by J. V. Turner
‘Right first guess. That’s why I want to know all about it.’
‘You’re in luck’s way. I’m not likely to forget it. My meeting with Edgar spoiled my lunch.’
‘That would naturally impress the fact on anyone. Tell me the details. How did it affect your appetite?’
‘It wasn’t the appetite that failed, Petrie. It was the food. The fact is that I ordered a steak in the dining-room, and had gone back to the library while it was cooking. It was when I was returning to the dining-room that I met Reardon.’
‘How did he happen to be there?’
‘What a man for details! It was an accident, and, for me, a most unfortunate accident. Reardon had been feeding in the Ministers’ dining-room. Being full of steak himself, he forgot all about my meal, and dragged me off to hear about Quiller’s opinion.’
‘Yes. Carry on. This is most interesting.’
‘I’m not exactly thrilled about it. He gave the opinion to me to read as we were walking along. Of course, that was impossible. I can’t concentrate on law when my stomach is crying for steak. Neither is it helpful to try it while you’re perambulating corridors. I just glanced at the thing, and saw what it was. But by then we’d walked the length of the Library Corridor, and down the Ministers’ Corridor before I could get rid of him.’
‘You didn’t get the impression that he had just received it, and was looking for you?’
‘No, I can’t say that I did. I don’t know that I had any definite impression at all, except a feeling of irritation. But if you want my opinion you can have it. I think it was the sight of me that reminded him of the opinion.’
‘He must have attached a lot of importance to it if he managed to keep you with him against your own marked inclination.’
‘Undoubtedly he did. But it doesn’t at all follow that he wasn’t thinking of something else until he saw me. Edgar was like that. He could always put things out of his mind, and produce something new.’
‘You can tell me nothing whatever about when he received it?’
‘Oh, yes. I’ve said so. It must have been some time that day.’
‘I mean at what time? And where? Was it at his house when he got back from Milford, or did he find it waiting for him here?’
‘Now you’re taxing me too high, Petrie. I might guess that it was waiting for him here since I don’t expect he’d like such a letter sent to his home. But I might be wrong. I really don’t know. I don’t think he said anything about that. If he did I’ve forgotten it.’
‘Was there an envelope on it when it was handed to you?’
‘I think there was. I have no recollection, however, of reading any address in it. It didn’t hold my attention. I’m sorry that I can’t help you about this. You have to remember that I didn’t know he was going to be murdered that afternoon. You are asking me about details which no man would ordinarily notice.’
‘At any rate, you’re certain that document was not left with you so that you could consider it at your leisure?’
‘Not the slightest doubt about that.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘You have forgotten, Petrie, that there was only one thing I was prepared to consider at that time—and that was the steak ruining in the dining-room. Hungry men recall such details.’
‘It certainly seems to have impressed itself on your memory. Tell me, was this matter of the waiting steak the only reason for postponing the discussion about the opinion, or were there stronger, and additional reasons for postponing the discussion?’
‘That was my only reason. I’d better explain, though, that Reardon might well have had other reasons. It would never have done for me to be found in his room discussing whether he had, or had not, committed bigamy. The matter goes farther than that. If we had been successful in concealing the object of the discussion any really bright lad might well grow suspicious to find me in the Chancellor’s room before he introduced the Budget. I need hardly remind you, Petrie, that I am a member of the Opposition. It is all right to be seen talking in corridors, or even in his own room under normal circumstances since everyone in the House knew us as friends. But a Budget Day is somewhat different. If I had gone to his room someone might have begun to smell a rat. And Edgar was in a position in which he could not afford to have folks smelling even the wrong rat. From his point of view delay was wise,’
‘No doubt you’re right. Yes, you’re probably right. Now tell me this, and I’ll pester you no more. At exactly what time did you meet?’
‘As nearly as possible, I should say it was half-past two.’
‘And about how long were you with him?’
‘It seemed a long time. That may have been because I was hungry. Allowing for that, I’d say I was with him for five minutes.’
‘Thank you very much indeed. I’ll release you from further service for the time being. Any time you get any bright ideas perhaps you’ll give me a ring. I can do with them.’
‘You’ve worn out my supply of ideas for months to come.’
Petrie returned to his flat, read a new fishing book, and retired cheerfully to bed.
CHAPTER XVI
CONSULTATION AT THE YARD
ON the following morning it was established beyond doubt that Quiller’s opinion was waiting at the House of Commons when Reardon returned from Milford. His solicitors unbent condescendingly enough to admit that the document they had dispatched to their late client had not been returned to them. But it was impossible to estimate the time of its disappearance. There had been an interval between the murder and the police search of the dead man’s room. That made the chance of abstracting the paper as good after death as it had been before. Petrie asked for the attaché-case containing the original Budget speech to be brought to him from the safe at the Yard. With that under his arm he walked along to the Home Office, leaving the case, the key, and the contents, with Sir Ralph Wade, the analyst.
From there he telephoned Ripple, informing him that he would be in his own office at the Public Prosecutor’s Department throughout the morning, and did not wish to be disturbed unless the matter was of vital importance. In his own room Amos sank into a chair, and remained for half an hour without a move. Whichever view he took it seemed to him equally important to observe the exact sequence of events. For three hours he sat with a paper, and pen, collating the evidence, and throwing it into the form of a timetable. Thus:
A.M.
10 Reardon returned to Downing Street by car in company with Paling.
10.5 Reardon went to Treasury. Sees Permanent Secretary, and other officials. Arranges for speech to be typed.
10.50 Reardon went to 10 Downing Street, taking typescript with him. N.B—This typing was not whole of speech. See Prime Minister.
11.0 Attends Cabinet meeting until
P.M.
1.0 Cabinet breaks up. Reardon returns to Treasury. Interviews as before.
1.15 Reardon walks alone to House of Commons, and finds Quiller’s opinion awaiting him.
1.30 Lunch at House of Commons with Ferguson, Morgan and the Attorney General.
2.30 Lunch over. Reardon meets Curtis while going to private room. Reardon then has Quiller’s opinion with him. They walk together until
2.35 Reardon and Curtis separate near private room.
2.40 Treasury Messenger delivers Budget papers in locked attaché-case to Reardon, who is alone in room. He opens case, inspects papers. Sees messenger to door, tips him, and looks along corridor as though searching for someone. Reardon not seen again outside room, and nobody seen to enter until
2.55 Paling calls, finds Reardon alone. Attaché-case is on table.
3.5 Watson sees Reardon for first time in ten days. Paling left before Watson arrived. Reardon is alone. Watson does not know whether case locked or not.
3.15 Ferguson arrives. Watson leaves immediately.
3.25 Lola Reardon joins husband and Ferguson. Ferguson offers to show her Budget speech. She refuses. Does not know if case is locked.
3.35 Ferguson and
Mrs R. leave together. Reardon left alone.
3.40 Reardon enters House of Commons.
3.55 Reardon begins Budget speech.
4.50 Reardon dies.
5.20 Budget papers collected from House of Commons table by Financial Secretary to Treasury, replaced in case, the case locked and key handed to Prime Minister.
5.30 Attaché-case received back at Treasury and locked in safe.
Tuesday
P.M.
2.0 Key of attaché-case given by Prime Minister to Watson.
3.0 Prime Minister speaks from duplicate copy of speech.
7.0 Original speech in locked case handed to me together with key by Watson.
Amos had drawn the horizontal lines through his timetable before he discovered that his lunch hour had passed. He slipped the table in his pocket, hurried out for a quick snack, consumed a pint of beer, and strolled along to the Home Office. There Sir Ralph’s secretary handed him the locked attaché-case, the key, and a letter from the analyst. Petrie read the note as he walked along Whitehall. He was humming brightly when he entered the Yard. Inspector Ripple seemed to have aged. His shoulders were more bowed, the face was seamed with even more lines than usual, his eyes lacked lustre. He looked up at Petrie and nodded dismally.
‘Well, Angel, what’s the big news from the front line?’
‘I’m going mad. This case has given me concussion. I’ve tried some tough stuff at odd times, but preserve me from anything like this. It seems to me that everything that happened didn’t happen, and what didn’t happen did happen. The whole affair ain’t human.’
‘What’ve you been doing this morning?’
‘Trying to find out who really did visit Watson’s flat the other night, and the only thing I can’t prove is that he was visited by nobody. One damned drunk beat me there. But I can’t show that those seeds came to him by the delivery van, by an angel, or by a miracle. I’ve spent hours tramping streets looking for traces of folks who have never been in the streets, of climbing stairs to check facts that make no difference when you’ve got ’em, of asking taxi drivers about fares they’ve never had. Strewth! I think I’ll resign.’
‘Before you resign I want you to take a look at this.’ Amos threw his timetable on the desk. Ripple sighed heavily as he picked it up and glanced at it. ‘I don’t guarantee that you’ll be able to spot the murderer by running your eye over the entries,’ said Petrie, ‘but he’s there somewhere.’
‘You know him?’ Ripple looked up, startled.
‘I haven’t got quite as far as that, Sunshine.’
‘I see you’ve put Paling and Watson down. Here, wait a minute! Why, you’ve got Ferguson down on your list! Are you mad, too?’
‘I’m leaving nobody out. The Prime Minister told me last night that I could arrest him if I wanted to. I don’t think it’s very likely, but I’m overlooking nothing. He promised not to interfere, and that gives us a free hand.’
‘Seriously, though, you’re not thinking of Ferguson?’
‘Seriously, Brighteyes, I’m thinking of everybody. At present I may be fancying some folks more than others, but I don’t know how long they’ll hold that exalted position. Everything is still too indefinite. I’ll tell you something that will interest you, Angel. If the murder was done as I am sure it was we can’t be certain yet that it wasn’t committed in full Cabinet, in the presence of all the Ministers. What d’you know about that one?’
Ripple answered with a heavy groan, sank his head into his hands. He looked up to gape at Amos and groan again. It seemed to him that the little man was throwing bombshells with an air of unnecessary calm. Amos was whistling and looking at the attaché-case.
‘Of course,’ he said, ‘I don’t think it is the least likely that it was done in the Cabinet room, since there were so many people there. But with the knowledge we have at present the possibility can’t be excluded. It would be nice for you, Earthquake, to have the chance of arresting a Cabinet Minister, wouldn’t it?’
‘Yes. And get the sack without a pension for doing it. Still, why talk this rubbish when we know that the murder was committed in the House of Commons?’
‘Be more accurate, laddie. The death occurred in the House of Commons. That’s a very different thing. I’m talking about the cause of death. The murder wasn’t arranged in the House of Commons. That happened before Reardon rose on his feet. If I’m right it could have happened at any time between eleven in the morning and twenty minutes to four in the afternoon.’
Ripple seized the timetable and studied it for a while. Those names and figures said so little and meant so much! He read them, and re-read them, checking item by item. At the end of a third perusal Ripple slapped the paper down on the desk and blew out his cheeks.
‘I’m no good at these games,’ he announced despondently. ‘I like something easy. Hand me a tram ticket, and ask me the surname of the man who bought it, how many more instalments he’s got to pay on his house, which is his lucky colour, and whether he strikes his wife, and I might manage it. But this small Bradshaw is too good for me.’
‘Don’t be fretful, little one. Things are moving. By the way, have you still got a man tailing Watson?’
‘Yes, but what the hell he’s doing it for I don’t know. I wish you’d find somebody to tail that man who bust into Watson’s flat. Gosh! It’s like trying to find the Invisible Man!’
‘Soon, Sunshine, we’ll try to clear up a few odds and ends. There are about half a dozen things I am anxious to find out. At the moment of going to press I can’t make up my mind at which end to start. Almost like standing at the side of a lake, knowing that the pike are there, and being uncertain whether to spin for them or whether to use live bait. Of course, at that game you can try both of them. But with this case if we try the wrong ones first we might bring the whole structure—such as it is—round our heads. Then we’d have to start rebuilding.’
‘Structure? If the structure I’ve built fell down on top of a gnat it’d only think that a fresh breeze was blowing. I haven’t got any structure. I suppose you’re playing round with ideas that look like skyscrapers to you?’
‘Not exactly. Still, I’ve built about three walls. Now I’m waiting for the last wall and the roof.’
‘Does one of these walls happen to tell you how Reardon was murdered? That part of my structure seems to be missing!’
‘Oh, I’ve got that bit all right, I think. Why it took me so long to work it out I don’t know. I deserve to have a bad day’s fishing for being so dumb. Trouble is with me, Sunshine, that I will insist on looking at what should be the obvious until I can’t see anything else. It was the claret and soda that led me adrift. Even when I knew that there was no trace of strophanthin in the stuff I couldn’t get the idea of it out of my mind.’
‘You don’t really mean you know how it was done?’
‘Pass me over that attaché-case and I’ll show you.’
Ripple hastened to lodge a protest.
‘I’ve looked over them, and there’s nothing there at all.’
‘When you were looking them over did you notice any heavy thumb marks, or weren’t you looking for them?’
‘I didn’t take much notice, because I knew the papers had been handled before they got here. I wouldn’t notice a little dirt.’
‘Did you read the speech from the point at which Reardon stopped?’
‘I can’t say I read it. I just flicked over the pages.’
‘That’s exactly where I made my mistake. I ought to have found out immediately what had happened to Reardon. But I only glanced over his speech. Once I took the trouble to start reading it I could see a mile away what had happened. I am a very lucky man, and you’re most unlucky, Sunshine. If it hadn’t been that I am lacking only one habit you wouldn’t have had me to pester you any more.’
‘You’re talking in riddles, and I hate the damned things. I’ve got a head like a piece of soddened earth now. If I hear any more about these mysteries I’ll go star
k raving mad. That’s not a joke.’
‘I’m hoping it’s a promise. Hand me that attaché-case.’
CHAPTER XVII
MURDERER’S BOOBY TRAP
AMOS unlocked the case, and produced the fatal Budget speech whilst Ripple bent over the desk, staring with fascinated eyes. The little man laid the volume of papers on the table, and then halted.
‘Take a good look at this speech, Ripple. I know you’ve seen it before, but you were probably as careless as I was myself. First of all you’ll see that the speech is divided into seven sections, and that each section is fastened with a paper clip.’
‘Nothing very remarkable about that. I expect most Chancellors arrange it that way.’
‘I expect they do. Now follow this carefully. Look at the first four sections. They consist of a review of national finance. Take a careful look at the bottom corners of the pages. They’re very, very slightly crumpled, but perfectly unmarked by any stain. See that? Right. Now bend over and take a look at the bottom right-hand corner on the first page of the fifth section. See anything?’
‘Only faintly. Looks something like a faint smudge, just a small discoloured smear. That’s all I can see.’
‘That’s all I expected you to see, Sunshine. Look at the next page and tell me what you see.’
‘The same sort of dim mark. What’s the point about all this?’
‘I’ll turn over the next few sheets so that you can take a look at them. Follow them closely.’
Ripple stared while the little man slipped back the pages. The Yard man stopped him abruptly.
‘That smear has vanished. I can’t see it any more.’
‘I know you can’t. I went through them all carefully myself, and could only find that mark on the first seven pages of this section.’
‘Yes. And the answer to it all is what?’
‘That,’ announced Petrie, ‘is how Edgar Reardon was murdered.’
Inspector Ripple continued to gaze at the speech.
‘I’ll tell you how it was done. First let me say this: If Edgar Reardon had not licked his finger and thumb when he tried to turn these pages he would have been alive today. You see—’