Parker Pyne Investigates - Agatha Christie [46]
‘Who amongst you knows Smethurst well?’
‘I don’t think the words–a pal–could refer to anyone but Hensley,’ said O’Rourke slowly. ‘I knew Smethurst, but very slightly. Williamson is new out–so is Squadron Leader Loftus. I don’t think either of them have ever met him before.’
Both men agreed.
‘You, General?’
‘I never saw the young man until we crossed the Lebanon in the same car from Beirut.’
‘And that Armenian rat?’
‘He couldn’t be a pal,’ said O’Rourke with decision. ‘And no Armenian would have the nerve to kill anyone.’
‘I have, perhaps, a small additional piece of evidence,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
He repeated the conversation he had had with Smethurst in the café at Damascus.
‘He made use of the phrase–“don’t like to go back on a pal,” said O’Rourke thoughtfully. ‘And he was worried.’
‘Has no one else anything to add?’ asked Mr Parker Pyne.
The doctor coughed.
‘It may have nothing to do with–’ he began.
He was encouraged.
‘It was just that I heard Smethurst say to Hensley, “You can’t deny that there is a leakage in your department”.’
‘When was this?’
‘Just before starting from Damascus yesterday morning. I thought they were just talking shop. I didn’t imagine–’ He stopped.
‘My friends, this is interesting,’ said the General. ‘Piece by piece you assemble the evidence.’
‘You said a sandbag, doctor,’ said Mr Parker Pyne. ‘Could a man manufacture such a weapon?’
‘Plenty of sand,’ said the doctor drily. He took some up in his hand as he spoke.
‘If you put some in a sock,’ began O’Rourke and hesitated.
Everyone remembered the two short sentences spoken by Hensley the night before.
‘Always carry spare socks. Never know.’
There was a silence. Then Mr Parker Pyne said quietly, ‘Squadron Leader Loftus. I believe Mr Hensley’s spare socks are in the pocket of his overcoat which is now in the car.’
Their eyes went for one minute to where a moody figure was pacing to and fro on the horizon. Hensley had held aloof since the discovery of the dead man. His wish for solitude had been respected since it was known that he and the dead man had been friends.
‘Will you get them and bring them here?’
The doctor hesitated.
‘I don’t like–’ he muttered. He looked again at that pacing figure. ‘Seems a bit low down–’
‘You must get them, please,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
‘The circumstances are unusual. We are marooned here. And we have got to know the truth. If you will fetch those socks I fancy we shall be a step nearer.’
Loftus turned away obediently.
Mr Parker Pyne drew General Poli a little aside.
‘General, I think it was you who sat across the aisle from Captain Smethurst.’
‘That is so.’
‘Did anyone get up and pass down the car?’
‘Only the English lady, Miss Pryce. She went to the wash place at the back.’
‘Did she stumble at all?’
‘She lurched with the movement of the car, naturally.’
‘She was the only person you saw moving about?’
‘Yes.’
The General looked at him curiously and said, ‘Who are you, I wonder? You take command, yet you are not a soldier.’
‘I have seen a good deal of life,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
‘You have travelled, eh?’
‘No,’ said Mr Parker Pyne. ‘I have sat in an office.’
Loftus returned carrying the socks. Mr Parker Pyne took them from him and examined them. To the inside of one of them wet sand still adhered.
Mr Parker Pyne drew a deep breath.
‘Now I know,’ he said.
All their eyes went to the pacing figure on the horizon.
‘I should like to look at the body if I may,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
He went with the doctor to where Smethurst’s body had been laid down covered with a tarpaulin.
The doctor removed the cover.
‘There’s nothing to see,’ he said.
But Mr Parker Pyne’s eyes were fixed on the dead man’s tie.
‘So Smethurst was an old Etonian,’ he said.
Loftus looked surprised.
Then Mr Parker Pyne surprised him still further.
‘What do you know of young Williamson?’ he asked.
‘Nothing at all. I only met him at Beirut. I’d come from Egypt. But why? Surely–?’
‘Well, it’s on his evidence we’re going to hang a man, isn’t it?’ said Mr Parker Pyne