Hunt the Toff Read online

  Nevett had actually killed Keller. Nevett had stolen Rollison’s knife. Nevett, later, had killed Woolf because he knew Woolf, if caught, would lead to disaster for him, Rowse, and Leah Woolf; the papers in his safe would have damned them all. Lois Denton had passed for Marion-Liz, and weapons with carefully preserved prints had been used.

  Most of the truth came from the Denton girl, who turned Queen’s Evidence; much from Marion-Liz; more from the papers taken from Woolf ’s safe; these damned Woolf ’s accomplices, and provided evidence on their own which gave the police all they needed; and included the fact that Nevett had actually killed Keller. Liz had once told Woolf, in their palmy days, that if ever she were in trouble, she would go to her friend’s flat in Kensington. Woolf had bought out the flat tenant, and put his own man there. She went there – and played into his hands.

  One part of Marion-Liz’s evidence held Rollison as enthralled as the rest of the court. It was simple and straightforward, and explained much that was mystifying.

  When she had parted from Woolf, she had said that she was going to consult Rollison. She couldn’t ask the police to help, she’d used Rollison’s name to try to frighten Woolf off. That, she said, was why she had gone to Devon, but she’d lacked the courage to make the request. She didn’t mention the missing buoy or the quarrel with Keller, she said she’d contemplated a life of crime but not actually started it. The jury might not have been so willing to believe her, but for the story of the burn scars and her insistence that she had no idea where the Riordon Collection was or where the keys of the vaults could be found.

  She defended Reginald Rowse passionately. She hadn’t really run away from him; she had been frightened about the murder, and gone away, making Rowse the excuse. He was just a friend. She didn’t believe that Reginald was a criminal. He couldn’t help his relations, he was as honest as the day. And Reginald, in evidence, said that he had no idea of the life his brother led, although it was true that it was through Jim-Micky that he’d met Marion-Liz and fallen in love.

  The Denton girl had made it clear that Micky Rowse had decided that Woolf ’s obsession might be too dangerous; had been a party to the frame-up, and waited for a chance to get rid of Woolf. Nevett earlier had rushed up to London and pushed a letter through Rollison’s letter-box, written on paper which Keller had handled; another part of the framing of the Toff.

  And Reginald Rowse and Marion-Liz gave eyewitness evidence of the killing of Woolf.

  So it ended …

  Except for Reginald Rowse, Marion-Liz, and the Toff.

  Rollison invited the two to the Gresham Terrace flat, a week after the trial. Jolly, lined of face and sorrowful looking, served drinks and went out, but left the door ajar, so that he could hear exactly what was said. It was six o’clock. At half past six, Iris Cartwright and Lady Gloria were due, and Rollison thought that half an hour would be sufficient for his purpose. He stood by the trophy wall where the front page of a newspaper, with his photograph and ‘toff hunted by c.i.d’ was framed and glazed. He was tall and bronzed and with a gay light in his eyes, showing no signs of what had happened, cuts healed, and bruises long forgotten. He was an amiable host.

  Reginald Rowse sat on the arm of a chair, with an arm round Marion-Liz’s shoulder. She looked pale, for the trial had been an ordeal. Yet nothing had touched her beauty.

  ‘I don’t mind telling you,’ said Reggie, ‘that if it hadn’t been for you, I think it would have been a dreadful business for Marion-Liz.’ He’d caught the habit of the double name, and the girl answered to it naturally. ‘It was a bright idea, you know, threatening Woolf that she’d ask you for help. Pity she didn’t tell you the whole story, but …’ He shrugged. ‘You can understand it, can’t you?’

  Rollison just smiled.

  The young man immediately sounded aggressive.

  ‘Well? Can’t you?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ said Rollison brightly. ‘Easily. By the way, Reggie, why did you come to Hilton Street?’

  ‘Eh? Damn it, you’re not going into that again! I gave my evidence, it was a place where I discovered Marion-Liz might have hidden. I just had to see her – can’t you understand that, too? I’d give—my life to help her.’

  The girl glanced at him, and knew that he meant it.

  ‘No perjury?’ murmured the Toff.

  Rowse jumped up.

  ‘Look here, that’s an insult!’

  ‘Not a deadly one,’ said Rollison mildly. ‘Nothing like the insults I’ve been saving up. Liz, look at me.’

  She looked at him; she was just – lovely.

  ‘I am now going to tell you the things you didn’t tell the police. First – about the missing buoy at the cove. You knew it was missing. Keller went out at dawn and unfastened it. You went down to swim, knowing I was watching. I behaved very nicely, but if I hadn’t noticed the missing buoy, you were going to get into difficulties and I was going to save you. That would make me a hero.’

  Rowse cried, ‘You’re crazy!’

  ‘Everyone says so, but listen longer. Liz, you staged those quarrels with Eddie-Harry for my benefit. It was all done for my benefit. The story that Keller wanted to rob me, then you quarrelled, then you decided to have a go, was obviously phoney. Reggie came down to see you, and you quarrelled with him – just to impress me. His story stank to high heaven – the offered cigarettes and tobacco story was obviously made up. Remember? The quarrelling was thrust under my nose, even the manhandling by the yew-hedge in a spot I couldn’t miss. Liz screamed to bring me to the window. So, said I, why? It was a put-up job, my lovebirds, and you put up a lot of it, Liz!’

  Marion-Liz started violently, and said huskily, ‘Yes?’

  ‘You told me the truth about yourself, within limits, but you forgot to say that you had a third partner in the confidence tricks which you and Eddie-Harry had worked and planned to work. Our Reggie.’

  Reggie clenched his fists. Marion-Liz stirred restlessly, and began to look less happy.

  ‘And it was all beautifully worked out,’ said Rollison dreamily. ‘I was to help Reggie to reform you, Liz, and get myself completely tied up. I was to trust Reggie completely, and when you’d reached that stage – abracadabra. All the time, an old friend of mine, named sceptic, kept me company when I was with you. He was wise. What’s behind it, Liz?’

  She didn’t answer.

  Reginald Rowse just stood with his hands clenched.

  ‘Tell me, how were you going to work the trick?’ asked Rollison. ‘What did you hope to get out of me?’

  No one spoke; but there was guilt in two pairs of eyes.

  Rollison chuckled.

  ‘Let’s leave that for a minute. All went well, up to a point. Then Eddie-Harry came back to tell you that Woolf was on the warpath again. Woolf sent a message, purporting to come from Harry, summoning you to Hexley, but had the other girl handy in case you didn’t go. Why didn’t you try to go? I’d have driven you.’

  Marion-Liz answered almost inaudibly, ‘I thought it was a trick. Woolf ’s trick.’

  ‘And were you right! Woolf planned his game perfectly, and Eddie-Harry died. Then you had to forget about your little plot with me, and worry about the really serious business. Right, Marion-Liz?’

  ‘It—yes. Yes, it’s true.’

  ‘Why such an elaborate plan to win my confidence?’ asked Rollison mildly.

  Rowse said, ‘What—what are you going to do?’

  ‘Let’s handle it stage by stage, Reggie. Why were you so anxious to get me in the web?’

  Marion-Liz said hoarsely, ‘I almost hate myself. I hoped you’d never know.’

  ‘Don’t hate yourself, tell me the truth.’

  ‘All right,’ she said, and Rowse groaned. ‘You’re quite right. We wanted your help. We thought it would work that way. It was Harry Keller’s idea. You see – we know who can tell us where to find the Riordon Collection, and where to find the keys needed. We don’t know where it is, but – my father does. Yes, my father
’s in gaol, I know. I’ve told you how I feel about him. We couldn’t get at him, but you were friendly with the police. We were going to tell you everything, and suggest that if you could get the Riordon Collection, it would be a great triumph for the Toff. We were sure you’d fall for it – you’d manage to see Father, give him a message from me, find out where the collection was.’

  Rowse said, ‘Oh, hell! We were all going to find it together, Rollison, and we’d have some strong-arm boys on the spot. We’d have dealt with you, just knocked you cold, and got off with the stuff.’

  ‘Have another drink,’ said Rollison hospitably.

  ‘What are you going to do?’ muttered Rowse.

  ‘Do? Just what you planned, with a minor exception – get the truth out of your father, Liz, and pass it on to the police. Simple.’

  ‘But—us?’

  ‘You? I’m going to be a witness at your wedding, and I’m going to be a benevolent uncle, keeping an eye on you for a long time. Until you’ve given up the crazy idea of avenging yourself on an innocent society.’

  Marion-Liz was crying silently.

  Reginald Rowse looked like a schoolboy caught out in a heinous crime.

  The front-door bell rang.

  Lady Gloria and Iris arrived together and appeared to notice nothing remarkable about the puffy redness at Marion-Liz’s eyes.

  Rollison and Grice stood in the passage, beneath a house near Watford, a house owned by Marion-Liz’s father and let to tenants who had no idea what was below their cellar. Grice held a set of keys in his hand.

  He handed them to Rollison.

  ‘Bill,’ said Rollison, as he turned the key, ‘did I ever say I was sorry I clouted you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Well, I am. You will forever be my favourite policeman.’

  He pushed at the heavy door.

  Torches flashed about a dark vault, cobwebs hung down on packing-cases and boxes and safes. Grice’s men came in and were busy with crowbars and keys. More light was brought in and shone on jewels which brought fire into the vaults; on objets d’art and oil-paintings; on a fortune.

  Series Information

  Published or to be published by

  House of Stratus

  Dates given are those of first publication

  Alternative titles in brackets

  ‘The Baron’ (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)

  ‘Department ‘Z’’ (28 titles)

  ‘Dr. Palfrey Novels’ (34 titles)

  ‘Gideon of Scotland Yard’ (22 titles)

  ‘Inspector West’ (43 titles)

  ‘Sexton Blake’ (5 titles)

  ‘The Toff’ (59 titles)

  along with:

  The Masters of Bow Street

  This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey’s account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel’s Act in 1829.

  ‘The Baron’ Series

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Meet the Baron (The Man in the Blue Mask) (1937)

  The Baron Returns (The Return of the Blue Mask) (1937)

  The Baron Again (Salute Blue Mask) (1938)

  The Baron at Bay (Blue Mask at Bay) (1938)

  Alias the Baron (Alias Blue Mask) (1939)

  The Baron at Large (Challenge Blue Mask!) (1939)

  Versus the Baron (Blue Mask Strikes Again) (1940)

  Call for the Baron (Blue Mask Victorious) (1940)

  The Baron Comes Back (1943)

  A Case for the Baron (1945)

  Reward for the Baron (1945)

  Career for the Baron (1946)

  Blood Diamond (The Baron and the Beggar) (1947)

  Blame the Baron (1948)

  A Rope for the Baron (1948)

  Books for the Baron (1949)

  Cry for the Baron (1950)

  Trap the Baron (1950)

  Attack the Baron (1951)

  Shadow the Baron (1951)

  Warn the Baron (1952)

  The Baron Goes East (1953)

  The Baron in France (1953)

  Danger for the Baron (1953)

  The Baron Goes Fast (1954)

  Nest-Egg for the Baron (Deaf, Dumb and Blonde) (1954)

  Help from the Baron (1955)

  Hide the Baron (1956)

  The Double Frame (Frame the Baron) (1957)

  Blood Red (Red Eye for the Baron) (1958)

  If Anything Happens to Hester (Black for the Baron) (1959)

  Salute for the Baron (1960)

  The Baron Branches Out (A Branch for the Baron) (1961)

  The Baron and the Stolen Legacy (Bad for the Baron) (1962)

  A Sword for the Baron (The Baron and the Mogul Swords) (1963)

  The Baron on Board (The Mask of Sumi) (1964)

  The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle (1964)

  Sport for the Baron (1966)

  Affair for the Baron (1967)

  The Baron and the Missing Old Masters (1968)

  The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait (1969)

  Last Laugh for the Baron (1970)

  The Baron Goes A-Buying (1971)

  The Baron and the Arrogant Artist (1972)

  Burgle the Baron (1973)

  The Baron - King Maker (1975)

  Love for the Baron (1979)

  Doctor Palfrey Novels

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Traitor’s Doom (1942)

  The Legion of the Lost (1943)

  The Valley of Fear (The Perilous Country) (1943)

  Dangerous Quest (1944)

  Death in the Rising Sun (1945)

  The Hounds of Vengeance (1945)

  Shadow of Doom (1946)

  The House of the Bears (1946)

  Dark Harvest (1947)

  The Wings of Peace (1948)

  The Sons of Satan (1948)

  The Dawn of Darkness (1949)

  The League of Light (1949)

  The Man Who Shook the World (1950)

  The Prophet of Fire (1951)

  The Children of Hate (The Killers of Innocence; The Children of Despair) (1952)

  The Touch of Death (1954)

  The Mists of Fear (1955)

  The Flood (1956)

  The Plague of Silence (1958)

  Dry Spell (The Drought) (1959)

  The Terror (1962)

  The Depths (1963)

  The Sleep (1964)

  The Inferno (1965)

  The Famine (1967)

  The Blight (1968)

  The Oasis (1970)

  The Smog (1970)

  The Unbegotten (1971)

  The Insulators (1972)

  The Voiceless Ones (1973)

  The Thunder-Maker (1976)

  The Whirlwind (1979)

  Gideon Series

  (Writing as JJ Marric)

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Gideon’s Day (Gideon of Scotland Yard) (1955)

  Seven Days to Death (Gideon’s Week) (1956)

  Gideon’s Night (1957)

  A Backwards Jump (Gideon’s Month) (1958)

  Thugs and Economies (Gideon’s Staff) (1959)

  Gideon Combats Influence (Gideon’s Risk) (1960)

  Gideon’s Fire (1961)

  A Conference for Assassins (Gideon’s March) (1962)

  Travelling Crimes (Gideon’s Ride) (1963)

  An Uncivilised Election (Gideon’s Vote) (1964)

  Criminal Imports (Gideon’s Lot) (1965)

  To Nail a Serial Killer (Gideon’s Badge) (1966)

  From Murder to a Cathedral (Gideon’s Wrath) (1967)


  Gideon’s River (1968)

  Darkness and Confusion (Gideon’s Power) (1969)

  Sport, Heat & Scotland Yard (Gideon’s Sport) (1970)

  Gideon’s Art (1971)

  No Relaxation at Scotland Yard (Gideon’s Men) (1972)

  Impartiality Against the Mob (Gideon’s Press) (1973)

  Not Hidden by the Fog (Gideon’s Fog) (1975)

  Good and Justice (Gideon’s Drive) (1976)

  Vigilantes & Biscuits (Gideon’s Force) (1978)

  Inspector West Series

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Inspector West Takes Charge (1942)

  Go Away to Murder (Inspector West Leaves Town) (1943)

  An Apostle of Gloom (Inspector West At Home) (1944)

  Inspector West Regrets (1945)

  Holiday for Inspector West (1946)

  Battle for Inspector West (1948)

  The Case Against Paul Raeburn (Triumph for Inspector West) (1948)

  Inspector West Kicks Off (Sport for Inspector West) (1949)

  Inspector West Alone (1950)

  Inspector West Cries Wolf (The Creepers) (1950)

  The Figure in the Dusk (A Case for Inspector West) (1951)

  The Dissemblers (Puzzle for Inspector West) (1951)

  The Case of the Acid Throwers (The Blind Spot; Inspector West at Bay) (1952)

  Give a Man a Gun (A Gun for Inspector West) (1953)

  Send Inspector West (1953)

  So Young, So Cold, So Fair (A Beauty for Inspector West; The Beauty Queen Killer) (1954)

  Murder Makes Haste (Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman) (1955)

  Murder: One, Two, Three (Two for Inspector West) (1955)

  Death of a Postman (Parcels for Inspector West) (1956)

  Death of an Assassin (A Prince for Inspector West) (1956)

  Hit and Run (Accident for Inspector West) (1957)

  The Trouble at Saxby’s (Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death) (1957)

  Murder, London - New York (1958)