The Crimson Ramblers Read online

  He set off along the passage towards the stage.

  ‘Did you call Gilbert?’ asked Billy as they followed him.

  ‘Aye,’ said Andy. ‘Is he no here yet?!

  ‘We haven’t seen him,’ said Vera.

  ‘Well, we’ll start without him,’ said Andy.

  Sharon was last as the others went up the steps to the stage, and Tony dropped back to her side.

  ‘Sharon,’ he began, but she moved away quickly.

  ‘Listen,’ he said in a low voice, ‘I want to talk to you...’

  ‘I’m in a hurry,’ she answered coldly.

  ‘Look here,’ he urged, ‘why are you being so pig-headed?’

  She turned and gave him a devastating stare.

  ‘I wish you wouldn’t keep annoying me,’ she said, and hurried on up the steps.

  The passage remained empty for a minute or two after they had all gone and then Howard Gilbert came in the stage door and went straight to his dressing room. Again the passage was empty but not for long. The stage door began to open slowly and a distorted shadow was flung along the wall by the brilliant sunshine outside. The shadow moved, and grew larger as somebody slipped inside the stage door. And then it vanished as the door was closed...

  *

  In the living room at Hargreaves’ bungalow, on that sunny morning, there was a discussion in progress between Granger, Renton, and Hargreaves.

  It was not an amicable discussion to judge from the expressions on the faces of the three men.

  ‘Why start this all over again?’ demanded Granger. ‘I thought we’d thrashed it out once.’

  ‘Wishful thinking, Granger,’ said Renton. ‘I still believe you’ve got that packet stowed away somewhere, or you know where it is.’

  ‘I’ve already told you...’ began Granger angrily.

  ‘We’re not satisfied, Granger,’ said Hargreaves.

  ‘That’s a pity, isn’t it?’ snapped Granger unpleasantly.

  ‘You may find it so,’ said Renton.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Granger swung round on him.

  ‘Do you remember that business of old Nesbitt, three years ago?’ asked Hargreaves.

  Granger started.

  ‘Yes, I remember it,’ he answered uneasily. ‘Why bring it up now?’

  ‘You could have got five years for that, Granger,’ said Hargreaves. ‘You could still get five years.’

  ‘You were in it too,’ said Granger. ‘You’d have difficulty in proving that, I think,’ replied Hargreaves smoothly.

  ‘What are you getting at?’ Granger looked at him sharply.

  ‘I’m merely advising you to tell us the truth,’ said Hargreaves coolly. ‘Where is the packet — the real packet — that David Manners arranged to be sent to you before he died?’

  ‘I’ve told you — I don’t know...’

  ‘Think again,’ said Renton. ‘Five years is a long time.’

  Granger’s face hardened but there was an expression of fear in his eyes.

  ‘I see,’ he said. ‘Blackmail — is that it?’

  ‘That’s it,’ agreed Renton. ‘Now, let’s have the truth...’

  At that moment there was a sound of a bell. It was followed by a loud knocking on the front door.

  ‘Who the devil can that be?’ muttered

  Hargreaves, frowning.

  ‘I’ll go,’ said Renton curtly.

  He left the room and they heard him open the door.

  ‘Mr. Hargreaves?’ inquired an official voice.

  ‘What do you want?’ asked Renton’s voice.

  ‘I’m Detective-Superintendent Halliday of the Westpool C.I.D.,’ answered the voice that had spoken before. ‘I want to see Mr. Hargreaves.’

  Hargreaves uttered an exclamation and his face went white.

  ‘Just a minute,’ said Renton.

  He came quickly into the room and shut the door.

  ‘It’s the police,’ he whispered.

  Hargreaves nodded.

  ‘We heard,’ he said.

  ‘What shall I do?’ asked Renton. ‘Do you think it’s about last night?’

  ‘No.’ Hargreaves shook his head. ‘They couldn’t identify either of us...’

  ‘What do you mean — last night?’ put in Granger

  ‘Nothing to do with you,’ snapped Renton. ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘See them, of course,’ answered Hargreaves. ‘What have we got to worry about?’ He had recovered from his momentary shock. He went over to the door and called: ‘Come in.’

  Halliday entered followed by Soames. Hargreaves noticed that the Sergeant’s wrist was bandaged. This must be the man he had wounded.

  ‘Do you want to see me privately?’ he asked genially. ‘These gentlemen are friends of mine — Mr. Renton — Mr. Granger.’

  Halliday looked from one to the other as he introduced them.

  ‘Mr. Granger, eh?’ he said. ‘Well, now, that’s going to save us a lot of trouble, sir. I’ve been trying to get hold of you on the telephone.’

  ‘What for?’ asked Granger quickly.

  ‘It concerns your wife, sir,’ said Halliday.

  ‘Thelma!’ exclaimed Granger.

  Halliday nodded.

  ‘I’m afraid I’ve some bad news for you, sir,’ he said.

  Hargreaves and Renton exchanged glances.

  ‘Bad news?’ said Granger. ‘I don’t understand...’

  ‘OnTuesday last,’ said Halliday, ‘the dead body of a woman was found in the sea. It has been identified by Miss Jill Manners as being that of her sister...’

  ‘Good God!’ Granger looked horrified. ‘How did it happen? Who killed her?’

  ‘I never suggested that it was a question of murder,’ said Halliday quietly.

  Granger was a little disconcerted.

  ‘You said...’ he began.

  ‘I said ‘the dead body of a woman had been found in the sea’ said Halliday.

  ‘Well, I thought... naturally I concluded that...’ Granger stopped rather confused by the Superintendent’s steady stare.

  ‘That it was murder, sir? That’s rather curious. It might have been an accident.’

  ‘Was it?’ asked Granger.

  ‘No, sir,’ answered Halliday. ‘You were quite right, as it happens. Death was due to strangulation.’

  ‘Good heavens — this is dreadful news,’ put in Hargreaves.

  Halliday turned his steady gaze on him.

  ‘Is it entirely news to you, Mr. Hargreaves?’ he asked.

  ‘I’d heard that a woman’s body had been found but, naturally, I never connected it with Mrs. Granger,’ said Hargreaves easily. ‘Do you know who killed her?’

  ‘That’s what we’re trying to discover, sir,’ said Halliday. ‘I’m hoping that you will be able to help us.’

  ‘Do you mind if I have a drink,’ said Granger shakily. ‘This — this has rather upset me.’

  He went over to the table and poured himself out a large whisky. The hand holding the bottle was shaking.

  ‘Why should you imagine that we can help you?’ asked Hargreaves.

  ‘I think I ought to tell you,’ interrupted Granger. ‘That for a long time my wife and I have not been on very friendly terms.’

  He gulped down the neat whisky and a little colour came back to his face.

  Halliday nodded.

  ‘So I understand from Miss Manners, he said. ‘When did you last see your wife?’

  Granger frowned in an effort of memory.

  ‘I can’t tell you exactly,’ he answered after a pause, with a great air of frankness. ‘It’s quite a considerable time now.’

  ‘I see.’ Halliday’s face was expressionless. ‘I believe her father was killed in a plane crash near Saskatchewan a short time ago.’

  He noted with inward satisfaction the consternation that was depicted on the three faces before him.

  ‘Her father...’ repeated Granger in a husky voice.

  ‘David Manners,’ said Ha
lliday pleasantly.

  ‘Yes... that’s — that’s true,’ said Granger after a pause.

  ‘Just prior to his death he made a very valuable discovery of some kind, didn’t he?’ Halliday went on remorselessly. ‘Can you give me any information concerning that?’

  Granger passed his tongue over dry lips.

  ‘A valuable discovery?’ he repeated.

  ‘That’s news to me. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about that.’

  ‘Would you like to reconsider that answer, sir?’ invited the Superintendent. ‘Of course, you’re not under oath...’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Granger tried to bluster. ‘Look here, you’ve no right to ask all these questions...’

  ‘You’re not bound to answer them, sir, I’ll admit,’ said Halliday. ‘Do I understand that you refuse to answer my questions?’ He looked over at Soames. ‘Will you witness that, Sergeant?’ he added.

  ‘Yes, sir,’ replied Soames smartly.

  ‘Look here,’ interposed Hargreaves, ‘there’s no need to take that attitude, Superintendent. We are prepared to help you all we can. Naturally, as members of the legal profession, we are aware that you cannot enforce us to answer, but...’

  ‘Quite so, sir,’ answered Halliday. ‘According to our information, details concerning the discovery made by David Manners were sent to Mr. Granger by the pilot of the plane. He afterwards died from his injuries in hospital. Is that correct?’

  ‘Where did you get this information?’ inquired Hargreaves.

  ‘I should be glad if you would answer the question, sir,’ said Halliday.

  ‘I understood,’ interpolated Granger, ‘that you were investigating the death of my wife. What’s all this got to do with that?’

  ‘I believe it was the motive for the murder,’ said Halliday. ‘You affirm, do you, sir, that you know nothing about any valuable discovery made by David Manners?’

  Granger nodded.

  ‘I know nothing about it at all,’ he declared.

  ‘You didn’t decide to appropriate it for yourself although it belonged to Miss Manners?’

  ‘You’ve no right to make accusations like that,’ said Hargreaves.

  ‘I haven’t made any accusations — yet, sir,’ answered the Superintendent. ‘I only asked a question...’

  ‘And I’ve answered it,’ broke in Granger. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  Halliday turned to Soames.

  ‘Fetch Mr. Simon Beatal in, will you?’ he ordered.

  ‘Beatal!’ cried Hargreaves sharply.

  ‘He’s waiting outside in the car,’ said Halliday. ‘I think what he has to say will make you change your mind, Mr. Granger.’

  *

  Vera came to the end of her new number and waited for the approval or otherwise of Andy who was sitting in the front row of the stalls.

  ‘That’s no too bad,’ he called up to her. ‘Ye can maybe slow up a wee bit before the end. We’ll leave it now,’ he added. ‘Where’s Gilbert?’

  ‘I’ll go and fetch him,’ volunteered Tony.

  ‘Aye — and tell him to hurry up, we’re waiting,’ said Andy. ‘He should have come up on the stage with the rest of ye.’

  ‘Perhaps he hasn’t come in?’ said Billy. ‘If he’s no there,’ called Andy, ‘tell him I’ll have a lot to say to him when he is.’

  Tony laughed and hurried away. He ran down the steps and along the passage. He tapped on the door of Gilbert’s dressing room but there was no reply.

  Tony opened the door and put his head inside.

  ‘I say, Gilbert,’ he called to the man who was sitting in the chair before the dressing table. ‘You’re holding up rehearsal...’

  But there was no answer or movement from the figure in the chair.

  ‘Hi!’ called Tony. ‘Are you asleep?’

  He went over and put his hand on the man’s shoulder. The next second he was back in the passage, his face white and strained.

  ‘Andy,’ he shouted, ‘Andy... Andy, for God’s sake come here — quickly...’

  Billy came running.

  ‘What is it?’ he called. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘It’s Gilbert... Fetch Andy, will you?’

  But Andy had heard and came hurriedly in through the pass door.

  ‘What are ye shouting about?’ he demanded.

  ‘It’s Gilbert — he’s dead,’ said Tony.

  ‘Dead?’ echoed Billy.

  ‘Yes,’ said Tony. ‘Come and look...’ He led the way back along the passage to Gilbert’s room. The rest of the company came crowding down the steps from the stage.

  ‘You’d better keep the girls away,’ said Tony. ‘It’s not very pleasant.’

  ‘What was it — a heart attack?’ asked Billy.

  ‘No — he’s been strangled,’ answered Tony.

  14

  Simon Beatal came slowly into the living room followed by Soames. If looks could have killed he would have dropped down dead in the doorway from the venom that was directed at him from three pairs of eyes.

  ‘Now, Mr. Granger,’ said Halliday. ‘I should advise you to tell the whole truth about this business. I don’t think you realise what a serious position you may find yourself in if you don’t.’

  ‘I’ve got you to thank for this,’ snarled Granger, glaring at the fat man.

  ‘Not at all, sir,’ said Simon Beatal smoothly. ‘I merely acted in accordance with the dictates of my conscience.’

  ‘Conscience!’ shouted Renton. ‘Why you double-crossing swine...’

  He made a quick movement towards the fat man but Halliday checked him.

  ‘Now, now,’ he said sharply. ‘We’ll have none of that.’

  ‘Be quiet, Renton,’ snapped Hargreaves. ‘This man’s word is not to be relied upon, Superintendent,’

  ‘That seems to apply to all of you,’ said Halliday.

  ‘Beatal was as much in this as anybody,’ grated Renton. ‘He...’

  ‘Will you be quiet,’ cut in Hargreaves.

  ‘Mr. Beatal may be in it or he may not,’ said Halliday. ‘All I’m interested in at present is a statement from Mr. Granger.’

  ‘I suppose I’ve no option,’ said Granger. He shot a malignant glance at Simon Beatal.

  ‘I ought to warn you that anything you say will be taken down in writing and may be used in evidence hereafter,’ said Halliday.

  ‘I wondered if you were going to remember that, Superintendent,’ said Hargreaves.

  ‘I’ve done nothing criminal,’ said Granger.

  ‘We none of us have,’ added Hargreaves quickly.

  ‘What do you call entering into a conspiracy with intent to defraud?’ asked Halliday.

  ‘That doesn’t apply to me, sir,’ said

  Simon Beatal. ‘Miss Manners can assure you of that.’

  ‘You great fat slug!’ cried Renton furiously. ‘You make me sick.’

  ‘The court will decide who it applies to,’ said Halliday impatiently. ‘I want to know what it was that David Manners found.’

  ‘I can tell you that, sir,’ said the fat man. ‘In one word. Uranium!’

  ‘Uranium!’ repeated Halliday.

  ‘A very valuable substance, sir, in these enlightened days,’ remarked Simon Beatal. ‘Worth more than gold — and infinitely more dangerous. The basis of our atomic age, sir...’

  ‘Cut out the lecture,’ snarled Renton.

  ‘David Manners found a quantity of this stuff?’ asked Halliday.

  ‘He stumbled on one of the largest uranium strikes that has ever been discovered,’ said Granger. ‘In a tract of unexplored country beyond Lake Athabaska in Northern Saskatchewan. The only way to reach the area is by plane.’

  ‘I suppose it would be very valuable?’ said Halliday.

  ‘Valuable!’ Hargreaves laughed harshly. ‘It’s worth several fortunes...’

  ‘A great temptation, sir.’ Simon Beatal shook his head sorrowfully. ‘You must admit that few could resist suc
h an opportunity if it was within their grasp.’

  ‘That depends on how you look at it,’ said Halliday shortly. ‘Every bank is a great temptation to a burglar. What was in the packet that was sent you, Mr. Granger?’

  ‘A map and photographs of the exact location,’ answered Granger. ‘There was also a covering letter from the pilot and a note from David Manners to me.’

  ‘What did that say?’ asked Halliday.

  ‘It was difficult to read — he must have been dying when he wrote it. It asked me to register the claim in the name of — Jill Manners.’

  ‘I see,’ said Halliday. ‘But anybody who was in possession of the map and the photographs could register the claim in their own name?’

  ‘Yes.’

  There was a world of contempt in Halliday’s eyes as he regarded Granger.

  ‘That is what you intended to do?’ he said. ‘Without telling Miss Manners anything about it?’

  ‘It was too big an operation for a young girl to handle, Superintendent,’ said Hargreaves. ‘You must see that.’

  ‘The only thing I see,’ retorted Halliday, ‘is that this property was rightfully Miss Manners’. Nobody else has any right to it at all. Now, where is this packet with the map and the photographs?’

  ‘It was stolen from Miss Lee’s lodgings,’ said Granger promptly.

  ‘I understand that was a dummy packet,’ said the Superintendent.

  ‘Then you understand more than I do,’ retorted Granger.

  ‘Come, come, sir,’ interposed Simon Beatal. ‘Why not admit the truth? The time for dissembling is past...’

  ‘Why don’t you shut up?’ cried Renton.

  ‘It’s my opinion that the real packet was in the possession of your wife, Mr. Granger,’ said Halliday.

  ‘How could she have got hold of it?’

  ‘I don’t know how she got it, but I believe it was in her possession,’ persisted Halliday. ‘I believe it was the reason she was murdered.’

  There was a sudden loud ringing at the front door bell and a thunderous rat-tat-tat on the knocker. ‘Now what is it?’ cried Hargreaves.

  ‘Go and see who it is, Soames,’ ordered Halliday and the Sergeant went quickly out.

  The front door opened, there was a hurried murmur of voices, and then Soames reappeared followed by Chives. The little man was excited and almost incoherent.

  ‘Can you come to the Dome?’ he panted, catching Halliday by the arm. ‘There’s been another murder...’