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Chapter Twenty-Three
Without Frills

On the way to Scotland Yard, in company with several of Grice's men, were Jameson, Ibbetson, Mike and the landlord of The Bargee whom Jolly knew but who was a stranger to the Toff. With them was the driver of the car which had been intended for Jameson's getaway, on exactly the same arrangement as Ibbetson's car had been used during the attack at Chiswick.

Grice's men were questioning the rest of the staff at The Bargee while the Toff, Grice and Jolly stood together in the small parlour of Canal Cottage. In the kitchen the little woman was weeping piteously and young Jameson's father was trying to comfort her.

Convincing evidence had been found in Jameson's room to prove that he had worked with Peveril and several other men â including the car driver and the couple who had tried to attack Paterson near the Bedloe Station. One of them, young Jameson had admitted, had killed Fred at the Vauxhall Bridge Road apartments.

âAnd now we have the whole story without frills,' said the Toff quiedy. âThe question that worried me most was motive. I could believe in a young couple like Paterson and June Lancing trying to destroy evidence which might send one of them to the gallows but I couldn't believe that several different parties all wanted the case for the same reason. Peveril and Ibbetson were obviously separate organisations, both after the black case. I wanted to know why and made a guess.'

âGo on,' said Grice quietly.

âIf the contents of that case were what June Lancing told me, it was worth a fortune to any man unscrupulous enough to use the evidence Brett had gathered as a means of extorting money. That simple motive seemed to me the most likely: Ibbetson and Peveril, both rogues of some cunning, both confident of their ability to work the racket as well as Brett, probably knowing about the case because information against them was inside it, wanted the contents for just that reason. With it they could make money to their heart's content. But of course Brett would object. He did but they knew that he did not leave for America and with Jameson's help they killed him.

âJune Lancing had confided in the Jamesons, her old servants, and the parents had no idea of their son's part in it, so they passed the news on. June doubtless told them that Paterson was to meet Brett outside the Chiswick shop â she knew the interview had been arranged, that Brett had sent for Paterson to discuss further payments. The idea of the man running amok seemed a sound one. They used it to good effect but, when it seemed possible that Jameson would become implicated, he worked up a pretty story which, for a time, convinced me. I wasn't sure of Jameson until I saw him this morning but I had been thinking of him for some time. You see, his parents apart, Jameson was the only man who could have spread news both to Peveril and June Lancing that I was working. Ibbetson, of course, learned it from Peveril. Peveril checked it up by forcing June to tell him the whole truth and, as June had sent me the case, he let her go free.'

âI see,' said Grice slowly. âAnd Jameson has made a statement?'

âHe has and Ibbetson has confirmed a lot of it. Peveril's other man, who was the car driver this morning, admits to having sent two men to kill Paterson last night. Jolly took notes in shorthand,' added the Toff, âbut I don't think you need worry, you've got everything now. The simple motive,' he added slowly. âThe value of the black case was the information in it; they wanted the information, not to save themselves but to use it as Brett had done. Peveril tried to hoodwink me by talking of getting five thousand pounds for it and by trying to persuade me that Ibbetson was working for Lancaster. I doubt whether Lancaster knows anything about it; those letters were probably forgeries.'

âYe-es,' said Grice and pushed a hand through his hair. That's his contention anyhow. He is nervous in case I press the charge too far. I think he has plenty to hide.'

âI doubt whether you'll get anything against him but that's up to you,' said the Toff. âBrett had plenty, in the case, but we know what happened to that. It's odd,' he added thoughtfully. âBrett died before I heard of him and I haven't met Lancaster. The hierarchy of big business evaded me. I would have liked a cut at them. However, it didn't work out that way,' he added with a crooked smile. âWill you look after everything and let Paterson and June know what's what as soon as you can? You'll want to verify everything before you release them, of course, but ask them to go to my flat when you've finished.'

âI will,' promised Grice and then added with some embarrassment: âRoily, I feel badly about this. I should have known better thanâ'

âHush!'exclaimed the Toff. âA policeman never apologises!' He rested a hand on Grice's shoulder and added: âI'm glad it worked the way it did. The first real glimmering came when I saw a possible source of the rumour that I was deeply involved in the affair. And when I remembered that June Lancing had learned it from the Jamesons, because of my visitâ'

He shrugged while the crying woman in the next room grew quieter and her husband's tones grew softer and still more soothing. Rollison did not like what had happened to them and yet there was nothing he could do to offer comfort. But he told them to call on him for anything they needed and then went to the nearby houses and redeemed his promise of ample compensation to Mrs. Mee and even more generously rewarded the less avaricious Good Samaritan next door.

Jolly went ahead of him to the flat and Sammy Diver's men, satisfied with their brief appearance, were on the way to Aldgate.

Rollison strolled along the canal thoughtfully, thinking of the desperate lies June had first told him, of her story of being an alien related so plausibly and, like that of Jameson, once deceiving him. His chief anxiety was that Gerry Paterson might face a charge of the murder of Brett's secretary and, before he returned to Gresham Terrace, he interviewed a rotund little man in the Public Prosecutor's office, who shook his head sorrowfully after he had heard the story of Paterson's confession â without learning names â and said: âRollison, my boy, you're not yourself.
If
all the evidence is hearsay,
if
there is none stronger than that,
if
everything that we could use in court was destroyed in that black box and when Brett diedâwhy, there isn't a case. The youngster's made a confession, you say?'

âTo me, not the police.'

âThen tell him to keep quiet. Tell Grice yourself and let Grice work it out. I don't think he'll want to prefer a charge. I'm quite sure any barrister could get a “not guilty” verdict even if he sent it to court. Your young friend hasn't much to worry about.'

In a much more cheerful frame of mind, the Toff returned to Gresham Terrace. Outside the flat a plain clothes man was waiting; inside were June and Paterson. He assured himself quickly that June had told the police everything except Gerry's encounter at Brett's office.

âOf course I didn't tell them that!' exclaimed June. âI'm not quite mad. And in any case it wasn't deliberate, it was accidental. You yourself said it would be reduced to a manslaughter charge!'

âSo I did,' smiled the Toff, âbut it needn't go as far as that, if you watch your step. Grice has put a man to watch you but he has to do that until everything is over.' He glanced at his watch and his eyes widened. âWe've just time for some lunch and then I must get to the office. We'll go out for it. Jolly, will you have a holiday and come with us?'

âI think I would prefer to stay here, sir, thank you,' said Jolly and later watched from the window as they walked along the Terrace.

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