Sky High by Michael Gilbert Read Free Book Online Page A

man of violence myself, and it was getting me worried.’
    Refraining from any inquiry as to why he should have joined the Army if he eschewed violence, Tim said, ‘I suppose you kept them.’
    ‘I’ve got the last one. It came yesterday.’
    He went across to the desk in the corner, which was the largest piece of furniture in the room; rolled back the top, unlocked a drawer and brought out a sheet of white paper. There were letters pasted on in the form of words which said simply: ‘GET OUT AND STAY OUT THIS IS FINAL NOTICE.’
    ‘Short and to the point,’ said Tim.
    ‘What would you do in my place?’
    ‘Go to the police,’ said Tim promptly. ‘Even if they don’t find out who’s sending the letters they’ll trample round and make such a fuss that ten to one they’ll scare this joker off.’
    ‘Do you think so?’
    ‘I’m sure that’s right. I don’t know that I should bother Constable Queen about it. Chicken roosts and bicycle lamps are about his mark. But why not have a word with Gattie at Bramshott?’
    ‘Sergeant Gattie?’
    ‘Yes. He’s a good man. As a matter of fact, I know him personally. He was a sergeant in the Gendarmerie in Palestine – that was the Special Force they raised after the war to try and cope with the Irgun boys. I was seconded to them for a brief period. A short life, on the whole, but merry.’
    Then perhaps you could have a word with him?’
    ‘Well, I could do that. If you’re sure you want me to. If you’d like to lend me that letter—?’
    MacMorris hesitated. ‘I’d better hang on to it,’ he said. ‘It’ll be quite safe in that desk. I always keep the inner drawer locked. But if you could just explain the thing to him, since you know him. Then I expect he’ll want to come over and look at the letter.’
    ‘All right. We’ll do it that way,’ said Tim. ‘But it can’t be till Saturday. I’m afraid—’
    The word died. MacMorris was not even pretending to listen. He was staring up at the ceiling. There was silence for a count of five.
    ‘What is it?’ said Tim at last.
    MacMorris tilted his head forward and Tim saw his eyes.
    ‘What is it?’ he asked again, softly.
    ‘Didn’t you hear anything?’
    ‘I’m not sure,’ said Tim. ‘As a matter of fact, whilst I was talking, I did think, for a moment – but it might have been anything.’
    ‘It was someone moving.’
    ‘Someone or something,’ said Tim, as lightly as he could. ‘Do you keep a cat?’
    ‘I hate cats,’ whispered MacMorris.
    Outside on the main road, at the end of the avenue of trees, a car slowed, accelerated and passed on. The noise died and the silence folded back again.
    ‘Look here,’ said Tim at last, ‘if you’re really—I mean, if you think there’s some funny business going on, why don’t we go up and have a look? Two pairs of hands are better than one.’
    ‘I’d be very grateful.’
    ‘Don’t whisper. If anyone is listening that’ll give the game straight away. I’ll help myself to a stick out of your hall-stand. Let’s try and make it sound as if you’re showing me upstairs to the lavatory or something. And there’s one other precaution I’d like to take before we start. I’m sure you’ll forgive me mentioning it, but I’d prefer to leave that thing behind.’
    ‘What thing?’ MacMorris showed his teeth for a moment.
    ‘The one in your jacket pocket. If we’re going to do some brawling in the dark it would be a damned sight more dangerous to our side than six burglars.’
    ‘I—’
    ‘Go along. Put it in the desk. It’ll be quite safe there.’
    It was a little, black, lady’s gun. MacMorris dropped it into the desk, shut down the lid, and turned the key.
    ‘You may be right,’ he said. ‘I think I’ll take a stick myself.’
    ‘That’s the boy. Now I take it this switch works the upstairs passage light. Splendid. We’ll just have the hall light off and the passage light on. Up we go.’
    The first floor – MacMorris’ own