Circus Read Online Free PDF Page B

he put them away. Pilgrim, most uncharacteristically, had not even locked his door, he hadn’t even closed it properly. Fawcett pushed the door and went inside. The first partly irrational thought that occurred to him was that he could have been just that little bit optimistic when he had assured Wrinfield that Pilgrim knew what he was doing.
    Pilgrim was lying on the carpet. Whoever had left him lying there had clearly a sufficiency of ice-picks at home, for he hadn’t even bothered to remove the one he’d left buried to the hilt in the back of Pilgrim’s neck. Death must have beeninstantaneous, for there wasn’t even a drop of blood to stain his Turnbull and Asser shirt. Fawcett knelt and looked at the face. It was as calmly expressionless as it had habitually been in life. Pilgrim had not only not known what hit him, he hadn’t even known he’d been hit.
    Fawcett straightened, crossed to the phone and lifted it.
    â€˜Dr Harper please. Ask him to come here immediately.’
    Dr Harper wasn’t exactly a caricature or a conceptualized prototype of the kindly healer, but it would have been difficult to visualize him in any other role. There was a certain medical inevitability about him. He was tall, lean, distinguished in appearance, becomingly grey at the temples and wore a pair of horn-rimmed pebble glasses which lent his gaze a certain piercing quality which might have been illusory, intentional or just habitual. Horn-rimmed pebble glasses are a great help to doctors; the patient can never tell whether he is in robust health or has only weeks to live. His dress was as immaculate as that of the dead man he was thoughtfully examining. He had his black medical bag with him but wasn’t bothering to use it. He said: ‘So that’s all you know about tonight?’
    â€˜That’s all.’
    â€˜Wrinfield? After all, he was the only one who knew. Before tonight, I mean.’
    â€˜He knew no details before tonight. No way. And he’d no opportunity. He was with me.’

    â€˜There’s such a thing as an accomplice?’
    â€˜No chance. Wait until you see him. His record’s immaculate – don’t you think Pilgrim spent days checking? His patriotism is beyond question, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s got a “God Bless America” label sewn on to his undershirt. Besides, do you think he would have gone to the time and trouble of arranging to take his whole damn circus – well, most of it – to Europe if he had intended to do this? I know there’s such a thing as erecting a façade, laying down a smokescreen, dragging red herrings – you name it – but, well, I ask you.’
    â€˜It’s not likely.’
    â€˜But I think we should have him and Bruno up here. Just to let them see what they’re up against. And we’ll have to notify the admiral immediately. Will you do that while I get hold of Barker and Masters?’
    â€˜That’s the scrambler there?’
    â€˜That’s the scrambler.’
    Dr Harper was still on the phone when Barker and Masters arrived, Barker the driver and Masters the grey man who had confronted Bruno on the stage. Fawcett said: ‘Get Wrinfield and Bruno up here. Tell them it’s desperately urgent but don’t tell them anything about this. Bring them in by the rear tunnel. Be quick!’
    Fawcett closed but did not lock the door behind them as Dr Harper hung up. Harper said: ‘We’re to keep it under wraps. According to the admiral, who is the one man who would know, he had noclose relatives so he died of a heart attack. Me and my Hippocratic oath. He’ll be right round.’
    Fawcett was gloomy. ‘I thought he might be. He’s going to be very happy about this. Pilgrim was the apple of his eye, and it’s no secret that he was next in line for the admiral’s chair. Well, let’s have a couple of the boys with their little cans of