All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred twelve)

All Bedlam Courses Past

Chapter Eight

Things Relative

(part two hundred twelve)

Mrs. Demrose, and Mrs. McGhee, among others, were society. Bread and butter, Shute was able to extract, was Gorman’s phrase for a hot tip, a scandalous failing that promised harm to Seven Stars.

“Why’d they sack him, then? He must have hauled in a bonanza.”

“Police attention, Mr. Thacker. I spoke to the partners themselves and gave it as my opinion that Miss Buckley certainly told the truth.”

“So Gorman’s interview wasn’t taken in the aftermath? Was it even aboard ship?”

“Ah, you’ve got the right of it, sir. Gorman needed hunting.”

Gorman’s home address had made easy pickings, both M and B wishing him ill in his future endeavors. That Chiles was no nom de guerre, but a true affliction, Sergeant Defford soon established.

“He should be gone. I want him gone,” his landlord, on record as Mr. Abel Silvers, stated. “I went to get his rent one time, and another guy was trying the door. I mean jimmying the lock. Gave me cock and bull, but I know he was a collector.”

Defford, using the clue of the whiskey punch, and a city map, had visited watering holes concentrically. He found Gorman to have dropped into most of them. Defford let it be known that the police were after a murderer.

Gorman’s card arrived at Monaghan’s desk. “But I had no interest in interviewing the man myself.”

“So Shute cooled him off and started questioning him as a witness,” Weem came in, with a certain doggedness.

Monaghan shot a glance aside, the first wariness seen from him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make my point. You were after Gorman. I don’t know what for, besides molesting Miss Buckley. Gather she wanted nothing said. But you let him believe he was only supplying information.”

“Who did that?”

“Shute, I assume. Acting under his training. Whether or not he’s the mooncalf you make him out.”

“And have I missed your point, Mr. Thacker? Mr. Shute acted within his rights.”

“Well. Shute was not the one who cost Gorman his job. Then your sergeant took his reputation down a few notches…granted, maybe only one notch, tying his name to a murder. You didn’t tell Gorman Lubinski and the barkeep were at the precinct house to eye him, and if Lubinski had said he’d seen Gorman near Mrs. Demrose’s cabin, you would have put him in a cell.”

Monaghan issued a heaving sigh. “It’s an anthem, is what it is. But if you’re so good to share your crusade with me, I’ll share you mine. If a Gorman places himself in my hands, he has lost his luck.”

Weem, though the touch of his shoe to her ankle was unnecessary, sat back. His point had been for Élucide.

224

Bedlam

All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred thirteen)

(2025, Stephanie Foster)