The Hanged Man: A Digby Rolf Mystery by Raymond M Hall

Author:Raymond M Hall [Hall, Raymond M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-20T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Summer was more than a little concerned when, after the evening meal, Digby relayed the day’s events. Martin’s chair at the dining table had remained empty, although every time there was a strange noise Digby jumped in alarm, eyes glued to the door. If Martin had walked in he believed he would have had a heart attack there and then. Summer noticed and kept asking what was wrong and Digby had to placate her with a whispered aside that he would tell her later, in private.

‘But, we are in private,’ she said, ‘just the two of us for dinner tonight, I wonder where the devious Martin is, maybe he has been hoisted with his own petard, serves the bugger right if he has.’

Digby paled at this and put down his knife and fork, all appetite gone, and the last mouthful refusing to pass through a dry throat. He coughed and gagged as she poured him a glass of water, ‘I think I’ll go up,’ he managed to splutter before breaking into another coughing fit.

Upstairs in his room he began to explain his day. Summer pursed her lips and placed a delicate finger across them, indicating that walls had ears, but Digby carried on in his normal voice, ‘there’s no one next door, Summer, I can assure you Martin’s room is empty.’ He went on to explain exactly what had happened to Martin as Summer sat on the bed. Digby finished the lurid description of the final moments of Martin’s life and added, ‘If you don’t close your mouth the flies will get in.’

Summer closed her mouth immediately, not in fear of flying insects, but because she realised she had listened to the whole story with her mouth hanging wide open. Digby went on to explain about his coat and she put her hand over her mouth, ‘But Digby, you could have been killed; if that was Martin’s intention.’ She added the final part of the sentence as an afterthought, which did nothing to assuage Digby’s conscience. He had already considered the possibility that Martin actually meant him no physical harm and merely wanted to talk. However, thinking back to the look on Martin’s face when he thought he had Digby at his mercy brought back the certainty that he had meant to at least harm him in some way. Digby could hardly be held responsible for the man charging into the path of a speeding locomotive and when he voiced this thought, Summer readily agreed.

The next morning saw them once again seated at the dining table. Mrs Pentley hadn’t bothered to prepare breakfast for Martin, after last evenings no-show it was obvious he wouldn’t be there the next morning either. After the meal, Summer went off to her office at the newspaper while Digby considered going back to Soho and The Fantail Club. Maybe they would know what had happened to Justin? He must remember to ditch the dog collar, wouldn’t do the cause any good if a minister of religion were seen entering what could only be described as a seedy back street club.

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