Wanted Dead by Kenneth Cook

Author:Kenneth Cook
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781743432969
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2012-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

“DON’T BOTHER TRYING TO tell me what happened,” Collingwood was saying. “Just tell me whether you think anybody’s following you.”

Riley felt the firm texture underneath his hand and knew he was lying on the carpet in Collingwood’s living room. There was a cushion under his head. Collingwood was giving him whisky. The woman who did the cooking was hovering anxiously.

“I don’t know,” he said, “I don’t think so. I’ll be all right in a minute.” In fact as long as he didn’t try to move, he didn’t feel all that badly. He was aware, more than anything else, of being very glad to be alive.

He sat up.

“I’m all right,” he said. He stood up. Then he sat down again, abruptly, on the floor.

“Leg’s stiffening,” he said explanatorily.

“We’d better get you to bed,” said Collingwood, grabbing him under the arm pits.

“No! Not at all,” said Riley. “Just give me a hand into that chair.” Collingwood and the woman lugged him into the chair.

Riley took a deep drink of the whisky. He felt much better.

The housekeeper went off to get him some food, and Riley told Collingwood more or less what had happened.

“My God,” said Collingwood at the end. “You’re a lucky man.”

“Yes. I suppose I am really. A fool though; I should never have walked into that.”

“Mm,” said Collingwood non-committally, but implying that he agreed. Which was rather hard, Riley thought vaguely. After all Collingwood, directly and indirectly, had been substantially the organising force behind the whole affair.

“Anyhow,” Collingwood said, “I’d say we’re almost certain to see more of Mr. Hatton tonight.’ ’

“What, out here?”

“Depends how badly you hurt him; but he’s going to hate you like hell now. You’ve done the worst thing you can do to a man like that—you’ve made a fool of him.”

Riley thought about that for a moment. It seemed to him that Hatton had previously disliked him sufficiently to execute him, so any added disfavour he may have incurred wasn’t all that important.

“I must say,” said Collingwood, chuckling, “I wish I’d been there.”

Perhaps, some time, a long time from now, thought Riley, he would be able to look on that night in the light of a stimulating adventure. But just now it was too close, and death had seemed too real a possibility. He was beginning to think he wasn’t cut out to be a special constable. But then he had never really thought he was.

“I’d better get the men up,” said Collingwood. “Would you like to go to bed for a while. I’ll wake you up when the excitement starts—if it starts.”

“No. I’ll be all right,” said Riley, “but how likely do you think it is they’ll turn up here tonight?”

“Can’t be sure, of course,” said Collingwood cheerfully, “but I’d say quite likely. You see Janey will have told ’em you were riding one of my horses. They won’t know you’re here of course, but they’ll think it’s possible and they’ll be thinking it’s about time they had another try for Cicero anyway. I’d say there was a very reasonable chance we might see some sport here tonight.

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