So Young, So Cold, So Fair
Page 20
Dickerson’s mouth was working.
Roger growled to Chatworth, “That’s the case, sir. It was Dickerson from the beginning. When I realised that after Conway’s had bought him out he’d always been resentful, I saw the real motive: to hurt Conway’s. Add his hatred of beauty because of what had happened to Mrs. Howard, and it shows up clearly enough. We’ll find that he cashed in on Millsom in the beginning. He probably meant to make Betty Gelibrand the last victim. Then it really began to hurt Con way’s, and they started squealing. So he went on. In a last effort to save himself he primed Mrs. Howard, told her to go and see Regina, gave her poisoned peppermints, poisoned ‘heart’ tablets. Sooner or later she’d die. It would look like suicide, Dickerson hoped—and with luck she’d be in or near the girls’ flat—as if on the way to kill Regina’s only rival. He’ll hang, of course, we won’t have any trouble in—”
Comfortable, stolid Sergeant Dalby moved swift as a cat, to snatch at Dickerson’s hand as he carried something to his mouth.
It was another cyanide tablet.
They found a store of the poison, bought to kill wasps, beneath a floorboard in his room at Nettle Street.
The answers to the questions which most harassed Roger came after Dickerson broke down. Dickerson had been on the common when Betty Gelibrand had quarrelled with Millsom, lurked near by, killed her, then gone to see Millsom, knowing his great distress of mind. He’d persuaded Millsom to go to the Vicarage; waited until night; gone to see him, told him of Betty’s death, and said – a long while before it was true – that the police were after Millsom. He had persuaded Millsom to hide in the hut built in the scaffolding, waited for him to fall asleep, then strangled him; and later thrcyn him over to crash to his death.
He had fired at Roger because he had needed time to climb round the scaffolding, while hidden from below, and so get away on the other side of the church. Then he had waited, seen the results, and perfected his scheme to masquerade as a woman wearing Mrs. Howard’s clothes, which fitted him reasonably well.
He had wanted more publicity so as to hurt Conway’s; and sent the poisoned chocolates, to make the case flare up again. Those sent to Regina, he said, had contained too little arsenic to do her much harm. He appeared to have been genuinely fond of Regina; and by faking an attack on her, sending her poisoned chocolates as well as the explosive letter with its threat, had believed that he had drawn the suspicions of the police away from her.
He said that he had heard Turnbull telling Mrs. Howard of Regina’s address.
Turnbull, Roger knew now, had suspected Mrs. Howard from the time a woman had been reported after Barbara Kelworthy’s death. He had let her know the address, expecting her to go to the Putney flat, ready to catch her.
Derek Talbot had had different fears: that Regina was guilty.
Talbot had gone to Mrs. Howard’s house, searching for the grey suit and the veil. He had picked up a key which Regina had once dropped, and kept it, so that he could get into her house if he felt disposed. That had been weeks ago, before the trouble. He’d found the little grey hat with the black-blobbed veil, and Turnbull had arrived and found him with it.
Talbot had tried to get away. Turnbull had stopped him, they’d fought, and Turnbull had knocked Talbot out, leaving him with a bloody mouth and nose; and got his own clothes bloodstained.
Dickerson had been hiding in the house, heard all this, entered the room when Talbot was coming round, was recognised – and made that murderous attack. But he had been desperately afraid of being caught red-handed, heard Mrs. Howard at the front door, and run off before Talbot was dead.
Some time later, Talbot had come round enough to scrawl that sentence. The bloodstains on his sleeve meant that he had collapsed before he finished, and smeared the vital last letters.
Turnbull, still sullen, had been released, and was under suspension for the attack on Roger and while the Yard probed into his conduct during the case. Roger had the probing to do, and a recommendation to make. He didn’t like it, but was shaken when, three days after the case was over, with Talbot out of danger and Regina Howard over the worst of her grief, he had a call from Turnbull’s bank manager.
“My client left a letter here for me to pass on to you, Mr. West. I’m sending it by special messenger.”
“Do you know what’s in it?” Roger asked, almost incredulous.
“I’m afraid not.”
“When was it left with you?”
“About a week ago,” the manager said. “The date is on the envelope.”
The date was the day following Roger’s talk with the Vicar of St. Cleo’s; when he had challenged Turnbull to find something else of significance in his report of the interview.
The contents of the letter were very brief:
Interview with St. Cleo’s Parson
Missed motive – Dickerson hates Conway’s guts. Better one than we’ve had so far, isn’t it?
W.T.
Roger took it along to Chatworth. Chatworth grunted.
“All right, I know he has his bright moments. That doesn’t make him a good policeman. I’ll think about it, Roger.” At least that took the responsibility off Roger’s shoulders.
Roger was in the front room at the Bell Street house when a car pulled up outside. It was late evening, ten days later. The boys were in bed, Janet was in the kitchen, preparing a snack for supper. Roger heard the footsteps along the drive, firm and heavy. He went to the door.
The hall light shone on Turnbull.
Turnbull said, “Mind if I talk to you?” in a steely voice; obviously he was ready for a rebuff.
“Why, hallo,” Roger said easily. “Come in, Warren.”
He stood aside, and, looking away from Turnbull’s startled face, called out, “Jan, make another sandwich or so, Warren Turnbull’s looked in.” They went into the front room.
They had met two or three times since the arrest of Dickerson, who was now awaiting trial with no hope of saving his life. Turnbull was still under suspension, and Chatworth hadn’t yet made it known what he proposed to do.
Turnbull looked massive and boldly handsome; he was taken aback by the amiable welcome, as much as by the smile on Roger’s face.
“We usually have tea,” Roger said, “but if you’d rather have a drink—:
“Er—well, thanks. Is there whisky?” Turnbull waited until the glass was in his hand, and then gave an unexpected grin; a fierce one. “I need something to steady my nerves! I want some advice. You’re the experienced copper, the right man to give it to me.”
“Try me,” Roger invited.
“Okay. First of all you’d better know that Regina and I are likely to get married. We shall if I know anything about it. Talbot’s accepted his congé. Regina’s a bit nervous of me, but she’ll get over that.”
So he was as dominating as ever.
“I should make sure she’s over it before you get married,” Roger said dryly. “Or isn’t that the subject you want advice on?”
Turnbull grinned again. “You know damned well it’s not. Listen, Handsome. I expect to be drummed out of the Yard. I could resign, that would make it easier all round, but I don’t like the idea. But I will—if you think I ought to. I know you well enough to be pretty sure you’ll judge on the one thing that matters—whether I’ll make a good cop or not. Think I will?”
“I think you could,” Roger said judicially. He lit a cigarette – and then realised that Turnbull’s was Virginian. That was quite a gesture. “I don’t think I should want to work with you too often. I’ve a feeling we’d always clash, but I’d be sorry to think you were off the Force.”
“I think that’s all I want to hear,” Turnbull said, in a much softer voice than usual.
“It isn’t quite all you’re going to hear,” Roger said. “The Yard can put the bar up, if they want to,
but I think they’ll take advice. My advice would have to be that although you took too much into your own hands on the Beauty Queens job, the only time you went badly wrong was at St. Cleo’s. I should tell Chatworth that I think you ought to be demoted from Inspector, and have a year or so as Detective Sergeant. That,” Roger went on very deliberately, “is what I say to you, too.” He waited, but no outburst came. “Because I can’t very well risk having you on my heels, jostling me out of the way, can I?” he added. “The only way I can keep you under my thumb is to keep you down.”
His eyes were smiling.
There was an understanding glow in Turnbull’s.
“What the hell difference do you think a year or two is going to make? I’ll catch up and pass you before you’re really awake! I—Handsome.” Turnbull dropped a hand on Roger’s shoulder. “Try to fix it, will you? I think the Old Man will listen to you. I’ll start from the ranks again if needs be.” His big fingers bit into Roger’s flesh. “Will you?”
“If I can,” Roger promised.
Two days later he was briefing Detective Sergeant Turnbull about a job in the East End.
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
Inspector 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)