Send Superintendent West

Lissa put her head on one side and looked at him, half-smiling, wholly beautiful.

“It might be a good idea at that What are you going to do now?”

“Talk to the policemen who were on duty here last night.”

“May I come?”

“But wouldn’t you be more good here?”

“Carl can handle David — they’re old friends. Carl can calm him down when he’s raging with everyone else. Others from the Embassy will soon be here, too. Did you find out anything?” She was getting into the car.

“Whoever broke in almost certainly picked the lock of the back door,” said Roger, taking the wheel “So your orders are to keep as close to me as you can.”

“I like the idea, tool You’re my first English detective, and it’s quite an experience. There can’t be many more like you.”

They didn’t say much while Roger drove to the police station in Ealing. A uniformed constable was on duty outside, recognized Roger and came forward to open the door. He said good morning, and then saw Lissa Meredith; he looked quite startled.

It was hot in the sun, but cool inside the station, where a heavily-built and slow-speaking Superintendent talked for only a few minutes. They were soon in a small, barely-furnished room, where a middle-aged constable, helmet in hand, got up from an uncomfortable wooden chair. He had a large, florid face, a heavy greying moustache, greying hair and big, blue eyes, questioning eyes which suggested that he looked on the world during his nightly patrol in a state of perpetual wonderment touched with cynicism.

“This is Constable Maidment,” the Superintendent said. “You don’t mind if I leave you, West? Mrs Meredith.” He went out, and the door closed on him.

“Morning, Maidment.” Roger was brisk. “Sorry to drag you out of bed.” Maidment had gone off duty at half past seven. “This is Mrs Meredith, representing the American Embassy.” Maidment showed commendable self- control, his gaze only flickered over Lissa, then concentrated on Roger. Did you notice anything unusual in Wavertree Road during the night?”

PC Maidment was ready with his answer.

“Well, sir, in a way I did. In a way I didn’t.”

“What happened ?”

“It was about two o’clock, sir, or a little after. A car turned out of Wavertree Road and came towards me down Wick-ham Avenue. Don’t often see a car I don’t know at that hour, and it certainly wasn’t any of the local doctors.” Roger recognized the officer who would tell a story better than he would answer questions, and gave him his head. “Funny thing was the way I didn’t hear the engine one minute, and the next I did. Very quiet around Wavertree Road at that hour, you can hear a cat move. Suddenly the engine started up and the head-lights went on, and the car was at the corner quick as snap.”

“Now what have you got up your sleeve?” demanded Roger.

Maidment beamed.

“Wavertree Road’s on a hill, sir. Anyone starting from the top of the hill could switch off and then switch on again near the corner. So I took particular notice last night, and was extra careful trying front doors and back. I couldn’t find anything wrong, sir. The car was a big Austin A70, one of those new jobs, very nice, and there aren’t many about.”

“Sure of that?”

“Positive. Black. Might have been dark blue, only I don’t think they do a blue one. Three men were in it, two at the front, one at the back — I saw them as they passed beneath a lamp. It wasn’t going fast, not really fast. The man at the back looked round after me, I could see his face when it went under the lamp.” Caution tempered his eagerness. “Not that I could recognize it again, sir.”

“And this was about two o’clock?”

“Near as dammit, sir.”

“Anything else?”

“Everything was quiet and normal,” answered PC Maidment, and actually looked uneasy. “I hope nothing went wrong I didn’t catch on to, sir.”

“Nothing you could be blamed for. Are you sure there were only three men in the car?”

“I only saw three.”

“Good,” said Roger. “Is all of this in your report?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, keep it all under your hat, Maidment. There may have been a bit of funny business last night, if there was we don’t want the people involved to know we’re suspicious. All clear?”

“Quite clear, sir.”

“Now make up on your beauty sleep.” Roger nodded and smiled, and opened the door for Lissa to precede him into the passage. He led the way to the Superintendent’s office, which was empty. “Sit down a minute,” he said, and went across to the Superintendent’s wooden armchair, sat at the tidy desk, was careful not to disturb four piles of papers, and lifted the telephone.

“Chief Inspector Sloan, please . . . Hallo, Bill. A black Austin A70, one of the new models, left Wavertree Road, Ealing, about two o’clock this morning. Check its movements where you can, will you?”

“Right.”