Black Maria, M. A.: A Classic Crime Novel

by John Russell Fearn

  “Laycock—Laythorn—Layton.... Hmm!”

  When she closed the book her lips were tight. She returned to the taxi.

  “Drive on, Joey,” she announced, and for the rest of the trip lay back in the cushions and thought deeply. There was an uncom­monly cruel glint in her blue eyes.

  “Here we are, Maria....”

  She looked up, somewhat startled, discovered Joey had drawn up. She climbed out at almost exactly the same spot as on the previous night.

  “You’d better keep me in sight at a respectful distance,” she said. “I don’t expect much to happen henceforth, especially in daylight—but no harm in making sure.”

  “Leave it to me! You’ll never be out of my sight until you reach wherever you’re going.”

  Maria nodded and started off, walking resolutely through the twisting streets and finally on to the wharf. This time she had no real anxieties. The brilliant sunshine lessened any chance of an attack, and the only living things in sight were two children with a fishing rod and a rowboat in the harbor itself. She went on steadily, reached the tenement house at last, and continued up the stairs to the second landing. She rapped sharply on the door at which Janet had stopped on the previous occasion.

  The door opened suddenly and Peter Wade stood there. He looked amazed as he saw Maria standing before him.

  “Why—Miss Black! Janet’s Aunt, of course! But what—”

  “Do you mind if I have a word or two with you, Mr. Wade?”

  “Why, no! Come right in....” He backed inside and rather hastily sought to tidy the place up a little. Maria cast a glance around her. Everything was clean enough even though it was in a state of complete masculine disorder. The table was littered with draft musical scores.

  “Take a seat, Miss Black,” he invited, holding forth a chair for her; then as she sat down he asked seriously, “Is there anything wrong?”

  “No, Mr. Wade, there is nothing wrong. I just want a chat with you, that is all. Tell me, has Janet ever told you of the circumstances surrounding her father’s death?”

  Wade’s blue eyes searched her face keenly.

  “I know that most of you in the family now believe he was mur­dered,” he replied. “I know too that you are trying to find the murderer. Janet told me that.”

  “That saves me a lot of unnecessary talking. It has now become vital for me to check up on certain details concerning you, and if my questions are a little pointed, I hope you will forgive it.”

  He smiled faintly. “Of course. I suppose Jan told you I could be found in this dump?”

  “I found it out for myself by following Janet last night. Don’t worry, young man, Janet has not betrayed your romance to anybody—nor will I. I’m here purely on business—”

  “In a little while,” he broke in eagerly, “it won’t matter if all the world knows of our romance. I have—” He checked himself. “But never mind! How can I help you?”

  “Can you tell me where you were on the afternoon of June fourth?” Maria asked quietly. “That, of course, was the day on which Janet’s father died.... Can you recall what you did on that day between noon and tea-time? Above all, can you prove what you did?”

  He smiled and nodded to the year calendar on the wall. Maria glanced at it then raised her eyebrows at beholding blue-penciled rings round the dates of June 4, July 4, and August 4. She looked at him questioningly.

  “Those are dates on which to find out about my musical revue from the publishers,” he explained. “They take a month rougly to complete a reading; then I call in and get the verdict. On June fourth I spent the afternoon in the offices of Jacob Benson Incorporated, trying to talk the big fellow into giving my revue a ride.... But he wouldn’t bite. You have only to ring him up in order to prove it.”

  Maria wrote the name down on a slip of paper and put it in her bag.

  “As Jan may have told you,” he went on, “I’ve been working on a musical revue to try and regain something of my lost glory.... And I’ve got a big surprise coming to her! Last night I was about sunk in the doldrums—but this morning I heard from Heath’s, the biggest producers in the business, that they are going to give me a break—and put Jan in the star part! What do you think of that? That is why August 4 is ringed on the calendar. I was going to call on Heath’s at that date, but now it won’t be necessary— It’s bucked me up no end, Miss Black!”

  “It’s certainly going to be a grand surprise for Janet,” Maria admitted.

  “I’ll say!” Then Wade looked at her earnestly. “Only don’t tell her a thing, will you? I want to surprise her.... You’ve no idea what it means! It’s the end of the bad patch, end of all this enforced penury.... Yes, I know what you are probably thinking— Jan has plenty of money, enough for both of us. But that isn’t my way. I want it my way, or nothing. I knew I’d get back one day—on top!”

  Maria sat studying his flushed, eager face for a moment.

  “Janet has a beautiful voice, has she not?” she said, and it sounded rather an irrelevancy.

  “Extra good!” he enthused; then he fell to reflection. “At least she seems to have got it back to perfection now. I listened in to her last night and she was superb—far better than on her last night during the other recital.”

  “Other recital? You mean the one that terminated so tragically in her father’s death?” Maria was all attention again.

  “Yes. I was listening to her on the last night over the radio and it struck me that her voice was tired—or else she was. Her high notes had no clarity— But last night she was divine again. Pro­bably she just needed a rest.”

  “Yes...probably.” Maria frowned a moment, then looked at him quickly. “About what time did that last concert end?”

  “Oh, about nine o’clock...at least the radio version did. We only got an excerpt, of course. We were faded out just as the applause was sounding for Jan’s Alleluia encore, then the announcer said it was nine o’clock. I remember that. That’s how I’m sure of the time.”

  “I see.” Maria got to her feet and held out her hand. “Well, Mr. Wade, thank you for being so helpful.... And don’t worry, I shall not forestall your little surprise for Janet; and I do congratulate you most sincerely.”

  “Thanks.” He shook bands and at the door regarded her seriously. “Have you any idea who did this thing? The murder?”

  “Yes, I know,” she said quietly. “Probably you will too before long....”

  With that she left him and went out on to the wharf thoughtfully. At the first street phone kiosk she came to, she went inside and rang up Jacob Benson Incorporated. It took her only a few minutes to verify Wade’s statement from the callers’ register.

  Maria was smiling when she emerged into the street again. It was that smile of approaching triumph that all Roseway College knew....

  At the taxi Joey rejoined her.

  “Well, nothing happened that time,” he grinned. “Where to now?”

  “Home, Joey, if you please.”

  She said never a word as he drove her back through the city. Sunk in the cushions at the back her face registered a variety of expressions and finally ended in one of granite hardness. More than once it had made a schoolgirl’s knees knock together. Even Joey noticed it as Maria got out of the taxi at the journey’s end.

  “Found something vital?” he asked keenly.

  “I believe,” she said grimly, “I have come to the end of the trail, Joey. I have just one more point to check up with Mr. Martin when he phones from Columbus....” She paid his double fare and added, “I don’t know when I shall need you again, Joey—if at all. But in any case I can always get into touch with you.”

  “Always ready,” he said amiably. “And good hunting!”

  Maria went into the house and was crossing the hall when Dick hurried from the lounge and intercepted her.

  “Aunt, just a minute....” His face was serious. “I’ve been waiting to catch you...I have found something,” he said, his voice deadly quiet.
>
  “Found something?” She waited, eyeing him.

  “This!” He opened his wallet and took out a sheet of folded paper. It revealed itself as thin copying paper—a carbon copy of single-spaced typing. Maria took it and read slowly.

  “But Richard, this is an exact plot outline of the play you and Jean Conway are writing!” she exclaimed.

  “Just that,” he assented grimly. “And of all the value in the world to dad’s murderer! Don’t you see? This has been taken somehow from among my own papers concerning our plot! It shows the murderer the exact method we planned—enough anyway to put ideas into her head....”

  “Her head?” Maria repeated, her lips tightening.

  “Yes, I should have said murderess,” Dick said ominously. “I found this copy in Pat’s room! It was accidental, really. I’ve been doing some work this morning and I needed more paper. I was working in my room upstairs and rather than come downstairs after more paper, I slipped into Pat’s room for some. I knew she had a ream or two in that little desk she’s got. I found this amongst the paper. Pretty obvious that she had put it there intending to lock it away and then forgot all about it—or else it was the police caught up on her, and she just couldn’t do it anyway.”

  “And this carbon was missing from among your own papers?” Maria asked slowly.

  “I made a check up at once. I had them—still have as a matter of fact—in the drawer in my room. This carbon plot outline, not since I have the whole idea in my mind, was never needed, so I didn’t miss it....” Dick stopped and shook his head. “This is damnable, Aunt, I know—but I thought I’d better tell you. It might help.”

  She took the carbon copy and folded it slowly. “I’d like to keep it for a while, if I may.... Does Jean know of this?”

  “Not yet. I’m going to tell her the moment I see her.”

  “Perhaps you had better not,” Maria reflected. “At least not until I want you to.... Well, thanks very much, Richard. I think this is going to help me a great deal. Now I must get tidied for lunch.”

  She went on upstairs with her face still set and determined. As she dressed she thought over every detail she had collected, finally tabulated everything in her diary as usual.

  “I know who killed Ralph! It is the most amazing discovery! I have every fact save one—and on this I have no doubts. Mr. Martin will telephone me tomorrow and then I shall start to unravel this extra­ordinary web.

  “The time is 12:10 p.m. And possibly this is my last entry for this particular case....”

  “The end of the trail,” she muttered, putting the book away. “And now...ten minutes!” She frowned as a sudden thought struck her. “Yes, about ten minutes. I wonder if it is possible in that space of time?”

  She made up her mind to her own satisfaction and went down to lunch. But the moment it was over, during which she had only indulged in small talk, she headed for the library. The household was fairly quiet. Dick had gone upstairs to rest, and Janet had left for the theater with the intention of shopping on the way.

  Within the library Maria glanced at her watch, then with methodi­cal movements went to work putting cushions on top of the nearest chair, climbed up within reach of the crossed guns, went through several pantomime movements intended to represent the placing of a second gun—the .38—in position. At the end of her activities she climbed down, put back the cushions and chair, then looked at her watch. With a snap she closed it, smiling grimly....

  Next she strolled with apparent unconcern into the lounge. For the first time in her hectic exploits she felt that she could relax—and it was a revelation that astounded Alice as she sat on the terrace reading. She came in with book in hand to where Maria reclined in an armchair.

  “Maria dear, is it really you sitting here taking your ease?”

  Maria looked up. “Do you never sit and think, Alice? Do you never pause amidst a torrent of events and piece together all the things you have encountered?”

  “Yes...sometimes.” Alice gave a puzzled little frown. “Does this mean your search has come to a blank wall?”

  “No, it means I know who killed Ralph!”

  “What!” Alice laid her book down and reached for a chair. “You—you know?” It seemed her face was a shade paler.

  Maria’s lips were a tight line. “By tomorrow morning I shall have the last piece in the jigsaw....” Then in a softer tone she went on, “Alice, I want you to do something. Tomorrow afternoon you are going to be hostess to a little party, whether you like it or not. I am going to give you a list of guests, so you will know how many to prepare for, and you can leave the actual inviting to me. Here they are—Janet, Janet’s maid, Mary—yes, I insist on it! A young man named Peter Wade whose identity Janet and I will make clear tomorrow. Then there will be Richard, and a young lady friend of his named Jean Conway—and Mr. Johnson, the lawyer. Walters and the staff will be here in any case.... That completes the party.”

  “Who are these strangers you mention?” Alice demanded.

  “You’ll soon know; take my word for it. I absolutely insist on all this, Alice. And it will have to be in the afternoon because Janet and Richard, and Mary the maid, will be unable to be here on an evening—and for me the morning will be unsuitable. Is all this quite clear?”

  “Well, I’ll have to take your word for it,” Alice replied rather ir­ritably. “I’ll arrange it, of course—but I wish you’d tell me a little more.”

  “Tomorrow you’ll know all you need,” Maria promised, with a grim smile. “My one regret is that Patricia and her husband will not be able to be here—but that of course is impossible. How­ever....” She rose to her feet. “That is as far as I can go for now. At the moment I’m beginning to feel rather tired after my exertions. I think I shall go up for a rest, Alice.”

  “Yes....” Alice started out of a preoccupation. “Yes, do.”

  Maria nodded and left the lounge thoughtfully.

  She had her rest, but made no effort to sleep. The moment she heard Dick leave his room next door she hurried out and intercepted him in the corridor.

  “Hallo there, Aunt!” he smiled. “Bit of a change to see you around in the afternoon. What happened? Trying to rest?”

  “I have been,” Maria acknowledged. “Actually, I was waiting to catch you. I want you to do something for me. Tomorrow afternoon I am calling together quite a number of people whom I have pestered with my suspicions—and I want you to bring Jean along about half-past three.”

  “But I can’t do that!” he protested. “We’re keeping our ac­quaintance a secret in any case....” He stopped and gave a shrug. “Well, maybe it doesn’t matter this time. Okay, I’ll bring her—but you will have to explain things to mother.”

  “I have every intention of doing so,” Maria assured him.

  He hesitated. “Are you by any chance going to prove who did it?”

  “I am, yes!”

  “Rely on me,” he nodded. “I’m all for it. Pity Pat can’t be here as well; it would make it a full house.... On the other hand, maybe she is only in the place where she’d be anyway when all this is cleared up.”

  With that he went on his way, left Maria staring after him with her watch-chain twirling in her fingers.

  CHAPTER TEN

  During the evening the most discomfited person of all seemed to be Alice. She was clearly in a restless, anxious mood—a fact that Maria noticed silently. But she said nothing: it was clear she was at last at rest. She spent the evening listening to the radio, glancing through magazines, doing everything with such a calm deliberation that it was clear she knew exactly what her plan of campaign was going to be. On the whole Alice looked quite relieved when Maria finally announced her intention of retiring early.

  She slept soundly all through the night, and was glad of it: she felt in tremendous form for the task that lay ahead of her. Before breakfast she took the opportunity of catching Janet alone and making a request of her similar to the one she had made of Dick. The girl’s acquiesce
nce was surprisingly prompt.

  “I saw Peter again last night, Aunt,” she smiled. “He told me you had been to see him—and he also told me the good news about his musical comedy. That means we hit the top together. I don’t mind coming into the open in the least now. Montagu can’t do a thing about it since I’ll be leaving him anyway— But why Mary?” she frowned. “Bit of an unusual request, is it not?

  “I assure you I have a very definite reason,” Maria replied. “I want you, Mr. Wade, and Mary. I’ll leave it to you to contact them during this morning. Your mother knows the arrangement: I will explain everything later on.”

  Janet nodded slowly, looking vaguely puzzled, and with that Maria left the bedroom and went on her way downstairs. During breakfast Dick caught her eye and nodded, obviously to signify that he had contacted Jean and obtained her consent .to the invitation. Alice still maintained a complex kind of silence, speaking only when spoken to—and then very absently.

  After breakfast Maria spent most of the time pacing up and down the lounge impatiently. She almost forgot her dignity and ran for it when Walters announced that she was wanted on the telephone. In a moment she was in the hall, clutching the instrument.

  “Yes—yes? Hallo! You do all the talking....”

  “Okay, lady, this is Pulp,” Pulp said needlessly. “I’m at Colum­bus like you told me. Right now I’m at a railroad station—”

  Maria interrupted him. “To the point, Mr. Martin, please! What did you discover?”

  “I got to Columbus and found the store—but it ain’t anything like the same as it was. It’s a branch of the Black Provision Network Stores— Anything to do with you, lady? Name being the same, I mean.”

  “Did you find out what happened to the former owners?” Maria demanded.

  “Sure. The old folks died and the daughter blew town—nobody knows where to: figure she must have gotten a job with that niece of yours, like you said. Seems like the business got bust up—the hardware one, I mean—and the old folks just got the skids under them and passed out.... Guess I couldn’t find much more.”