Call for the Baron

by John Creasey

  Had she met one or more of the men known to have been prowling about the grounds?

  He disliked the thought, but had to consider it. It was essential to find the thief – and find him or her before Bristow heard Logan’s story. He felt uneasy: why was Bristow so quiet and inactive about Logan?

  He pushed his disquiet aside.

  With luck Lorna would find out whether Cecilie had been in a position to enter Armitage’s room. If the girl was unable to prove she had been elsewhere, it would look very black against her.

  If the two robberies had been committed by the same person, Armitage was in the clear, although there was as much reason to believe Armitage would rob his own room as that Lady Usk would steal her own jewels. Barring, of course, the possibility that Tommy had staged the second burglary to clear himself of suspicion of the first.

  Assuming that there had been two genuine robberies, only Cecilie and Hilda Markham were on the list of suspects among the guests. Mannering knew next to nothing about the feminist with the acrid tongue and the sharp turn of humour, yet he found it hard to suspect her of any kind of law-breaking. He cancelled Hilda Markham as a likely suspect.

  The second robbery certainly minimised the possibility of Logan and an outside accomplice being guilty – that meant that the only suspect inside the house was Cecilie.

  The thief must have been in a position to see Armitage go out.

  Had Cecilie been in that position?

  Mannering felt gloomy as he walked towards the village. It occurred to him that Vere and Morency might be taking the footpath across the fields, in which case he would miss them. He turned, and cut across the meadow.

  Presently the trees became thick and obscuring. Enjoying the cool restfulness, Mannering suddenly heard a man’s voice.

  He paused, for there was a threatening note in the voice which he did not like.

  ‘It isn’t all right, see,’ it said. ‘Don’t get that idea. It’s a long way from being all right, and you’ve got to see me clear. You know what’ll happen if you don’t.’

  ‘But—’

  A woman started to answer, and the single word sent a shock of surprise through Mannering. He had believed Lady Usk to be in her room, but there she was on the other side of the hedge of trees.

  Mannering kept quite still, searching for a gap in the foliage through which he could see. He heard Lady Usk’s heavy breathing, lessening in sound as she moved away towards Vere house.

  But Mannering was less interested in Lady Usk than in the man who was left standing by the trees.

  The thin twisted face, the sneering expression, were unmistakable. It was the man he believed to be Woolf, who had been talking to Logan and who had thrown a stone at him on the previous night.

  Mannering stood quite still, trying to decide his wisest course of action. He could tackle the fellow at once, but would it serve any useful purpose? Would he be able to prove that it was the man whom he had seen the previous night? One man’s word against another’s would be of little use for a jury.

  Would it damage Mannering’s prospects if he identified the detective? To Mannering this man’s only usefulness would be as a means of getting at the truth of the theft. If Bristow held him for any reason Mannering would have no chance of using him.

  Until the thief was found Mannering had to work alone.

  Then suddenly, unexpectedly, Woolf – if it was Woolf – looked round and saw Mannering.

  There was no sign of recognition in the small brown eyes as the other stepped straight towards him. To reach the road he had to, for there was a stile near Mannering – the stile where Mannering had seen Logan and this fellow talking.

  The man started to climb, while Mannering was still trying to reach a decision. A dozen thoughts flashed through his mind, the most convincing being that whatever he said, he would not be able to get the other to admit that he had been uttering threats. Lady Usk could corroborate – but would she? If she were frightened she would be far more likely to deny all knowledge of the conversation.

  ‘Seen enough?’ The coarse voice jibed.

  Mannering said: ‘I’ve seen and heard enough, I think, Woolf.’ He waited long enough to see the sneer disappear and alarm enter the other’s eyes. He had been right, then. This was Woolf.

  Mannering turned away, while the other walked sharply in the opposite direction.

  Had he taken the right course, Mannering wondered? As he saw it, the chief problem was whether there was any connection between this interview and the jewel robbery.

  ‘We’ll see,’ Mannering said to himself. ‘I fancy I’ll be able to find him when I want him – and if I want him.’ He stepped out briskly, and then a movement on his left attracted him. He looked round, to see Tring walking along the road. Plainly the sergeant had been hiding behind the hedge, and now he was hot-foot in Woolf’s wake.

  Mannering walked on, intercepting Vere and Morency halfway to the house. Both men stopped as he hailed them.

  ‘Where’s Lorna?’ Vere asked when Mannering drew up. Morency smiled.

  ‘I’m a great admirer of Miss Fauntley’s painting,’ he said pleasantly. ‘I didn’t connect her up with it last night.’

  Mannering said absently, ‘Few people do.’ He waited a minute, and then went on. ‘I’m here, really, to break a piece of tiresome news. Armitage has had his room rifled.’

  Morency uttered a sharp exclamation, while Vere cried furiously: ‘Another blasted robbery! Damn it, John—’ He stopped with an obvious effort to retain his composure. ‘Well, all we can hope is, that Bristow can prove it was someone from outside.’

  ‘It’s pretty clear now that it wasn’t,’ said Mannering.

  They began to walk briskly towards the house.

  Morency said mildly: ‘Blaming me over-much, Martin?’

  ‘Nonsense,’ answered his brother-in-law sharply. ‘Only too glad to be able to help, but why this had to happen beggars me. I wonder what Bristow will do next?’

  Morency said quietly: ‘I don’t think there’s much doubt.’ ‘About what?’ asked Mannering.

  ‘About his course of action,’ said Morency. ‘We just can’t have a thief in the house for this weekend. It looks as if everyone except the family will be asked to go.’

  ‘Well,’ said Mannering, ‘that’s understandable, and there are hotels if we don’t want to go back to town.’

  The luncheon gong was echoing from the house, and they hurried to their rooms. Mannering was washing his hands when Lorna came in from the passage. She was frowning, and her expression was thoughtful.

  ‘Well, darling. What’s the report?’

  ‘Not what I want it to be,’ Lorna said. ‘Bristow’s reached the same conclusion that we have, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Hm-hm.’

  ‘Cecilie’s the only one of the suspects who could have taken the money from Armitage’s safe,’ Lorna went on, sitting down on the edge of the bath. ‘She was in her room all the time – or so she says. Lady Usk was out, so was Tommy, and Hilda Markham was with Diana.’

  Mannering groped for a towel.

  ‘If we accept the obvious, then, Cecilie’s the culprit. Bristow’s not going to do anything about it yet, is he?’

  ‘I don’t know. He’s been on the telephone in Martin’s study for the last quarter of an hour.’

  ‘Consulting with the Yard, obviously,’ said Mannering. ‘Well, what did you think of Cecilie?’

  Lorna shrugged helplessly. ‘If it weren’t that so much points to her, I’d say any suspicion was absurd. She might have been tempted to take something from her stepmother’s safe, I suppose. She was telling me that her allowance is so small that she can hardly manage. She’s bitter too. But as for snooping round the rooms and taking Tommy’s loose cash – I just can’t believe it.’

  ‘Morency and Vere think we’ll all be asked to go until the conference is over,’ said Mannering. ‘And that means no driving back to town after lunch or putting up in the village. Or we might go to
Winchester,’ he added, slipping into his coat. ‘Sweetheart, if he does arrest Cecilie what are we going to do?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Lorna. ‘Would you take it for granted that she put the necklace in your room?’

  Mannering said: ‘I think I should want to satisfy myself that no one else could have done it. The two robberies don’t worry me – but for Logan I wouldn’t give a damn. But the odds and ends, the men in the grounds, the hush-hush business about Morency and the visitors this afternoon, and above all the fear of Lady Usk, are all unexplained. There’s something here we haven’t discovered.’ Mannering hesitated as, together, they stepped towards the door. ‘It might be that we’re more aware of Morency’s visit than we think. We’re war-conscious, and he’s been boosted as a messenger of peace so much that we’re prepared to believe it. Do you feel that way?’

  Lorna said: ‘There’s certainly an atmosphere.’

  ‘An aura of unease and disquiet,’ Mannering said ruminatively, ‘much more so than the loss of Lady Usk’s diamonds warrants. It’s’—he hesitated, and then laughed without much humour—‘as if we’re waiting for a crisis.’ They reached the landing, and as they did so, Mannering saw the door of Lady Usk’s room opening. He looked away, not wanting to let the peeress think that he was showing too keen an interest, but he had not reached the stairs before she called him.

  ‘Mr Mannering!’

  In Lady Usk’s voice there was a note that alarmed him, and startled Lorna. Mannering had heard something similar the night before, when she had cried out before she had fainted. It was more intense now, as if she were trying to shout and yet could hardly make a sound.

  Chapter Fourteen

  And She Capitulates

  Lady Usk was half-in and half-out of her room, her face ghastly beneath its make-up. Mannering stepped quickly towards her.

  She was trembling, and he saw the beads of sweat on her forehead. He took her arm firmly, and led her back into the room. Lorna followed, and closed the door. Mannering urged the older woman into a chair.

  ‘What is it, Lady Usk? What’s disturbed you?’

  Lady Usk was gulping for breath, but in a few seconds she grew steadier.

  ‘I—I’m so—frightened.’ She closed her eyes, and her fingers gripped Mannering’s wrist with nervous tension, ‘I—’

  As she paused, Mannering said: ‘Is it about the man you were talking to half-an-hour ago?’

  ‘You mean Woolf? No, it wasn’t him. He’s unimportant, the fool!’ Her voice strengthened, as it always did when she was contemptuous of anything or anyone, and Mannering was surprised for she had stumbled away from Woolf in a way which had suggested she was very close to panic. ‘No, it was—I’ve had another one!’

  ‘Another note?’

  ‘Yes, yes! It came this morning! I didn’t open the post early, I had to go and see Woolf. And when I came back—’ Her fingers fumbled at the neck of her dress, and she drew the purse out. ‘See—I’m not dreaming, I’m not lying! See, there it is!’

  Mannering smoothed out the small folded piece of paper she thrust into his hands and read the pencilled message:

  It won’t be long now, you old devil. You can look for it any time.

  She allowed Mannering hardly time to read the note before she snatched it back.

  ‘I—I don’t really mind, it’s a lot of nonsense, but—’ She shuddered. ‘Who sends them, Mr Mannering? Who wants to worry the life out of a wretched woman who hasn’t done anything to deserve it!’

  ‘If you had,’ said Mannering, ‘it wouldn’t justify this, Lady Usk. I’ve got to advise you, very strongly, to tell the police.’

  She started up in her chair.

  ‘No, no, I won’t! And you promised not to!’

  ‘I know I promised,’ said Mannering evenly, ‘but you’re taking risks, and only the police can really help you. There’s a good man in the house now.’

  ‘I won’t see him again! He was here asking all kinds of silly questions, anyone would think he thought I’d robbed myself!’ Her voice grew strident. ‘I won’t tell him!’ Mannering shrugged.

  ‘All right, you won’t. But if anything happens, you probably won’t be alive to regret it. I will.’

  He looked sharply into the wide-open, frightened eyes as she threw Mannering’s hand aside.

  ‘And I thought you were a friend! I tell you I’m not really worried! I want to know who it is, that’s all.’

  ‘All right,’ said Mannering. He turned to the door, but before he reached it Lady Usk called sharply: ‘Mr Mannering!’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Do you—do you really think I’m in danger?’

  ‘It looks like it,’ Mannering said. ‘For myself, I wouldn’t like to be in your position.’

  ‘And—and this policeman won’t talk, will he?’

  ‘Talk to whom?’ asked Mannering with a show of irritation. ‘He’ll tell his superiors, and make his report, but it will be quite confidential. He won’t tell Mr and Mrs Vere or the guests, if that’s what you mean.’

  Her next words startled him.

  ‘Will—will he tell my husband?’

  Mannering turned back and said reassuringly: ‘It will be entirely between you and the Inspector if you decide to tell him, Lady Usk. No one, not even your husband, need know if you insist on him keeping silent about it. And I do most strongly advise you to tell Bristow.’

  ‘All right,’ she capitulated, but there was a catch in her breath. ‘I’ll tell him. Could he come now? Or—could you tell him, Mr Mannering? He’s a friend of yours, isn’t he?’

  ‘He’ll want to see you, and the messages,’ Mannering said, ‘but I’ll have a word with him right away. Will you stay here until he comes along?’

  ‘Yes. I’m having lunch up here. Yes, tell him now, please.’ Lady Usk’s eyes, so large and velvety, were over bright as she gripped the arms of her chair.

  Outside the door, Mannering hesitated. ‘She worries me, Lorna. I think you’d better wait with her until Bristow comes.’

  He hurried to the study, where he found Bristow sitting at Vere’s desk. Tring was standing by his side. The Inspector had a pencil and paper, but he was not writing.

  Mannering walked quickly across the room. ‘I’ve just come from Lady Usk,’ he said crisply. ‘She told me something yesterday, but swore me to silence. I’ve persuaded her that you’ll treat anything she says in confidence. That’s all right, I take it?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Bristow, showing a deeper interest. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Threats, on her life,’ said Mannering. ‘She’s had two notes—the second this morning. She’s in her room with Miss Fauntley now. You’d better go along while she’s in the mood for talking.’

  Bristow leaped to his feet.

  ‘I appreciate this a lot, Mannering.’ He paused, with his hand on the handle. ‘Oh, there’s one other thing. I’ve had instructions from London, and I’m afraid it might upset your arrangements,’

  ‘That won’t worry me,’ Mannering said. ‘We’re all to get marching orders, I suppose.’

  Bristow smiled. ‘Not at all. We’re asking everyone here last night to stay indefinitely. At least until Mr Morency’s gone back.’

  ‘Well,’ said Mannering, ‘no one will object to that. I think they were all planning to be here.’

  Bristow chuckled.

  ‘Oh, no, they weren’t. Armitage wants to go to London on Monday, Miss Grey thought of going up with him, and Miss Markham changed her plans and was going back this evening. However, I’m glad you’re not going to complain,’ said Bristow heartily. ‘Now I’ll go and relieve Miss Fauntley.’

  Mannering followed him out, waiting on the landing for Lorna. He was startled by the facts Bristow had thrown with a casualness too studied to be genuine. Bristow had been hoping to see some reaction to his information.

  Mannering was surprised more by the several requests to leave Vere House for London than by Bristow’s instructions. Obviously the a
uthorities had decided it was better to keep the suspects in the house than let them separate; certainly they would be easier to watch. To Mannering, too, it seemed plain that the decision was controlled in a measure by Morency and the afternoon’s guests. No one could carry information of whom Morency was seeing while they remained at the house.

  At the same moment Cecilie’s door opened and the girl stepped out. She was pale and her eyes were glittering with temper.

  ‘Trouble?’ he asked.

  ‘Trouble?’ retorted Cecilie fiercely. ‘It’s outrageous! I wanted to go to London, and I’m not allowed to. When I try to telephone the friend I was going to see, someone on the switchboard asks me for the message!’

  Mannering himself was surprised at such high-handed treatment. It suggested that no one was to be allowed to leave, nor to telephone from Vere House. Bristow, supported by Scotland Yard and possibly the Home Office, was sealing the house against the escape of the thief, the jewels – or – of information.

  More likely the last, Mannering thought grimly. The impression of an approaching crisis strengthened, and grew more urgent in his mind. Certainly this step would be excessive but for Morency: which meant that there were others than Wrexford to fear.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Visitors Arrive

  ‘I’m not coming in to lunch,’ Cecilie said. ‘I feel too furious!’ She gave a sharp little laugh, and would have hurried past, had Lorna not stopped her.

  ‘Don’t be an idiot! We’re all in the same boat. John and I have just been asked not to leave the house.’

  Cecilie turned, staring incredulously.

  ‘You two? Why?’

  ‘For the same reasons as you,’ said Mannering equably. ‘There’s someone in the house who doesn’t object to opening safes, and during the weekend papers will be here, and things will be discussed, which could have a greater value than diamonds.’