Battle for Inspector West Read Online Free PDF

grounds?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜I see. Thank you.’ Fratton’s expression became positively cherubic. ‘You’ll both forgive me if I say how sorry I am that this has happened tonight, of all nights.’
    Christine dropped into a chair.
    â€˜Do all the residents know we’re honeymooners? ‘Grant asked.
    â€˜Couldn’t say, sir, I’m sure. A lot of information comes my way, of course, and you aren’t exactly unknown, Mr Grant.
    I’d like to say how glad I am to have this opportunity of meeting you.’
    â€˜Thanks,’ said Grant dryly. ‘Now, how can I help?’
    Fratton was bland.
    â€˜I thought you’d like to know that we’ve had a report of a car which passed along this road about nine o’clock, a green Mercedes. There was an Alsatian dog in the back, next to a passenger.’
    â€˜Quick work,’ said Grant, and Christine watched his strong face and prayed that he would tell Fratton everything now that the opening was made.
    â€˜There’s a strong feeling among the guests that the dog broke away from his master, and is a mankiller,’ Fratton went on. ‘Just one of those tragic accidents, like a hit and run on the road. I’m not altogether satisfied that accident is the word, though.’
    Grant said: ‘I don’t think it was an accident, either.’
    â€˜Do you think the dog was set on the man?’ Fratton was calm and deliberate. ‘That would make it murder, Mr Grant.’
    â€˜Yes. And I think it was an attempt to murder me.’
    â€˜Now that’s what I hoped to hear,’ said Fratton with engaging frankness. ‘I was afraid you weren’t going to tell me that, Mr Grant, and I didn’t see how I was going to drag it out of you.’
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Chapter Four
Flight
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    â€˜ You knew! ’Christine burst out, and even Grant looked surprised. ‘Yes, Mrs Grant, I knew,’ said Fratton. ‘At least we had a shrewd idea, and that really amounted to the same thing.’ Grant laughed a little too loudly.
    â€˜I take back all I’ve thought of the provincial police, Inspector.’
    â€˜Oh, we’re a much maligned body of men,’ Fratton said equably, ‘and in some ways I think I can understand it. In a case like this, there isn’t much we could do on our own. We’re used to our own particular forms of vice and crime, we know the countryside and country people, but if a city-type crime is committed in the country, then we send for Scotland Yard. You didn’t realise that some of your recent movements have not passed unnoticed, Mr Grant?’
    â€˜I don’t follow,’ Grant said, but Christine believed that he followed very well. He did not look at her, and he had a sharp, unhappy feeling that he might wish she wasn’t present to hear all this.
    â€˜Well, sir, you’re a public figure, in your own way, you know, and Scotland Yard wasn’t unaware of the little difference you once had with Carosi a while ago. Carosi’s been in England for several months, and naturally you were watched, just in case he started a vendetta against you. And apparently he has. How long have you been aware of it, Mr Grant?’
    â€˜That he was in England—three weeks or so. That he was out for revenge—a few hours.’
    â€˜Since the ceremony?’
    â€˜On the road this afternoon, but there isn’t much I can tell you, Inspector.’ Grant told Fratton exactly what had happened with a precision of detail which amazed Christine: he had not missed any trifling thing, and could even describe the painted face in the wardrobe, its colouring, the fact that it was in oils. ‘And Prendergast is a painter,’ he remarked, and made it clear that he thought Prendergast had been sent by Carosi.
    â€˜Ah, yes, sir, I know. Did you in fact see Mr Prendergast in the grounds after dinner, sir?’
    Grant grinned.
    â€˜No. But an