Sgt Beef - Case Without A Corpse Part 40

What the big? asked the driver naming the make.

That's 'im. Don't go an' lose 'im now. I'll see you're all right out of it.

We had been fortunate enough to get a new taxi with a competent driver, and by the time we had reached the first set of traffic lights we were right on the other car's tail.

CHAPTER x.x.x.

THE BIG CAR was going Southwards.

Do you know, I said after a quarter of an hour, I shouldn't be surprised if he's making for Croydon.

No more shouldn't I, agreed Beef. E'd be off in an aeroplane if I wasn't going to stop 'im.

But why? I asked impatiently. Why is he so anxious to get away?

I could not reconcile myself to the incongruity of that mild little bootmaker das.h.i.+ng towards the air-port in a great hired car, dressed up in his Sunday suit, and with a battered suitcase in his hand.

Is he so frightened of being questioned? I went on, since there was no answer.

I shouldn't say frightened, exactly, said Beef.

Or is it . . . I began more excitedly as a sudden thought struck me, that he wants to see Fairfax? Does he know something against Fairfax? Does he want to find out something from Fairfax?

Now, Mr. Townsend, said Beef, you know very well I can't go telling you everythink. You've 'ad as much chance as wot I ave to get at the truth until this morning. I'm not going to tell you no more. It wouldn't be etiquette.

At least you can tell me how you're going to stop him leaving, I returned. If he really is making for Croydon he's certain to have his pa.s.sport in order. How do you think you're going to prevent his crossing?

Ah, said Beef, that's where you come in

I?.

Yes. You'll 'ave to charge 'im.

Charge him? What with?

For pinching a 'undred pounds off of you, all in one pound notes, wot 'e 'as secreted on 'is person at this minute.

I exploded. Don't be a fool, Beef! I said. D'you think I'm going to pay out thousands of pounds, when he proves that he was wrongfully arrested.

Beef gave a self-satisfied chuckle. 'E won't do that, he said, you trust to me.

I shouldn't consider it, I said. To charge a man with stealing! You ought to be ashamed of yourself as a policeman suggesting such a thing.

Beef coughed. If I could tell you every think I'm blowed if I wouldn't, but I can't, not at this point. But I'll tell you two things, Mr. Townsend. That ole gent in the car in front knows 'oo was murdered, and 'as done all along. And life or death depends very likely on 'is not getting away from England to-night. Now, you've got to 'elp me. I wouldn't take no chances of you losing a lot of money. You won't lose nothink. On'y you've got to charge 'im, see? It's the way to 'old 'im back. You. wouldn't like to feel that when a man's life or death depended on it you was found wanting would you?

Frankly I was bewildered. I had some idea of the seriousness of a step such as Beef wanted me to take. But on the other hand he seemed so sure of himself..

Are you absolutely certain you're right about this?

Yes.

Have you got proof?

Certainly I 'ave.

And you say old Rogers has known all along?

That's right.

And there is no chance whatever of my getting into trouble for doing what you ask?

No there isn't.

Well, I suppose I shall have to do it.

Thank you, Mr. Townsend. That'll be a real 'elp.

I didn't like the implication of his emphasis, 'but I let that pa.s.s. There was now little doubt that we were making for Croydon. The traffic was not so thick here, and Beef had leaned forward to tell our taxi-driver to keep some distance between ourselves and the big blue car in front, lest we should be observed. However the blind had been pulled down at the back of the saloon car so that there was little chance of this.

There is always something stirring about pursuiteven when it is no more than the pursuit of so meagre a quarry as our little bootmaker. It may be, as Stute had indicated when he arranged for the formation of a search party, some primitive hunter's instinct which takes hold of us. But I am sure that old Beef and I sitting side by side in our taxi, felt the thrill of it when at last we reached the air-port and saw the big car turn in to it.

Now then, said Beef, you 'ad that 'undred quid in your room at the 'otel to-day. You saw old Rogers coming out with some excuse about looking for you. When you got in you found 'em gone. You went after 'im but 'is wife said 'e'd left for Croydon. See?

I see, I replied dubiously. But it sounds pretty weak.

It'll do for the minute, said Beef, 'specially when they find the notes on 'im.

The little man was paying the smart and gentlemanly driver of his large car.

'Old on a minute, said Beef to our taxi-man, We'll wait till 'e goes inside. There's police standing there.

We did. As soon as old Rogers had entered our taxi drew up, and we followed him.

The next few minutes are very vivid to me. I may have over-acted a trifle. I think perhaps now that in my excitement I did so. But I was anxious to be convincing. It is not altogether easy to make an accusation sound credible when you are charging an elderly and well-established bootmaker with having stolen 100 from you, when you know perfectly well that you had never carried this sum in notes. I dashed across the station, and, as I afterwards realized, forgot even my grammar in the urgency of the moment.

That's him! I shouted.

Several pa.s.sengers turned towards me, and I was thankful to see that two policemen who had been chatting in the discreet manner of the police, with their eyes on the people about them had turned to watch me.

Stop him! I went on, at the top of my voice.

One of the policemen now slowly came across.

What's the matter? he asked.

I pointed at the narrow back of old Rogers, who had remained apparently oblivious of the shouts behind him.