by John Creasey
Kell’s hand flexed and unflexed, one hovered near his trousers pocket, but suddenly he spun round, strode to another curtain, and pulled it aside.
There was Christine: asleep or drugged. She sat erect in a small chair and she was bound to it. In some way, her head had been tilted backward, emphasizing the flawless line of neck and shoulders, as lovely as her mother’s. Nearby, Lance Judd stood rigidly, staring not at the girl but at her father.
“Don’t—don’t argue anymore,” he pleaded. “Don’t make it any worse. Give Robin—”
And then there came across his words a wild scream from the girl below.
“The police are coming!” she cried. “The police!”
There was a second of stunned silence before Robin Kell’s hand flashed to and from his jacket and the click of his knife sounded loud. Falconer tried to rush forward to protect his daughter, but the knife moved swift as light toward him, and into his belly. He felt a searing pain and staggered to one side, saw the knife flash again as Kell turned to use it on Christine.
But as he did so, the knife moving toward her defenceless throat, Lance Judd hurled himself in front of her, and the knife went into his chest. He gasped, he choked, the door crashed, and the window of the kitchen crashed; then ladders appeared at the upstairs window and police wearing steel helmets smashed the glass. It was Thwaites, running up the stairs, who saw the pictures, saw the trickle of flame run along the way where they were displayed, saw the girl with a taper in her hand stabbing it toward rags that he sensed were soaked in oil. He struck the girl aside and kicked at the blazing rags, and when one fell close to the wall he picked it up with his bare fingers and flung it away.
By then, the place was full of smoke and full of police, and Robin Kell was struggling with two policemen who were trying to prise the knife out of his hand.
Only ten minutes later, a telephone rang on Gideon’s desk. Gideon snatched the receiver up eagerly, and as he announced himself, a man said crisply: “It’s all over, sir. The girl’s all right.”
“Falconer?” demanded Gideon, heart thumping with relief.
“A nasty wound in the stomach, sir, and on his way to hospital. So is the man Judd, who tried to save her; he got a knife in his chest. Kell, a girl named Marie Devaux, and others are on their way to the Yard now, sir, for interrogation.”
“The pictures?” demanded Gideon sharply.
“Virtually undamaged, sir. I—oh, here’s Chief Inspector Thwaites, if you’d like a word with him.”
“I would indeed,” said Gideon warmly, and a moment later heard Thwaites speak with a feeling that made him seem almost a different man.
“No damage at all really, sir. A frame was scorched, that’s all. The young devil meant it all right, but everything we planned went off like clockwork.”
Gideon found himself laughing.
“Falconer mightn’t feel that,” he said.
“If you ask me, sir, he was bloody lucky to get off so lightly, everything considered. I—sorry, sir! I wonder if you will have a word with his wife.”
“I’ll call her at once,” promised Gideon.
He reassured Lady Falconer about her daughter and as much as he could about her husband; then he rang off, sat back and reflected, and sent for Hobbs, who came in with his usual promptitude, and with a bundle of reports. There was so much going through, and already the sense of importance about the Velazquez theft was fading, for it was now actually part of the past. There would be the trial to prepare but that wasn’t his job, Gideon reflected. Thank God here was a case where they could be absolutely certain that they had the right man!
The Entwhistle file was one of those Hobbs had brought in, and Gideon said: “I thought Honiwell wanted this put aside for a while.”
“I brought it in because I’ve had a word with the Governor at Dartmoor,” Hobbs said. “Apparently, Entwhistle is in a bad way. He tried to kill himself in his cell last night. Is there anything we can possibly do to help him?”
“We can’t breathe a word until we know for certain,” Gideon said gloomily. “I only wish we could. Unless we’ve evidence enough to bring Eric Greenwood back from a buying trip to India and Pakistan. He’s just started from London Airport.” When Hobbs shook his head, Gideon put a hand on the file and said: “Leave it with me, I might think of something. Anything else that’s urgent?”
“I don’t think so,” Hobbs answered. “Not to say urgent. There’s more than enough to clear up and more than enough pending. I—”
He broke off, for the door opened abruptly, a rare thing in Gideon’s office, and Chamberlain came in, with rather less than his usual bounce. He was taken aback at seeing them both together, hesitated, let the door close behind him, and advanced.
“Oh, Commander, in view of the recovery of the Velazquez and the other stolen items, I think we might be well-advised to cancel tomorrow’s conference, don’t you?”
Gideon, solid as a Buddha in his chair, said: “I think that’s a very good idea, sir.”
“Good. I thought you would agree. Will you telephone all concerned?”
“If you don’t mind my saying so, sir,” said Gideon, “I think it would be very much appreciated if you telephoned yourself. I really do.”
“Yes, very well,” said Chamberlain after a pause. “There are a number of other issues I would like to discuss with you, but perhaps tomorrow would be a better day.”
“Whenever you wish,” said Gideon.
Neither he nor Hobbs made any comment about the intrusion when Chamberlain left, and Hobbs took out a slim file.
“Lemaitre and Singleton have fixed that raid on the counterfeiters for tonight,” he announced. “I’ve asked them both to send reports to us, so we’ll get both sides of the story.”
There wasn’t much that Hobbs missed, Gideon reflected appreciatively.
When he had gone, Gideon sat back in his chair and pondered. Chamberlain, of course, could not last very long; it was obvious that he was a misfit, and if he didn’t realize it himself, Scott-Marie would find a way to make him. Thwaites was a different kind of problem. He was old for promotion but he had done such a dedicated job that it ought to be recognized, and a Superintendent’s pension would be considerably higher than a Chief Inspector’s. He would put through a recommendation today. He made a note and saw other notes he had made this morning about the conference on the immigration problems. That would need very careful handling.
He saw Thwaites in the middle of the afternoon, his hand heavily bandaged, his hair singed, but an expression of deep contentment in his eyes.
“Congratulations,” Gideon said. “Sit down.”
“It was all your idea, sir,” Thwaites said warmly. “While I was having my hand dressed, I was thinking it must be hell for you - with respect sir - having to sit here knowing you could be out on the job and doing it twice as well as most.” He gave Gideon time for only a deprecatory wave and plunged on. “Latest reports, sir: Sir Richard not in danger, I’m glad to say. Knife wound identical with those in Slater and de Courvier, and caused by the same knife, so we’ve got Kell for murder... Lancelot Judd touch and go, sir, but if he pulls through he’ll turn queen’s evidence without a doubt... Christine’s suffering from shock, nothing a few days’ rest won’t put right... Not a single item damaged, sir; we picked up a million pounds’ worth of stolen works of art. I hope the newspapers make a fuss about that little lot!... Oh, and by the way, Falconer’s man Oliphant seems to me in a highly nervous condition. I think I’m going to see what he’s been up to. A runner I know, Red Thomas, told Division that Oliphant spends a lot of time with Mrs. Bessell in Bond Street. That’s about the lot, sir. Oh! There is one other offbeat little thing.”
“What’s that?” asked Gideon.
“Remember Lucy Jenkins, Leslie J.’s daughter? Works for Old Fisky in a shop in the King’s road?”
“I pass it every day,” Gideon said.
“Well, apparently Lucy bought a load of junk when the old man
was away and one of the pictures was a find. Fisky took it round to Division. A John Bettes, stolen from Rosebury House in Suffolk about ten years ago, worth forty or fifty thousand. The insurance company’s going to pay out ten per cent reward and Old Fisky’s sharing it with Lucy.”
“I couldn’t be more glad,” Gideon said. “I really couldn’t.”
As he drove home that night, he slowed down alongside Old Fisky’s shop, where there were lights, more cars, television cameramen, and Lucy holding up a picture while Old Fisky peered from inside the shop.
She’s not a bad-looking girl, Gideon reflected. This could be the making of her.
He noticed a policeman in uniform on the other side of the road, so intent on the scene in the doorway and on Lucy Jenkins that he did not see that the Commander was drawing away. None of the newspaper, television, or press men noticed Gideon, either, but when he reached Harrington Street, half a dozen neighbours waved newspapers at him and Penelope came running out of the house, very excited.
“Daddy, Mummy’s told me you’re going to soundproof the attic. That’s just wonderful. I’d been hoping for something like that. And there’s just room to get the piano in. Alec stopped by to see you and heard about it, and he’s checked it all for me.” She flung her arms round him and kissed him.
And Kate, standing in the doorway to welcome him, could tell that for her husband it had been a deeply satisfying day.
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 The 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 Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman 1955
18 Murder: One, Two, Three Two for Inspector West 1955
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
