“Very well,” said the commissioner, and nodded dismissal.
• • •
“That was bloody purgatory,” Coppell growled.
Roger swallowed hard.
“Thanks for what you did.”
“The man’s a—” began Coppell, only to break off. “Can’t say you helped yourself much.”
“I got off on the wrong foot,” Roger said.
“Yes. Better watch your feet.”
“I certainly will,” Roger said feelingly.
They walked along in silence for some time, until they were in the C.I.D. building, passing familiar places and familiar faces. Then Coppell shot Roger a sidelong look, and said, “Bloody unfortunate. I tried—”
He was outside his office and his secretary appeared, a wild look in her eyes. She glared at Roger as she spoke to Coppell.
“Sir, your call to Vienna has come through. I’ve been trying everywhere to find you.”
“Didn’t have far to look,” grunted Coppell, and nodded to West. “See you.”
He went into his office and the door closed. For a few seconds Roger was in the passage alone and it reminded him vividly of waiting outside the commissioner’s room. Well, he hadn’t been suspended, and he could carry on with the case, but—oh, to hell with it all! The pressures were too great.
He felt heavy-hearted and dismayed, both at himself and what had followed. Not only did this case seem to have gremlins working against him, but he was making his own gremlins. He hadn’t had time to think about it last night because of Scoop’s problem and he hadn’t allowed himself time to think this morning. He glanced at his watch, and saw that it was twenty past twelve. If he Were going to that lunch he would have to get a move on; he would be at least ten minutes late as it was. He opened the door of his own office and went inside, and as he did so Danizon appeared at the communicating door.
Danizon smiled, the most normal and trouble-free sight Roger had seen that morning.
“Just looked in to remind you about your luncheon appointment,” he said. “A Mr. Artemeus rang up ten minutes ago. I promised to ring him at the Savoy Grill if you couldn’t make it.”
“Ring and tell him I’ll be twenty minutes late,” Roger ordered.
• • •
The luxury and the ostentation of the Savoy Grill was more than a change, it was a salve and a solace. So was being recognised by the doorman and one of the porters, and by the head waiter when he went in.
“Ah, Superintendent West —Mr. Artemeus is here.” He led the way to a corner table at which there was room for four but where one man was waiting. This could only be Artemeus. He was a heavily-built, beautifully groomed man, probably in the middle-fifties, with a somewhat sallow complexion and iron-grey hair. As Roger appeared he stood up, hand outstretched.
“Mr. West. How good of you to come.”
“Thank you for the invitation,” Roger said, gripping firmly and finding that Artemeus’s grip was also firm but not over-hearty. The head waiter pulled the table out for Roger to sit down, and another waiter hovered.
“What will you have?” asked Artemeus.
“A whisky and soda, please.”
“And bring me another pink gin,” Artemeus ordered the second waiter. When they were alone he proffered cigarettes, and Roger took one almost with relief. He seldom smoked these days, but this might help a little to ease tension.
“Thanks.”
Artemeus said, almost warily, “Dare I say you look a little worn, Mr. West?”
Roger half-laughed.
“More than a little,” he said. “I’ve had a rough morning.”
“One of the—ah—problems you face, no doubt, is the sudden pressure of work, both day and night,” said Artemeus, smiling depreciatingly. “And one of the advantages I can offer you are regular hours, excellent working conditions, and—but perhaps you would prefer to wait until we’ve had lunch before we get to the crux of the matter.”
The waiter arrived with the drinks at almost miraculous speed, and put them down. Roger picked up his glass.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
“Ah! That’s good,” Roger said, and sipped again. “I think I could bear to hear whatever you want to say, then I can ponder and we can perhaps discuss it over luncheon.”
“Good, good!” approved Artemeus. “Oh—I took the liberty of ordering smoked salmon and saddle of lamb— I hope you approve. If not, of course, the menu—”
“Both sound just right,” Roger said, and sipped again.
“Splendid!” Artemeus was just a little over-hearty, over- emphatic, over-anxious to please. “Very well, then, I will get straight to the point. I am a director of Allsafe, the second largest firm of security police in the country, Mr.
