Find the Innocent by Roy Vickers Page B

police and reporters and it’ll probably be all right now that I know they can’t spring anything on us.”

Chapter Four
    The Town Hall clock was chiming for half past three as Curwen walked the few yards back to headquarters. Those three men had had nearly four hours in which to think again about the comic alibi. He took the shiny new lift to his room.
    Benjoy was waiting for him, looking deflated.
    â€œDeceased’s wife, sir. No trace after about eight-fifteen when she got out of the car the other side of Peasebarrow Wood—until she arrives at her sister’s house in Salisbury assumed to be about eleven-fifty. Statement taken by Salisbury police on your desk.”
    â€œWhat about that driver from Weston’s Garage who took the girl from the lockhouse?”
    â€œDriver Roach. From The Hollow Tree Garage acting for Weston’s. He failed to recognise Mrs. Brengast when he was shown her getting out of her taxi, but said he thought he recognised her voice when she spoke to her friend. Trailer—the description of dress and deportment given by Driver Roach is substantially the same as that given by two railway men at Wheatley, and ticket collector at Salisbury, of a girl who made the same journey, beginning with the three-fifteen a.m. from Wheatley. But nobody except the driver heard the three-fifteen girl’s voice.”
    â€œA bit thin! Did you pick up anything at the lockhouse?”
    â€œCouldn’t make it, sir. I had to drive to Wheatley to get the statement from those men.”
    â€œN’e’mind! Plenty of time for that. We’ll see how we can get on without the girl. Bring in those three birds. One at a time.”
    â€œVery good, sir! Stranack has a lawyer with him in his room.”
    â€œHe’s the bouncy one. Take ’ em alphabetically and he’ll come last. Treat ’em soft—we don’t want any sulks.”
    When Benjoy returned he softened himself into the semblance of a parlour maid.
    â€œMr. Canvey, sir.”
    â€œAh, Mr. Canvey!” Curwen beamed and nearly shook hands. “I’m very sorry to have kept you waiting so long. If you’ll sit here we may be able to tidy this up between us.”
    â€œThank you!” Canvey was wintry and he sat as one who would prefer to stand. “And thanks for your civility. But I can’t see why you need detain me when the others will confirm that I was at the lockhouse at the relevant time.”
    â€œSorry, Mr. Canvey, but you’ve got the wrong end of it! They don’t confirm your statement. They deny it. You say you were at the lockhouse. Eddis says Eddis was at the lockhouse. Stranack says Stranack was at the lockhouse. Each of you says the other two are liars.”
    â€œHow utterly loathsome!” cried Canvey. “No wonder you treat us like crooks!”
    â€œI don’t think you know much about how crooks are treated,” grinned Curwen. “The point is you’re beginning to see how we look at it. That’s what I want.”
    â€œIf I were in your position I wouldn’t believe a word any of us said.”
    â€œI don’t! But that needn’t worry you. If you want to know, the police never believe anything anybody says until they’ve checked it. You admitted that a woman was with you at the lockhouse. Begin there and give me something I can check.”
    Canvey hesitated, frowned and was silent. Curwen waited.
    â€œShe was not a floozie,” said Canvey. “A woman of some position. So the problem will solve itself—though not this afternoon. When the case is in all the papers she will feel bound to come forward of her own accord.”
    â€œAnd lose her position? D’you reckon that’s a safe bet?”
    â€œI don’t know. But I have to take it. Sorry, Inspector! I understand now why you’re detaining me and will have to go on doing so—until I win my bet.”
    He stood up and was