Taken At The Flood Part 13

"It's the gentleman in No. 5, Miss. He's lying there on the floor, dead."

The doctor stared at the girl and then at Miss Lippincott: the latter stared at Gladys and then at the doctor. stared at Gladys and then at the doctor.

Finally, Dr Cloade said uncertainly: "Nonsense."

"Dead as a doornail," said Gladys, and added with a certain relish: "'Is 'ead's bashed in!"

The doctor looked towards Miss Lippincott.

"Perhaps I'd better -"

"Yes, please. Dr Cloade. But really - I hardly think - it seems so impossible." impossible."

They trooped upstairs, Gladys leading the way. Dr Cloade took one look, knelt down and bent over the rec.u.mbent figure. look, knelt down and bent over the rec.u.mbent figure.

He looked up at Beatrice. His manner had changed. It was abrupt, authoritative. authoritative.

"You'd better telephone through to the police station," he said.

Beatrice Lippincott went out, Gladys followed her.

Gladys said in an awed whisper: "Ow, Miss, do you think it's murder?"

Beatrice smoothed back her golden pompadour with an agitated hand.

"You hold your tongue, Gladys," she said sharply. "Saying a thing's murder before you know it's murder is libel and you might be had up in murder before you know it's murder is libel and you might be had up in court for it. It'll do the Stag no good to have a lot of gossip going court for it. It'll do the Stag no good to have a lot of gossip going about." She added, as a gracious concession: "You can go and make about." She added, as a gracious concession: "You can go and make yourself a nice cup of tea. I dare say you need it." yourself a nice cup of tea. I dare say you need it."

"Yes, indeed, Miss, I do. My inside's fair turning over! I'll bring you along a cup, too!" along a cup, too!"

To which Beatrice did not say no.

Chapter 16.

Superintendent Spence looked thoughtfully across his table at Beatrice Lippincott, who was sitting with her lips compressed tightly Beatrice Lippincott, who was sitting with her lips compressed tightly together. together.

"Thank you, Miss Lippincott," he said. "That's all you can remember?

I'll have it typed out for you to read and then if you wouldn't mind signing it -" signing it -"

"Oh, dear - I shan't have to give evidence in a police court, I do hope."

Superintendent Spence smiled appeasingly.

"Oh, we hope it mayn't come to that," he said mendaciously.

"It may be suicide," Beatrice suggested hopefully.

Superintendent Spence forebore to say that a suicide does not usually cave in the back of his skull with a pair of steel fire-tongs. Instead, he cave in the back of his skull with a pair of steel fire-tongs. Instead, he replied in the same easy manner: replied in the same easy manner: "Never any good jumping to conclusions. Thank you, Miss Lippincott. Very good of you to come forward with this statement so promptly." Very good of you to come forward with this statement so promptly."

When she had been ushered out, he ran over her statement in his mind. He knew all about Beatrice Lippincott, had a very good idea of mind. He knew all about Beatrice Lippincott, had a very good idea of how far her accuracy was to be depended upon. So much for a how far her accuracy was to be depended upon. So much for a conversation genuinely overheard and remembered. A little extra conversation genuinely overheard and remembered. A little extra embroidery for excitements sake. A little extra still because murder embroidery for excitements sake. A little extra still because murder had been done in bedroom No. 5. But take extras away and what had been done in bedroom No. 5. But take extras away and what remained was ugly and suggestive. remained was ugly and suggestive.

Superintendent Spence looked at the table in front of him. There was a wrist.w.a.tch with a smashed gla.s.s, a small gold lighter with initials on it, wrist.w.a.tch with a smashed gla.s.s, a small gold lighter with initials on it, a lipstick in a gilt holder, and a pair of heavy steel fire-tongs, the heavy a lipstick in a gilt holder, and a pair of heavy steel fire-tongs, the heavy head of which was stained a rusty brown. head of which was stained a rusty brown.

Sergeant Graves looked in and said that Mr Rowley Cloade was waiting. Spence nodded and the Sergeant showed Rowley in. waiting. Spence nodded and the Sergeant showed Rowley in.

Just as he knew all about Beatrice Lippincott, so the Superintendent knew all about Rowley Cloade. If Rowley had come to the police knew all about Rowley Cloade. If Rowley had come to the police station, it was because Rowley had got something to say and that station, it was because Rowley had got something to say and that something would be solid, reliable and unimaginative. It would, in fact, something would be solid, reliable and unimaginative. It would, in fact, be worth hearing. At the same time, Rowley being a deliberate type of be worth hearing. At the same time, Rowley being a deliberate type of person, it would take some time to say. And you couldn't hurry the person, it would take some time to say. And you couldn't hurry the Rowley Cloade type. If you did, they became rattled, repeated Rowley Cloade type. If you did, they became rattled, repeated themselves, and generally took twice as long... themselves, and generally took twice as long...

"Good morning, Mr Cloade. Pleased to see you. Can you throw any light on this problem of ours? The man who was killed at the Stag." light on this problem of ours? The man who was killed at the Stag."

Rather to Spence's surprise, Rowley began with a question. He asked abruptly: abruptly: "Have you identified the fellow?"

"No," said Spence slowly. "I wouldn't say we had. He signed the register Enoch Arden. There's nothing in his possession to show he register Enoch Arden. There's nothing in his possession to show he was Enoch Arden." was Enoch Arden."

Rowley frowned.

"Isn't that - rather odd?"

It was exceedingly odd, but Superintendent Spence did not propose to discuss with Rowley Cloade just how odd he thought it was. Instead he discuss with Rowley Cloade just how odd he thought it was. Instead he said pleasantly: said pleasantly: "Come now, Mr Cloade, I'm the one who asks the questions. You went to see the dead man last night. Why?" to see the dead man last night. Why?"

"You know Beatrice Lippincott, Superintendent? At the Stag."

"Yes, of course. And," said the Superintendent, taking what he hoped would be a short cut, "I've heard her story. She came to me with it." would be a short cut, "I've heard her story. She came to me with it."

Rowley looked relieved.

"Good. I was afraid she mightn't want to be mixed up with a police matter. These people are funny that way sometimes." matter. These people are funny that way sometimes."

The Superintendent nodded.

"Well, then, Beatrice told me what she'd overheard and it seemed to me - I don't know if it does to you - decidedly fishy. What I mean is - me - I don't know if it does to you - decidedly fishy. What I mean is - we're, well, we're interested parties." we're, well, we're interested parties."

Again the Superintendent nodded. He had taken a keen local interest in Gordon Cloade's death and in common with general local opinion he in Gordon Cloade's death and in common with general local opinion he considered that Gordon's family had been badly treated. He endorsed considered that Gordon's family had been badly treated. He endorsed the common opinion that Mrs Gordon Cloade "wasn't a lady," and that the common opinion that Mrs Gordon Cloade "wasn't a lady," and that Mrs Gordon Cloade's brother was one of those young firebrand Mrs Gordon Cloade's brother was one of those young firebrand Commandos who, though they had had their uses in time of war, were Commandos who, though they had had their uses in time of war, were to be looked at askance in peacetime. to be looked at askance in peacetime.

"I don't suppose I need explain to you, Superintendent, that if Mrs Gordon's first husband is still alive, it will make a big difference to us Gordon's first husband is still alive, it will make a big difference to us as a family. This story of Beatrice's was the first intimation I had that as a family. This story of Beatrice's was the first intimation I had that such a state of affairs might exist. I'd never dreamed of such a thing. such a state of affairs might exist. I'd never dreamed of such a thing. Thought she was definitely a widow. And I may say it shook me up a Thought she was definitely a widow. And I may say it shook me up a lot. Took me a bit of time to realise it, as you might say. You know, I had lot. Took me a bit of time to realise it, as you might say. You know, I had to let it soak in." to let it soak in."

Spence nodded again. He could see Rowley slowly ruminating the matter, turning it over and over in his mind. matter, turning it over and over in his mind.

"First of all I thought I'd better get my uncle on to it - the lawyer one."

"Mr Jeremy Cloade?"

"Yes, so I went along there. Must have been some time after eight. They were still at dinner and I sat down in old Jeremy's study to wait They were still at dinner and I sat down in old Jeremy's study to wait for him, and I went on turning things over in my mind." for him, and I went on turning things over in my mind."

"Yes?"

"And finally I came to the conclusion that I'd do a bit more myself before getting my uncle on to it. Lawyers, Superintendent, are all the before getting my uncle on to it. Lawyers, Superintendent, are all the same, I've found. Very slow, very cautious, and have to be absolutely same, I've found. Very slow, very cautious, and have to be absolutely sure of their facts before they'll move in a matter. The information I'd sure of their facts before they'll move in a matter. The information I'd got had come to me in a rather hole-and-corner manner - and I got had come to me in a rather hole-and-corner manner - and I wondered if old Jeremy might hem and haw a bit about acting on it. I wondered if old Jeremy might hem and haw a bit about acting on it. I decided I'd go along to the Stag and see this Johnnie for myself." decided I'd go along to the Stag and see this Johnnie for myself."

"And you did so?"

"Yes. I went right back to the Stag -"

"At what time was this?"

Rowley pondered.

"Lemme see, I must have got to Jeremy's about twenty past eight or thereabouts - five minutes - well, I wouldn't like to say exactly, Spence - thereabouts - five minutes - well, I wouldn't like to say exactly, Spence - after half-past eight - perhaps about twenty to nine?" after half-past eight - perhaps about twenty to nine?"

"Yes, Mr Cloade?"

"I knew where the bloke was - Bee had mentioned the number of his room - so I went right up and knocked at the door and he said, 'Come room - so I went right up and knocked at the door and he said, 'Come in,' and I went in." in,' and I went in."

Rowley paused.

"Somehow I don't think I handled the business very well. I thought when I went in that I was the one who was on top. But the fellow must when I went in that I was the one who was on top. But the fellow must have been rather a clever fellow. I couldn't pin him down to anything have been rather a clever fellow. I couldn't pin him down to anything definite. I thought he'd be frightened when I hinted he'd been doing a definite. I thought he'd be frightened when I hinted he'd been doing a spot of blackmail, but it just seemed to amuse him. He asked me - spot of blackmail, but it just seemed to amuse him. He asked me - d.a.m.ned cheek - if I was in the market too? 'You can't play your dirty d.a.m.ned cheek - if I was in the market too? 'You can't play your dirty game with me,' I said. 'I've nothing to hide.' And he said rather nastily game with me,' I said. 'I've nothing to hide.' And he said rather nastily that that wasn't his meaning. The point was, he said, that he'd got that that wasn't his meaning. The point was, he said, that he'd got something to sell and was I a buyer? 'What do you mean?' I said. He something to sell and was I a buyer? 'What do you mean?' I said. He said: 'How much will you - or the family generally - pay me for the said: 'How much will you - or the family generally - pay me for the definite proof that Robert Underhay, reported dead in Africa, is really definite proof that Robert Underhay, reported dead in Africa, is really alive and kicking?' I asked him why the devil we should pay anything at alive and kicking?' I asked him why the devil we should pay anything at all? And he laughed and said, 'Because I've got a client coming this all? And he laughed and said, 'Because I've got a client coming this evening who certainly will pay a very substantial sum for proof positive evening who certainly will pay a very substantial sum for proof positive that Robert Underhay is dead.' Then - well, then, I'm afraid I rather lost that Robert Underhay is dead.' Then - well, then, I'm afraid I rather lost my temper and told him that my family weren't used to doing that kind my temper and told him that my family weren't used to doing that kind of dirty business. If Underhay was really alive, I said, the fact ought to of dirty business. If Underhay was really alive, I said, the fact ought to be quite easy to establish. Upon that I was just stalking out when he be quite easy to establish. Upon that I was just stalking out when he laughed and said in what was really rather a queer tone, 'I don't think laughed and said in what was really rather a queer tone, 'I don't think you'll prove it without my co-operation.' Funny sort of way he said you'll prove it without my co-operation.' Funny sort of way he said that." that."

"And then?"

"Well, frankly, I went home rather disturbed. Felt, you know, that I'd messed things up. Rather wished I'd left it to old Jeremy to tackle after messed things up. Rather wished I'd left it to old Jeremy to tackle after all. I mean, dash it all, a lawyer's used to dealing with slippery all. I mean, dash it all, a lawyer's used to dealing with slippery customers." customers."

"What time did you leave the Stag?"

"I've no idea. Wait a sec. Must have been just before nine because I heard the pips for the news as I was going along the village - through heard the pips for the news as I was going along the village - through one of the windows." one of the windows."

"Did Arden say who it was he was expecting? The 'client'?"

"No. I took it for granted it was David Hunter. Who else could it be?"

"He didn't seem in any way alarmed by the prospect?"

"I tell you the fellow was thoroughly pleased with himself and on top of the world!" the world!"

Spence indicated with a slight gesture the heavy steel tongs.

"Did you notice these in the grate, Mr Cloade?"

"Those? No - I don't think so. The fire wasn't lit." He frowned, trying to visualise the scene. "There were fire-irons in the grate, I'm sure, but I visualise the scene. "There were fire-irons in the grate, I'm sure, but I can't say I noticed what they were." He added, "Was that what -" can't say I noticed what they were." He added, "Was that what -"

Spence nodded.

"Smashed his skull in."

Rowley frowned.

"Funny. Hunter's a lightly built chap - Arden was a big man - powerful."

The Superintendent said in a colourless voice: "The medical evidence is that he was struck down from behind and that the blows delivered with the head of the tongs were struck from that the blows delivered with the head of the tongs were struck from above." above."

Rowley said thoughtfully: "Of course he was a c.o.c.ksure sort of a bloke - but all the same I wouldn't have turned my back with a fellow in the room whom I was wouldn't have turned my back with a fellow in the room whom I was trying to bleed white and who'd done some pretty tough fighting in the trying to bleed white and who'd done some pretty tough fighting in the war. Arden can't have been a very cautious sort of chap." war. Arden can't have been a very cautious sort of chap."

"If he had been cautious very likely he'd be alive now," said the Superintendent dryly. Superintendent dryly.

"I wish to G.o.d he was," said Rowley fervently. "As it is I feel I've mucked things up thoroughly. If only I hadn't got on my high horse and mucked things up thoroughly. If only I hadn't got on my high horse and stalked off, I might have got something useful out of him. I ought to stalked off, I might have got something useful out of him. I ought to have pretended that we were in the market, but the thing's so d.a.m.ned have pretended that we were in the market, but the thing's so d.a.m.ned silly. I mean, who are we to bid against Rosaleen and David? They've silly. I mean, who are we to bid against Rosaleen and David? They've got the cash. None of us could raise five hundred pounds between us." got the cash. None of us could raise five hundred pounds between us."

The Superintendent picked up the gold lighter.

"Seen this before?"

A crease appeared between Rowley's brows. He said slowly: "I've seen it somewhere, yes, but I can't remember where. Not very long ago. No - I can't remember." long ago. No - I can't remember."

Spence did not give the lighter into Rowley's outstretched hand. He put it down and picked up the lipstick, unsheathing it from its case. put it down and picked up the lipstick, unsheathing it from its case.

"And this?"

Rowley grinned.

"Really, that's not in my line. Superintendent."

Thoughtfully, Spence smeared a little on the back of his hand. He put his head on one side, studying it appreciatively. his head on one side, studying it appreciatively.

"Brunette colouring, I should say," he remarked.

"Funny things you policemen know," said Rowley. He got up. "And you don't - definitely do not - know who the dead man was?" don't - definitely do not - know who the dead man was?"

"Have you any idea yourself, Mr Cloade?"

"I only wondered," said Rowley slowly. "I mean - this fellow was our only clue to Underhay. Now that he's dead - well, looking for Underhay only clue to Underhay. Now that he's dead - well, looking for Underhay is going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack." is going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"There'll be publicity, Mr Cloade," said Spence. "Remember that in due course a lot of this will appear in the press. If Underhay is alive and course a lot of this will appear in the press. If Underhay is alive and comes to read about it - well, he may come forward." comes to read about it - well, he may come forward."

"Yes," said Rowley doubtfully. "He may."

"But you don't think so?"

"I think," said Rowley Cloade, "that Round One has gone to David Hunter." Hunter."

"I wonder," said Spence. As Rowley went out, Spence picked up the gold lighter and looked at the initials D.H. on it. "Expensive bit of gold lighter and looked at the initials D.H. on it. "Expensive bit of work," he said to Sergeant Graves. "Not ma.s.s produced. Quite easily work," he said to Sergeant Graves. "Not ma.s.s produced. Quite easily identified. Greatorex or one of those Bond Street places. Have it seen identified. Greatorex or one of those Bond Street places. Have it seen to!" to!"

"Yes, sir."

Then the Superintendent looked at the wrist-watch - the gla.s.s was smashed and the hands pointed to ten minutes past nine. smashed and the hands pointed to ten minutes past nine.

He looked at the Sergeant.