Red Aces (6 page)

Mr Kingfether hung up the telephone and wiped his face with his handkerchief. It was a face that became moist on the least provocation. Presently he folded the newspaper and looked at his unfinished letter. He was on the eighth page and the last words he had written were:

…can hardly live the day through without seeing your darling face, my own…

It was obvious that he was not writing to his general manager, or to a client who had overdrawn his account.

He added
“beloved”
mechanically, though he had used the word a dozen times before. Then he unfolded the paper and read of the murder again.

A knock at the side door: he went out to admit Enward. The lawyer was more important than usual. Participation in public affairs has this effect. And a news agency had telephoned to ask whether they could send a photographer, and Mr Enward, shivering at the telephone in his pyjamas, had said “Yes” and had been photographed at his breakfast table at 7.30 a.m., poising a cup of tea and looking excessively grave. He would presently appear in one hundred and fifty newspapers above the caption “Lawyer Who Discovered His Own Client Murdered.”

“It is a terrible business,” said Mr Enward, throwing off his coat. “He banked with you? I’m in charge of affairs, Kingfether, though heaven knows I am ignorant about ’em! I don’t know how he stands…what is his credit here?”

Mr Kingfether considered.

“I’ll get the ledger from the safe,” he said.

He locked the centre drawer of his desk, because his letter to Ena Burslem was there and other documents, but Mr Enward saw nothing offensive in the act of caution; rather was it commendable.

“Here is his account.” Kingfether laid the big ledger on the desk and opened it where his thumb marked a page. “Credit three thousand four hundred pounds.”

Mr Enward fixed his glasses and looked.

“Has he anything on deposit? Securities – no? Did he come often to the bank?”

“Never,” said Kingfether. “He used the account to pay bills. When he wanted ready money he posted a bearer cheque and I posted back the money. He has, of course, sent people here to cash cheques.”

“That six hundred pounds withdrawn five days ago.” Mr Enward pointed to the item.

“It is strange that you should point that out – it was paid over the counter four days ago. I didn’t see the person who called for it – I was out. My clerk McKay cashed the cheque. Who is that?”

There was a gentle tapping at the door. Mr Kingfether went out of the room and came back with the caller.

“How fortunate to find you here!” said J G Reeder. He was spruce and lively. A barber had shaved him, somebody had cleaned his boots. “The account of the late Mr Wentford?” He nodded to the book.

It was generally known that J G Reeder acted for the Great Central Bank, and the manager did not question his title to ask questions. Mr Enward was not so sure.

“This is rather a serious matter, Mr Reeder,” he said, consciously grave. “I am not so sure that we can take you into our confidence–”

“Hadn’t you better see the police and ask them if they are prepared to take you into
their
confidence?” asked Mr Reeder, with a sudden ferocity which made the lawyer recoil.

Once more the manager explained the account.

“Six hundred pounds – h’m!” Mr Reeder frowned. “A large sum – who was the drawer?”

“My clerk McKay said it was a lady – heavily veiled.”

Reeder stared at him.

“Your clerk McKay? Of course – a fair young man. How stupid of me! Kenneth – or is it Karl – Kenneth, is it? H’m! Heavily veiled lady. Have you the number of the notes?”

Kingfether was taken aback by the question. He searched for a book that held the information, and Mr Reeder copied them down, an easy task since the tens and the fives ran consecutively.

“When does your clerk arrive?”

Kenneth was supposed to arrive at nine. As a rule he was late. He was late that morning.

Mr Reeder saw the young man through a window in the manager’s office and thought that he did not look well. His eyes were tired; he had shaved himself carelessly, for his chin bore a strip of sticking plaster. Perhaps that accounted for the spots on the soiled cuff of his shirt, thought Mr Reeder, when he confronted the young man.

“No, I will see him alone,” said Reeder.

“He is rather an insolent pup,” warned Mr Kingfether.

“I have tamed lions,” said Mr Reeder.

When Kenneth came in: “Close the door, please, and sit down. You know me, my boy?”

“Yes, sir,” said Kenneth.

“That is blood on your shirt cuff, isn’t it?…cut your chin, did you? You haven’t been home all night?”

Kenneth did not answer at once.

“No, sir. I haven’t changed my shirt, if that is what you mean.”

Mr Reeder smiled.

“Exactly.”

He fixed the young man with a long, searching glance.

“Why did you go to the house of the late Mr Wentford last night between the hours of eight-thirty and nine-thirty?”

He saw the youth go deathly white.

“I didn’t know he was dead – I didn’t even know his name until this morning. I went there because…well, I was blackguard enough to spy on somebody…follow them from London and sneak into the house–”

“The young lady, Margot Lynn. You’re in love with her? Engaged to her, perhaps?”

“I’m in love with her – I’m not engaged to her. We are no longer…friends,” said Kenneth in a low voice. “She told you I had been there, I suppose?” And then, as a light broke on him: “Or did you find my cap? It had my name in it.”

Mr Reeder nodded.

“You came down on the same train as Miss Lynn? Good. Then you will be able to prove that you left Bourne End station–”

“No, I shan’t,” said Kenneth. “I slipped out of the train on to the line. Naturally I didn’t want her to see me. I got out through the level crossing. There was nobody about – it was snowing heavily.”

“Very awkward.” Mr Reeder pursed his lips. “You thought there was some sort of friendship between Mr Wentford and the young lady?”

Kenneth made a gesture of despair.

“I don’t know what I thought – I was just a jealous fool.”

A very long silence, broken by a coal falling from the fire on to the iron bottom of the fender.

“You paid out six hundred pounds the other day to a lady on Mr Wentford’s cheque?”

“I didn’t know that Wentford was – ” began Ken, but Mr Reeder brushed aside that aspect of the situation. “Yes, a veiled lady. She came by car. It was a large sum of money, but the day before Mr Kingfether had told me to honour any cheque of Mr Wentford’s, no matter to whom money was paid.”

“Will you tell me something about your quarrel with the young lady?” Mr Reeder asked. “It is, I realize, a delicate subject.”

Kenneth hesitated, then told his story as he had told it to Mr Machfield.

“Miss Lynn called on you that night – did she ask you to destroy the photograph you had taken?”

The young man was surprised at this query.

“No – I had forgotten all about the photograph till the other day. I must have sent the pack to be developed or put them aside to send them. Would the picture of Mr Wentford be any good to you?”

J G Reeder shook his head. He asked very little more. He was, it seemed, the easiest man in the world to satisfy. Before he left he saw the sub-manager alone.

“Did you tell Mr McKay that he was to honour any cheque of Mr Wentford’s, no matter to whom the money was paid?”

The answer came instantly.

“Of course not! Naturally I should expect him to be sure that the person who presented a cheque had authority. And another curious thing which I have not mentioned. I lunch at the inn opposite and I usually have a seat in the window, where I can see these premises, but I have no recollection of any car drawing up to the bank.”

“H’m!” was all that Mr Reeder said.

He made a few enquiries in Beaconsfield and the neighbourhood and went on to Wentford’s house, where Gaylor had arranged to meet him. The inspector was pacing up and down the snowy terrace before the house and he was in very good spirits.

“I think I’ve got the man,” he said. “Do you know anybody named McKay?”

Mr Reeder looked at him slyly.

“I know a dozen,” he said.

“Come inside and I’ll show you something.”

Reeder followed him into the room. The carpet had been taken up, the furniture moved. Evidently a very thorough search had been in progress. Gaylor swung back the bookcase: the safe door was ajar.

“We got keys from the maker – quick work! They were down here by eight-thirty.”

He stooped down and pulled out three bundles. The first was made up of bills, the second of used cheques, the third was a thick bundle of French banknotes, each to the value of 1,000 francs.

“That is surprise No. 1,” began the detective, flourishing the money. “French money–”

“I am afraid it doesn’t surprise me,” said Mr Reeder apologetically. “You see, I’ve been examining the gentleman’s bank book. By the way, here are the numbers of notes drawn from Mr Wentford’s account.” He handed over a slip of paper.

“Six hundred pounds is a lot of money,” said Gaylor. “I’ll ’phone these through. Well, what else did you find in the bank book?”

“I observed,” said Mr Reeder, “though I did not emphasize the fact, that all the money he paid in was in French bank notes. Number two is – ?”

The inspector extracted a sheet of headed paper from one heap. Written in pencil was what was evidently a memorandum from somebody who signed himself “D H Hartford”.

I have found that the man who is employing a private detective to find you is George McKay of Sennet House, Marlow. I don’t know what his intentions are, but they’re not pleasant. There is nothing to worry about: he is employing one of the most incompetent private detectives in the business.

“Extraordinary!” said Mr Reeder, and coughed.

“The first thing to do is to find Hartford – ” began Gaylor.

“He is in Australia,” Mr Reeder interrupted. “At the time that letter was written his office address was 327, Lambs Buildings. He became bankrupt and left the country hurriedly.”

“How do you know?” asked Gaylor, astonished.

“Because I – um – was the incompetent private detective engaged to find Mr Lynn, or, as he called himself, Mr Wentford. And I did not find him,” said Mr Reeder.

“Why did McKay wish to find this man?”

“He owed him money. I know no more than that. The search fell off because – um – Mr McKay owed me money. One has to live.”

“Then you knew about Wentford?”

Mr Reeder took counsel with himself.

“Um – yes. I recognized him last night – I once had a photograph of him. I thought it was very odd. I also – er – drove over to Marlow and made enquiries. Mr McKay – Mr George McKay did not leave his house last night, and at the moment the murder was committed was entertaining the – um – vicar to dinner.”

“You’re a killjoy,” he said, and Mr Reeder sighed heavily.

“I’m going to have these developed.” He held up a little film pack. “I found them in the old man’s bedroom. I don’t suppose they’ll tell us anything.”

“I fancy they will be very instructive,” said Mr Reeder, “especially if you are interested in natural history. There will also be a picture of Mr Wentford or Lynn, with his arm about the shoulder of his niece.”

Gaylor sat down.

“Are you pulling my leg?” he demanded.

“Heaven forbid!” answered Mr Reeder piously.

Gaylor got up and stood squarely before him.

“What do you know about these murders, Reeder?” he challenged.

Mr Reeder spread his hands wide. His glasses, set askew, slipped a little farther down his nose; he was not a very imposing figure.

“I am a queer man, Mr Gaylor; I am cursed, as you are aware, with a peculiarly evil mind. I am also intensely curious – I have always been. I am curious about criminals and chickens – I have perhaps the finest Wyandottes in London, but that is by the way. It would be cruel to give you my theories. The blood on the policeman’s horse: that is interesting. And Henry – I suppose Mr Enward’s clerk has another name – the blood on his coat, though he did not go near the body of the late Mr Wentford, that is interesting. Poor Henry is suffering from a severe chill and is in bed, but his mother, an admirable and hardworking woman, permitted me to see him. Then the two aces pinned to the door, all very, very, very interesting indeed! Mr Gaylor, if you will permit me to interview old George McKay I will undertake to tell you who committed these murders.”

“The girl told you something – the girl Lynn?”

“The girl has told me nothing. She also may be very informative. I purpose spending a night or two in her flat – um – not, I hope, without a chaperon.”

Gaylor looked at him, amazed. Mr Reeder was blushing.

The last page of the letter which Mr Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose. It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.

In desperation he decided to make a break with practice. He would go to town. It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight. When the bank closed he handed over the key of the safe to Kenneth.

“I’ve been called to town. Balance up the books and put them in the safe. I’ll be back by six; I’d like you to wait for me.”

Kenneth McKay did not receive the suggestion favourably. He also wished to get away.

“Well, you can’t!” said the other sharply. “The bank inspector will be in tomorrow to check the Wentford account. It will probably be required as evidence.”

Mr Kingfether got out his little car and drove to London. He parked his machine in a Bloomsbury square and made his way on foot to a big mansion block behind Gower Street. The elevator man who took him up grinned a welcome.

“The young lady’s in, sir,” he said.