Inspector West Takes Charge Read Online Free PDF

up a chair.’ Chatworth at his friendliest was Chatworth at his most dangerous. His affability could become acid criticism. All he needed to do now to prepare a general assault on the follies of young inspectors was to offer cigarettes.
    ‘Have a cigarette,’ he said, pushing a silver box over. ‘A light –’ He flicked a lighter into flame and leaned forward, the flame reflecting on his polished head. ‘Now, west, I think you can give me some explanation of a peculiar state of affairs which has existed, I believe, for some time. Your interest, which appears to be more personal than professional, in the Prendergast family.’
    ‘I’m rather at a loss to understand you, sir,’ Roger said.
    ‘Indeed?’ Chatworth raised his eyebrows. “I had hoped that my approach was lucid, but of course I stand corrected.’ Sarcastic old devil ‘Let me frame my question in a way which cannot be misunderstood. Are you satisfied with the inquest verdicts on the three Prendergasts?’
    ‘No, sir.’
    ‘Have you ceased giving the matter your consideration?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Ah.’ Chatworth’s voice lost its purr. ‘I’m glad you have been so frank. I am equally glad that you realize that the inquest verdicts were wrong. How much time are you spending on the case?’
    Unbelievingly, Roger thought: ‘He’s with me!’
    ‘Officially, none, sir,’ he said. ‘I’ve given a lot of thought to it, at home, and –’
    ‘With Mr Lessing’s help?’
    Roger gulped. ‘We have discussed it, yes, sir.’
    ‘Interesting man, Mark Lessing,’ observed Chatworth. ‘If he were a pathologist; now well, he isn’t. But he has a good mind and an extensive knowledge of criminology. Rather given to intuitions, though. A dangerous proclivity. West, I have had a number of varied reports during the past few hours, and I gather that Lessing was visited last night and assaulted, and that afterwards his flat was ransacked. I gather also that you were on the spot in a remarkably short time; that no effort to catch the men was omitted; that you thought Clay was one of the pair, and that Mr Gabriel Potter resented your interest in Clay. Nothing in the reports suggests it, but I infer that you think Lessing has deliberately proclaimed interest to goad someone to attack him, and you think he has succeeded.’
    ‘I do,’ Roger admitted, dry-mouthed. Was this benignity real?
    ‘You might be right, too,’ Chatworth said bluffly, ‘I don’t like to hear that Potter’s taken over the legal side of the Prendergast business. I dislike Potter as much as you do, but I may respect him more. Still there is a possibility that three murders have been done. I think I dare risk incurring some opprobrium by investigating the possibility. Be careful with Potter. Beware of him. But worry him.’
    Roger said: ‘Do I understand, sir, that I am detailed to investigate the Prendergast deaths?’
    ‘Shall we say a fortnight?’ suggested Chatworth. He pushed his chair back. He was big, burly, and impressive. ‘That’s all, just now. Keep me advised, call for help as little as possible, and tell your friend Lessing from me that he must not take too many risks, nor disregard the general principles of the law, not even with Potter. Perhaps I should say especially not with Potter.’
    He nodded, smiled, and sat down, while Roger went out brushing his hand over his forehead; it was damp.
     
    Half an hour later, when he let himself into his house he almost fell over the kitten.
    ‘What, still here?’ he asked. ‘Bless your padded feet, stay until this show’s over.’
    He stopped, for Janet opened the lounge door. Beyond her, sitting in an easy chair with his profile showing, was Claude Prendergast.
    Roger had dealt only with the third Prendergast death, which had taken place in London. As such, he had been obliged to look on Claude with the sympathy one would extend to a man suddenly bereaved of his whole family while enjoying something like half-a-million