Free An Apostle of Gloom by John Creasey Page A

there was a kettle singing on the hob and an empty teapot warming by the fire. Roger was sitting back in an easy chair wriggling his toes inside his slippers. Mark was opposite him, and Janet was curled up on a settee between the two armchairs.
    â€œHe didn’t tell you who’s supposed to have bribed you?” inquired Mark.
    â€œNo-o,” admitted Roger, slowly, “he was reticent about that, which probably means that he doesn’t know for certain, but that he thinks the case hasn’t really broken open yet. He didn’t say much more,” he repeated, “but a few generalities suggested that this business is supposed to have been going on since about Christmas, when I hit upon some particularly bright racket and accepted bribes and held my tongue. Abbott’s been working on the case from the beginning.”
    â€œAbbott!” exclaimed Janet, scornfully.
    â€œIt wasn’t a pleasant job,” said Roger, “and—”
    â€œYou’d find an excuse for Hitler!” said Janet. “There are limits to the spirit of forgiveness.”
    â€œOh, I don’t know,” interjected Mark. “Better too much than too little, and although no one loves Abbott, he’s good at his particular brand of inquiry. And when the cashier has said ‘no’ about Janet, we’ll feel better. You learned nothing else at all?”
    â€œNot from Chatworth. Eddie Day gave me Joe Leech’s name and Cornish promised to find the taxi-driver.” He had told them briefly of the note from ‘K’ and his assumptions. “If I can find out where the other passenger went, it might help. We aren’t exactly barren of clues,” he continued, slowly. “The copper-plate writing and the paper—I wish I’d kept the envelope but I was too scared!—the drawing-ink, Joe Leech and the woman who’s paid the cash in, and those five-pound notes. With luck and hard going we’ll get through. I wish—” he paused.
    â€œIf wishing were doing,” murmured Mark.
    â€œI wish I knew why it’s been done,” said Roger. “That’s one of the things at which Chatworth boggles more than anything else – as anyone would. Why should there be a deliberate attempt to frame me? I’ve been over the possible revenge motives, but Pep’s right, no one’s come out of stir lately who would be rich enough to try it. In any case, it’s too fantastic a notion. Yet”—he smiled worriedly—”there must be a reason.”
    The kettle began to boil and he leaned forward and poured water in the pot, after making sure that the tea was inside this time. There were some sandwiches on a tray, and Mark bit into one, thoughtfully.
    â€œThe reason why,” he murmured. “That seems to be the first thing to discover, Roger. Shall I cast my great mind about?”
    â€œNot yet, thanks!” said Roger, as if horrified, and when Mark took on an expression of affronted dignity added: “Your first job, if you’ll take it, is to interview Joe Leech. Joe will be smart enough to outwit Pep.”
    Mark grinned. “For that oblique compliment, many thanks! Er—Roger?” He bit again into a sandwich.
    â€œYes?” asked Roger, sipping tea.
    â€œOne little thing you might have forgotten,” Mark said, “and it could be significant. I mean, the attempt to bring Janet into this. The first assumption might be that it was just to stiffen the evidence against you, but it might also mean that the whole family is to be involved.”
    Roger frowned. “I can’t think it’s likely,” he commented. “Did I say that Chatworth is going to send Cornish with you to the Mid-Union tomorrow, Jan? I think he’s afraid you will scratch Abbott’s eyes out!”
    He laughed, and the atmosphere, already very much easier, grew almost gay. The tension at the house while Roger had been out