Convicted Innocent(55)

(Mathilda personally thought it rather careless of them to have kept such records all in one place, but she wasn’t too versed in the workings of criminal overlords.)

The evidence against the family was solid, but what tickled her Rory even more was the scandal.

So many prominent men – even a few female socialites – appeared in the Harkers’ ledgers as frequent participants in illicit or illegal activities. No doubt an enterprising soul had collected the documentation as leverage, perhaps even to fuel designs for blackmail. None of these names had yet found their way to the newspapers, but ripples had begun behind the scenes. If Horace had wanted, he could have pursued investigations on barristers, members of Parliament, society matrons, a baron or two, and even a chap from the Prime Minister’s office. He had elected, however (and with his superior’s blessing), to let much of the matter sort itself out.

Indeed, on Monday (only a day after the raid), a judge had approached Horace’s superintendent about dropping the Harker matter altogether. The super had listened and then politely pointed out that the judge should recuse himself from the case for having a vested interest in the outcome. Wasn’t that his face in this photograph? And this one? Oh. How interesting.

After a bit of bluster and threatening, this pillar of justice withdrew his claim…and his support of the Harkers, both publicly and privately.

Apparently word of this had spread, and no one else attempted to derail the proceedings.

So the police would take the Harkers to court over prizefighting, for operating a house of ill-repute, and for other such doings; in the meantime, their clientele would take them apart for being so careless with their clandestine pastimes. The Harker empire would likely be but a shadow of itself within a year.

“—He’s a simple fellow,” Lewis was saying as Mathilda returned her attention to the conversation. “What’s to be done with him after this? I think he’d be easily taken advantage of again.”

Powell nodded in agreement.

Her Horace had an answer for this, of course.

“When the legal matters are settled and his name is cleared, which it should be, I think a place has been found for him in the country. The arrangements were made by one or two in the Harker clan who – and I thought I’d never say this – who seem a respectable sort. They’ve volunteered to help the lad. It seems he’ll be in good hands.”

“I’m glad,” both Lewis and his friend said at the same time, looked at each other, and then grinned in unison.

“Lord, you’re like twins!” Mathilda said.

Powell laughed.

“Have you drawn a motive out of Duke yet?” Lewis asked more seriously.

“Yes.” Powell seconded. “Why did this all happen?”

Horace frowned. From what he’d told her, Mathilda knew this was a matter that still bothered her husband greatly.

“I wish Conway Duke were more boastful. However, the man just sits there in prison. He occasionally protests his innocence, but remains silent otherwise.”

“We have nothing, then.” Lewis sounded almost bitter.

“No, not nothing.” Rory chewed his lip. “Everything we’ve gathered about the man’s motives has come from his underlings, and it’s quite substantial. Enough for a sturdy case, though it would be stronger if the man would confess. Our current sketch of his operation is that he’s been at this business for some time. The gang runs cons on other gangs or families like the Harkers, and then sets them up to take the fall while he and his men walk away. A prime example is what happened to the Mercers down in Portsmouth last year.”