Murder, London--South Africa by John Creasey

Author:John Creasey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime
Publisher: House of Stratus
Published: 2014-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

15

FLIGHT

“Would you like to come to the airport?” Roger asked Janet.

In the past she had been to see him off on long trips abroad, and had always given him the impression that she liked to. This morning, he wasn’t sure what her reaction would be. He had told her what Hardy wanted him to do, that there was a BOAC flight to Johannesburg direct at one-thirty that afternoon, which meant that he would be able to spend all the morning at the Yard.

When Janet didn’t answer now, he went on almost awkwardly, “Jan, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing’s the matter.”

“I have to go, you know.”

“I know.”

“Are you coming to see me off?”

“If you want me to.”

Her eyes were lacklustre where they should be so bright, her manner was almost listless where it was usually brisk and lively. He did not know what to do or say, but he did know that they were expecting him at the Yard and every minute he could spend there would be precious.

“Will you pack a few things for me? I’ll call for you at half past twelve,” he said. He wished there was time to suggest that he should come home earlier so that they could have lunch at the airport, but if he promised that and something cropped up to prevent it she would be disappointed. It was better not to risk it.

“How does that sound?”

Janet hesitated; and then she forced a smile and put some enthusiasm into her voice.

“That sounds fine! Now you’d better be off, or you’ll be late. You’ll need every minute you can squeeze in this morning.”

She gave him a peck of a kiss, and shooed him off, but there was something not quite normal about it; she had to make the special effort. He was preoccupied as he drove to the Yard, and whenever he tried to make himself think of the smuggling case, uncertainty about Janet drew his thoughts back to her. Now that he had noticed this remoteness, he realised that it had been gradually developing for some time – certainly for months. And it was a fact that he had spent more and more time at the office in the evening, doing paperwork which never seemed to end, so that he could carry out the actual work of investigation during the day. It had become a habit, he was so deeply involved in his job; could one say that he was obsessed by it?

He turned into the Yard, to find Gorlay waiting, obviously to look after the car.

“Everything all right?” Roger asked.

“Nothing new as far as I know,” said Gorlay. “Mr Klemm and Mr McKay have been in since seven, to get everything ready before you go.”

Roger said, startled, “How do they know I’m going anywhere?”

Gorlay grinned. “Little bird I suppose, sir!”

Roger laughed, and hurried up the steps. There seemed a greater briskness about most of the people whom he saw on the way. He reached his own office to find everything cleared from his desk except

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