by John Creasey
Her voice cracked.
There was Zana, helpless, afraid: and yet, beyond doubt, ashamed.
And Mitzi was almost choking with her rage.
“So we are partners. He is the great Hugo Zana. I am his slave, his woman. I do not complain, for it is what I want. But he—he turns from me. He is tired of my leathery face and my humped back, and what does he do? What does he do?”
She paused.
She screamed: “He goes with these girls I dress. He gives them money I make for him, and so I hate, I hate, I hate him!”
It was said, and was easy to understand; even possible to feel a great compassion.
And the handle of the knife was very close to Rollison’s hand.
Mitzi was quieter now, as if her passion was spent. Zana stood there, pale of face, and with his eyes glittering. Maude seemed to be fascinated by the other woman, and stared only at her.
“Now it is the end,” Mitzi said. “Some I have killed and some I have made ugly, and some I have frightened. Now those who served me are caught, and it is over. Is that not true, Rollison?”
“Yes, they’re prisoners,” Rollison answered, and stopped moving his fingers, for she seemed to watch him so intently. “Why did they serve you, Mitzi? What made them so loyal?”
“Because she pays them much money,” Zana said wearily. “This Allen, these other men, she pays them with her share of the business. Always I give her one-half of the profits, and this is how she spends it.”
“In the beginning they had only to frighten the models away from Zana,” Mitzi said. “But one girl did not wish to go, and she was killed; and afterwards there was no end.” She spoke almost sadly. “And you, Rollison? Beryl Allen told you the truth, isn’t it? That I was Mr. Smith, and so—” She broke off, staring. “In the morning she came to tell you! It is so?”
“Tell me?” said Rollison softly.
“Yes, of course?” Mitzi’s voice screeched upwards. “That is so!”
“No,” said Rollison, “it is not.”
The knife was almost in his hand. He had to grip it firmly, had to remember how easy it would be to knock over the nitro-glycerine. Yet he found himself listening to the woman, seeing the horror in her eyes, and beginning to understand.
“But Beryl told you! Afterwards she came back to see you, but Allen stopped her. You knew!”
“If I had known I would have gone to the police,” Rollison said.
“But she told Allen that she had told you!”
Then Zana gave a high-pitched cackle of laughter, pointed his bound hands at Mitzi, bared his big and ugly teeth, and cried: “He didn’t know. You need not have tried to kill him. He did not know!”
There was an awful moment of silence. In it the knife slid firmly into Rollison’s grasp, and he flung it. Mitzi raised her hand in a flare of alarm, but the knife cut across her fingers, and she dropped the gun.
“Rollison!” screamed Zana. “Stop her! Stop her!”
Rollison was still two yards away from her when Mitzi swung round towards the cylinder … and death.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Life Story
Mitzi was nearer the table and the tube than Rollison, and neither Zana nor Maude could move. Mitzi’s hands were outstretched to jolt the table and send the cylinder tumbling.
Maude sat staring at disaster, her eyes huge. Zana’s eyes were closed.
Rollison was behind Mitzi. If he jumped and brought her down, the thud might be enough to tumble the cylinder; even if it did not, she might be able to stretch out and shake the table violently.
Blood streamed from her cut fingers.
Rollison launched himself forward, hands outstretched, grabbed Mitzi by the waist and lifted her high. Her kicking feet passed within inches of the table, and she screamed and writhed. He held her tight, but was off balance, and if he fell then both of them would crash.
Rollison felt himself staggering towards the table, fought desperately, swerving as he might on the football field. He carried Mitzi safely past, and they crashed into the wall.
There was awful silence.
Silence. There was wonderful silence!
Rollison lowered Mitzi. He saw Zana standing limp and pale, and Maude slumped down, chin on her chest, unconscious.
Mitzi still struggled and shouted and screamed, until Rollison struck her sharply at the nape of the neck, and she lost consciousness, too.
Rollison felt sweat trickling down his forehead, had never felt more weak. Slowly he went to Zana’s side and cut him free, then went to Maude and freed her, too. He massaged her wrists a little, but she was still unconscious.
She’d be all right soon.
“Zana,” Rollison said huskily, “go and open the door, please. Go downstairs. The police are outside.”
Zana said in a croaking voice: “I salute a very brave man.” He moved slowly, and disappeared.
Five minutes later the police arrived.
“We’re not going to have much trouble getting a conviction here,” Grice said ten minutes after Mitzi had been taken away. He looked at Zana, who seemed to have aged twenty years in the last few hours. “Did you suspect her, Mr. Zana?”
“No,” Zana said. “Never did I suspect Mitzi. Never did I realise how deep was her love, and how bitterly it turned to hate. Tonight she telephoned so urgently, so I hurried to see her. I came into the room and she dropped a rope over my head. Mitzi is very, very strong, and I was taken by surprise.” He closed his eyes as he went on, and it was almost impossible to hear his words. “I did not know what I was doing to her. These young girls, so lovely, were irresistible to me. Please understand I did not realise that Mitzi knew of them, or that if she knew that she would care.”
He stopped again, then asked as if with great effort: “Did she—make Rose Mary—suffer very much?”
“Zana,” Rollison said gently, “Rose Mary is alive.” He saw first disbelief, then radiance, dawn slowly in the little man’s eyes.
“There’s more to Rose Mary than you might think,” Grice said a little later. “She’s seen Zana, and it’s already taken years off his age. She’s told us more, too. Mitzi meant to torment Zana to the end of his days.”
Rollison said mildly: “She did quite a job.”
“She did a wickedly good job,” Grice agreed soberly, “and she had some damned efficient helpers until Beryl Ward fooled them all into thinking that she’d told you. That forced the pace too much. They nearly had the luck, too, even to having Harrison at Beryl Ward’s flat when you were there, and—”
“Bill, I’ve never been to Beryl Ward’s flat,” remonstrated Rollison gently. “Remember?”
“I’d forgotten,” Grice said dryly. “At least you’ll admit this: the essential thing was to kill you, because you were believed to know that Mitzi Zenkel was behind it all. Allen watched Russell’s flat last night expecting you to go there. If he could not kill you, he was to try to lure you to the yacht. The attempt to frame Russell had been in Mitzi’s mind for some time … that’s why the dogs had been sent to the yacht. If they were traced it would point to him. She herself swam under water and put the nitro-glycerine aboard, believing you’d be there. Hoping the yacht was being watched, she had sent Allen and a girl, one of the seamstresses, to the yacht. You’d learn that a man and girl had gone aboard and would jump to the conclusion that the girl was Lady Maude.”
“That all adds up,” Rollison mused. “I can’t understand why they assumed that if I knew who was behind it, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“The Toff is renowned for playing lone wolf!”
“Hmm. Any idea why Rose Mary wasn’t killed?” Rollison asked.
“When Higgs traced them they went into a panic. They were afraid of the consequences if we arrived and found her dead. They didn’t think that Rose Mary knew everything, and believed she would be afraid to talk, anyhow, knowing what had happened to some of the other models. Panic drove them to set the dog on you, too. They thought their number was up. T
hen they had breathing space, and tried again.”
“They certainly tried,” Rollison said. “I saw Higgs this morning, by the way. He’s going to have some nasty scars, but his eyes are all right, and when the plastic surgeons have finished with him, he’ll be almost himself again.”
“That’s fine,” said Grice, with real feeling. “These chaps of Ebbutt’s can do a wonderful job; this may persuade the A.C. that we ought to invite you to work with us more than we do! Not that you’d agree, you still prefer lone wolfing!” Grice grinned, but obviously wasn’t concentrating on what he was saying.
“You’re quite as bad as Mitzi,” Rollison said. “Bill, I think I’ll go over and see Ebbutt, and tell his boys that even the police have a kindly word for them sometimes.”
Grice grinned again.
Rollison went out.
He had more than a friendly word from Grice for Ebbutt’s men; he had a gift from Charles Russell for all who had worked on the case. Two hundred and fifty pounds a man, with a bonus of a thousand for Tiny Joe Laws, and two thousand pounds for Higgs.
After carrying those tidings, Rollison went leisurely and contentedly to see Lady Gloria and Maude. Maude was still suffering from shock, but she wouldn’t suffer for long; Russell had haunted the Marigold Club for news of her, and there was little doubt that Lady Gloria would agree that Maude could do much worse than marry one of the Flinden Russells.
Next, there was Zana.
He was very quiet when Rollison saw him, but when Rollison asked what he proposed to do, he said: “It was true, Mitzi designed the dresses. I did not. But in future I will, my friend, and Rose Mary will model them. I must prove to the world that I can.”
Rollison believed that he would.
Finally, there was Jolly.
Jolly was at the Gresham Street flat, in the kitchen, his hands floury, a faint smell of garlic in the air, the oven warm, everything ready for the evening meal, for it was then a little after six o’clock. Rollison put his head round the door, sniffed, and said: “Who’s the feast for, Jolly?”
“It is by way of a thanksgiving that you are still alive,” said Jolly soberly.
Rollison grinned.
“Let’s give thanks in a different cause! I walked for half an hour this afternoon and looked upon some of the most seductive figures in London, and my heart didn’t give a single flutter. Think Zana cured me, Jolly?”
“I hope not, sir,” Jolly said, and opened the oven door. “Incidentally, what new trophy do you suggest for the wall?”
“A gown by Zana, possibly,” said Rollison, and then chuckled. “But I’d settle for a hair of the dog that didn’t bite me, if Grice will play.”
“I think he will, sir,” Jolly said.
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; Inspector West at Bay) (1952)
Give a Man a Gun (A Gun for Inspector West) (1953)
