Kendall - Private Detective - Box Set

by John Holt

  “I really couldn’t say,” he replied. “I haven’t seen him for a week or more.”

  “He’s gone away,” a voice called up from the landing below. Kendall looked over the balustrade. He could see a younger man slowly coming up the stairs. He was slightly out of breath. “Wretched lift,” he murmured. “It never works.” A few moments later he arrived on the landing outside Vickers’ apartment. “He went away,” he repeated. “I don’t know where, I’m afraid.”

  “He’s always going away,” said the first man.

  “Where do you think he might be?” Kendall asked.

  The younger man shook his head. “I’ve no idea,” he replied. “But I tell you something. He has been spending a bit lately.”

  “Told me that he had won a bit at the track,” said the other man.

  “Is that right?” said the younger man.

  The first man nodded. “I don’t know how much it was, but it was certainly quite a lot. Money goes to money that what I always say.”

  The young man smiled, and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, one thing,” he said. “It doesn’t go to me.”

  “Nor me,” said the elderly man. “And another thing… Mr. Vickers won’t be worrying about the lift, will he?”

  Kendall watched the two men for a while. He wasn’t going to get anywhere here, was he? Time to go, he decided. It was time to see Clark once again. He started to walk down the stairs. The two men never noticed. They were far too busy discussing the lift once again.

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The Catalyst

  “Arab News”, Riyadh, Friday – “Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has announced that a Saudi student returning from the United States has been diagnosed with Rican flu. This is the second case of the disease to be confirmed in the kingdom to date. The patient was taken to the King Fahd Hospital late last night. His condition is said to be stable, but critical. Preventive procedures were being made in line with the kingdom’s national precautionary plan as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the ministry said.”

  “Petra – The Jordanian News Agency,” Amman, Friday – “Jordanian health authorities announced on Thursday the discovery of the first two Rican flu cases in the country, the official Petra news agency reported. Two girls, who arrived earlier from outside the country, have tested positive for the virus, the Public Health Minister Ali al-Khazzan said. He did not say from which country they had travelled. “The two children have been completely isolated from other patients as a precautionary measure and are receiving the required treatment. They are both in good health,” he said. The Country's health authorities have taken a number of precautionary measures to deal with any possible discovery of Rican flu cases, including full co-operation with Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

  * * *

  The intercom suddenly buzzed loudly. The young lady pressed the button and picked up the handset. After a short conversation she replaced the handset. She looked up, and turned towards Kendall. “Mr. Kendall,” she called out. “Mr. Kendall.” Kendall looked up from the newspaper that he had been reading. She smiled. “You can go in now,” she said, and pointed towards the door. She then returned to her computer screen, and continued with her typing.

  Kendall looked towards the door, and then turned back to face her. He nodded his head, and stood up. “Thank you,” he said as he made his way towards the door. He tapped on the door.

  Suddenly the door opened, and there stood Alan Clark. “Do come in, Mr. Kendall, please,” he said, as he stood to one side to allow Kendall to pass by. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long.”

  Kendall shook his head. Twenty-five minutes, he murmured. To some people that would be an eternity, to others they probably wouldn’t even notice. It was all relative wasn’t it? Kendall belonged to the former group. To him, ten minutes would be intolerable. He hated being kept waiting. He shook his head once again, and smiled. “Oh, that’s alright,” he replied. “I had nothing else to do. Besides it gave me a chance to catch up on my reading.”

  Clark grinned, and looked over at his receptionist. “Barbara,” he called out. “Don’t forget I want to speak to Graham the minute he gets in, will you?” Barbara looked up and nodded. Clark turned back towards Kendall, who was still standing at the doorway.

  “Oh, please do go in, Mr. Kendall,” he said.

  * * *

  Kendall had telephoned Clark’s office earlier that day. It had been obvious that Clark was reluctant for yet another meeting. “Although I do enjoy our little discussions, this is becoming something of a habit, isn’t it, Mr. Kendall?” he had said. “I mean, is it absolutely necessary? I am a very busy man, you know.”

  Kendall hesitated. Of course it was absolutely necessary. He wasn’t in the habit of wasting time, especially his own. “Well, I hate to be a bother,” he replied. “But I think it is rather important. So if you could spare me some time it would be appreciated.”

  There was a long pause, and for a while Kendall thought that he had been cut off. Suddenly Clark came back on the line. “All right, Kendall,” he said, and sighed. “This afternoon at two, but be advised that I have a rather important board meeting at two forty-five.” He hung up.

  Kendall had arrived at ten minutes to two. “Wait there, please,” said the receptionist, as she pointed to a chair. “Mr. Clark has someone with him right now. He will see you as soon as he can.”

  Kendall sighed and sat down. He picked up one of the newspapers lying on the table close by, and started to slowly flick through the pages.

  * * *

  “I really am sorry for the delay,” Clark said, as he followed Kendall into the room. “Time just went by. You’re a busy man, Kendall, you know how it is. I’m sure you understand.”

  Oh yes, Kendall knew how it was. “Oh, not a problem,” he replied. “Don’t give it a second thought.”

  Clark pointed to a chair. “Please, please sit down,” he said as he walked around his desk and took his seat. “Please accept my sincere apologies once again.” Clark took a deep breath. “Now, can I get you a coffee, or anything, before we start?”

  Kendall would have loved a coffee, but kept thinking of that list of ingredients that he had noticed in those tablets on his previous visit. He smiled, and shook his head. “Oh, no, thank you,” he said. “I don’t want to delay you.” He looked at his watch. It was two fifteen already. “Your meeting is only half an hour away.”

  Clark looked puzzled. “Meeting,” he repeated. “What meeting is that?”

  Now it was Kendall’s turn to be puzzled. “Your board meeting,” he replied. “The important one; you mentioned it to me when I called you, remember?”

  Clark shook his head, and then suddenly remembered what he had said. “The board meeting of course, how could I forget? How stupid of me!” He took a deep breath. He looked at Kendall and smiled; only he wasn’t really smiling. It was more like a smirk, or a sneer. Although he had no previous experience, Kendall imagined that it was a bit like the look a shark might have just before it attacked. Clark gave a deep sigh. “I’d forget my head if it wasn’t ..”

  “I know,” said Kendall interrupting. “If it wasn’t screwed on, correct?” He smiled. “I’m exactly the same, I’m always forgetting things.”

  Somehow, though, Kendall just could not believe that someone like Clark was that forgetful. Clark knew exactly what he was doing. He knew what he was doing and why he was doing it. He would never forget a thing, especially something like an important board meeting. Kendall smiled, and slowly looked around the room. It was then that he suddenly remembered what the receptionist had said. “Mr. Clark has someone with him right now.” Kendall took a deep breath and shook his head. That didn’t make any sense. No one had actually left the room, so where was that someone? As far as he could see there was no other door into the room. Perhaps the person was hiding somewhere. Maybe there was a secret passage, behind the bookcase, perhaps. “How was your meeting j
ust now?” he asked.

  “Meeting?” repeated Clark. “You seem to be quite preoccupied with meetings this morning, Mr. Kendall. There have been no meetings.”

  Kendall nodded, and glanced at the door. “Your secretary said that you had someone in here with you,” he explained. “Just before I came in.”

  Clark shook his head. “Someone with me?” he repeated. “Oh no, you must have misunderstood.” He paused and looked down at his desk. “I was merely on the telephone with my production manager.”

  Kendall nodded. “Right your production manager.”

  Clark looked up. “We were discussing one of the items that will be considered by the board later on.” He looked down at his desk and started to shuffle some papers. He picked up a small bundle and started to collect them neatly together. He looked over at Kendall. “Are you sure that I can’t get you anything?” Kendall shook his head.

  Clark smiled. “Right, so here you are, back again,” he said. “I didn’t think I would be seeing you anymore.”

  Kendall smiled. No, I don’t suppose that you did, he said to himself. He thought of that telephone call from Grover. “Oh, you know how it is. You can’t keep a good man down. Besides, I haven’t finished my enquiries yet.”

  “It takes time, I suppose,” Clark replied. “How are the investigations progressing anyway?”

  “Oh, plodding on, you know,” Kendall replied. “Slow but sure, methodical that’s me. Act in haste, repent at leisure, that’s my motto.” He looked around the office. “How are things with you? I mean, you are still working on this virus thing, I suppose. Having any success yet?”

  Clark shook his head. “Oh, you know it’s a very slow process. One step forward two back, that kind of thing, a little like yourself, I would imagine.”

  Kendall smiled and nodded his head. “I guess so. Only in my case it’s usually three steps back. But that’s how it goes,” he replied. “You search and search, probing and probing, and turn up nothing. Then quite suddenly, just about when you are ready to give up, you find something. It’s only small perhaps. So small, you have probably already missed it a dozen times or more. But then you see it, and maybe, just maybe, there’s something there.”

  Clark smiled and nodded. “It’s exactly the same in my line of work,” he replied. “We have found something, something small, as you say. It might just be the key to our problem, the key to finding a cure for this Rican flu.” He paused and nodded his head. “The catalyst so to speak.”

  “That’s a good word,” said Kendall. “Catalyst, an event or person that causes great change.” He said slowly. He looked at Clark. “Do you mind if I use it?”

  Clark looked puzzled, and nodded his head. “No,” he said. “I don’t mind in the least.” He smiled. “I don’t have the exclusive rights, you know. Feel free.” He heaved a sigh, and started to rub his hands together, nervously. “Now, are you sure that I can’t get you something to drink? Tea, coffee, or something stronger maybe?”

  Kendall would certainly have liked something stronger, but then he kept remembering those strangely named ingredients in those capsules, and imagining them ending up in his scotch. He shook his head. It didn’t bear thinking about. “Really, I’m fine, thank you,” he replied. “Catalyst,” he suddenly murmured.

  “I’m sorry,” said Clark. “Did you say something?”

  Kendall looked up and smiled. “Oh, it was nothing really. I only said catalyst,” he replied. He stared across the room. “I think I have one of those. A catalyst, I mean.”

  Clark looked puzzled once again. “I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Kendall,” he said.

  Kendall shook his head. “No, I don’t suppose you do,” he replied. He took a deep breath. “You know, I have some information that could be useful to both of us.” Clark continued to look puzzled but said nothing. “I have information to show that Trenton Pharmaceuticals were there in 2005.”

  “I beg your pardon. Trenton was where, exactly?” Clark asked.

  “Oh I’m sorry, didn’t I say?” said Kendall. “How remiss of me!” He nodded his head. “Punta Rojas.” He paused for a moment, and smiled. “I think that’s how you pronounce it,” he continued. “Anyway, Trenton Pharmaceuticals were there.” He paused, and then started to frown. “Or should it be was there? I’m never quite sure.”

  “It’s was,” Clark said, still looking puzzled. “Trenton Pharmaceuticals is singular, so it’s was.”

  Kendall nodded. “Right, I’ll remember that,” he said. “Trenton was there.” He paused and shook his head. “Strange, it doesn’t sound right to me.”

  Clark looked at him, and sighed. “Trenton was where, Mr. Kendall?”

  “The Javea Valley to be precise,” Kendall replied. “It’s just a few miles to the south of Punta Rojas.” He paused and heaved a loud sigh. “Just about where this current epidemic started, so I believe. Not that I am an expert in such things, you understand.” He paused for a second time. Clark said nothing. “I was just wondering if the two things could be connected in some way.”

  Clark looked puzzled. “Connected,” he repeated. “How on earth could they be connected?” He shook his head once again. “Apart from anything else, I’m not entirely sure that you are correct. I don’t believe that Trenton was there in, when did you say, 2005. In fact, unless I’m very much mistaken, we have discussed this very subject before have we not?”

  Kendall smiled. “We have indeed,” he replied. “But Trenton were there, sorry, was there all right. Don’t you worry about that.”

  Clark shrugged. “So they were there, if you say so, although I’m not convinced,” he replied. “Even if they were, there’s no possible connection, it’s nothing more than pure co-incidence.”

  Kendall smiled and shook his head. He didn’t believe in co-incidence. “Maybe, but I don’t really think so. Let’s consider the facts, shall we?” He held up one finger. “One, Punta Rojas back then in 2005, and Punta Rojas once again, now.” He then held up a second finger. “Two, Trenton Pharmaceuticals was there, in Punta Rojas, in 2005, and they are there once again right now. Co-incidence? Not a chance.”

  Clark smiled. “You could be right, Mr. Kendall, but what about it? Trenton Pharmaceuticals would certainly be involved, wouldn’t they? There is a worldwide epidemic going on at the moment. Everyone is trying to find a solution. Trenton is one of the largest, if not the largest, pharmaceutical company in the world. Naturally they would be involved in trying to find a vaccine, don’t you think?”

  Kendall nodded his head. “Absolutely,” he said. “I wouldn’t expect anything different.” He started to rub his chin. “That would certainly answer why they were involved now.” He paused, and shook his head. “But why were they there in 2005? There was no epidemic then, was there? You see the problem.”

  Clark shook his head, and sighed. “I don’t really know what your point is I’m afraid, but I’m absolutely sure that there is a perfectly simple answer,” he replied. “Are you sure I can’t get you a drink? I’m going to have one.”

  Kendall looked at his watch, and shook his head. He hesitated for a moment. Once more he thought of those strange sounding ingredients in the tablets. What were the chances of them making their way into the scotch? He decided that the risk was worth taking. “Well, it is a little early for me,” he replied. “But it’s not that early. Scotch and water will be fine, and not too much water.”

  Clark smiled. He got up and walked over to the corner of the room where the drinks cabinet was situated. “How is Mrs. Dawson bearing up?” he called out. “It must be very hard for her.” He shook his head, and bit his lip. “It’s all very sad, a young man like that.”

  A few minutes later he returned to his desk carrying two glasses. He placed one in front of Kendall and then sat down.

  Kendall took a drink, and then looked across at Clark. “You were saying,” he said.

  Clark looked up, surprised. “I’m sorry,” he said.

  Kendall shrugged his shoulder
s. “You said that there was probably a perfectly simple answer to my problem. I just wondered what it was.”

  Clark took a deep breath. “Oh, I see,” he replied, and smiled. He shook his head. “Well, I have to admit that I don’t really know what the answer is offhand, so to speak.” He paused and took a drink. “It was a few years ago, after all. Besides, I’m still not convinced that you are correct.”

  Kendall looked up. “Oh. About what?” he asked.

  Clark shook his head and started to laugh. “Now, Mr. Kendall, you know exactly what I am talking about,” he replied. “I’m talking about Trenton being in Punta Rojas five years ago. I just don’t think that you are correct. Sorry.”

  Kendall smiled, and shrugged. “Oh, that’s okay,” he said. “There’s no need to apologize.” He took a drink. He was pleased to note that there was nothing strange about the taste and there appeared to be no adverse effects. Not yet, anyway. He looked at Clark. “Besides, I think that you will find that I am correct.”

  “We shall see, Mr. Kendall,” Clark replied. “I tell you what I’ll do, if you really are that interested, I will have to make some enquiries and get back to you, if you like. How does that sound?”

  Kendall took another drink, and nodded. “That would be good,” he replied. “By the way I recently had a visit from Joe,” he continued. “You know, Joe Louis, your gardener.”

  Clark looked up surprised. “You did?” he said. “What was that all about, then?” he asked.

  Kendall shook his head. “Well, to be honest, I don’t really know,” he replied. “Unfortunately, I was out at the time. All that I got when I got back was a strange message from the receptionist at the office. By all accounts Joe had quite a story to tell.” Kendall paused for a moment, watching Clark closely, and took a drink. “Apparently he saw the accident, you know,” he continued. “He said that he saw the whole thing.”