Cry of the Hunter - Jack Higgins [24]
Murphy cleared his throat nervously. ‘We had a bit of an accident, Kathleen,’ he said. ‘These gentlemen are friends of mine.’
‘Friends is it!’ she said, interrupting him. She stepped forward and looked at Fallon closely and her expression altered and she paled. ‘Dear God, you’re Martin Fallon!’ For a moment she swayed as though she would fall and then she seemed to regain her composure. She turned on her brother and said fiercely, ‘What have you got yourself mixed up in now, you damned fool?’
‘For God’s sake, Kathy,’ he said. ‘Don’t start arguing! We’ll catch our deaths and the polis combing the streets for us. We’ll have to stay here for the night.’
‘Stay here is it?’ she said, dangerously calm. ‘If you think that, then you’ve another think coming. I’d rather they caught you now, Johnny Murphy, before you get yourself more involved in this foolishness.’ She turned and ran through into a small hall. A telephone stood on a table by the door. As she reached for the receiver, Rogan moved after her and caught her so roughly that the bodice of her dress ripped several inches.
‘Leave her be, damn you!’ Murphy screamed and threw himself at Rogan.
Fallon jumped between them and sent Rogan reeling against the wall. ‘Stop it – both of you!’ he shouted.
For the moment there was a lull and Fallon turned from Rogan’s hate-filled eyes to the girl who was leaning over the table, weeping. ‘I’m sorry, Miss Murphy,’ he said. ‘We won’t trouble you any more.’ He turned to the boy. ‘You stay here with your sister.’
The girl choked back her sobs and said, ‘That won’t make any difference. I’m calling the police anyway, before he gets into this thing any deeper.’
She picked up the receiver and began to dial calmly and Fallon turned from her and went quickly out through the kitchen into the yard. He paused under the light outside and Rogan and the boy joined him. Fallon turned to argue, but Murphy shook his head. ‘If you think I’m waiting here for the polis you’re a damned fool, Mr. Fallon. I’m sticking to you.’
Fallon laughed grimly. ‘Much good it will do you now.’
The rain increased in volume and they started to walk along the street quickly. Rogan had the collar of his jacket turned up but it was an inadequate protection. He was soaked to the skin and cursing steadily. Suddenly Fallon felt desperate. The net was closing in and there was no place to run. No place to bide – but was that true? He paused abruptly and the boy said anxiously, ‘Is anything the matter?’
Fallon shook his head slowly. ‘I’ve just had an idea that’s all. Do you know Cadogan Square?’
Murphy nodded. ‘Surely, it’s about half a mile from here.’
For a moment Fallon hesitated and then he made the decision. ‘All right. Get us there as quickly as you can.’
Murphy nodded and stepped out briskly. He took to the back streets again, pausing at corners and cautiously checking for police before crossing the busier streets. It only took them twenty minutes to reach their destination. There were only three lamps lit and the far corners of the square were obscured by darkness. Fallon led the way across and when they reached the gate in the wall he hesitated for a moment. A sudden gust of wind drove rain in a fury into their faces, and he made his decision and opened the gate and led the way in.
He stood again on the top step and jerked on the ancient bell-pull. The force of the wind and rain was such that he couldn’t hear the sound of the bell inside the house. They waited for a few moments and then a light came on in the hall. What on earth am I going to say to her? Fallon thought, and then the door opened and Anne Murray stood in a shaft of light peering out. For a brief moment she looked at him and then her gaze flickered to his two companions. He tried to speak and found that the words wouldn’t come, and then she stood back and said, with a slight smile, ‘Come in, Mr. Fallon. I’ve been expecting you.’
CHAPTER FIVE
IT was chilly in the attic and the rain drummed relentlessly against a large glass skylight set in the sloping roof. In the centre of the room