Hit and Run by John Creasey

Author:John Creasey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The Parson Speaks

Waite’s voice rang round the room. He looked exalted, as if he believed that his words were inspired, and the inspiration was working within him now. One finger still pointed heavenwards, his eyes glittered and shone, his mouth was open as if he wanted to repeat the word time and time again.

“ Why?” he cried.

“I think I could tell you why,” Roger said very quietly, “but there are times—”

“Oh, I have never met a policeman who did not defend the laxity with which they enforce even the laws we do have against criminal driving,” said Waite abruptly. The metamorphosis was very quick this time, but he wasn’t quite so placid as he had been before the outburst. “I suppose that is understandable, it cannot be easy. But if I could get the support of some influential body—” He broke off abruptly, only to demand, “Tell me this, do your men like what they have to do after these fearful accidents? Do they like bending over crushed flesh and bones, do they like—?”

“No, they don’t.” The sharpness of Roger’s voice stopped Waite on the instant. “We don’t look upon motorists as a race of murderers, either. If you would moderate your campaign you might get more support.”

“That’s exactly what they all say,” Waite said. “Water it down, water it down, make the law full of loopholes so that killers can escape scot free. The law is as much to blame as the motorist, the cyclist, the lunatic pedestrian who steps into the road. Chief Inspector, have you ever studied my proposals? Have you ever spared so much as a minute of your valuable time to find out what I am suggesting, and what I campaign for? Have you?”

“Not specifically.”

“At least you have the honesty to admit it,” said Waite, in that husky soft voice. “Most people pretend that they know exactly what I mean, when in fact they have read the headlines of the newspapers and dismissed me as a blaspheming and hypocritical fanatic. Well they might, if they judge only from what they read in the newspapers, and they do that, Chief Inspector. Look. Look at these! ” He spun round vigorously, and the fire was in his eyes again. He strode to the shelves and snatched up a leaflet from each pile, five in all, then he swung round and thrust them into Roger’s hand. “Take them, read them, find out what I am trying to do before you tell your policemen to dismiss me as a ranting lunatic. I tell you, Chief Inspector, that the crime of a motorist who is careless on the road and, as a consequence of his carelessness, kills a human being, is as like murder as brother may be like brother, and the motorist should be punished as severely. Yes, as severely. Thou shalt not kill, saith the Lord – and motorists are killing people at this very moment – outside this very gate only a few hours ago an officer was run down in the execution of his duty.

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