The Shop Window Murders by Vernon Loder

Author:Vernon Loder [Vernon Loder]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2018-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIV

SERGEANT DAVIS sat listening to what the inspector had to tell him of his recent discoveries. When Devenish had finished, he raised his eyebrows in surprise, and remarked that it looked fishy.

‘Though it may be merely fowl or flesh,’ replied Devenish, ‘the fact is that I consider there must be some sort of connection between Peden-Hythe and Mann other than the five pound notes at Christmas. The ex-officer would send those in memory of old times, the ex-soldier would naturally call to thank him for getting the job. But why should he visit Peden-Hythe several times since at his club to tell him how he was getting on? What would he have to tell him?’

The sergeant was a trained observer, and a notable man in his rank. ‘At a venture, sir, since Mr Peden-Hythe suspected that Mander was going to do his mother down, could he have sent in Mann as a spy?’

‘That is what I was wondering,’ replied Devenish. ‘I saw that Mann’s rooms looked pretty comfortable ones, and I suspected a subsidy. But there is a puzzle even in that. What would a night watchman know about money affairs, even if he had a chance to hear of them? And what chance would he have at night, in any case?’

‘None at all, sir. You might say a trained accountant, who could be there at night and could get at the office safes and books, would be able to look things over. But then Mr Mander wouldn’t put wrong entries in the official books. I hear he had a private set upstairs in his flat.’

‘Quite so. That is out of the question. Still, here we have a man who does get some sleep by day but not at night, but who says he cannot sleep by day but does sleep at night when he ought not to. Have you interrogated the watchmen in the other parts of the building?’

‘I have, sir. There are three altogether, counting Mann, and I have questioned the other two. As you know, this building for greater safety at night is cut into three sections, with fire-proof doors between. If anyone could open the doors and there was a fire, it would be useless to have them at all. But, as it is, the partitions automatically close when the shop is shut, and not even the watchmen could communicate with each other.’

‘I know. Well, what is the explanation of Mann’s twisting, unless Peden-Hythe planted him here for some purpose? If it comes to the worst, I must frighten the man a bit. I could find a theory to account for this business, only that evidence we have, of a kind, rules against it.’

‘May I hear, sir, what you think could account for it?’

‘Yes, I’ll tell you. I had an impression at first that Mrs Peden-Hythe might be in love, or have been in love, with Mander. It is easier to screw money out of a middle-aged woman when there is some passion on her side as well as the mere hope of profit.

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