Comes the Dark Stranger - Jack Higgins [36]
Shane frowned, suddenly on guard. ‘Joe Wilby, you mean? Yes, I was in Korea with him.’ Lomax still looked at him steadily, the slight fixed smile on his mouth, and Shane said angrily, ‘Look here, what is this?’
Lomax pushed his hat to the back of his head and said calmly. ‘Joe Wilby stuck his head in the gas-oven early this morning. His wife spent the night with friends. She only found him an hour ago.’
Shane took a deep breath and reached for a cigarette. ‘And what’s it got to do with me?’ he said calmly.
Lomax frowned and examined the bowl of his pipe. ‘Wilby’s wife seems to think that you’ve had something to do with her husband’s death, Mr Shane,’ he said gently. ‘I wonder if you’d mind coming down to the station with me? I’d like you to make a statement.’
11
THE inquest was held on the following morning, and afterwards Shane went back to the hotel, his mind a prey to conflicting emotions. He sat on the bed and stared out of the window at the driving rain, thinking about what had happened. After a while there was a knock on the door and Lomax came in.
He stood at the end of the bed, lighting his pipe, and his face was grave. Shane looked up and said sourly. ‘What the hell do you want? The coroner said all there was to be said.’
Lomax shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not, Shane. I know he gave you a rough time, but we’ve got to face facts. There seems to be no doubt that Wilby committed suicide for one reason only. He was afraid of you. He felt that you were hounding him because of what happened in Korea. The note he left proves that.’
Shane got to his feet and walked to the window. ‘Let’s get to the point, Inspector. I’ve got things to do.’
‘Not in this town,’ Lomax said evenly.
There was a moment of silence, and Shane turned slowly and looked at him. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Lomax shrugged. ‘I’ve found out a lot about you since yesterday afternoon. I know what happened to you in Korea, and I know where you’ve been for the past six or seven years. You’ve had a rough break, but that doesn’t alter the facts.’
‘And just what are the facts as you see them?’ Shane said.
Lomax frowned and there was a serious expression on his face. ‘This obsession of yours has caused too much trouble as it is. I think you ought to catch a train for London this afternoon. Maybe you should enter that hospital now.’
Shane shook his head. ‘Nothing doing,’ he said definitely. ‘For me that hospital is the end of the line. I’ve still got a few more days coming to me.’
‘Not in this town,’ repeated Lomax firmly.
Shane smiled grimly. ‘You can’t run me out and you know it.’
‘Can’t I?’ Lomax said gently. ‘You’ve just spent six years in an institution. What would happen if I got the superintendent on the phone and told him you were a danger to yourself and those around you?’
Shane took a quick step towards him, his face contorted with rage, and Lomax shook his head. ‘Now don’t try anything silly. It won’t get you anywhere.’ He walked to the door and opened it. When he turned, there was pity on his face. ‘I’m sorry about this, Shane. As I said before, you’ve had a rough break, but if you’re not on that train this afternoon I’ll have to make that phone call.’ The door closed gently and he was gone.
Shane stood in the centre of the room for several minutes staring at the door, and then he went into the bathroom and swilled cold water over his face. His temples were throbbing and there was a slight ache behind one eye. He took two of his pills and went into the bedroom and packed his grip. Five minutes later he went downstairs and asked for his bill at the desk.
It was raining hard when he left the hotel, and he took a cab from the rank at the end of the street and told the driver to take him to Charles Graham’s house.
As he walked up the drive towards the house the last traces of fog disappeared, shredded by the heavy rain, but his headache was still there. He pressed the button of the bell firmly, and almost immediately the door was opened by Graham himself.
‘Come in, Shane! Come in!’ he said. ‘I saw you coming along the drive.