The Dusky Hour (18 page)
Authors: E.R. Punshon
“You prefer,” the colonel asked, “that we should form our own conclusions?”
That remark was a favourite police card; it was a kind of general ace of trumps, bound to take the trick. No one, innocent or guilty, wished the police to form their own conclusions. Only this time Thoms did not seem to notice that the trick was taken.
“Free country,” he growled. “No law against forming conclusions.”
The colonel was beginning to lose his temper.
“You are making me consider your behaviour extremely suspicious,” he said sternly.
“Don't let me keep you,” Thoms answered. “I'm sure your time is fully occupied.”
The colonel had one more shot to fire.
“Why did you lie when you said you didn't recognise Bennett?” he asked. “We have proof you met him at the Cut and Come Again, quarrelled with him, tried to murder him. What have you to say to that?”
“Do you want me to go on repeating that I don't mean to answer any questions?” Thoms retorted. “There's the door,” he added.
“You understand,” demanded the colonel, “that we are officers of police acting under authority and investigating a case of murder? You are making me take a most serious view of your behaviour.”
“For which,” retorted Thoms, “you are responsible, not me. And as you are officers of police you know quite well there is no authority in law to examine anyone till an actual charge has been preferred. And then no one so charged is bound to answer any questions or to give any reason for his refusal.”
“You are evidently well acquainted with the law, Mr. Thoms,” said the colonel grimly. “As a rule only professional lawyers â and habitual criminals â know so much. But you've forgotten one thing. The coroner has authority to ask questions. At the adjourned inquest, you will certainly be called as a witness â and questioned.”
He watched for the effect of this shot. Apparently it had none.
“May I again remind you,” Thoms said calmly, “that there is a door behind you? I take it you have no search-warrant? No? I thought not. And I am sure I may take it, too, that you and I would both regret it if I had to throw you out because of your obstinate refusal to go. You are trespassers here, you know.”
The colonel went red â or, rather, he went a deeper red, little though that, the moment before, had seemed possible. Bobby appeared uninterested, though he watched Thoms warily, for he was not sure the truculent-looking chauffeur might not attempt to carry out his threat. With what dignity he might the colonel turned and strode out of the room and down the stairs. Bobby started to follow, and in the doorway turned and looked back.
“Oh,” he said, “I wonder why young Noll Moffatt asked if you were going to throw him down the chalk-pit â too? Think up an answer, won't you, ready for the coroner?”
Without waiting for a reply â which in fact did not come, for Thoms took no notice â Bobby ran down the stairs after the colonel, to whom he thought it prudent not to speak just then. Indeed, the silence between them was not broken till they were back in their car and well on their way home, when at last the colonel said:
“Mere insolence, cheek, defiance. He has heard the best plan is simply to refuse to speak. But they can't keep it up. When they have a good satisfactory explanation, they can't help giving it, and, once they begin to explain, we have them.”
“Yes, sir,” agreed Bobby, whose experience was indeed much the same.
“Makes it pretty plain he's our man, though,” pronounced the colonel. “Of course, we want more evidence, but we shall get it.”
“Yes, sir,” agreed Bobby once again.
ANALYSIS
A day or two went by with no fresh development, and, as there seemed nothing else for him to do, Bobby was sitting this morning in his room in the house where he was staying â that of one of the members of the county police force. Before him lay a blank sheet of paper at which as blankly he was staring, and now and again he scratched reflectively the end of his nose.
These were occupations in which he had been engaged ever since breakfast, and now it was nearly noon. After dinner he had to report to Colonel Warden, and he was a little afraid that this might mean he was to be taken off a case to the elucidation of which he had so far contributed but little, and sent back to more humdrum duties in town, where, however, the squad for which he, as sergeant, was primarily responsible seemed to be getting along quite nicely without him. But, then, he had an idea that some of those at headquarters were not too grieved at his continued absence.
A horrible legend was growing up there that he was a favourite, a “pet”; that he took afternoon tea regularly with Cabinet Ministers; that the Home Secretary in especial was his dearest friend; that as a consequence all the plums came naturally his way. All quite unfounded, of course; especially that hateful yarn about the Home Secretary he knew he would never be able to live down, and that was spoiling all his chances of promotion, since his superiors simply dared not risk the comment running all through the force:
“Oh, yes, the Home Sec's pet â that's the way to get on. Be in with the nobs and nothing else matters.”
So there were influences more than favourable to keeping him out of the way in the country. Then, too, the county chief constable seemed willing enough for him to remain.
“Just potter round a bit and see what comes of it,” Colonel Warden had said, leaving him the free hand Bobby's somewhat lonely and independent nature always made him long for and that he so seldom secured.
For the case interested him, as did the personalities concerned in it, and, if it could lead to the identification of the confidence man the American police described as a “killer,” that would be a highly desirable result, and mean the removal of one who seemed a standing danger to society. Not to mention that it would be pleasing to inform the newly established, highly successful â and well aware of it â Federal Board of Investigation of the United States that the man they had inquired about, and seemed to have so little knowledge of, was now safe under arrest. Professional pride, not to say swagger, of course, but pleasing to bring off, all the same. Bobby, therefore, had been glad to accept the suggestion that he might “potter around” a bit, even though his “pottering” this morning had consisted in sitting in a chilly bedroom, inadequately warmed by a smoky oil-stove, on a hard and rickety chair, before a washstand turned for the occasion into a writing-table, staring solemnly at an entirely blank sheet of paper.
True, his landlady had somewhat hesitatingly offered him the use of the front sitting-room, but Bobby knew well that apartment was for Sundays and for company alone, and he had been tactful enough to decline her offer to light a fire for him there when she knew he meant to spend the morning writing.
“More forms, I suppose,” she said. “My man's always saying that's all police work is now â just filling up forms.”
Bobby agreed that that is indeed half the work of the modern world, so that to-day we live not so much by taking in each other's washing as by filling up forms about each other and ourselves.
The church clock in the distance struck twelve. Bobby started convulsively, grabbed his pen, thrust it into the inkpot, and began hurriedly to write.
He headed the paper:
THE BENNETT CASE SO FAR
He paused, frowned, took another sheet of paper, and wrote:
RE BENNETT CASE
He paused again, and surveyed this new heading with a satisfied smile. It seemed so much more official.
He continued:
A
S
TARTING
P
OINTS
.
A1. Inquiry from America about British-born confidence man, said to have secured large sums in the States. Described as cool, reckless, and dangerous, suspected of one or more killings. No personal description.
A2. Bennett known to have recently returned from America and believed to have been engaged in “share-pushing”; showed interest in the Sevens party and asked to be directed to Way Side.
Deductions.
A1
a
. Bennett either confidence man wanted by F.B.I. or killed by him.
A2
a
. Concentrate on trying to find out whether the Molly Oulton drawings, any member of the Sevens party, or Way Side, was chief attraction in bringing Bennett to the neighbourhood, or if they interlock in any way.
Note.
â At present Colonel Warden seems inclined to suspect Thoms. The fight between Thoms and Bennett at the Cut and Come Again undoubtedly suggestive.
B
M
ATERIAL
C
LUES.
B1. Lipstick.
B2. Photographic film wrapper (fragment).
B3. Bullets â found in body and recovered from trees near Sevens.
B4. Car.
B5. Body of victim.
Notes on Above Clues.
B1
a
. Lipstick common type and unidentifiable.
B2
a
. Wrapper fragment unidentifiable.
B3
a
. Report from firearms expert not yet received, but Mr. Moffatt's automatic known to be missing.
B4
a
. Car hired. Nothing known at garage. Dead end.
B5
a
. Everything likely to help identification removed from body.
Deductions from Above.
B1
a
1. Lipstick suggests presence of woman. Women connected with case: Ena Moffatt, Mrs. (Laddy) O'Brien, Henrietta Towers, Molly Oulton.
B2
a
1. Film wrapper suggests presence of photographer. Accidental or purposed? Why purposed? Probably, then, accidental. Who? Oliver Moffatt known to be keen photographer and to have been out in the neighbourhood that afternoon, taking snaps. Fellow member with Bennett of Cut and Come Again, but no proof they had ever met there. Note that many people besides Oliver Moffatt take photos. Are any of the above-mentioned women interested in photography?
B3
a
1. Wait report from expert.
B4
a
1. These taken together suggest that Bennett was alarmed on finding police inquiries were being made about him and had himself taken precaution to cover his tracks and to destroy all means of identification. This would mean that he himself â not his murderer â removed tabs from clothing and so on. This is the more probable, as the murderer would hardly have had time; the noise of the falling of the car over the edge of the chalk-pit seems to have followed almost immediately on the sound of firearms.
C
F
ACTS
K
NOWN
(as established by evidence of witnesses)
.
C1. Bennett showed interest in Sevens party. Proved by evidence of Norris, who saw him watching Sevens through field-glasses. Also interested in Way Side, as he had asked what was the best road to take to get there (Oakley Road House evidence). Had also seemed interested in Molly Oulton's drawings (Cut and Come Again evidence).
C2. Time of murder established as four in the afternoon (evidence of driver of tradesman's deliveryâ van). Corroborated by labourer who also saw a man leaving the copse holding a hat before his face, presumably to avoid risk of recognition.
Deductions.
C1
a
. Bennett must have had something to do with someone at Sevens and with someone at Way Side, since he showed interest in both houses. Mrs. O'Brien's name was written on the back of one or two of Miss Oulton's sketches, and she may therefore be the link with Way Side. But who is link between Sevens and Way Side?
C2
a
. As a man was seen leaving the copse, none of the women mentioned is likely to have been the actual murderer. But she may have been an active accomplice.
D
P
ERSONALITIES
C
ONCERNED
D1. Mr. Moffatt.
D2. Oliver Moffatt, son of above.
D3. Ena Moffatt, daughter and sister of above-mentioned.
D4. Leopold Leonard Larson, guest at Sevens.
D5. Edward George Pegley, visitor at Sevens.
D6. Henrietta Towers, Towers Poultry Farm.
D7. Edward Thoms, chauffeur at Way Side.
D8. John Hayes, tenant of Way Side.
D9. (Mrs (Laddy) O'Brien, Mr Hayes's dismissed housekeeper).
D10. Reeves, butler at Sevens.
Points for and against above.
D1
a
 (Mr. Moffatt, senior).
Against.
Blacklisted by steamship companies on suspicion of card-sharping. Known to have made secret visits to America and to have possessed an automatic now missing. No alibi.
For.
Country gentleman of old family and good standing it is difficult to imagine as card-sharper or confidence trickster. Said to be well off and to have a large sum invested in consols.
Deductions.
The secrecy about Mr. Moffatt's American visits suggests discreditable reason and possibility of connection with Bennett. The blacklisting provides obvious opportunity for blackmail. The disappearance of Moffatt's automatic suggests it may be the one used. His true financial position must be ascertained, if possible. As card-sharper and so on, a country gentleman seems incredible, but the impossible must not be deduced from the merely incredible, which sometimes turns out to be the actual.
D2
a
 (Oliver Moffatt).
Against.
Amateur photographer, known to have been taking snaps at the time and in the vicinity of the murder. Liable to have dropped fragment of wrapper. Fellow member with Bennett of Cut and Come Again club. Sulky and refuses to answer questions or explain quarrel with Thoms. No alibi.
For.
General character inconsistent with murder, but, then, so is everyone's.
Deductions.
As he is the elder Moffatt's son, he may very well have known of the secret American visits and may have known of â resented â feared â connection between his father and Bennett. The common membership of the Cut and Come Again gives also the possibility of direct connection between him and Bennett. Another line to be followed up.
D3
a
 (Ena Moffatt).
Against.
Only the lipstick incident and the fact that she is, like her brother, a member of the Cut and Come Again. Alibi supported by Mrs. Markham's evidence, but not conclusive, as distance might have been covered in time. Nervous manner suggesting she knows more than she has said.
For.
Some nervousness perfectly natural. Girls don't shoot.
Deductions.
The Cut and Come Again people must be questioned to see if there is any suggestion of a connection between her and Bennett. If there was any connection, and Bennett's visit was to meet her, her brother may have known, objected, and there may have been a quarrel between the two men on her account.
D4
a
(Leopold Leonard Larson).
Against.
Showed extreme dislike and enmity for share-pushers. Open hostility to Pegley, to whom he seems to have used insulting language. Frequent visits to America suggest possibility of previous knowledge (denied) of Bennett.
For.
No such connection known and no motive suggested. Alibi supported by Ena Moffatt and Mrs. Markham but not conclusive (see D3
a
), and further supported by loss and recovery of gold cigarette-case.
Deduction.
Larson's dislike of share-pushers and use of strong language to Pegley suggests that if he met Bennett, recognised him, used the same language, a quarrel might have resulted and ended fatally.
D5
a
 (Edward George Pegley).
Against.
Suspected share-pusher. Has lived in America. No alibi.
For.
None, except vagueness of those against.
Deductions.
Suspected of share-pushing. May, therefore, have been associate or rival of Bennett and have had reason for wishing to get rid of him.
D6
a
(Henrietta Towers).
Against.
Told long story about bonds stated to have been stolen from her mother and of her suspicions that her stepfather had been murdered. She is of strong and decided character and would probably go far to protect her stepsister, Molly. Seems to have taken care to hide photographs of her stepfather and half-brother. Reeves used stepfather's name in his faked testimonials. Lipstick (see D3 and D9). Alibi confirmed by Mr. Hayes as his by her. Unsatisfactory.
For.
None, but none of this has direct bearing on the case.
Deductions.
Probably had some reason or motive for long story she told. Did she believe Bennett responsible for loss of her mother's bonds or the death of her stepfather? If so, she might have heard of him from Miss Molly, who had met him at the Cut and Come Again, made an appointment with him, shot him, either out of revenge or to recover the lost bonds or during a quarrel. If there was any previous connection between Bennett and the Oultons that, and not Mrs. O'Brien's name and address on their back, might account for Bennett's interest in Miss Molly's sketches. Or Miss Henrietta may have known Bennett was worrying her stepsister and have wanted to protect her. That might explain what she said about Hayes trying to seduce her. It was on her mind and had to come out somehow. She would certainly be capable of strong action to protect or help anyone for whom she felt responsible. Almost certainly there is some reason for the removal of the photos of her stepfather and brother. Obviously that can only be fear of recognition. Is it possible one or other of them, the supposedly dead stepfather or the missing brother, is identical with the murdered man?
Incidental moral.
Drawn from story about lost bearer bonds: Don't try to do the income-tax or the consequences may be unexpected.
D7
a
(Edward Thoms, Mr. Hayes's chauffeur).
Against.
Sulky and suspicious manner. Refuses to answer questions or explain quarrel with Noll Moffatt. Was engaged without references. No alibi.
For.
None.
Deduction.
Has something to conceal. Some point of connection between him and Noll Moffatt, fights between youngsters in their respective social conditions being unusual.
D8
a
(John Hayes, tenant of Way Side).
Against.
Denies knowledge of Bennett though Bennett had been asking the way to his house. Displays curious ability to clear up doubtful points before they are put to him. Has lived in America and was in possession of pistol of type used in murder. Claims to love the country but seems to be bored by it. Seems to wish to throw suspicion on Thoms. Said to have possessed second pistol (doubtful evidence of maid, Aggie).
For.
Alibi confirmed by Henrietta Towers as she confirms his. Not too satisfactory.
Deductions.
His coming to live in a secluded part of the country when the country evidently bores him, suggests that he wishes to conceal himself. Why? Can he, he has admittedly made money in America, be the confidence trickster the F.B.I. want to hear about, and, if so, was Bennett an associate, possibly a blackmailing associate, Hayes had to get rid of?
D9
a
(Mrs. (Laddy) O'Brien, Mr. Hayes's dismissed housekeeper).
Against.
Lipstick (see D3 and D6). Sudden departure after violent quarrel with her employer which might have been forced to explain this sudden leaving. No alibi, and admittedly in vicinity of scene of murder that afternoon.
For.
Hardly required, as satisfactory explanation of quarrel and sudden departure is provided by story of jealousy and the tale about the new hat and the quarrel with Hayes.
Deduction.
As she left on bad terms with Mr. Hayes, she may be willing to give information, if she knows anything â and can be found.
D10
a
(Reeves, butler to Mr. Moffatt).
Against.
Ex-convict. Cat burglar. Obtained present situation by aid of forged testimonials. No alibi.
For.
Lack of known motive.
Deduction.
Use of name “Oulton” suggests some connection with Oulton affair. All knowledge of Reeves, however, denied by Mrs. Oulton.
Note.
â At present, Mrs. Oulton and Molly Oulton may be left out of consideration.