Taking the Blame Read online

  Clara had introduced George to Dale, Bristow said, and to other criminals – long before Swanmore had been blackmailed so viciously that he was forced to try and sell the collection. George had pretended to be dead-set against the sale, and had allowed no one to realise that his own fortune had gone. He had conceived the raid on Quinns.

  Later, the reason for the murder of Jumpy Dale and Baldy Lock came out through Lanky Sam. Dale had worked most of the time under a running commentary of criticism from George, whose face he had never seen. In exasperation, he had stripped the mask from George’s face – and the decision to murder both men who could identify him had come in a flash.

  Lanky Sam had been ‘safe,’ for he was Clara’s brother.

  The man who had gone to the flat to shoot at George had been sent by George; a smelly red-herring. He had telephoned his father, telling him not to mention his loss, for the same reason – for George had known that the police already knew.

  The court heard Clara testify how he had planned to frame Mannering. Chittering, who was reporting, took verbatim notes of that particular deposition. The court also heard how George, nervous once the first murders had been committed, was afraid that his sister might guess the truth about the blackmailing. So, bearded and unrecognisable, he had persuaded her to go with him, instead of meeting her brother. She had been chained to the bed in the Hounslow house, and questioned by Clara and George – in his disguise – to try to find out whether she had guessed. If there was one streak of good in George’s character, it was in his reluctance to hurt Patricia; but he would have killed her, had he been sure that she could prove he had blackmailed Swanmore.

  Patricia hadn’t known that.

  By the time of the trial, Larraby was well enough to make a statement, and would recover completely. Carmichael, still very weak, was not likely to return to Quinns.

  A few days after the trial, at which George and Lanky Sam were sentenced to death and Clara found not guilty of complicity in the murders but guilty of other charges which earned her ten years’ penal servitude, Tubs Maudsley and Patricia called at Mannering’s flat. Patricia had stood the ordeal of the trial well, leaning not a little on Tubs. As they entered the drawing-room, it was obvious to Lorna and Mannering that she would continue to lean on Tubs.

  Mannering poured out drinks.

  “Well, you’re glad it’s over, John, aren’t you?” asked Maudsley.

  “I’m not sorry,” said Mannering mildly.

  “I’ll bet you’re not! Er—I’ve really come along to apologise. Came to the conclusion, in the end, that you were the villain. Crazy thing, but—well, there you are. You were in court all the time, I suppose. Heard my evidence?”

  “Well—” began Mannering, for although he had heard Tubs’ evidence, he could tell that Tubs wanted to elaborate it.

  “Fact is, I was motivated by love for Tricia,” Tubs said prosily. “Tried all I could to help her father. Even tried to get George away from Clara once upon a time. Went to see her. She told me, out of spite I think, that they’d set up this house together at Isleworth. Isleworth, not Hounslow, get it right! And I once took the trouble to search the place out. That’s why I toddled off down there. Thought she was taking everyone, including George, for a ride.”

  “It’s a good thing you went,” Mannering said.

  “Oh, I don’t know. The police would have dug out the truth sooner or later. Mysterious business, as a matter of fact. I gather that the police didn’t tell anyone about the raid on the house till late, and yet someone got to know of it pretty early. That chap who broke in, no one seems to know who he was. I can’t see what he had to do with it all—queer, isn’t it?”

  “Very,” agreed Mannering solemnly.

  “Well, there we are,” said Tubs. “I—er—great Scott, I didn’t really come to talk about that. Tricia and I—”

  “Now this won’t do,” chided Mannering brightly. “Don’t let him give an engagement second place, Tricia, or what will he do when you’re married?”

  The fact that a successful burglary had been carried out at Scotland Yard did not leak out. Chittering told Bristow that he had changed his mind, without referring it to his editor; if Bristow suspected why, he forebore to ask.

  Mannering, who had seen little of Bristow since George’s arrest, had been put on the stand to testify about the finding of the two bodies at Quinns, and finding the pencil; he was not called again. The pencil was George’s.

  The letter from Patricia, which she had managed to write in the car and drop out of the window, didn’t come up in court. The newspapers, particularly the Cry and the Daily Record, made appreciative references to the police in general and to Bristow in particular; enough to please even Bristow.

  Soon after the visit from Tubs and Patricia, a caller came to the Chelsea flat, and Mannering, who was passing through the hall, opened the door. He was startled to see Bristow, who put his head on one side and looked at him coldly.

  “Well, Bill,” said Mannering after a long pause. “Come in. It’s a long time since we had a chat.”

  “I’m not sure that it’s long enough,” said Bristow, entering the hall. “Is Mrs. Mannering in?”

  “She’s upstairs, in the studio, but she’ll be down for tea—stay and have some with us.”

  “Thanks,” said Bristow.

  There was a gleam in his eyes; he had not come out of malice. They said little about the Swanmore affair, discussed crime in general and the folly of outside interference with police work in particular, until Lorna came down.

  “Why, Bill! I’m glad to see you.”

  “I hope you always will be,” Bristow said. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re too good for your husband?”

  “I tell him that every day.”

  “Keep telling him,” Bristow said.

  He stayed for an hour. When he had gone, Mannering noticed the parcel, neatly wrapped in brown paper, lying on the hall table. He opened it.

  Inside was the make-up box which had so nearly damned him.

  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)

  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)

&n
bsp; 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