‘Dear me,’ said Alleyn, ‘what a labyrinth of untidy emotions.’

‘You may say so,’ agreed Katti. She hitched herself out of her chair. ‘Have you finished with me, Mr Alleyn?’

‘Yes, do you know, I think I have. We shall have a statement in longhand for you to look at and sign, if you will, later on.’

She glared at Fox. ‘Is that what he’s been up to?’

‘Yes.’

‘Pah!’

‘It’s only to establish your movements. Of course, if you don’t want to sign it—’

‘Who said I didn’t? Let me wait till I see it.’

‘That’s the idea, miss,’ said Fox, looking benignly at her over the top of his spectacles.

‘Will you show Miss Bostock out, please, Fox?’

‘Thank you, I know my way about this house,’ said Katti with a prickly laugh. She stumped off to the door. Fox closed it gently behind her.

‘Rather a tricky sort of lady, that,’ he said.

‘She is a bit. Never mind. She gave us some sidelights on Garcia.’

‘She did that all right.’

There was a rap on the door and one of the local men looked in.

‘Excuse me, sir, but there’s a gentleman out here says he wants to see you very particular.’

‘What’s his name?’

‘He just said you’d be very glad indeed to see him, sir. He never gave a name.’

‘Is he a journalist?’ asked Alleyn sharply. ‘If he is, I shall be very glad indeed to kick him out. We’re too busy for the Press just now.’

‘Well, sir, he didn’t say he was a reporter. He said—er—er—er—’

‘What?’

‘His words was, sir, that you’d scream the place down with loud cries of gladness when you clapped eyes on him.’

‘That’s no way to ask to see the chief,’ said Fox. ‘You ought to know that.’

‘Go and ask him to give his name,’ said Alleyn.

The policeman retired.

Fox eyed Alleyn excitedly.

‘By gum, sir, you don’t think it may be this Garcia? By all accounts he’s eccentric enough to send in a message like that.’

‘No,’ said Alleyn, as the door opened. ‘I rather fancy I recognize the style. I rather fancy, Fox, that an old and persistent friend of ours has got in first on the news.’

‘Unerring as ever, Mr Alleyn,’ said a voice from the hall, and Nigel Bathgate walked into the room.

CHAPTER 9
Phillida Lee and Watt Hatchett

‘Where the devil did you spring from?’ asked Alleyn. Nigel advanced with a shameless grin.

‘“Where did I come from, ‘Specky dear? The blue sky opened and I am here!’

‘Hullo, Fox!’

‘Good evening, Mr Bathgate,’ said Fox.

‘I suppose you’ve talked to my mamma on the telephone,’ said Alleyn as they shook hands.