Constant Lovers by Chris Nickson Page B

walked in.
    â€˜Good morning, boss,’ he said with an eager smile. He’d listened to Nottingham’s advice and dressed down. The suit had seen many better days, the elbows shiny, the knees of the breeches worn, his shoes weary, unpolished and down on the heel.
    â€˜Very good, Rob,’ the Constable approved. ‘Ready for work?’
    â€˜I am, boss.’ He said the title with pleasure.
    â€˜Make yourself comfortable, look around.’ He offered the lad a mug of ale. ‘You’ll be spending enough time here, better know where things are.’
    Sedgwick arrived five minutes later, his hair unkempt, yawning. Nottingham knew he’d already been busy, checking the night men and making the morning round.
    â€˜Morning, John. Everything quiet?’
    â€˜Mostly.’ A frown crossed his face. ‘One of the night men said a whore got cut last night.’
    â€˜There’s nothing new in that, some customer thinks he deserves it for free.’
    â€˜This wasn’t like that, boss. It was a pair of men who walked up to her. One grabbed her by the arm and the other used a blade on her cheek. Told her to leave Leeds.’
    â€˜Who’s the girl?’ Nottingham asked.
    â€˜She’s new, only been here a fortnight or so.’
    â€˜Who’s running her?’
    â€˜Someone called Hughes. He must be new too, I’ve never heard of him before.’
    â€˜So someone’s warning him off through her.’
    â€˜Aye, probably. Most likely Amos Worthy.’
    Worthy was the city’s biggest procurer, a criminal who often supplied girls and loans to members of the Corporation and rich merchants; in return, they made certain he was never convicted of anything. It was a situation the Constable hated. But it had become more complex when he’d learned that his mother had once been Worthy’s lover, and that he’d looked after them during some of the bleak days when Nottingham’s father had thrown them out. More recently, too, he’d helped find a killer who’d murdered one of the few men in Leeds the pimp respected. He was strange, with a code of honour that defied any easy definition.
    The Constable thought for a minute. ‘How many girls does Hughes have?’
    â€˜Four, that’s what the lass said. Do you want to do anything about it?’
    â€˜I don’t like it but let’s wait and see what happens. If there’s anything more we’ll jump on it.’
    â€˜Yes, boss.’
    Lister ambled out from the cells and the deputy raised his eyebrows.
    â€˜This is Rob Lister. Rob, this is Mr Sedgwick. He’s going to teach you everything you need to know. Mind his lessons well.’
    The men nodded at each other and the Constable noticed the wary look on the deputy’s face.
    â€˜Take Rob out and show him the ropes,’ Nottingham instructed. ‘He’s joining us. I think he’ll catch on quick enough.’
    â€˜Yes, boss.’
    â€˜I’ll be gone most of the morning. Go round the pawnbrokers and sellers again, see if any of those items the servants stole have turned up yet. If they haven’t left Leeds I expect we’ll be due to hear more about them soon.’
    â€˜Yes, boss.’ He looked expectantly at Lister. ‘Ready?’
    Nottingham had taken the horse from the stable to go out to Headingley. He could have walked the distance easily enough, but riding would be quicker. More than that, he wouldn’t look like such a poor man when he arrived.
    He’d made inquiries into Hartington before allowing Emily to go and work for the family. Everything indicated a man of probity. He was in his thirties and married with two young daughters, well respected, a supporter of charities for the poor. There was some money in his family but he’d built on that quite astutely, buying and selling land in Leeds.
    His house was new, up to the fashion with a plain front and plenty of windows,