Part 36 (1/2)

Yes, I know. But wot time did 'e leave the town, I mean?

Oh, I can't tell you that.

I should like to know, though.

Why? You're not trying to mix him up in this murder business, are you? Because if so I can tell you right away you're talking sillyGeorge wouldn't hurt a fly, and if he was going to do anyone in we all know who it would be.

Beef became pompous. I 'ave to make my enquiries, he said, without respect for persons or private feelings. I shall probably 'ave an interview with your brother before long.

Well, go ahead and have it. And I hope she's there, that's all. I'd like to see her face when a policeman comes to the door, straight I would. I wouldn't mind coming over to Claydon to see it for myself.

It'll be with 'im I shall want to talk, returned Beef solemnly.

Mr. Sawyer waddled off to serve someone on the other side of the bar, and I turned to Beef.

Have you really any suspicions in this case? I asked.

I'm beginning to 'ave a h'inkling, he returned. One thing I'll tell you, I don't know no more than you do. I 'aven't seen nothink nor 'eard nothink, wot you don't know of. All I've got is an idea of wot may 'ave 'appened. And if you'd thought it out same as I 'ave you'd see just as much. Only . . . he pulled at his ginger moustache and I really began to think he was getting conceited, only, it takes training to solve anythink like this.

Training, see? Not being in the police you couldn't 'ardly be expected to've done it.

Why hasn't Stute, then? I asked quickly. He's had training enough, surely?

Beef shook his head. It's all these modern methods wot confuses those chaps, he said sadly, Vucetich System, and Psy . . . Sy. . .

Psychology?'

That's itSickology. And tracing this, that and the other. And a.n.a.lysis and wot not. I go on wot I been taught.

What's that?

Well, if you listen to wot I'm going to tell you, you'll be able to solve these eases same as I do. Specially this case, which never needed no more than wot I know. First of all, when you find something connected with it wot you can't account for, you puzzle it out, and puzzle it out, till you do, see? That's the first thing. And the next thing is to believe nothink of wot you 'ears and only 'arf of wot you sees.

Do you mean that our witnesses have been lying?

Not necessary. I mean things aren't always wot they appear to be.

Well. Go on.

That's about all I can explain. The rest's just experience. Police experience. You need that. Just like in this case. I don't say I know the answer. I've got a lot to make sure of before I can say that. But I've got a pretty good idea. Whereas you're all at sea. Why? No police training, that's all. You've seen and 'eard everythink just as I 'ave. And don't forget that if you make a book about it like you did about that other turn-out, don't you go and make it appear as though I kept somethink up my sleeve. I know no more than wot you do. Only I know 'ow to put it together and make somethink of it.

Well, Sergeant. I shall be the first to congratulate you if you've got anywhere near the truth. But I can't help feeling that Sawyer's brother was your last chance.

''Sawyer's brother? Beef laughed. Why you didn't think it was 'im young Rogers did for? Well, I'm blowed. You don't 'arf swallow somethink. Why I could have told you that it wasn't 'im weeks ago.

Then it must have been the foreigner.

Wot foreigner? Oh yes. I know 'oo you mean. Well, I shouldn't bet on that if I was you.