Colin Forbes - The Main chance

There was tension inside the cabin. Paula made an attempt to defuse it. She looked at Snape. `What do you use it for?' `Ahr He was grinning sadistically. 'I see a bunch of rabbits clustered together on top of a grassy hill eating. I aim once, fire. I press the trigger and one blast from that shotgun wipes out the lot. Don't even have to clean up the mess. Foxes arrive in the evening and gulp down everything.' `A massacre,' Marler said in the same cold tone. `You're in the country here,' Snape protested. "Then I'll take the city every time,' Paula snapped without looking at Snape.

She turned round and found Tweed standing very still behind her. She couldn't read his expression. Next to him stood Lavinia. Her expression was grim, her lips pursed.

Turning round again Paula saw that Marler had put on gloves, was using a handkerchief to wipe his prints off the weapon. He placed it carefully back inside its clamp, opened a small drawer and dropped the shells inside it with others already there. He locked the cupboard, threw the key to Snape, who missed catching it. As he bent down to pick it up he glared venomously at Marler. `Tweed, Paula, Marler,' Newman called from the door. 'Let's go for a walk.. `I'm going back to the manor,' Lavinia told them. `Heaven knows what's going on there' `I feel like a bit of gambling,' Marshal decided, then headed back the way they had come. `Gambling?' queried Paula to Lavinia who was still close to her. `I'm going to stop it,' Lavinia said. She whispered, `Another technical team arrived from London very early this morning. Sergeant Warden apologized to me for the delay. They had a photographer who took lots of pictures of those horrible collar things found in Crystal's room. Then they took them away, carefully packed, and also her blouses. I'm so sure someone planted them on her, but who?' `Are you coming with us or not?' Newman's voice called out from where a path turned a corner. 'You'll be interested.'

With Marler in the lead and followed by Tweed, Newman and Paula walked a devious route through The Forest. Paula had an idea they were heading towards the main road – and the wall. She was right. The Forest ended suddenly. Beyond was open ground and the high wall. A telescopic ladder, fully open, was propped against it. Newman waved towards it and looked at Paula. `Ups-a-daisy.'

She shinned up the ladder swiftly. Along the top of this part of the wall the barbed wire had a gap. The ends at each end were strung out. Across the road The Forest was a dark barrier. She descended rapidly. `Someone clipped the wire to make the ghastly collars,' she said. `Right first time'

He bent down to pick up a long deep grey metal box, lifted the lid. The box was empty, but the insides were covered with scratches. Newman gestured towards it. `We found this in a small shed outside Snape's cabin. We borrowed it without asking him. He wasn't there at the time.' `So,' Paula said thoughtfully, 'the murderer had metal clippers. First to get his raw material, then to convert them into those awful collars. But where did he obtain the wooden handles?' `We may never know,' said Marler.

Returning to the manor they heard a lot of excited chatter from the main library. Guided part of the way by Newman, Tweed and Paula entered by the back door, ignoring Mrs Grandy's baleful look.

Inside the library was a long square table covered with green baize. On one side was a roulette wheel with Lavinia standing opposite the three players as she acted as croupier.

The three players facing her were Crystal, Marshal and Warner. Crystal had a few chips in front of her to continue playing. Marshal had a fairly large pile. Warner had the largest pile.

Standing next to Paula and Marler, Tweed ignored the state of the game. He had learned long ago it was the faces you watched since this could give you a clue to character.

The game went on for a while without anyone risking much. Then the atmosphere changed, became tense. Crystal laid all she had left on black. Red came up as the ball settled in the slot on the wheel. `Silly game,' she burst out. `Of course it's silly,' Lavinia said. 'It's worse when you have bankers gambling. Shouldn't be allowed.' `Don't start that again,' Marshal shouted. go on saying it until you stop for good. It's wrong.' `Don't you tell me what's wrong. You're an amateur at everything,' Marshal bellowed.

He pushed his entire pile of chips forward. 'All on the red.'

Just before Lavinia set the wheel in motion Warner pushed his own huge pile of chips forward. `All on the black,' he said quietly.

The wheel spun, seemed to take forever to slow down, then almost stopped. The ball hovered on the red, then slipped over and settled on the black. Lavinia used her rake to transfer Marshal's chips to add to Warner's pile. `We need fresh air in here!' Marshal yelled.

Lavinia walked quickly to the window, opened it wide. She was followed by Marshal who snatched up the wheel, hurled it out of the window. They all heard it shatter on the terrace. `Kids' game,' Marshal shouted as he stormed out of the room.

Warner remained seated. He hadn't moved a muscle or showed any reaction during the game, let alone said anything. Now he turned and his glance caught Paula's. Their eyes met. As Warner's large rock-like head gazed at her he had a strange smile on his face. It was the first time Paula had seen him smile since she'd arrived. It was a peculiar smile, she thought, as his gravelly voice rumbled, 'Winner takes all.'

`We're driving down to Seacove in Cornwall today.'

Tweed had waited in the corridor for Paula to emerge from her apartment. From her expression he knew he had taken her by surprise. `Why are we doing that? I suppose that's why you told me last night to be ready for breakfast at seven- thirty. But why are we going all that way?'

Tweed explained. Later the previous day, after Marshal had hurled out the roulette wheel then stormed out, he had invited Tweed to join him in the smaller library outside Bella's study.

Marshal had recovered, had been in his usual buoyant mood. He had urged Tweed, with Paula, to join him in a trip down to Seacove. Tweed had agreed at once. `Why?' Paula asked again. `Because I need to see Marshal – what he is like, away from this manor where the atmosphere is becoming claustrophobic.' `I need something warm for going down there, don't I?' she asked after eyeing the heavy knee-length overcoat folded over his arm. `I'd advise it. I'm going down now. See you at breakfast.'

After the meal, Tweed stood with Paula by the Audi at the back of the manor. She took his arm and squeezed it. `Do you mind if I drive?' `I was going to suggest you did…'

Driving round to the terrace they found the Rolls parked, Marshal at the wheel, Snape holding open a rear passenger door.

Paula parked behind the Rolls, the driver's door flew open and Marshal stormed back to Paula's open window. He glared as he spoke. `What the devil do you think Snape's holding open the rear door for?' `I have no idea,' she replied with a smile. `Because,' he rasped, 'you were supposed to be travelling down with me. Isn't a Rolls good enough for you? What's happened to the beat-up old Merc? Conked out at last?' `It's Newman's car and he's using it today,' she said with another smile. 'And I prefer independent transport. So does Tweed.' `If you don't follow me closely you'll never get there…' `You handled that well,' Tweed said quietly as they drove away.

The gates were opening as the Rolls approached them. Tweed glanced back, saw Lavinia in the doorway. She had opened the gates and waved. Tweed waved back.

Driving along the narrow lane to Gladworth, Paula kept her distance behind the Rolls, which was roaring along, headlights on blinding full beam, horn honking non-stop. `I won't lose him,' she promised Tweed, 'but I need space. Then if he hits something I've time to pull up.' `Very sensible.'