Free SV - 03 - Sergeant Verity Presents His Compliments by Francis Selwyn Page A

victim.
    'Sergeant Verity,' he said at length, rolling the words on his tongue as though savouring them, 'you imagine, I suppose, that you have come easily out of this affair?'
    'No, sir,' said Verity firmly, presuming that an answer was called for. 'Never thought that, with respect, sir. Still 'ave considerable twinges in the arm and side, sir.'
    'Do you?' said Croaker, as though the news brought him deep satisfaction. 'Do you?' He sat silent for a moment and then asked, 'And what of your colleagues, sergeant? What of the men who devoted months of hard, unremitting work to the discovery of a vile criminal conspiracy, only to see their efforts destroyed by you in the course of a simple and routine piece of surveillance?'
    'Don't see that, sir. With respect, sir.'
    'Don't see it, sir?' said Croaker derisively. 'Don't see it? In the first half hour of your part in the investigation, you destroy the evidence, murder the chief suspect, and assault the only available witness! Don't see it!'
    "ave the honour to suggest, sir, as it wasn't me that destroyed the evidence. It was Captain Ransome as threw them papers in the water.'
    'And you, a trained detective officer who had been present throughout, did not even see fit to suggest to him that he ought not to do sol'
    'Wasn't like that, sir. I was engaged with the person Aldino.'
    'And killed him!'
    'Didn't mean to, sir. 'ad to lay 'im cold, sir, or he'd a-coopered me and Captain Ransome.'
    'So you say. And who would Captain Ransome have coopered?'
    'Don't follow, sir. With respect, sir.'
    'Why was it necessary to break his teeth for him?'
    'Just it, sir. When I saw what he'd a-done with the evidence, destroyed it and all, I wasn't quite meself for a minute. Loss of blood and faintness it must a-bin, sir.'
    'You were overheard by a witness making some foolish remarks about Captain Ransome's treatment of his wife and mother before you hit him. Was that the result of faintness or loss of blood?'
    'Must a-bin, sir, or I wouldn't 'ave done it, would I?'
    Verity was relieved to see that this shot brought Croaker down from his flights of official irony.
    'I will just say this, Sergeant Verity. For some reason of his own, Captain Ransome has declined to bring criminal proceedings for assault against you. Had he done so, there can be no doubt that you would not only have been dismissed the force, you would now be serving twelve months in Horsemonger Lane Gaol, attended by hard labour on the treadmill and the crank. Do I make myself clear, sergeant?'
    'Yes sir. Very clear, sir. One thing to say, sir.'
    'Well?'
    'There's a funny smell about it, sir. I don't think you got a blackmail case, sir. Least, not ordinary blackmail, sir. Captain Ransome is known on race-courses and fairgrounds and such places. He ain't got two groats for a farthing. Charley Wag wouldn't a-wasted time squeezing him.'
    'Indeed?'
    'Yes, sir. O' course, there's blackmail going on. But that ain't the heart of it, somehow. However, if I'm given permission, I'll find out what is, sir.'
    'Four of your colleagues have been arranging that matter for several months, sergeant. They were within arm's length of the heart of it, as you call it, when you intervened. It is not intended that you should be given any further opportunity to display your peculiar skills in this case.'
    Verity swallowed.
    'Sir?'
    'Yes, sergeant?'
    "ave the ' onour to request, sir, what duties I shall be allotted to, if it ain't the blackmail dodge.'
    'Have no fear, sergeant. You will very shortly find out that duties have been found to match your talents in every respect.'
    Inspector Croaker rarely smiled and would never have permitted himself to do so in the presence of a subordinate. But there came into his eyes, as he regarded the fat perspiring sergeant, a dark glitter which suggested a deeply-felt and almost animal satisfaction.
    The room in which the dozen men of the Private-Clothes detail paraded reminded Verity of Hebron Chapel School in his childhood,