regarded me with his sad eyes, chewed the end of his moustache.
“Something to report?” I asked, wondering what was coming.
“Not exactly, sir,” he said, drumming on his knees. “I don’t
suppose you’ve heard from Mr. Merryweather yet?”
“I’ve heard nothing from Merryweather,” I said, puzzled.
“Anything wrong?”
Littlejohns stroked his greying hair, looked self-conscious. “The
fact of the matter is, sir, Mr. Merryweather has withdrawn from your
case.”
“The hel he has,” I said, sitting bolt-upright, and wishing I hadn’t.
“What’s the idea?”
“You see, sir, Mr. Merryweather at no time thought the
investigation within our usual terms of reference,” Littlejohns
explained. “The-er-pecuniary aspect of the case interested him—
tempted him, you might say, but he now has been threatened-well,
he thinks there’ll be no useful purpose served in continuing the
investigation.”
I pricked up my ears. “Threatened?”
Littlejohns nodded gravely. “Apparently two men visited him
yesterday morning. They were rough characters, and they made it
clear that if he did not immediately stop working for you, they would
settle his hash, I believe was the phrase used.”
I lit a cigarette, scowled. It seemed Bradley was working overtime.
“You mean Merryweather allowed these two guys to throw a
scare into him?”
“They were exceptional y rough characters,” Littlejohns said
hurriedly, as if anxious to excuse Merryweather’s lack of courage.
“They smashed his desk, said they had beaten you up and would beat
Merryweather up too. He isn’t exactly young, and he has a wife to
consider. I can’t say I blame him for withdrawing, and I hope, sir,
you’ll take the same view.”
He looked so solemn that I burst out laughing.
“That’s okay,” I said, lay back on my pillow and grinned at him. “I
bet they scared the daylight out of the poor old geyser. I don’t blame
him in the least. They nearly, but not quite, scared the daylight out of
me.” I looked at him, suddenly puzzled. “But why did you come here
to tell me all this? What’s it to do with you?”
Littlejohns pulled at his moustache. “I’m very sorry to be taken off
this case, sir,” he said. “Very sorry. You see, sir, I liked the excitement.
You may not believe it, but I’ve always wanted to be a detective ever
since I was a nipper. I’ve been disappointed with the work up to now.
Mr. Merryweather doesn’t get much business. The cases that do
come our way are the usual divorce cases. Not, as you will appreciate,
very congenial work: very dull, if I may say so. I dislike spying on
married couples. But I have to do the work. I’m not getting any
younger; jobs are difficult to come by. I thought I’d explain my
position, sir. I hope you’ll forgive me taking up your time. What I was
going to suggest . . .” He paused, looked embarrassed. “If you’ll excuse
the liberty, what I was going to suggest was that I should continue
with the case. I’d be very happy to take reduced fees, and Mr.
Merryweather has nothing for me at the moment. He pays me only
when I’m working for him. So I thought I’d offer my services, not that
you’d want to continue the arrangement, but I thought there’d be no
harm in mentioning it.”
I gaped at him. “But, look, if they’re threatening Merry- weather,
that’ll also include you.”
“I don’t believe in being intimidated by threats,” he said quietly. “I
assure you I wouldn’t be put off by that kind of thing. I’m at your
service if you still require me.”
I grinned at him, suddenly liking him immensely. “Sure, you go
ahead. The same terms suit you?”
He gaped, stuttered. “Oh, but surely, Mr. Harmas, they were
rather excessive. I would be prepared . . .”
“No, you’ll have what Merryweather got, so dry up,” I said firmly.
“Don’t make any mistake: you’l earn the money. There are a number
of things to do with this case that I haven’t told your boss. I’m going to
tell you, and you can then decide if you still want the job.”
“Thank you, sir,” Littlejohns said, his face lighting up. “There is
one thing I must report first. I’ve seen the young lady with the red
hair. She came out of the cottage late last night. The black-and-yellow
Bentley called for her. I saw her distinctly. She got into the car which
drove away along the London road; I was unfortunately too late to
follow it.”
“Okay,” I said. “Perhaps she’s decided to come to London. Well,
keep an eye on the cottage for a little while. Now, listen to what I
have to say.”
I told him the whole story without pulling my punches down to
Madge Kennitt’s murder and the attack on myself. I told him about
Jacobi, Selma, his wife, about Bradley and Julius Cole going to the
club.
“That’s about the lot,” I said. “These guys are a tough bunch.
You’ll have to watch your step.”
He scarcely seemed to hear me.
“I’m glad you’ve taken me into your confidence, sir,” he said,
getting to his feet. “I think I’ll have something for you in a day or so. I
would rather not discuss it now, but something you said just now has
given me the clue I’ve been looking for. “I’ll get in touch with you very
soon.”
“Hey!” I called as he picked up his hat and made for the door.
“What about Julius Cole? Has he arrived at Lakeham?”
“He arrived three nights ago, and is staying with Mrs. Brambee,”
Littlejohns said, opening the door. “I’ll have something for you in a
day or so.”
He didn’t wait for me to tell him again to be careful.
Chapter XVI
TWO days later, still considerably bruised and battered, but with
all my old vigour back and a sharp edge to my temper, I returned to
