Death Stands By (Department Z) by John Creasey

Author:John Creasey [Creasey, John]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Ipso Books
Published: 2016-05-23T04:00:00+00:00

12: Things Happen

No sound came from the house ‘Red Acres’, nor from the bungalow near the drive gates. Kerr and Lucas moved softly across damp grass, neither of them speaking, both thankful for the heavy clouds and the wind that offered them some help. Rain would come at any moment, but it had not started yet.

The silence was almost uncanny. Kerr was prepared for a trick, although he heard not the slightest sound to suggest that anyone had been watching. But the dead silence, the feeling that a shot might come out of the darkness at any moment, was getting on his nerves. As they neared the bungalow, and drew within the aura of its light, he hesitated.

‘Careful, Jeremy. I don’t like this. Over there to the right, and see what you can see through that window. I will try this one on the left.’

‘Right-ho,’ said Lucas, and he crawled away, moving with a stealthy silence that was part of his usefulness.

There were two lighted windows at the bungalow, and Kerr wanted to see what he could through each of them. One had curtain-blinds, but there was a gap in the curtains. The blinds of the other room had not been pulled, and Lucas had an easy task.

Kerr reached his window and pressed flat against the wall for a moment, his ears alert. No sound came. Slowly he moved forward towards the crack in the curtains, and found he had a clear view of the room.

He almost laughed.

There was one man there, a broad-shouldered fellow with a pair of pink slippers on vast feet. He was reading a paper, and his face was half hidden, although Kerr recognised the bruiser type in a flash. The man was obviously thinking nothing at all of the possibility of trouble. He looked like any workman at the end of a hard day’s grind.

Kerr was still smiling when Lucas came up. Lucas spoke one word, close to Kerr’s ear.

‘Empty.’

‘Fine,’ said Bob Kerr. ‘And it’s a bungalow, which means we needn’t fear trouble from upstairs. We’ll find the first open window and get through.’

‘Why not try the house first?’ demanded Lucas.

‘Because it’ll be wiser to visit this gentleman and make sure there’s no attack from the rear,’ said Kerr. They were walking softly round the bungalow as he spoke, and they reached the front door. Kerr decided to try the handle. It was locked.

‘I’ll get in here. Keep your eyes open in case of trouble.’

Lucas watched, his gun in his hand. Kerr took a pick-lock from his pocket—one of the instruments that he had learned to use since he had been a member of Department Z—and wielded it as dexterously as any cracksman. In two minutes the door was wide open, and Lucas heard Kerr’s low voice as the bigger man pointed to a door.

‘Let’s move, my son. My fellow’s in that room. Stay near while I try the others.’

Kerr tried the handle of one of the doors. It opened, but the room was in darkness.

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