Read Online The Ledbury Lamplighters by Kerry Tombs - Free Book Online Page A

the Leewoods were a problem family. Joshua Leewood was married?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    â€˜Yes, sir. There is a wife and several children, I believe. One or two, I regret to say, seem set to be going the same way as their father.’
    â€˜Do you know where I can find these Leewoods?’
    â€˜You might find them living up one of the alleys leading off the Homend. Probably Smoke Alley – used to be called Smock Alley – near the Horseshoes Inn.’
    â€˜Thank you again, Mr Simpson,’ said Ravenscroft, shaking the clerk’s hand before closing the door and stepping outside. ‘Right, Crabb. Send your telegram to Hereford. I’ll go and see if I can locate these Leewoods. We’ll meet up in half an hour at the Feathers for lunch.’
    â€˜As you wish, sir.’
    The two men went their separate ways.
    As Ravenscroft made his way up the Homend, light flakes of snow began to fall, giving the pavement a wet, slippery appearance. A short walk brought him to an alleyway which bore the words ‘Smoke Alley’ at its entrance. He made his way down the darkened, uninviting passageway that ran between two buildings, avoiding the piles of rotting vegetables and dog excrement which lay on the cobbles, until he found himself standing in a courtyard where a collection of tall, ramshackle buildings on three sides cast dark shadows over the small, claustrophobic space. For a momentRavenscroft thought he was back once more in Whitechapel, until he reminded himself that he was in the country town of Ledbury and that the former darkened world he had previously known was but a distant memory. Nevertheless, a few seconds before he had turned away from the bustle of the Homend with its collection of fine Georgian buildings and half-timbered structures; now he was standing in what appeared to be a darker, more menacing world.
    Adjusting his eyes to the darkness, he gradually noticed two small children staring up at him from the floor of the yard.
    â€˜Can you tell me where Mrs Leewood lives?’ he asked, bending over the children, observing that despite the cold weather, they wore no more than a collection of rags about their persons and that their feet were dirty and blood spattered.
    The children remained silent, looking up at his eyes with blank expressions on their faces. Ravenscroft reached into his pocket and brought out a silver coin, which he held out in front of the eldest boy. ‘I want to see Mrs Leewood. Tell me where she lives—’ he repeated in a louder voice.
    The eldest ragged boy reached out to grab the coin but Ravenscroft quickly redrew it towards his chest. ‘Mrs Leewood?’ he said firmly.
    The second, younger boy looked at him with suspicion, and then pointed to the entrance to one of the buildings. Ravenscroft dropped the coin to the floor, and as the two boys scrabbled to retrieve their prize from the debris, he walked over to the old door and banged his fist on the wood.
    He waited for a few seconds before knocking once more. The two urchins had recovered the coin and had run off laughing into one of the other buildings, slamming a door behind them.
    Receiving no reply, Ravenscroft lifted the latch and pushed open the door. He called out, and strained his eyes to make out anyone or anything in the darkened room. A flickering candle on a table in the centre seemed to be drawing him inwards.
    A sudden cough made him turn quickly.
    â€˜I’m sorry. I did knock,’ he said, closing the door behind him and drawing closer to the flame.
    â€˜Who are you?’ Again the cough.
    â€˜My name is Ravenscroft. I’m an inspector with the local force,’ he replied, making out the figure of an elderly, grey-haired woman,who was wearing a dress and shawl and was seated in a wooden armchair.
    â€˜What do you want?’ said the woman, holding a hand to her face, attempting to stifle the cough.
    â€˜I’m looking for Mrs Leewood,’