Rollison interrupted mildly: “Nice example of psychological terrorism. It used to apply to some of the bad boys, but I’d almost forgotten the phrase. Find a weakness, work on it, and remember that the strongest human emotion is fear for the safety of loved ones. Simple human philosophy, even if you do say it’s corny.”
“The affair seems to have started about a year ago, when Reggie Jepson needed some money,” Grice said, “and began as a little racket with a wholesaler. The world thought that young Jepson was worth millions, but all he had until he was thirty was the interest from his shares, and from a trust fund. Not enough for a young blood, and—” Grice shrugged. “Well, you’ll see it in the depositions, we needn’t go into everything now. Whenever anyone involved in the racket was on the point of talking, Wallis stopped them. The man Rickett was one. Each of Wallis’s victims knew about the stolen goods. But before the thefts were reported to the police, Wallis had so influenced Reginald Jepson that he threw his weight into Jepsons buying Bishopps, and Ada agreed. That way it became a transfer of goods, not theft. There isn’t any doubt,” went on Grice quietly, “that Wallis thought he could eventually take over both Jepsons and Donny’s. And so he might. No one would have suspected what he was up to, would always have assumed he was employed by someone else. Didn’t you take it for granted that either Donny or Reginald Jepson was behind him?”
“Absolutely,” said Rollison. “Have you found Reggie Jepson?”
“He’s in Switzerland, and on his way home,” said Grice. “Wallis had sent him out of the way.”
“I wonder why men as clever as Wallis make mistakes,” Rollison mused. “He beat Jones up without making sure that Jones knew why. If Jones—”
“He took it for granted Jones would know the reason,” Grice said. “The queerest mistake was in breaking up the Blakes’ home. He thought they were Jones’s relations, of course; he liked to work on families. Do you know why he heaved the hair tied to bricks through Ada Jepson’s window?”
“No,” said Rollison.
“Ada Jepson knew the girl called Goldilocks. Next morning, she heard about her hair being cut off. And Ada Jepson was then told by telephone that if she betrayed her brother no one would be safe.”
“Wallis hardly missed a trick,” Rollison said, “but he hadn’t all the trumps.”
“His worst mistake was in attacking Jolly,” Grice declared. “That was the thing that really got you going. I’m told Jolly’s out of danger.”
“Yes, thank God,” said Rollison.
* * *
It was late autumn.
The trials were over, and Wallis had been sent down for fifteen years. There had been no prosecution against Reggie Jepson, who gave evidence for the crown, and left the box, a trembling, frightened man.
“He really is going abroad for a holiday,” Ada said. “The trustees have decided that it’s no use expecting him to be any good in the business, and he’d never live this down at home. We’re going to draw in some new blood on the board.”
“Starting with Jimmy Jones?”
“How did you guess?” asked Ada, and she gripped Rollison’s arm, while her face became radiant. “If you only knew how much I love him! When he was attacked I realised why, and I think that meant more to me than Reggie’s reputation. I felt that I couldn’t say a word to the police, and Wallis could make me do anything he wanted. When I came to you, I hoped that you might work a miracle, but I couldn’t go on.”
“All I want to hear now is that Jimmy’s fallen in love with you,” Rollison said, “and has completely forgotten a girl named Goldilocks who has lovelier hair than ever.”
Ada laughed. “I’m not worried about Goldilocks! As a matter of fact she’s leaving the offices and becoming a model at one of Donny’s shops. She—oh, Rolly, I knew there was something I wanted to ask you. Is it true that you’re going to be a judge at the Beautiful Short Hair competition? Goldilocks thinks she’s almost certain to win.”
“Believe it or not, I shall be one of the judges,” said Rollison, “and she will win if I can see to it honestly.” He turned to his trophy wall as Jolly came in with drinks; a Jolly who was quite himself again, and whose scars showed hardly at all. “Ah, thanks, Jolly. When are we going to add the new souvenir to the trophy wall?”
“As a matter of fact, sir, I thought that it would be wise if we were to wait until the competition has been won and then try to obtain a small lock of the winner’s hair,” said Jolly. “I feel sure she will be co-operative.”
* * *
Goldilocks won by the solemn vote of all the judges, and waved triumphantly to James Matthison Jones as she stood on the dais, surrounded by the runners-up, all girls with hair so beautiful that most of it seemed unreal. Jimmy Jones was sitting in a box with the other directors of Jepsons, and Adonis Sampson was standing a little to one side, looking as if he could not wait to go up to the winner and begin to dress her hair.
The End