Inspector West Takes Charge (16 page)

When she had gone, Mark said: ‘There goes my idea of beauty,
per se.
Harrington is a luckier man than he knows. I wonder how long they’ve been engaged, or even whether in fact they are engaged.’

‘We’ll find out,’ said Roger.

‘I hope you aren’t going to have to wash a lot of dirty linen for that girl,’ Mark said, ‘How long had she been here before I turned up?’

‘You heard all that mattered,’ Roger told him. ‘What did you make of it?’

‘What could I make? She’s worried about Harrington, she isn’t sure how deeply he’s involved, she wanted to emphasise that he was on no kind of terms with her family and the
Dreem
mob
in toto,
but she went a shade too far. She tried to say that his objection to the
Dreem
directors is founded on an altruistic and moral motive, but of course there’s something much deeper. Also she lied, I think.’ He paused, and added: ‘Apart from the attempts to get us thinking on the wrong lines, she lied at least once.’

‘On the matter of their meeting accidentally?’

‘There are limits to coincidences.’

‘It could have been one,’ said Roger. ‘We can’t rule it out. When we know the whole story I may fit it in, but I’d like to know what really prompted her to come. She surely didn’t think I’d talk.’ He tapped a cigarette against his thumbnail, while through the open window there boomed the chiming of Big Ben. ‘It’s a quarter past one. Let’s get out for some lunch, and you can tell me where you’ve been hiding yourself.’

‘I was a victim of a chapter of accidents,’ declared Mark, as Roger picked up his hat. ‘What do you make of the latest Delaware village murder?’

‘McFallen? I haven’t heard anything fresh.’

‘No, not McFallen. The unknown gentleman.’

Roger shot him a sideways glance.’

‘I haven’t heard of any.’

Mark stopped in the middle of a stride, recovered quickly, and did not speak for some seconds. Then he commented on the oddness of the fact that Lampard had been so secretive.

They were in the hall when a sergeant came hurrying towards them, calling Roger. In his hand he held a sealed envelope, and on his face there was an expression suggesting that he had a great weight on his mind.

‘This letter came for you from Guildford, early this morning, sir. It was delivered by hand.’ He gulped the words.

Roger said: ‘How early?’

‘It arrived just about nine o’clock, sir.’

‘Then why haven’t I had it before?’

The sergeant gulped again, ‘It was filed in the wrong basket, sir, and went out to one of the Divisions. It’s just been returned. My fault, sir. I was superintending the post this morning.’

‘Oh, ail right.’ Roger turned back to the office with Mark.

It was a long and detailed report of the murder near Yew House, including a statement signed by Potter, Transom, Widdison, and Hauteby. There was a note that Mark had confirmed the general accuracy. There were photographs of the dead man, and a request for Yard assistance to get him identified.

‘That bloody sergeant!’ exclaimed Roger bitterly. ‘I but now Mark, what do you know about this?’

‘I can give you some help, and you won’t need to worry about the identity of the gent. I’ve found it. I knew last night but kept it to myself so as to try to work on Harrington myself.’

He plunged into his story, which filled in many details missing from Lampard’s report, and only once did Roger interrupt, to say: ‘Harrington didn’t feel good about Anderson?’

‘No,’ agreed Mark. ‘But I don’t know whether that’s anything to go on. Harrington was at the factory all night, remember.’

‘You were told that by someone on the telephone, but he might have arrived at the factory any time during the night.’

Roger pressed a bell.

Sergeant Sloane, large, self-effacing, somewhat elephantine in movement, entered promptly.

‘Sloane, try to check up whether Mr William Harrington was working in his factory last night,’ Roger said, ‘and if so what time he arrived and what time he left. The factory is –’

‘I know the address, sir, thank you,’ said Sloane.

Roger pulled the telephone near and called Guildford. Lampard was at lunch, but Inspector Wade was in his office. Roger reported what he knew about the identity of the dead man.

‘Yes, Mr West, I know. We’ve just discovered some papers that identify him. They were lying in a ditch near where he was found. I have a report ready for Mr Lampard as soon as he gets back from lunch.’

‘Good. Tell him that I am going to see Anderson’s employer.’

He rang off, tipped his hat to the back of his head, and looked sardonically at Mark.

‘So the identification papers were found in a hedge, were they? I wonder what little bird put them there? Come on, let’s feed.’

‘It’s my turn to pay,’ said Mark in subdued tones.

‘I’ll say it’s your turn!’ Roger went silent, and kept it up until they were having a glass of beer at a
brasserie
in Cannon Row. Then Roger said: ‘Harrington dislikes the Prendergasts, and look what happens to them. Harrington dislikes Anderson, and –’

‘I looked at what happened to him,’ admitted Mark. ‘But I don’t believe Harrington was responsible for it.’

‘I hope not,’ Roger said moodily. ‘But circumstantial evidence is piling up against him, you know. I wonder if he’s much of a shot?’

‘Globe-trotters often are,’ said Mark.

They continued to exchange views, impressions, and ideas freely.

Presently Roger said: ‘We thought that Potter looked after Abie, but did Potter look after Anderson? Was it a fake to make it look as if Potter was attacked, or was it genuine? If so, why had Anderson reason for disliking Potter to that extent?’

‘If that was a fake, I wasn’t there,’ said Mark. ‘Potter didn’t lose his head, as Transom did. He moved pretty fast, and he wasn’t waiting for the trouble. If I hadn’t cried out there would have been a nasty hole on Potter’s head, and I don’t mean maybe. I think,’ Mark added abruptly, ‘that I’ll go to see Morgan.’

Roger glanced at his watch.

‘Yes, it’s half-past two. I must get back, Janet should be home soon, but she’ll be all right Why do you want to see Morgan?’

‘He mentioned some unknowns who visited Potter,’ Mark said.

He reached Morgan’s office half an hour later, entered after a tap, and saw Pep sitting on the corner of the typist’s desk swinging his brightly polished shoes. He was dictating at speed, and help up a hand to Mark for silence while he finished.

‘Get that done as soon as you can. They want to use it in court in the morning, and the learned counsel needs, a few hours with it before he starts talking.’ He showed his teeth in a beaming smile to Mark. ‘Hallo, Mr Leasing, how are you this morning?’

‘Good afternoon,’ said Mark, as he was led into the smaller office.

‘So it is,’ agreed Morgan. ‘Now Mr Lessing, I don’t want to know a thing about what happened after I’d gone last night. Not a thing, please. We’re in deep waters as it is, and I don’t like getting my feet wet.’ His beam widened. ‘What can I do for you now?’

‘How soon can you get at your man, the one who’s watching Potter’s office?’ asked Mark. ‘I want to find whether he can identify this chap.’ He took a photograph of Anderson from his pocket.

Morgan squinted down, and then rounded his desk to pull open a deep drawer and extract a manilla file. From it he took several small photographs, and handed them to Mark.

‘My man took snaps with a Leica,’ he reported. ‘Not only your man was there, Mr Lessing. Look at them - just look at them!’

Mark held the snaps, stared down, and went very still.

There were several faces which he did not recognize, but the two that fascinated him were those of Anderson and Garielle Transom both visitors to Gabriel Potter on the previous morning.

‘A surprise, eh?’ asked Morgan. ‘I thought it might be. I had a look round Kingston yesterday, and discovered the little lady visiting Harrington. Then I had her photograph checked. I found out who she was. That’s why I told you to go and see Harrington,’ added Morgan. ‘I’d been told she was there all night and I thought you might catch ‘em both. Peculiar situation, Mr Lessing, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, Pep, peculiar’s the word.’ Mark eyed Morgan very thoughtfully. ‘You wouldn’t know whether Harrington is much use with a rifle, would you?’

‘First-class shot!’ said Morgan promptly. ‘Got it from one of his workmen. Harrington’s in the Home Guard, and gets on the possible every time. Tell you another thing, Mr Lessing. Transom can’t shoot for nuts, and nor can Potter, but Widdison and Hauteby are dead-shots. Both Bisley marksmen. I checked it this morning, that shooting made me think. I’d knew you’d want to know sooner or later.’

Mark left Morgan’s office at half-past three, and walked briskly down the Strand. He slackened his pace as he neared Potter’s building, hesitated, and went in. The lift was working.

In Potter’s outer office the massive bodyguard was standing by a desk, licking stamps.

‘Hallo, George,’ said Mark genially. ‘Is the man of the law in?’

‘Supposing he is?’

‘Thank you,’ said Mark, and pushed up the flap of the counter leading to Potter’s private office. George dropped his stamps and barred the way. A. diminutive creature by a small private switchboard plugged in to Potter, and asked: ‘Can you see Mr Lessing, please?’ She paused pulled out the plug, and said, like a child repeating a lesson: ‘Mr Potter will see Mr Leasing, George.’

George glowered as if that were a personal affront, but removed himself from Mark’s path. Mark made a rat-tat-tat on the glass panel of the door, and entered the long, musty office, beaming at Potter’s expressionless face. Potter was putting papers into the pigeon-holes of the big roll-top desk,

‘I thought I’d come after all; Mark said.

‘I am not surprised at your visit,’ said Potter. ‘Sit down, Mr Lessing, I would like to talk to you.’

Mark deposited his hat, stick, and gloves, and sat down.

‘That’s nice to know.’

‘You will be wise to listen attentively,’ said Potter. ‘You may make many foolish mistakes if you don’t.’ He pushed his chair back and rested a thin, scraggy hand on a sealed envelope in front of him. ‘In there is a full statement of what really happened last night Your friend Inspector West would not be able to ignore the statement of how you forced entry, if it were sent to him in his official capacity.’

Mark put his head to one side.

‘No, I suppose not,’ he said. ‘Except that it can’t be an accurate statement, as you don’t know how I got there. Between you and me, I’m not going to be frightened. That weapon has two edges, and you’ll cut yourself if you’re not careful. For instance, you lied. Lampard wouldn’t like that. Transom also lied.’

Potter said: ‘Transom encouraged the police to believe you had some right there. I did not. I discovered the real truth afterwards. My written statement makes that quite clear.’

‘A double-cross on Transom, is it? That means you don’t like Transom, all of a sudden.’

‘My regard for Transom does not come into the matter,’ said Potter. ‘Mr Lessing, I have been hoping to see you in order to warn you very seriously. You are most ill-advised to continue your inquiries. The Inspector cannot help himself, but there is no reason why you should put yourself in danger. I speak as a friend,’ Potter went on, glibly. ‘I should be grieved to hear that anything had happened to you.’

‘Oh?’ said Mark. ‘How long have we been friends?’

Potter leaned forward and placed a hand on Mark’s knee. Even through his trousers Mark felt the coldness of the touch, but he was far more startled by Potter’s words.

‘Since your shout of warning last night, Mr Lessing.’

‘No!’

‘You can be facetious if you wish. I believe that I owe you my life. I am not a man likely to be unmindful of such a debt. I can tell you nothing, but I can warn you. You are in no danger from me, but then you would never have thought that likely.’ He did not smile, but went on flatly: ‘There is danger to me, Mr Lessing, and to you. In fact, there is danger to everyone who interests themselves in the affairs of the
Dreem
company. I was invited to assist the directors legally; I believe that you heard me refusing, last night. I shall continue to do my best for my clients, Mr. and Mrs Prendergast, but I have seen enough of the activities in and about Delaware village to feel that it would not be wise for me to take any deeper interest. If it is not wise for me, Mr Lessing, it is certainly hazardous for you.’

After a startled pause, Mark said: ‘Well I’m damned !’

‘An incident which meant the saving of my life may be inconsequential to you,’ said Potter. ‘To me it is of considerable importance. Mr Lessing, will any consideration in money or in kind persuade you to relax your efforts?’

Mark swallowed hard.

‘If it will,’ said Potter, ‘I may be able to arrange one substantial enough to have the desired effect.’

Mark swallowed again, and took out a cigarette uncertainly. He was more surprised than he had ever been, as much by Potter’s expression of real sincerity as by the offered bribe.

Potter leaned forward with a match.

‘Thank you,’ said Mark, and drew hard. ‘Potter, I might have been deceived in you after all. Not very much, but a little. I didn’t think you had a single shred of decency in your make-up. However, it’s no dice. You didn’t expect it to be a deal. But couldn’t we reach other terms?’

‘There is nothing else I have to discuss with you,’ said Potter.

Mark stood up, paused, and as Potter said nothing, left the office. He nodded to George without making a quip, and let the office door slam behind him. He approached the lift slowly. It was waiting on the fifth floor, with its iron doors closed. He opened them, and was about to step inside when the lift began to drop.

He saw the lift floor disappearing beneath him as he stepped towards it, and flung himself backwards. His stick caught between the top of the lift and the main floor, and snapped into several pieces. His hat was crushed, and he thudded against the wall heavily, jolting himself painfully. The lift continued to fall, until it crashed to the bottom. The crash shook the iron-walled lift-well, the map of Old London, the windows, the doors. It brought people shouting and exclaiming, made doors open all along the passages and down the centre of the building.