Inspector West Takes Charge

by John Creasey

  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.’

  14: Harrington Talks

  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 dis
appearing 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.

  Mark straightened up, dazed. The handle of his stick, with its silver top, remained in his hand. His wrist was painful where it had been jarred when the stick had caught.

  George came rushing out of Potter’s office.

  Mark stared at him, less dazedly, as George said in a hoarse voice: ‘Are you all right? That damned lift ...’

  Mark pushed past him, reaching Potter’s outer office and ignoring the typists and the girl at the switchboard. He saw her push in a plug, but before she could call Potter he had pushed open the door of the inner office. Potter looked up from his desk, and for the first time Mark saw fear on the man’s drab face.

  Potter pushed his chair back.

  ‘Lessing! What are you –?’

  Mark said nothing. His face was livid, his eyes were burning. He took two steps forward, gripped Potter’s shoulder, and pulled him nearer. He bunched his right hand and drove it on to Potter’s chin. He heard the crack from the blow, and saw Potter’s eyes roll. The man would have fallen had Mark not continued to hold him.

  From the door, a girl screamed.

  Mark let Potter go. The man crumpled up, and sprawled over his desk. Mark turned. The girl jumped to one side. George was entering the outer office, but at sight of Mark’s expression he stood still. Mark passed him blindly, then went out, down the stairs and into the coolness of the street.

  It was a welcome coolness. He breathed deeply. He looked at his watch, cursed the fact that he could not buy a drink, but went into the nearest café for some tea.

  He felt very much better twenty minutes later, and took a taxi to the Yard.

  ‘What’s made you so mad?’ Roger asked him.

  Mark told him everything.

  ‘D’you think Potter would have stopped the lift trick if you’d come to terms?’ Roger asked.

  ‘Probably,’ said Mark. ‘I think he meant what he said. But why the hell pull that one so soon afterwards? What do I know, Roger? Damn it, even Potter wouldn’t rig that booby-trap for me unless it realty mattered. I’ve stumbled on something, heaven knows what.’

  Roger drew at his cigarette.

  ‘So Garielle Transom and David Anderson visited Potter yesterday morning. They weren’t together, were they?’

  ‘Pep didn’t say so. He would have done.’

  ‘Yes. What do you think we should do next?’

  ‘The same as you, I hope.’

  ‘Harrington,’ murmured Roger. ‘Another, much more positive interview with Bill Harrington. It’s time he stopped being so secretive. I had another idea after we split up,’ he added, ‘and got Sloane busy again with the Ministry of Supply. Harrington’s factory is controlled by them, and I want to know what he’s doing. I told Sloane to ring me at Harrington’s flat at half-past five, if I hadn’t countermanded the order. Just in case of accidents I’ve asked Lampard of Guildford to keep an eye on Harrington’s place.’

  ‘Odd thing,’ said Mark. ‘I asked Pep Morgan to do the same thing. Any objection if I come?’

  ‘We can do this together. It’s going to be strictly legal, but you’ll add the touch of informality Harrison may like. Oh, while I remember –’ he opened his wallet and extracted some pink petrol coupons. ‘There’s twelve gallons, but go easy with them. I had to perjure myself to get ‘em.’

  ‘Heartfelt thanks,’ said Mark. ‘I’ll tell you what, let’s go in my car.’

  ‘Mine’s nearer,’ said Roger.

  He drove at speed to Kingston, explaining that he had learned about Harrington’s prowess with a rifle, and the shooting ability of the Dreem directors. He hoped he wouldn’t have to wait long, or go to the factory.

  He need not have worried, for Harrington opened the door. He was wearing a blue dressing-gown over his shirt and trousers. His welcome was not enthusiastic.

  ‘You again?’ he said. ‘And both together. You’ll have to be careful.’

  Roger said: ‘When are you going to stop being bloody minded?’ He stepped into the box of a hall, and was led into the lounge-cum-dining-room. Harrington eyed him warily, and said: ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’

  ‘That’s better than trying to dodge me. Where were you last night?’

  ‘At my factory. Didn’t he tell you?”

  ‘What time did you go there?’

  ‘About half-past ten.’

  ‘Did you stay in the factory all night?’

  ‘I was there until after seven this morning.’

  ‘Can you give me the names of any people who saw you?’

  ‘Twenty or thirty, if you’ll come over to the factory with me.’ Harrington began to fill his pipe. ‘I didn’t shoot Anderson, if that’s what you’re driving at. I’ve often felt like it, but I didn’t.’

  ‘I hope not,’ said Roger grimly. ‘Did you know that Anderson was acquainted with Potter?’

  Harrington stopped work on the pipe.

  ‘I certainly did not.’

  ‘How long have you known Potter?’

  ‘I’ve told you, and I’m not wasting my time going over it again.’

  ‘You’d never met him before?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘He’s never approached you on any matter except that which you have told me about?’

  ‘The grammar’s bad but the context is right,’ said Harrington. ‘No, he hasn’t’

  ‘Does the same apply to Mrs Prendergast?’

  ‘It does.’

  ‘Claude Prendergast?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Harrington and turned away to get some matches from the mantelpiece.

  ‘Had you ever known the other Prendergasts?’

  ‘They weren’t people I wanted to know.’

  ‘That’s not answering the question,’ Roger snapped. ‘Harrington, I’m going to have the whole truth from you. If you won’t give it me here, we’ll go to the Yard and get it from you there. Had you ever known the Prendergasts?’

  Harrington eyed the bowl of his pipe, then looked at Roger squarely, and said: ‘Yes.’

  ‘What were the circumstances?’

  Harrington drew a deep breath.

  ‘I knew they were wealthy, and was foolish enough to think they would be interested in financing a small venture. I wanted their backing; I had something which I believed would one day make a fortune. In spite of their moral obligations, they refused,’

  ‘All of them?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did anyone else know of the proposition?’

  Harrington hesitated. He looked massive and tough, but Mark had an idea that he was relieved by the trend of the questions.

  ‘Yes, they did,’ he said at last ‘All the Dreem directors knew of it. That -’ he paused ‘was how I met Miss Transom. There was an informal meeting of the Dreem company board, and she had driven her father over from Yew House. That was just after the outbreak of war,’ Harrington went on, ‘and I had newly arrived in England. I felt sore about being turned down, and approached Transom privately. He also turned me down, and we had a few words he can be a rude devil. I was feeling very raw. If you’d like the more intimate details,’ Harrington went on, ‘Garielle later had a row with her family about it. That’s why she joined the WAAF when she did. The primary cause of her row,’ Harrington went on, ‘was that she continued to see me, although her father “forbade” it. When Potter got in touch with me, I thought it might be because the firm had changed its mind, and wanted to put money into my business. Believe me, I longed for them to make the offer, so that I could turn it down. I’ve been wanting a chance to d
o that ever since the first negotiations.’

  ‘So you’ve got enough financial backing now?’ asked Roger.

  ‘Doesn’t it look like it?’

  ‘Who financed you?’

  ‘I don’t see that it affects the case,’ said Harrington. ‘I was asked not to disclose his name.’

  Roger said grimly: ‘He didn’t expect the police to be interested.’

  ‘I’ll pass him your question,’ Harrington said easily.

  It was then, just when they appeared to be at an impasse, that the telephone rang. It was just within Harrington’s reach, and he stretched forward, lifted the receiver, and then said in obvious surprise: ‘Yes, hold on.’ He looked up at Roger. ‘It’s for you.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Roger took the receiver and heard the flat voice of Sergeant Sloane.

  ‘Reporting as requested, sir,’ said Sloane. ‘I’ve been able to check on all the matters you left with me. The gentleman was at his factory from ten o’clock last night until seven o’clock this morning. He was observed by at least twenty people all the time, as he worked on a machine which had broken down and held up production for one of the departments.’

  ‘Good,’ said Roger.

  ‘The Company in question is concerned with the manufacturing of rubber parts for aero-engines, tanks, and naval craft,’ went on Sloane, as if reading from his report. ‘Its Research Department, called the Development Department, is engaged on exploratory work in connection with synthetic rubber. The Ministry of Supply particularly requests that no hint of this is given to the Press, sir.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Roger. ‘I get it. Anything else?’

  ‘Not at the moment, sir.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Roger rang off. Staring at Harrington, he was faced for the first time with the fact that Harrington was probably one of the few men in the country fully equipped for investigating the processes for the manufacture of synthetic rubber. It was a development vital to the national interest at a time when the natural rubber sources in Malaya and much of the Dutch East Indies were in the hands of the Japanese. And it was just as important to the future economic soundness of the nation.