it.
They watched Maddox give Hurst a leg up on to the top of the wall. Hurst began to walk up the tiles as Maddox scrambled up after him.
Watching the dark window, Don suddenly spotted a movement behind the glass.
'Look out!' he called sharply. 'He's seen you!' Hurst was by now half-way up the roof There was no cover. He too had seen the movement. His hand whipped to his pocket for his truncheon. There came a flash and the bang of gun fire. The glass of the window smashed.
Hurst dropped his truncheon, slumped forward and rolled down the roof, nearly taking Maddox with him.
Maddox grabbed at him and managed to check his descent as Don and Harry rushed forward.
'Leave him to us,' Don shouted.
Gun fire crashed again. A bullet smashed a tile within inches of Maddox, who let go of Hurst and swung himself with desperate haste off the wall. Hurst slid limply off the roof. Don and Harry grabbed him and lowered him to the ground.
Harry's hand went to Hurst's neck. His finger found the artery.
'He's had it,' he said in a shocked voice.
Horrocks joined them under the shelter of the wall. He paused only long enough to make sure there was nothing he could do for Hurst, then moving with surprising quickness for a man of his bulk, he ran back down the cul-de-sac.
Maddox joined Don and Harry in the archway where they had carried Hurst's body. Maddox was breathing heavily and his face was white and set.
'Shall we have a crack at getting in, sir?' Harry asked Don in a low tone, but Maddox heard him'.
'You'll stay right here,' Maddox growled. 'You two keep out of this. This is police business.'
Don said hopefully, 'I could get that door open, sergeant...'
'You heard what I said, sir. You two keep out of it.' There was a long pause, then Horrocks came back. 'We'll have him in a few minutes,' he said grimly. 'He'll be sorry he started this.' He turned to Don. 'You've done more than your share in this, Mr Micklem. I'll be glad now if you'll go home.'
Don stared at him.
'You're not serious, are you? Hang it, if it hadn't been for Harry and me...'
'I know that, sir,' Horrocks said curtly, 'but there may be more shooting, and I'm not carrying the can if you happen to stop a bullet. I'll let you know how it works out, but right now, you're going home.'
Don saw the sense in this, and although he was reluctant to leave, he lifted his shoulders in a resigned shrug.
'Okay, Inspector; good luck and don't let him get away.'
'He won't get away,' Horrocks said. 'Г let you know how it works out.'
'Come on, Harry, let's get out of here.'
Leaving the shelter of the archway, Harry and he walked down the cul-de-sac into Old Crompton Street.
'That's a bit of a washout,' Don said as they made their way to where he had left the Bentley. 'I would like to have seen him caught.'
'How's Mrs Ferenci?' Harry asked.
'She's pretty bad. Miss Rigby is looking after her.'
As he paused to unlock the Bentley, two cars, packed with men, swept past.
'That's the end of Ed,' Don said. 'Let's get moving. As soon as the shooting starts, every street around here will be blocked.'
It took them only a few minutes to reach Upper Brook Mews. During the drive, Don quickly sketched in what had happened at Ferenci's house.
'Looks like an organized gang, doesn't it, sir?' Harry said. Don pulled up outside No. 25a.
'That's what it looks like.' He glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was twenty minutes past one. 'Okay, Hany, put her away and go to bed. We may be busy tomorrow.'
He unlocked the front door and walked into the lounge. Some chicken sandwiches with a bottle of whisky, ice water and glasses stood on the table by the fire.
He poured himself a stiff drink and sat down. He sat for ten minutes or so, staring into the fire, thinking of Julia. It was hard to believe that Guido was dead. The whole nightmare thing was impossible to believe.
The sound of the telephone bell startled him. He picked up the receiver.
'Is that you, Mr Micklem?' Horrocks's voice boomed over the line. 'Bad news: he got away.'
'Got away!' Don exclaimed, starting to his feet.
'Yes. We broke in and found a tunnel in the cellar. It led to a builder's dump in Dean Street. He must have sneaked out that way.'
'For the love of mike!'' Don exploded. 'That's not very bright, is it? So now both of them have got away.'
'They won't get far,' Horrocks said. 'Every port, airport and station is being watched. We've got a good description of them. They won't get far.'
