this was obviously a put-up job, probably schemed to win ten or fifteen minutes’ respite from bedtime. “I was reading about that man, Raeburn, who got off, Dad. Didn’t you think you’d got him?”
“I did,” answered Roger.
“What happened?”
“Either I’m a bad detective, or a witness lied.”
“You mean that Eve Franklin?”
“The pretty woman,” Richard put in.
“We were reading about it in the evening paper,” Scoopy explained. “Do you really think she lied?”
“Between these four walls, yes,” Roger said, “but if you breathe a word outside, I’ll never confide in you again. Now, off to bed!”
“I jolly well know one thing,” declared Richard, his blue eyes looking enormous, “you’re
“Come on, Fish, no need to say the obvious,” Scoopy said, and dragged his brother off.
Roger slept soundly, woke in a more cheerful mood, and was even prepared for a few knocks in the morning newspapers. Scoopy, five feet ten and absurdly powerful, bounded up the stairs with them, announcing: “You’re starred again in the
A good photograph of himself stared up at Roger from the morning paper which Raeburn owned, but Roger was interested only in the caption:
CHIEF INSPECTOR WEST, THE YOUNGEST CI AT THE YARD, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE CASE AGAINST MR PAUL RAEBURN.
The case had big headlines, and, as he read, a subheading caught his eye: WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY.
Richard called out: “Have a game of darts, Scoop? Mum’s only just started cooking breakfast.”
“Do you more good to check your homework,” Scoopy said, but went off.
Roger read on: “Another important factor is the waste of public money. Had the police exerted themselves to find Miss Franklin, a case of such gravity would never have been brought. A man of exemplary character was pilloried in public because of an unavoidable accident. Even the charge of being drunk in control of a car was not established. Mr Raeburn will be a generous man if he does not sue the police for wrongful arrest.”
“All right, Mr Ruddy Raeburn,” Roger said softly, “if you’re not satisfied with getting off, I’ll give you plenty to think about.”
“The worst of it is you can’t answer back,” Janet complained, angrily.
“Perhaps I can get Eve Franklin to answer for me,” Roger grinned. “If I know Chatworth, this will make him hopping mad. It’d be funny if Raeburn’s cooked his goose, after all, wouldn’t it?”
* * * * *
“You can have as long as you want to prove that Franklin woman was lying,” Chatworth growled. “Concentrate on that. If Raeburn wants to have a fight, let him have it.” He glared up, and his shaggy eyebrows made him look ferocious. “You agree?”
“All the way, sir.”
“And you’ve a personal interest, after this smear campaign,” Chatworth said. “Concentrate on the job, Roger.”
The Yard’s attitude was almost identical with Chat- worth’s. “Get the so-and-so, Handsome, we’ll take care of the rest.”
Janet said, uneasily: “You make it sound like a crusade, darling.” Then she added: “Raeburn’s rich
CHAPTER IV
EVE FRANKLIN drew sheer silk stockings over her slim legs, fastened her garters, and stood up in front of the long mirror. She stretched her arms above her head voluptuously, as a cat roused from sleep. She looked at herself with a pensive smile, as if she were practising seduction. When she moved her head, the bright lamp above picked out the lights in her dark hair. Her arms and shoulders were bare.
She sat down on the dressing-table stool, and reached for a cigarette; every movement studied. She lit the cigarette and blew smoke against the mirror, obscuring her reflection. As the smoke cleared, the brightness of her eyes and the sparkle of her teeth showed up through the greyness.
She did not notice the door begin to open, but suddenly a man’s face appealed in the mirror—a long, sallow face.
His gaze lingered on her shoulders and her body as she swung round in alarm.
“Not bad.” He came in and closed the door, then leaned against it. “Going places?”
“I’m—I’m going out,” Eve said, sharply. “What are you doing here?”
“Just feasting my eyes,” said the man. “You’re quite a dish, Evie.”
“Don’t be so crude!”
“Getting refined, are you?” The man slid his right hand into his pocket, drew out a silver cigarette case, flipped it open and lit a cigarette from a lighter fitted into the end of the case. He put the case away before speaking
