‘I take notice of everything, sir.’ MacRae took out his notebook and glanced at his rival, who glared back and produced a notebook of his own. ‘Now, sir, for the record, what were your relations with the deceased?’
‘Is there no more sheltered place where we can pursue these inquiries?’ Dr Doyle asked, looking about him. Most of the stalls had closed. The taverns were nearby, but crowded.
A familiar voice broke into the hubbub. ‘What’s going on here?’ Mr Levin shoved through the crowd, to see why the police ambulance was blocking the street. ‘Oh my!’ Levin’s too refined tones broke into purest Whitechapel. ‘Ow, it’s Mr Basset! Is ’e …?’
‘Who’re you?’ Calloway asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
‘I am Andrew Levin, and … is that Mr Basset? Is he unwell?’ Levin’s voice trembled.
‘He is dead,’ Inspector MacRae said bluntly. Mr Levin closed his eyes and murmured something under his breath. Behind him, the rest of the staff had edged into the crowd, joining their fellow journalists on Fleet Street. Howarth and Monteverde bowed their heads in respect as the police lifted the body of the late Samuel Basset up into the waiting ambulance, while Peterson and Roberts touched their hats. Calloway and MacRae eyed each other, neither one willing to give way to the other, while the ambulance driver awaited further orders. All traffic on Fleet Street had ground to a halt while the driver of the police ambulance, the driver of the next omnibus, and the driver of a huge dray cursed and edged their horses back and forth.
‘Where are you taking him?’ Levin asked Inspector Calloway, who looked, in turn, at the ambulance driver.
‘Bart’s is the nearest,’ the police ambulance driver said, looking to Calloway for approval. MacRae nodded.
‘Get the poor soul under cover,’ he agreed. ‘We can sort this out later.’ Calloway gave the signal, and the ambulance driver edged the horse up to the Strand, the better to turn around and head back into the City, to the venerable hospital of St Bartholomew. The flow of traffic resumed, and the attention of the police was turned to the staff of Youth’s Companion.
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Copyright © 2001 by Roberta Rogow
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ISBN: 978-1-4532-0590-7
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