The Witching Pool: A Justice Belstrang Mystery (Justice Belstrang Mysteries Book 2) John Pilkington (top 10 ebook reader TXT) 📖

ground again? If you mean to accuse Giles Cobbett, you will merely add to your troubles. For even if…’ he paused, then: ‘Even if the man had reason to silence Berritt, and was prepared to go to such desperate lengths, do you not think he would take steps to ensure he could never be linked to the crime? He has the means to buy whomever he chooses – even murderers.’

‘And constables and parsons too, it seems,’ I said, with some bitterness. ‘Well, we spoke yesterday of conspiracies. Will you now agree that this looks mightily like one?’

‘Perhaps,’ he admitted. ‘But to what end?’

‘To have the deaths of both Susanna Cobbett and her swain declared self-murder, by virtue of being made mad by Agnes Mason, thereby making her conviction all but certain.’

‘And then?’

‘And then he can seize her land, for whatever purpose…’

I broke off, a frown coming on. On a sudden, I felt a pang of doubt. I recalled Agnes’s words, in her cell at the Guildhall: the land’s good for little but pasture… I eyed Boyd, who wore his sceptical look.

‘When all’s considered, what purpose do you think he has?’ He asked. ‘This fairy-tale of buried gold? He’s a wealthy man – he even allows a tenant to fall behind with the rent. Why then, do you think he would go to so much trouble to remove one who does pay it?’

‘And more,’ Boyd continued, seeing I had no answer, ‘if you believe Cobbett’s behind the death of Rhys, and now Berritt, why did he not simply arrange an accident for Mason – or even hire an assassin to cut her throat and throw her in the river?’

Feeling somewhat spent, I sank down on a chair – but on a sudden, I knew what I would do next.

‘I mean to go downriver now,’ I said. ‘I’ll find Dan Tait, and wring every scrap of intelligence out of the old rogue. For if Berritt was murdered there would be signs on his body – and I’m not about to listen to any more lies, from anyone.’

With that, I stood up to leave – and before my friend could speak, I shook my head.

‘No… I thank you for the offer you’re going to make, but on this occasion, I think it best I go alone.’

***

An urgency was upon me now, though in truth I knew not why. I ate no dinner, but rode out of Worcester by Frog Gate and took the Tewkesbury Road once again. Having covered the distance in a short time I reached the crossing, where Dan Tait’s boat was moored to the bank. There was no sign of the ferryman. I dismounted, tethered Leucippus and walked to the riverside.

All was calm. A breeze rippled the water’s surface, while nearby a heron rose at my approach, soaring off to the far bank. In the distance I could see the tree-tops of Newland Wood, favoured haunt of the man who had once stood before me in the dock, and later taken revenge by shooting an arrow so close, I had feared for my life. I saw him yet, with his bow on his shoulder, amused by my discomfort. Deep in thought as I was, I was startled when a voice hailed me.

‘You want to cross, sir? If you do, I can’t take the horse.’

I turned quickly to see the figure of Dan Tait in a greasy jerkin, his face all but covered by his thick beard. As always, he wore a wide-brimmed hat pulled so low, his eyes could barely be seen. He had appeared from behind a tree, and was still lacing his breeches.

‘You should a’ hailed me, sir,’ he said, coming forward. ‘Scared me proper you did, galloping up like that.’

‘I wasn’t galloping, Master Tait,’ I said. ‘And nor do I wish to cross the river, so you needn’t fret about my horse.’

‘So, how can I aid you?’ Planting his feet firmly on the ground, the ferryman regarded me with suspicion.

‘Do you not remember me?’ I asked. ‘You stood before me once, accused of affray. You got off, as I recall.’

‘By the Christ… Justice Belstrang.’ As recognition dawned, Tait grew taut. ‘Well now, the day is full of surprises,’ he said sourly. ‘What do you want with me?’

‘I’d like to talk to you about the finding of Ned Berrit’s body,’ I said, taking a few steps towards him.

‘And what makes you think I’ll talk to you?’ The other answered. ‘You’re not a Justice now, and we’re not in court.’

‘No, we’re not,’ I agreed. ‘And hence, I’m not constrained by any legal niceties.’ I placed my hand on my sword and did my best to look threatening.

‘Is that so?’ Tait scowled. ‘You seem a mite bad-tempered today, sir. The matter is, I’m somewhat busy, so-’

‘You found Berritt,’ I broke in.

‘What if I did?’ Came the retort.

‘I want to know how the body appeared. For you know as well as I do that he didn’t drown – he’d fished this river from boyhood. So, tell me.’

‘How it appeared?’ Tait made a show of pondering. ‘Wet, is how I’d put it. Wet, and bedraggled as a water-rat…’ but seeing my rising impatience, he trailed off. And when I made as if to draw my sword, he flinched.

‘Listen, it wasn’t me saw him first,’ he said. ‘I brought some folk across the water… one of them pointed the body out, tangled in reeds. I told them I’d deal with it, which I did. Hauled it out, then sent word. And that’s the end of it.’

‘I don’t think it is,’ I said, stepping closer to him. ‘You hauled the body out, you say - was that after your customers had gone?’ And when he merely nodded: ‘So you saw Berritt at close quarters. What were his injuries?’

‘Injuries?’ Tait shook his