Inspector Alleyn 3-Book Collection 1: A Man Lay Dead, Enter a Murderer, The Nursing Home Murder

‘That,’ said Angela mildly, ‘establishes a beautiful alibi, doesn’t it?’

‘A bit too beautiful, you think,’ observed Alleyn appreciatively. ‘Sagacious woman, you have stolen my stock bit of thunder. Yet sing he did, and—unless, as I have said, he did pause without anyone noticing the sudden lull, or unless he’s a ventriloquist and threw the Death of Boris upstairs and along the back corridor—it’s a teaser to get rid of. Well, here we are again. Let me say finally that there were no fingerprints on the dagger or on the strap from which it was taken, only Bathgate’s prints on the electric switch and a muck-up of everybody’s on the banister. Talking of the banister, Miss Angela, do you ever slide down it?’

‘Yes—often,’ said Angela, startled. ‘We have competitions, face first without hanging on.’

‘You did this on Saturday, perhaps?’

‘No.’

‘Can you go down face first? It’s a bit tricky.’

‘I can. Marjorie can’t, and Doctor Tokareff was hopeless when we did it last weekend.’

‘Look here!’ shouted Nigel suddenly, ‘what about Mary?’

‘Mystery solved,’ said Alleyn. ‘Shall we go to a cinema, or would you rather return immediately?’

‘Don’t mock me,’ insisted Nigel. ‘Mary was the last to see him. She could have done it. And what was she doing in the front of the house? She’s a tweeny. Her place is the back stairs. Look for the motive.’

‘I shall. Meanwhile, I want Miss Angela to look for something else. She is going to the Wildes’ house in Green Street. I want you, Miss Angela, to go in and pretend to be a good deal sillier than you really are.’

‘I suppose you mean to be nice,’ said Angela. ‘Who do I ask for in my silly way?’

‘You ask whoever comes to the door—will it be a maid or a butler?—if they know where Sandilands is. You say you are in London unexpectedly, and Mrs Wilde asked you to call.’

‘Now listen,’ began Angela rebelliously.

‘It’s no good,’ Alleyn interrupted, ‘raising schoolgirl scruples. When you do this job you will be helping to clear an innocent person, if she is, as you seem to believe, innocent. Well?’

‘Go on, please.’

‘You are to say you are simply too stupid for words and cannot remember the message, but it was something Mrs Wilde wanted, and you think Sandilands the sewing-maid has it or knows where it is. You may say—yes, I think you may say—it is a letter or some letters. Shake your curls.’

‘Revolting,’ murmured Angela.

‘Be vague and fashionable and “charming to the servant” all at once. Murmur something about Tunbridge, and ask if they can help.’

‘About Tunbridge?’

Alleyn told her of the intercepted letter. To his astonishment Angela burst out laughing.

‘My poor pet,’ gasped Angela annoyingly, ‘and did you think you ought to go to Tunbridge, and were you all muddledy-puddledy?’

‘Miss Angela,’ said Alleyn, ‘it is not fitting that you should address a limb of the law as your poor pet on such a short acquaintance. I must confess that Tunbridge has been a difficulty. I have had exhaustive inquiries made. The Wildes, so far as I can trace them, know no one at Tunbridge, and you tell me they never visit the place. The letter said “destroy parcel in Tunbridge B.”. Why B? The great detective is baffled, I do assure you.’

‘You’ll be the death of me,’ Angela assured him. ‘Do you know anything about cabinet-making or Victorian objets d’art?’

‘I don’t collect them.’

‘Well, I shall for you—tonight.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I haven’t the smallest intention of telling you,’ said Angela.

CHAPTER 13 The Russian Element (#ulink_af971d46-0c9c-5b3c-994e-754f8a4609ed)

There was a short silence, broken by Angela.

‘Does Nigel come with me to the Wildes’?’ she asked.

‘If you don’t mind—no. I’ve a job for him here. We will both get into the car with you. Vassily will see us out, and we two will leave the car once it is out of sight of the house. There is a garage two hundred yards up the street. Will you park the Bentley there and take a taxi to the Wildes’? When you have got your parcel and had your Tunbridge fun, whatever it is—I’m trusting you there, young woman—please return to—where shall we say?—the Hungaria. I’ll book a table. Wait for us there. Do you mind?’

‘Of course not,’ Angela assured him. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘Honestly there isn’t time to tell you, and you must allow me my smack of officialdom.’

Alleyn rang and Vassily appeared. The inspector told him that he was going back to Frantock and would be away for two days. They put on their coats and hats and three minutes later were looking back at the silhouette of the old butler bowing in the lighted doorway.

Angela drove the car up the cul-de-sac and into Coventry Street, stopping outside the garage Alleyn had indicated. He and Nigel got out.

‘Au revoir,’ said Alleyn, leaning in at the driving-window. ‘If we are not at the Hungaria by twelve, ring up this number and ask for Inspector Boys. Quote the code number written on the card, say who you are and ask him to raid my flat.’

‘Really?’

‘Really. Good hunting.’

‘Goodbye darling,’ shouted Nigel brazenly, and he and Alleyn walked back towards the flat. Alleyn spoke rapidly.

‘Listen carefully, Bathgate. Take a taxi to 128 Little Pryde Street and ask there for Mr Sumiloff. He is working with me on the Russian side of this case and expects a call. Tell him I asked you to communicate with him and that he is to ring up my house and speak to Vassily in Russian. He is to say headquarters are unsafe, but Kuprin suggests an immediate meeting of the committee in my house. If Vassily hesitates, he is to say that I have been watched and have left in the Bentley for Frantock. He is to instruct Vassily and then summon the committee by telephone at once. He is to stress the fact that my house is the most unlikely and therefore the safest rendezvous. He is to suggest a password, and all who arrive at the flat are to use it before gaining admittance. All this Sumiloff is to tell Vassily to organize. I will go over it again. Have you a pencil and paper? Good. Shorthand? Aren’t you the clever one? Then note the name, Sumiloff.’ Alleyn went over his instructions again.

‘I’ve got that,’ said Nigel.

‘Sumiloff is then to go to the flat and gain admittance by the use of the password. He is to say that Kuprin has been arrested for the murder of the Pole, Krasinski, and has asked him to go to the meeting in his stead. He must pitch a yarn to cover himself. Tell him to make certain of Yansen attending the meeting. Yansen cannot speak Russian, only Swedish and English. It is important he should be there. Note that down. That’s right. Now off you go.’

‘One moment, Alleyn,’ said Nigel. ‘I understand that Vassily is in the thick of it after all.’

‘He’s in direct and constant communication with the brotherhood, but I do not wish him to think I suspect this. I am under the impression he yearns to be out of it, but dare not say so. I thought it better not to give you these instructions in the flat. Your manner is so very eloquent, Bathgate.’

‘Where do I go when the party is on?’

‘You? To the Hungaria, where you may inform Miss Angela of the situation. First of all, though, you wait with Sumiloff while he rings up Vassily. If Vassily agrees to receive the committee, you then ring him up yourself—no, wait a bit, that won’t do—yes it will. Say you want the Frantock number, as I have asked you to ring me up there tonight. Then go and book a table for three at the Hungaria and wait for us. Goodbye—you’ll like Sumiloff—he’s a charming fellow. Here’s a taxi for you.’