Shadow The Baron Read online

  “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

  “Who was it?”

  “Probably the Shadow. You know him as Smith.”

  Bristow looked at the door, and said sharply: “The key’s on the outside.”

  “I locked him in.”

  Bristow grunted, and thrust the door open. Smith was lying on his side, with his back to the door. His right hand was stretched out, and the gun lay within an inch of it. Bristow moved across and Mannering and the others followed.

  Smith moved.

  He grabbed the gun, twisted round, and pointed it at Mannering; and there was hatred in his eyes, the old glitter, as if the Devil were back in the man. Mannering hadn’t time to move, saw the trigger finger squeeze – and then his legs were hooked from under him by one of Bristow’s men, and he crashed down. He felt the bullet bite into his left arm. He didn’t see Bristow jump at Smith or see Smith put the gun to his mouth and fire again.

  29: Shadow Lifted

  With his arm in a sling, Mannering walked up the stairs to his Chelsea fiat. He didn’t have to use his key, for the door opened and Lorna appeared. She stretched out one hand and took his, and he put his arm round her shoulders. As they moved into the hall, Hetty appeared.

  Mannering smiled at her. “I’m terribly sorry that you had such a scare.”

  “Scare! I was terrified! If that man ever comes here again, I’ll leave, I couldn’t stand . . .”

  “He won’t come again,” Mannering said. “He’s dead. Make some coffee, will you?”

  “Dead!” echoed Hetty.

  She was still standing there, undecided which mood would yield the best dramatic effect, when, arm in arm with Lorna, he moved into the drawing room. Celia, her back to the window, turned and stared at him. There was no doubt, from her expression, that she had heard what had been said.

  There was shock there, horror, and perhaps relief.

  Mannering poured out a whisky and soda, and took it across to her. She sipped a little, and then put the glass down, as if she must know the truth.

  “How did it happen?”

  “He killed himself,” Mannering said. “He also killed your mother, Celia.”

  “Killed her!”

  “The shock was too much for her, and she died tonight.” Whisky was spilling over her glass and dripping to the carpet. “He gave her too much to drink, egged her on to kill Muriel, and wanted your father hanged for it. When he knew that he would have to stand trial, he shot himself. It was over very quickly.”

  She steadied the glass, and drank again.

  “He was planning to leave the country without you,” Mannering said.

  She nodded, as if she understood the full significance of that.

  “And listen, Celia,” Mannering said quietly. “I don’t know what he did to set you against your father, but whatever it was, was false. Your father sacrificed everything he had, to save your mother, and paid him a fortune in blackmail. Remember that.”

  Celia said unsteadily: “Paul told me –” she looked round as if for help, but no help was there.

  “He told me that it was not my mother who had killed that woman in South Africa, but my father. I hated him for putting the blame on her. Was – wasn’t it true?”

  “No,” said Mannering. “Your mother wasn’t quite normal, Celia, and your father protected her in every way he could.”

  Celia turned to Lorna, and together they moved to a chair. She was still sitting there when Larraby arrived, twenty minutes later. The canister, he reported, was at the bottom of the Thames.

  He was in the kitchen, with Hetty, when the telephone bell rang. Mannering answered it.

  “Mannering speaking.”

  “Put me through to Mr. Brown, please,” a man said crisply.

  Mannering exclaimed: “Brown! There’s no one named Brown here.”

  “He must have moved,” said Bristow, airily. “One day he may not move fast enough.”

  Before Mannering could reply, he rang off.

  Fleming and Lee were coming in, Lee with exuberant excitement.

  Mannering said: “Did you find those papers?”

  “I’ve burnt them,” said Fleming.

  “Burnt what?” asked Lee.

  “Forget it,” Mannering said. “Celia’s in the other room. She knows everything, and took the shock better than I thought she would. She’ll probably be all right after a few weeks rest. Don’t force anything on her. If my wife and I can help, we will. I’d say the best thing would be for her to have a holiday in a country cottage, with some friends of mine. She’ll be all right.”

  “She must be!” cried Lee.

  “She will be,” Fleming said, and he smiled, as if at some happy memory.

  Celia was sleeping in the spare room, Fleming and Lee had gone, and Mannering and Lorna were sitting in the drawing room, when the front door bell rang. Lorna, who regarded Mannering’s wounded arm as if it were a major injury, jumped up to open the door.

  Chittering, with a plaster over his forehead and a bruise on his chin, came in briskly. The bruise distorted his smile, but his eyes were glowing.

  “Hallo, John. I’m told you’ve been in the wars.”

  “Just a skirmish.”

  “And that you handed a dead Shadow to Bristow on a plate.”

  “Nice of him to say so.”

  “He didn’t mince words. He’s been to this garage which Smith ran under the name of Caton, and found all the proof he needed. As well as most of the proceeds of the Shadow’s recent hauls. Insurance companies owe you a nice fat cheque! I gather that Celia’s not hurt.”

  “She’s here, sleeping.”

  “Trust the Mannerings,” Chittering said, and sat down. “Mind if I rest? No, thanks, I won’t have whisky; I’m told that it would give me a whacking great headache. Mind telling me the inside story?”

  Mannering laughed. “You know it.”

  “Not one half,” Chittering said. “But I suppose I can’t expect any more from you. I’ve a splash headline, and your picture will be on the front page. I’m told that one of the Shadow’s men fell foul of you – trying to burgle the place.”

  “Something like that.”

  “He babbled on about a man called Brown. Bristow is very interested in this Mr. Brown. Any idea who he is?”

  “Not a notion,” said Mannering.

  “Strange! That reminds me, there’s a big bonfire outside, and they’ve had to call the fire brigade out. I wonder what started that off.”

  “Mischievous boys, probably,” Mannering said.

  Six months later, when the trial of Mick and the other men was over, the Mannerings received an invitation to spend a weekend at Guildford. They reached Maylands early in the afternoon, and found Fleming in the orchard, and George Lee cleaning carburettors, in the garage. Lee called: “I’ll be with you in a jiffy.” Fleming came hurrying, and opened the front gate.

  “How’s business?” asked Mannering.

  “Flourishing” said Fleming, and laughed. “I’m much happier in my new job!”

  “Past really is the past?”

  “I saw enough of hell not to want to go back,” Fleming said. “No one suspects the truth, and Celia – “he gripped Mannering’s arm tightly. “She’s full recovered. I think she and George will marry. He’s found a useful job, and is doing quite well.”

  “I’m so glad,” Lorna said.

  “Mannering, why did you give me that chance?” Fleming asked. “I’ve never worked that out. There seemed no reason why –”

  “Let’s say I’d seen a glimpse of the same hell,” said Mannering lightly. “Hallo, there she is.”

  Her dark hair blowing back, her eyes bright, with contentment, Celia hurried towards them.

  “Was it worth it?” Mannering asked.

  Lorna laughed.

  Series Information

  Published or to be published by

  House of Stratus

  Dates given are those of first publication

 
‘The Baron’ Series

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

  Title Also Published as:

  1 Meet the Baron The Man in the Blue Mask 1937

  2 The Baron Returns The Return of the Blue Mask 1937

  3 The Baron Again Salute Blue Mask 1938

  4 The Baron at Bay Blue Mask at Bay 1938

  5 Alias the Baron Alias Blue Mask 1939

  6 The Baron at Large Challenge Blue Mask! 1939

  7 Versus the Baron Blue Mask Strikes Again 1940

  8 Call for the Baron Blue Mask Victorious 1940

  9 The Baron Comes Back 1943

  10 A Case for the Baron 1945

  11 Reward for the Baron 1945

  12 Career for the Baron 1946

  13 The Baron and the Beggar 1947

  14 Blame the Baron 1948

  15 A Rope for the Baron 1948

  16 Books for the Baron 1949

  17 Cry for the Baron 1950

  18 Trap the Baron 1950

  19 Attack the Baron 1951

  20 Shadow the Baron 1951

  21 Warn the Baron 1952

  22 The Baron Goes East 1953

  23 The Baron in France 1953

  24 Danger for the Baron 1953

  25 The Baron Goes Fast 1954

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

  27 Help from the Baron 1955

  28 Hide the Baron 1956

  29 The Double Frame Frame the Baron 1957

  30 Blood Red Red Eye for the Baron 1958

  31 If Anything Happens to Hester Black for the Baron 1959

  32 Salute for the Baron 1960

  33 The Baron Branches Out A Branch for the Baron 1961

  34 The Baron and the Stolen Legacy Bad for the Baron 1962

  35 A Sword for the Baron The Baron and the Mogul Swords 1963

  36 The Baron on Board 1964

  37 The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle 1964

  38 Sport for the Baron 1966

  39 Affair for the Baron 1967

  40 The Baron and the Missing Old Masters 1968

  41 The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait 1969

  42 Last Laugh for the Baron 1970

  43 The Baron Goes A-Buying 1971

  44 The Baron and the Arrogant Artist 1972

  45 Burgle the Baron 1973

  46 The Baron - King Maker 1975

  47 Love for the Baron 1979

  Series by John Creasey

  Published by House of Stratus

  ‘Department ‘Z’’ (28 titles)

  ‘Dr. Palfrey Novels’ (34 titles)

  ‘Inspector West’ (43 titles)

  ‘Sexton Blake’ (5 titles)

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

  ‘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.

  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.

  The Case Against Paul Raeburn

  Chief Inspector Roger West has been watching and waiting for over two years - he is determined to catch Paul Raeburn out. The millionaire racketeer may have made a mistake, following the killing of a small time crook. Can the ace detective triumph over the evil Raeburn in what are very difficult circumstances? This cannot be assumed as not eveything, it would seem, is as simple as it first appears .....

  Introducing The Toff

  Whilst returning home from a cricket match at his father’s country home, the Honourable Richard Rollison - alias The Toff - comes across an accident which proves to be a mystery. As he delves deeper into the matter with his usual perseverance and thoroughness, murder and suspense form the backdrop to a fast moving and exciting adventure.

  www.houseofstratus.com

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  About the Author

  1: The Detective Takes a Walk

  2: Toby Plender

  3: Mannering Inquires

  4: News of the Shadow

  5: Man of His Word

  6: The Man Who Laughed

  7: Offer

  8: The Girl

  9: Alarm

  10: News

  11: Off the Record

  12: Present from Chittering

  13: Murder

  14: Friendly Visit

  15: Celia Takes a Trip

  16: Soft Spot

  17: Bristow’s High Horse

  18: The Deal

  19: Kidnapping

  20: Chloe’s Cottage

  21: Night Visit

  22: Man Alive

  23: Dossier on Smith

  24: Visitors

  25: “Mr. Brown” Again

  26: “Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown”

  27: Second Burglary

  28: The Shadow

  29: Shadow Lifted

  Series Information

  Select Synopses