The Toff and the Deadly Priest by John Creasey Read Free Book Online Page A

“provided you’ll look through it afterwards, and make sure I haven’t pulled a boner.”
    Rollison promised this, and Bimbleton went off to wrestle with a report on pilfering from army stores depots, a task which Whitehall, in all its wisdom, had ordained to be eminently suitable for a man known to associate with the police.
    Jolly did not telephone the office or the club.
    After lunch, Rollison hurried back to the office, but his clerk, a plump A.T.S. sergeant, had no message for him.
    In his cogitations, Rollison had got no further than that Keller was afraid of the police taking action against him, but had reason to think that a lot of prodding would be needed to make them. Keller had been at great pains to try to make sure that Whiting said nothing about the episode of the stolen knife, although there was nothing original in his methods. There were occasional outbursts of intimidation in the East End, and sometimes a terror wave which rarely lasted long once it was discovered by the authorities, but which might have gained a powerful hold before the police learned of it. Many a man had been frightened into refusing to give evidence, even to committing perjury, by threats such as Keller had made to Whiting.
    Two inescapable facts troubled Rollison most.
    One was that a man whose name he did not yet know had been murdered, and – judging from the evidence so far available – one Joe Craik had been framed for the murder. The second was that Keller had a very powerful reason for wanting to drum the curate out of the St. Guy’s district.
    He dictated letters and signed them, made a brief report on a matter he had been handling by himself, went over Bimbleton’s prosy report with its author and made a few comments, and left for Gresham Terrace.
    Jolly was not at the flat.
    Rollison began to feel worried about his man; even if there was nothing to report, Jolly should have telephoned by now. When at last the telephone rang, he hurried to it, hoping to hear Jolly’s voice. Instead, he heard Kemp’s – and Kemp sounded excited.
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CHAPTER SIX
More News From Kemp
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    â€œGreat Scott, Rollison, I’ve been trying to get you all the afternoon!” exclaimed Kemp. “Where the dickens have you been?”
    â€œI should have given you my office number,” said Rollison. “You’d better take a note of it.”
    â€œNever mind that! Can you come here at once?”
    â€œWhat’s the trouble?” “
    â€œI’ve had a visit from a most astonishing fellow,” said Kemp, amazement making his voice shrill. “I don’t know his name, but you should have heard the way he talked! He told me that if you didn’t stop interfering, he would mighty soon make you!”
    â€œDid he have brown eyes and a gruff voice?”
    â€œYes, he did. How did you know?”
    â€œHe calls himself Keller,” said Rollison. “Don’t worry about his threats. Did he do anything?”
    He heard Kemp’s sharp intake of breath.
    â€œHe didn’t actually do anything,” said the curate. “But – he made the most astonishing offer. He offered to replace all the damaged goods at the hall and give five hundred pounds to St. Guy’s Relief Fund, if—” Kemp grew almost incoherent.
    â€œIf you resigned?” asked Rollison.
    â€œYes!”
    â€œWhat did you tell him?”
    â€œI told him,” said Kemp, in a deep voice, “exactly where to get off!”
    â€œThat’s the spirit!” acclaimed Rollison, feeling considerably relieved, “I was afraid you might have fallen for it.”
    â€œI might have done yesterday,” said Kemp, “but not now – I’ve heard a lot about you today. Last night, I only had your name and the little I’d heard about you from the Whitings, but today—”
    â€œSpare my blushes,” said Rollison. “How did you part with our brown-eyed