Biggles Takes a Hand

by W E Johns

  Ginger remembered seeing the bus on the road. “I was at the phone-box when you were at the shop, but of course I didn’t know who you were. What I really meant was, how did you get Doctor Jacob’s address? I know you went to his old place at Hampstead because a friend of mine was there when you were attacked. You realized you’d been followed?”

  “I realized it then.”

  “Did you go back?”

  “No. I thought I’d better keep away. My chief worry was for Anna. The morning after the attack I waited at the corner of the road hoping the postman would deliver a message for me at the house where I still supposed Doctor Jacobs was living. As it happened the milkman came along first, so I spoke to him. He shocked me by saying that the Doctor had left the house months ago and he didn’t know where he had gone. I was at my wit’s end. I went to the post office. They couldn’t help me. Thinking about it I could see only one chance left. Knowing the Doctor was a Licentiate of Dental Surgery I went to their headquarters where they were kind enough to tell me what I wanted to know. I came here as quickly as I could, not suspecting I was still being followed.”

  “You weren’t,” said Ginger. “The men who stopped you outside were already here. I can only imagine they got the Doctor’s new address in the same way that you did. Spies have a way of working these things out; which, of course, is why they are spies. Unfortunately it seems that the Roths didn’t think of it or they would have come here.”

  “You don’t know where they are, or where they might have gone?”

  “No idea. We haven’t a clue. Nor, apparently, have these agents who are hunting for them. But don’t worry. We shall find them. It’s only a matter of time.”

  “What I can’t understand is why I should be attacked,” said the Professor looking puzzled. “As far as I know these spies have nothing against me.”

  “I think the answer to that is fairly clear. I doubt if they have anything against you personally. Had they simply wanted to kill you they could have done that as you came up the drive. If it comes to that they could have knifed you outside the Doctor’s old house at Hampstead. They wanted you alive, intending to force you to tell them where the Roths were living. You put the Roths up in Berlin, so it would naturally be assumed you knew where they had gone. In fact you did know— or thought you knew. It’s the Roths they really want, not you.”

  “But why do they want them? They murdered poor Hans Roth, calling it judicial execution. Isn’t that enough?”

  “Obviously not.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if my information is correct, Hans Roth, suspecting what might happen to him, made provision for it; which was a foolish thing to do because it put the lives of his family in jeopardy. He kept some important papers which the East German authorities are so anxious to get back that they’re prepared to commit more murders to get them. Moritz Roth brought those papers to England with him.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Anna told me.”

  “If Moritz gave up the papers do you think the Roths would be left in peace?”

  “You should know the answer to that better than me. I would say no, the reason being that Moritz may have read the papers and know what they contain. It’s possible he has memorized them. His enemies wouldn’t risk that. Even if they got the papers they wouldn’t feel safe unless he was silenced.”

  “I understand you are a police officer.”

  “That is correct.”

  “Then perhaps you can tell me what is going to happen next; what is the best thing for us to do?”

  “All I can do is wait to hear what my Chief has to say about it. He should be here soon.”

  “After this we shall never dare to go back to Berlin.”

  “That will be a matter for you to decide. Our concern is to prevent murder being done here. From what I read in the newspapers a lot of people are in the same predicament as you are. I agree it’s awful but the position might have been worse. You and Anna are together and in view of what might have happened you should be thankful for that. Had we not taken a hand things might have been very different.”

  “Yes, I see that, and I am grateful; but naturally I am thinking of the future,” said the Professor earnestly. “Expecting to be away only for a few days I brought little money with me. When I learned what Anna had done I didn’t even stop to go to the bank.”

  “What did you bring with you?”

  “A suitcase with a change of clothes.”

  “Where is it?”

  “In the little hotel where I slept.”

  “We’ll see about that when my Chief gets here.”

  “Can nothing be done with these villains who attacked me?”

  “Perhaps. Up to now it has been difficult, but presently they may go too far and give us an excuse to arrest them. Our big difficulty is to find the Roths and make arrangements for their safety. That may take days.”

  This somewhat profitless conversation continued into the late afternoon when the sound of a car took Ginger to a window that overlooked the front. It was the police car. Biggles and Bertie were getting out. He went to the door and let them in. He fired a question as he did so. “Did you see a car outside on the road?”

  Biggles answered. “Yes.”

  “So they’re still hanging about.”

  “Who?”

  “One of them is the fellow who followed me from Berlin. By the way, you’ll be interested to know Anna’s father is here.”

  “What!” Biggles stared. “Where did he pop up from? What sort of lunatic game is this?”

  “He got this address from some dental society. He was attacked in the drive when he arrived but I happened to be outside and took a hand.”

  “Where is he?”

  “With Anna. They’re both with Doctor Jacobs. He’s in a wheel chair helpless with rheumatism. They’re all in a flap about what they’re to do.”

  “I’m not surprised. I’d like to know what we’re going to do. I’m getting a bit tired of this hide-and-seek frolic. It doesn’t seem to be getting us anywhere. Algy says the Air Commodore’s getting a bit bored with it, too.”

  “We can’t just walk out on these wretched people and leave them to face these butchers alone.”

  “I have no intention of doing anything of the sort,” returned Biggles grimly.

  “What I’m wondering is, now it’s known the Lowenhardts are here, will it be safe to leave them? Karkoff may suppose the Roths are here, too. He may break into the house.”

  “He’ll soon have to do something or he’ll get a rap from the people who sent him here. He must be getting desperate and prepared to try anything. Of course, the key to the situation is the Roths. I didn’t want to bring the entire police force into this but it begins to look as if our only chance of finding the Roths is to ask for a general call to be put out. Our only excuse for that is these documents Moritz is supposed to be carrying. Our people may be glad to have a sight of them. The big snag about staying here without a phone is we’re out of touch with the office. With these thugs outside the house is practically in a state of siege. On the other hand we can’t stay here indefinitely. If only the gang would do something to give us an excuse to pick ‘em up...”

  Bertie spoke—the conversation still going on in the hall. “Would it be better to take Anna and her father back to London?”

  “I can’t see how they’d be any better off. With that car outside we’d almost certainly be followed. I wonder if it’s still there. But instead of nattering here I’d better go and have a word with Jacobs and the others. While I’m doing that, Bertie, you might have a scout round to see if that car is still there and how many people there are with it. Don’t start any trouble if you can avoid it.”

  “Okay, old boy. Let us do a spot of hunting for a change. I’m getting browned off with being chased around as if we were the bally criminals.” Bertie went out.

  Ginger took Biggles into the room where everyone was still waiting and introduced
him.

  “Let’s see if we can get this sorted out,” said Biggles cheerfully.

  There is no need to relate in detail the debate that followed because it did not lead to anything conclusive, Biggles being forced to admit that he was in a quandary as to what to do for the best. He would like a little time to think things over.

  Bertie came in. “The car’s still there,” he reported. “Two cars, in fact. There are three men. One of them is Karkoff. Looks as if he’s just arrived. The cars are together and the three of them were standing on the verge, talking, when I came away.”

  “The man I saw in the village using the phone must have spoken to Karkoff. That’s why he’s rolled up,” surmised Ginger.

  “That’s about it,” agreed Biggles. “He must have some scheme in view or there would have been no reason for him to come here.” He turned to the others present and went on. “Will you excuse us for a few minutes while we have a conference?” He returned to the hall, Bertie and Ginger following.

  “The position we have arrived at, as I see it, is this,” he stated when they were alone. “We have two or three courses open to us. We can stay here to make sure none of these people come to any harm. The argument against that is, if nothing happened we should still be in exactly the same situation tomorrow—and the next day and the next. There’s a limit to how long we can remain here doing nothing.”

  “You say, if nothing happened,” put in Bertie. “What could happen?”

  “Karkoff and his gang might try forcing their way into the house. They can’t afford to waste time any more than we can. If they tried anything like that we’d have ‘em where we want ‘em.”

  Ginger shook his head. “I can’t see ‘em being so daft as to try that knowing we were in the house. They’d know from the cars that we were still here.”

  “It’s a poor chance, I agree,” conceded Biggles. “What else can we do? One thing we can’t do is pull out leaving these helpless people to fend for themselves. If anything happened to them we’d never forgive ourselves. The alternative seems to be a compromise. What I mean by that is, Bertie can go back to the Yard in the Jag and report the position. Ginger goes with him, but only so far. The enemy will assume you’ve both gone home leaving me here on my own; they may think they can handle me and try something. Actually, Ginger will still be here, having dropped off the car as soon as it’s clear and made his way back, without being seen, via the vegetable garden. Then, if any attempt is made to break into the house we should be able to grab some, if not all of them.”

  “You really think they’ll come?” queried Bertie.

  “I can’t see them sitting by the roadside all night twiddling their thumbs. They’ll soon have to try something. They’ve less time to waste than we have. The whole thing probably depends on whether or not they believe the Roths to be here. Doctor Jacobs is here, the Lowenhardts have come here, so why not the Roths? If they decide the Roths are here—well, they’ll never have a better chance to get them than in a lonely country house such as this.”

  “But just a minute, old boy,” resumed Bertie. “About this house-breaking lark. You say you think they’ll try to get in. They realize the place will be locked up. It seems to me that if they have any idea of breaking in they must have brought tools with them. Surely that’s enough for us? Why wait for them to burgle the place? Why not go out and search the cars? If we find suspicious tools we could pick ‘em up on a charge of loitering with intent to commit a felony. If we find guns on them so much the better. We ask to see their permits. It’s a million to one against them having firearm certificates. That should keep ‘em in custody long enough for us to find the Roths.”

  “What you’re suggesting is a show-down.”

  “It’s about time we had one.”

  Biggles drew deeply on the cigarette he had lighted. “I think you may have something there, Bertie. There are risks. If there is anything suspicious in either of their cars they’d object to us searching them. That could only end in a scramble. On the other hand, if we found nothing we’d look silly.”

  “So what?” inquired Ginger, “What could they do about it? They’d hardly dare to make a complaint against us for unjustifiable interference. They’re not even British subjects.”

  “True enough. I can’t see them doing that. It would suit us if they did.”

  “Then we’ve nothing to lose and something to gain by having a crack at ‘em.”

  “I’m all for having a bash,” declared Bertie. “This being given the run-around by a bunch of foreign thugs is getting under my skin.”

  After considering the proposal Biggles said: “All right. If we fail to get what we want it’ll let ‘em see we mean business. It’s time we shook them up. It’d be something if they cleared off. That would give Anna and her father time to decide whether to stay here or look for fresh accommodation.”

  “If we’re going to do anything let’s get on with it, while there’s enough daylight to see what we’re doing,” urged Ginger. “It’ll be getting dark presently.”

  “We’d better tell the Doctor and the Lowenhardts what we’re going to do in case the plan comes unstuck,” said Biggles. “They could then take such precautions as would be necessary. Go and tell them, Ginger.”

  Ginger obeyed. He was back inside five minutes. “Okay,” he announced. “I’ve given them the gen. It’s put them in a bit of a flap.”

  “They’ll have to get over it,” asserted Biggles. “Let’s get on with it.”

  He opened the door and had taken a pace outside when a car came tearing up the drive at a speed that made him snatch out his gun, apparently under the impression that this was a frontal attack. He returned it to his pocket as the car came to a skidding stop beside the Jaguar and the driver leapt out.

  It was Algy.

  “What the devil are you doing here?” snapped Biggles, looking anything but pleased.

  “You’d never guess,” returned Algy. “Hold your fire and I’ll tell you.”

  “I can’t wait to hear,” said Biggles shortly. “Come inside.”

  CHAPTER XIII

  THE SHOW-DOWN

  THEY retired into the hall.

  “Now, what’s all this about?” demanded Biggles.

  “I’ve brought news, and when you’ve heard it you’ll be glad I brought it,” stated Algy. “I had to come myself. There was no other way I could let you know. This being out of touch is a curse. I daren’t rely on a telegram. It might have taken hours to reach you. A phone here would have saved me a journey.”

  “Okay. So you’re here. Cut the cackle and let’s have this news,” requested Biggles.

  “It’ll kill you when you hear it,” promised Algy. “Here are the main facts. Chief Superintendent Lowe rang me at the Yard. He asked for you, of course. I told him you weren’t there but I could get a message to you. This is it. He found finger-prints on the door of the house in Bishop’s Way. Mrs. Smith has recovered consciousness and made a statement. She said she could identify the two men who knocked her out. She saw them clearly when, hearing a noise, she came downstairs and switched on the light. That was when they went for her. She doesn’t remember any more.”

  “So what did Lowe do?”

  “Remembering what you said about the gang staying at the hotel in Kensington he decided to arrest them on suspicion and hold them pending an identification parade. There were three of them in Karkoff’s room. He got Molsk and Rallensky but Karkoff pulled a gun and shot his way out, wounding a constable. He then got away in a car. Lowe got the number and a general call has gone out to all stations to get it.”

  “Did you tell Lowe where I was?”

  “Of course. I also told him that some of the gang were here, or had been here. He said as soon as he could get away he’d dash down and have a word with you. He thought Karkoff might head this way to join his men here and perhaps pick them up.”

  “He was right,” informed Biggles. “Karkoff’s here. At all events he was here, on the road, a
little while ago, talking to the two men who had been watching the house. We were just going out to search their cars when you rolled up. Now we know how things stand we’d better get on with it. We’ll grab Karkoff, anyway. Is that all?”

  “Far from it. Hold your hat because this is going to rock you. The Roths have turned up. All three of them.”

  Biggles stared incredulously. “What! Turned up? How? Where?”

  “Ha! It was too simple. They’ve never left Hampstead. They thought Doctor Jacobs must still be there, somewhere. As they were running short of money, in desperation they did the most natural thing. They went to the police station to ask how they could get Jacobs’ address. Lowe saw them himself.”

  “Where are they now?”

  “I don’t know. Lowe said he was taking care of them until he could hand them over to you. He reckoned you’d make arrangements for them to meet Jacobs and the Lowenhardts. That’s one of the reasons why he wants to see you.”

  Biggles looked at the others with a queer expression on his face. “Can you beat that? But we’d better not waste any more time talking. Thanks, Algy. Let’s get after Karkoff. Resisting arrest and shooting a constable should put him out of the murder business for quite some time. Ginger, slip in and let the Lowenhardts know the Roths are safe. It’ll relieve their minds to know that. Better ask Doctor Jacobs will it be all right if we bring them here. Make it snappy.”

  “Are we going to walk out to the road or take one of the cars?” asked Algy while they waited for Ginger to come back.

  “I’ll walk, taking Bertie with me, when we’ve confirmed they’re still there. You and Ginger follow in one of the police cars. We may need it. Okay, let’s get cracking. Come on, Bertie. We’ll go along the back of the bushes and jump ‘em from behind the hedge. Mind how you go. Don’t forget Karkoff has a gun, and having used it once against a police officer will no doubt be prepared to use it again.”

  “Why do you suppose he came here?” asked Bertie, as they set off. “I’d have thought his one idea now would be to get away. He must know a hue and cry is out for him.”