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Authors: John Creasey

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BOOK: The Toff and the Kidnapped Child

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23
PARTING

It was half-past three the following afternoon when Rollison stepped out of the Rolls-Bentley, which had been driven by one of the Hapley police force, and went to his own front door. He was feeling rested and fairly fresh, although his right shoulder felt twice its usual size, and he had been told that it would be several weeks before he could use it properly; the shoulder blade had been chipped. He reached his own flat and Percy Wrightson gave him a beaming welcome, stood back, jerked his head towards the big room, and said in a gargantuan whisper: “They're in there.”

“Thanks, Percy,” Rollison said.

Percy thrust open the big door, and Rollison went in. Kane was standing by the window, looking at him. Eve was moving towards the door from a chair near the Trophy Wall, hands outstretched. She gripped his left hand, and he saw the tears in her eyes; he also saw that she had a better colour, and that the drugged sleep had really helped herThat â and the news.

“How is Caroline?” Rollison asked, and Eve said quietly: “She's with my mother, Rolly. You were having that bullet taken out when I reached the school and they wouldn't let me see you.”

“They were quite right,” said Rollison, and glanced at Kane. Kane looked more rested, too, and more in control of himself â nothing like the man who would have shot and killed him. “Hallo, Kane.”

Kane said: “I'll never be able to thank you, Rollison.”

“Oh, forget it!”

“We won't forget it,” Eve said, with a catch in her voice.

“Well, at least make sure that Caroline does,” Rollison said. There was a pause, and then the rattle of crockery outside, and the door opened to admit Aggie Wrightson, carrying the best silver tray with the best silver teapot, the best china; everything which Jolly reserved for the really special occasions. And there were wafer-thin sandwiches, and a fruit cake; Mrs Wrightson meant to make sure that everything was done as it should be.

“Very glad to see you home, Mr Rollison,” she said. “And isn't it good news about Mr Jolly? Did you know? Dr Welling says that he's out of danger.”

“He told me this morning,” Rollison said. “It's wonderful news. Thanks, Aggie.”

She went out.

“Rollison,” Kane said, “we all know that the school was used as a hiding place for missing girls, we know exactly how the kidnapping and the ransom was done, we know which of the members of the staff were involved, but â how much do you know about the rest?”

“Nothing,” Rollison answered promptly, “but I can guess a lot.”

“Guess, please,” Eve said.

“If you'll pour the tea.” Rollison watched her as she shifted the tray to a more convenient position, and was glad that there was this to occupy her while he talked. “Kane, how much have you told Eve?”

“Everything.”

“Ah,” said Rollison. “That's what I hoped. As for guessing â well, you often visit the places where the Leonis operate, don't you? You knew a great deal about them, and I didn't think it would affect you so much if you were simply going on what they'd told you; you knew all about them. And there was Leah. Eve always thought that Leah was just another
affaire
, but there were a lot of reasons for doubting that it was the whole truth. So I began to wonder what other hold she might have on you â and what other hold you were trying to break. That was fairly early on, soon after my mind began to work. I could understand the Leah I saw getting vicious with you, as a mistress, but I couldn't see her as a woman who would telephone Eve, and carry the war into your camp. There was something deeper, and â well, you acted for the Leonis for years, didn't you?”

Kane said huskily: “Yes. In a way.”

“I haven't guessed what way,” Rollison said quietly, and took his tea. “I needn't try, either.”

Eve said: “You've got to know.”

“I want you to know,” Kane said, and waved his hands, “becauseâwell, because we need your advice. The Leonis will talk to the police, of courseâI'm surprised they haven't come to arrest me by now.”

Rollison lifted his cup awkwardly.

“Did you keep them away?” Eve asked.

Rollison said: “I persuaded the police that if they would let Ralph Kane talk to me, I was more likely to get a completely unbiased story than if they started to question him right away. The police are always helpful when they can be. This time they know that it was Felix Leoni who ran their man Jeff down in the Hillman, which was used later to damage the car near Marple Guest House. They know it was Higgs who came to London and injured a man in Marple Street yesterday. They know they've got the two men who matter most under lock and key, andâwell, the police are never vindictive. If you decide to turn Queen's Evidence you might find that things won't be too tough.”

“I thought you would suggest that,” Kane said. “It's almost a relief to know that you think they'd give me some consideration.”

“They would give you a lot, if you told everything you know,” Rollison assured him. “It would have to be everything.”

“Yes,” Kane agreed, and repeated almost sharply: “Yes, I would never be able to live it down in this country, of course, butâ” He seemed to square his shoulders, as if adjusting his mind to take whatever the future held. “It is very simple, Rollison. In the first place, I have always beenâwell, I will say highly susceptible. I have a certain presence and a way with young women particularly, and it was often easy to persuade one of them to come away with me. I have told Eve, and thank God she believes me, that I was never serious about them. It was a kind of compulsion, but you will hardly need me to explain that. The Leonis found out about this weakness of mine, and made certain propositions to me: that I should attract certain young women away from their families, ostensibly to elope with me, and leaving it to the Leonis to make a financial settlement. I take no pride in this, Rollison, but it is necessary to tell you the truth. The Leonis offered me money. The proposition revolted me, but I was badly in debt, chiefly through gambling. I hated the fact that I was poor and my wife was wealthy. I accepted two commissions, as one might say, thinking I could then back out. It was not easy, and I began to rationalise the situation. After all, the girls were old enough to know what they were doing, the parents were always wealthy, and, as far as I knew, nothing worse happened to the girls. But between the time ofâerâa romantic attachment and being held to ransom, as it were, by the Leonis, one girl tried to escape and was found dead in France. The Leonis said that they could offer proof that I had strangled her. From then on I was inextricably involved. But when a few months later another girl was killed in the same way I told them that nothing would make me go on with this. They countered by threats against Eve, and Caroline, for they had come to rely on me a great deal. I did not know that Caroline's school had been used as a hiding place almost from the time that Caroline went there. With characteristic thoroughness, the Leonis found out about an old secret in Miss Ellerby's pastâmany years ago she was in prison, for fraud, under an assumed name. Any disclosure would have been ruinous to the school, and it is now obvious that Miss Ellerby cooperated most willingly, for a substantial consideration. The possibility of danger to Caroline terrified me. I warned Miss Ellerby to take especial care with her, having no idea of the futility of that, and told the Leonis that whatever the consequences, I would go to the police rather than continue to help them. I think it true to say that as my own daughter approached maturity, I realised more and more the nature of what I had been doing.

“The Leonis changed their tune, and I thought I had frightened them. They asked me to lie low while they finished a delicate negotiation with the parents of a girl whom I had known a few weeks ago. This was not unreasonable, and I was desperately anxious to avoid an open breachâI thought I might yet avoid any disclosures.

“So I stayed at the guest house, where I had often gone to see the Leonis.” Kane looked wryly at his wife, and went on: “If I were wanted there, Leah Soloman would telephone me. Whenever I began to be difficult she would telephone Eve, and the Leonis would threaten to tell Eve the whole story. Leah didn't enjoy it, but she has always been completely dominated by Max Leoni, almost against her will. She was afraid Max wouldâwould treat Caroline as he had so many others, and she knew how young Caroline was. Anyhow, I went to the guest house, believing that if I cooperated with the Leonis over this, the rest might work itself out. Then I was told they had kidnapped Caroline. I'd believed they were out of the country, and had been lulled into a completely false sense of security where Caroline was concerned.

“From then on, I dared make no move, for fear of what they would do to Caroline. I had to do what they told meâand I did so.”

Kane stopped, at last, and it was a little while before Eve said: “I think I know everything else, Rolly.”

“Yes,” said Rollison, and smiled reassuringly. “Everything that matters, anyhow. I haven't any doubt that you should turn Queen's Evidence, Kane. In fact, I think if I were you I would telephone the office of the Assistant Commissioner and say that you have a statement to make; that would get you off to a good start.”

Kane said, slowly: “I will. Just one thing, Rollison.”

“Yes?”

“How long a sentence do you think I'll get?”

“They'll have to charge you, and you'll get something,” Rollison said. “It depends how good a lawyer you have, and how much you can convince the judge and jury that you acted under duress. I should sayâ” He hesitated, knowing that they were hanging on his words, and not anxious to be too optimistic or too pessimistic: “Three years, perhaps.”

Eve exclaimed: “No more?”

“I would be surprised if it were much more.”

Eve turned to look at her husband. He was staring at her, and there was a hint of a smile at his lips as he moved forward, put a hand on her shoulder, and then lifted the telephone from the desk, and began to dial. Rollison was looking at Eve, and he believed that she knew what was in his mind; that he had never looked upon a woman with greater longing. There was so much that he could have said, but nothing he must allow himself to say.

Kane finished dialling, and after a moment, said: “I would like to speak to the Assistant Commissioner For Crime, please. I have a statement to make about the Leoni brothers . . .”

Jolly came back from a month's convalescence a few days before the trial of the Leoni brothers, Miss Ellerby, Kane and the others began. During the trial, Rollison was at the Old Bailey most of the time, with Eve. On the last day, Caroline was with her mother, and when the judge passed sentence Kane was looking both at his wife and daughter, and hardly seemed to hear the words: “. . . and in view of your consistent efforts to simplify the work of the police and in view of the evidence that in some of the offences committed you acted under threat of violence I propose to be lenient and to sentence you to three years' imprisonment.”

Eve and Caroline were looking at the man in the dock. Rollison doubted whether Eve realised who was sitting by her side. He knew and she knew that it would be folly to meet again; it would be best if he left her right away. So he went out of the court, and walked across London to Gresham Terrace, remembering that Joe Locket, Harry Mills, the Cartwrights and all of Ebbutt's friends would be looking eagerly for the sentences, and would rejoice at the life sentences which the Leoni brothers got, at the seven years for Miss Ellerby, and the lesser sentences on the others. He walked up to his flat, and Jolly opened the door, a plump, sun-bronzed and healthy looking Jolly, who murmured a greeting and thrust open the door of the big room, then went into his own quarters.

On the desk was a small packet, addressed to Rollison. He opened it. Inside there was tissue paper and, inside that, a lock of hair, companion to the lock which had been used to force Eve into compliance. And there was a card attached, reading simply:
“Thank you: from all of us.”
He picked up the lock of hair, took the other from his desk, and then examined the Trophy Wall, wondering where it was best to put this reminder not only of a case, but of a parting.

Series Information

Published or to be published by

House of Stratus

Dates given are those of first publication

Alternative titles in brackets

'The Baron' (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)

'Department 'Z'' (28 titles)

'Dr. Palfrey Novels' (34 titles)

'Gideon of Scotland Yard' (22 titles)

'Inspector West' (43 titles)

'Sexton Blake' (5 titles)

'The Toff' (59 titles)

along with:

The Masters of Bow Street
This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey's account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel's Act in 1829.

'The Baron' Series