The Shadow of Treason Read Online Free PDF Page A

the address, or even the real name, of the man they’d known as George Nixon. Now they knew both and, thanks to Clark’s visit, they knew the location of his room and how to get into it. They used the drainpipe Clark had spotted at the back of the building. For professionals, the climb across two ledges was no problem: nor was the window of number six. Cregan and Clark were extremely professional.
    Their entry was swift and totally silent. Once in the room, they closed the blackout curtains, put the light on and began their search. It was annoying that drawers and cupboards had already been emptied. The landlady had seemed to say it would wait for the weekend. But they were interested in more devious hiding places. Obviously, Jefferson wouldn’t have been there to conceal the book, but an associate might have done. Quickly and methodically they got down to the business of raising carpets and ripping open pillows.

    Where money was concerned, Maurice Cooper didn’t give up easily. Through many years of living on his wits he’d found that eavesdropping on quiet conversations and peering through half-closed doors could often lead to the acquisition of cash, or the means to raise it. And one sighting of Mark Jefferson had stayed with him for weeks. It was a glimpse of Jefferson stuffing a large wad of five-pound notes into an envelope, and hastily pushing it under his mattress as the chambermaid came in. 
    It hadn’t been under the mattress when Cooper searched earlier. But he was undeterred. There’d been something mysterious about Jefferson. Cooper had seen him with a fistful of notes on other occasions. He could well have hidden money in places where Webber and the girl wouldn’t have looked. Now, at 1.15 in the morning, Cooper was ready to try again. The house was quiet and in darkness, and Cooper still had the key to number six. He’d borrowed it at teatime and, by carefully avoiding Mrs Hart, he’d been able to escape returning it.
    He moved silently down a flight of stairs and along the landing to the end room. A little moonlight came in through the staircase window, but Cooper knew his way by heart.
    A floorboard creaked as he approached number six, and Cooper froze for a moment. But there was no reaction anywhere in the building, and he resumed his stealthy approach. Reaching the door, he used both hands to guide the key noiselessly into the lock, and gently turned it.

    The creaking floorboard had been enough to alert the intruders. By the time Cooper entered the room, the light was off and the two men flattened against the wall on either side of the door.
    Cooper closed the door behind him and switched on the light. As he did so, a large hand came from behind him and covered his mouth. Clark spoke quietly but clearly in his ear. ‘If you make a sound, you’re dead! Understand? If you’ve got that, put your hands up.’
    Cooper raised trembling arms above his head, and the hand was removed from his mouth. His terrified eyes took in two men in balaclava masks and dark clothing. One was pointing a hand-gun. The other, having withdrawn his hand, stood back to look at the new arrival. He reacted with surprise.
    ‘Gawd, it’s Creeper Cooper! The sod who sold us that dodgy Scotch!’
    ‘Shut it!’ said Cregan. ‘You’re talking too much.’ He snarled at Cooper. ‘You live here, do you?’
    Cooper tried to sound calm. ‘Yeah. I’ve got a room upstairs.’
    ‘Friend of that bastard Jefferson, were you?’
    ‘No, no. Not a friend. I hated him.’
    ‘So what are you doing in here in the middle of the night?’
    Cooper moved a dry tongue across parched lips.
    ‘Jefferson always had a lot of cash. I reckon he might have kept some hidden away.’ He glanced at a ripped mattress and torn pillows. ‘Looks like you boys had the same idea.’
    ‘Why did you leave it till now? Jefferson snuffed it weeks ago.’
    ‘The room was locked. They wouldn’t let anyone in here till today. I only just got the