The tin was contained in a waterproof bag, since neither the space under the floorboards nor the shack in the carrs had been dry situations. It had spent nearly three months in that shack while Lammas was leading his double life. It had been cached amongst the nettles along with Thatcher’s paunch and costume. It was in the same cache that the blood-stained jacket and cap had been found… Lammas had donned them after the murder in case he was seen driving away the Daimler.
‘I’m going to cadge a day out of this!’
Gently had finished his report at last.
‘They had our Sunday, didn’t they? Well, they owe me a day’s fishing!’
He folded up the report and shoved it into an envelope. Dutt glanced at him apprehensively — he knew Gently’s state of mind when his chief wanted to score off authority.
‘Daresay they’d let you have it, sir, wevver they knows about it or not.’
‘I don’t care a damn if they would, Dutt. I’m going to have it, and they can go to hell!’
He threw the report down on Mrs Grey’s parlour table and stalked over to the window. There were vacant moorings in the Dyke where the houseboat had been towed away.
‘And I’m not going to buy a licence, Dutt!’
‘No, sir. You won’t buy a licence.’
‘I’m just in the mood to talk to some river police — I should enjoy a little bit of prosecution!’
‘Make you feel like a civvy, sir.’
‘Yes, Dutt — it’d redress the balance!’
Still the sun was burning down, the last sun of June. On the dreamily throbbing hire boats they were reading of the murder. The biggest thing since Christie! ‘Gently Arrests A “Murdered” Man.’ Lammas was a myth already… he’d stopped being human when they clipped on the handcuffs.
‘On second thoughts…’
Dutt waited. Gently often had second thoughts.
‘Let’s catch the next train back to town — I’m fed up with this part of the world!’
Dutt grinned at his superior. How many times had it happened like that? Gently’s kicking never lasted — that was Chief Inspectorial nature.
‘It’ll be shocking hot in the city, sir.’
‘I know. But never mind.’
‘And I reckon we’ve missed the express-’
‘I’d like to sweat on a stopper!’
His eyes met the Cockney sergeant’s. For a moment he couldn’t react. Then he grinned back and shrugged, and patted Dutt’s burly arm.
‘Come in and see the kids, sir,’ said Dutt sympathetically, ‘you’d be surprised the way they grow!’
Gently nodded. ‘I think I’ll do that. It’s a mistake, my being a bachelor.’