to scamper away, they were dismayed when three railway policemen appeared out of nowhere.
    One of the thieves reacted much quicker than his companion, leaving go of the crate and cleverly dodging the