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By Root 593 0

them. “When he was junior he wasn’t in a position to keep secrets. It would have been far too dangerous. If he hid any, he’d have had to share them with others over whom he had no control. When he was promoted and could have done it successfully, wouldn’t he have used whatever he had for the Circle? It would be the perfect way to gain favor and power. No, Pitt, this crime is only a year or two old, perhaps three at the most. And the perpetrator of it is someone who is vulnerable to disgrace, has no friends to defend him or to fight in his corner, and dares not face the consequences of whatever it is he has done. Which means it is not a man who makes his living in crime; it is someone who has committed one grave offense for which he is afraid to pay. And he is someone whom Wetron can use. That narrows it down a great deal.”

Pitt was angry with himself for not seeing it before. It was galling to have Voisey, of all people, spell it out for him. But he was right.

“Wetron would have the proof of it somewhere safe,” Voisey said grimly. “But getting it would in turn prove his complicity. We can’t afford to be without it, Pitt, whatever it costs. Whoever we have to use.” He was watching Pitt closely.

Pitt felt caught in a current too powerful to struggle against. It was foolish even to resent it. This at least was not Voisey’s doing.

“Yes.” He rose to his feet. He did not want to stay here. “I’ll speak to Tellman. There’s no one else we can trust.”

Voisey stepped back. “Good,” he acknowledged. “We must move quickly. They’re going to push the bill through as fast as they can.”

Pitt forbore from making any comment about Voisey including himself, as if he were risking anything. His mind was already on finding Tellman, and what he would say to him.

The first part proved easier than he had expected, the second more difficult. Tellman was at his lodgings and the landlady showed Pitt up without demur.

Tellman had taken off his boots and his stiff collar, and he looked completely comfortable. Pitt felt a twinge of guilt because he was going to shatter that.

“What is it? What’s happened?” Tellman asked urgently, his voice already strained.

Pitt explained about the dynamite on the Josephine, and how he and Voisey had nearly been killed.

“Grover?” Tellman said miserably. It was not that he liked Grover, but that he was a policeman. The betrayal of what was good still hurt him.

“Yes,” Pitt answered.

Tellman looked at him grimly. “I can’t arrest him.”

“I know. That is not what I’m here for. I told you because it’s part of the story. I’ve just come from Voisey now.” Pitt did not want to keep meeting Tellman’s eyes as he said this, knowing what he was going to ask, but to look away seemed not only cowardly, but as if he were refusing to share it or to understand. “He says Wetron has proof of all kinds of crimes people have committed, which is obvious. It’s his job. But his opportunity for blackmail is perfect for using someone to plant bombs.”

For a moment Tellman’s face was blank. Like Pitt, he had not even thought of using police information for that purpose. Then with a wash of grief he grasped it. His face changed; a light in it died. He did not say anything for several moments.

Pitt broke the silence. “Someone who committed a crime of impulse or desperation,” he said, echoing the conversation he had had with Voisey. “Someone with a lot to lose. There’s no blackmail without fear.”

Tellman looked at him. “I’ll find the evidence,” he said grimly. “I’ll look until I do. There can’t be that many places to look. He’d keep it, so he could show the man, make sure he knew the power he had over him. Thing is, where? If it’s at his home, how do we get to it? I don’t fancy burgling! And if he thinks we’re after it, he’ll destroy it. If he’s got the poor devil to let off bombs, that’d be enough to blackmail him with from now on.”

Pitt felt a heaviness settle over him. Perhaps Wetron had destroyed it already? It was dangerous to keep. Surely he would have thought of that too? He must know Voisey was obsessed with revenge.

Tellman