Part 38 (1/2)

I stood up and followed him into the hall.

*Where are we going?'

*We are not going anywhere. I am going to the docks to try to stop Grace Dillinger boarding, if she has not already done so. You are going to Marylebone Police Station to give this note in person to Inspector Pound. I hope I can trust you to get that small thing right.'

*But what if he is not there?'

*Then you must use all your severely limited charms to insist that he is fetched immediately. Tell them I said it is of the utmost urgency.' He rushed into the hall and ran up the flag. *Open the door to light up the entrance. They may not see the flag at this time of night. Stand in the doorway and wave your silly little hand, and squawk out to every cab you see until two stop. You will take the first. I may have to wait a little while yet.'

*But why?' I went to the door.

A cab was already pulling up.

*Because Molly has not yet responded to my urgent instruction,' he said. *Ah, here she is.'

At that Molly ran down the corridor, carrying his insulated flask.

64.

The Power of the Name *Marylebone police station, as quick as you can,' I called up to the cabby.

*Been a naughty girl, 'ave we?' he called back.

More naughty than you can possibly imagine, I thought as I clambered aboard.

There was not much traffic and we made good time. I paid the driver, gave a good tip and ran inside, pus.h.i.+ng my way through the a.s.sembled rabble to reach the desk.

*Miss Middleton.' The desk sergeant looked up from a stack of paperwork. *You haven't been arrested for drunk and disorderly have you?'

*Not yet,' I said. *I have an urgent note here for Inspector Pound.'

The desk sergeant put out his hand. *I shall make sure he gets it first thing in the morning.' But I held on to the letter.

*I have to give it to him in person,' I said. *Now.'

The desk sergeant chuckled. *More than my job's worth to disturb him at this time of night.'

*It will be more than your life is worth if you allow a multiple murderer to escape because of your failure to act.'

The sergeant looked dubious and then horrified.

*Oh, for the love of Moses,' he said, and I turned to see an old woman vomiting copiously over the end of his desk. *Foster, get her out of here and get that mess cleaned up. She's done it all over the charge sheets.'

An old man toppled forwards and caught hold of the desk.

*If I puke can I go too?'

*Just get out.' The sergeant swept them away with a wave of his hand. *All of you. I'm blasted to h.e.l.l and back if I'm going to fill all those forms out again.'

*Fanks, Serg, you're a toff.' The old man weaved towards the door.

*What 'bout me?' a gaudily painted woman called from where she stood propped up in a corner. *I 'saulted one of your lovely big boys. That's got to be worf a night in a warm cell.'

*Get out.'

*It's on your 'ead if I 'ave to 'sault anovver hofficer,' she said, gathering her things in a piece of cloth as she marched off.

*Right.' The sergeant turned back to me. *You were saying.'

*This letter is from Mr Grice.'

*Frightened to show his face here, is he?'

I ignored the question. *Listen to me, Sergeant. There is a dangerous murderer on the loose.'

He rolled his eyes. *This is London, Miss Middleton. There are a million people within a square mile of this building and probably a hundred murderers out and about tonight, and not one of them as dangerous as Inspector Pound when he is dragged from his bed.'

A constable turned up with a bucket and mop, clutching a handkerchief over his mouth and nose as he swabbed the desktop.

*They have no stomach these days,' the sergeant said.

I remembered something my father had told me a to command the man you must know his name.

*You are Sergeant Horwich,' I said.

*I am.'

*Oh, thank goodness,' I said. *Mr Grice told me that you are the only man in this station capable of judging the importance of this case and taking the initiative to deal with it.'

*He did?'

The sergeant preened his moustaches and expanded his chest.

*I believe his words were: Sergeant Horwich is worth the rest of them put together. Trust him for he will know what to do.'

The sergeant tidied his mutton-chop whiskers.

*Beacon.' He struck the desk bell and a constable came from the back room, b.u.t.toning his jacket collar. *Run down to Inspector Pound's house, Beacon, and tell him there is an urgent message for him from Mr Sidney Grice about a ma.s.s-murderer on the rampage, and that he is to come to the station immediately.'