Giles looked at Freddie and frowned before speaking. ‘I think you are hinting that there may have been an invisible executioner in that trailer.’
‘That, I’m afraid, is for you and the police to decide. Let me tell you one more thing. Although I discovered a mark on the neck that could have been caused by a needle or a poisoned dart…if a dart had been used, the dart would still have been in the dead man’s flesh when the body was discovered and no dart was found. Similarly no arrow was found either.’
‘Thank you, Sir Lionel. I’m not too sure that what you are telling me makes me any the wiser but it may offer clues when I have time to digest things.’
‘You’re welcome, Professor. There is just one more piece of information that you may want to digest.’
‘Yes?’
‘The dead man’s body showed traces of cocaine!’
As the trio left the County Hospital Freddie’s chilling words were uppermost. ‘What do you really make of all that, Giles? Curare, poisoned darts at close range? Another reason for an invisible executioner to enter the equation, I suppose.’
‘Not forgetting the cocaine, Giles? Said Laura looking at her fiancé, as she pressed the point.’
‘Ah, the cocaine,’ said the smiling detective. ‘I hoped I might be informed of that.’
‘You cunning fox,’ commented Freddie as he watched the interplay between the other pair. ‘You’re looking smug again, Giles. What are you up to?’
‘Oh, nothing really. It simply leads me to a name I can’t seem to get out of my head which might confirm my previous thoughts.’
When the trio returned to the Knavesmire they headed straight for the trailer of Ramon, where they found him in conversation with the circus doctor.
‘Come in, Giles and bring your friends with you. The doctor has just received a call from Exeter Hospital and I expect you’ll want to hear the news.’
The doctor stepped forward and shook Giles by the hand. The pathologist at Exeter Hospital called me a few moments ago.’ he said, taking a piece of paper from his pocket and putting on his glasses. ‘He explained that Allison had been given a barbiturate, known as Thiopentone.’ The doctor looked across at all three visitors. ‘Thiopentone or Sodium Pentothal is suitable for intravenous use which will lead to unconsciousness in ten to thirty seconds.’
‘How long would that unconsciousness last?’ Giles asked, his eyes narrowing as he awaited a reply.
‘It would last for several minutes before recovery took place. Pentathol was commonly used as an induction agent and would be followed up shortly afterwards with a muscle relaxant. That would allow a tube to be inserted into the trachea so that air could be blown into the lungs by a ventilator; thus maintaining oxygenation and life.’
‘That would mean that Pentathol must have been administered as Allison was being covered by the tyres.’
‘That’s correct. And it would appear that a muscle relaxant must have been injected intravenously either, as she was being carried on the stretcher to the rest area, or in the rest area itself. Allison would have been unable to breathe and death became inevitable.’
‘Was it not possible for the nurse in attendance to have done something to prevent Allison’s death?’
‘Yes! But only if she’d known that two injections had been given. Remember, it was thought that Allison had fainted through pressure of work and that a period of rest would bring her back to normal. The circus nurse did consider giving Allison an injection of Insulin in the belief that she might have been diabetic but she decided against that. Had she given Allison Insulin she would certainly have killed her. It was only after Allison had died that scarring and local inflammation was apparent on Allison’s upper arm and shoulder suggesting that someone had used a needle but had missed the vein and injected into the tissues around it.’
On the journey back to the little hotel Giles mused over the findings at the post-mortem of the magician’s assistant at RAF Winkleigh. Before leaving Ramon and the circus doctor, Giles had delivered the verdict of the pathologist he had been to see at the York County Hospital. The findings matched in many ways: the main difference being the metal car mascot which had effectively blocked the windpipe of Sebastian.
‘Another case of the invisible executioner at work.’ stated Giles when all three were back in the lounge of the coaching house.
‘That, of course,’ said Laura. ‘Assumes that, in the case of Sebastian’s death, the injection of curare was done using a needle or a blowpipe at very close range…and that begins to smack of the supernatural.’
‘How else could it be done?’ Freddie posed the question.
‘Well, I’m no expert,’ said Laura. ‘But I do believe Big Game Hunters, on Safari, use tranquilising guns to sedate wild animals allowing them to be caged for transportation to zoos. Tranquilising guns fire darts and there is someone in this circus who must have a similar type of gun!’
‘What a clever girl you are, my love,’ said Giles livening up out of a moody spell of mild depression. ‘The one person who must have such a projector is Rodrigo, the tiger trainer, and he could have fired a poisoned dart by shooting through the broken window.’ Giles turned to face Freddie. ‘What Laura has just said intrigues me,’ he said nodding slowly to his ex-RAF friend. ‘She recently made a good case for having Signor Gomez on the list of suspects and her offering about a tranquilising gun tends to give her suggestion more credence. There is, unfortunately, one thing that throws a major doubt on the animal trainer using the dart gun from outside…the dart would have ended up inside the trailer – and no dart was ever found on the body.’
‘There seems no answer to that.’ Freddie expressed; his face showing extreme concern.
‘Have no fear, Freddie. There is an answer to everything if you care to search in the right direction. One thing I’ll grant you Laura, Signor Gomez will have to be interviewed and I shall do that at the party which Ramon intends to give in the racecourse building prior to the opening of the circus season.
By the time the celebration party, to be held in the main racecourse building, was ready to be held, word had got around regarding the concluding statements of the respective pathologists concerning the deaths of the magician’s assistant and the ringmaster. As was normally the case, when accounts moved throughout a close community from mouth to mouth, the originals became embellished out of all proportion and fact became myth. This was no exception, but one thing was abundantly clear – the circus accidents were no longer accidents when the two murders were examined.
Giles wandered around the guests, most of whom were the top circus performers. At a meeting with the chef preparing the meal, he learned that each star performer was having a special meal prepared to prevent any physical upset which might interfere with their performances.
While coming into contact and conversing with the hierarchy of the circus elite, Giles made sure that Laura and Freddie were being well catered for. His main focus of attention though, was directed at finding the swarthy figure of Signor Gomez and asking him some questions.
Strangely enough it was the man dressed in smart breeches who drew his interest. The man, who was in conversation with the leader of the circus band, turned and Giles recognised him as the trainer of Khan.
‘Good evening, Rodrigo,’ Giles said, as he shook the South American’s hand. ‘I wonder if you would spare me a moment of your time. I have a few questions I wish to ask.’
‘Certainly, Professor. I have no problem with that, but I think we should find a more private place.’
‘Give me a few seconds, Signor. I have a friend here who knows his way about this grandstand as he’s been here racing on many occasions. I’ll just ask him for some directional help.’
Luckily Freddie was nearby and it took no time at all for him to show his friend and the trainer to a private room where they could speak freely.
Once inside and with the door closed the two men pulled up a couple of chairs.
‘Am I now on
your suspect list, Professor?’
‘You were always on my suspect list, Signor.’
‘But you didn’t interview me when you questioned the others.’
‘That’s right. No, I didn’t…that’s why I’m doing so now.’ The tiger trainer shifted awkwardly in his chair as he awaited the flood of questions he expected. ‘Do you own a tranquiliser gun, Rodrigo?’
‘Yes, I do. It happens to be an essential piece of equipment for anyone keeping wild animals. And Khan, despite what some people say, is a wild animal.’
‘Where do you keep the gun?’
‘I have one in my trailer.’
‘You say you have one in your trailer. Does that mean you have more than one?’
‘Yes! I have two guns.’
‘Where is the other one kept?’
‘Inside the wagon with Khan.’
‘Hmm! When did you last use one of the guns?’
‘Not for several months, Professor.’ The trainer’s eyebrows rose then they fell as he frowned. ‘I always have a gun ready when the cage illusion is being presented. I was almost at the point of using it when the illusion went wrong and Allison was left in the cage with my Khan. But I didn’t use it then…and I didn’t use it to kill Sebastian!’
‘How can you explain the door of Khan’s cage being unlocked?’
‘I can’t. But maybe you can? After all you are supposed to be the detective.’
‘Maybe I can, Signor. But you may have to wait a bit longer before I worry you with a truthful explanation.’
‘I’m sorry if I sounded scornful, Professor. We’re all a bit on edge in the circus and you could well be the man to put a stop to things. Can I ask you a question?’
’Yes, if it has a bearing on what has been happening in the circus.’
‘From what I’ve heard about the strange death of our esteemed Sebastian I believe it has a bearing.’ The pause before Rodrigo continued added intensity to his question. ‘Do you believe in the supernatural, Professor?’
‘Do not believe all you see or hear!’
‘What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?’
‘Not very much I’m sorry to say,’ said Giles as he scrutinised for any clues forthcoming from the animal trainer’s demeanour. ‘It was just something I seem to have heard recently.’
‘Well, do you?’
‘Do I what?’
‘Do you believe in the supernatural?’
‘That is a question I was asked while on a previous assignment and my answer hasn’t changed.’
‘Well, Professor?’
‘I do not disbelieve in the possibility,’ said Giles with a slight shrug of his shoulders as he spoke. ‘There was an incident recently at another racecourse when I encountered an apparition at what should have been an empty racecard kiosk…but that needn’t concern you. Let me just say that a vivid imagination can play a powerful part in life. Imagination along with mystery was the great double act of the writer Edgar Allan Poe.’
‘Your imagination, Professor, must be very vivid if you think I should be one of your suspects and had anything to do with the death in Ramon’s trailer. If what killed Sebastian was a poison dart it was not projected by me or with my tranquiliser gun. And if it was delivered by a blowpipe it must have been done at close range by someone inside the trailer…and that, to me, suggests the supernatural!’
‘What you are saying demonstrates the power of imagination. I do not subscribe to your assumption and I prefer to examine other possibilities.’ Giles shook his suspect by the hand. ‘Thank you for your cooperation. Please return to the evening celebrations and I wish you lots of success with Khan during the season.’
When Rodrigo had left the room and closed the door Giles sat for a moment in deep contemplation, with eyes shut. His thoughts were interrupted almost immediately by a knock on the door. Laura entered and went over to him. ‘Freddie told me this was where you’d be so I waited until I saw Rodrigo leave the room. How did you get on?’
‘I think it went quite well…and he has, not one, but two tranquiliser guns!’
The stunned look on Laura’s face, as Giles took her hand and led her out of the room, was tantamount to a realisation that her assessment of who might have murdered Sebastian could be correct.
‘Don’t get carried away, Laura. I doubt if it’s going to be quite as easy as you think. For the time being, though, he stays on the list.’
Along with Freddie, Giles and Laura were invited to join the circus boss at the evening meal. The conversation turned to the forthcoming public shows about to start on the open space in the centre of the racecourse.
‘As you well know, by now, my Tropicana Circus is ready to entertain, amuse and thrill a North of England audience before moving to London.’ Ramon’s voice was as edgy as his body language. ‘I hope we have a trouble-free run both here at York’s Knavesmire and at London’s Alexandra Park.’
‘We subscribe to that.’ All three said as one voice.
‘Obrigado!’ Ramon said as he expressed his thanks. Looking around at his three guests his tone changed to one of bitterness and uncertainty. ‘I’m afraid, though, that we may be heading into a period of great difficulty during which a few more accidents, in front of a paying audience, could break my resolve.’
‘I will honour my contract and do everything in my power to prevent that happening, Senhor.’
‘Have you reached any conclusions, Professor?’
‘All I can say, at this stage, is that I have a person in mind who, given a little more time, may be revealed as the evil person in this circus.’
‘Is that person on the list of suspects I gave you?’
‘Yes, Ramon. Although I have to admit I added a further three names, the one I believe to be guilty is on the original note you gave me.’
‘Good work, Giles. It will be a great relief to me to end this nerve-racking ordeal and the sooner the better.’
After coffee Giles excused himself and moved around the galaxy of circus stars; finally meeting up with Lizzie, the rider of the Andalusian mare.
‘I’m not sure if I’ve been of any help to you, Professor Dawson, but I did mention to Senhor Mordomo that I was keen to assist you in every way I could and he thanked me for that.’
‘Have you explained that to any of the others?’
‘No. I don’t want anyone on that list to know that I’m on your side.’
‘Good girl. Lizzie. But be on your guard; I don’t want you getting hurt.’
At the old coach house, after the celebration evening was over, Freddie suggested a nightcap before turning in. While he was gone to the bar a waitress came to the lounge with an envelope addressed to Professor Dawson.
Opening the envelope Giles drew out a small sheet of notepaper on which was a message.
Come and meet me at midnight tonight. I have some very important news for you. I will be in the street known as The Shambles. You will not see me until I appear from my hiding place in one of the doorways. Come alone and you will be well rewarded.
See you at midnight.
Giles studied the letter for quite some time before looking up at Laura whose face registered extreme concern. Freddie arrived with three brandies and as he put the tray on a table he became aware that something was amiss.
‘What has been happening while I was away? You both look as if you’ve had a fright.’
The Prof gazed at his friend, took one of the brandy goblets in one hand and, without a word being spoken, passed the hand-written note across.
Taking a sip of brandy Freddie fumbled for his reading glasses and then became occupied with the note. The tension in his face, as he removed the spectacles and peered over the note, was a warning of what he was about to mouth to his close friend.
‘Don’t tell me, Giles. You’re surely not going? Not alone at least. For God’s sake man, this is madness. It could be a trap.’ Giles sat and listened to the ranting of a friend whose opinions he valued, even when they disa
greed. His lips pursed and his breathing deepened; he knew full well that Freddie had his best interest at heart and was possibly offering the most sensible advice. But it was clear to Giles that if he was to succeed, he would have to take chances while trying to solve this hellish affair. He looked at his watch. There was less than two hours to go till the time stated in the letter…only a few minutes during which he must decide to either take the bull by the horns or give up the chance of possibly making a breakthrough.
‘Please don’t get in a flap, Freddie. I feel I’m on the verge of picking out a name and proving who is the guilty one, beyond reasonable doubt, but I need to have a bit more to go on before I can convince myself that my theories are correct. This meeting tonight might be a mistake but it could just be the piece in the jigsaw that completes the picture. I’m going to go there but not without taking precautions.’ As he said those final words he glanced at Laura and smiled.
‘You can go alone if you must, Giles, but the cavalry won’t be too far away.’ Laura said, clinking glasses with a bemused Freddie.
It was pitch dark as Giles approached The Shambles. A cold breeze was blowing and Giles pulled the collar of his Crombie overcoat up around his neck. His hands were deep in his coat pockets and an eerie silence pervaded the darkened street. There was no one about and the only sounds Giles could hear were his own footsteps. His imagination began to work overtime and his steps slowed, in contrast to the increasing beat of his heart. His loneliness was briefly shattered by the yowl of a scampering cat from out of the creepy shadows…a noisy movement which caused him to contemplate a speedy return to the comfort of the coach house. He resisted the temptation and continued down the street wondering if this was a wild goose chase or whether someone would materialise out of a gloomy corner.
Gauntlet of Fear Page 25