The Reckoning by Rennie Airth Read Free Book Online Page A

it’ll all have to be sorted out and the chief constable informed.’
    Glancing at his companion as they walked briskly out of the station concourse, Billy felt the tidal pull of the past. Although it was many years since they had worked together, he had never forgotten those days. The occasion had been a murder case that had held the nation in thrall, the slaughter of an entire householdin Highfield, and despite his youth and inexperience Billy had found himself pitchforked into an investigation led by Chief Inspector Sinclair, in which Madden had played a leading role and in which he himself had come of age (or so he had always believed). Now, as they strode side-by-side out of the station deep in discussion, it seemed that nothing had changed.
    â€˜We still don’t know much about the medico who was shot – his history, I mean, or whether he had any tie to Gibson, though that seems unlikely. But there’s no doubt now that we’re looking for a solo killer.’
    When they got to the car Billy handed Madden a transcript of the half-written letter salvaged from Gibson’s desk. Sitting in the back seat, Madden scanned the few lines it contained, quoting from the text: ‘“. . . I would very much like to get in touch with a person who I know worked at Scotland Yard many years ago. His name was Madden. He was a detective. I realize this is an imposition, but I would be very grateful if you could tell me whether he is still employed there and, if not, how I might get in contact with him . . . ”’
    Madden weighed the piece of paper in his hand.
    â€˜I still find it strange that he knows my name.’
    Billy shrugged. ‘He might have read it in the papers years ago. I’m thinking of that Melling Lodge business,’ he added, referring to the case on which they had worked together a quarter of a century before and which was known simply by the name of the house in Highfield where the murders had occurred.
    â€˜Yes, but that was years ago.’ Madden shook his head. ‘Why bring it up now?’ He gnawed at his lip. ‘There must be a reason for it. I wonder why he didn’t finish the letter.’
    â€˜Changed his mind?’ Billy suggested.
    â€˜Or lost his nerve?’ Madden pondered the problem. ‘And the wording’s strange. “I would very much like to get in touch with a person who I know worked at Scotland Yard . . .” I was thinking we might have met in the course of some other investigation,but now I’m not so sure. It doesn’t sound like it. Have you checked the files?’
    Billy nodded. ‘We’ve found nothing. No mention of Gibson’s name, though that’s not surprising. One of the problems is he doesn’t seem to have been the sort of chap who was ever in trouble, and particularly not with the police. And if he was just a minor figure in some inquiry that you were involved in – a casual witness – there might have been no reason to make a note of his name.’
    The firm of solicitors where Edward Gibson was a partner was situated in Gray’s Inn Road and to get there they drove through streets scarred by wartime bombing, a wilderness of broken walls and shattered foundations, where little had been done as yet to mend the damage.
    â€˜They keep saying they’re going to make a start on all this.’ Billy gestured with his hand. ‘But then something new comes up, some financial crisis or other, and they call a halt. It’s the same with these new towns they’re supposed to be building. The plans have been drawn up, but that’s as far as they’ve got.’
    The building that housed Gibson’s office, when they reached it, proved to be untouched, though the house beside it had taken what looked like a direct hit. With neither a roof nor an upper floor, it had been reduced to a walled shell, above which a single staircase could be glimpsed climbing into empty