Alan Hunter: Gently to the Summit

‘Our Assistant Commissioner was convinced we had a case against Kincaid.’

‘Oh, was he?’ The C.C.’s tone sounded deferential but doubting. ‘All the same, it was rather hasty. He showed a lack of judgement, I thought. It doesn’t do our name any good to go throwing capital charges around.’

‘In principle, of course.’ Gently conceded the point ungraciously. ‘But in the circumstances we felt your man acted properly and with intelligence. Kincaid’s apprehension was necessary: he appeared to have had a powerful motive for murder. He was also in funds and he had no ties. He might have disappeared at any moment.’

‘I see your point.’ The C.C. thought about it. He continued to look unenthusiastic. ‘Perhaps I’m being wise after the event, but you must admit I have some grounds for it.’

‘You’re doing less than justice to Evans.’

‘Oh no. I’ve always thought him a good man.’

‘He’s more than that.’ Gently took a plunge. ‘We could use him in Whitehall if you’d agree to his transfer.’

‘If I agree-!’ The C.C. was startled. ‘Good heavens no. I’ll hear of nothing like that.’

‘He’s the sort we need. I can vouch for him personally.’

‘No, Gently. We can’t let you pinch our Evanses.’

But now he looked pleased. He took a turn up the office.

‘It’s like this,’ he said abruptly. ‘Owens here is retiring. It’s been a toss-up whether we promote Evans or move in the superintendent from Bangor. But you’ve seen something of Evans and you seem to think him a deserving customer-’

‘I have to agree with our Assistant Commissioner.’

‘Exactly. And in view of his opinion…’

Gently was still chuckling over that interview when his train pulled away from Menai, leaving Evans, a waving figure, standing alone at the platform’s end. Then he settled to his papers: ‘Kincaid… Dramatic Move… Release’; but by Penmaen-mawr he’d fallen asleep, with the vestige of a smile still lining his face.

For how else could one look at the Kincaid affair? From first to last, it had been a preposterous business.