Free Death of a Bovver Boy by Leo Bruce Page B

know, Carolus, this won’t do. You tell me of what you think was an attempt at an attack on you which fortunately did not come off. I’m enough of a conventionally-minded policeman to get out a notebook at information like that. There has been a murder, remember. Not just a crime puzzle in a book. A boy of sixteen or seventeen—even the parents can’t name the age exactly—has been killed and now you coolly tell me that someone, probably the same murderer, tried to…’
    â€˜No, no. I didn’t say tried to kill me. As if he intended to have a go at doing so. Or so I think. I don’t know.’
    â€˜And you refuse to tell me what are your suspicions?’
    â€˜If you were in my class at school, Grimsby, I’d tear a strip off you for inaccurate statements. I don’t refuse to tell you my suspicions—I haven’t any. Only the beginnings of a probably crazy guess. I’m not going to give you that to tear up. And don’t start Quiz games. You know—“man or woman”? That sort of thing. Because I shan’t answer.’
    â€˜In that case I cannot be responsible for your safety.’
    â€˜When have you ever been? I can look after my own safety…’
    â€˜Now, now, gentlemen,’ said the voice of Mr Gorringerwho had entered quietly from the hall. ‘You shouldn’t argue, you know. I have felt myself responsible for the safety of Mr Deene over a good many years and I realize it is no light matter.’
    â€˜This is Detective Sergeant Grimsby, Headmaster.’
    â€˜I’m delighted to meet you,’ said Mr Gorringer. ‘May I ask what bone of contention you have between you?’
    â€˜A small one,’ said Carolus. ‘Whether the Arsenal’s last goal last Saturday was a foul.’
    Mr Gorringer looked suspiciously from one to the other, but realized that he had to be content with that obvious invention.
    â€˜I, on the other hand,’ he said, ‘came to see whether Mr Deene has made any progress in the investigation he is making. Term-time draws on apace and I am naturally anxious that he should be done with one of his interests before becoming absorbed—as I hope—by the other. What do you say, Deene? Are the handcuffs ready? Does the cell await its murderous inhabitant?’
    Grimsby rose to his feet. Perplexed—as well he might be—by Mr Gorringer’s ornate diction, he said a hasty good night and went out.
    â€˜I hope I have not offended your friend by showing too much levity in a grave situation,’ said Mr Gorringer.
    Carolus smiled.
    â€˜No. On the contrary, Headmaster. But I haven’t got very far, I’m afraid. It’s turning out to be a tough case.’
    â€˜Dear, dear. The staff meeting with which as you will remember we usually usher in a new term, will be in little more than two weeks and you, Deene, seem occupied, if one may put it like that, in gory details which, as I have repeatedly told you, mightwell be left to such as the no doubt excellent young man who has just left us.’
    â€˜Yes. He’s capable enough. It’s just that I think I am more deeply interested.’
    â€˜Oh yes. I have no doubt of that. Though I cannot imagine why you should be so. I took the liberty of giving the outline of the case as so far revealed to Mrs Gorringer, and she of course, was not slow in voicing one of her inimitable
bons mots.’
    Carolus bowed to the inevitable.
    â€˜What was that?’ he asked, trying to keep the weariness out of his tone.
    â€˜It is a pity, she said, that the author of an American best-selling novel has already used the perfect title for this case—
The Naked and the Dead.’
    Mr Gorringer laughed heartily and in sympathy Carolus could not avoid giving him a swift smile.
    â€˜More seriously she considers, on the strength of details garnered from Mrs Hollingbourne, with whom Mrs Gorringer does some modest shopping