Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Hotel Tracking

1 Middleshire Constable George Rydesdale was a taciturn man of medium height, with shrewd eyes under bushy brows, and a man more accustomed to listening than talking.Then, in a deadpan voice, he would issue a short order for his subordinates to carry out. At the moment he was being briefed by Inspector Dermot Craddock.Craddock has officially taken charge of the case.Rydersdale recalled him from Liverpool last night. The latter had been sent there to make some inquiries into another case.Rydersdale spoke highly of Craddock because he was not only good at using his mind and imaginative, but also strict with himself and steady in his work. An open mind, and that's what Rydersdale appreciates more.

"Sergeant Legge took the call, Chief," Craddock said. "He seemed to handle it gracefully, decisively and sensibly. It must have been difficult. A dozen or so people were scrambling to talk at the same time, including one German, this guy runs away when he sees the cops, and screams like hell, he's gonna knock the place down." "Is the identity of the deceased confirmed?" "Sure, Chief. Rudy Shields. Swiss. Employed at the Royal Pleasure Hotel in Mendenham as a receptionist. If you agree, Chief, I'll go to the Royal Pleasure Hotel first, and then to Chipping." Crighorn. Sergeant Fletcher is out now. He's going to see the people on the bus and then to the house." Ridesdale nodded approvingly.

The door opened, and the chief looked up. "Come in, Henry," he said, "we've got a little bit of an unusual thing going on here." Sir Henry Claythering, ex-Constable of Scotland Yard, entered the room, frowning slightly.He was a tall, handsome old man. "It might interest your tired palate," Ridesdale continued. "I never get tired of it," said Sir Henry angrily. "The newest trick," said Ridesdale, "is to announce the murder in advance. Show Sir Henry the notice, Craddock" "Benham News and Chipping Crighorn News "The Gazette," said Sir Henry, "very well." He read the half-inch print which Craddock pointed out to him. "It is, yes, a little out of the ordinary."

"Who posted this, any leads?" Rydersdale asked. "According to the description, Commissioner, it was sent by Rudy Shields himself—on Wednesday" "No one asked questions? Wasn't it strange to those who accepted?" "I must say, Commissioner, the blond girl who received the notice was like a gland, and she couldn't use her brain. She just collected money in numbers." "What trick is it?" asked Sir Henry. "Create a lot of curiosity among the locals," Rydersdale analyzed, "so that they would gather in a certain place at a certain time, and then have them impounded and stripped of cash and valuables. As an idea, the Not without innovation."

"What kind of place is Chipping Crighorn?" asked Sir Henry. "It's a very spread out and picturesque village. There's a butcher's shop, a bakery, a general store, a pretty good antique shop, and two teahouses. A scenic spot in its own right for the traveler by car Serving, but also exceptionally domestic. The original log cabins used by agricultural workers have been converted and now house elderly spinsters and retired couples. A certain amount of Victorian buildings have been built around it.” "I see," said Sir Henry, "good old girls and retired colonels. Well, if they see that notice, they'll all be down there at six-thirty, asking around to see what's going on. Boy. Good God, I wish I'd got my special old girl here, she'd be very interested. She's pretty good at it."

"Who is your special old girl, Henry, an aunt?" "No," sighed Sir Henry, "not a relation," he said respectfully. "She is only the best detective God has ever made. A genius bred in the right soil." He turned to Craddock. "Don't look down on this old country girl, my boy," he said, "it might be some serious mystery. Now I'm not saying it must be. But remember, the knitter An older maiden woman planting flowers is far more intelligent than any sergeant. She can tell you what could have happened, what should have happened, and even what actually happened! And she can tell you why it happened!"

"I'll take that to heart, sir," said Inspector Craddock very formally, but no one would have guessed that Dermot Eric Craddock was actually Sir Henry's godson, and that he and his godfather The relationship is harmonious and intimate. Ridesdale briefly outlined the case to his friend. "They all showed up at six-thirty, that's for sure," he said, "but does the Swiss know they're going to be there? Also, are they likely to be robbed with a lot of cash and valuables?" ?” "An old-fashioned brooch or two, a string of little pearls, a little change, maybe a note or two, not much more," said Sir Henry thoughtfully. "Miss Blacklock has a Is it a lot of money?"

"She said no herself, sir. Five pound notes I understand." "There's only (again bird) feed," Rydesdale said. "You mean," said Sir Henry, "that the fellow likes to do a show—not a robbery at all, but a game for fun and a pretend robbery. Film tricks? Uh?Quite likely.How did he shoot himself? " Ridesdale pushed him a piece of paper. "Preliminary forensic report that the revolver was shot at close range - charred...he...couldn't prove whether it was accident or natural. It could have been deliberate, or he tripped and fell to the ground and he held it in the The revolver in his hand might have gone off... probably the latter." He looked at Craddock, "You'll have to question the witnesses very carefully and make sure they tell exactly what they saw."

Frustrated Inspector Craddock said: "They don't see the same thing" "That's always interested me," Sir Henry said, "It's what people really see in their moments of euphoria and nerves. What do they see, and what's even more interesting, what they don't see" "Where are the reports about the revolver ?” "Foreign made" is quite common on the Continent. Shields has no gun license and was not declared when he entered England." "Bad boy," said Sir Henry. "Unsatisfactory people everywhere. Well, Craddock, go to the Royal Pleasure Hotel and see what you can learn about him."

2. Arriving at the Royal Pleasure Hotel, Inspector Craddock was directed to the manager's office. The manager, Rowlandson, was tall and ruddy, with a warm attitude.He received Inspector Craddock with the greatest kindness. "I'm glad to help you as much as I can," he said. "It's a very shocking thing. I would never approve of such a thing—never. Shields seems to be a very ordinary, pleasant chap." "I would never I would think that he would do something like robbing a house." "How long has he been with you, Mr. Rowlandson?" "I was checking the records before you came. A little over three months. Pretty good credentials, the usual requisite licenses, etc."

"Are you satisfied with him?" Before Rowlandson answered, Craddock obviously paused for a moment, but it didn't seem to be intentional. "Very satisfied." Craddock used a technique that had worked well in the past. "No, no, Mr. Rowlandson," he said, shaking his head slowly, "that's not the case, is it?" "Uh—uh—" the manager was a little surprised. "Tell me, something is wrong. What is it?" "Something is wrong. But I don't know what it is." "But you think something is wrong?" "Er—yes—I thought about it... but there's no real evidence. I don't want my suspicions to be recorded and then cited against me." Craddock smiled pleasantly. "I see what you mean. You needn't worry. But we need to find out what kind of man Shields is. You suspected him—what was it? " Rowlandson said reluctantly, "That's right, there was one or two troubles about the bill. There were items on the bill that shouldn't be charged." "You're saying you suspect he charges something that doesn't exist in the restaurant's records, and then pockets the difference when the guest pays the bill?" "Mostly ... He's very careless, at best. Once or twice there was a big amount involved. Frankly speaking, I had the accountant go over his books and suspect he-er-falsified. But despite all the mistakes and a lot of sloppy reporting, the actual cash amount is correct. So I conclude that I made the mistake myself." "Assuming you're not mistaken? Assuming Shields draws a small sum here and a small sum there, then, I suspect, he both made money and covered himself?" "Yes, if he does have money. But people who want to make what you call 'a small sum' are usually very picky, so they spend it as they please." "So if he needs money to make up the shortfall, get it there--by robbery, or by some other means?" "Yes. I wonder if that was his original attempt..." "Possibly. It's a bad way of course. Does he have anyone else to get money from? Are there any women in his life?" "There's a waitress in the barbecue room named Myrna Harris." "I'd better talk to her." 3 Myrna Harris is a pretty girl, with red hair that makes her look pretty, but a big nose. She was very vigilant and worried, for fear that the police talking to her would damage her reputation. "I don't know anything about it, sir. Not at all," she protested. "If I knew what Rudy was like, I'd never go out with him. Naturally, seeing him working at the help desk here, I thought he was fine.I naturally think so.I mean, restaurants should be more careful about hiring people, especially foreigners.Because when dealing with foreigners, you can't figure out the details at all.I'm guessing he's a member of one of the gangs you announced? " "We think," Craddock said, "that he went it alone." "Strange--he was so quiet and respectable, it's incredible. Though there were things lost--a diamond brooch, now that I think of it--and a gold coin-box. I Believe me. But I never dreamed it was Rudy." "I'm sure you don't think so," said Craddock, "that people can be duped. Did you know him well?" "I don't know if I'm familiar with it." "But do you have a crush on each other?" "Oh, we're friendly—that's all. Not serious at all, after all, I've always been wary of foreigners. They've got their way. But you never know, can you? Some people The Poles who fled the war! Even some Americans! Didn't even mention they were married until it was too late. Always a little discount." Craddock seized on the sentence. "He's talking big, isn't he? That's very interesting, Miss Harris. I can see you'd be a great help to us. Where's he talking big?" "Like how rich his family is in Switzerland—how prominent. But that doesn't match his lack of money. He's always saying he can't get money here from Switzerland because of financial regulations. I guess Well, that's possible, but the things he uses are not expensive. I mean his clothes are not classy at all. Then I remembered that many of the stories he used to tell me were amazing. What about climbing the Alps? Mountains, saving lives on the edge of glacier cliffs. And he's getting dizzy just walking over the ridge of Bult Mountain. Oh, and the Alps!" "Did you spend much time with him?" "Yeah—er—yes. He's got such a good manner, and he knows how—how to take care of girls. Always the best seat at the movies. He even buys me flowers sometimes. And his It danced terribly--very terribly." "Did he mention Miss Blacklock to you?" "She comes here for lunch sometimes, doesn't she? She came and lived here once. No, I don't think Rudy ever mentioned her. I didn't know he knew her either" "He mentioned Chipinkeri Ghorn?" He thought Myrna Harris had a slightly worried look on her face, but he couldn't be sure. "I don't think so... I think he did talk about the bus at one point - and when it went - but I don't remember if it went to Chipping Crighorn or something. It wasn't the most recent thing." He couldn't take anything more out of her.Rudy Shields seemed ordinary.She hadn't seen him the night before.She didn't know - didn't know at all - and she emphasized the point - Rudy, Shields was a liar. Perhaps, Craddock thought, this was the truth.