If Anything Happens to Hester by John Creasey

Author:John Creasey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: House of Stratus

Chapter Fourteen

Mannering Bluffs

Mannering looked at the block of a man in front of him as if he were astounded, and as soon as Hennessy finished, he exclaimed as if he had not heard aright: “She was in my car?”

“You know very well she was!”

If Michael Vane had admitted that, lying wouldn’t help, and Mannering would not even gain time; but he did not think that the market gardener would have made any admission, and felt sure that Hennessy believed in playing his trump card, in the hope of winning the game at the first round.

“I don’t know anything of the kind,” Mannering said. “The car was outside the bungalow while—good Lord!” He began to grin. “Are you sure of this?”

“Positive. And it’s no laughing matter, Mr. Mannering.”

“I think it’s damned funny! The great detective, as I’ve been called, talking to Vane in the bungalow while the wanted daughter sneaks out and gets into the boot of my car. Have you searched the grounds?”

“All the district is being combed for her,” Hennessy said. “Fifty policemen are looking for her, and at least a hundred farmworkers and estate workers. You can stop that waste of manpower, Mr. Mannering. If you don’t, I can’t be responsible for the consequences.”

Mannering said sharply: “I don’t like threats. I don’t know where the girl is. Is there anything else I can do for you, tell me, and then leave, Inspector.”

Hennessy didn’t speak.

The servant came back, carrying a tea tray loaded with beautifully worked Georgian silver, and there was not only tea but wafer-thin bread-and-butter. Simms sensed the tension, put the tray down on a table, and retired to the doorway; he probably stayed near so as to hear what followed. Mannering felt the strength of Hennessy’s challenge, the man was determined to flog himself so as to find the girl, probably because it would look as if he were not carrying out his duty if the suspect, daughter of a personal friend, were not soon caught. He was a simple man, he was probably a capable detective, but gave the impression that he was not used to dealing with people in this social stratum. Now that his challenge had been accepted, he did not know what to do next.

Mannering said: “How about a cup of tea, and a more rational approach to the mutual problem, Inspector?”

Hennessy said: “Well, I admit I took it for granted that you knew where Hester Vane was. I’ve been talking to Scotland Yard, and they—”

Mannering grinned.

“They warned you of all the villainies I can get up to, is that it?”

A reluctant smile made Hennessy look much more likeable, and he conceded: “Well, in a way.”

His companion, not the small, thin-faced man of the previous night but a larger, younger man, was smiling broadly.

“I know the Yard harbours a lot of suspicions of the tricks I play, but I’m not really as bad as that. Sit down.” The police were almost now cooing doves, but Mannering warned himself that Hennessy might be pretending to be satisfied, but he thought that he had judged the man correctly from the beginning.

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