‘Elsa, can you spare a minute?’
‘I really wanted to clean up a bit. Have you been busy?’
She was standing with one hand on the newel post.
‘How’s your uncle?’
‘Very well, thank you. As well as you could expect. Now please let me go —’
‘Have they charged him?’
‘Of course not. But no thanks to you.’
‘It was sheer bad luck, and you know it, Elsa. No, wait a minute, there’s something I’ve got to say.’
She stood in front of me, tense, poised, her face set and unrelenting. ‘There’s always something you’ve got to say, and you either don’t get round to it, or you say too much.’
‘I told you, it was bad luck. If it’d worked —’
‘You were showing off. You wanted me to see what a good detective you are, so that there’d be no argument about you taking it up to keep yourself busy. Oh, I can see through you, David. You think you know it all. Bright ideas. Oh yes, you have ideas. Only you can’t carry them through.’
There were some wild ones flying through my head. Bright ideas. Such as slapping her face, or kissing her, or something. But as she’d said, I don’t carry them through. I said: ‘Elsa, do you remember when he told us he never heard the vase breaking?’
‘Of course.’
‘Did you believe him?’
‘Why should he have been telling lies?’
‘Exactly. Then why didn’t he hear it break?’
‘If this is another of your stupid theories ...’ She turned away. ‘Go and tell it to somebody else.’
I caught her arm. ‘No ... wait. A second.’ She shook her arm angrily. ‘He didn’t hear it break because it didn’t.’
I released her. She settled herself, settled her eyes on me. ‘Then what did it do?’
‘Elsa, if I’m right we can have your uncle out of there, just tell me: was there any talk of releasing him, just about now?’
‘There was talk of holding him.’
‘Right. Now listen a minute. Suppose you wanted to steal a T’ang vase. You’d want time to get clear, and not have people chasing around searching. So it’d be a good idea to substitute a fake. All right so far?’
She sighed. ‘We know all this.’
‘But a fake would be noticed, especially a poor one, so the best thing would be to leave behind a smashed fake. Nobody’d trouble to look at the bits, and everybody’d think the T’ang had been smashed. But Elsa, and this is the point, would you bring along a whole fake, and smash it here? What’d be the point? There’d be the difficulty of smuggling it into the house, and then the risk of being heard when you smashed it.’
‘It’s all very nice, but I’m hot and tired David, and I would like very much to take a bath.’
‘Wouldn’t it be so much easier to bring it here already smashed? In a bag or something. Then it wouldn’t take up too much room, and there’d be no noise involved. You see? It’d be a logical thing to do.’
She was looking at me cautiously, not willing to allow herself to rely on me too definitely. ‘Possibly.’
‘Possibly?’ I cried. ‘Damn it, Elsa, it’s the obvious solution.’
‘Your enthusiasms!’ she murmured. ‘I don’t trust them. Have you thought about it, really thought?’
‘I’ve looked at it from all angles, and I can’t see any other answer.’
‘But I don’t see how that helps Uncle Albert,’ she said, frowning.
‘Then you come along with me, and I’ll bet you a solenoid switch to a ... to a Porsche that they send him straight home.’
So we walked across the entrance hall to the phone table. I rang city HQ and asked for Alwright. Sunday evening, and he was in his office! That showed how much it was worrying him.
‘Ah!’ he said. ‘Mallin. More theories, is it?’
‘The crash in the night,’ I told him. ‘The crash that wasn’t heard.’
‘Like the dog that didn’t bark?’ He laughed. ‘All right, let’s have it.’
I told him about the theory that it’d been brought into the house already broken. He listened. When I’d finished he was silent a moment and I could hear him breathing. I could hear two lots of breathing, because Kenny was on the extension. Then, at last: ‘And how does this help your friend?’
‘When he said he heard no smashing sound, did you believe him?’
‘I saw no reason to doubt him.’
‘Then it would seem that he was telling the truth.’
Elsa’s face was close to mine, and I’d got the phone cocked a little away from my ear. She had her lower lip tucked in. What I’d said so far wasn’t impressive.
‘That’s not enough, Mallin.’
‘But you’re holding him only because you believe the missing piece of vase was taken away, accidentally, by somebody breaking a vase. You’re believing it landed in Uncle Albert’s turn-up, and I found it and took it away.’
Alwright’s voice was non-committal. ‘If I’d been certain of that, you’d be under arrest.’
‘But now, you see, it’s possible the piece is missing not because it was taken away, but because it simply wasn’t left. The pieces must have been taken into the Grand Hall in a bag or something, and scattered there to make it look good. He simply left one bit behind in the bag. So Uncle Albert’s turn-ups have got nothing to do with it, and just anybody could fit in.’
Elsa whispered: ‘It won’t work, David.’
‘Who’ve you got there with you?’ asked Alwright sharply.
‘It’s Mrs Forbes.’
‘Huh! Don’t shout it around. It’s not very positive, is it? If what you say happened —’
‘But don’t you see!’ I cut in. ‘He might still have it, and not know he’s got it. Still in his luggage or something. Now do you get the point?’
He got it right enough. ‘Hold on,’ he said sharply, and I could hear a rapid whispered discussion. But of course, Kenny had already been through Albert’s room, and you could bet he hadn’t confined himself to turn-ups.
‘David!’ Elsa whispered tensely, and her fingers were biting into my arm.
‘You still there?’
‘Of course I’m here,’ I said.
‘We’re coming right out. Now listen. Keep this to yourself. I don’t want anybody tipped off. We’ll be there right away.’
‘Alone?’
‘I’ll have a few men.’
Elsa pinched my arm. ‘David!’ She nearly snatched the phone from my hand.
‘That wasn’t what I meant,’ I said. ‘I was thinking of Albert.’
‘We’ll bring him along,’ said Alwright grudgingly, and I hung up.
‘Oh ... I could kiss you,’ said Elsa, doing it there and then.
She hung on to my neck and I had her heels clear of the floor at least. It went on a long while. Then I held her away from me.
‘You heard what he said.’
‘What was that?’ she asked.
‘Don’t tip anybody off. What’ll they think if they see this going on, and you haven’t said a word to me all day?’
‘Let them think.’ She planted one on my nose.
‘They’ll think it’s something special. Maybe we’d better justify it. Announce something.’
‘I really must fly,’ she said. ‘I’ve got to clean up, and change. How long will they be?’
‘An hour, I’d say.’
‘I’ll have to be ready to welcome him back.’
‘We’ve got ... a little time.’ She was heading for the stairs. ‘How long did it take you?’ I asked, a little niggled.
‘Less than that. But he’s such a good driver. You must ask him about taking corners, David.’
‘Oh, I will. I will. Come back here, Elsa.’
‘Uncle Albert’ll be back for dinner, surely. I’ll have to warn Elaine. Oh, and David ...’
‘I haven’t kissed you goodbye.’
‘... do wear your dinner jacket this evening. Make an impression.
You know.’
She went trotting gaily up the stairs and didn’t hear me punching the newel post.
In the end we were all there to welcome him. Elsa had told Elaine and the flames of excitement roared through the house. But we’d said not a word about why he was coming back, oh no, and no suggestion that Alwright was coming with a force of expert searchers. So when three cars drew into the courtyard the effect rather dampened the welcome.
But not for Elsa, who’d been expecting them. She threw her arms round her uncle, and though he’d been white and distressed when he arrived he was soon blushing happily. Everybody shook his hand, and when he came to me he whispered, ‘Thank you, oh thank you,’ which was all far and away beyond what my efforts deserved.
But I’ve always thought that it’s a pity the harrowing effects of police stations and interrogations is the weakest with the tough regulars, who could do with a bit of frightening, and is quite appalling to naive innocents like Uncle Albert. You could see it had really shaken him, and after the excitement had worn off he was nearly in tears from reaction.
I took his arm. ‘You come and sit down. Dinner in half an hour. You needn’t dress.’
‘Good.’
‘In celebration.’
‘Dinner in half an hour?’ said Alwright. ‘Mr Keane, I don’t want to delay you, but I need your permission.’
‘For what, Superintendent?’
‘To make a complete search of your house.’
‘Don’t you need a warrant?’
‘I could get one.’
‘Then, my dear fellow, do so.’
‘But Hillary,’ I said, ‘you wouldn’t want that. And if they’re asking to search for something, why not let them get on with it? You don’t think they’ll find anything, do you?’
‘Well of course not,’ said Hillary, rather more sharply than he usually spoke.
‘Then why send them away? They’ll come back, only then they still won’t find anything, but by that time they’ll be able to suggest you gave somebody time to get rid of something.’
Hillary was clearly facing the most embarrassing situation of his life. In the end he turned slowly, his eyes resting on each face, and when each inclined his head — Fisch with curt anger, Bloome with a smile he still had for Uncle Albert’s happiness, Vale with a twist of the mouth, Allington with a little, pert nod — Hillary turned back and said shortly: ‘Then go ahead, Superintendent. I shall trust your discretion.’
All very formal, and he couldn’t know that they’d swarm through those rooms like a cloud of locusts.
Dinner that evening was a strange business. Champagne this time, to celebrate Uncle Albert’s release, or to cheer him after his ordeal, and behind the laughter something unpleasant. There was no sound of the search, but its bitter taste was there behind the champagne bubbles. But somehow Hillary kept it going, and when we went into the drawing-room for coffee he invited Alwright and Kenny to join us.
The two policemen were strained. Time was going on, and nothing was coming up. But three days had gone by, and that bit of porcelain could be anywhere. It began to seem that the T’ang on my mantel would have a hole in it.
Elsa was still elated. Vale might just as well not have been there. She hung on my arm, from time to time looking up into my face when I spoke, in the delightfully admiring way they have, and what with the champagne and the brandy my head was becoming lighter every minute. Bloome hung one arm over my shoulders, laughing into my face in a way I didn’t care for, and Uncle Albert sat in a Regency chair with his face hot and his eyes bright, and giggled from time to time.
Alwright glanced at his watch. ‘Should be through soon.’
‘I didn’t promise anything,’ I said. ‘It was just a chance.’
‘Your theories are always chancy, it strikes me. What d’you say, Charlie?’
‘I don’t think we’re going to find it,’ Kenny admitted.
‘Then maybe you’re not looking in the right place,’ I said.
Elsa shook my arm and laughed. ‘No more of that, now. You’ve done enough for one day.’
Alwright made an effort and his belly shook with his amusement. ‘We’re always glad of his help.’
‘It’s all very unpleasant,’ Hillary said.
It was a definite hint to me to keep my mouth shut. Even theories were unwelcome at the moment. But I ignored it. Too many people had admired the way I’d rescued Uncle Albert, and it’s not every day you get such appreciation.
‘You said something?’ Alwright prompted.
‘It was nothing.’
‘No,’ Vale said, sensing I was backing out, sensing perhaps how unsure I was and how new was the idea. ‘Let’s hear it. You’ve been so clever up to now.’
Elsa looked at him sharply, caught by his tone, then back at me. She made up her mind. ‘Yes David.’ She glanced at Hillary. ‘You’d better not say any more.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ I agreed.
Hillary said: ‘Have a cigar, David. You can’t smoke that pipe all the time.’ And Elaine murmured something about the curtains.
I took a cigar. Elsa turned to Bloome to say something inconsequential, and Allington came forward with his lighter. I smiled at his apprehensive expression. Allington had been keeping clear of me. He was terrified I’d remember his part in it.
‘You’ll like those,’ he said. ‘I order them specially for Mr Keane.’
‘Thank you, Rupert.’
The impulse had gone, but Martin Vale slid round the room and found his way to my elbow.
‘I don’t blame you,’ he said. ‘Better not to stick your neck out.’
‘Sometimes it is.’
‘But now you’ve got the man suspicious.’ He nodded across to Alwright, who was whispering to Kenny, his eyes on me. ‘You can see the way he’s thinking.’
‘Can I?’
‘All these splendid ideas of yours, clouding the issue. I mean, who’s gaining by them? Who’s one move ahead of them? Why ... you, old chap.’
And smiling he picked his way over to edge into the Bloome-Elsa conversation.
‘It was just the question of Cameron Frazer,’ I said.
I hadn’t raised my voice, but it was as though every ear had been tuned to me. There was sudden silence.
‘What about Cameron Frazer?’ Alwright demanded.
A door opened behind me, Kenny’s head came up, and he walked over to it. I didn’t look round.
‘The search,’ I said. ‘It’s finished. Isn’t that so? And they’ll have found nothing.’
‘Nothing,’ agreed Kenny from behind me.
Alwright went on smiling. ‘Perhaps because Mallin always gets there first?’ Then all of a sudden, sharply, bitterly: ‘You couldn’t be such a fool! Leading us on, planting clues, un-planting them. Nobody would be so stupid, not with your experience. You’d know we’d see round it in the end. Come on, Mallin, what about Frazer?’
‘I was wondering why he was attacked at all.’
I had had a go at that before, and managed to show that the attack on Frazer indicated an outside job as being more likely than an inside one. But that was when we’d been thinking in terms of the possible effect of a crash in the silence of the night.
‘Do you agree that the vase was probably brought here already broken?’ I asked.
‘I do.’ Alwright wagged his head. ‘The piece missing — this gentleman’s evidence that he heard nothing.’
‘But the only reason for bringing the vase here already smashed was a matter of convenience. The difficulty of getting in a fake vase whole, that sort of thing.’
Elsa was quick. She saw where I was heading. ‘David, you don’t need to go on with it.’
‘I’m still a law-enforcement officer. And a man’s been killed. I’d like to know why and by whom.’ For some reason I felt angry, but my brain was turning over smoothly. ‘Hillary, may I continue?’
He inclined his head. His face was expressionless.
‘All right,’
I said. ‘So it was brought here already smashed, for convenience. But an outside burglar wouldn’t need to do that. For him, having to smash a vase would be neither here nor there. He’d bring it here whole. So — it must have been an inside job.’
‘Oh David!’ Elsa whispered.
Hell, it was the drink. I was elated, intoxicated. But now, saying it, the theory cleared itself in my mind, and I had to carry it on through.
‘An inside job,’ Alwright prompted.
‘So why was Frazer attacked at all? There’d be no need. He didn’t even come into it. The point is, I think, that we’ve been misled by the fact that he was deaf. We wondered what his not being able to hear a smashing vase had got to do with it. But perhaps his deafness had nothing to do with it at all.’
‘You interest me,’ said Alwright. ‘What had, then?’
‘He’d got his other faculties, hadn’t he? Touch, taste, smell — and eyesight. Perhaps he had to be struck down because of what he saw, or would have seen. Now think of it. This ... murderer, he’d got the pieces of a broken vase in something or other, somewhere in the house. He came down to the Grand Hall to spread ’em around, and pinch the T’ang. It doesn’t have to be that he had them with him when he came down. Perhaps he’d hidden them somewhere close to the Hall. But Frazer was struck down. The coincidence, man! The two must have been connected, Frazer and the container of pieces. They must have been somewhere Frazer could see them being picked up. And Frazer would remember that later. So Frazer had to be knocked out so that he wouldn’t see them being picked up.’
That following silence was dreadful. I knew the theory was sound, and it was obvious everybody else thought so too. But there was only me who was pleased with it. Or had been. I wasn’t pleased with it now, realising that I should have kept it to myself, investigated it myself. So there was the implication that I’d been previously frightened through having kept things to myself, and now I was being chummy with the police, playing it safe. But it was only for me it was safe, not so safe for somebody else in this house.
The worst, perhaps, was the reaction of Alwright. He looked disgusted.
‘Quite clearly,’ he said, his voice harsh now that all humour had gone from it, ‘one of your friends.’ And Elsa wouldn’t look at me.
The Silence of the Night Page 10
