Bloody Winter: A Pyke Mystery by Andrew Pepper Page B

for the family, and the fact that he didn’t mind sharing this fact with a complete stranger suggested that the magistrate and the Hancocks were in open dispute.
    As if to explain this, Smyth added, ‘Zephaniah Hancock is, wholly without justification, contemptuous of our constabulary.’ He glanced across at Jones. ‘He might be more impressed by a detective-inspector from Scotland Yard. You could be our eyes and ears in the Castle. Of course, we want the same thing they want, the boy returned to his family. Everything else is unimportant.’
    Pyke’s thoughts turned to Cathy, as they had done on numerous occasions during the journey. Would she be happy to see him? Turning his attention back to the magistrate, Pyke considered what he’d been told. He wasn’t convinced by Smyth’s assurances but appreciated the man’s candour.
    ‘So what can you tell me about Hancock’s wife?’
    ‘She’s much younger much than he is and a very beautiful creature. I wouldn’t say it’s an especially happy marriage but then again, I’m not sure I’m the best person to comment on such matters.’
    Pyke looked around the room and wondered whether, as a widower, the man had any children. Would this be him in a few years’ time? Pyke’s thoughts returned – briefly – to Felix waving at him from the station platform.
    ‘If you have no objections,’ Smyth said, looking at Jones, ‘I should like to be alone with the detective-inspector.’
    Jones knew his place and nodded before departing, saying he would wait for Pyke in the entrance hall.
    ‘Jones is a nice chap, honest and hard working, but I’m afraid he’s quite ineffectual. The whole force is. As much as it pains me to say it, Zephaniah Hancock is right.’ Smyth wandered over to the window and peered through the glass before turning around.
    ‘In my experience,’ Pyke said, ‘policemen are only as effective or ineffective as they’re allowed to be by their superiors.’
    Smyth took the admonishment well. ‘Of course, you’re quite right, sir. Our mandate here has never been a strong one.’
    ‘If you’ll permit me to say it, Sir Clancy, you don’t seem to care for the Hancock family very much.’
    The magistrate turned around again and looked out at the street. ‘That’s a difficult statement for me to comment on, sir. Perhaps all I can say is that their general contribution to the civilisaton of this town has been less than I would like it to have been.’ He paused. ‘Did you know that Thomas Carlyle called Merthyr the most squalid place on earth? He was especially worried by the absence of a middling class of men, the kind who could bring some respectability to the town.’
    ‘The Hancocks would doubtless claim they have provided work for the masses.’
    ‘Indeed, and this is no small achievement. But if we can’t take pride in our town, how can we expect others to do so? You’ve probably heard people talk about China. That’s what they call Pontystorehouse or the Cellars. It’s a squalid little area and at present we’ve all but ceded it to the gangs.’
    Pyke recalled what Bill Flint had told him during their train journey from Cardiff.
    ‘The rot starts in China,’ Smyth continued. ‘If we cut it out at the root, the town’ll be able to breathe a little easier.’ The magistrate realised what he’d said and tried to smile. ‘I’m sorry. You didn’t come all this way to hear me rant about our local difficulties.’
    ‘Perhaps there’s some link between the kidnapping and the trouble in China?’
    Smyth smoothed back his silver hair with the palm of his hand.‘Perhaps – but then again I don’t imagine any of the gangs would dare to launch such an open challenge to one of the ironmasters.’
    Pyke watched a cart rattle past the window.
    ‘Actually, Sir Clancy, I was hoping you could recommend someone I could use as a translator; preferably a man who isn’t going to be intimidated by venturing into the more unsavoury parts of