The Enemy

Ogilvie put the French into English. ‘“He who has found a good son-in-law has gained a son, but he who has picked up a bad one has lost a daughter.” What the hell is that supposed to mean?’

I said, ‘It may be my fault that he’s cut and run. He tackled me again last evening about marrying Penny, and I gave him another refusal. I think that since he couldn’t get her to cut loose from him, he has cut loose from her. If you read the note in that context you’ll see what I mean.’

‘Um. What was his attitude last evening?’

‘He was a walking disaster,’ I said flatly.

‘How much start have they had?’

I sorted through the details I had picked up, then checked the time. ‘I don’t know about Benson, but for Ashton say fifteen hours maximum. I might get to know a bit more in the next few minutes.’

‘We don’t know that he went,’ said Ogilvie objectively. ‘He might have been taken. That note to you may be a fraud. Either case is serious, of course.’

‘I don’t think he was taken. The note is too accurately pointed, and this house is well protected.’

‘Yes, it would be.’ Ogilvie knew enough of the background to make a statement like that. ‘How’s the girl taking it?’

‘She doesn’t know yet. Ashton left her a note, too. I haven’t opened it – I’ll let her do that. I’ll let you know anything that’s relevant.’

‘Think she’ll tell you?’

‘Yes. It’s a funny thing, sir, but I did ask her to marry me last night and she accepted. She was going to tell Ashton when she got home but she said he’d gone to bed. I think he’d already left. If he’d waited another couple of hours he might have decided not to go.’

‘Yes,’ said Ogilvie meditatively. ‘But don’t blame yourself for that.’ I looked up as Larry came into the study. Ogilvie said, ‘Did you disclose yourself to her?’

‘No.’

There was a pause. ‘You take your duties very seriously, don’t you, Malcolm?’

‘I try to. Hang on a minute.’ I looked up at Larry. ‘Well?’

‘There’s an Aston Martin short, and both Benson and Ashton left last night at about half past nine, and didn’t come back.’

The Aston Martin was Penny’s car. I said to Ogilvie, ‘We’ve got a pretty firm time. They left together at nine-thirty last night, probably in a hired car.’ He seemed to be a long time digesting that, so I said, ‘What’s the next step?’

‘There’s going to be a row, of course,’ he said, not sounding too perturbed. ‘But I’ll handle that. What you do is to go through that house like a dose of salts. See if you can find anything to indicate where Ashton has gone. Anything you don’t understand bring here for evaluation.’

I said, ‘That will blow my cover with Penny. I can’t search the house without giving her an explanation.’

‘I know.’

‘Hold on.’ I turned to Larry. ‘Get on the radio – I want everyone here as soon as possible.’

‘Off-shift boys included?’

‘Yes. And go to the gate to make sure they can get in.’

Before speaking to Ogilvie again I glumly contemplated the explanation I’d have to give Penny. It was a hell of a thing to tell a girl you’ve just proposed to, and I had the feeling that our relationship was about to alter for the worse.

I pushed it out of my mind, and said, ‘Do we bring the police in on this?’

I could almost hear Ogilvie’s brains creaking as he thought that one out. At last he said, ‘Not at this stage. I’ll have to push it upstairs for a ruling. Police security is not too good on this sort of thing – they have too many reporters watching them. How long do you think you’ll be there?’

‘I don’t know. It’s a big house and I can see at least one safe from here. If we can’t find keys we may have to take extreme measures. I’ll give you a ring in an hour. I’ll have a better idea by then.’

‘I can’t hold this for an hour. If you look towards London in fifteen minutes you’ll see flames rising from Whitehall. Do your best.’ He rang off.

I put down the telephone and looked thoughtfully at the letter addressed to Penny, then crossed to the safe. It had a combination lock and the door didn’t open when I turned the handle. I went back to the desk and gave it a quick once-over lightly in the hope of finding something useful immediately. There was nothing. Five minutes later I heard a car draw up outside and, thinking it might be Penny, I went outside.

It was Peter Michaelis, one of the team. He came over with an enquiring look on his face, and I said, ‘Stick around.’ He had given Larry a lift from the gate, so I called him over. ‘Take Ashton’s file and start ringing around – his office, factories, every address you find in there. If Ashton is seen he’s to ring his home immediately.’ I shrugged. ‘It won’t work but we must cover it.’

‘Okay.’

An Aston Martin was coming up the drive so I braced myself. ‘Use the telephone in the hall. I want to use the study.’

Larry walked towards the house as Penny’s car came to a fast halt, braked hard. She tumbled out, looking uncertainly at Michaelis, then ran towards me. ‘I’m being followed,’ she said, and whirled around, pointing at the car coming up the drive. ‘He followed me into the grounds.’

‘It’s all right,’ I said, as Brent’s car stopped. ‘I know who he is.’

‘What’s happening?’ she demanded. ‘Who are these men?’ Her voice caught. ‘What’s happened to Daddy?’

‘As far as I know he’s all right.’ I took her elbow. ‘I want you to come with me.’

I took her into the house and she paused in the hall as she saw Larry at the telephone, then quickened her pace again. We went into the study and I picked up the letter from the desk. ‘You’d better read this.’

She looked at me uncertainly before glancing at the superscription. ‘It’s from Daddy,’ she said, and ripped open the envelope. As she read the note she frowned and her face paled. ‘But I don’t … I don’t understand. I don’t …’

‘What does he say?’

Wordlessly she handed the letter to me, then walked over to the window and looked out. I watched her for a moment, then bent my head and read:

My dearest Penny,

For reasons I cannot disclose I must go away for a while. The reasons are not disreputable, nor am I a criminal, although that imputation may be made. My affairs are all in order and my absence should not cause you any trouble financially. I have made all the necessary arrangements: for legal advice consult Mr Veasey of Michelmore, Veasey and Templeton; for financial advice go to Mr Howard of Howard and Page. They have been well briefed for this eventuality.

I do not know for how long I shall have to be away. You will be doing me a great service if you make no attempt at all to find me and, above all, I do not wish the police to be brought into this matter if that can be avoided. I assure you again that my reasons for leaving in this manner are purely private and personal. I will come to no harm because my old friend, Benson, will be looking after me.

It would give me the greatest peace of mind if you would marry your Malcolm as soon as is practically possible. I know that you love him and I know that he wants to marry you very much, and I have a great respect for the intelligence and character of the man you have chosen. Please do not let the matter of poor Gillian impede your plans to marry and, on the occasion, please put a notice in The Times.

I have the greatest confidence that the two of you will be very happy together, and I am equally sure that you will both look after Gillian. Forgive me for the abrupt manner of my departure but it is in the best interests of all of us.

Your loving father,

George.

I looked up. ‘I’m sorry, Penny.’

‘But I don’t understand,’ she cried desolately. ‘Oh, Malcolm, what’s happened to him?’