Arthur Upfield - The Mountains have a Secret

Assuming that Detective Price had been murdered for what he had discovered in or near this Baden Park Hotel and had then been allowed to travel as far as a mile or two this side of Hall’s Gap before being shot to death, the same person or persons might have decided to let him get away before they attempted to deal with him in like fashion. It was, however, unlikely that further violence would be attempted, as the licensee’s objective to be rid of him appeared obvious.

Notwithstanding, Bony took no avoidable chances. He drove along the narrow track to its junction with the Dunkeld Road, his eyes alert for danger and the Superintendent’s automatic on the seat at his side; and, having reached the better road, he drove at high speed all the way to Dunkeld. On four occasions after leaving Dunkeld he halted the car at places of concealment to ascertain whether he was being followed.

It was after three o’clock when he garaged the car and a few minutes to four when, having enjoyed a meal more substantial than afternoon tea, he entered the police station at Ballarat.

“The name is John Parkes,” he told the policeman on duty at the public counter. The man’s eyes narrowed and at once he raised the drop-flat, inviting the caller to pass through.

“Come this way, sir,” he said, and conducted Bony to a room, occupied by the divisional chief.

“So you are Inspector Bonaparte. Very pleased to meet you from the personal angle. Headquarters seem a little anxious about you. Sit down. My name’s Mulligan.” They shook hands.

He looked like a Mulligan, too-large and square of face and cropped hair as black as that of his visitor. Beady black eyes were now twinkling. He called the policeman back and told him to contact Superintendent Bolt at Headquarters. When the door had been closed he went on:

“I’m guessing you’re down in the Gramps on business. Had orders to look you up if you didn’t call in here before midnight. How’s shop?”

Bony looked up from his cigarette-making and smiled.

“Slightly attractive,” he said. “Nice holiday. Beautiful locality. Plenty of local interest. Beer quite good and the cooking excellent.

“The Super said-well, I’ll not repeat it. By shop I meant your official assignment.”

Bony blew out the match and with some deliberation placed it on the ash-tray.

“I know that, Mulligan,” he said lightly. “Your question I’ve answered truthfully. Nothing of apparent consequence has broken so far. Were you down there on the investigation into the Price murder?”

“Yes. And before that on the disappearance of two female hikers.”

“Do you think there is any connection?”

“I’ve never made up my mind about it. Have you?”

Bony was saved having to answer by the telephone. Mulligan took the call.

“Yes, sir. Mulligan here. Mr. Parkes has just called in. Very well, sir.”

Bony accepted the instrument and heard the voice which had spoken so gravely in Melbourne, which had come floating after him on the road to Dunkeld.

“Good afternoon, Super.”

“ ’Day, Bony. How’s things?”

“Going along nicely. Are you taking care of the three gentlemen who were escorted back to the city last night?”

“Great care, Bony. Great care. Two of ’emare stinking eggs, but we haven’t anything very serious on ’emat the moment. Still, we have enough to hold ’emfor a few days. The wrestler was merely a stooge. The tale was put over that you had run away with Edson’s wife and he was persuaded to take it out on you. He’ll keep quiet from now on.”

“The tale is untrue, Super.”

“Of course it is,” shouted Bolt. “I would never believe that of you. You never struck me as being a wolf.”

Bony winced, glared at Mulligan, spoke with deliberate clarity:

“I mean, sir, that the wrestler’s tale of the tale he was told is wrong. From what slipped out, the wrestler acted on a quite different motive. Have you released him?”

“Had to. Nothing on him.”

“All right. What of the man A. B. Bertram?”

“Be easy, old pal,” said the now soothing voice in Bony’s ear. “We’ve been waiting to see if the wrestler contacts Bertram. Nothing against Bertram, either. Been in the country over forty years. Sound in business and a man of substance. You any idea who asked him to make enquiries about you?”

“No. Have you?”

“Not a shred. We got a line on the yardman, Glen Shannon. Home address is in Texas. Was in a paratroops company when discharged from the U.S. Army. Came to Australia last December. Purpose was to meet friends and see the country. Was in Australia for period during military service.”

“Oh! That doesn’t tell me much,” Bony complained. “Learned anything yet of the former yardman, Edward O’Brien?”

“First report by the man on that job received about an hour ago. O’Brien’s sister at Hamilton didn’t know he had left the Baden Park Hotel. She hadn’t heard from him since last June. He seldom wrote. That’s all so far. The senior officer at Portland went into the visit there made by Simpson. He knows Simpson, who has been down there several times during the last two years to go fishing with Mr. Carl Benson and friends. He didn’t see Simpson yesterday afternoon or last night, and he offers the suggestion that Simpson’s visit was in connection with Benson’s launch, which he knows is to be made ready for sea towards the end of the month.”

“Oh! Didn’t mention any date, did he?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, he did. Said the launch was to be ready for Benson and a party of six on Tuesday, March twenty-eighth. Simpson home when you left?”

“Yes. He returned about four.”

“How did he react to the affair last night?”

“Told me to get out. Said I was a crook, too, and that he wasn’t having any gang warfare in his pub.”

“Getting a line on him, or anything?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Bony replied. “Still, I’m not quite satisfied. Likely enough it was he who contacted Bertram. They are musical friends, I believe. It seems that he didn’t like me being around. I find him interesting.”

“I’m finding you interesting too,” growled Bolt. “Go on. What next?”

“I want you to speak to Inspector Mulligan in a minute and ask him to do for me what I intend to ask him to do. I’m going back to Baden Park Hotel but by a different route,”

“Now you are being especially interesting. Go on, pal.”

“That’s all, I think.”

The growl became menacing.

“Oh, is it!” objected Bolt. “Now let me tell you something. I’m not liking this business with you sunk up to your ears in it and cut off from communication. The fact that those men were sent after you is a bad sign. I don’t like bad signs, and I’m telling you. You wait there at Ballarat for one of my men to work with you. I’ll send him off at the toot. I don’t want another Price bump-off on my records.”

“Better one than two more. I can take care of myself. It’s a job that only little me can finalise. When I see the light, if there’s any light to see, I’ll not take chances. I promise that, and you promise not to interfere.”

“And if I don’t?”

A smile spread over Bony’s face.

“Then I go back to Brisbane and report for duty to my own chief.”

“Hug! What a man! What a pal! What a splendid blackmailer! You run the guts out of my car yet?”

“Your car is in excellent condition despite the fact that it’s old and won’t do more than fifty-two miles per hour. Now, are you ready to talk to Inspector Mulligan?”

“S’poseso. You suck me dry, don’t you, but I don’t get the same chance at you. Gosh, I wish I had you on my staff.”

“You’d soon tire of me, Super. Now so long. Have a word with Mulligan, please. And don’t worry about me. I’ll arrange about keeping in contact and all that.”