The Executioners Read online

  “You get off,” Coppell said. “What did you come back for, anyhow?”

  “To get things ready to report to you in the morning,” Roger answered with a grin.

  Coppell waved a hand.

  “Let it wait,” he said airily. “Even you have to have some sleep.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Sentence

  “The incredible thing is that the judge won’t put on the black cap,” Roger whispered to Frisby, who was with him at the Old Bailey, four months later,

  “Quiet!” an usher called.

  “Here’s the jury,” muttered Frisby. “They haven’t been out twenty minutes. Hardly time for the women to powder their noses.”

  Roger nodded; the usher glared; the foreman of the jury got to his feet.

  “… have you considered your verdict?”

  “We have.”

  “And what decision have you reached in the case of the accused, Sir Solomon Medlake?”

  “Guilty, sir,” the man said clearly.

  “And the prisoner Paul Chayter?”

  “Guilty, sir.”

  “And the prisoner …”

  The word seemed to echo round the court. Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty. Jeremiah Taylor heard, it where he sat in the public benches, Julie Chayter heard it, sitting next to the old man, Cecil Chayter heard it as he sat among the witnesses, hardly able to believe that this was not a trick of time, that his brother, not he, was standing in the box.

  And the word went out, on radio and television …

  Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty.

  Rachel del Monde heard it as she sat in front of a television in the Blenheim Terrace house, with Caroline and the big Jamaican compassionately beside her.

  Lady Medlake heard it, a long time afterwards, in the Riviera hotel where she had gone to live.

  The world heard it.

  Detective Officer, soon to be Detective-Sergeant, Kane heard it from the foot of the stairs beneath the dock at the Old Bailey. He had a scar on his forehead, and a slight disability in his left arm, but not enough to prevent him from doing his job; he had been back at work for only three weeks.

  Coppell heard it, on television at the Yard.

  The Home Secretary heard it.

  The members of the House of Commons, soon to vote on the issue of capital punishment, heard it.

  “I am convinced that there will never be a return to capital punishment in this country,” Jeremiah Taylor said to Roger that evening. “And I will admit that I never came so near to questioning the rightness of my cause as I did when I saw you at the timber shed. What a dreadful occasion that was,”

  Roger said: “I don’t want any worse.”

  “I’m sure you don’t. However, a kind of good comes out of all evil. I think Cecil Chayter now feels that he has fully atoned for his crime. He is to work for me permanently, you know; he has some very interesting ideas on prison reform. I understand that his sister-in-law will keep house for him until such time as they are free to marry.” Staring out of the window of Roger’s office, on to the sunlit Thames and the busy traffic, he looked a very old man. “My main work is done, of course, my life’s work. It is a strange feeling to come to the end of the road.” He closed his eyes. “I wish I could do something for Rachel del Monde. Are you still in touch with her?”

  “She’s clearing up the campaign offices and Medlake’s business affairs,” Roger answered. “Then she says she wants to settle abroad. As a matter of fact, sir, only this morning she asked me if I would give you a message.”

  The fine old eyes lit up.

  “Indeed? What was it?”

  “She asked me to congratulate you, and to hope you bear her no ill-will.”

  “Ill-will?” exclaimed Jeremiah. “Good gracious me, no! I bear no one ill-will, Mr. West, least of all a young woman who suffered so much. But if the bitterness and hatred is gone from her, she will know the taste of happiness yet.”

  And he smiled.

  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 Harv
est (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)

  Strike for Death (The Killing Strike) (1958)

  Death of a Racehorse (1959)

  The Case of the Innocent Victims (1959)

  Murder on the Line (1960)

  Death in Cold Print (1961)

  The Scene of the Crime (1961)

  Policeman’s Dread (1962)

  Hang the Little Man (1963)

  Look Three Ways at Murder (1964)

  Murder, London - Australia (1965)

  Murder, London - South Africa (1966)

  The Executioners (1967)

  So Young to Burn (1968)

  Murder, London - Miami (1969)

  A Part for a Policeman (1970)

  Alibi for Inspector West (1971)

  A Splinter of Glass (1972)

  The Theft of Magna Carta (1973)

  The Extortioners (1974)

  A Sharp Rise in Crime (1978)

  ‘The Toff’ Series

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

  Introducing the Toff (It’s the Toff!) (1938)

  The Toff Goes On (1939)

  The Toff Steps Out (1939)

  Here Comes the Toff (1940)

  The Toff Breaks In (1940)

  Salute the Toff (1941)

  The Toff Proceeds (1941)

  The Toff Goes to Market (1942)

  The Toff Is Back (1942)

  The Toff on the Trail (short stories) (1942)

  The Toff among the Millions (1943)

  Accuse the Toff (1943)

  The Toff and the Deadly Priest (The Toff and the Curate) (1944)

  The Toff and the Great Illusion (1944)

  Feathers for the Toff (1945)

  The Toff and the Lady (1946)

  Poison for the Toff (The Toff on Ice) (1946)

  Hammer the Toff (1947)

  The Toff in Town (1948)

  The Toff Takes Shares (1948)

  The Toff and Old Harry (1949)

  The Toff on Board (1949)

  Fool the Toff (1950)

  Kill the Toff (1950)

  A Knife for the Toff (1951)

  A Mask for the Toff (The Toff Goes Gay) (1951)

  Hunt the Toff (1952)

  Call the Toff (1953)

  The Toff Down Under (Break the Toff) (1953)

  Murder Out of the Past (short stories) (1953)

  The Toff at Camp (The Toff at Butlins) (1954)

  The Toff at the Fair (1954)

  A Six for the Toff (A Score for the Toff) (1955)

  The Toff and the Deep Blue Sea (1955)

  Kiss the Toff (Make-Up for the Toff) (1956)

  The Toff in New York (1956)

  Model for the Toff (1957)

  The Toff on Fire (1957)

  The Toff and the Stolen Tresses (1958)

  Terror for the Toff (The Toff on the Farm) (1958)

  Double for the Toff (1959)

  The Toff and the Runaway Bride (1959)

  A Rocket for the Toff (1960)

  The Toff and the Kidnapped (The Kidnapped Child) (1960)

  Follow the Toff (1961)

  The Toff and the Toughs (The Toff and the Teds) (1961)

  A Doll for the Toff (1963)

  Leave It to the Toff (1963)

  The Toff and the Spider (1965)

  The Toff in Wax (1966)

  A Bundle for the Toff (1967)

  Stars for the Toff (1968)

  The Toff and the Golden Boy (1969)

  The Toff and the Fallen Angels (1970)

  Vote for the Toff (1971)

  The Toff and the Trip-Trip-Triplets (1972)

  The Toff and the Terrified Taxman (1973)

  The Toff and the Sleepy Cowboy (1975)

  The Toff and the Crooked Copper (1977)

  Select Synopses

  Gideon’s Day

  Gideon’s day is a busy one. He balances family commitments with solving a series of seemingly unrelated crimes from which a plot nonetheless evolves and a mystery is solved. One of the most senior officers within Scotland Yard, George Gideon’s crime solving
abilities are in the finest traditions of London’s world famous police headquarters. His analytical brain and sense of fairness is respected by colleagues and villains alike.

  Gideon’s Night

  On this particular night Commander George Gideon has to deal with a couple of psychopaths who trail pain and blood in their wake. One targets infants, and the other young women on London’s foggy streets. There’s also an explosive gang war in the offing, and one way or another all of these cases are coming to their breathtaking conclusions at the same time. Can Scotland Yard’s finest cope with such a nightmarish scenario, with what would ordinarily be months of time consuming police work crammed into just one night?

  Gideon’s Fire

  Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard has to deal successively with news of a mass murderer, a depraved maniac, and the deaths of a family in an arson attack on an old building south of the river. This leaves little time for the crisis developing at home …

  Meet the Baron

  John Mannering (The Baron) makes his first appearance in this volume. Lord Fauntley cannot help showing off both his daughter and the security under which his precious jewels are kept. Mannering finds himself attracted to both.… Money is tight and so he plans a burglary, but this fails and unexpected consequnces result. The relationship with Lorna Fauntley flourishes, and a series of high profile thefts and adventures ensure Mannering’s future, so he believes, until Lorna equates him with The Baron. One of the many further twists in this award winning novel occurs when the police appear to seek Mannering’s help, only to have everything turned upside down as the plot develops …

  Shadow The Baron

  John Mannering (‘The Baron’) is called in by Scotland Yard’s Superintendent Bristow to help catch the mysterious jewel thief ‘The Shadow’. No one know the thief’s identity, but he has managed to pull off many high profile robberies. However, as Mannering proceeds to track down the target, he finds the pursuer becomes the pursued. …

  The House of the Bears

  Standing alone in the bleak Yorkshire Moors is Sir Rufus Marne’s ‘House of the Bears’. Dr. Palfrey is asked to journey there to examine an invalid - whom he finds has disappeared. Moreover, Marne’s daughter lies terribly injured after a fall from the minstrel’s gallery, which Dr. Palfrey discovers was no accident. He sets out to look into both matters, but the discoveries he makes are truly fantastic. A deserted mine, powerful explosive and a submarine all feature in this powerful mystery. The results are even capable of surprising him …