‘I should think so. I’m returning with you to Geneva … Or wait. I can’t. I’m speaking in the House tonight. Kate Halston can go and bring my mother home. We’ll find a clinic for her here until something else can be done.’
‘I wouldn’t rush things, sir. You can be sure your mother will be properly looked after now …’
‘No. No. I’ve made up my mind. She isn’t staying there a minute longer than I can help. Kate can take the next plane and bring her to England. But go on with your account. I’ll fix Kate’s journey when you’ve finished. Have you any idea who killed Cling?’
‘No, sir. We haven’t even sorted out the motive yet.’
‘That’s obvious. It was the diamonds. Cling planned to take them and Durand was his accomplice. They quarrelled and she killed him.’
‘That might not be very easy to prove, sir. Nurse Durand strenuously denies even having seen Cling after their meeting at the clinic on the afternoon of his death.’
‘He was there?’
‘Yes. He told Nurse Durand that he had called at your request to give a message to your mother.’
‘That was a lie. I never send messages to her in that fashion, especially by a man like Cling, whom my mother, as far as I am aware, didn’t even know.’
‘I suppose your mother knows Miss Halston and Mr. Bellin quite well.’
‘Yes. They got to know her before she left England for Les Plaisances and whenever they’ve been in Switzerland they’ve called to see her. She appreciates visits from her friends. But not from Cling, I’m sure.’
‘I take it you would, if Dr. Binger agreed, have no objections to my visiting and talking with your mother. She might be able to help in the investigation and I promise I would not disturb her.’
‘I’ve no objection at all, but you will have to be quick about it. As I said, I’m sending Miss Halston to Avène right away to remove my mother from Les Plaisances. I’ve lost confidence in Binger and his clinic and I shall find a place more suitable where they treat patients with a little more respect.’
‘You won’t forget that Dr. Binger may say it is inadvisable for your mother to travel at present.’
‘In that case, I shall ask my son-in-law in Ferney to act on my behalf.’
‘May I ask who was aware that your mother habitually wore more than twenty thousand pounds worth of jewellery every day at Les Plaisances?’
‘Naturally, I didn’t advertise the fact, but Miss Halston and Bellin knew, of course. I also told Binger and Miss Fauconnet. I didn’t want them to think they were made of glass and I asked them to keep an eye on them. Binger offered to keep them in his private safe, but my mother wouldn’t allow them out of her possession. My father bought them for her years ago and, as she has grown older, particularly of late, she suffers from senile dementia from time to time and she has become more and more attached to the diamonds. In fact, they have become an obsession, a part of her. I tried her with some well-made paste replicas, but she found out. Funny, one of the inmates of the clinic is an ex-jeweller from Rue de la Paix, in Paris. He was ruined during the war and went off his head. It was he who happened to meet my mother when she was wearing the imitation stones. He called them “baubles” and told her their value. She suffered one of her crises and they sent for me. I had to see to it that such a scene didn’t occur again. She has worn the real stones since. After all, it is worth while to give her happiness in her old age, whatever the value.’
‘Where are the imitation diamonds at present, sir?’
‘In a bank in Geneva, for what they’re worth. They are quite good. In fact, first class imitations and only an expert could recognise them at a glance, although rough handling would soon show they weren’t diamonds.’
‘Why did you put the imitations in the bank, sir?’
‘The genuine articles were there and when I took them away after my mother’s breakdown, I left the false stones in the box at the bank in their place, for somewhere better to keep them.’
‘And the bank, sir. Which bank?’
‘I don’t see what that has to do with the case. However, it’s Banque Ferdinand Helder, Quai des Bergues. Helder is an old friend of mine and I do business with him now and then.’
‘Did Cling know of this?’
‘Whatever are you getting at now? Are you thinking he might have done some kind of switch?’
‘No; I’d be interested to know if he knew of your connections with Banque Helder.’
‘He did. He was on my tail whenever I was about in Geneva and I called once or twice on Ferdinand Helder with Cling shadowing me. He followed me in the bank … Yes; he was with me when I changed the false for the real pieces. We were put in a private room together whilst I did it. Of course, I didn’t explain to him what I was doing.’
‘He was probably shrewd enough to guess. May I ask you if you’ll be good enough to ring the bank now and ask if the jewellery has been recently disturbed?’
‘But that’s nonsense. Who could disturb it, except me? They wouldn’t allow anyone else to get near it.’
‘All the same, would you ask? And, by the way, how is it deposited? In a sealed packet or a locked box?’
‘In a locked box. I have one key and Helder, personally, holds the other. It is a bit unusual for a banker to hold the key of a locked box in safe custody with him but Helder did this as a personal favour against my written indemnity. You see, there are documents concerning my mother there, which might have been needed urgently and also when the real stones were there, it might have become necessary to allow her to have them … In brief, it was in case of an emergency which might occur when I couldn’t get to Geneva quickly. I might have been abroad on diplomatic duties …’
‘I understand. Did Cling know?’
‘Really, Littlejohn, you try my patience. Cling, Cling, Cling … It’s like the passing bell. Why should Cling want to know a matter like that?’
‘Did he?’
‘Yes. As I said, he was with me when we changed the false for the true on the occasion mentioned. Helder, my good friend, attended me personally and even opened the box with his own key.’
‘May I trouble you about the phone call?’
Sir Ensor sighed.
‘Littlejohn, you are the limit! Wait a minute. I’ll get them to use the Telex.’
‘No sir. If you please! I wish this to be private. Will you do it yourself?’
Sir Ensor thumbed the pages of his pocket diary and then lifted the telephone.
‘Geneva 42 24 77 … Mr. Ferdinand Helder, Junior, please.’
He was through in less than a minute.
Then followed a series of friendly greetings, personal enquiries, and finally the questions asked by Littlejohn.
Sir Ensor’s face grew redder and redder and his jaw opened in astonishment as the tale went on at the other end. ‘No, no, no, Helder. Nothing wrong. I’m just ringing to ask if it happened. It has slipped my memory. That’s quite all right. Yes … as I told you at the time, I was taking away my mother’s real diamonds and replacing them in the box by the imitations which she wore on everyday occasions. Did he take them away? No, I’m not worried. No. I’m just checking. A matter of insurance … I’d be grateful if you would …’
A pause, which gave Sir Ensor time for a word with Littlejohn.
‘Helder is just getting the box up from the vaults. He tells me that Cling was in the bank the other week … to be precise, on the afternoon before his death … Can you beat that? How did you know?’
An interruption and a voice speaking in good English from the other end. Then a lot more assurances by Sir Ensor that all was well, although judging from Cobb’s astonished troubled face, it wasn’t. Finally, the conversation ended.
It took Cobb a second or two to recover his breath and equanimity.
‘Littlejohn; the real diamonds are in the box!’
‘Would Mr. Helder know the difference between genuine and false?’
‘When he was young, his fa
ther sent him to De Beers to gain experience. Now he owns a string of jeweller’s shops as well as a bank and ships in the Swiss mercantile marine.’
‘How did it happen?’
‘Cling was a cool one. He arrived as calm and collected as he always was, just before closing time on the day he died. He produced a letter on British Embassy paper, purporting to be signed by me. A perfect signature, very well-known to Helder. The letter requested the bank to allow Cling, of Scotland Yard, if you please, and identifiable by his warrant card and other credentials, to inspect the contents of the box, in particular the case containing mother’s jewellery. Helder was asked, as a favour to open the box with his key and remain with Cling whilst he checked the items. The inspection, said the letter, was for insurance purposes.’
‘And the bank did as they were bidden?’
‘Of course. Wouldn’t you? No risk. They were to stand over Cling and see he didn’t pocket anything. They received a letter with an impeccable forgery on it on official note-paper. And Cling supplied all his documents and credentials. The box was produced, opened, and Helder watched him open the jewel case, count the items, and close and put it back again. Had Cling ever been a conjurer?’
‘Not to my knowledge, although if he’d ever learned prestidigitation, he’d have done it properly. That was one of his strong points. Thoroughness.’
14
Quite Another Cling
‘IF YOU BOTH travel to Geneva on the same plane, you and Miss Halston could perhaps call together at Les Plaisances to see my mother. You could also help her, maybe, to persuade the old lady to come back to England and make some arrangements for her. Sorry I can’t go myself.’
It didn’t seem a very attractive proposition to Littlejohn. One on which he would probably waste a lot of time. Sir Ensor had a nerve suggesting it. On the other hand, Mrs. Cobb might take to him better and be more lucid and communicative if he were in company with Miss Halston.
‘Of course. That would suit me very well.’
Sir Ensor hastily summoned his secretary over the office phone. She arrived at once, as though she’d been waiting and prepared for the summons at any time. She always seemed very busy and energetic. A plain, but interesting and intelligent face, and, although she was around forty, she was still quite desirable. She dressed simply but well and in excellent taste and her figure was plump and attractive. She greeted Littlejohn as though she knew him well.
Sir Ensor gave Miss Halston a brief account of what had happened recently at Les Plaisances. Or, at least, he thought it was brief. Actually, it was a long rambling disjointed discourse similar to his answers to questions in the House, which often bored his questioners to tears and made them shy off anything but the extremely essential.
Kate Halston looked shocked and surprised.
‘I’d no idea the Cling tragedy had reached Les Plaisances. Poor dear! Mrs. Cobb thought so much of her diamonds …’
‘They’ve been recovered.’
She grew tense and strained now.
‘Have the police made an arrest, then?’
‘No. But before he died, Cling put the jewellery in a safe place and we know where it is.’
She gave a relieved sigh and relaxed again.
‘So, I think you’d better go to Geneva on the first possible flight and bring mother home to my place. She can stay with me until we find alternative accommodation for her.’
‘I’m astonished that such things could happen at Les Plaisances. We always thought they were so suitable and of good repute. Dr. Binger will be upset, I’m sure.’
‘I don’t care a damn about Binger, Kate. He was in Paris at the time, no doubt enjoying himself, and Dr. Fauconnet was left in charge. She seems to have lost her head completely and her behaviour was highly irregular, almost criminal. You can travel with Littlejohn, Kate. He’s leaving for Geneva in the late afternoon. He wishes to speak to mother so you can introduce him to her and see that she calms down. Littlejohn will help you in arranging for mother’s removal and travel. And you’re to stand no nonsense from Binger or anyone else. Tell them I say so.’
And he sat back in his chair and puffed out his chest like a king who’d signed an ultimatum.
‘Very well, Sir Ensor. Shall we meet at the airport, Superintendent? I’ve still a lot to do.’
‘Yes, Miss Halston. I’ll see you in the airport, main hall at 5.15. I suppose you’ll be able to secure a seat for yourself.’
‘She will,’ said Sir Ensor, as though there’d be an eruption if she didn’t.
‘Let’s meet in front of the Midland Bank, then.’
‘Very well.’
Sir Ensor was still ringing bells and pushing buttons.
‘Is Mr. Bellin there? Send him in, please.’
Bellin arrived promptly, casually strolled to the desk with his hands in his pockets, and joined them.
‘Hullo, Superintendent. How’s the case?’
Bellin was well set up. Smartly dressed, elegant in his blue suit and college tie. The type to be found with pretty women and gracious living in the best places. He moved energetically for a man in his middle forties, but his face betrayed his age. There were pouches of fatigue under his eyes.
‘Never mind that, Roland. Kate’s going to Geneva with Littlejohn to bring my mother home. There’s been trouble at Les Plaisances …’
‘Not another murder, I hope.’
He grinned.
‘Of course not. And there’s nothing funny about it, Roland.’
Sir Ensor then repeated to Bellin, almost word for word, the tale he’d already told Miss Halston.
Bellin whistled.
‘The ruddy limit. Don’t blame you. The sooner your mother’s in safe hands the better.’
There then occurred a silence, as though they were all digesting the information and wondering how it was all going to end.
‘By the way, there’s one formality the Swiss police asked me to attend to, Sir Ensor. They wish to know where you, Miss Halston and Mr. Bellin were at the time of the crime.’
Littlejohn almost laughed outright. They all looked so stupefied.
Another pause, almost as menacing as a vacuum. Sir Ensor spoke first.
‘Ridiculous! They know that I was at their damned police dinner in full view of all the guests all the time. My alibi’s public property. Why they should bother about Kate and Roland I can’t think. They’d nothing to do with Cling’s death. Why should they? It all arose out of a sordid love affair.’
Bellin didn’t seem to mind.
‘I was at the dinner, too, for a little while. I left around eight and didn’t return until ten. I’d the day’s reports to finish. I did it in one of the private rooms. Kate saw me go and I went to consult her now and then about various matters. In a sense, we’re each other’s alibi. Aren’t we, Kate?’
There was a faint sound of challenge in his tone.
Miss Halston thought briefly as though mentally checking up the events of the night and then nodded her head.
‘Yes.’
Back at Scotland Yard, Littlejohn had a meal with Inspector Cromwell and brought him up to date with events.
Cromwell looked puzzled.
‘It’s a strange affair. Whose side was Cling playing on?’
‘I’m leaving for Geneva with Miss Halston on the evening flight, Cromwell. I’m going to see old Mrs. Cobb. We’ll see if she has anything to say which will help us. Meanwhile, I’d be glad if you’d investigate Kate Halston’s background. Special Branch should have some files which might be illuminating. But be careful. We don’t want her to know we’re interested in her. I want all that’s available about her, past and present. And the same applies to Roland Bellin, Sir Ensor’s man-of-affairs. Give him the same treatment as Miss Halston.’
‘Do you think the pair of them had a hand in the death of Cling?’
‘I don’t know. It’s only a hunch. But there seems to be some bond in common between them. The way Bellin almost bullied her into givi
ng him an alibi for the time of Cling’s death. I might be mistaken. Bellin’s a hard case. Your investigations about the pair of them might give a simple explanation. We’ll see.’
A message had arrived by phone from Geneva, too. According to the information obtained from the hire firm who’d supplied Littlejohn with a car, the initial figure on the speedometer, shown in their records, deducted from the mileage finally registered, left from sixty to eighty miles unaccounted for. In ringing up his wife to explain his movements, he’d also checked his own figure with his wife and confirmed it. Cling had evidently travelled some distance in the purloined car before his murder.
At the appointed time, Littlejohn met Miss Halston at the airport. She’d succeeded in booking a seat on the Geneva flight. They boarded the plane and a meal was served. It was not until this had been cleared away and they were within half an hour’s flight of Geneva that Littlejohn had any chance to speak seriously with her.
Throughout the journey she had seemed awkward and uneasy about something. It was unlikely that a sophisticated woman like Kate Halston would be nervous and gauche in the presence of a strange man. It must therefore have been that she was a bit afraid of Littlejohn and what he knew about the Cling case. He made up his mind to find out, if he could.
‘The Swiss Alps should be in sight any minute, Superintendent …’
‘Yes. I wonder how we’ll find Mrs. Cobb. She’s been very upset of late by the disappearance of her diamonds. Where did you say you were at the time of the crime?’
‘I’ve already told you, I was in the Hôtel du Roi all the time …’
She tossed her head and turned and looked through the window beside which she was sitting.
‘Please look at me. I wish to know exactly what you were doing, Miss Halston. This is important, and it will be more convenient for you, I can assure you, if you tell me frankly. If I am not told, you will have to explain it all to the Swiss police. As soon as this plane touches down, you will be within their jurisdiction, not mine. At the moment, your answer is mere routine. In Switzerland, it may be much more serious.’
Death of a Shadow (An Inspector Littlejohn Mystery) Page 13