Kill The Toff

“Do you two know each other?” asked Rollison.

“We’re going to,” said Clarissa.

Grice said: “You’re in bed late, aren’t you?”

“Is that an indictable offence?” inquired Rollison.

“Whatever kept you up might be,” said Grice. it probably is. Roily, I’ve warned you that you’re playing with fire. If you were responsible for that car smash in the Mile End Road last night, you’re for it. I’m told that—”

“Oh, no!” cried Clarissa. Grice, who had appeared to welcome her, perhaps because he thought it would be easier to deal with Rollison while she was present, shot her a sour glance.

“Leave this to me, please.”

“I’m sorry, Superintendent,” Clarissa said, submissively.

“I’m told that you were seen in the East End at half-past two. Not long afterwards there was a car chase and some shooting. Where’s your gun?”

“In my pocket.”

“I want to see it.”

“Help yourself,” said Rollison.

He pointed to his coat which was draped over the back of a chair but, in spite of his nonchalance, Grice worried him; as he had at Ebbutt’s. Grice was deadly serious about this business. He would not let up; and if Rollison’s half-made plans went awry, he would be merciless.

“What time was this shooting?” Clarissa asked humbly.

“Miss Arden, I asked you—”

Rollison looked at her with his head on one side and said: “Grice was told that I was in the East End at half- past two last night.”

“But, darling, you couldn’t have been.”

The “darling” startled Grice, the rest of the sentence made Rollison sit up. Grice lifted the coat from the chair-back and felt the pockets and took out the gun.

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because he couldn’t be in two places at once and he was with me long after half-past two.” Clarissa watched Grice sniff the gun. “Mr Grice, have you known Mr Rollison for long?”

“Too long. Rollison” —the familiar “Roily” was gone— “this gun has been fired recently.”

“Really.”

“Don’t you think he’s ageing rapidly?” asked Clarissa. “He has such a reputation that I thought he could stand the pace but look at him and then look at me.”

In spite of himself, Grice had to repress a smile. “Yes, he’s getting past fast living! When did you use the gun, Rollison?”

“Last night. I drove out into the country and did silly things to rabbits. Clarissa, I dislike you intensely.”

“Never mind, darling,” said Clarissa. “You’ll feel better when you’ve had a bath and shave.”

“I’m going to take this gun with me,” Grice said, pocketing it. “And if the bullets found on the Mile End Road were fired from it, you’ll lie in dock before the day’s out. I’ve told you, I’m not fooling.”

“Oughtn’t you to look for rabbits?” asked Clarissa, sweetly.

Grice said: “And mind you don’t get into trouble for conspiring to defeat the ends of justice.”

“Isn’t that a marvellous phrase?” cooed Clarissa. “Do you mean, am I lying? I wouldn’t compromise myself for nothing, surely? I doubt if I’d have compromised myself at all if I’d seen Roily looking like this.”

The gurgling laugh came again.

Grice looked at her darkly.

“Do you know where Mellor is, Miss Arden?”

Her high spirits faded as fast as the smile. Eyes which had been brimming over suddenly became hard, even frightened. She stood quite still and the change affected Grice quite as much as it did Rollison.

“No,” she said. “I don’t know and don’t want to know.”

“Do you realise that Rollison is hiding him?”

She shot a swift glance at Rollison. “Are you?”

“Grice thinks so.”

“If I thought you were helping that brute—”

“You’d tell me the truth. He is, so you’d better.” Grice drew nearer, holding the gun loosely in front of him, challenging her. It was perhaps the first time she realised he was really an adversary to be reckoned with and again the name of Mellor had shaken her badly. “Were you with Rollison last night, after half-past two?”

“Until four o’clock or later,” she said slowly. “But, Roily, if Mellor—”