Free A Hundred Thousand Dragons by Dolores Gordon-Smith

opening and shutting the box with nervous fingers. ‘Major Haldean, the Superintendent told me you’d be with him.’ He glanced at Ashley. ‘I know you want to ask me about my car, Superintendent, but first of all I’d like a brief word with the Major.’
    â€˜You carry on, sir,’ said Ashley. ‘It’s your house.’
    Vaughan sat down. He lit a cigarette, offering the box to Jack and Ashley. ‘I want to apologize, Major, for that disgraceful scene in Claridge’s last week. Durant Craig is a man whose abilities I admire, but his temper can be very difficult. Very difficult, indeed. Perhaps it’s because he’s lived so long abroad, but he’s not a conventional man. He didn’t tell me why he acted as he did but any fancied slight or minor mishap – the sort of thing an ordinary person would laugh off – becomes blown up out of all proportion.’
    Jack, aware of Ashley’s curious eyes, shook his head dismissively. ‘It certainly wasn’t your fault, sir.’ He sucked deeply on his cigarette. ‘Let’s forget about it.’
    Vaughan looked relieved. ‘It’s very good of you to take it like that, Major.’ He looked at Ashley. ‘Now, Superintendent, I gather you want to talk to me about my car. Have you found it?’
    â€˜In a manner of speaking, sir, but before I ask you for the details, there’s something I’d like to clear up first.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I understand from Major Haldean you were with him at Hammerholt when a car caught fire last night. As you can imagine, sir, we’re trying to piece together the events that led up to the fire. How fast would you say the car was going before the crash?’
    Vaughan looked puzzled. ‘I couldn’t possibly guess. I don’t know how the accident happened, if that’s what you mean. I didn’t see the car.’
    â€˜I didn’t mean so much what you saw as what you heard,’ explained Ashley.
    Vaughan shot a glance at Jack. ‘What I heard?’ He hesitated. ‘I heard an explosion, of course.’
    â€˜Before the crash, sir,’ Ashley said.
    â€˜Before the crash?’ Vaughan paused. ‘I . . . I don’t think I can help you, Superintendent. I’d only just come on to the terrace when the accident happened.’ He picked at the buttoned arm of his chair. ‘You were there, Major. How fast do you think it was going?’
    â€˜I couldn’t say,’ replied Jack. ‘Obviously it had to be going at a fair old whack.’
    Vaughan seemed reassured. ‘It must have been, but I couldn’t possibly say how fast.’
    â€˜So you didn’t hear anything, sir?’
    Vaughan concentrated on the buttoned arm of his chair once more. ‘No, I can’t say I did.’
    Ashley gave an almost imperceptible shrug in Jack’s direction. ‘Never mind, sir. However, we have reason to believe that it was your car which was destroyed in the fire last night.’
    Vaughan looked stunned. ‘ My car? It can’t be.’
    â€˜Your car was stolen, wasn’t it, sir?’ Vaughan nodded. ‘Well, it’s our belief that whoever took the car died in the accident.’
    â€˜ Died? ’
    â€˜So you see, sir, we’re trying to establish who it was.’
    Vaughan took a deep breath. ‘If it really was my car, it was Durant Craig.’
    â€˜Durant Craig?’ said Jack sharply. ‘I can’t credit Durant Craig would steal a car.’
    Vaughan swallowed. ‘As I said on the telephone, the circumstances were very peculiar.’ He put his hands to his mouth and sat without speaking for a few moments. When he looked up, his face was strained. ‘Look, before I say anything else, I’d like to be sure of my ground. Are you absolutely certain there was a body in the car?’
    â€˜Absolutely certain, sir,’ said Ashley.