Part 5 (2/2)

”I noticed the lisp, if that's what you mean.”

”Did he talk much?”

Darcey shook his head. ”Not a lot. Just sat there and drank, mostly.

Had about three after I came on.”

”What was he drinking?”

”Whisky. Beer chaser.” He grinned. ”He tips pretty well.”

”Has he ever been in here before?”

”Not that I know of. He might've come in in the daytime. You'd have to check with Mickey, the day man.”

”Was he drunk?”

”Not that I could tell. I wouldn't have served him if he was,” he said righteously.

I said, ”Darcey, if he comes back in here ... let's see--Can you shut off that big sign out front from behind the bar?”

”Sure.”

”O.K. If he comes in, shut off the sign. We'll have men here in less than a minute. He isn't dangerous or anything, so just act natural and give him whatever he orders. I don't want him scared off. Understand?”

”I got you.”

His Grace and I went outside, and I used my pocket communicator to instruct a patrol car to cover Flanagan's Bar from across the street, and I called for extra plainclothesmen to cover the area.

”Now what?” asked His Grace.

”Now we go barhopping,” I said. ”He's probably still drinking, but it isn't likely that he'll find many little girls at this time of night.

He's probably got a room nearby.”

At that point, a blue ElectroFord pulled up in front of us. Stevie stuck his head out and said: ”Your office said you'd be around here somewhere. Remember me, Dad?”

I covered my eyes with one hand in mock horror. ”My G.o.d, the fifty!”

Then I dropped the hand toward my billfold. ”I'm sorry, son; I got wrapped up in this thing and completely forgot.” That made two apologies in two minutes, and I began to have the uneasy feeling that I had suddenly become a vaguely repellant ma.s.s of thumbs and left feet.

I handed him the fifty, and, at the same time, said: ”Son, I want you to meet His Grace, Chief Inspector the Duke of Acrington. Your Grace, this is my son, Steven Royall.”

As they shook hands, Steve said: ”It's a pleasure to meet Your Grace.

I read about the job you did in the Camberwell poisoning case. That business of winding the watch was wonderful.”

”I'm flattered, Mr. Royall,” said the Duke, ”but I must admit that I got a great deal more credit in that case than was actually due me.

Establis.h.i.+ng the time element by winding the watch was suggested to me by another man, who wouldn't allow his name to be mentioned in the press.”

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