An Apostle of Gloom
Page 26
“What about this girl, Randall?”
“We know how she came to get in with them,” said Roger, “but we’ve had no statement from Malone or any of the others, they’re too badly rattled to try to involve her. In any case, even if they did—”
“One of your troubles is that you’re an incurable romantic,” Chatworth growled, but his eyes were friendly. “Oh, you’re right, West – one of these days you’ll be right too often, it’ll do you good to have a failure. Won’t it, Abbott?”
Abbot considered. “It might,” he admitted, frostily.
Roger smiled. “Very good of you to say I’ve never had one, sir.”
“Eh?” barked Chatworth. “Who—” he broke off and laughed. “All right, West, you’ll do! I hear that you’ve got some tidying up on hand at your house. Oh, that reminds me – the taxi-driver, Dixon?”
Roger grimaced. “He was used to try to make us concentrate on Mrs. Cartier and to head us off Cartier himself,” he said. “I think it was that which first started me thinking of the man – Malone’s effort to make Dixon implicate the woman was too clumsy. Malone was always too clever; I’ve never seen a man with such conceit.”
“You won’t see him much longer,” Chatworth said. “All right, off with you!”
When Roger had gone, the A.C. looked thoughtfully at Abbott.
“What’s your opinion of West?” he demanded.
“Much brighter than it was a week ago, sir,” said Abbott, with thin humour, “but I always found it a trifle difficult to believe it of him. I ought to say this – the money was left at his house. Morgan did take it away.”
Chatworth whistled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” said Abbott. “The man who put it there has said so. Also, West asked a sergeant to trace two five-pound notes, which proved to be two of two hundred sent by Leech on Malone’s orders. The balance reached us by post this evening – the wrapping paper is bare of prints. I suspect that one of Morgan’s men posted it, on West’s instructions.
“Hum.” Chatworth looked over his glasses. “Can we really prove it? And if we can, do we want to? Morgan has been very helpful. West—” he broke off.
Abbott smiled thinly. “I don’t think we can and I don’t think we should, sir.”
“Good!” declared the A.C. “Well you’ll have to start clearing up, Abbott. Give West a couple of days to get over his home troubles and then get him busy, too.”
Roger telephoned Wray and Tamperly, delighting the pressmen, and made a comprehensive report before he left the Yard. He was in his office when Abbott telephoned to say that he need not come in for a day or two. Roger put on his hat and coat and left the Yard. He drove to Bell Street, where he found Mark and Tennant sharing one spare room, the small room being occupied by Lois Randall, who, said Janet, was asleep. Dixon had gone. Janet was waiting in the dining-room and she looked a little crestfallen. It occurred to Roger that the wrecking had affected her far more than she had let him think, but she brightened up as soon as he arrived and they found other things to talk about. Smaller things; they were laughing when they went to bed.
But for the restriction of newspaper space, the case would have been reported much more fully; as it was, the Echo and the Cry and their associated evening papers gave it as much publicity as they could. One of the Sunday papers tried to run a series of articles on Mrs. Cartier but it petered out because they could not get any information of great interest.
She gave her evidence, much later, against some of the men, but not against her husband. She was in court when the jury returned the verdicts, the black cap was donned and the sentences were passed. Then she left. Outside, she saw Janet and Lois.
She stopped and looked at them.
Janet smiled, uncertainly.
Mrs. Cartier approached her and shook hands and then hurried off, after telling Janet that she was giving up her Weybridge home. Just why she made a point of it Janet did not know then. A short time afterwards, Roger was able to tell her that the Society was working again, that Lois was reinstated as secretary – but as Lois Tennant, not Lois Randall – that Tennant was back in the north, training his rookies and, whenever he wrote, wishing wistfully that he could have a crack at the Huns.
Mark said that nothing would ever satisfy the repressed energy of that remarkably tough young man. Mark was busy compiling the record of the case, and he declared that but for his note-books the cases of Inspector West would never really be told to the world, so that he was not wholly useless.
The case was practically closed when, in midsummer, a furniture van drew up outside the Bell Street house. Roger was at the Yard and Janet opened the door. She thought that there must be some mistake, until she read the note that the foreman remover had brought with him.
“Roger!” breathed Janet into the telephone five minutes later. “Darling, it’s incredible, but – Mrs. Cartier!”
“Well, what about her?” asked Roger, startled.
“She’s sent us all the furniture from the lounge at her Weybridge house. She told me on the day of the trial that she was giving it up, but I didn’t think anything of it then. Darling, it’s twice as good as anything we ever had! I know the sentimental value isn’t there but – do you think you could get home early and help me put the room straight? And shall I ask Mark to come?”
“Well, I’m—” began Roger, then drew a deep breath. “Yes, my sweet, ask him, and I’ll be home by four, with luck.”
When he rang down he looked very hard at Eddie Day, but even Eddie had the wit to realise that his thoughts were far away.
Series Information
Published or to be published by
House of Stratus
Dates given are those of first publication
Gideon Series
(Writing as JJ Marric)
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Title Also Published as:
1 Gideon's Day Gideon of Scotland Yard 1955
2 Seven Days to Death Gideon's Week 1956
3 Gideon's Night 1957
4 Gideon's Month 1958
5 Gideon's Staff 1959
6 Gideon's Risk 1960
7 Gideon's Fire 1961
8 A Conference for Assassins Gideon's March 1962
9 Travelling Crimes Gideon's Ride 1963
10 An Uncivilised Election Gideon's Vote 1964
11 Criminal Imports Gideon's Lot 1965
12 Gideon's Badge 1966
13 From Murder to a Cathedral Gideon's Wrath 1967
14 Gideon's River 1968
15 Gideon's Power 1969
16 Gideon's Sport 1970
17 Gideon's Art 1971
18 Gideon's Men 1972
19 Gideon's Press 1973
20 Gideon's Fog 1975
21 Gideon's Drive 1976
22 Vigilantes & Biscuits Gideon's Force 1978
Other Series by John Creasey
Published or to be published by
House of Stratus
Dates given are those of first publication
'Department 'Z'' (28 titles)
'Dr. Palfrey Novels' (34 titles)
'Inspector West' (43 titles)
'Sexton Blake' (5 titles)
'The Baron' (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)
'The Toff' (59 titles)
along with:
The Masters of Bow Street
This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey's account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel's Act in 1829.
; 'The Toff' Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Title Also Published as:
1 Introducing the Toff It's the Toff ! 1938
2 The Toff Goes On 1939
3 The Toff Steps Out 1939
4 Here Comes the Toff 1940
5 The Toff Breaks In 1940
6 Salute the Toff 1941
7 The Toff Proceeds 1941
8 The Toff Goes to Market 1942
9 The Toff Is Back 1942
10 The Toff on the Trail (short stories) 1942
11 The Toff among the Millions 1943
12 Accuse the Toff 1943
13 The Toff and the Deadly Parson The Toff and the Curate 1944
14 The Toff and the Great Illusion 1944
15 Feathers for the Toff 1945
16 The Toff and the Lady 1946
17 Poison for the Toff The Toff on Ice 1946
18 Hammer the Toff 1947
19 The Toff in Town 1948
20 The Toff Takes Shares 1948
21 The Toff and Old Harry 1949
22 The Toff on Board 1949
23 Fool the Toff 1950
24 Kill the Toff 1950
25 A Knife for the Toff 1951
26 A Mask for the Toff The Toff Goes Gay 1951
27 Hunt the Toff 1952
28 Call the Toff 1953
29 The Toff Down Under Break the Toff 1953
30 Murder Out of the Past (short stories) 1953
31 The Toff at Camp The Toff at Butlins 1954
32 The Toff at the Fair 1954
33 A Six for the Toff A Score for the Toff 1955
34 The Toff and the Deep Blue Sea 1955
35 Kiss the Toff Make-Up for the Toff 1956
36 The Toff in New York 1956
37 Model for the Toff 1957
38 The Toff on Fire 1957
39 The Toff and the Stolen Tresses 1958
40 Terror for the Toff The Toff on the Farm 1958
41 Double for the Toff 1959
42 The Toff and the Runaway Bride 1959
43 A Rocket for the Toff 1960
44 The Toff and the Kidnapped The Kidnapped Child 1960
45 Follow the Toff 1961
46 The Toff and the Toughs The Toff and the Teds 1961
47 A Doll for the Toff 1963
48 Leave It to the Toff 1963
49 The Toff and the Spider 1965
50 The Toff in Wax 1966
51 A Bundle for the Toff 1967
52 Stars for the Toff 1968
53 The Toff and the Golden Boy 1969
54 The Toff and the Fallen Angels 1970
55 Vote for the Toff 1971
56 The Toff and the Trip-Trip-Triplets 1972
57 The Toff and the Terrified Taxman 1973
58 The Toff and the Sleepy Cowboy 1975
59 The Toff and the Crooked Copper 1977
Inspector West Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Title Also Published as:
1 Inspector West Takes Charge 1942
2 Go Away to Murder Inspector West Leaves Town 1943
3 An Apostle of Gloom Inspector West At Home 1944
4 Inspector West Regrets 1945
5 Holiday for Inspector West 1946
6 Battle for Inspector West 1948
7 The Case Against Paul Raeburn Triumph for Inspector West 1948
8 Inspector West Kicks Off Sport for Inspector West 1949
9 Inspector West Alone 1950
10 Inspector West Cries Wolf The Creepers 1950
11 The Figure in the Dusk A Case for Inspector West 1951
12 The Dissemblers Puzzle for Inspector West 1951
13 The Case of the Acid Throwers The Blind Spot; Inspector West at Bay 1952
14 Give a Man a Gun A Gun for Inspector West 1953
15 Send Inspector West 1953
16 So Young, So Cold, So Fair A Beauty for Inspector West;
The Beauty Queen Killer 1954
17 Murder Makes Haste Insp. West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang;
Night of the Watchman 1955
18 Murder: One, Two, Three Two for Inspector West 1955
19 Death of a Postman Parcels for Inspector West 1956
20 Death of an Assassin A Prince for Inspector West 1956
21 Hit and Run Accident for Inspector West 1957
22 The Trouble at Saxby's Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death 1957
23 Murder, London - New York 1958
24 Strike for Death The Killing Strike 1958
25 Death of a Racehorse 1959
26 The Case of the Innocent Victims 1959
27 Murder on the Line 1960
28 Death in Cold Print 1961
29 The Scene of the Crime 1961
30 Policeman's Dread 1962
31 Hang the Little Man 1963
32 Look Three Ways at Murder 1964
33 Murder, London - Australia 1965
34 Murder, London - South Africa 1966
35 The Executioners 1967
36 So Young to Burn 1968
37 Murder, London - Miami 1969
38 A Part for a Policeman 1970
39 Alibi for Inspector West 1971
40 A Splinter of Glass 1972
41 The Theft of Magna Carta 1973
42 The Extortioners 1974
43 A Sharp Rise in Crime 1978
'The Baron' Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Title Also Published as:
1 Meet the Baron The Man in the Blue Mask 1937
2 The Baron Returns The Return of the Blue Mask 1937
3 The Baron Again Salute Blue Mask 1938
4 The Baron at Bay Blue Mask at Bay 1938
5 Alias the Baron Alias Blue Mask 1939
6 The Baron at Large Challenge Blue Mask! 1939
7 Versus the Baron Blue Mask Strikes Again 1940
8 Call for the Baron Blue Mask Victorious 1940
9 The Baron Comes Back 1943
10 A Case for the Baron 1945
11 Reward for the Baron 1945
12 Career for the Baron 1946
13 The Baron and the Beggar 1947
14 Blame the Baron 1948
15 A Rope for the Baron 1948
16 Books for the Baron 1949
17 Cry for the Baron 1950
18 Trap the Baron 1950
19 Attack the Baron 1951
20 Shadow the Baron 1951
21 Warn the Baron 1952
22 The Baron Goes East 1953
23 The Baron in France 1953
24 Danger for the Baron 1953
25 The Baron Goes Fast 1954
26 Nest-Egg for the Baron Deaf, Dumb and Blonde 1954
27 Help from the Baron 1955
28 Hide the Baron 1956
29 The Double Frame Frame the Baron 1957
30 Blood Red Red Eye for the Baron 1958
31 If Anything Happens to Hester Black for the Baron 1959
32 Salute for the Baron 1960
33 The Baron Branches Out A Branch for the Baron 1961
34 The Baron and the Stolen Legacy Bad for the Baron 1962
35 A Sword for the Baron The Baron and the Mogul Swords 1963
36 The Baron on Board 1964
37 The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle 1964
38 Sport for the Baron 1966
39 Affair for the Baron 1967
40 The Baron and the Missing Old Masters 1968
41 The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait 1969
42 Last Laugh for the Baron 1970
43 The Baron Goes A-Buying 1971
44 The Baron and the Arrogant Artist 1972
45 Burgle the Baron 1973
46 The Baron - King Maker 1975
47 Love for the Baron 1979
Doctor Palfrey Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Title Also Published as:
1 Traitor's Doom 1942
2 The Legion of the Lost 1943
3 The Valley of Fear The Perilous Country 1943
4 Dangerous Quest 1944
5 Death in the Rising Sun 1945
6 The Hounds of Vengeance 1945
7 Shadow of Doom 1946
8 The House of the Bears 1946
9 Dark Harvest 1947
10 The Wings of Peace 1948
11 The Sons of Satan 1948
12 The Dawn of Darkness 1949
13 The League of Light 1949
14 The Man Who Shook the World 1950
15 The Prophet of Fire 1951
16 The Children of Hate The Killers of Innocence;
The Children of Despair 1952
17 The Touch of Death 1954
18 The Mists of Fear 1955
19 The Flood 1956
20 The Plague of Silence 1958
21 Dry Spell The Drought 1959
22 The Terror 1962
23 The Depths 1963
24 The Sleep 1964
25 The Inferno 1965
26 The Famine 1967
27 The Blight 1968
28 The Oasis 1970
29 The Smog 1970
30 The Unbegotten 1971
31 The Insulators 1972
32 The Voiceless Ones 1973
33 The Thunder-Maker 1976
34 The Whirlwind 1979
'Department Z' Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Title
1 The Death Miser 1932
2 Redhead 1934
3 First Came a Murder 1934
4 Death Round the Corner 1935
5 The Mark of the Crescent 1935
6 Thunder in Europe 1936
7 The Terror Trap 1936
8 Carriers of Death 1937
9 Days of Danger 1937
10 Death Stands By 1938
11 Menace! 1938
12 Murder Must Wait 1939
13 Panic! 1939
14 Death by Night 1940
15 The Island of Peril 1940
16 Sabotage 1941
17 Go Away Death 1941
18 The Day of Disaster 1942
19 Prepare for Action 1942
20 No Darker Crime 1943