Free The Mask of Sumi by John Creasey

Mannering.
    â€œI expect you are angry because I am here.”
    â€œI’m not angry but I’m certainly startled,” Mannering said, and made himself ask: “Why did you come?”
    â€œI had to see you.”
    â€œHas anything new happened?”
    â€œNo,” said Pearl. She spoke with bell-like clarity, choosing her words with care; the American accent was less noticeable than on the telephone. She took a step forward, hands stretched out. “Have you found the mask?”
    â€œNo,” Mannering said gently.
    â€œWas not the woman here?”
    Mannering said: “She was here.”
    â€œThen she did not have the mask?” Consternation rang in Pearl Toji’s voice.
    â€œNot when she was found.”
    â€œMr. Mannering.” Pearl was now so close that her hands almost touched his. “What is wrong?”
    â€œShe died,” Mannering said.
    â€œShe was killed?”
    â€œThe police say she killed herself.”
    Excitement blazed up in the girl’s eyes.
    â€œWith poison, like my father? Is that what happened?”
    â€œExactly the same way, yes.”
    â€œThey can’t believe that two people would kill themselves in such a way!”
    â€œThey’re not as sure as they were,” Mannering told her. “It’s too much of a coincidence even for the police to accept.”
    After a pause, Nikko Toji’s daughter said: “So she was killed, but you did not find the mask. Is it now on Gibraltar?”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    â€œThen—where?”
    â€œOn board the ship.”
    â€œStill there?” Doubt and dismay clouded Pearl’s eyes.
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œThen how can it be found? The ship’s Captain, is he going to look for it?”
    Mannering smiled. “No. I am.”
    Pearl caught her breath.
    â€œYou are to sail on the ship?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œTo look for the mask. Is that your only reason?”
    â€œYes,” Mannering said. “I think it’s the one way to—”
    The telephone bell rang; it was probably his call to Lorna. He turned towards it, glad to have a moment’s respite, and picked it up. “I think this is my wife.” Voices came and went, and then Lorna’s came – explosively.
    â€œJohn!”
    â€œYes, I know,” Mannering said. “She’s here.”
    â€œIs she with you?”
    â€œShe arrived ten minutes ago,” Mannering said.
    â€œI didn’t realise she’d gone when I telephoned before,” Lorna told him. “I thought she was resting in the spare room.” There was a pause; then she asked with a kind of stubborn hopefulness: “Is it over, John?”
    â€œNo,” Mannering said. “I only wish it were. I’m going on with the East Africa Star, my darling. There’s a good chance that we’ll find the mask on board.”
    â€œI had a feeling that might happen,” Lorna said resignedly. “Be very careful.”
    That was all. No hint of reproach, nothing but ‘be very careful’. Yet Mannering needed no telling how afraid for him she was. Tomorrow, when she read in the papers exactly what had happened here, her fears would increase as they had so often before, but she would not write or do or say anything to add to his difficulties or his anxieties. He was a thousand miles and more away from her yet he had never felt so close.
    â€œI’ll be careful,” Mannering said. “Sweet, make a few notes for Josh Larraby will you?”
    â€œYes.”
    Mannering dictated some routine notes, and then went on: “Ask him to find out all he can about James Harding, the Chelsea dealer—” Mannering explained why. “And tell him to cable me in the Antiquarians’ code – they’re not likely to have a copy of that on board the East Africa Star. I’ll telephone from the ship if there’s any need, but I won’t make