Murder, London--South Africa Read online

  26

  TRAFFIC FLOWS TWO WAYS

  After a long pause, Roger said, “No, I don’t get it.”

  He was much more tired than he had expected, and his eagerness to know the final truth was less sharp than it had been; he wanted to know, but he was half-prepared to wait until morning.

  “Traffic moves two ways,” he said aloud. “No. You’ll have to tell me.”

  As he spoke the door opened and two nurses came in, one of them indignant, the other apologetic. The Superintendent had already been talking too long, and in any case, the doctor was on his way to see him.

  Standish stood up, Jameson seemed to hesitate, and then Standish said, “Will you sleep on it?”

  “I think I’d better.”

  He thought about it a great deal. A two-way traffic. There must be a simple answer, and yet it didn’t come to him. It teased but did not worry him. In any case, it could not stop him from sleeping, for they gave him an injection and he was wafted off within ten minutes. Before he slept he thought of the ‘two-way traffic’ and half-consciously about the message from Janet. It would be good to see her, to get back.

  In the morning, he felt much better than he had done since coming round. He felt hungrier, and believed that he could walk if it weren’t for the plaster about his leg. He was impatient for Standish and Jameson to come again, too, and when they didn’t arrive by eleven o’clock, he began to feel annoyed. That did not last long. He sensed from the way the nurses fussed that there was a special visitor about to come, probably the specialist who had been consulted. Instead, Colonel Wiess came in by himself. This was really the top treatment.

  Wiess saluted, shook hands, smiled down, pulled up a chair, and said, “Two-way traffic, Superintendent?”

  “I haven’t got the answer,” Roger said.

  “It would have been only a matter of time,” Wiess said. “And it is very simple. We were searching for a method of smuggling diamonds into foreign countries after they had left South Africa, but passengers were seldom found with diamonds in their baggage. We were looking at the wrong end. The diamonds were being smuggled out, sold, stolen, and—”

  “Smuggled back into South Africa!” Roger cried.

  “Ach, yes, that is so. They were then put into stock at the Van der Lunn’s mine, and eventually sold to de Beers and the Syndicate, who believed that they had been newly mined here in South Africa. The two Italians and Joshua Bradshaw went to the mine to steal a large stock of diamonds they knew were there. The fraud was connived at by Mr Van der Lunn’s managers. We have confronted his managers with this, and they have admitted it. We know what happened to him when he reached London – in fact, what happened from the time he boarded the aircraft.”

  Wiess paused, and then added in a gruff voice, “There is no need to involve him.”

  Roger said slowly, “So it all works out.”

  “Yes,” said Wiess. “It has worked out so quickly because you came to South Africa. I know that I speak for many people as well as myself when I say that I am very grateful indeed.”

  Roger asked, quietly, “Even Nightingale and Miss Soames?”

  For the first time in Roger’s knowledge of him, Wiess actually threw back his head and laughed.

  “Only this morning copies of The Globe reached us by airmail,” he said. “I have one for you.”

  He opened his briefcase and handed Roger The Daily Globe, folded so that the front page was hidden. He opened it, and saw the banner headlines:

  SA Triumph For ‘Handsome’ West

  There was his photograph, and Faith’s, and Nightingale’s. There was a story, told forthrightly and clearly, giving nothing away that was best kept secret and yet telling everything that mattered. Roger was so intent on it that although he saw Wiess move he did not realise that the Colonel had gone to the door. He was just aware that the door had opened, thought vaguely that Wiess must be allowing him to enjoy his triumph in peace, saw an arrow pointing from a sentence in italics:

  West’s Wife and Family - p7.

  He turned to page seven, and Janet and the boys were there, smiling as if straight at him. Janet was looking her best, the boys apparently as happy as could be.

  Someone was standing by the bedside. It wasn’t Wiess, it was a woman. He looked up. He gaped. He gasped. He could not believe it, but there she was: Janet, his wife, standing and looking down on him, smiling a little tremulously but smiling. More: she was looking quite at her best, better even than in the photograph.

  Suddenly she was leaning over him, and kissing him, and crying a little. Tears did not last for long, and she drew back and sat on the side of the bed. She kept a hand on his arm, lightly, and looked at him as if hungrily.

  “We’re all so proud of you, darling. So very proud.” She gave an excited little laugh. “All of us. Soames of The Globe telephoned me and said enough to make you blush. And his niece—isn’t she charming?—came and saw me as soon as she got back to London. She said she never expected to meet a more remarkable man. She thinks so much of you. Roger, darling, I was so afraid before you went away; I thought you’d got tired of me. I thought you’d fallen in love with another woman. And Faith Soames said that all you seemed to talk about, when she met you here, was me.”

  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 Heste
r (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)

  'Department Z' Novels

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

  The Death Miser (1932)

  Redhead (1934)

  First Came a Murder (1934)

  Death Round the Corner (1935)

  The Mark of the Crescent (1935)

  Thunder in Europe (1936)

  The Terror Trap (1936)

  Carriers of Death (1937)

  Days of Danger (1937)

  Death Stands By (1938)

  Menace! (1938)

  Murder Must Wait (1939)

  Panic! (1939)

  Death by Night (1940)

  The Island of Peril (1940)

  Sabotage (1941)

  Go Away Death (1941)

  The Day of Disaster (1942)

  Prepare for Action (1942)

  No Darker Crime (1943)

  Dark Peril (1944)

  The Peril Ahead (1946)

  The League of Dark Men (1947)

  The Department of Death (1949)

  The Enemy Within (1950)

  Dead or Alive (1951)

  A Kind of Prisoner (1954)

  The Black Spiders (1957)

  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)

  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)<
br />
  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