Barak stepped away from him. ‘Get out, then, you great bag of guts. Go on. And don’t say a word. Gabble about this and Lord Cromwell will be after you.’
He cringed at that. ‘I’d not do anything against Crum, sir, I mean the earl—’
‘Get out! Arsehole!’ Barak twirled him round and helped him through the doorway with a kick. He turned to me, breathing heavily.
‘I’m sorry I let pock-face get so close,’ he said. ‘I dropped my guard.’
‘You can’t be watching all the time.’
‘He must have been somewhere among that rabble in the church. By Jesu, he’s good. Are you all right?’
I took a deep breath and dusted down my robe. ‘Yes.’
‘I’ll have to get word of this to the earl. Now. He’s at Whitehall. Come with me.’
I shook my head. ‘I can’t, Barak. I have my appointment with Joseph. I can’t miss that, I’m still responsible for Elizabeth. Then I want to see Guy.’
‘All right. I’ll meet you outside the apothecary’s in four hours and we can go on to Southwark. It was nine by the church clock as I came in - say, at one.’
‘Very well.’
He looked at me dubiously. ‘You sure you’ll be all right on your own?’
‘God’s death,’ I snapped irritably, ‘if we have to stay together every minute we’ll double the time this takes. Come,’ I said more gently, ‘we can ride together as far as Cheapside.’
He looked worried. I wondered what Cromwell’s reaction would be when he learned a third killing had been attempted.
Chapter Fifteen
WE WERE AT Aldersgate before Barak spoke again. ‘I knew we should never have gone to Barty’s,’ he said crossly. ‘What did we achieve except for that poor arsehole being shot and Rich put on the alert?’
‘We got confirmation that Greek Fire was discovered in the way the Gristwoods said it was. That there really was a barrel of—something—and a formula.’
‘So you believe it now. Well, we have made a step,’ he said sarcastically.
‘When I was learning law,’ I said, ‘one of my teachers said that there is a question that applies in every case. The question is: what circumstances are relevant?’
‘And the answer?’
‘All the circumstances are relevant. One must know all the facts, the whole history, before proceeding. And I have learned much, downriver and again today, for all it nearly cost me. I have some leads that I would like to pick over with Guy.’
Barak shrugged, evidently still feeling the visit had been a dangerous waste of time. As we rode on it occurred to me that all who knew about Greek Fire might be in danger: Marchamount, Bealknap, Lady Honor.
‘I’ll have to tell the earl we met Rich,’ Barak said. ‘He’ll not be pleased.’
‘I know.’ I bit my lip. ‘It worries me that all of our three suspects are linked to some of the highest and most dangerous people in the land. Marchamount to Norfolk and Bealknap, apparently, to Rich. And Lady Honor, it seems, to almost everyone.’ I frowned. ‘What is the connection between Rich and Bealknap? I’m sure Bealknap was lying.’
Barak grunted. ‘That’s for you to find out.’ We had reached Cheapside. ‘I’ll leave you here,’ he said. ‘Meet you at the old Moor’s shop at one.’
He rode off south, and I turned down Cheapside. As I rode between the rows of busy stalls I kept a careful eye out. I told myself no one would dare assault me among such a crowd—anyone would surely be seized before he could get away. But I was glad to see a number of constables with their staffs among the crowd. I turned up Walbrook Road, where many imposing merchants’ houses stood. A little way up the street I saw Joseph pacing up and down. I dismounted and shook his hand. He looked strained and tired.
‘I have been to see Elizabeth again this morning.’ He shook his head. ‘Still she says nothing, just lies there, paler and thinner each time.’ He studied me. ‘You look out of sorts yourself, Master Shardlake.’
‘This new case I have is a troubling matter.’ I took a deep breath. ‘Well, shall we face your family?’
He set his jaw. ‘I am ready, sir.’
Then so must I be, I thought. Taking Chancery’s reins, I followed him to an imposing new house. He knocked at the front door. It was answered by a tall, dark-haired fellow of about thirty, dressed in a new jerkin and a fine white shirt. He raised his eyebrows.
‘You! Sir Edwin said you would be calling.’
Joseph reddened at his insolent manner. ‘Is he in, Needier?’
‘Ay.’