The Railway Detective Collection: The Railway Detective, the Excursion Train, the Railway Viaduct (The Railway Detective Series) Read Online Free PDF

Pike gave a full and lucid account of the robbery, albeit punctuated with apologies for the way that he felt he had letthe driver down. Noting down everything in his pad, Colbeck prodded him gently with questions until he elicited all the details. The fireman’s deep respect and affection for Caleb Andrews was obvious. Colbeck was touched. He tried to offer a modicum of reassurance.
    ‘From what you tell me,’ he said, ‘Mr Andrews was a plucky man.’
    ‘Caleb would stand up to anybody.’
    ‘Even when he was threatened with a loaded pistol.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Pike with a note of pride. ‘He was fearless.’
    ‘That courage will stand him in good stead now. He has a strong will to live and it should help him through. When his condition is more stable, I’ll arrange for him to be taken home. Meanwhile, I’ll make sure that’s he’s moved to a proper bed.’
    ‘Thank you, Inspector.’
    ‘I believe that he has a daughter.’
    ‘That’s true,’ replied the other. ‘Madeleine worships her father. This will be a terrible blow to her. It is to us all, of course, but Madeleine is the person who’ll suffer most. Caleb is everything to her.’
    ‘What about you, Mr Pike?’
    ‘Me, sir?’
    ‘Do you have someone who can help you through this ordeal?’
    ‘I’ve a wife and child, Inspector. Heaven knows what Rose will say when she hears what happened today. She worries enough about me, as it is,’ he said with a sheepish smile. ‘My wife thinks that working on the railway is dangerous.’
    ‘You may find it difficult to convince her otherwise, Mr Pike.’

    The fireman sat upright. ‘I like my job, sir,’ he attested. ‘It’s the only thing I ever wanted to do. The robbery won’t change that.’
    ‘I admire your devotion to duty.’ Colbeck glanced down at his notes. ‘Let me just read through your statement, if I may, in case there’s anything you wish to change or add.’
    ‘There won’t be, Inspector.’
    ‘You never know. Please bear with me.’
    Referring to his notes, Colbeck repeated the story that he had been told. Pike was astounded by the accuracy with which his words had been recorded and, in hearing them again, his memory was jogged.
    ‘There was one more thing,’ he said.
    ‘Go on.’
    ‘It may not be important but it struck me as odd at the time.’
    ‘Odd?’
    ‘Yes, Inspector. The man who climbed up onto the footplate called Caleb by his name. He knew who was driving that train.’
    ‘I wonder how,’ said Colbeck, making another entry in his notebook. He flipped it shut. ‘Thank you, Mr Pike. That information is very pertinent. I’m glad that I double-checked your story.’
    There was a tap on the door and it opened to admit Hayton, the stationmaster, a stooping man in his forties. His sad expression made Pike leap to his feet in alarm. He grabbed the newcomer by the shoulder.
    ‘Has something happened to Caleb?’ he demanded.
    ‘Calm down, Mr Pike,’ soothed Colbeck, rising from his chair.

    ‘I want to know the truth.’
    ‘Leave go of me and you shall,’ said the stationmaster, detaching the fireman’s hand. ‘There’s no need to be so anxious, Mr Pike. The news is good. I came to tell you that the patient has rallied slightly. Mr Andrews even took a sip of water.’

    Sergeant Victor Leeming had not been idle. He was working in a little room that was used for storage. Having first taken a statement from the guard on the ambushed train, he interviewed the two railway policemen whose task was to protect the money in the safes. Initially, they denied having left the luggage van and insisted that they had not been playing cards in the mail coach. When Leeming told them that the guard had given evidence to the contrary, they blustered, prevaricated then, under close questioning, they caved in. One of the railway policemen, a surly individual with a walrus moustache, even tried to justify their action.
    ‘Sitting in a luggage van is very boring,’ he