‘Yes. If they say there was. Lying or using their imagination too much.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘We talked, didn’t we? We discussed the traffic and the way Sea Weston was being spoiled by trippers.’
‘Then why did you not say so when I first asked?’
‘You didn’t give me time to remember — you started accusing us of having a row.’
Gently sighed and reached out for a fortifying peppermint cream.
‘Your memory is certainly an oddity… but then, I’m not used to dealing with poets! Let’s try some background stuff. What was Hicks doing all day?’
‘What he usually does.’
‘Go on. Tell me.’
‘Well… he washed the cars down — drove my sister to the office — did some shopping in town for Mother. In the afternoon I imagine he was taking it easy. Pauline caught a bus back and nobody else called him out.’
‘You saw a lot of him, I’m told.’
‘I did, but I didn’t persuade him to kill my father.’
‘That is not the suggestion, Mr Lammas. It would be helpful if you confined yourself to answering a question. Was Hicks on good terms with your father?’
‘Nobody was on good terms with him.’
‘Wasn’t there some question once of Hicks being dismissed?’
‘There was no question about it — Mother engaged Hicks. Otherwise he would have gone long since and the cook and the maid with him. My father’s authority here was fortunately limited.’
‘I don’t have to ask what was your own attitude towards him.’
Paul shrugged.
‘I’m not hiding it, am I? He wasn’t wanted here and he knew it.’
‘That matter of going into the business…’
‘Yes — that was a spoke in his wheel he didn’t forget! I can’t make you understand. You’re simply policemen and it wouldn’t make sense to you. There are two powers in this world, one for beauty and one for ugliness. My father stood for ugliness, sordidness — spiritual blindness, if you know what I mean. And into this he would have drawn me. Oh yes! It was to be a matter of course. I was his son, and he could do what he liked with me. As if, for one moment, I should have dreamed of burying my life in the filthy, parasitic business of wholesaling!’
‘Parasitic? It offended your political principles?’
The young man glanced at him jeeringly. ‘All politics are a racket
… of course, my father was a politician! A Liberal, mind you — the height of bourgeois timidity. He was too soggy to be a thorough-going Tory or a thorough-going Communist, or even a Socialist. Just a milk-and-water Liberal!’
‘That’s not so terrible… I should probably be one myself if I wasn’t a policeman. Did your father put any pressure on you to enter the business?’
‘Moral pressure — he hadn’t anything else. Oh yes, he argued himself black in the face!’
‘Did he threaten to cut you out of his will or anything like that?’
‘Why should that bother me? Mother and I have plenty of money.’
‘But did he?’
‘Yes, I suppose so.’
‘And what else?’
‘There was nothing else he could do.’
‘You are a minor, Mr Lammas. Your father had certain powers. I should be interested to know, for instance, what was to have been done about your National Service… now, I take it, comfortably postponed until you leave Cambridge?’
The flush crept back into Paul’s cheek.
‘I wouldn’t have done it… I shan’t ever do it. I happen to have a weak heart. I can get a specialist’s certificate to prove it any time I have to.’
‘Is that quite true, Mr Lammas?’
‘Yes, it is! Mother’s specialist promised to give me one!’
Gently folded his hands under his chin and gazed at the young man for a long moment.
‘Isn’t it possible, Mr Lammas… isn’t it just possible… that your father threatened to query that certificate and to ensure that you did do your National Service, if you persisted in refusing to enter the business? Would that be why you went to Cambridge and postponed your career as a poet with a private income…?’
Like a lighting switch the flush ebbed away into pallor. Paul’s lips trembled and moved without words, and he began to sway again in his chair.
‘And of course,’ added Gently thoughtfully, ‘the same problem would arise again in two years’ time, wouldn’t it? Only this time there wouldn’t be Cambridge to run to.’
‘It’s a lie… a downright lie!’
The lips articulated at last.
‘You’re making something up and trying to pin it on me… there isn’t a word of truth, you can’t prove there is!’
‘You mean that your father is dead and that your mother will support you?’
‘You’re trying to give me a motive… it’s ridiculous! Nobody would listen!’
‘It’s a possible motive… for a young man of your temperament. And you had the opportunity. What were you doing down here — in this particular week?’
‘I told you — I was sick!’
‘With what?’
‘My heart was giving trouble-’
‘What doctor did you see?’
‘I haven’t seen one — I have to rest, that’s all!’
‘By making trips on your motorcycle?’
‘That was Friday, I was feeling better-’
‘And your mother raised no objection.’
‘Why should she — she knew I was feeling better!’
Gently paused like a stalking tiger.
‘The name “Beretta” — what does that mean to you?’
‘“Beretta”…! I never heard of it!’
Gently plunged once more into his capacious pockets and threw something heavy and metallic clattering on to the table. It was a small automatic pistol with a slightly projecting barrel and a hook-shaped catch at the base of the grip.
‘There — that’s a Beretta — a Beretta. 22. Are you sure you’ve never seen one — here — in this house?’
Trembling till his teeth almost chattered, Paul leaned forward and with an effort picked up the gun.
‘It’s — it’s my father’s gun… of course I knew he had it!’
‘Go on.’
‘It was a year or more ago… there’d been some burglaries. The police gave him a licence. I’ve seen him clean it in the garage.’
‘And you knew where he kept it?’
‘No! God help me… never, never!’
‘Do you know why it’s important?’
‘Why should I — nobody’s been shot!’
‘Oh yes they have, Mr Lammas — your father was shot through the head.’
The pistol dropped with a thud on to the carpet. The young man slithered down his chair and had to seize the sides to prevent himself from falling off.
‘I didn’t do it!’
His voice was a whisper.
‘I didn’t — I just didn’t do it!’
Gently signed to Hansom, who was sitting completely enthralled with the proceedings. Hansom picked up the
