CHAPTER SIX

Since he perceived the definite link between the murder in Cardiff and the burglary in Wood Street, Edward Tallis decided to accompany Leeming to the silversmith's shop. They found Leonard Voke in a state of utter despair. Having closed his shop for the day, the old man was wandering around the premises in a daze. The visitors noticed that he had forgotten to shave that morning. Voke took them into the back room and flopped into a chair, his head in his hands.

'I'm ruined,' he kept saying. 'I'm absolutely ruined.'

'We're very sorry that this has happened, Mr Voke,' said Leeming with genuine pity, 'but I did warn you that the keys had been stolen.'

'I have three locks on some doors.'

'They were not enough, sir.'

'What exactly was taken?' asked Tallis.

'Everything,' groaned the old man. 'Everything I hold most dear. The safe contained my most valuable stock as well as commissioned items not yet finished. Clients will demand their deposits back when I tell them that I won't be able to deliver the items they requested.'

'Can't you start work on them again?'

Voke looked forlornly up at him. 'I could never do that on my own. It would take me years to replace everything. If I still had Hugh beside me, then there's a chance I could rebuild. He worked quickly as well as meticulously. Without him, Superintendent,' he said, 'I'm lost. It's like having a right hand cut off. Besides,' he added, wincing as if a nail had just been driven into his body, 'I kept all my tools in that safe. The burglar stole them as well. That really hurt me.'

'This was no random crime, sir,' said Leeming. 'The only person who would steal your tools is either someone who knew how much they meant to you or someone who might have planned on using them himself. That leads us to one particular person.'

'Don't mention his name under my roof!' snarled Voke, wagging a finger. 'I told you, Sergeant, if you want to speak to that detestable young man, you must go to Hatton Garden.'