The Crime at Black Dudley (25 page)

He chinked some money in his pocket suggestively. The face beneath the trilby remained cold and unfriendly.

‘Now look 'ere,' he said, thrusting his hands into his trousers pockets through the slits in his overalls, ‘I'm telling you, and you can take it from me or not as you please. But if you do take it, and I 'ope for your sake you do, you'll go right away from this place. I've got my reasons for telling you – see?'

Martin still seemed bewildered.

‘But this is extraordinary,' he said, and added as if the thought had suddenly occurred to him, ‘I suppose this doesn't interest you?'

A crackle of notes sounded as he spoke and then his quiet lazy voice continued. ‘
So
attractive I always think. That view of the Houses of Parliament on the back is rather sweet – or perhaps you like this one better – or this? I've got two here printed in green as well. What do you say?'

For a moment the man did not answer, but it was evident that some of his pugnacity had abated.

‘A fiver!' he said, and went on more reasonably after a considerable pause. ‘Look here, what
is
this game you're up to? What's your business is your business and I'm not
interfering, but this I 'ope and arsk. I don't want any fooling around my garage. I've got 'undreds of pounds' worth of cars in 'ere and I've got my reputation to think of. So no setting fire to anything or calling of the police – see? If I let you in 'ere to 'ave a look at that car that's got to be understood.'

‘Why, of course not. Let us have a look at the car at any rate,' said Martin, handing him the notes.

The man was still doubtful, but the money had a warming and soothing effect upon his temper.

‘Are you all coming in?' he said at last. ‘Because if so you'd better hurry up. The owners may be back any time now.'

This was a step forward at any rate. Abbershaw and Prenderby climbed out of the Riley and followed Martin with the visibly softening proprietor into the garage.

The man switched on the light and the three surveyed the miscellaneous collection of cars with interest.

‘There she is,' said Prenderby, his voice betraying, his excitement. ‘Over in that corner there. Now, I ask you, could you miss her anywhere?'

The others followed the direction of his eyes and an exclamation broke from Martin.

‘She certainly has IT,' he said. ‘Once seen never forgotten.' He turned to the garage proprietor. ‘Have you looked at her, Mr – er – er –?' he hesitated, at a loss for the name.

‘'Aywhistle,' said the man stolidly, ‘and I ain't. I don't know anything about 'er nor don't want to. Now, 'ave you seen enough to keep you 'appy?'

Martin looked at him curiously.

‘Look here, Captain,' he said. ‘You come over here. I want to show you something if you haven't seen it already.'

He moved over to the old car as he spoke, Mr Haywhistle following him unwillingly. Martin pulled up the bonnet and pointed to the engine.

‘Ever seen anything like that before?' he said.

Mr Haywhistle looked at the machinery casually and without interest at first. But gradually his expression changed and he dropped upon his knees and peered underneath
the car to get a glimpse of the chassis. A moment or two later he lifted a red face towards them which wore an expression almost comic in its surprise.

‘Gawd lumme!' he said. ‘A bloomin' Rolls.'

Martin nodded and an explanation of these ‘Young Nob's' interest in the affair presented itself to the garage owner:

‘Pinched it, did he?' he said. ‘Oh! I see now. But I pray and arsk you, sir, don't 'ave any rowin' in 'ere. I've 'ad a bit of trouble that way already – see?' He looked at them appealingly.

Martin turned to the others.

‘I don't think we need do anything in here, do you?' he said. ‘If Mr Haywhistle will let us wait in his yard at the side, with the gates open, as soon as Whitby comes out we can follow him. How's that?'

‘That suits me fine,' said Mr Haywhistle, looking at them anxiously. ‘Now I'll tell you what,' he went on, clearly eager to do all that he could to assist them now that he was not so sure of himself. ‘This is wot 'e says to me. Early this morning, about eight o'clock, 'e comes in 'ere with the car. My boy put 'er in for 'im, so I didn't 'ear the engine running. I came in just as 'e was leaving instructions. As far as I could gather he intended to meet a friend 'ere late tonight and they was going off together in the car as soon as this friend turned up. Well, about eight o'clock tonight, this gentleman 'ere,' – he indicated Prenderby – ‘'e calls in and spots the car and mentioned buying it. Of course I see where 'is artfulness comes in now,' he added, beaming at them affably. ‘'Ow-ever, I didn't notice anything fishy at the time so when the owner of the car comes in about 'alf an hour ago I tells him that there was a gentleman interested in the old bus. Whereupon 'e went in the air – a fair treat. “Tell me,” says 'e, “was 'e anything like this?” Thereupon 'e gives a description of a little red-'eaded cove, which I see now is this gentleman 'ere.'

He nodded at Abbershaw. ‘Perhaps it's your car, sir?' he suggested.

Abbershaw smiled non-committally, and Mr Haywhistle went on.

‘Well, what eventually transpired,' he said ponderously, ‘was this. I was not to show 'is property to anybody, and a very nasty way 'e said it too. 'E said 'e was coming back this side of twelve and if 'is friend turned up before him I was to ask 'im to wait.'

Abbershaw looked at his watch.

‘We'd better get into the yard straight away,' he said.

Mr Haywhistle glanced up at a big clock on the bare whitewashed wall.

‘Lumme, yes,' he said. ‘'Alf a minute, I'll come and 'elp you.'

With his assistance they backed the Riley into the dark yard by the side of ‘The Ritz' and put out their lights.

‘You get into 'er and sit waiting. Then as soon as they come out on the road you can nip after them – see?' he said.

Since there was nothing better to do they took his advice and the three sat silent in the car, waiting.

Martin was grinning to himself. The promise of adventure had chased the lazy expression out of his eyes and he appeared alert and interested. Prenderby leant on the steering wheel, his thin pale face utterly expressionless.

Abbershaw alone looked a little perturbed. He had some doubts as to the Riley's capabilities as far as chasing the disguised Rolls were concerned. He was also a little afraid of Martin's gun. He realized that they were on a lawless errand since they were acting entirely without proof, and any casualties that might occur would be difficult to explain afterwards even to so obliging a person as Inspector Deadwood.

He was disturbed in his reflections by Martin's elbow gently prodded into his ribs. He looked up to see a tall burly figure, in a light overcoat and a cap pulled down well on his head, standing in the wedge of light cast through the open doorway of the garage.

‘ “The butler”,' whispered Prenderby excitedly.

Abbershaw nodded; he too had recognized the man.

Mr Haywhistle's manner was perfect.

‘'Ere you are, sir,' they heard him say cheerfully. ‘Your friend won't be long. Said 'e'd be round just before twelve. I shouldn't stand out there,' he went on tactfully, as the man showed a disposition to look about him. ‘I'm always 'aving cars swing in 'ere without looking where they're going. I can't stop 'em. It's dangerous you know. That's right. Come inside.'

As the two figures disappeared, a third, moving rapidly with quick, nervous steps, hurried in out of the darkness.

The three men in the car caught a glimpse of him as he passed into the garage. It was Whitby himself.

‘Shall I start the engine?' murmured Prenderby.

Martin put a warning hand on his.

‘Wait till they start theirs,' he said. ‘Now.'

Michael trod softly on the starter and the Riley began to purr.

‘Keep back, see which way they turn, and then after them,' Martin whispered sharply. ‘Hullo! Here they come!'

Even as he spoke there was the soft rustle of wheels on the concrete and then the curious top-heavy old car glided softly and gently into the road, taking the direction of Wanstead, away from the city.

Prenderby dropped in the clutch and the Riley slipped out of its hiding-place and darted out in pursuit, a graceful silver fish amid the traffic.

For the first few miles, while they were still in the traffic, Prenderby contented himself with keeping the disguised Rolls in sight. It would be absurd, he realized, to overtake them while still in London, since they were acting in an unofficial capacity and he was particularly anxious not to arouse the suspicions of the occupants of the car in front of them.

He went warily, therefore, contriving always to keep a fair amount of traffic between them.

Martin was exultant. He was convinced by his own theory, and was certain that the last act of the Black Dudley mystery was about to take place.

Prenderby was too much absorbed by the details of the chase to give any adequate thought to the ultimate result.

Abbershaw alone was dubious. This, like everything else connected with the whole extraordinary business, appalled him by its amazing informality. He could not rid his mind of the thought that it was all terribly illegal – and besides that, at the back of his mind, there was always that other question, that problem which had caused him so many sleepless nights since his return to London. He hoped Martin was right in his theory, but he was sufficiently alarmed by his own secret thought to wish not to put Martin's idea to the test. He wanted to think Martin was right, to find out nothing that would make him look elsewhere for the murderer.

As they escaped from the tramway lines and came out into that waste of little new houses which separates the city from the fields, they and the grotesque old car in front were practically alone on the wide ill-lighted roads.

It was growing cold and there was a suggestion of a ground mist so that the car in front looked like a dim ghost returned from the early days of motoring.

As the last of the houses vanished and they settled down into that long straight strip of road through the forest, Prenderby spoke:

‘How about now?' he said. ‘Shall I open out?'

Martin glanced at Abbershaw.

‘What do you think?' he said.

Abbershaw hesitated.

‘I don't quite see what you intend to do,' he said. ‘Suppose you succeed in stopping them, what are you going to say? We have no proof against the man and no authority to do anything if he had.'

‘But we're going to get proof,' said Martin cheerfully.
‘That's the big idea. First we stop them, then we sit on their heads while they talk.'

Abbershaw shook his head.

‘I don't think we'd get much out of them that way,' he said. ‘And if we did it wouldn't be evidence. No, if you take my advice you'll run them to earth. Then perhaps we'll find something, although really, my dear Martin, I can't help feeling –'

‘Let's kick him out, Prenderby,' said Martin, ‘he's trying to spoil the party.'

Abbershaw grinned.

‘I think we're doing all we can do,' he said. ‘After all it's no good letting them out of our sight.'

Prenderby sighed.

‘I wish you'd decided to overtake,' he said. ‘This is a marvellous road. It wouldn't hurt us to be a bit nearer, anyway, would it?'

Martin nudged him gently.

‘If you want to try your speed, my lad,' he said, ‘here's your opportunity. The old lady has started to move.'

The other two glanced ahead sharply. The Rolls had suddenly begun to move at something far beyond her previous respectable rate. The red tail-light was already disappearing into the distance.

Prenderby's share in the conversation came to an abrupt end. The Riley began to purr happily and they shot forward at an ever-increasing pace until the speedometer showed sixty.

‘Steady!' said Martin. ‘Don't pass them in your excitement. We don't want them to spot us either.'

‘What makes you so sure that they haven't done so already?' said Abbershaw shrewdly, and added as they glanced at him inquiringly, ‘I couldn't help thinking as we came along that they were going very leisurely, taking their time, when there was plenty of other traffic on the road. As soon as we were alone together they began to move. I believe they've spotted us.'

Prenderby spoke without looking round.

‘He's right,' he said. ‘Either that or they're suddenly in the deuce of a hurry. I'm afraid they're suspicious of us. They can't possibly know who we are with lights like these.'

‘Then I say,' cut in Martin excitedly, ‘they'll try to dodge us. I'd get as near as you can and then sit on their tail if I were you.'

Abbershaw said nothing and the Riley slowly crept up on the other car until she was directly in her head-lights. The Rolls swayed to the side to enable them to pass, but Prenderby did not avail himself of the invitation. Eventually the big car slackened speed but still Prenderby did not attempt to pass.

The next overture from the Rolls was as startling as it was abrupt. The little rear window opened suddenly and a bullet hit the road directly in front of them.

Prenderby swerved and brought the Riley almost to a full stop.

‘A pot-shot at our front tyre,' he said. ‘If he'd got us we'd have turned over. Martin, I believe you're on the right tack. The cove is desperate.'

‘Of course I'm right,' said Martin excitedly. ‘But don't let them get away, man, they'll be out of sight in a minute.'

‘Sorry,' said Prenderby obstinately, ‘I'm keeping my distance. You don't seem to realize the result of a tyre-burst at that pace.'