by John Creasey
It was all Arnold’s idea—
All Arnold’s, that was, and Ernest’s. His brother was really guilty.
He, Arthur, hadn’t wanted any part in it … Yes, he and Ernest had arranged the identical clauses in the wills; they were not too sound financially, it seemed ‘only fair’. Lionel and the Arlens hadn’t argued much, the family skeleton had to be kept hidden. It was a conspirators’ agreement.
Chatworth looked up from his desk, scowled, waved to a chair and then to cigarettes, and went on with the reports he was reading. Roger sat back, at ease, smoking, watching the shiny bald patch in the midst of Chatworth’s grizzled forest of hair.
It was two hours since Latimer, or Arnold Aden, and Arthur Bennett had been confronted with each other.
Chatworth pushed the papers aside and leaned back.
“Well, what’s your latest version?”
“The final one, I think,” said Roger. “Arthur and Latimer have both talked; they couldn’t blame each other fast enough once we really started on them. Arthur cracked first, and after that Latimer knew the game was up.”
“How did it start?”
“Several years ago, when Latimer discovered who he was. It started in a queer way—he saw Raymond Arlen in a tube train, and the likeness was quite striking. So he wondered if he could get to know Raymond, and do himself a bit of good. When he went to see Raymond, it gave the man such a shock that Latimer knew there was a story behind it, and probed deep. He discovered the truth and suspected that he had been jockeyed out of a fortune, so he started to touch them all. He went round to each of the relatives in turn, and managed to get a little hush-money—they called it a gift. Latimer then knew he was on a good thing.
“In the course of it, he met Muriel Arlen. He says that he fell in love with her. I wouldn’t know—she’s certainly in love with him.”
“Then he was approached by Arthur Bennett—not poor Ernest, but Arthur. Arthur was keeping up a good front, but had run through a fortune, the business wasn’t sound. He’d fixed the accounts, and he knew that the day of reckoning wasn’t far off. And there was the glittering prize which would fall into the lap of the last surviving relation of Simon Arlen’s generation.”
“Latimer approached him for more money.”
“Each says the other started the notion, and I wouldn’t like to say who did. But the plot worked up nicely. Latimer knew he might be put away in Broadmoor, but thought an insanity plea would save him from being hanged. Margaret, desperately in love with him and quite amoral, came in on his side—Arthur knew nothing about that. If Latimer were caught, Margaret’s job was just to kill the remaining relations, and so ‘prove’ that Latimer wasn’t the killer, because the killer was still abroad. It wasn’t so good in practice as in theory, and she spoiled it by making a fatal mistake.”
Chatworth said: “Being caught?”
“Yes. She must have been crazy when she went to Birmingham, although whether it’ll come within the legal meaning of insanity I don’t know. I hope not. She knew where the gun was—in a room they rented near Pullinger Street. We found the stolen goods there. Latimer tucked them away to confuse us as much as he could; he was always planting evidence for his defence. They were too smart all along—as when Meg told us about Latimer’s drug-trafficking, to give a plausible reason why he was on the run.”
“The works were nearly upset when Raymond became curious. Raymond had been going to see Arthur Bennett, and saw Latimer in the neighbourhood. He guessed that Arthur was on the rocks, and was curious. He watched Arthur very closely; that was what he was doing when he was supposed to be in North Wales. Arthur saw him, and they had a fine old row. Later Latimer and Raymond met by appointment, and Latimer had promised Arthur to do a deal with Raymond, who wasn’t averse to cashing in. That’s why Raymond lied about where he’d been and what time he got home—he was toying with taking a share, and was jittery. You know how it affects men who are taking a chance for the first time.”
“But Latimer believed he would have an easier job with Arthur, and killed Raymond.”
Roger stopped and stubbed out the cigarette. Chatworth pushed the box across the table.
“Satisfied?” Chatworth asked.
“Perfectly.”
“No more snags?”
“I don’t think we’ll find any.” Roger was as confident as he seemed. “It was cunningly conceived, but began to fall to pieces because Latimer wasn’t clever enough. He saw the danger after killing Wilfred, and instead of brazening it out, went into hiding and began to confuse the trails. He started making a ‘defence’—having in mind that Meg would kill if he were caught, he knew he could rely on her. Latimer did the first two jobs and then went and robbed the homes of his victims, to make it look as if robbery were the motive. It started well, and put us off the scent. He didn’t reckon on Muriel Arlen naming him so early—his big mistake was letting the affair with Muriel run on. There’s probably something in his claim that he is in love with her—he didn’t really hurt her when he attacked her at Merrick Street.”
Chatworth grunted.
“No. Seen Margaret Sharp again?”
“I spent ten minutes with her, and she won’t say a word, but I don’t think we’ll need her just yet. We’ve enough from the statements of Latimer and Arthur Bennett to piece everything together. Arthur started by trying to blame his brother, but that didn’t last long. Anything else you’d like explained, sir?”
Chatworth said: “Yes. Why did you start probing into Simon Arlen’s fortune and into the financial state of Bennett Brothers?”
“I was looking for a motive which wasn’t a simple matter of a man going off his head. Latimer’s behaviour wasn’t even—I wondered if he were putting on an act. Margaret Sharp wasn’t normal, and she showed clear signs of disliking her sister because her sister was doing better. Meg had gone through her own money. Envy, and touched by greed—money’s usually a pretty sound motive. The red herrings of their dual personalities and the mystery man who never existed pointed away from insanity. They invented the mystery man at Pullinger Street, of course—as we got closer, they started wild attempts to fool us—going from one to another. Meg always defended Latimer to Georgina, of course—even told her he was going to pay back some of his debt.”
“When it proved that there was a reasonable chance that Simon had never really been insane, but just put away so that the others could cash in, things began to make sense. The terms of the wills suggested that one of Simon’s generation was involved. After that, it was a simple matter of sifting through them all until one turned up who fitted.”
“I see,” grunted Chatworth. “And I suppose you’re feeling pretty pleased with yourself.”
“Too much went wrong,” Roger said. “On the other hand, I don’t think any of the victims was a big enough loss to keep me awake at night.”
“You’re a policeman,” said Chatworth; “leave moralising to those who know more about it.”
The trial was over, and Latimer and Margaret had both been sentenced to death, Arthur to fifteen years’ imprisonment. Llewellyn had defended them all brilliantly, but had fought a losing battle from the beginning.
Roger drove home from the Yard on the evening of the last day of the trial, but didn’t go straight to Bell Street. There was no one outside the Arlen house in Merrick Street. He hadn’t seen Mrs. Wilfred Arlen in court, and wondered if she had gone out of town.
The manservant answered his ring.
Mrs. Arlen was at home …
She looked younger and much less careworn than when he had seen her before; and happier. She looked surprised to see him, but didn’t ask him why he’d come. She offered cigarettes, let him light hers, and sat down and waited.
“How is Peter?” asked Roger.
“He’s surprisingly well,” said Mrs. Arlen. “I was afraid it would ma
ke him worse, but there’s a good chance that he’ll get over his trouble if he’s well looked after in the next few years. Don’t tell me that’s why you came.”
“Chiefly. How are you?”
She said: “You’re a strange man for a policeman, aren’t you? Do you care how I am?”
“I’d hate to see anyone pining because of Ralph Latimer.”
“I’m over that,” she said quietly. “You’ll probably think it’s a hateful thing to say, but—I’m completely free now. Wilfred’s just a memory, not pleasant, not really unpleasant. It’s more like a dream than a memory.”
“Let it stay that way,” said Roger.
As he drove off, he was smiling, glad that he’d taken the trouble to call.
He was home in time to give the boys half an hour’s ride before bed-time.
Two months later Georgina Sharp opened the door of the flat, said: “Hallo, Jim,” and stepped aside. Peel passed her. He had seen little of her since the final arrests and the executions. She had been a witness, of course, and had stood that ordeal well. She looked tired and pale, but her easy grace of movement hadn’t deserted her. She offered him cigarettes and took a light from him, so that they stood very close together.
“I hoped you’d come,” she said.
“I waited as long as I could. I don’t have to watch myself now.”
“Did you ever?”
“Yes, up to a point,” said Peel. “I didn’t ask you to marry me, did I?” He was smiling slightly, but couldn’t hide his tension.
She smiled, too. “Ought you to, now? I’m the sister of a woman who was hanged.”
“What’s that got to do with it?”
“You are a policeman.”
“Meaning that I’ll spend part of my life chasing murderers and getting them hanged?”
“Meaning that all the time you’d risk remembering that my sister was—”
“Listen,” said Peel vigorously; “you’re talking out of the back of your neck.”
He tossed his cigarette into the fireplace, and slid his arm round her waist, drew her close and found her lips.
Series Information
Published or to be published by
House of Stratus
Dates given are those of first publication
Alternative titles in brackets
'The Baron' (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)
'Department 'Z'' (28 titles)
'Dr. Palfrey Novels' (34 titles)
'Gideon of Scotland Yard' (22 titles)
'Inspector West' (43 titles)
'Sexton Blake' (5 titles)
'The Toff' (59 titles)
along with:
The Masters of Bow Street
This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey's account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel's Act in 1829.
'The Baron' Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Meet the Baron (The Man in the Blue Mask) (1937)
The Baron Returns (The Return of the Blue Mask) (1937)
The Baron Again (Salute Blue Mask) (1938)
The Baron at Bay (Blue Mask at Bay) (1938)
Alias the Baron (Alias Blue Mask) (1939)
The Baron at Large (Challenge Blue Mask!) (1939)
Versus the Baron (Blue Mask Strikes Again) (1940)
Call for the Baron (Blue Mask Victorious) (1940)
The Baron Comes Back (1943)
A Case for the Baron (1945)
Reward for the Baron (1945)
Career for the Baron (1946)
Blood Diamond (The Baron and the Beggar) (1947)
Blame the Baron (1948)
A Rope for the Baron (1948)
Books for the Baron (1949)
Cry for the Baron (1950)
Trap the Baron (1950)
Attack the Baron (1951)
Shadow the Baron (1951)
Warn the Baron (1952)
The Baron Goes East (1953)
The Baron in France (1953)
Danger for the Baron (1953)
The Baron Goes Fast (1954)
Nest-Egg for the Baron (Deaf, Dumb and Blonde) (1954)
Help from the Baron (1955)
Hide the Baron (1956)
The Double Frame (Frame the Baron) (1957)
Blood Red (Red Eye for the Baron) (1958)
If Anything Happens to Hester (Black for the Baron) (1959)
Salute for the Baron (1960)
The Baron Branches Out (A Branch for the Baron) (1961)
The Baron and the Stolen Legacy (Bad for the Baron) (1962)
A Sword for the Baron (The Baron and the Mogul Swords) (1963)
The Baron on Board (The Mask of Sumi) (1964)
The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle (1964)
Sport for the Baron (1966)
Affair for the Baron (1967)
The Baron and the Missing Old Masters (1968)
The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait (1969)
Last Laugh for the Baron (1970)
The Baron Goes A-Buying (1971)
The Baron and the Arrogant Artist (1972)
Burgle the Baron (1973)
The Baron - King Maker (1975)
Love for the Baron (1979)
'Department Z' Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
The Death Miser (1932)
Redhead (1934)
First Came a Murder (1934)
Death Round the Corner (1935)
The Mark of the Crescent (1935)
Thunder in Europe (1936)
The Terror Trap (1936)
Carriers of Death (1937)
Days of Danger (1937)
Death Stands By (1938)
Menace! (1938)
Murder Must Wait (1939)
Panic! (1939)
Death by Night (1940)
The Island of Peril (1940)
Sabotage (1941)
Go Away Death (1941)
The Day of Disaster (1942)
Prepare for Action (1942)
No Darker Crime (1943)
Dark Peril (1944)
The Peril Ahead (1946)
The League of Dark Men (1947)
The Department of Death (1949)
The Enemy Within (1950)
Dead or Alive (1951)
A Kind of Prisoner (1954)
The Black Spiders (1957)
Doctor Palfrey Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Traitor's Doom (1942)
The Legion of the Lost (1943)
The Valley of Fear (The Perilous Country) (1943)
Dangerous Quest (1944)
Death in the Rising Sun (1945)
The Hounds of Vengeance (1945)
Shadow of Doom (1946)
The House of the Bears (1946)
Dark Harvest (1947)
The Wings of Peace (1948)
The Sons of Satan (1948)
The Dawn of Darkness (1949)
The League of Light (1949)
The Man Who Shook the World (1950)
The Prophet of Fire (1951)
The Children of Hate (The Killers of Innocence; The Children of Despair) (1952)
The Touch of Death (1954)
The Mists of Fear (1955)
The Flood (1956)
The Plague of Silence (1958)
Dry Spell (The Drought) (1959)
The Terror (1962)
The Depths (1963)
The Sleep (1964)
; The Inferno (1965)
The Famine (1967)
The Blight (1968)
The Oasis (1970)
The Smog (1970)
The Unbegotten (1971)
The Insulators (1972)
The Voiceless Ones (1973)
The Thunder-Maker (1976)
The Whirlwind (1979)
Gideon Series
(Writing as JJ Marric)
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Gideon's Day (Gideon of Scotland Yard) (1955)
Seven Days to Death (Gideon's Week) (1956)
Gideon's Night (1957)
A Backwards Jump (Gideon's Month) (1958)
Thugs and Economies (Gideon's Staff) (1959)
Gideon Combats Influence (Gideon's Risk) (1960)
Gideon's Fire (1961)
A Conference for Assassins (Gideon's March) (1962)
Travelling Crimes (Gideon's Ride) (1963)
An Uncivilised Election (Gideon's Vote) (1964)
Criminal Imports (Gideon's Lot) (1965)
To Nail a Serial Killer (Gideon's Badge) (1966)
From Murder to a Cathedral (Gideon's Wrath) (1967)
Gideon's River (1968)
Darkness and Confusion (Gideon's Power) (1969)
Sport, Heat & Scotland Yard (Gideon's Sport) (1970)
Gideon's Art (1971)
No Relaxation at Scotland Yard (Gideon's Men) (1972)
Impartiality Against the Mob (Gideon's Press) (1973)
Not Hidden by the Fog (Gideon's Fog) (1975)
Good and Justice (Gideon's Drive) (1976)
Vigilantes & Biscuits (Gideon's Force) (1978)
Inspector West Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Inspector West Takes Charge (1942)
Go Away to Murder (Inspector West Leaves Town) (1943)
An Apostle of Gloom (Inspector West At Home) (1944)
Inspector West Regrets (1945)
Holiday for Inspector West (1946)
Battle for Inspector West (1948)
The Case Against Paul Raeburn (Triumph for Inspector West) (1948)