by John Creasey
Mannering dropped into a chair.
Lorna mixed him a whisky-and-soda.
Fenn said, “I’m not so sure it was that obvious.”
“It was. I should have seen it much earlier, too. Or suspected it, at least. Sylvester—” Mannering clenched his hands, and Lorna about to hand him the glass, held it back. “He killed Sylvester, of course. Sylvester saw him come in, didn’t give him a second thought, hadn’t the slightest doubt that all was well. And as he turned his back, Wainwright must have smashed at his head.”
“Yes,” said Fenn. “Wainwright was reported as being seen near Quinns that day. Why not? He was the one man I passed right over. But you’d have tumbled to it eventually. That’s almost certainly why he decided to kill you. You had a blind spot, but it would be bound to go.” Fenn paused. “Dibben left a letter, in which he says as much. When you let Dibben go, you really made a friend.”
Mannering took his drink, and forced a smile at Lorna. “Thanks, sweet.” He sipped. “Oh, I can see plenty now. Almost from the beginning, when he told me he found a cosh in Brash’s car. He was never attacked by Brash of course. When we were first at grips with the case, and Wainwright followed Lorna here to make sure that she wasn’t threatened he knew all about the man who was waiting for her. Freddy Bell. Talked to Bell?”
“Yes. He’s cracked, now that he knows Wainwright is under charge. No room left for doubt,” Fenn said. “Wainwright was the evil genius. Incidentally, he’s not as young as he makes out; thirty-one. He’d pass for the early twenties with that nice, ingenuous manner of his. Wainwright had one of the gang hit him over the head, to produce that convincing-looking lump he showed us.”
“Gang,” echoed Lorna, as if the word hurt.
“I think I’ve most of the story clear,” said Fenn. “There may be odds and ends to fill in, but not many. There are really two sides to it. Wainwright’s and Crummy Day’s.”
The story was pieced together in the days which followed, and Mannering studied it until he almost knew it off by heart. Months before he had even heard of Pendexter Smith, he had been unknowingly involved, for Crummy Day and Wainwright, between them, had been planning a big raid on Quinns.
Wainwright, who had an unblemished reputation, was of good social standing and well liked, was bad; just bad. Several years before, he had stolen jewels from the home of a friend, and had been introduced to Crummy Day as a fence; that began their partnership.
Both men had believed that when Pendexter Smith died Miranda would be easy prey. And, to help make sure, Crummy Day had used Bill Brash, who was as innocent of crime as Miranda herself. He had come to know Day when selling him paper and envelopes for Day’s extensive business; Day had befriended him, encouraged him to renew his acquaintance with Miranda, been sure that on Pendexter Smith’s death, Miranda would be guided by Brash – who would be advised by Day himself.
To threaten Pendexter, wear him down, and bring his death nearer, Day had used Wainwright.
Wainwright was planning a big raid on Quinns, to look like an outside job. Then Pendexter Smith took the nest-egg there, and above everything else, Crummy Day wanted to possess the nest and the jewelled eggs. Both crooks knew that there was reason to fear Mannering; actually feared that Smith had told him the story, implicating Crummy Day. So Pendexter had been waylaid and made to talk; then drugged and taken home.
Crummy wanted action.
Wainwright needed a stooge.
Suspicion was thrown on Brash, who was ready made. Brash, hating Smith, told Crummy Day that he was going to see if Miranda’s uncle had started to take over her fortune – and Day had sent Dibben and other men to watch, and to act as needed. The main purpose, by then, was to distract Mannering’s attention – get him to Dragon’s End and after Brash, while Wainwright broke into Quinns for the nest-egg and other treasures.
But Wainwright could not break in.
He had got Mannering out of the way, but was beaten by the strong-room doors. So he had to wait, and work by day. Knowing Mannering and Sylvester were at Quinns, and that Trevor was out, he and two accomplices had broken into Quinns.
Once Sylvester had been killed and entry forced, Wainwright had gone out by the back way. But the men left behind to deal with Mannering had failed, one had not reckoned on murder, got cold feet, and run. The other had fallen to Mannering.
From that moment Wainwright knew that sooner or later Mannering would realise that Sylvester had been killed by someone he knew and trusted. Wainwright had made this clear to Crummy Day, in Dibben’s hearing, and set out to kill. Day had opposed this.
Wainwright was tired of taking Day’s orders, and tired of feeding Day’s insatiable lust for treasures. Brash, already suspected of Revell’s murder – and Revell had been killed so as to trap Brash – was at Day’s and Wainwright saw his chance to kill Day, have Brash framed, and be his own master from then on.
He knew where Day kept his treasures, had meant to take them all. The police had found these now, a treasure trove of priceless things, enough to bewilder and bedazzle even Mannering.
Wainwright had known that for his own safety, Mannering and Pendexter Smith – who had seen him at Day’s and would name him if he saw him at Quinns – must both die. He had planned the murders at Dragon’s End, and relied on Dibben to help. Dibben had refused to kill Mannering. He had hidden in the hollow tree in the grounds, awaited his chance, and warned Mannering.
Of all his deep regrets, Mannering’s deepest was that Dibben had died. He had broken the news to Dora Dibben himself, had tried to ease the blow, and left, distressed by her obvious grief. He would wait a while, then find some way to help.
One thing crowded out thought even of Dora Dibben, and the story itself.
Would Miranda recover?
At the hospital where she had been taken, Brash was waiting and praying. A simple, eager, ardent Brash, who had been sure that Pendexter Smith was planning to turn Miranda’s treasures into securities, but not dreamed why; and who, being a dupe of Day’s, had been taken for a rogue by Pendexter Smith, and seen as a menace to Miranda.
Three days later, Richardson telephoned Mannering.
“Miranda Smith will pull through,” he said, “I thought you’d like to be the first to know … Yes, quite certain … ’Bye.”
Lorna and Mannering stood by the window of the drawing-room, watching the end of Green Street. Neither needed to tell the other of the strange tension gripping them. Whenever a car appeared, Lorna flinched; and when eventually Bill Brash’s green M.G. turned, snorting, into the street, Lorna bit her lip.
But when she looked at Mannering, she was smiling.
“Idiot, aren’t I?”
“Crazy,” agreed Mannering, and kissed her nose. “May you get worse and worse! It’s a pity it’s the middle of the afternoon, I could do with a drink.”
“Richardson says—”
“Fenn said—”
They stopped, half-laughingly.
“The reports appear to say that she is really normal again,” Mannering said with great care. “Are people being kind? Is that your worry?”
Lorna nodded.
“There’s one thing,” she said, “if Miranda needs someone to help her through, she couldn’t do better than Bill Brash. I hope—”
Mannering finished for her. “She marries him.”
The car had drawn up beneath their window, out of sight. Soon the front-door bell rang, and Ethel, almost as worked up as the Mannerings, crossed the hall. The Mannerings had the drawing-room door open, ready to greet Bill Brash and Miranda.
What would she say?
How would she feel?
The door opened. Bill Brash stood back a little, as if he wanted all the spotlighting to be on Miranda. She smiled at Ethel, who mumbled something and stood aside. She looked into Mannering’s eyes; then into Lorna’s. She hadn’t changed at all. She was fresh and lovely, with those clear-blue eyes, and perfect figure; and she had the same familiar grace.
Lorna went forward, hands outstretched.
“It’s good to see you, Miranda. And you, Bill.”
“It is lovely to be here again,” Miranda said, in a quiet, husky voice; almost a tired voice, but natural and clear and without a suggestion of an impediment. “You have both been so very good.”
“And listen!” Bill Brash burst out, turning the colour of a turkey cock. “It’s all settled, ding-dong, wedding-bells, she is going to marry me! And you’d never believe, she used to think I might be mixed up in that crooked business. She says that’s why she wouldn’t say ‘yes’ before. Do you think—”
“Darling,” said Miranda Smith, very gently, and with a gleam in her eyes, “don’t you think it is time you let me speak for myself?”
Series Information
Published or to be published by
House of Stratus
Dates given are those of first publication
Alternative titles in brackets
‘The Baron’ (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)
‘Department ‘Z’’ (28 titles)
‘Dr. Palfrey Novels’ (34 titles)
‘Gideon of Scotland Yard’ (22 titles)
‘Inspector West’ (43 titles)
‘Sexton Blake’ (5 titles)
‘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 Baron’ Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Meet the Baron (The Man in the Blue Mask) (1937)
The Baron Returns (The Return of the Blue Mask) (1937)
The Baron Again (Salute Blue Mask) (1938)
The Baron at Bay (Blue Mask at Bay) (1938)
Alias the Baron (Alias Blue Mask) (1939)
The Baron at Large (Challenge Blue Mask!) (1939)
Versus the Baron (Blue Mask Strikes Again) (1940)
Call for the Baron (Blue Mask Victorious) (1940)
The Baron Comes Back (1943)
A Case for the Baron (1945)
Reward for the Baron (1945)
Career for the Baron (1946)
Blood Diamond (The Baron and the Beggar) (1947)
Blame the Baron (1948)
A Rope for the Baron (1948)
Books for the Baron (1949)
Cry for the Baron (1950)
Trap the Baron (1950)
Attack the Baron (1951)
Shadow the Baron (1951)
Warn the Baron (1952)
The Baron Goes East (1953)
The Baron in France (1953)
Danger for the Baron (1953)
The Baron Goes Fast (1954)
Nest-Egg for the Baron (Deaf, Dumb and Blonde) (1954)
Help from the Baron (1955)
Hide the Baron (1956)
The Double Frame (Frame the Baron) (1957)
Blood Red (Red Eye for the Baron) (1958)
If Anything Happens to Hester (Black for the Baron) (1959)
Salute for the Baron (1960)
The Baron Branches Out (A Branch for the Baron) (1961)
The Baron and the Stolen Legacy (Bad for the Baron) (1962)
A Sword for the Baron (The Baron and the Mogul Swords) (1963)
The Baron on Board (The Mask of Sumi) (1964)
The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle (1964)
Sport for the Baron (1966)
Affair for the Baron (1967)
The Baron and the Missing Old Masters (1968)
The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait (1969)
Last Laugh for the Baron (1970)
The Baron Goes A-Buying (1971)
The Baron and the Arrogant Artist (1972)
Burgle the Baron (1973)
The Baron - King Maker (1975)
Love for the Baron (1979)
Doctor Palfrey Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Traitor’s Doom (1942)
The Legion of the Lost (1943)
The Valley of Fear (The Perilous Country) (1943)
Dangerous Quest (1944)
Death in the Rising Sun (1945)
The Hounds of Vengeance (1945)
Shadow of Doom (1946)
The House of the Bears (1946)
Dark Harvest (1947)
The Wings of Peace (1948)
The Sons of Satan (1948)
The Dawn of Darkness (1949)
The League of Light (1949)
The Man Who Shook the World (1950)
The Prophet of Fire (1951)
The Children of Hate (The Killers of Innocence; The Children of Despair) (1952)
The Touch of Death (1954)
The Mists of Fear (1955)
The Flood (1956)
The Plague of Silence (1958)
Dry Spell (The Drought) (1959)
The Terror (1962)
The Depths (1963)
The Sleep (1964)
The Inferno (1965)
The Famine (1967)
The Blight (1968)
The Oasis (1970)
The Smog (1970)
The Unbegotten (1971)
The Insulators (1972)
The Voiceless Ones (1973)
The Thunder-Maker (1976)
The Whirlwind (1979)
Gideon Series
(Writing as JJ Marric)
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Gideon’s Day (Gideon of Scotland Yard) (1955)
Seven Days to Death (Gideon’s Week) (1956)
Gideon’s Night (1957)
A Backwards Jump (Gideon’s Month) (1958)
Thugs and Economies (Gideon’s Staff) (1959)
Gideon Combats Influence (Gideon’s Risk) (1960)
Gideon’s Fire (1961)
A Conference for Assassins (Gideon’s March) (1962)
Travelling Crimes (Gideon’s Ride) (1963)
An Uncivilised Election (Gideon’s Vote) (1964)
Criminal Imports (Gideon’s Lot) (1965)
To Nail a Serial Killer (Gideon’s Badge) (1966)
From Murder to a Cathedral (Gideon’s Wrath) (1967)
Gideon’s River (1968)
Darkness and Confusion (Gideon’s Power) (1969)
Sport, Heat & Scotland Yard (Gideon’s Sport) (1970)
Gideon’s Art (1971)
No Relaxation at Scotland Yard (Gideon’s Men) (1972)
Impartiality Against the Mob (Gideon’s Press) (1973)
Not Hidden by the Fog (Gideon’s Fog) (1975)
Good and Justice (Gideon’s Drive) (1976)
Vigilantes & Biscuits (Gideon’s Force) (1978)
Inspector West Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Inspector West Takes Charge (1942)
Go Away to Murder (Inspector West Leaves Town) (1943)
An Apostle of Gloom (Inspector West At Home) (1944)
Inspector West Regrets (1945)
Holiday for Inspector West (1946)
Battle for Inspector West (1948)
The Case Against Paul Raeburn (Triumph for Inspector West) (1948)
Inspector West Kicks Off (Sport for Inspector West) (1949)
Inspector West Alone (1950)
Inspector West Cries Wolf (The Creepers) (1950)
The Figure in the Dusk (A Case for Inspector West) (1951)
The Dissemblers (Puzzle for Inspector West) (1951)
The Case of the Acid Throwers (The Blind Spot; In
spector West at Bay) (1952)
Give a Man a Gun (A Gun for Inspector West) (1953)
Send Inspector West (1953)
So Young, So Cold, So Fair (A Beauty for Inspector West; The Beauty Queen Killer) (1954)
Murder Makes Haste (Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman) (1955)
Murder: One, Two, Three (Two for Inspector West) (1955)
Death of a Postman (Parcels for Inspector West) (1956)
Death of an Assassin (A Prince for Inspector West) (1956)
Hit and Run (Accident for Inspector West) (1957)
The Trouble at Saxby’s (Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death) (1957)
Murder, London - New York (1958)
Strike for Death (The Killing Strike) (1958)
Death of a Racehorse (1959)
The Case of the Innocent Victims (1959)
Murder on the Line (1960)
Death in Cold Print (1961)
The Scene of the Crime (1961)
Policeman’s Dread (1962)
Hang the Little Man (1963)
Look Three Ways at Murder (1964)
Murder, London - Australia (1965)
Murder, London - South Africa (1966)
The Executioners (1967)
So Young to Burn (1968)
Murder, London - Miami (1969)
A Part for a Policeman (1970)
Alibi for Inspector West (1971)
A Splinter of Glass (1972)
The Theft of Magna Carta (1973)
The Extortioners (1974)
A Sharp Rise in Crime (1978)
‘The Toff’ Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Introducing the Toff (It’s the Toff!) (1938)
The Toff Goes On (1939)
The Toff Steps Out (1939)
Here Comes the Toff (1940)
The Toff Breaks In (1940)
Salute the Toff (1941)
The Toff Proceeds (1941)
The Toff Goes to Market (1942)
The Toff Is Back (1942)
The Toff on the Trail (short stories) (1942)