The Droitwich Deceivers Read Free Page A

Ravenscroft.
    ‘I’m sorry to intrude sir, Mrs Ravenscroft. I hope I am not disturbing you?’
    ‘That’s quite all right, Tom. We were not doing anything of great importance. You look quite out of breath,’ said Ravenscroft.
    Lucy let out a deep sigh as she regained her seat.
    ‘Urgent message from Sir Charles Chilton. You are to come at once,’ said Crabb brandishing a telegram in one hand.
    ‘And who is Sir Charles Chilton?’ asked Ravenscroft taking the telegram.
    ‘Lives in Droitwich I believe. Something big in salt,’ offered Crabb.
    ‘Salt!’ exclaimed Ravenscroft beginning to read the communication. IMPERATIVE YOU COME AT ONCE. MOST SERIOUS MATTER. CHILTON. SIR CHARLES. HILL COURT. DODDERHILL. DROITWICH . Is that all?’
    ‘Just after that telegram was delivered another one arrived.’
    ‘Oh, who from Tom?’
    ‘Superintendent. Gives instructions that you are to go to Droitwich as soon as possible,’ said Crabb taking out another telegram from the top pocket of his tunic and passing it over to his superior.
    ‘I don’t know why someone from Worcester can’t go,’ said Lucy. ‘It is rather late in the evening to venture out.’
    ‘Or even from Droitwich. We have got a police station at Droitwich, haven’t we?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    ‘Don’t know sir, but I would have thought so,’ replied Crabb.
    Ravenscroft opened the second telegram and read. RAVENSCROFT. GO TO SEE SIR CHARLES CHILTON AT DROITWICH IMMEDIATELY. HAS ASKED FOR YOU PERSONALLY. MOST IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLY . ‘Well Tom, I suppose there is nothing elsefor it; we will have to go forth into the night air and take ourselves off to Droitwich.’
    ‘I believe there is a train leaving from Ledbury in fifteen minutes which will take us there sir,’ said Crabb.
    ‘Then we should make all haste up the Homend. I’m sorry my dear, I am afraid we will have to continue this discussion another time. Why on earth they have asked for me instead of using the local man is beyond me? Please don’t wait up for me. I don’t know when we will return.’
    ‘Go Samuel, go now, or you will miss your train. As you said, we can finish our conversation another time,’ said Lucy. ‘Now do take care.’

CHAPTER TWO
Droitwich
    ‘W ell, Tom, what do we know about this Sir Charles Chilton?’ asked Ravenscroft as the two men sat in the carriage of a train which had left the town of Ledbury some twenty minutes before. They were now drawing out of the station in Worcester. ‘You said he had something to do with salt.’
    ‘Yes sir. Droitwich is famous for its salt. They have been digging it up for centuries by all accounts. Quite a hive of activity. And all I know is that Sir Charles seems to own most of it,’ replied Crabb.
    ‘And how did you come by this information?’ asked Ravenscroft staring out of the window at the receding oil lamps on the station platform.
    ‘Local newspaper, sir. Some weeks ago, there was an article on the salt manufacture at Droitwich, and I thought I remembered that Sir Charles’s name was mentioned more than once or twice.’
    ‘I see. I must say that I am more than intrigued as to why we have been summoned, and at such a late hour as well. I would have thought they would have requested assistance from the local station. The telegram said it was a most serious matter. Well we shall see.’
    A few minutes later the train pulled into Droitwich station and the two men alighted from their carriage.
    ‘Take us to Hill Court at Dodderhill, my man,’ instructed Ravenscroft addressing the driver of the lone cab that was waiting outside the dimly lit station.
    ‘You must be Ravenscroft then,’ remarked the cabman indicating that the two men should enter.
    ‘It seems we are expected, Crabb,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘How long will it take us to get there?’
    ‘Five to ten minutes sir,’ replied the cabman.
    Ravenscroft and Crabb sat back in their seats, as the man cracked his whip and the horse broke into a brisk