Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale [92]
‘It’s really Mum I wanted to help,’ said Johnny. ‘She can come home now, can’t she?’
‘Yes, indeed. There’ll be some formalities, but we’ll get her back to you as soon as we can.’
‘What will happen to Mrs Langford and the others?’ asked Johnny. ‘Will they all be hanged?’
‘I can’t say. Dr Howell should get away with a prison stretch. It sounds as if he’s guilty of contravening the Therapeutic Medicines Act, and of obstructing the police; but things look bad for Mrs Langford, despite her age – and Bennett certainly seems to be implicated in covering up the murder, even if he didn’t strike the fatal blow. Don’t worry, Johnny. You’re safe. We’ll be keeping them under lock and key until we can confirm what you’ve told us.’
‘It’s all true, I promise.’
‘Yes, Johnny,’ the inspector said kindly, ‘I believe you, but there’s no way a court would accept your word as evidence on its own. With a bit of luck, the three of them will speak out against each other, but the trouble is, a jury might think they’re each trying to save their own skin. We really need someone else too. If only there were another, adult, witness to all this.’
‘I was thinking on the way home,’ said Johnny. ‘There is somebody else – someone who might have heard Bennett and Mrs Langford plan the BCG scam, at least, and may even know the truth about the murder.’
‘Really? Who?’
‘Mr Bennett’s girlfriend,’ said Johnny. ‘She was there on Remembrance Day. She went to supper at the Langfords’ that night. I’ve been wondering what happened to her.’
‘Bennett said they had parted,’ the inspector said.
‘I know,’ said Johnny. ‘I was there when he told you.’
Inspector Griffin raised an eyebrow.
‘I didn’t mean to listen in, but I was hiding. I’d gone to see Mr Bennett myself, but you asked him everything I wanted to know,’ Johnny confessed.
‘I’m glad to hear that you approve of my methods,’ laughed Griffin. ‘I recall him saying that the young lady was now performing at the Gaiety Theatre in London. I will make contact with her in the morning.’
‘But the thing is,’ Johnny continued excitedly, ‘what if she’s not there?’
‘Why shouldn’t she be?’
‘Because her cloak was still in Mr Bennett’s house the morning after Dr Langford’s body was found. I know. I was hiding behind it.’
Hutch let out an exasperated sigh, and Griffin shook his head. ‘It sounded to me as if she went away after a disagreement,’ he said. ‘Maybe she flounced off without it.’
‘But suppose …’ said Johnny. Then he saw the look on Hutch’s face, and was reminded of all his warnings about jumping to conclusions.
The policeman wanted to hear more. ‘What are you suggesting?’ he asked.
‘Only that there might, possibly, be something suspicious about her disappearance too,’ said Johnny, stopping himself from making wild allegations.
Inspector Griffin was lost in thought for a moment. ‘Have you mentioned this to anyone else?’ he asked.
‘No. Just you,’ said Johnny. ‘And Hutch knows now, of course.’
Hutch put his finger to his lips. ‘I won’t tell a soul,’ he said.
Inspector Griffin’s tone was serious. ‘I’d appreciate your silence, sir. We will follow up this lead first thing in the morning. This could be an even more convoluted case than I thought.’
Hutch stretched out his bad leg and stifled a yawn. ‘Is that all for tonight, Inspector? I’m sure you’ll agree that Johnny should really be in bed.’
‘Yes. We can talk again tomorrow.’ Griffin closed his notebook. ‘But before you go,’ he said casually, ‘tell me, Johnny, how did you know that Howell, Bennett and Mrs Langford were going to meet at Craig-y-Nos last night?’
‘I didn’t,’ said Johnny. ‘I’d never even heard of Craig-y-Nos until Mrs Langford replied to one of my advertisements.’
Hutch put his head in his hands.
The inspector was bemused. ‘Your what, Johnny?’
‘Well, you see, I put in this advert’ – he knew it off by heart – ‘Change Your Appearance Permanently. Unhappy with the way you look? Transform yourself Instantly and For Ever.’
Hutch could see Inspector Griffin registering that Johnny was