Madman's Dance (Time Rovers #3)(60)

“You have had difficulties with the Home Office coroners in the past?”

“No. I just felt Dr. Bishop would be a better choice.”

“Why?”

“He does not confine himself solely to examining the body. He takes into account the scene of the crime and other minutiae that are often overlooked.”

“Did you not summon Dr. Bishop in the matter of a death on the Friday evening before the Hallcox murder?”

“Yes.”

“So you were aware that Dr. Montrose had taken up work with Dr. Bishop?”

“I was not aware that Montrose was working with Bishop on a regular basis.”

“But you were aware that Dr. Montrose and the prisoner were friends?”

“Yes,” Fisher conceded.

“How did Dr. Montrose react when he learned his best friend was the prime suspect?”

“With deep shock.”

“Was he so shocked that he might have been tempted to alter the evidence in favor of the prisoner?”

Wescomb stood. “I must object, your lordship. The witness could not possibly have known Dr. Montrose’s intentions at that time.”

“I agree with the defence’s objection,” Justice Hawkins said.

“As your lord pleases,” Arnett said smoothly.

“Chief Inspector,” Justice Hawkins inquired, “is it not possible that Dr. Montrose might have overheard the prisoner’s name mentioned by one of the constables, or a bystander perhaps?”

“I do not believe so, your lordship. I was very particular as to who knew the truth of the matter.”

Hawkins nodded. “What was Montrose’s reaction upon learning the news?”

“As would be expected, the doctor was devastated, to say the very least. I sincerely believe that neither Montrose nor Dr. Bishop were aware my sergeant was the suspect until after the post-mortem had been completed.”



Hawkins nodded again. “You may proceed, Mr. Arnett.”

The prosecutor began anew. “In the past, has the prisoner shown a propensity toward women of ill repute?”

“Not to my knowledge,” Fisher replied evenly.

“No need to warn him about such behavior?”

“No. By all accounts, he is a sober and well-mannered gentleman.”

“Who gives money to prostitutes out of the kindness of his heart?”

“Yes. It is a Christian act, after all.”

“I have no other questions.”

Wescomb rose. “Chief Inspector Fisher, why did you assign Inspector Ramsey to investigate the sergeant’s alibi?”

“I felt the reputation of Scotland Yard was at stake, and I wanted no stone left unturned.”

“And it was Ramsey who found the sergeant’s boots, proving he was in Ingatestone?”

“Yes.”

“Could it be said that the inspector is partial to Sergeant Keats in any manner, perhaps inclined to alter evidence in his favor?”

Fisher shook his head. “No, just the opposite, in fact. The inspector is not fond of the sergeant, and the feeling is quite mutual. That’s why I assigned him the task.”

Good old Ram. As thickheaded as any you might find.

“At the beginning of this month, Sergeant Keats attempted to arrest Desmond Flaherty and a number of other anarchists. Was he wounded in that action?”

“Yes, quite seriously.”

“Did he receive a commendation?”

“Yes, one for bravery.”

“That will be all, Chief Inspector.”

Fisher looked up at Keats and then returned to his seat.

That went better than I hoped.

There was a brief pause and then Dr. Reuben Bishop took his place in the witness box. Keats leaned forward, keen to hear Bishop’s testimony. After a brief explanation of the doctor’s credentials, Arnett went to work.



“During the post-mortem, did you note any appearance of violation?” he asked.

“None.”

“Was there evidence of sexual congress?”

“Yes.”

“The cause of death?”

“Death was caused by asphyxiation secondary to strangulation.”

“What was the murder weapon?”

“The sash from her dressing gown being the weapon. The victim was killed a few feet away from the bed. The murderer stood behind her and tightened the sash until life was extinct.”

“How did you determine that location?”

“There was urine in the carpet, which is consistent with the bladder sphincter relaxing upon death.”

“At approximately what time do you believe she was killed?”

“Somewhere between the hours of nine and quarter past midnight, given the remains of the meal in her stomach and the lack of rigor mortis.”

“Were there any other medical findings, Doctor?”

Bishop’s moustache twitched. “Miss Hallcox suffered from syphilitic infection.”

Arnett nodded. “Was there any external evidence of this infection?”

“No. It was beyond that stage.”

“So one of her admirers would not know that he was being exposed to the disease?”

“No.”

“I would suspect that it would come as a considerable shock to learn the truth.”