Chapter 24 chapter 2

Half an hour later, the Chief of Police, Major Robert Mitchell, spoke solemnly to Battelle and Uncle Leach. "It's impossible to say," he said, "but one thing seems clear. It wasn't done by outsiders. Nothing was lost, and there was no sign of a break-in. All the doors and windows were still shut this morning." He looked directly at Ba Tuo. "If I asked Scotland Yard, do you think they'd send you this case? You happen to be here, you know. And your relationship to Leech. That is, if you want to. It means you The vacation has to end early." "That's all right," said Bartow. "As for the other point, sir, you'll have to tell Sir Edgar," (Sir Edgar Goodtne was Deputy Commissioner) "I believe he's a friend of yours?"

Mitchell nodded. "Well, I think Edgar's side is all right. Well, it's decided! I'll call him right away." He grabbed the phone: "Pick me up to Scotland Yard." "Do you think this is going to be a major case, sir?" Barto asked. Mitchell said heavily: "It's going to be a case that we don't want anything to go wrong. We want to be absolutely sure we're getting the right man — or woman, of course." Barto nodded.He was quite aware of the meaning of the words. "He thinks he knows who did it," he said to himself, "and he's not happy with the situation. I'll bet it must have been done by a respectable person!"