A Death in Autumn by Jim McGrath

Author:Jim McGrath [McGrath, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-912605-68-2
Publisher: j-views Publishing

Handsworth, 16.53hrs

Clark’s phone was ringing as they entered the office and he picked it up. It was Marie. ‘Hello, Clarkee. I thought you’d like to know. I just called the Agency and I’ll be having an intimate meeting with Adam Strong starting at eight tomorrow, in room 606 of the Belgravia Hotel.’

‘Yam a star, Marie. Yow do know, yow don’t have to be there if yow don’t want to.’

‘Are you mad? This may be the closest I ever get to a ringside seat on the Welcome Wagon. I wouldn’t miss it for all the tea in China. Room 606 at eight. Bye.’

As Clark hung up, WPC Kennedy knocked on the door and led a small man into the room and introduced him to Collins, ‘This is Sidney Steptoe. He says he has an appointment with you Sergeant Collins.’

Sidney was everything his voice had promised. Small and slim, he was about forty-five, with greying blond hair and a suntan. He was dressed like a twenty-five year-old with more money than taste, in bright blue hipsters and jacket, and a white shirt with a blue cravat. When he spoke, his voice was high and very camp. ‘Well, two policemen for the price of one. How lucky can a girl get?’ he asked.

Collins smiled and held out his hand and was surprised by the strength of the man’s grip.

‘Well you know who I am, Sidney Steptoe, poof of the parish who has a thing for men in uniforms.’

Collins made the introductions and Clark commented on Sidney’s bright blue jacket. ‘I like your jacket. Yow should give my mate here the name of yowr tailor. I’m constantly telling him he needs more colour in his wardrobe.’

‘Never mind him, Sidney. He’s just being daft as usual. Have a seat while I get the typewriter.’ Collins went to the bottom drawer of the third filing cabinet and lifted out the Remington and placed it on his desk. ‘The ribbon is brand new. I rewound it to the start.’

‘What was it you typed over the text?’

‘Just my name, Michael Collins. I thought the ribbon had never been used and I tried to type my name with my eyes closed.’

‘OK. Let me have the ribbon, please,’ said Sidney as he sat down in Collins chair.

Collins took it from his pocket and handed it over. Sidney examined the ribbon from both sides then dived into his bag and extracted a glass perfume dispenser with a rubber tube with a glass ball filled with fine white powder attached. He gently dusted both sides of the ribbon and blew the excess away. He then placed it on the near-pristine green desk blotter and taking a book, he covered it and pressed down hard. Removing the book, he lifted the ribbon clear of the blotter where two separate strings of letters had appeared. It took him less than a minute to write out what had appeared transposed on the blotting paper.

Handing the foolscap pad to Collins he said, ‘That’s the best I can do.

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