Paul Temple and the Front Page Men by Francis Durbridge

Author:Francis Durbridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paul Temple and The Front Page Men
ISBN: 9780755126149
Publisher: House of Stratus
Published: 2013-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XV

Mr. Tony Rivoli Visits Scotland Yard

Sir Graham Forbes sat at his desk listlessly stirring a cup of very black coffee. He had had comparatively little sleep during the past week, and there was a network of tiny wrinkles around his tired, grey eyes. For the first time in his life, the Chief Commissioner felt every one of his fifty-five years weighing upon him.

His nerves, too, were suffering, and when the door was suddenly opened he started perceptibly. Hunter was the visitor, his face betraying the fact that he brought news.

“Sir Graham, that youngster of Blakeley’s …” he began, excitedly.

“Yes?” queried the Chief Commissioner, a little wearily.

“He’s been returned!”

“Yes—yes, I know.”

Hunter was astounded.

“You know?”

“I had the information last night.”

“But—he was only brought back this morning.”

Sir Graham managed to raise a smile. Then his face became serious once more.

“Hunter, I want you and Mac to pick up a fellow called Lucky Gibson. You’ll find his record in the files. I’ve a feeling he had something to do with the Nottingham affair.”

“Yes, sir,” assented Hunter, and at that moment the door opened, and Paul Temple was shown in.

“I’ve got some news for you, Sir Graham,” said Temple briskly, after they had interchanged greetings. “Whether it’s important or not, I don’t know.”

“Yes, and I have some news for you too. Blakeley’s boy has been returned.”

“Is he all right?” demanded Temple, obviously rather startled.

“Yes, he’s all right, but somehow, he can’t remember things.”

Temple looked up quickly.

“Amashyer?”

Forbes nodded. “Looks like it. They must have given the poor kid a tidy dose of it.”

“How did you find him?”

“Oh, one of our men found him,” answered Forbes, with rather studied indifference, which did not deceive Temple. He seemed to be waiting for further information, so eventually Sir Graham continued, “Temple, I’m going to take you into my confidence. Wrenson’s working on this case.”

“Wrenson? I thought he retired about four years ago.”

“So he did. But this Front Page Men business intrigued him so much that he asked me to take him back. And, quite candidly, I was rather glad he offered. He was always inclined to be a bit theatrical, but, by Jove, he gets results!”

Temple nodded thoughtfully. He remembered Wrenson quite well.

“Do the others know about this – Reed and Hunter, and …”

“No,” said Sir Graham, “I’ve kept it a pretty close secret. Wrenson always plays a lone hand better if he receives no official recognition. Seems to act as a sort of spur. Already he’s begun to get results.”

“Very glad to hear it,” murmured Temple.

“Now let’s hear your news,” went on Sir Graham, who seemed to have recovered some of his vitality by now.

Temple seated himself casually on the corner of the Chief Commissioner’s desk. “Shortly after you left Bramley Lodge yesterday, Mitchell arrived,” he told Sir Graham.

“Yes, I passed him just as he was turning into the drive. Nearly bumped my right wing. What did he want, tearing along in a hurry like that?”

“Apparently Reed had told him about someone imitating Carol’s voice on the telephone.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.