The House Of The Bears by John Creasey

admitted Hardy, ‘but I’ve got the bee in my bonnet now. I don’t mind admitting that I shall feel annoyed if he is working for Intelligence. We had more than enough of that kind of thing during the war, didn’t we?’
    Cartwright nodded.
    “They’d come down, poke about, arouse suspicion and get into trouble, and when they’d gone we’d be told they had been sent by the London people. They might at least tell us in advance who they are. I don’t ask to be taken into their confidence, but unnecessary secrecy gets under my skin.’
    ‘Obviously,’ said Cartwright.
    Hardy laughed self-consciously. ‘Sorry if I’m putting it rather strongly, sir. But I do feel strongly. It’s on our beat, when all’s said and done. I suppose it was excusable in wartime, but surely it isn’t in peace.’
    ‘I don’t disagree with you,’ admitted Cartwright. ‘What I do say is that nothing will shift the people in Whitehall. They’re as immovable as Wenlock Cliff! You’re right, of course; they did come down here a great deal during the war. That wasn’t surprising; we know that Huns landed from U-boats somewhere near the cliff.’
    ‘We never found who helped them to get away,’ said Hardy.
    ‘So that’s worrying you, is it?’
    ‘Yes, sir, it is,’ said Hardy. ‘When you come to think about it, there isn’t a better place than Morne House for hiding a man for a few days. It’s my opinion that Garth had some pull over Morne and found sanctuary by exerting pressure. Miss Loretta knew it, and fell in with it. If Morne had anything to do with sheltering spies, that would be a strong enough hold, wouldn’t it?’
    ‘It’s all surmise,’ objected Cartwright.
    ‘I know, sir, but it would explain a great deal. It would also explain Palfrey being sent down here by Intelligence. Isn’t there any way you can find out what Palfrey is doing?’
    ‘I don’t know of a way,’ admitted Cartwright. ‘You’ve told our friend from Scotland Yard about this, I suppose.’
    ‘Oh, yes, I’ve told Wriggleswade,’ said Hardy. ‘He’s of the same mind as I am, sir. Intelligence gets a bit above itself. If I had my way now –’ He broke off.
    ‘What would you do?’ asked Cartwright.
    ‘I’d have Palfrey watched,’ said Hardy, and looked appealingly at his chief. ‘I’ve even got the man in mind – young Rundell. He doesn’t miss much. What do you think about it, sir?’
    After a pause, Cartwright said: ‘Yes, I’m rather taken by it. Is Rundell free now?’
    ‘He reported back from leave this morning. He wasn’t due until Monday; he’s mustard keen.’
    ‘Well,’ said Cartwright, and smoothed his blond moustache. ‘We ought to tell Wriggleswade.’
    ‘But wouldn’t that spoil it?’ asked Hardy. ‘I suppose we couldn’t do it without, but – well, sir, you could leave it to me to tell him and I could leave it to you. That wouldn’t do for long, I know, but only the time between now and Tuesday matters. Directly Palfrey gets into Corshire we can tell Wriggleswade. If we tell him now, he’ll suggest a Yard man keeping an eye on Palfrey, or else he’ll pooh-pooh the very idea. He’s a bit inclined to throw his weight about, you know.’
    ‘Oh, yes, but he’s not a bad fellow,’ said Cartwright. ‘All right, talk to Rundell.’
     
    Detective-Sergeant Rundell, of the Corshire C.I.D., left for London on the Sunday morning, fully briefed, determined and convinced that he had been given the chance of a lifetime. It would require exemplary patience and might be trying, but he was confident.
    He felt bewildered when, on the Monday afternoon a little after two o’clock, Palfrey and his wife drove into Cheddar Village, parked the Talbot and walked towards the Gorge. While they were parking, Rundell took the opportunity to send a telegram to Hardy.
     
    Palfrey locked the door of the car and turned with Drusilla towards the Gorge. It was a bright, sunny day and there was a surprising number of people