Gently with the Ladies by Alan Hunter Page B

this must have been removed prior to our going there, that is, between about noon and four-forty-seven p.m.
    ‘Which irresistibly suggests that the murderer took it.’
    ‘Well, yes, Chief, I think it does. An ordinary thief wouldn’t have thrown it in the dustbin. It had to be someone who knew it was too hot.’
    Gently picked up the necklace and let it run through his fingers.
    ‘Odd,’ he said. ‘Fazakerly suggested a burglar. Yet a burglar doesn’t fit any better than he does, because all a burglar had to do was to sneak out.’
    ‘But if she caught him at it—’
    ‘Sitting on the settee?’
    ‘He may have been lurking on the veranda.’
    ‘So why didn’t he lurk there a bit longer, instead of murdering Mrs Fazakerly on his way out?’
    ‘Well, he was in full view of the street—’
    Gently clicked his tongue impatiently. ‘And so he must have been for over an hour, from when Mrs Fazakerly came back from lunch. But he wouldn’t have been there in the first place. You don’t look for jewellery in the lounge. He’d have been frisking her dressing-room down the hall – that’s where the jewel-box was, wasn’t it?’
    Reynolds nodded reluctantly.
    ‘So that’s where she’d trap him when she came back. And if he hadn’t made his getaway sooner, he’d have done it while the row was going on in the lounge.’
    ‘But then why did he get rid of the necklace, Chief?’
    ‘That’s my point. He doesn’t fit.’
    ‘But someone did—’
    ‘Someone did. And I agree it doesn’t point to Fazakerly.’ He gave the necklace a little toss. ‘Did you show this to Mrs Bannister?’ he asked.
    ‘No. Stockbridge identified it positively. I didn’t see any need to bother her. You don’t think . . .’
    Gently hunched a shoulder. He laid the necklace back on the desk. For a few moments he sat silently studying it and teasing out its shape with a reverent forefinger. Then he said:
    ‘Right. Get her on the phone, will you? Tell her you want her here for something important.’
    Reynolds hesitated. ‘We could soon run it round, Chief—’
    ‘No.’ Gently smiled. ‘I think I’d like to have her here.’
    She arrived. Reynolds had sent an Imperial for her, after much humility over the phone, but still she had kept them waiting and could be heard expostulating on her way up the stairs. She was wearing a green satin evening dress and a mink cape and elbow-length gloves and carried a snake-skin bag with a gold chain, gold frame and jade studs. She swept into the office, then saw Gently.
    ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘You’re behind this, are you? I might have guessed it needed someone with less consideration than Inspector Reynolds.’
    Gently inclined his head.
    ‘And since I’m here, I may as well tell you that I’m furious. You’ve let Siggy loose. And I won’t stand for it. If you don’t prosecute him, I will.’
    ‘You know about that, Mrs Bannister?’
    ‘Yes. The Merryn woman phoned me. And I’m fairly certain of one thing, Superintendent, that it was your meddling that was responsible. I think it’s scandalous. I intend to complain, and if I can show you up I will. There’s too much softness with murderers these days, not to mention very peculiar police action.’
    ‘Miss Merryn rang to tell you we’d released Fazakerly?’
    ‘She certainly did. I suppose it’s true?’
    ‘She told you she’d seen him?’
    ‘Of course. She was shocked. I believe she was concerned for her personal safety.’
    ‘Why should she be, Mrs Bannister?’
    ‘Oh, don’t pretend to be dense. He thinks it was she who told Clytemnestra about the woman, and knowing her I would say he’s right.’
    ‘Did she say he’d threatened her?’
    ‘Not exactly that. But if he’s done it once he can do it again. The more so because he seems to be getting away with it this time, thanks to interference from a certain quarter. Now perhaps you can tell me why I’m wanted?’
    Gently nodded.‘Won’t you sit down, Mrs