Free Hardcastle's Frustration by Graham Ison Page A

’em.’
    â€˜It’s going to be a bit of a job finding these two men, sir,’ said Marriott, once he and Hardcastle were in the street again.
    â€˜No it won’t, Marriott. I’ll put a couple of men on it. They’ll find them.’
    Hardcastle wasted no time in assigning two detectives to the task of identifying Gilbert Stroud and Mr L. Mortimer.
    Once back in his office at Cannon Row police station, he sent for Marriott.
    â€˜Who’ve we got available for this following job at the skating rink, Marriott?’
    â€˜Depends on when you want them to start, sir.’
    â€˜Tomorrow evening,’ said Hardcastle.
    â€˜There’s only Lipton and Catto, sir,’ said Marriott, whose job, as the first-class sergeant, was to know where each of the detectives was at any given time, and to what duty they were assigned. ‘Carter and Keeler are both up at the Bailey with that robbery job, the Martin’s Bank one.’
    â€˜Is that trial still rumbling on?’
    â€˜Yes, sir. Mr Rhodes has given his evidence, and the summing-up should start the day after tomorrow.’
    â€˜Oh well, Lipton and Catto it’ll have to be, I suppose. Fetch ’em in here.’
    â€˜You wanted us, sir?’ asked Lipton, the senior of the two.
    â€˜I’ve got a following job for the pair of you,’ Hardcastle began, ‘and I don’t want you making a Mons of it, Catto,’ he said, glaring at the other detective. ‘Is that understood?’
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ said Catto, as ever, apprehensive in Hardcastle’s presence for no better reason than he always seemed to be the butt of the DDI’s criticism.
    â€˜There are two men who’ve been seen in the company of Mavis Parker at the skating rink,’ said Hardcastle. ‘One’s called Gilbert Stroud and the other one is a man who goes by the name of L. Mortimer. I want you to follow whichever of ’em comes out first. And if neither of ’em turns up, start again tomorrow. It might be helpful to have a discreet word with the young woman who seems to run the skating rink. But don’t let on what you’re up to, or you’ll have me to answer to. Got that, have you, Lipton?’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    â€˜And you, Catto. Got that, have you?’
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ said Catto.
    â€˜And I don’t want to find that either of these men have cottoned-on that he’s being followed.’
    â€˜No, sir, of course not, sir,’ said Lipton.
    â€˜Right, start tomorrow. I’m told that they usually turn up at the rink round about six o’clock. I want to know where they live.’
    â€˜D’you want them nicked, sir?’ asked Catto. It was an unfortunate question, but he tended to ask stupid questions in the DDI’s presence.
    â€˜No, I do
not
want them nicked, Catto. It seems to me that you’re all too fond of feeling collars, except when you should.’ And with that reproof, Hardcastle dismissed the two DCs.
    On Thursday morning, Marriott received a telephone call from Sergeant Glover in the APM’s office.
    â€˜I’ve got some information for you, Charlie, if you’d care to drop in.’
    â€˜I’ll be down straight away, Cyril,’ said Marriott, and made his way the short distance along Whitehall to Horse Guards Arch.
    Glover was in the act of making a pot of tea when Marriott entered his office.
    â€˜Well, Cyril, have you solved my problem for me?’
    â€˜In a manner of speaking, Charlie.’ Glover gave a wry smile and, unbidden, poured Marriott a cup of tea. ‘This Staff Sergeant Benson of the Army Ordnance Corps you’re interested in,’ he began, as the two of them sat down.
    â€˜You’ve found him, then. Is he in France?’
    â€˜Oh, he’s in France all right, Charlie.’ Glover laughed and referred to his file. ‘He’s buried in Boulogne, at the
cimetière de l’est
.’