The Silvered Cage by John Russell Fearn

Author:John Russell Fearn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: traditional British mystery, police procedural, crime, suspense, murder
ISBN: 9781434448736
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2012-05-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

“Now you know why we’re here, Mr. Laycock.” Garth said grimly, and at that Laycock swung and stared at him.

“What kind of a game is this?” he demanded. “Who the hell planted those clothes there?”

“That’s rather a silly question, isn’t it?” Garth asked, and moved forward to gaze at the clothes more intently. He took good care not to touch them, however, and promptly restrained Laycock as he was about to do so.

“Take a look around, Whitty,” Garth ordered. “I’ve a few things to ask Mr. Laycock.”

Whittaker began to move, first in the direction of the empty bath that had been mentioned in the cat bur­glar’s letter. Laycock stood in silence, his expression a mixture of fury and alarm. Deep down, though, Garth suspected, he was far more puzzled than furious—unless he was a good actor.

“You recognize these clothes?” Garth asked curtly.

“I recognize the cocktail gown, certainly: it’s the one Vera wore at the magical demonstration. Presumably the rest of the finery is hers, too.”

“So I think. How did they get here?”

“You can please yourself whether you believe it or not, but I just don’t know.”

“You can do better than that, Mr. Laycock!”

“I don’t know, I tell you! It’s as big a surprise to me as to anybody that they should be here.”

Garth glanced dourly about him, then back to the chemist.

“When were you last here?”

“About a week ago. I don’t come very often, only when there is some especial job to be done. This place is a subsidiary to my shop.”

“I gathered that. Have you a phone here?”

Laycock nodded towards the nearby bench and Garth crossed to the instrument and raised it. In a few moments he was through to Scotland Yard.

“Garth here. Send down a fingerprint man and pho­tographer to Laycock Chemical Enterprises in Pine Street, Marble Arch.”

This done Garth reflected for a moment and then turned as Whittaker came towards him.

“Better take a look at that bath, sir. See what you think of it.”

Garth moved to it. The bath was made of nickel steel and was evidently intended for use with acid. Even so the nickel steel was not so perfect that it was unblemished. There was a distinct acid tide-mark all the way round it—and in the base of the bath something was gleaming brightly. His eyes sharp, Garth peered at it, then with his pocket forceps he picked the object up gently and studied it under the nearest electric light.

“Gold,” he murmured, as Whittaker gazed with him. “A gold shell. Sort of thing you get on a tooth some­times.”

“My God!” Whittaker muttered. “This business has taken a sudden dive into the macabre, sir. Vera Kestrel had a gold tooth, or else a tooth with a gold cap. I remember noticing it.”

Laycock, who had been standing listening to the low-toned conversation, came forward suddenly. Perhaps it was rather surprising that he made no effort to dash for it, for the doors were wide open.

“What are you two trying to pin on me?” he de­manded, and Garth gave him a sharp look.

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