A Killer in Winter полностью

‘They both went skating on the Thames, to take their minds from the Death that raged in the city. The ice cracked.’ Ailred gave a grim smile and indicated his own predicament. ‘They were both left clinging to the edge of a hole.’

‘And Turke saved himself, but could not rescue her?’

‘He used her as a ladder to haul himself to safety,’ corrected Ailred. ‘John and I saw it all from a nearby bridge. Then he did nothing to help as she slowly lost her grip and was swept to a horrible death. That is how he came by his scarred legs. She gripped his feet in terror, but he kicked her off. As he did so, the ice cut into him. He was ashamed of those scars, and always avoided going near frozen water.’

‘So, that was why Turke and Fiscurtune were such bitter enemies, and why they did all they could to harm each other’s businesses. Turke did not kill Fiscurtune in a fit of sudden rage, but after years of seething resentment and guilt.’

‘Turke paid us for saying nothing,’ said Ailred bitterly. ‘He bought our silence. All I can claim in my defence is that all my share went straight to Ovyng.’

And the loss of Ailred’s ‘share’ after Turke’s death was another reason why Ovyng was so suddenly plunged into poverty, Bartholomew thought. It was not just the fees the Tulyets paid for Norbert that were gone, but the money Turke provided, too. Meanwhile, all Ovyng’s savings had been spent to help Dunstan.

‘I suppose, when you heard Turke killed your brother as well as your sister, you decided you had remained mute for long enough, and it was time to dispense justice,’ he said.

‘I knew John could be difficult, and I wanted to hear Turke’s side of the story. But Turke would only say the pilgrimage would wipe out all his debts – including the one owed to Isabella – and he would no longer pay to keep details of her death silent. I was angry that he felt he could murder my sister and my brother, and treat me so harshly, yet still expect to become Lord Mayor.’

‘So, you killed him?’

Ailred coughed weakly. ‘I had not intended to. Frith and I saw him hurrying towards the Mill Pool one day and we followed him. He was looking for the knife that killed Norbert – he was quite open about the fact that he had murdered my student – and even offered Frith a shilling if he would risk his own life to hunt for it. We did not plan to kill him, but once he was here, at the Mill Pool, it seemed the right thing to do. I suppose Stanmore’s apprentice told you how Frith and I encouraged Turke to cross the river, and how we delayed taking him home when prompt action would have allowed him to live.’

‘You knew Harold was watching?’

‘I did; Frith did not. Frith dislikes loose ends, and I did not want the boy to come to harm.’

‘Unlike Turke,’ said Bartholomew. ‘You gave him cheap skates and did not even let him tie them correctly.’

‘It was more of a chance than he gave Isabella and John,’ snapped Ailred, anger giving his voice a strength that had not been there before. ‘Do not come any closer, Matthew. The ice is very thin near me. You will fall in and we shall both be swept to our deaths.’

‘I will throw you a rope. Tie it around yourself and we will drag you out.’ Bartholomew uncoiled the twine and hurled it as hard as he could, but it was short by the length of a man. He gathered it in, and began to inch forward again.

‘No!’ said Ailred, agitated. ‘Stay where you are. I do not want your death on my conscience, too.’

‘Why was Turke searching for the knife that killed Norbert?’ asked Bartholomew, thinking that if Ailred talked, he might calm down. The friar’s movements had caused more of the ice to crack, and it was becoming less safe with every passing moment.

‘Because it was evidence against him,’ said Ailred. ‘It was a dagger he had borrowed from his servant, and it would have led you to him as Norbert’s killer.’

‘So, Turke killed Norbert after all,’ said Bartholomew, recalling that he had dismissed the fishmonger as a suspect for the killing because there was no apparent motive for the wealthy merchant to slay the indolent student. ‘I thought it was Frith.’

Ailred’s voice was so soft it was difficult to hear. The physician inched forward a little more, and felt the ice begin to bend. He stopped in alarm.

‘I sent Norbert several notes in Dympna’s name,’ Ailred was saying. ‘I lied about that, too, I am afraid. Frith tried to force Norbert to pay me back, but it was Turke who murdered him. You should have known that; Turke was a natural killer. If you need evidence, look for bloodstains on his sleeve. His wife must have seen them, but perhaps she thought they were left from when he murdered John.’

‘But why did Turke kill Norbert?’ pressed Bartholomew, seeing the friar slip further into the water. He was weakening fast, and the physician saw he did not have much time left.