by John Creasey
‘Since you’re telling the story, why don’t you tell the truth about it?’ demanded Rollison, mildly. ‘Please yourself, of course.’
‘I’ll please myself all right,’ said Kennedy. He hesitated, and then gave an explosive laugh. ‘I’d been watching you. I knew you were busy on this job. I saw that crack-pot of a man of yours. He posted a bunch of letters in a box near Gresham Terrace. Ever thought of applying suction to a pillar box, Rollison?’
‘Not really,’ murmured Rollison.
Kennedy went on: ‘I don’t know how you got on to me, Rollison. It doesn’t matter much. I’ve got you. And you’re going to get those papers for me. Unless I get them and find they’re the right ones, you know what will happen.’
‘Do I have to say my little piece again?’ demanded Rollison.
‘No,’ said Kennedy, ‘you needn’t waste your breath. I’m not playing your way. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to think better of it. I want the papers tomorrow night at half-past ten. I’ll telephone you at nine o’clock to tell you where I’ll pick them up, and tomorrow you’d better have them with you.’
Rollison murmured: ‘Don’t you think it’s risky to let me go?’
‘You won’t find me, no one will find me,’ Kennedy boasted. ‘You’ll be blindfolded going out the same way as you came in. You may think you’ve got a chance, but don’t forget this. It takes about half a second to jab with the syringe, and not very much longer for the victim to die. If a policeman knocks at this door, Rollison, I’ll use the needle. But they won’t come, I know your kind. You’re too fond of Susan, aren’t you?’
Rollison looked at Susan, who spoke for the first time:
‘Don’t let him kill Bruce,’ she said. ‘I can’t think beyond that Rolly. Don’t let him kill Bruce.’
‘He won’t,’ said Kennedy.
Rollison murmured: ‘Aren’t you at all frightened of the Hammer, Kennedy?’
Kennedy laughed, and pressed a thumb against the table. ‘That’s where I’ve got the Hammer,’ he said. ‘Just there. He’s got a weakness, they’ve all got a weakness. One only has to find it. His is for Janet Piper. Even if I didn’t know where to put my hands on him, he’ll come running when he hears I’ve got that girl where I want her, and I shall pick her up tomorrow. Don’t worry about the Hammer.’ He turned to the man at the door. ‘Take Rollison out. The interview is over.’
The man stepped forward. ‘Not quite so fast,’ he said, and as Kennedy started, he pulled something from his pocket.
Kennedy’s eyes bulged; Rollison felt a shock of surprise so great that he backed against the table.
In the man’s hand was a hammer.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Hammer Falls
There was deathly silence in the room.
Kennedy sagged in his chair as he watched the man slowly advance.
It was the Hammer.
The build was right the features right. A little clever alteration to the face had been enough to deceive Rollison. Even as he watched the man, he wondered whether he would have seen through the disguise if he had been in a position to study him closely. But that did not matter; there was the Hammer, advancing steadily hammer upraised; and in his left hand, held just as steadily, and pointing towards Kennedy, was a small automatic.
Kennedy cried: ‘Don’t—don’t be a fool!’
‘Keep quite still,’ said the Hammer, and the voice was the soft, cultured voice of the man at Milch Street. ‘If you are difficult, Kennedy, I shall shoot you, I have no love of violence, but there are times—’ he broke off.
He was two yards from the man.
‘Turn round,’ he said.
Kennedy did not move. He seemed stiff with fright.
‘Turn round.’
Kennedy drew in a sobbing breath, and slowly obeyed. He crouched. He put his hand to his head as if to protect himself. He knew what the Hammer was going to do …
The Hammer said: ‘You killed Benson like this, in my name, Kennedy. And you have committed other crimes of violence in my name. I think rough justice—’
‘No!’ screeched Kennedy, ‘no!’
The Hammer raised his right arm.
‘What a craven coward you are,’ he said.
Rollison lunged forward, then lost his balance and sprawled across the table. He did not see the Hammer back away, nor see Kennedy swing round, pulling at the drawer in the table. He heard a shot. When he regained his balance, he saw Kennedy standing uncertainly, with blood coming from his right hand. The table drawer was partly open, and inside was a small automatic.
The Hammer’s revolver was smoking, and he was looking at Rollison.
‘Thank you,’ he said.
Rollison grinned weakly. ‘A pleasure,’ he murmured.
‘You reminded me once before that the one crime one cannot expiate is murder, didn’t you? For a moment, I forgot that,’ said the Hammer. ‘I am glad you were here to remind me,’
Kennedy said; ‘There’s a fortune, a fortune—’
‘You will not be able to bribe me,’ said the Hammer. ‘Go and stand against the wall on the far side of the room.’ He waited until Kennedy had obeyed, and then handed his gun to Rollison. ‘I am very glad I was here,’ he said. ‘I have been bribing one of Kennedy’s men for some time. Today I took his place,’ He paused, then asked: ‘Watch him for a few minutes. I will go and deal with the other men here.’ He smiled. ‘No, I shall not forget that murder is beyond the pale!’ There was a laugh in his voice as he went out.
Susan jumped up. ‘Bruce!’ she exclaimed. ‘I must see—’
‘Wait a moment,’ Rollison said.
The ‘moment’ lengthened. Five minutes of it had barely gone before Kennedy slid unconscious to the floor. The fright, shock, and pain had proved too much for him.
Then the door of the room opened, and the Hammer came in again.
‘There are only three of them,’ he said, ‘and they are safely locked up in a small pantry. The police will soon look after them, I have no doubt He looked at Susan, and nodded in answer to her look of expectancy. Yes, go up to him. Tell him he need not worry any more.’ He opened the door and Susan went running out. He closed it again and smiled at Rollison.
‘It is not quite what you expected, is it?’
‘Not quite,’ Rollison said.
‘Why did you really come here? Just to exchange places with the other two?’
‘No. I knew Kennedy would never agree to that, but it seemed the only thing to do,’ said Rollison. ‘And I hoped the police would find this, in due course.’ He took some rice out of his pocket and dropped it about the floor, ‘Very Hans Andersen, I’m afraid; and I don’t think it would have worked.’ He gave a short laugh and then grew serious. ‘I think he would have killed them,’ he said, ‘that’s why I say “Thanks”.’
‘Yes, he would have killed them,’ said the Hammer. ‘He has told you everything you need to know, Rollison. There is not much to add from me. I let you think Benson was the other Hammer because I wanted to deal with Kennedy myself. It is true, you know, that I have tried to do good. I shall continue to try. And I shall assure everyone that you are to be persona grata in my special province. Does that please you?’
‘No,’ said Rollison, quietly.
The Hammer raised his eyebrows.
‘I hoped that it would be all you required, my friend.’
Rollison said: ‘When this is over, what then? A temporary lull in the search for the Hammer until he starts working again, and then a hunt that must be successful one day. You can’t remain safe from the law for ever.’
‘I shall do all the good I can for as long as I can.’
‘It won’t be much of a life for Janet,’ Rollison said. ‘Already she knows what it’s like to feel that you are being hunted down, to live in perpetual fear that the police will catch you. No, it won’t be much of a life for her.’
‘She will not work with me again,’ said the Hammer. ‘We shall get married, she
will live in comfort, and I—’
‘Every hour, every minute that you’re away from her she will wonder whether you are safe,’ said Rollison. ‘Whenever she sees a policeman she will flinch. It’s no life for a woman. And at any time she might lose you. You may have a run for a few years, but it will probably be much less than that. Give it up, Hammer.’
The Hammer said slowly: ‘There are times when I get tired of it, but too many people look to me for help, Rollison, and I am not a rich man. I have enough for a comfortable life myself, but—’ he shrugged his shoulders. ‘Do you find it so hard to understand? No one has ever suffered hardship from anything I have done. No one will. One day, perhaps, I shall accumulate enough wealth to be able to help without taking risks myself, but it will be a long time, and until then I need go on.’
‘What is it that really appeals?’ asked Rollison. ‘The excitement?’
The Hammer shook his head. ‘Far more prosaic than that. It is simply a case of necessity.’
‘The police have your files,’ said Rollison. ‘I can get copies of them.’
The Hammer narrowed his eyes.
‘I don’t understand you.’
Rollison said; ‘I am wealthy.’
The Hammer started. ‘You mean that you would continue to make the payments—’ he broke off.
‘Why not?’ asked Rollison.
The Hammer said slowly: ‘If only I could believe you.’
‘You can,’ Rollison insisted. ‘I have more money than I know what to do with, so it will be no sacrifice.’ He laughed, a little constrainedly. ‘Give me a month’s trial, anyhow,’ he said, ‘let Janet find out whether I’m keeping my word.’ When the Hammer did not answer, he went on: I’ve worked with the police for nearly twelve years, and I know they always get their man. The only men who escape are those who retire in time. You’ve a chance. It won’t come again.
After a long pause, the Hammer said. ‘I think I will take you at your word, Rollison.’
He put out his hand, Rollison took it.
The Hammer went out and closed the door gently behind him. Kennedy, on the floor, began to come round.
Snub put his head round the door of the sitting-room at Gresham Terrace and asked whether Rollison was busy. He came in. ‘I’m just in time for tea, judging from the sounds in the kitchen,’ he added hopefully. ‘How’s your arm?’
‘Out of the sling,’ said Rollison.
‘One arm or two doesn’t seem to make much difference to you,’ said Snub, cheerfully. ‘I thought I’d give the typewriter a rest, because someone just brought me a present,’ He glanced at the wall of souvenirs, and grinned. ‘It ought to go up there nicely,’ he went on, ‘provided Jolly doesn’t disagree. Like to see it?’
‘Now what’s all this about?’ asked Rollison, patiently.
From beneath his coat, Snub brought forth a hammer. He chuckled as he put it on the table.
‘It came by registered post,’ he said, ‘with a covering letter asking me to bring it round to you on the sender’s wedding day. I wonder who he is,’ said Snub. ‘Some cheerful, benevolent-looking chappie whom all the neighbours admire, I suppose. How’s Bruce Drayton?’
‘Putting on weight and doing very nicely.’
‘More wedding bells and silver-plated toast-racks,’ said Snub. ‘By the way, I met Grice in Whitehall this morning, all’s well there, too.’
Jolly, bringing in tea, looked at the hammer with a faint smile. ‘Between the top hat and the poison case, I should think, sir,’ he said. ‘I—excuse me one moment, sir.’ The front-door bell began to ring, and Jolly hurried off.
Snub, ever curious, went after him.
There was a thump in the hall, and Rollison looked up to see a burly man in peaked cap, and green baize apron, carrying a barrel. The man grinned.
‘Bill says to let ’im know when it’s empty, Mr Ar. An’ ’e wants ter know when you’ll be looking in at the Lion.’
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)
