John Creasey: Send Superintendent West

“Provided she can’t harm Ricky again.”

There’s no question of that. She and Shawn will part, of course — will part? They’ve parted. I think she had almost stifled his love for her, during the past few months he was clinging to it only because he thought it was the one way to keep Ricky. His folk will go to the Connecticut house and make it ready for the boy. He talks of making Belle an allowance, enough to live on. You never liked Shawn, did you?” Marino’s lips puckered.

“We could use more Shawns,” said Roger.

“I won’t even guess at die way it will work beyond that, Roger. Except that Shawn is going back to Europe. He’ll have a month or so here, and then start work again. He might take Ricky with him.

“I’ve seen Gissing again,” Marino went on. “I’ve talked to Pullinger, Jaybird and the others. It all adds up to the same thing — that Gissing didn’t lie to you. It began in a small way, but when Gissing realized how high we rated Shawn, he thought he could make it much bigger. Pullinger located him and asked what silence would be worth — that’s how they got together. Pullinger was always very clever. He had himself drugged at the same time as you, called another of our men, but didn’t expect to get on to the car you were taken off in. When the other man came upon it, Pullinger played it out, leading the way as if by chance to Webster’s old house. His colleague was kidnapped, he “escaped”. It sounded fine.”

Marino paused.

“No Red scare case, after all. You’ve guessed, I suppose, that we were as nervous of a Red scare in the Press as we were of anything, there’s trouble enough without that. If the Press had got hold of a Red angle — I needn’t tell you.”

Roger laughed. “I’ve been looking through some of your newspapers. I see what you mean.”

“It wouldn’t do to have the whole of the world’s Press as cold-blooded and austerity-ridden as yours,” said Marino slyly. “Well, Roger, I guess that’s about all, except just one thing. As soon as you can fix it, I want you and your wife, and the boys as well if you’ll bring them, to come here for a vaca-tion. A month, two months, as long as you like. You’ll be our guests. Will you do that?”

“Even you wouldn’t dare try to stop Janet if she hears of it,” Roger said softly.

“I’ll write to her tonight,” promised Marino. He sipped his drink. “Well, I guess that really is all.”

Roger finished his drink and poured himself another, sat back and stretched his legs out. “How long will Lissa be in hospital?”

“Two or three weeks, they say, and then twice as long convalescing at home. Then she’ll come back to work with me. Would you like to see her before you leave?”

“I don’t think so,” said Roger. “Just give her my love, and tell her I’m looking forward to seeing her in London. If she’s interested, I’ll take her round the Yard one day.”

• • •

He arrived at London Airport in the small hours, and as soon as he had passed through the Customs, there was Janet to meet him. There were fifty or more other people waiting with her, but he saw only Janet; and he saw her as if he were really looking at her clearly for the first time. She gasped when he hugged her, but the light in her eyes did him good. They didn’t say much.

The Yard had sent a car and a driver, and they sat in the back and were driven through the dark streets of the suburbs and of London. The glare of the lights of New York seemed like a dream; and it wasn’t the only thing that had been a dream.

There was nothing in it that he wanted to forget, now; just a little he didn’t want to share with Janet; he could share everything else. The swift onslaught of unwanted passion had caught but never conquered him, and he had no regrets.

• • •

Marino’s letter arrived and brought its sensation to Bell Street. They wouldn’t be able to go for several months, but that didn’t stop Janet from planning or the boys from talking. It was still the chief topic of discussion at the turn of the year, when Roger left Bell Street one morning, knowing that it would not be long before he would have to set a date so that they could start counting the days. He had a curious reluctance to telephone Marino. He knew that Lissa was back in England, and had twice had dinner with Shawn, who had brought Ricky with him in the charge of a middle-aged woman who had thawed most of the ice of fear out of the boy’s mind.

At his office, the telephone rang.

“West speaking.”

“It’s a Mr Marino, Mr West, from the United States Embassy.”

“Oh! Put him through.”

“Is that you, Roger?” Marino asked, and his voice was filled with warmth.

“Hi, Tony!”

“Hi yourself. When are you taking your family to see God’s own country?”

“You’re going to have a shock soon,” Roger said. “I can’t hold ‘em back much longer.”

“Make it as soon as you can. Spring is a wonderful time in the Adirondacks! Don’t keep putting it off, Roger. That invitation comes from Lissa, too.”

“Just give me time to soften my chief up.” He paused for Marino’s chuckle. “How is Lissa?”

“She’s just fine,” said Marino, “and she’d like to talk to you.” Marino paused, as if he knew that Roger might want a moment to get used to that; but he needn’t have paused. “Before she does, I’ve some news for you. About Lissa. She can’t be sane, Roger, she surely can’t be sane. She’s going to marry me. How do you like that?”

Lissa’s voice sounded in the background.

“He’d better like it. Let me talk to him.” A moment passed. “Hi, Roger,” Lissa said. “Tell Tony it’s the sanest thing I’ve ever done, will you?”

“Sanest?” He stopped himself from saying “bravest”.

“Luckiest!”

It was good to hear her laughter.

THE END