Colonel Wragley retorted rather sharply. “So far as I can gather, Macdonald, your own investigation has in no way disproved any portion of Long’s report, or of the evidence put forward at the coroner’s inquest?”
“The evidence was all sound, sir. The door of the room in which deceased was fond was locked, and could only have been locked from inside. Deceased had only been dead a few minutes when his body was found, and the letter left on the table, written certainly only a few hours previous to its examination, was in Basil Mallowood’s handwriting. Any reconsideration of the jury’s verdict will have to explain away all those points.”
“Also the fingerprints on the letter and those on deceased’s toilet articles were identical – the fingerprints of deceased in short? You have found no inconsistencies there?”
“No, sir, none – but there is this peculiarity, in the case. Basil Mallowood went to a great deal of trouble to make sure that none of his own fingerprints could be found either at his flat in Manchester Crescent or at his office in the city. He had destroyed his private papers systematically. His office safe was empty and its handle and shelves bare of prints. Similarly with the drawers of his desk. He had overlooked nothing. Of course the ledgers he had examined and used, and quantities of papers later examined by the auditors were there, but all of these had had their prints confused or superimposed during the actual audit, when they were worked over extensively. Then there is the evidence at Varley Close to be taken into consideration. It seems overwhelmingly probable that Basil Mallowood made his home there, at any rate at week-ends – but we have found no fingerprints there which tally with any others filed in this case. So far as fingerprints are concerned, we have very little chance – to date – of corroborating any theory at all – save in the instances at Wulfstane which you have mentioned. Now to turn to the evidence of Paul Mallowood’s death. A man’s body was found in the native quarter of Tunis. The body was dressed in Paul Mallowood’s clothes, and his papers, passport and so on were in the pockets of those clothes. The body had certainly been moved – possibly more than once – from the place at which the stabbing occurred. It had at some time been immersed in a tank. Both hands had been severed at the wrists and the face made unidentifiable. In short, the statement that the body is Paul Mallowood’s rests on the fact it was dressed in his clothes and carried some of his papers. As was to be expected, the pockets had been looted of all valuables – purse, note wallet, watch, letters of credit and so forth. His passport was still in an inner pocket, and a few trivial possessions, such as cigarette holder, pocket comb and mirror, handkerchief and an empty case which had contained rail and plane vouchers from Cook’s. The measurements of the body are substantially those of Paul Mallowood, so far as our evidence goes, but there is no irrefutable evidence that the body is his. In short, the discovery of it simply adds to the complexity of the case. I could put forward a dozen fantastic theories on the evidence we have collected to date.”
“Good Gad!” Colonel Wragley looked at Macdonald with an air of absolute consternation. He was then silent for a moment, digesting the implications arising from the facts which Macdonald had culled from his long distance telephone call. At length the Assistant Commissioner demanded:
“Do you mean to say that you’re assuming that the body found in Tunis is not Paul Mallowood’s body, Macdonald?”
“I’m not assuming anything, sir. I’m only stating that we have no absolute proof that the body is his. It may be. It may not.”
“And have you examined the implications in the latter case?” demanded Wragley. “A body clothed in Paul Mallowood’s garments, with his passport in the pocket – there are only two possible explanations: Either Paul Mallowood has been murdered, or else he has murdered somebody else in order to give the impression that he himself is dead.”
“Yes, sir. I think those alternatives cover the ground,” replied Macdonald, in his maddeningly quiet way. The gleam of humour in his grey eyes was not perceived by Wragley, who always quoted the Scots as being a nation devoid of humour. Macdonald went on:
“The point which we have to decide, sir, is which interpretation will be most favourable for our investigation.”
“What the devil do you mean?” asked Wragley, and Macdonald went on:
“I want to get at Paul Mallowood’s papers and personal possessions. Before he went away he had his flat stripped in order that the decorators might get on with their work in his absence. His papers and valuables are in safe deposit somewhere. Previous to this report of his death we had no reason to demand an examination of his effects. The evidence all went to prove that Paul Mallowood could not have been concerned in the shooting of his brother, or in making off with Basil’s effects, because there was ample evidence to prove that when Paul left the country, Basil was still alive. Paul’s solicitor and his fellow directors were well aware of this, and would have resisted any attempt at examination of Paul’s effects without sufficient evidence to justify such a move.”
“Yes, yes – I saw all that. There was no reason at all to suppose that Paul was involved,” said Wragley. “I considered all the evidence in detail. It was the time of Basil’s death which precluded any fantastic theories concerning the two brothers. One of them left Croydon by the 10.00 o’clock plane and the other was still alive two hours later.” Wragley pointed a minatory finger at Macdonald. “There’s no going back on that point, I take it? No possibility of a mistake in the actual time of death?”
“None whatever,” replied Macdonald patiently. “In the midst of a welter of uncertainties we can be sure of that one point – but this report of Paul Mallowood’s death puts us in an easier position. His solicitor has no longer a client’s interests to protect. Assumption of death – especially death by violence – calls for immediate examination of deceased’s effects.”
“Then get on with it,” said Wragley, and Macdonald nodded.
“Yes, sir, but it’s worth while thinking out any difficulties which may arise, and I should like to state my own personal opinion here, for what it’s worth. Basil Mallowood’s roguery has been proved up to the hilt. Paul has the reputation of a man of integrity. Personally I should not be at all surprised if it be proved that certain of Paul’s transactions were of such a nature that disclosure of them would not be advantageous to the reputation of the company whose director he was. I have seen Mr. Lathom – Paul Mallowood’s fellow director – and I have learnt a little about his solicitor, a man named Sootland. I believe that both of them will be anxious to prevent an examination of Paul Mallowood’s effects unless they are convinced of his death. They are both of them astute enough to see that the evidence of his death is not convincing. It is more than probable that they are having investigations made for themselves in Tunis. I want the co-operation of those two men, Sootland and Lathom. A search warrant is a futile weapon if the evidence it aims at collecting is destroyed before the warrant becomes operative.”
Wragley sat and pondered. “Damn it, Macdonald! It takes a tortuous mind like yours to appreciate all the possibilities of this infernal case,” he said. “What do you expect to find when you execute the warrant?”
“I shan’t be surprised to learn that Paul Mallowood left no will, that his solicitor holds no private papers of his, that his bank holds nothing but securities such as share certificates – possibly not many of those – and that the address of his safe deposit is unknown. We can discover the latter – provided that Paul was an honest man – by advertising, but that will hold us up.”
Wragley began to laugh. “I’m beginning to see what you meant by saying that you could provide a dozen different explanations of this case,” he said. “If Paul is what you are assuming him to be, it’s possible that he was in league with Basil after all, or that Paul made off with Basil’s missing property. Look here, Macdonald, this fellow, Martin. Any chance that he could have been made up to pass for either of his brothers – Paul or Basil?”
“I shouldn’t think so,” replied Macdo
nald, “Martin is described as exceedingly thin, with a very lean face and eyes deep set in hollow sockets. He is also fair headed. Yo u are thinking of the possibility that Martin took Paul’s place on the plane. It won’t work, sir. The Mallowood who left on the plane weighed thirteen stone twelve. They weighed him at the air port. Martin weighs just under ten stone according to his doctor – it wouldn’t be easy to carry an extra four stone on a man’s person, especially in the case of a weakling like Martin.”
Again Wragley chuckled. “Ah, but you thought of the same thing yourself, Macdonald?”
“I’ve thought of every possible – and impossible – variation of the theme of the Mallowood brothers, sir. It is a tempting thought to assume that Paul Mallowood did not travel on the plane he was supposed to have travelled on, but if so, then his place was taken by somebody who resembled him closely enough to take in the passport officials who scrutinised him and his photographs. Obviously one’s thoughts turn to his brothers – but one can get no further. Basil could not have gone on the plane and yet be shot at Wulfstane. Richard could not have deputised, nor yet Veronica – and for Martin to have passed himself off for Paul seems a total impossibility. I also wondered if it could have been Martin who was shot, leaving both Paul and Basil at large, but again the physical dissimilarity was too marked.”
“It’s a curious situation, Macdonald. Basil shot, Paul stabbed, Martin disappeared. Richard and Veronica remaining.”
Macdonald chuckled. “One could say, with less chance of error, that Basil may have been shot, Paul may have been stabbed – but it’s difficult to arrive at any certainty. And now, sir, as to present arrangements. Walsh, of the Special Branch, is investigating in Tunis. He’s a very able fellow, and I’ve put him in touch with all the relevant facts to assist him in the inquiries which we want made. I have got a man in the G.P.O. investigating any cables or telegrams which may have been delivered at Alvarley, Mrs. Brownleigh’s house in Hendon. I’m hoping that we may get some information that way. It’s possible that there was some communication between the Mallowood brothers which may give us a lead in the right direction. I want to get into touch with Mr. Sootland, Paul’s solicitor, myself, and then to return to Wulfstane. I think the core of the secret is there.”
“Well, I’ve put you in charge, and it’s up to you to choose your own methods, Macdonald. It’s a damned harassing case. I don’t see how you’ll ever get it straightened out. Even if it’s established that this body they’ve got in Tunis isn’t Paul’s body at all, and Walsh runs Paul to earth, you can’t charge the latter with shooting Basil at 12.30 if Paul can prove he was at Le Bourget Aerodrome at 12.30. It still seems more probable to me that Martin’s at the bottom of it, with the assistance of Veronica.”
For a moment, Colonel Wragley sat considering, with upraised finger, obviously about to embark on a further disquisition, and at length he went on: “In every case one has a modicum of hard fact which has to control one’s theorising. In this case we have one man shot at Wulfstane Manor (and suicide or not doesn’t alter the fact of his presence there) and another travelling in the 10.0 o’clock plane. As you say, neither Veronica or Richard could have been in the plane: we’re left with Paul or Martin, and you say it couldn’t have been Martin. Very well: Basil shoots himself at Wulfstane: Paul is in the plane: Martin’s whereabouts unknown: Veronica at Wulfstane. In the matter of Paul’s death – presumed – in Tunis – Basil’s dead, Veronica and Richard are at Wulfstane, Martin’s whereabouts unknown. Again, the simplest explanation may be the right one. Martin may have killed Paul. Obviously Richard didn’t, and once again, Veronica and Martin wanted the money. I can’t see that Paul had sufficient incentive to kill Basil for his money. Paul had plenty of his own. If Paul had killed Veronica or Martin that would have been understandable. Moreover, on the evidence as it stands, I don’t see that there is any chance of the suicide verdict being reversed. No jury would believe that Basil’s death could be other than suicide on the evidence presented.”
He paused and studied Macdonald thoughtfully, “Are we imagining that hings are more complex than is actually the case, Macdonald? Basil Mallowood’s death seemed a plain case of suicide save for two factors, one being Martin’s disappearance, the other the non-existence of the funds presumed to have been in Basil’s possession. It seems to me that Martin’s absence may well be explained by Paul’s death – in which case I should expect Martin to put in an appearance again shortly, doubtless with every appearance of recovering from an attack of loss of memory.”
“It may be that I am exaggerating the complexities of the business, sir, but it seemed to me, as it seemed to Long, that the solution must either be very simple or else very involved – and I take the latter view myself. However, another forty-eight hours ought to elucidate things considerably. We shall have more evidence from Tunis, and I shall have had time to examine Paul Mallowood’s papers. Then there’s the matter of Martin. If your theory is right he will want to put in an appearance again as soon as possible – and if he re-enters the country I don’t think he will succeed in doing so unobserved.”
Wragley looked down at Macdonald’s report. “I see that you have a theory that Martin may be hidden at Wulfstane, Macdonald. I can’t imagine why you haven’t had the place properly searched.”
“In my opinion, sir, it’s impossible to search that house properly – in such a way as to leave no possibility of omission – in less than a month. It would mean stripping panelling, probing walls, earthing up exits and generally investigating the structure on a large scale – and I’m pretty sure we should defeat our own ends by doing it. If Martin is alive, and hidden in that house, he’s behaving in a manner so abnormal that he would probably shoot himself if he were cornered. I want to get the evidence and proclaim it aloud before I take a search party into the vaults at Wulfstane. I have put down all the relevant facts in my report. There are several interpretations to be placed on them at present, but I think that we can narrow the issue quite shortly – and then search Wulfstane.”
Colonel Wragley sat and considered for a moment. Then he said:
“I am in agreement with you that immediate investigation into Paul Mallowood’s affairs is indicated. As to the possibility of Martin shooting himself, I think that’s a bit far fetched.”
“He is obviously a neurotic type, sir. How far he is concerned in this problem I am unable to decide, but from what I have heard of him, both from his sister and his doctor, it is plain that he is an unstable type. I want his evidence, and in order to be certain of getting it, I don’t want to rush in and defeat my own ends.”
“In other words, you want a free hand to continue the case in your own way,” chuckled Wragley. “I’ll admit that we haven’t been the losers when you’ve had your way on previous occasions, so you can carry on according to your own notions. In any case, you need to get this business about Paul settled first.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Macdonald, and removed himself from the A.C.‘s. presence before the latter changed his mind and issued any further specific instructions. Macdonald was feeling his way through an intricate case, and wanted to be left free to follow a hunch. He had put all the evidence he had collected before his superior officer: it was not Macdonald’s intention at the moment to put on record his own theoretical interpretation of that evidence.
CHAPTER TWELVE
WHEN Macdonald left Colonel Wragley he went on immediately to see Mr. Josiah Sootland in the latter’s office in Bedford Row. The lawyer was a man of sixty, grey of hair, pallid of skin, with bushy grey eyebrows above light grey eyes, whose gaze was difficult to meet on account of the extreme convexity of his gold-rimmed glasses. He was just the type of man Macdonald had anticipated, sparing of words, without a gleam of geniality or humanity about him – a veritable “safe deposit” of a man, as cold and unpromising in exterior as one of his own metal deed boxes.
Macdonald, having sent in an official card which brought him prompt access to the principal’s p
resence, sat down opposite Mr. Sootland, saying:
“You are Mr. Paul Mallowood’s lawyer, sir?”
“Yes. That is to say on the occasions when Mr. Mallowood has required legal advice – mainly on matters of company law – he has applied to my firm for that advice.”
“You have seen the report of Mr. Mallowood’s death, sir?”
“I have been informed of the statement made in the evening papers. I have no other information.”
“My department has been in touch with a member of the C.I.D. now in Tunis. There is a question about the identity of deceased which must be cleared up. Identification was not possible in the usual way, the face of the corpse having been mutilated. To put the matter briefly, I want to obtain copies of Mr. Mallowood’s fingerprints. These should be easily obtainable from his papers. Presumably you have his deed box?”
“Presumption is a poor guide, Chief Inspector. Mr. Mallowood’s deed box was removed by him from my keeping before he left England. I understand that his papers, in common with his valuables, are in safe deposit. They are not here.”
“Can you give me any reason why he should thus have removed his deed box from your keeping, sir?”
“Doubtless for greater safety, Chief Inspector,” replied the lawyer dryly. “In the present uncertain state of affairs no building of this type can be accounted safe.”
“Have you a copy of his will, sir?”
“No. To the best of my knowledge, there is no such document in existence. Mr. Mallowood made a will about ten years ago, but he destroyed it some months ago, intending to make other disposition of his property. He gave no further directions to my firm on this point.”
There was a pause, while Macdonald studied the lawyer’s face, and at length the former asked:
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