Comes the Dark Stranger - Jack Higgins [49]
‘If it was Steele, how did he get to town so soon after you?’ Lomax said. ‘You took his car, remember?’
‘Did you see Adam Crowther?’ Shane asked.
Lomax nodded. ‘He admitted that he lied to you. He did visit Reggie Steele at the Garland Club, but only to warn him that you were in town and likely to cause trouble. To be perfectly frank, Crowther told me that he formed the opinion that you were unbalanced.’
‘But it could have been Crowther,’ Shane said. ‘Everything fits. He’s even lame in one foot - he lost his toes through frostbite in Korea.’
Lomax shook his head. ‘He was working on something important at the university that night. Admittedly there was no one with him, but I’m satisfied he’s telling the truth.’
‘That’s good,’ Shane commented bitterly. ‘That’s bloody good. So you’ll accept his word for it, will you? Why the hell shouldn’t it be him? He’s got a limp and the man who knocked me on the head in the flat had a limp. What makes Crowther so special?’
Lomax sighed heavily. ‘All right, Shane,’ he said. ‘You’ve asked for it and you’ll get it. I didn’t finally accept Crowther’s story until I’d spoken not only to Reggie Steele but to Charles Graham also. Steele doesn’t have much time for you - he was honest enough to admit that - but Graham has. They both told me the same story - that you’ve been haunted by a memory for years. A memory named Colonel Li. He was the man with the club foot you heard that night in the flat, but he died in Korea seven years ago.’
Shane’s breath hissed sharply between his teeth. ‘There’s nothing like being able to depend on one’s friends for help. You must thank Graham for me next time you see him.’
There was anger in the policeman’s eyes. ‘It may interest you to know that Charles Graham is the man who’s retained Sir George Hammond to perform your operation.’
There was a heavy silence. There didn’t seem anything more to say, and then he remembered the girl. He said slowly, ‘There’s just one more thing I’d like to know, Inspector. Have you seen Laura Faulkner?’
Lomax nodded. ‘We haven’t bothered her too much. Her father had a stroke yesterday and they had to rush him into hospital. I understand it’s only a matter of time.’
Before Shane could say anything the older of the two detectives moved forward and doors slammed hollowly along the train. Lomax nodded. ‘Take him into the carriage now.’
The went towards the door, and as Shane put one foot on the step he hesitated, filled with a sudden wild urge to tell Lomax everything, to fill in all the gaps for him. One of the detectives pushed him firmly forward and the moment passed.
When they entered the reserved compartment, the young detective produced a key, freed himself from the handcuffs, and secured Shane’s other wrist so that his hands were securely pinioned together in front of him. They pushed him into a corner seat, and one of them put his trench-coat up on the rack while the other knelt down and unlaced his shoes. Lomax stood in the doorway, keen eyes surveying everything. ‘Did they give you a key for the door, Brown?’ he asked the older of the two detectives. The man nodded, and Lomax went on, ‘Keep the door locked at all times. They’ll be waiting for you in London. I’ll see you both tomorrow.’
As he started to turn away, Shane said quickly, ‘Lomax!’
The inspector paused and looked over his shoulder. ‘What is it?’
Shane smiled softly. ‘You’re wrong, you know.’
Lomax seemed about to speak, and then he shrugged and disappeared along the corridor. A moment later he passed the window and walked back towards the van.
Somewhere a whistle sounded, and the train seemed to give a long, shuddering sigh, and then they were gliding away from the platform, moving out into the rain and the darkness.
A feeling of complete panic surged through Shane. He stared down at his stockinged feet, at the handcuffs on his wrists, and a feeling of helplessness took possession of him. It was the end. Whichever way the dice fell he was finished.
He was brought back to reality sharply. Brown, the detective with the key, had