Wally Hubbard was undergoing the same experience. He’d spent the whole day following Helen Graydon to work, loitering near the factory, trailing her back to her house then lurking in a doorway nearby. It was now Saturday evening, the obvious time for Croft to call on his mistress yet there was no sign of him. After waiting for a couple of hours, he elected to take a more direct approach. He pulled his hat down even more and knocked on the front door of the house. Helen soon opened it.
‘Can I help you?’ she asked.
‘Are you Mrs Graydon?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Hello,’ he said, venturing a smile and speaking softly, ‘I’m sorry to disturb you. My name is Inspector Marmion from Scotland Yard. We’re trying to find a gentleman by the name of Ben Croft. We were given this address.’
Helen became flustered. ‘I’ve never heard of anyone called Croft.’
‘That’s odd. Our information is that – when his own house burnt down – he spent occasional evenings here. Are you quite sure you don’t know him?’ He flashed another reassuring smile. ‘He’s not in any trouble, Mrs Graydon, but it’s very much in his interests that we make contact with him.’
Helen had been thrown into confusion. The very fact that anyone knew about her clandestine relationship was worrying enough. To have a detective inspector knocking on her door in search of Croft was terrifying. Her lover had sworn to her that he was extremely discreet. The prospect of her husband discovering the truth about her infidelity made her quiver all over.
‘I don’t know where he is, Inspector,’ she gabbled.
‘Ah, so you remember him now, do you?’
‘The truth is that I haven’t seen him for a month or so.’
‘You can’t expect me to believe that, Mrs Graydon. You’re a very lovely woman. Any man lucky enough to win your friendship would never stay away from you for long. The temptation would be too strong.’
‘Well, that’s exactly what happened,’ she said with evident sincerity. ‘I didn’t know Mr Croft well. He was just someone I happened to meet. Then, without warning, he suddenly disappeared. I haven’t heard a word from him since.’
‘Have you any idea where he went?’
‘No, I don’t.’
Her eyes moistened and he could see how hurt she’d been by what she viewed as rejection by her lover. Helen’s claim to be only a casual acquaintance was palpably a lie. She and Croft had been very close at one time.
‘Thank you, Mrs Graydon,’ he said, touching the brim of his hat. ‘I won’t mention this conversation to anyone else. Our interest is in Mr Croft, not in you.’
‘I see.’
Retreating into the house, she closed the door and burst into tears.
They met at a pub not far from Scotland Yard. It was frequented by off-duty policemen and they recognised many familiar faces. Over a pint of beer at a quiet table, Keedy poured out his woes.
‘It’s not fair, Harv,’ he moaned. ‘Some people have all the luck. We work around the clock in this job for meagre rewards while someone like Felix Browne drives around in that big car of his and earns a fortune.’
‘Yes, Joe,’ said Marmion, putting a hand to his breast, ‘but we enjoy heart-warming rewards.’
‘It’s more likely to be cardiac arrest. I’d forgotten how boring surveillance work can be. It wears you down. As for Browne’s house, have you ever been down the Bishop’s Avenue?’
‘Yes – many times. There’s nothing there that we can afford.’
‘Felix Browne’s place is sitting in the middle of a couple of acres.’
‘It makes you green with envy.’
‘Oh, I’d love to find that he’s been helping Wally Hubbard,’ said Keedy with relish. ‘Just think of knocking on that door in the Bishop’s Avenue with a pair of handcuffs ready.’
‘Do we have evidence to justify such a visit?’
‘No, we don’t.’
Fretting at his lack of progress, the sergeant addressed himself to his beer.
Marmion took over. ‘Well, at least I’ve had a more interesting day than you, Joe. It started with another chat with Maisie Rogers.’
He described their meeting outside her flat and repeated his conviction that she was in touch with Hubbard. There were, however, limits to what she could provide, which was why Felix Browne had to be watched. Marmion had paid a number of visits throughout the day but the one that yielded a dividend had been a call on a friend of Lisa Hubbard.
‘Her name was Daisy Drew,’ he said.
‘It sounds like someone out of a children’s storybook.’
‘Nobody would put this young lady in a book, Joe. She’s far too dull.’
‘Who is she?’
‘It was Maisie Rogers who put me on to her. During the time that Lisa was involved with Croft, she used to share a flat with Daisy. The girl still lives there, luckily. That’s how I found her. Daisy is a nice girl and keen to help. Lisa was the pretty one, apparently, and her friend was the Plain Jane.’
‘I can see why Croft chose Hubbard’s daughter.’
‘Oh, I don’t think his charm would have worked on Daisy. She didn’t like him at all. She thought he was smarmy and she told Lisa to have nothing to do with him.’
‘Maybe she was just jealous.’
‘No,’ said Marmion, ‘I think she saw Ben Croft for what he was. But it was too late. Lisa was already enthralled by him. Daisy told me about the way that he’d ignore her for a week or two then treat her as if she was the most important person in his life. Daisy was certain he was seeing someone else as well but Lisa wouldn’t hear a word against him.’
‘Then she became pregnant and he fled the scene.’
‘Lisa clung to the belief that he’d turn up one day but he never did.’
‘You have to feel sorry for her.’
‘She wasn’t the only victim, according to Daisy. More recently, there was someone else who got pounced on by Croft then dropped completely when he tired of her. Daisy knew her – or, at least, she used to.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘She committed suicide, Joe.’
‘That’s dreadful!’ exclaimed Keedy.
‘It may explain something,’ said Marmion. ‘What would you do if your daughter had killed herself after being cruelly exploited then cast aside by Croft?’
‘For a start, I’d geld the bastard.’
‘Some fathers would want to do more than that.’
‘I see what you’re driving at.’
‘That’s the reason Ben Croft has disappeared,’ said Marmion. ‘Wally Hubbard has got competition. Another furious father may well be after Croft’s blood. He’s been forced to go into hiding.’
Sunday began early at the Salvation Army hostel. After a short service was held there, the band would form and they would march through the streets to proclaim the Word by means of rousing hymn tunes. Before that, however, was the important matter of breakfast. Those staying at the hostel never had to be awakened in the morning. The smell of cooking was an infallible alarm clock. The men were sitting around the table long before the meal was ready to be doled out. Raymond Marmion noticed that there was someone missing.
‘Where’s David?’ he asked his wife.
‘I haven’t seen him this morning.’
‘I do hope he hasn’t sneaked off somewhere.’
Raymond asked the others if they’d seen the missing man but none of them had even glanced towards his bed. Getting their breakfast was something that focused the mind intently. Raymond was disturbed. He went into the men’s dormitory and looked along the lines of beds. They were all empty. David’s bed had obviously been slept in and the battered briefcase was on the pillow. Raymond surmised that he must still be on the premises because he’d never leave without it. He began to search the other rooms, calling out David’s name as he did so. There was no response. When he checked the bathrooms, the mystery was eventually solved. As he opened the door of the first one, Raymond saw him stretched ou
t fully clothed in an empty bath. David was motionless. He was staring up at the ceiling in disbelief. Rushing across to him, Raymond took him by the shoulder to help him sit upright. It was then that he noticed the blood from a scalp wound and the ugly red weal around the man’s neck. Their guest would never require breakfast again. He was dead.
CHAPTER NINE
Sunday morning found Harvey Marmion seated at his desk in Scotland Yard as he collated all the reports that had come in from his detectives. It was slow, repetitious work but it was an essential part of any investigation. As well as being a record of the search for Wally Hubbard, it was proof of how thorough he and his team had been and could therefore be used to keep Claude Chatfield at bay. When his telephone rang, he was certain that it would be the superintendent so he picked up the receiver with an air of resignation.
‘Inspector Marmion …’
‘Ah, I’m glad I caught you, Harvey,’ said his brother. ‘I’ve got a nasty shock for you, I’m afraid.’
‘Why is that, Raymond? Has something happened to Lily and the boys?’
‘Something has happened to all of us.’
‘What is it?’
‘We’ve got a murder on our hands.’
Marmion was startled. ‘Who’s the victim?’
‘It’s a man we rescued from a shop doorway the other night.’
‘Well, I’m not really the person you ought to be speaking to,’ said his brother. ‘I’m already tied up with another case. A murder investigation will be handled by someone else. If you’ve got a pencil, I can give you a number to ring.’
‘I’ve already got the right number, believe me.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘We read the newspapers, Harvey, and we know that you’re looking for an escaped prisoner. He was convicted of arson when he burnt down the house of a man named Ben Croft.’
‘So what?’
‘We only knew the murder victim by the name of David.’
‘Look, I’m sorry, Raymond. This is nothing to do with me.’
‘I think you’ll find that it is,’ insisted his brother. ‘He had an old briefcase with him and I’ve just looked into it. His papers are in there. His full name is Benjamin David Croft – are you interested now?’
‘Yes,’ said Marmion, his mind racing.
Reaching for a pencil, he asked for the details and jotted them down on a pad. When he’d heard the full story, he thanked his brother and promised that he’d come over to the hostel as soon as he’d reported to the superintendent. He put down the receiver and ran down the corridor to Chatfield’s office, bursting straight in.
‘You’re supposed to knock first,’ said Chatfield.
‘I’ve just spoken to my brother, sir.’
‘Please spare me any family tittle-tattle.’
‘There’s been a murder at the Salvation Army hostel.’
‘Then you must give me the details so that I can assign detectives to the case.’
‘You’ve already done that, sir,’ said Marmion. ‘The name of the victim is Ben Croft. It seems that he’s been garrotted.’
‘In that case you must take some of the blame, Inspector.’
‘Why?’
‘You allowed Hubbard to get to him before you did.’
‘How could I possibly know that Croft would be in a hostel?’
‘Your brother runs the place, doesn’t he?’
‘Yes, but when they first picked him up, Croft wouldn’t tell them who he really was. He said that they could call him David, which turns out to be his middle name. And with respect, sir,’ added Marmion, ‘it’s unwise to jump to the conclusion that he was murdered by Hubbard.’
‘Nobody else had a motive to kill Croft.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Superintendent. I heard only yesterday of a young woman who was so distraught at being discarded by Croft that she committed suicide. Imagine how her father must feel. You have daughters of your own. Wouldn’t you have murderous impulses in that situation?’
‘Certainly not,’ retorted Chatfield. ‘To begin with, neither of my daughters would ever be in that situation. They’ve been brought up properly. Secondly, I’d never take the law into my own hands. This is Hubbard’s revenge,’ he asserted. ‘It’s as plain as the nose on your face. Get over there as quickly as you can. I’ll alert the Home Office pathologist to meet you at the hostel. It’s in Stepney, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, sir, it is.’
‘Well don’t waste time, man – off with you. And once you’ve finished over there, you can do something that you should have done already.’
‘What’s that, sir?’
‘Recapture Hubbard before he decides to murder someone else.’
Ellen Marmion was looking in the hall mirror to adjust her hat when Paul came downstairs in his dressing gown. She glanced towards him.
‘You’ll have to make your own breakfast,’ she said. ‘I’m off to church.’
His reply was an indecipherable grunt.
‘I suppose there’s no point in asking you to come with me?’
‘No – I’ve finished with all that nonsense.’
‘Paul!’
‘I don’t believe God exists,’ he said with a sneer. ‘If you’d seen some of the things I’ve seen, you’d feel the same.’
‘No, I wouldn’t. In your position, the first thing I’d be doing was thanking God for keeping me alive.’
‘I don’t want to be kept alive. I’d rather have died beside Colin.’
‘That’s an awful thing to say.’
‘I was there – you weren’t. The gunfire was deafening and the mortars were even worse. Men were dying horrible deaths all round me. It was hell.’
‘And who was one of the first people to visit you in the field hospital?’ she asked. ‘It was the chaplain, wasn’t it? You said how kind he’d been to you. You had time for religion then. What’s happened to change your mind?’
‘Everything,’ he said with a gesture of disgust.
‘People are only trying to help you.’
‘I hate chaplains talking down to me and telling me how to live.’
‘They’re not giving orders, Paul. They’re just offering guidance.’
‘Well, I don’t need it.’
‘I’d say that you do.’
‘Why don’t you just go off to church and leave me be?’ he said, dismissively.
‘It’s because I want to ask you something first,’ she replied, feeling a sudden rush of courage. She took a piece of paper from her handbag. ‘I found this in the bin. It’s a picture of Sally Redwood, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ he replied with a snigger, ‘I put all her freckles in.’
‘That was cruel of you, Paul. I heard you throwing those darts.’
‘It did no harm.’
‘I think it did and I’m sure that your father would agree. As it happens, I haven’t shown it to him yet. I’d rather keep him out of it altogether, to be honest. This is something between me and you. I was the one who invited Mrs Redwood and her daughter here.’
He laughed. ‘I was just having a bit of fun, that’s all.’
‘You were doing it at Sally’s expense. That was unkind, Paul. What has she ever done to deserve this?’ she went on, holding up the portrait. ‘And what got into you to make you behave so rudely towards her?’
‘Forget Sally Redhead.’
‘She’s a nice girl and she’s just got herself a new job. On Monday morning, she starts work at Newsome’s, the jewellers.’ He cackled. ‘What’s so funny?’
‘It’s the idea of Sally selling jewellery she’ll never be able to afford herself and wedding rings she’ll never wear. Let’s face it, who’d want a wife like her?’
‘Don’t be so wicked.’
‘She’s gone now and, thanks to me, she won’t be back.’
‘You used to treat girls properly at one time,’ she reminded him. ‘When you first met Sylvia, you couldn’t be nicer.’
�
��That’s all in the past,’ he muttered.
‘And what about that other girl, the one who used to be Colin Fryatt’s girlfriend? When she first wrote to you about Colin, you couldn’t wait to see her, could you? For a time, you seemed really fond of her.’
Unpleasant memories came back to haunt him and he chewed his lip. Ellen could see that she’d caught him on the raw and wondered why. Before she could question him further, Paul turned on his heel and headed for the kitchen.
‘Go to church,’ he said over his shoulder. ‘I’m hungry.’
On the drive to Stepney, Joe Keedy tried to absorb the news he was being given.
‘What the hell was Ben Croft doing in a Salvation Army hostel?’ he asked in amazement. ‘From what I’ve heard about him, I wouldn’t say he was the type who wanted to play the bass drum in the band.’
‘Raymond said there was something peculiar about him.’
‘Sleeping rough is what you do when the money runs out completely. That wasn’t Croft’s case. He could afford to stay in a decent hotel or – if he was trying to hide – why not catch a train to Scotland or somewhere?’
‘Unfortunately, it’s too late to ask him.’
‘Now for the big question, Harv …’
‘Go on – I know what’s coming.’
‘How on earth did Wally Hubbard track him down and kill him?’
‘I’m not sure that he did.’
‘You told me that Chat was absolutely certain.’
‘He should have more sense, Joe.’
‘You think it could have been someone else?’
‘I’m keeping my options open,’ said Marmion. ‘Croft must have thought he’d be safe if he disappeared from sight and I don’t believe it would occur to Wally to trawl the East End for tramps and misfits. Whoever looks in shop doorways after dark except the police and nightwatchmen?’
‘Don’t forget your brother.’
‘Good reminder – Raymond and his team do a regular sweep of the area on a cold night.’
The Enemy Within Page 9
