by David Adkins
“That is not really an answer.”
“I am not sure you gave me any answers.”
“Let me try another tack. Why did you go to the country?”
“I went to find a man called Clive Deepdale.”
“The friend of Rupert Nesterman.” She looked at me appraisingly. “Did you find him?”
“Not exactly but I think I know where he is.”
“You could be putting yourself in danger and possibly Cassie Mitchell too.”
I sat bolt upright at that. “What do you mean?”
“There are people that would not wish you to find Deepdale.”
I was reminded of the man who visited the office. “Do you know you are not the first Smith to visit me with vague threatenings?”
“I did not. What happened?” She seemed very interested.
“He came to my office and announced that his name was Smith and then he began to threaten me. He warned that if I did not discontinue my investigations into the Lucas case I would come to harm or my family would. I think he threatened my life.”
She did not seem surprised. “I think you are in danger,” she mused.
“Do you know who this Smith character is?” I asked again.
“I do not but I think I know who he might represent.”
“Who is that, Jenna? I assume that Smith is no more his name than it is yours,” I observed.
“You assume right.” She thought for a moment. “It is best you do not know who he represents. I will continue to have you watched but now it will be as much for your own protection. It is less likely that Cassie Mitchell is in danger but if she contacts you then warn her to stay hidden.”
I shook my head. “You are alarming me.”
“You’re just going to have to trust me.” She paused. “And I need your help.”
“You want to know where Deepdale is,” I remarked.
“Yes, tell me where he is.”
“I do not entirely trust you,” I commented.
She sighed. “I can understand that. We are both trying to find Deepdale, so let us try to find him together. Tell me where he is and we shall go together to speak with him.”
“If I tell you then you could go without me.”
She smiled. “True, so what do you suggest?”
I thought about it. “I suggest we meet at Marylebone Station and travel together.”
“How long will it take?”
“You will need an overnight bag. I warn you that speaking with Deepdale will not be easy.”
“I usually find a way. Also if we are together I can protect you.”
“You will protect me!” I laughed.
“You would be surprised, Steve.”
“When shall we go?” I inquired.
“Tomorrow I have to report to my superior. How about we go the day after tomorrow?”
“Your superior!” I observed. “That sounds very mysterious.”
“Do not ask,” she warned.
“It is agreed then, the day after tomorrow. Can we meet at the Marylebone ticket office at 9 am?”
She nodded. “Do not try to give my man the slip tomorrow.”
“Who is your man and will he or they be following us when we go on our excursion?”
“They are hired help, but it will be just you and me on the trip.”
“You were not on your own that night in Nesterman’s apartment,” I observed.
She ignored my comment. “Steve, go straight home and stay there until it is time to leave to meet me on Sunday morning. Are you sure you can be there that early on a Sunday morning?”
“Yes I can get an early train into London. I have been known to work at the office in the Strand on a Sunday morning.”
“When we reach our destination we can make our plans,” she suggested and stood up.
I nodded. “I will see you on Sunday.”
“On Sunday… and be careful,” she replied.
She left the cafe and I watched her go. Jenna was the ultimate woman of mystery or so it seemed to me. I had no idea whether I could trust her or not and I had no idea whether the little she had divulged to me was the truth. I was now involved with two beautiful women and I was not sure where I stood with either of them. I rose from my table and looked at my watch. It was nearly noon. I put on my coat and left the cafe.
It was late by the time I returned home. I had not taken Jenna’s advice to return straight home. First I had been to my office and I had taken the opportunity to update James Butler on all that had happened since we last spoke. He had had some news for me too. Lester Bruitt had phoned to say that the Max Lucas’s trial would be in two weeks and that Butler and Robinson should not get involved. Apparently he believed he could save Lucas from the death sentence if we did not interfere. I then crossed the road to the Gaiety Theatre to ask the manager if he had heard from Cassie. I was relieved to find that he had. She had phoned to say that she had a bad dose of flu and would let them know when she was well enough to return to work. That was all she had said.
I knew that I needed to visit Max Lucas again and probably Lester Bruitt also. I was determined to convince Max to sack Bruitt as his lawyer and appoint James as his representative. I would get great pleasure out of giving Bruitt the news personally. I now wondered how Lucas had ended up with Bruitt in the first place.
I was eating dinner thinking on these matters when the phone rang and I rushed to answer it. “Hello?”
“Steve is that you?”
“Cassie it is good to hear from you again. I was so worried about you.”
“I’m so sorry Steve but I was so frightened.”
“What do you mean? Why did you ask me to stop the investigation?”
“The morning I was supposed to meet you at the Lyons Tea House a man visited my flat. When I answered the door he pushed me aside and barged his way in and produced a knife. I was so scared.”
“Are you alright now?” I interrupted.
“It has taken me a few days to get over my fright and shock. I do not usually scare so easily but what he threatened me with was awful.”
“Tell me,” I said soothingly. I felt both anger and sorrow.
“He said he would slice both sides of my beautiful face open destroying my beauty forever if the investigation did not stop. He indicated with his forefingers down his own cheeks where the cuts would be. He said I would be scarred for life. He meant it, Steve. I know he meant it.”
I was seething with fury. “Was he a very tall man, well-spoken but burly and threatening? Did he tell you his name?”
“Yes he said his name was Mr Smith.”
“I will kill him,” I muttered.
“Do you know who he is?”
“He paid me a visit too, trying to scare me. He said that he finds the person’s weakness and exploits it or something to that effect.”
“He certainly found mine. My face is my living. You cannot have an ugly chorus girl or an ugly dancer. My dream would have been shattered and I panicked.”
“He must have visited you soon after me. Perhaps he thought he hadn’t spooked me enough and so he visited you. Where are you now, Cassie?”
“I phoned a good friend after Smith had gone and then I left my apartment. I was so full of fear that I tried to get you to call off the investigation and felt I had to disappear. I am at my friend’s house in Farnborough in Kent. I figured he would not be able to find me there if you did continue the investigation.”
“Good call. I could not let this drop, not with an innocent man’s fate on the line. I do not like to be intimidated.”
“I thought you might ignore my pleas and I am glad now you did. I have got over my terror and hysteria and I want you to continue. You are right that we cannot let Max hang. Have you made any more progress?”
“I am going to a place called Tintree on Sunday because I heard from Cedric Bromley that Nesterman and Deepdale went there regularly. I am hoping that Deepdale can give me a few answers about Nesterman. I have a couple of weeks bef
ore Max’s trial to gather up as much evidence as I can.” I made no mention of Jenna.
“I phoned the prison earlier today and Max told me that he wants to see you again.”
“Ring him please Cassie and tell him that I will come in and see him after my visit to Tintree. When I see him I wish to give him as much good news as possible. I am also hoping to replace Lester Bruitt with James Butler. Give me your phone number and I will phone you when I get back.”
She gave me her number and I scribbled it on a piece of paper. “When will I see you?” she asked.
“It is best for the moment that we do not meet. I know I am being followed by at least one person. I do not want to lead them to you. You stay where you are and go out as little as possible and you will be safe.” I tried to be reassuring.
“Am I really in danger?”
“I do not think you are but it is best to be safe. Smith could try to get to me through you and so do not go to any of your usual places in London. In fact, stay away from London completely. Do not worry. You will be safe if you do that.”
“You be careful too,” she advised.
“I will phone you in a couple of days.”
“Thank you Steve. I am so grateful for all you are doing. Goodbye for now.”
“Goodbye Cassie,” I said and heard her receiver go down.
I felt a lot better now that I knew Cassie was safe and in hiding. I would make Smith pay for what he had done if I ever caught up with him. Now I had all day Saturday and I wondered what I could do to enhance my investigation. I thought of going into London again to speak with Bromley’s tenant Brady who had put me on to Tintree but it was not worth the effort at this stage. I also thought about Bruitt, but he might not even be in the office on a Saturday. I certainly needed to pay a visit to the Food Basket and Pete’s Bar as soon as I got back. I would also see Max Lucas when I returned from Tintree. There seemed only one thing to do and that was to take Jenna’s advice and stay at home, hopefully out of harm’s way. Taking advice did not come easily to me at this moment but I did manage to on this occasion and I enjoyed a bit of comparative relaxation as a result. This was most welcome after the many days of stress and trauma.
Chapter 7
Sunday 18th February
On Sunday I arrived at London Marylebone Station and entered the terminus, moving straight to the ticket office to buy two open returns to Leamington Spa. I looked at the station timetable board and saw there was a train leaving for Leamington at 9.12. If Jenna was on time then we could catch this train and we would be in Tintree by lunchtime. The station was fairly deserted on another cold February morning and I bought two Tiffin bars while I waited. It was precisely 9.05 by the station clock when I saw Jenna hurrying towards me with two large bags to my one. I smiled at her. “I have our tickets. Our train is in on the platform and will soon be leaving,” I informed her.
“Sorry I’m a bit late,” she said.
I took one of her bags, which she reluctantly released, and set off for the platform. She followed and was soon outpacing me. We climbed aboard a nearly empty carriage and she sat down on a window seat while I placed my bag on the overhead rack. Meanwhile she put her smaller bag on the seat next to her. Her other bag was too large for the overhead and I put this one on the seat next to me and sat opposite her. “Are you going away for a fortnight?” I inquired, smiling at the bag next to me.
“A girl has to be prepared,” she retorted with a smile.
I nodded looking again at the bag next to me. “You are certainly that,” I observed.
“Are we going all the way to Leamington?”
“Yes and I have booked us two hotel rooms.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “In Leamington Spa?”
“No, and please don’t ask where for I do not trust you enough yet.”
She shrugged then asked, “two rooms, Steve?”
I nodded. “Yes. And I hope they are comfortable.”
“You are a perfect gentleman.”
“Why do people keep calling me a gentleman?”
“Perhaps because you are,” she suggested.
The whistle blew on the platform and the train shunted out of Marylebone Station. “We are leaving,” she said. “How long does the journey take?”
“About an hour and a half.” I started rummaging in my pocket. “I have bought you a present.”
“How thoughtful,” she smiled.
I handed her a Tiffin bar. “I thought you might not have had much breakfast.”
“You know how to treat a girl.”
I caught glimpses of the vast expanse of Regents Park and the famous boating lake as we sped towards the northern London suburbs. “We can have lunch when we get there,” I suggested.
“When we get there we have work to do.”
I nodded and studied the woman in front of me. She was exceedingly attractive with olive skin and long dark raven hair and alert, black eyes. She was slim of build but seemed fit and athletic. She had carried her two bags with little difficulty and I knew one of them was heavy. She seemed always in control of the situation like when she was in my home and had threatened me. I had an impression of outward professionalism but yet she retained an air of mystery. “Who are you?” I asked.
“You know who I am, I am Jenna Smith,” she said coyly.
I smiled at her alluring secrecy. “Where are you from?”
“You know that too, I am from Germany.”
“I have hardly seen anyone look less German than you, Jenna.”
“Appearances can be deceptive, Steve.”
I knew that I was not going to get any more out of her so I did not try. I started to eat my Tiffin bar and I relaxed though I wondered what the next couple of days held for me in the company of this perplexing woman. I viewed the passing countryside and reflected how different this typically English scene might have been if we had lost the war as seemed likely just ten years ago.
Once we arrived at the Leamington Spa Station, I again carried her large bag as well as my own. “I could carry it if it is too heavy for you,” she offered.
“What have you got in there?”
She laughed. “Just some bricks, Steve.”
My question had not been entirely a joke for I did wonder what I was carrying. We exited the station, entered the forecourt and found a lone taxi waiting for any unlikely Sunday travellers. He took our bags and put them into the boot. I opened a door for Jenna and followed her on to the back seat. “The Tintree Arms, please,” I instructed the cab driver.
“At last I know where we are going,” Jenna observed.
“And that means I am going to have to be sure I do not lose you.”
“Does that mean you will be observing me closely at all times?”
I saw a grin on the driver’s face as he looked in his mirror. “It might,” I replied.
The taxi driver dropped us right outside The Tintree Arms in the centre of the small village. It was approaching midday as we carried our bags into the foyer and approached the counter. It was the same barman as I had chatted to a few days earlier. “Mr Coulson, two rooms wasn’t it?” He looked at my attractive companion with an obvious degree of admiration.
“It was,” I replied.
“You have rooms 2 and 3 on the first floor,” he said as he passed a key to each of us. “If you want them longer than one night then no problem as you are our only guests. We do not get many staying visitors at this time of year.”
“And payment?” I asked.
“Do not worry for now. When it is convenient to you is fine. Do you need help with your bags?”
“Thank you but we can manage.”
We ascended the staircase to find our rooms opposite to each other at the top of the stairs. “He thinks you’re mad.” said Jenna as she placed her key into the lock of room two.
“Why?” I asked.
“For booking two rooms,” she smiled sweetly. “Did you not see the way he was looking at me?”
I no
dded.
“Give me my bag and I will see you downstairs in half an hour to discuss everything.”
I handed over her heavy bag and watched as she disappeared into her room closing the door behind her. I put my key into the lock to room three and turned it. The room was better than I expected. It was reasonably large and quite well equipped and very clean. I assumed Jenna’s room was much the same. I unpacked my bag and tried out the bed. It seemed comfortable enough so I relaxed for a while and waited. Half an hour later I descended the stairs to find Jenna waiting for me in the lounge drinking an orange juice. “What do you want, Steve?”
“I think I will have a pint of shandy and they do a very tasty steak pie,” I replied.
She signalled to the barman and caught his attention. “A pint of shandy and two steak pies, please,” she called out. This girl did not lack confidence in what most people thought was still a man’s world.
“Now we have things to discuss over lunch.”
I nodded agreement. “You are right.”
“The barman has confirmed to me what he told you that Nesterman and Deepdale have frequented this establishment for the past six months but not in the last few weeks.”
I was surprised. “You have already spoken to the barman.”
“He is certain that they frequented the military establishment down the road from here,” she added.
The pies and my drink arrived. “And Deepdale, I suspect, is still there,” I commented.
“I am sure you are right.”
I sighed. “Then how do we speak with him? I have already tried.”
“It is not a question of us speaking with him. You must now go home and you must leave either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.”
“I am going nowhere. We are in this together. I am not leaving you here alone, Jenna.”
“I can call in professional help if I need it. I do not need your help and I am telling you that you must leave Tintree. Speaking with Deepdale will not help your case. You have acquired enough evidence, plus what I have told you, to get Lucas acquitted. It is time for you to leave and get on with saving Lucas.”
“The trial is not for a couple of weeks so I can spare a day or two to help you and to see what you are up to.”
