Shadow of Doom (24 page)

Authors: John Creasey

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BOOK: Shadow of Doom

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Palfrey said: âYou're lying.'

âYou think so?' said Bane. âMaybe there is a little more to finish off, but not so much. We have agents in every city and town. Maybe you would call them Nazi agents, and you would not be all that wrong. Black Market won't be stopped this winter, and by next summer we shall start work again.'

Palfrey said: âWhere did Knudsen come in in this?'

Bane laughed. âKnudsen has worked with me for a long time, he's our chief European agent. He can control the movement of ships, he can glut one market with fish and starve another. Dias didn't know that he was working with usâ'

Dias clapped his hands impatiently, as if annoyed that the spotlight had been taken away from him.

âThat was of no account. It was that I believed Knudsen was against us, and listed him.'

âLike Garon, von Kriess, Midaut and others,' said Palfrey, heavily.

âYes, like those,' said Dias. âThey would have worked against us, they were powerful, and we ruined them, as we shall ruin all who stand in our way. It is well done, Palfreyâand
why?
Do you know why? Because we know that the Bolshevik hordes will descend upon Europe unless their country is ravaged by plagues and starvation, as it will be when we have finished. There will be no hope for Russia, no hope, no hope â¦'

There was froth at his mouth, his eyes were blazing, he was like a man possessed; and in truth he was demented. Even Bane was tainted with the madness.

Bane said: âNow you've got it, Palfrey. If the damned fools in Washington and London had made way for Hitler, we would have been saved a lot of trouble.'

âJust another beer-cellar gang,' said Palfrey, and he drew his hand across his forehead, as if he were too weary to think. âJust another, starting afresh.'

Knudsen snapped: âIt has never ended! All of us were loyal to the Leader. We can tell you where your missing war criminalsâcriminals you dare call them!âare hidden; we can tell you where the men are working today, in Europe, in Germany, in Asia, to keep alive the eternal spirit of the Third Reichâ'

Palfrey said: âYou're a very patriotic Swede, Knudsen. And all of you are in this for moneyâand power. Money and power.'

âI am a German!' Knudsen snapped. âI took Swedish nationality many years ago, working for the Great Day.'

â
Der Tag
again,' said Palfrey. âOh, you fools!' He looked across the room at Drusilla, and he was smiling. He walked across the room and they did nothing to stop him. He stood by her, looking down. She peered up at him with a strained face, but as she saw the smile in his eyes she grew easier, hope dawned again. âIt's all right,' he said. âThey won't get away with it.'

Dias moved swiftly towards him, grabbed his shoulder and swung him round. âWe have detailed information to produce against men who are innocent but can be proved guilty! We have our agents so well placed that there will be no danger.'

Palfrey looked into his face â and laughed.

He did not think that he and Drusilla would get away. He even wondered if these men could succeed in their great bluff. If he could make them uncertain of themselves it would be a help. If he could make them think that there was more that he could tell them, and they questioned him, as they had questioned Muriel, he might win time, might just win through.

He looked at the clock on the mantelpiece; the hour was nearly up, but was there even a chance that the men in the house would be taken by surprise?

Bane said: âYou know something, Palfrey. Talk right now. If you don'tâ' He swung round and pointed towards Muriel, and Lozana stepped towards her and pulled her chair round. âThat's an idea of what will happen to youâ'

Then the window crashed in.

There was no warning. Just the crash, and then the billowing curtains and the voices of men. Palfrey shot out a hand and struck Dias across the face, kicked out at Bane â and did not need to act again, for men streamed in at the window, and all danger was over.

âIt was well done, my friend,' said Zukkor. âI knew that we could rely on the police, they are our very good friends. What Knudsen did not know is that he has long been suspected, and the positions of his men in the grounds were known, they were overcome with ease. And some of us were listening outside, Palfrey, it was well done.'

He beamed about him, at Palfrey, Drusilla, Stefan and Bruton, all unhurt. Neilsen had a flesh wound; Charles, his wound now dressed, was in an upstairs room where Muriel's wounds were being tended â a distraught Charles, who could not apologise to her enough. Bane, Dias and Lozana had been taken unhurt, but Knudsen was wounded in the chest, and was in the hall waiting to be taken to the Serafimer Hospital. There had been little talk, but the raid had been a complete success.

Zukkor said: âA south American who has always been a member of the Bund, an American with hatred for the Soviet Union because he is half German, an Englishman in the man Lumsden, a Swede in Knudsenâno matter what he says he is a Swede. And when we have finished it all, there will be men from other countries, perhaps from Russiaâwe too have our traitorsâthere are still Trotskyites and Tsarists. But so few from each country, Palfrey, so few who could have done so great a harm.'

âYes,' said Palfrey. âThey have done plenty. Are all the records here?'

âDias is a man of jelly,' said Zukkor, scornfully; âhe is talking very fast, my friend, we shall know all the men who are guilty before this night is out. You are worried still, I see, but there is no need to worry.'

âThere is,' said Palfrey.

âThe radium will be found,' said Zukkor, âhave no fear of that; we shall find everything.'

âI hope so,' said Palfrey. He stood with his hand pulling at the short hairs in front of his head, frowning. âThere was something Dias started to say but did not finish. The destruction of something or other tonight. I wish I knew what.'

âDias will tell us,' Zukkor said confidently.

âPerhaps. Heâ'

Palfrey broke off, for there was a sudden hubbub in the hall. Knudsen began shouting at the top of his voice.

âI will not go! I will not go thereânot thereâdo not take me there, not thereâ' He went on and on, in a frenzy of fear.

Zukkor moved into the hall, and Palfrey followed him quickly. âWhere is he going?' asked Zukkor of the ambulance men who had lifted him.

âTo the Serafimer Hospital,' the man said.

âNo,' screamed Knudsen, âno, I will not goâI will not go!' He tried to throw himself off the stretcher, and it took two men to hold him down. âI will notâI will not!'

Palfrey reached his side and looked down at him, his eyes bleak, an expression on his face which made the others stand and watch him.

âWhy won't you go?' he demanded, and when Knudsen stared at him in mute fear he gripped his throat and said: â
Why won't you go?
Zukkor, give me a knife!'

âNo!' screamed Knudsen. âIt is to be destroyed by fire, like the others, like the othersâit will start tonightâ'

âSo that's it,' said Palfrey, urgently. âWork for the police, arson at the Serafimer Hospital;
arson
destroyed the other hospitals. Zukkorâ'

But Zukkor was already outside, shouting, and the Chief of Police was already at the telephone.

It was a fortnight before Palfrey reached London. The truth was widely known; the world's Press had told the whole infamous story, arrests by the hundred had been made throughout Europe. Pressure was being brought to bear on the Castilian Government. In the United States F.B.I, men were investigating all of Bane's affairs; in London Scotland Yard experts were going through Josh Anderson's records, Anderson was alive, and had told the truth, he had started as a partner, grown sick of it, threatened to disclose the truth, and been promptly dealt with.

It was known that there had been suspicions of Bane, but Murielâher name
was
Muriel Corlissâhad been assigned to the case. She had been approached by Dias at first, but until she had reached Stockholm she had not been sure of Bane's real activities.

Muriel and Charles were recuperating in a Swiss mountain village.

Deep beneath the cellars at Knudsen's house the radium had been found, and Palfrey had called at Rotterdam and seen van Doorn and Anna, a new Anna, a happy van Doorn. It was known now that von Kriess had suspected much of what was planned, had told van Doorn about the radium, believing it would lead to greater disclosures; so there was a German who had helped.

Food distribution was better now than it had ever been. The Governments of Europe had received a salutary shock, there was no more procrastination. The police struck hard, and although there were still some Black Market operations, they were on a scale which could be closely watched and would be reduced and finally stamped out.

Stefan was in Moscow, reporting; Bruton was in Washington. Neilsen, his wound on the mend, was with his wife.

Palfrey and Drusilla, travel-weary but reasonably content, had an evening alone at the flat and were not disturbed either by the telephone or by visitors. Next morning they went to Brierly Place and were made much of by Christian, who told them that the Marquis was in his room, expecting them. Brett stood up behind the desk as they entered. They shook hands warmly, then sat down, and Brett looked at Palfrey with a quizzical smile.

âAll but one thing settled, Sap. Isn't that so?'

âOne large thing,' said Palfrey, twisting his hair about his forefinger; it had grown long enough now. âNever before have I been completely mystified by you, Marquis. This time I'm stumped. I can understand why we were allowed to go unofficially, but I can't understand why you didn't tell us what you really hoped would turn up. And I can't understand why you planted Charles Lumsden on us. Oh, he made good, butâthe viper in the Lumsden family bosom might have been him, not Matthew.' He paused. âYou knew it was one of the Lumsdens, didn't you?'

âNot until later, when I warned you,' said Brett, âand then only because I found that old Lumsden had some dealings with Bane and Anderson. I feared that was why he was so eager to put up the money, so that he could pass on to his colleagues what plans you had in mind. Your plans concerned radium; against the larger issues that did not greatly matter. We, as a country, had pledged ourselves not to interfere with internal affairs of liberated countries. Charles Lumsden, being attached to you, would have had to know the whole truth, you could not have kept him in ignorance. Moscow and Washington were not prepared to let you know, as he was with you. I had no choice, but I gave you plenty of hints!'

âOh yes,' said Palfrey, much happier in his mind.

âThere were other reasons for secrecy,' went on Brett. âThe smaller countries, troubled as they were,
were
beginning to get suspicious of the motives of the Big Three. Had there been even a rumour that you were investigating domestic matters
for
the Big Three, there would have been a diplomatic crisis of the first order. It had
to
be avoided. We took extravagant precautions, and just as soon as we were able to give you official support, we did.' He paused, then went on gravely: âIn the papers found in Knudsen's house was a report from an official in London giving a detailed statement of your plans, of the trouble you have taken to get unofficial approval. That was established, and it served its purpose. They had no suspicions that you were on a special mission, because you weren't.'

âCharles was the trouble,' said Palfrey. âYes, I forgive you. But the outlook isn't good. Days of peace, and diplomats on the rampage again. Caution carried to excess, but you couldn't help it. And we
did
get through.' He looked across at Drusilla. âSatisfied, my darling?'

âYes,' said Drusilla, with her gentle smile.

âIt proves one thing,' said Palfrey: âthere's a lot to be done before we get rid of all distrust among the nations. We're thinking of going to Rotterdam, for a start, and helping to organise relief work. Any approval needed?'

âNone,' said the Marquis, âand you won't lack help.'

Series Information

Published or to be published by

House of Stratus

Dates given are those of first publication

Alternative titles in brackets

'The Baron' (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)

'Department 'Z'' (28 titles)

'Dr. Palfrey Novels' (34 titles)

'Gideon of Scotland Yard' (22 titles)

'Inspector West' (43 titles)

'Sexton Blake' (5 titles)

'The Toff' (59 titles)

along with:

The Masters of Bow Street
This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey's account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel's Act in 1829.

'The Baron' Series