by John Creasey
“He had been working with Domminy for some time. Domminy was a fanatic on the need for destroying arms, believing that if there were no arms there could be no wars.” Palfrey drew his hand across his forehead, then began to wind a few strands of hair round his forefinger. “Who can really say he was wrong?”
“Domminy didn’t know that Rondivallo was after world domination, or that at each of the Wide World plants there was a small troop of highly trained ex-soldiers, stores and weapons, everything they would need to create a world secret police. The plague-infested insects were easy to breed, and did not mature until they were exposed to the warmth of daylight; they matured quickest in sunlight. So they were easy to store in warehouses, shops, hotels, army establishments, private homes—everywhere. We know that Rondivallo meant to spread them throughout England, and already had them in many places, including the military establishments. In the largest of these establishments one or two of his men were planted, to release the mosquitoes whenever required.
“I needn’t labour that point,” Palfrey went on, and stopped fiddling with his hair. “Perhaps a few explanations about the Department’s part in this are called for. We were worried about Rondivallo for some time, and when he came to England, Maureen O’Shea”—he looked across at her, and smiled— “agreed to work on him. She had to appear hopelessly infatuated, and became his mistress. Up to the time that she disappeared, she had reported that he was experimenting secretly, but she did not then know that he was concerned with Wide World Foods. Whether Rondivallo suspected her, or whether he simply made sure that no one who knew anything about the plot itself could contact the outside world, we’ll never know. But when he thought it time, he disappeared, taking her with him. They lived in the underground quarters at the Lauriston plant, there was a cinema, ordinary home amusements, most things she could want; and there were several families, so that there was communal life. But everyone who knew about the existence of the insects and the bacteria was completely divorced from the outside world.
“So Maureen could not get a word through, and her sister went to look for her, knowing nothing of the truth. There was another woman, Yvonne Brown”—Palfrey looked at Matt— “who was the grand-daughter of the Arbuthnot Brown who originally owned the house which became the Forest Hotel. She often came here on a visit, and because of her association no one suspected that she worked for us.
“Her brother, the last male of the line, was killed on another of our jobs,” Palfrey went on, “and it affected Yvonne deeply. She became aloof, unfriendly, unsociable. But we needed her help because of her knowledge of the district. That’s why we sent her to you, Matt.
“Because then we believed that the secret was in the Forest.
“Rondivallo spent a lot of time in a small cottage on the experimental farm, so that it looked as if he was continuing with his ordinary researches, but it was a phony set-up. When we took over the hotel he set fire to that section of the forest, hoping we wouldn’t look beyond it. Actually he had always done his main work in the underground laboratories at the food plant.
“He had virtually bought not only the hotel but the hotel staff. Larsen and his wife ran the hotel for them. Larsen was another Domminy, a fanatical pacifist; when he realized Rondivallo’s real purpose he tried to telephone Domminy, but Domminy was out. And one of Rondivallo’s men poisoned Larsen and his wife before he could try again.
“Some of the research chemists and managers at the plant lived at the hotel, which was a reporting point. None of Rondivallo’s overseas agents ever went straight to the plant. All reports were made to the hotel and then taken from there to the plant headquarters by delivery vans driven by trusted agents. The organization was as nearly fool-proof as they could make it.”
Palfrey paused for a moment, but soon went on:
“We now know that some of the affected food was taken out of the plant in error. These included deliveries made to some Conne village shops. The first to hatch out were those at Mrs. Hill’s. Doctors Korven and Dimmock each examined Mrs. Hill during the period when the infection of the larynx showed clearly. It was examination of this, and experiments with sputum and swabs taken from the throat, which first put doctors on to the curare distillation, and would have put them on to common salt, which builds up a resistance in the blood. So Rondivallo had to cover up quickly.
“Once the two doctors were murdered he knew we were likely to concentrate on the Conne area. We did so. He knew some of our agents, who had been tracing his movements in several parts of the world, and infected them so that it would not appear to be an isolated case, at Conne. Maureen O’Shea says that he first did this in the hope of preventing us from concentrating on Conne. He didn’t want us to connect the trouble with Wide World Foods, and was prepared to do anything to distract us. But once he unleashed the plague it had to be done swiftly—he’d have little time to play with. Killing the two doctors was a must, as they would have put us on the right lines to find an immunizing agent; and drawing our attention from Conne was also a must.
“But events moved too fast for him.
“The Carters sold a lot of produce to Wide World, and Carter himself had once worked for Smith, who had killed a man once before. Carter suspected Smith of the murders and accused him. Smith pacified him, but quickly had him killed—as Matt Stone saw.
“Larry Hill’s death, as well as Yvonne Brown’s seizure, were not planned. The plague simply got out of control in the district. As we’ve since seen, only about one victim in two dies. Yvonne Brown is one of the lucky ones, and is now responding to treatment.
“One of the disturbing factors from our point of view was the fact that Domminy and Rondivallo knew so many Z5 agents.” Palfrey went on. “They seem to have identified them simply by watching everyone looking for Rondivallo. Matt Stone and Yvonne were suspected when they reached the Forest Hotel, and we know how Domminy tried to discredit Stone by giving a false message from Washington to the Prime Minister.
“There’s very little more,” Palfrey finished. “There will be a great deal of tidying up after the dislocation in social and economic life, but a week or ten days should see it through. All the breeding grounds for the plague have been found and destroyed. There is no danger left.”
“Matt,” said Palfrey, a little later, “you probably think that I should have told you about Maureen, and also more about other agents we had in the Conne district. I didn’t, because there was a risk you would be caught and made to talk.” He smiled faintly. “It wasn’t until later that you seemed a serious security risk!”
Matt said: “Forget it, I’ll always remember the speed with which you worked. Tell me one thing more.”
“Name it.”
“Did you know Kathleen O’Shea was at the hotel?”
“Oh yes. But she seemed exactly what she claimed to be. She’s on her way home now.”
“That’s fine,” Matt said. “That’s fine.”
A few evenings later, when it was nearly dark, he took his gleaming car from the parking space at the hotel and drove towards Oak Tree Hill, where he had gone with Yvonne Brown on that first strange journey. He could picture her profile as clearly as if she was by his side now. The evening’s light did not hide the view but gave it a touch of mystery; at least it held no dangers, no hidden causes for dread and for horror.
He heard another car coming up the hill and turned to look at it. Suddenly he realized that Yvonne Brown was at the wheel of an English Ford. She turned off the road and stopped. Matt opened the door for her and saw her long, lovely legs, and remembered the way she had tried to get out of the Chrysler when they had stopped outside the plant. Then the mark of the plague had been on her forehead. Now a tiny scab was hardly noticeable.
“Hallo, there,” Matt greeted. “So the place drew you back, too?”
“I couldn’t keep away,” Yvonne said.
“Nor me. It’s g
ood to see you well again.”
She was silent for a long time. He wondered what was going on in her mind, and remembered that he had never really seen her smile. Was she still obsessed by memory of her brother? Or would she feel now that she had squared his account.
She turned to look at him.
“It’s good to see you,” she said, and smiled.
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)
'Department Z' Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
The Death Miser (1932)
Redhead (1934)
First Came a Murder (1934)
Death Round the Corner (1935)
The Mark of the Crescent (1935)
Thunder in Europe (1936)
The Terror Trap (1936)
Carriers of Death (1937)
Days of Danger (1937)
Death Stands By (1938)
Menace! (1938)
Murder Must Wait (1939)
Panic! (1939)
Death by Night (1940)
The Island of Peril (1940)
Sabotage (1941)
Go Away Death (1941)
The Day of Disaster (1942)
Prepare for Action (1942)
No Darker Crime (1943)
Dark Peril (1944)
The Peril Ahead (1946)
The League of Dark Men (1947)
The Department of Death (1949)
The Enemy Within (1950)
Dead or Alive (1951)
A Kind of Prisoner (1954)
The Black Spiders (1957)
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
Insp
ector 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)
Send Inspector West (1953)
So Young, So Cold, So Fair (A Beauty for Inspector West; The Beauty Queen Killer) (1954)
Murder Makes Haste (Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman) (1955)
Murder: One, Two, Three (Two for Inspector West) (1955)
Death of a Postman (Parcels for Inspector West) (1956)
Death of an Assassin (A Prince for Inspector West) (1956)
Hit and Run (Accident for Inspector West) (1957)
The Trouble at Saxby's (Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death) (1957)
Murder, London - New York (1958)
Strike for Death (The Killing Strike) (1958)
Death of a Racehorse (1959)
The Case of the Innocent Victims (1959)
Murder on the Line (1960)
Death in Cold Print (1961)
