Rough Justice In Academia (The Ralph Chalmers Mysteries Book 2)

by P. J. Thurbin

  “Well it was the blow to the skull that put him in a comma. Probably as he fell. So whoever did it will probably be facing a charge of aggravated assault or even attempted murder. If it was simply the result of a fight over some disagreement then that would explain why nothing was stolen. Although that Professor Cavendish did tell us that Rainton might have been carrying a bag or satchel of some sort, it wasn’t with him when we got there and the caretaker who found him didn’t recall a bag or satchel either. But that note has me puzzled. Surely the mafia would have realised that any note should be written by someone who was able to write proper English?”

  Wilson recognized the rhetorical question and kept quiet.

  “Our possible suspects all have solid alibis. The caretaker who found him had been talking to one of the cleaners only minutes before he found the body. The cleaner says she saw Rainton talking to someone standing beside a black Mercedes Benz, but we’ve no registration numbers, so that’s a blank. I interviewed Professor Cavendish and he only confirmed the timings and the location. The caterer, Joe Bullen, says that his people were serving coffee from around 10.30 and then lunch at 12. He reckons that anyone from the conference could have slipped out unnoticed. The conference hall is only a 5 minute walk away from where Rainton was found. He also said that his people included four from Eastern Europe and four Indian ladies.”

  “Yes, Sir. I’ve taken statements from all of Mr. Bullen’s people and they all seem pretty scared. I suspect that some of them are here illegally and want to keep their heads down. From what I could make out none of them speak English very well, and I suspect that they can’t write it either. I’ve got the names and contact points for all the delegates. And I hear that Special Branch is checking up on the foreign delegates, especially the group from Moscow and Eastern Europe. So we will probably not hear much more about them.”

  “I hate it when we get mixed in with the ‘Specials’,” Linham fumed. “I’ve interviewed Doctor Maitland. She is pretty upset about the whole affair. Still blaming herself for getting Rainton to speak at the conference. I think that we can rule her out unless we think that she is an undercover Special Branch officer sent to trap Rainton into giving away national secrets or something.”

  “Is that likely, Sir?”

  “Not really, but anything is possible. I’m becoming paranoid about this case,” Linham admitted. “If only Arthur Berick were still on the loose. Then it would be simple to pin it on him. Do you know when he was younger he was a professional boxer? He ran a boxing gym just down the road from where they built the Rose Theatre. A lot of our local villains probably learned their trade from him. They would all know how to deliver a punch to someone’s kidneys. A foul of course. If the referee saw it. But that wouldn’t worry old Arthur Berick. He knew all the dodgy tricks of the boxing trade. Time we went to the canteen for a cuppa, Wilson. My head’s starting to spin with this lot.”

  ***

  The run in the park had helped Ralph unwind from the meeting with Special Branch. He always took a hot shower after a strenuous run and checked his weight. He was pleased to see that he weighed the same as when he was at Cambridge. ‘Plenty of life in the old dog yet’, he mused. When he got back to his office Janice told him that Inspector Linham and his sergeant were with Rupert Granger and wanted him to join them.

  Granger’s secretary Margaret showed him in to the oak paneled office.

  “Ralph, you know the Inspector and his colleague, Sergeant Wilson,” Granger said as he waved in the general direction of the two officers. The Inspector tells me that you had a visit from Special Branch this morning. On a point of protocol, in future I would like you to let me know when you have visitors like that.” Ralph recognized the tone in Granger’s voice. It was part of his style to demonstrate to visitors just who was the supreme authority on the site. Nodding that he understood the point Granger was making, Ralph sat down.

  “So Ralph, what does the visit from Special Branch have to do with the attack on Sir George Rainton?”

  Ralph explained about signing the Official Secrets Act pledge and Linham confirmed that this was normal procedure in such cases. He advised Ralph that nothing that was said at the meeting with Special Branch could be revealed. Ralph could see that Granger was annoyed that he wouldn’t be privy to whatever had transpired between Ralph and the Special branch agents, but at least it was Inspector Linham who had made that point absolutely clear. Ralph was not sure if it was the run in the park or Granger’s admonition about his visitors that caused him to snap.

  “Look Inspector, there’s something that we need to clear up about Sir George Rainton and his involvement with the University. It’s germane to the case and it is not a national secret.”

  He could see Granger gripping the arms of his leather chair as he went over the details of the cheating incident and Royston as well as other University faculty, including Granger’s involvement, and his views on why the University had wanted to cover things up. There was a pause as Wilson and the Inspector digested what had been said. Granger was no doubt working out how to limit the damage to himself and the University if the full story got out. Linham was making the connections to the various incidents and his own theories. Ralph continued.

  “I know that Arthur Berick is locked up. But if he did have access to some of the proceeds from the bullion robbery, he could easily pay to have Rainton killed. Alternatively, if Ted Berick heard about his mother’s death and his father being arrested on a murder charge, that could have angered him enough to want to harm Rainton, or at least blackmail him. With enough money from Rainton he could hire a top lawyer to defend his father.” He saw the look of horror on Granger’s face as the Inspector started to look interested.

  “But we haven’t heard of Ted Berick’s whereabouts for 20 years,” said the Inspector. “I can see your point about Arthur Berick still wanting revenge. But surely Ted Berick, assuming that he is still alive, would not still hold a grudge about his old school friend after all these years. It all seems a bit extreme.”

  Ralph told them about Rainton having sent regular cheques to Ted over the years.

  “It might be possible to see where those cheques were cashed. If Ted Berick had an account either here or overseas, it should be possible to run a check. Although it’s a long shot, as it was a long time ago, I suppose it’s worth a try. We’ll also get on to the immigration people. They may have some record of Ted Berick entering the country recently. And we can also get our contacts in New Zealand to have a look at their records. Your point about blackmail looks a possibility, and it would explain the note found in Rainton’s pocket. You did say that Ted Bullen was dyslexic. That could explain why we thought the note was written by a foreigner. I’ll get the lab boys to check to see if the writing could have been done by someone with dyslexia. Although again, it’s a long shot.” Granger interrupted.

  “Look Inspector, much of this is ancient history, and if it got into the press it could cause a lot of unnecessary harm to the Rainton family and to the University. Sir James Rainton is keeping a close watch on the proceedings and if the national press were to run a story that the Minister for Higher Education had tried to cover up a case of suspected cheating that involved his son, however long ago, that would be most embarrassing. I suspect the Police Commissioner and the Home Office would be less than pleased to have a story like that hit the papers even if it subsequently turned out to be untrue.”

  Ralph could see that Granger was in damage limitation mode, but he was determined that it was time for the truth to come out. The Inspector was way ahead of him.

  “Professor Granger. I take your point about the need to tread carefully, but you do realize that we are dealing with a serious assault that may even amount to an attempted murder, and there is no area that we can omit from our investigation, regardless of how that affects anyone’s wishes to keep certain aspects from the public gaze.”

  At that point Granger’s secretary burst into the room. She looked alarmed as
she spoke directly to her boss.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but the Vice Chancellor is on his way up to see you. It seems that the local paper has run an article on the incident here with Sir George. I thought you might want to read it before he gets here?”

  She spread the paper on the desk. The headline ran.

  RETURNIING STUDENT ATTACKED ON CAMPUS

  POLICE INVESTIGATE LINKS TO ROSE THEATER MURDER AND POSSIBLE IRREGUARITIES IN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

  Granger had gone pale and was for once lost for words. Inspector Linham seemed to be enjoying the moment.

  “We already have several officers on duty around the campus, but to be on the safe side we need to also post one of our officers outside your house, Professor Granger. If there is a chance that Ted Berick or a gang of heavies are at work then your life may be at risk. Perhaps when you have finished your meeting with your VC you could give me a call?”

  As Ralph and the Inspector left the office he could have sworn he heard Granger’s fists pound the desk.

  Chapter 12

  Visitors to London always make time to attend a concert at The Royal Festival Hall. There famous orchestras and conductors from around the world provide a rich program of affordable entertainment. The RFH is just one amongst a set of modern styled theatres and concert halls erected in the 1950’s on the South Bank of the river Thames. Ralph had invited David and his wife Mary to join him for a concert being given by the London Symphony Orchestra. He had also invited Jean to be his partner for the evening. Jean was still blaming herself for George Rainton having been attacked and he felt that an evening out with friends would help.

  David and Mary were a joyful couple. Students who signed up for David’s lectures on Jurisprudence found him challenging but fair, traits appreciated by students and his fellow colleagues as well. The interval gave everyone a chance to relax and unwind over a drink.

  “Quite a crowd, Ralph,” David shouted over the buzz as they weaved their way towards the bar.“I’m never sure if it’s the orchestra, the conductor or the program that brings in the crowds but they are certainly packed in tonight. Thanks for inviting us. Mary and I haven’t been up for a concert in months and we’re really enjoying it. It was also nice of you to invite Jean. I think she must need a change of pace after that awful business with Rainton.

  “Yes, she seems to feel somehow responsible for it all,” Ralph replied. “I’ve tried to convince her that this could have happened anywhere and that simply admiring someone enough to want to ask them to speak at a conference doesn’t mean you are responsible when criminals intervene for their own ends. Besides, she’s jolly good company and I hoped that by including her she might feel more a part of our little academic circle.”

  “Where are your drinks?” David shouted over the din. “Ours are here. They must have got your name wrong when you ordered.”

  “I guess Charmer is close enough,” laughed Jean, holding up the name written on a scrap of paper next to their drinks. “Better let someone taste yours first, Ralph, in case it’s been spiked. I’m told that people tamper with drinks in bars nowadays,” she added.

  “Don’t give our sleuth too hard a time, Jean, or we might have to catch the train home,” said Mary. “We might find that he has to rush off to meet some beautiful Russian double agent. He probably set the whole thing up tonight to create a diversion. I noticed that the conductor was Vladimir Ashkenazy. Do you think there could be a link?”

  Ralph was happy to be the butt of his friends’ jokes even if one or two hit a bit close to home and wondered whether the references to the KGB were just a coincidence. But everyone was having a good time and he was pleased that Jean seemed to be relaxed and fitting in so well.

  “Us girls are heading for the cloakrooms before the bell goes for the second half,” said Mary.

  “And I’m going to get another drink. Don’t worry, this one is just orange juice,” David said to Mary’s retreating back. Are you going to join me, Ralph?”

  “Nothing for me, Ralph said. “We’ve got another 15 minutes before the second half so I’m going to see if I can get a CD of the concert from the people over there. Meet you back in the theater in case we get split up.”

  As Ralph wound his way through the crowd he was surprised to hear someone call out his name. As he looked around he saw the University Vice Chancellor, Marcel Raveaux, waving to him. After many years living in England his French accent was hardly discernable.

  “Ralph. I didn’t expect to see you here. I hate these crowds but my wife invited a bunch of her friends so I had to come along. Look, I know it’s a bit rude to talk shop on your evening out, but I would appreciate it if we could have few words. I’ve been meaning to get in touch but things have been a bit hectic.” With that he led Ralph out onto the balcony that overlooks the Thames. It was much quieter away from the crowd.

  “You know Ralph, this incident with Sir George Rainton has created quite a stir. All that business with breaking the rules and the way the newspapers are blowing things out of proportion is a nightmare. Of course it was all before my time, as you know, but now I find that I’m in the thick of things.”

  “Yes, I’m afraid that anything that impacts on the University is bound to land on your lap,” Ralph commiserated.

  “Well, it’s all part of the job,” said the VC. So I shall just have to deal with it as best as I can. But of course nothing happens in a vacuum and that makes things more complicated. I’ve spoken with Sir William Tiverton who was your VC at the time, and just between ourselves, he’s in the middle of negotiating a massive endowment plus a sort of Trust Fund with a Saudi investment banker. It could be as much as $30 million US over the next 5 years. We could certainly use the money right now.”

  “Quite an endowment,” Ralph observed. “No doubt there are strings attached?”

  “Naturally. It seems that the son of this investment banker and that of one of his key clients attended the University at about the same time as Sir George Rainton. The family wants to thank the University for the part it played in developing the business acumen of its son. But naturally there’s a bit more to it than that. One of the conditions is that we rename the new business school after the family or something along those lines. Any suggestion that Sir William Tiverton was involved in an alleged breach of University rules and procedures would ruin everything. So what I am asking, Ralph, is if you could do your best to keep Sir William out of this whole examination mess up? I’ve spoken to Rupert Granger and he has agreed that he will take full responsibility for any misdemeanors that might have occurred all those years ago. Rupert’s a good chap and is prepared to take the blame for the sake of the University. He would, of course, only be the official scapegoat. We would move him to another position of equal or higher status in the University. I may even make him Pro-Vice Chancellor since I could use a good deputy. We would have a little knuckle rapping and then when the storm has blown over and we have secured the funds he would be promoted. Can I count on your support, Ralph?”

  Ralph was taken aback at what he saw as a rather duplicitous proposition. And one presented during the interval at a concert. But he could see that the VC was determined to get agreement, and one for which he obviously saw no moral issues were at stake.

  Looking out over the glistening river he could see the outline of Saint Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London in the distance. He wondered how many deals had been struck over the years in just this setting. Christopher Wren had spent years negotiating for funds to finish his Cathedral. Prisoner’s threatened with being locked up in the Tower of London had probably been given a last chance to agree to the King’s proposition or else be be-headed; Sir Walter Raleigh had been threatened by Queen Elizabeth, and no doubt many others had pondered their fate near to this spot. To hold to your own principles and lose everything, or save your life and career by agreeing to an unpalatable proposition. Ralph was certain he wasn’t the first to contemplate such a dilemma.

  “
You have my support Vice Chancellor. I will do my best to keep Sir William out of things, and anything else I can do to keep the University’s reputation intact.”

  The words were out before he had time to reflect on the implications. In his view, too many people had already suffered over the cheating incident. As David had said after Jack’s funeral. ‘A Case of Rough Justice’. And now he was being further drawn into a cover up. But he liked the new VC, and the fact that Granger was prepared to shoulder the blame for the sake of the University helped to assuage his moral convictions.

  “Good man, Ralph. I knew we could count on you. When this is all over we must have a chat about your future. Now we had better get back to the ladies and see if that conductor can earn his money,” he said with a loud laugh. With that the VC grasped Ralph’s hand and then walked off into the crowd, a classic way to establish that a deal had been struck. An appeal to your sense of chivalry, and a suggestion of rewards to come. Ralph felt as though he had just sold his soul. But in some ways he could see the logic, and on the surface of things no one was getting hurt. He hurried back to his friends and the concert.

  “You just made it,” David said as Ralph quickly took his seat and the lights began to dim. Did you manage to get your CD?”

  “No, I’m afraid not. The queue was too long and I was afraid I’d miss the start. You know how those ushers are when they have a little bit of power. They won’t let you back in until the piece is finished if it’s already begun.”

  As Ashkenazy walked back onto the stage Ralph realised that he was already finding it easy to tell lies. The applause of the crowd confirmed how much everyone strived for public recognition and approbation. I’m no different from anyone else, he mused. I wonder what old Jack Royston would think of my conversation with the VC? But then, wasn’t that exactly what he did when he took a dive for the University all those years back? And look at what it got him. A six foot plot at the local cemetery and no thanks from his old Alma Mater.