The Deadly Affair Page #4

You see, I almost forgot that, too.

I had to remember

that Samuel was short of sherry,

and that I should call the wine merchant

for a morning delivery.

It won't be necessary anymore.

Well, I've already intruded too long,

Mrs Fennan.

If my chief should call,

will you please tell him

that I shall be at the Walliston police station

with Inspector Mendel until 9:15.

After that, I shall take your advice

and return to Whitehall

to my drawing board.

Stand up.

- Morning, sir.

- Charles Dobbs.

Mr Dobbs, sir.

- Stand up!

- Good morning, Mr Dobbs.

I've a message from your department.

You're to ring the Adviser at once.

- Thanks.

- Use my office.

Here's Mendel. Asleep on duty.

Kick him out if you want to.

He's not a proper policeman anymore.

He's an old-age pensioner.

- Make yourself at home.

- Thank you.

Would you like me out, too, sir,

while you phone the Adviser?

No. We'll let the Adviser

have another kitten or two

while we do something

rather more practical.

Someone at the Fennan house

asked to be called

by the Walliston Exchange

at 8:
30 this morning.

I want to find out

what time the request was made

and, if possible, by whom.

- Number, please.

- Walliston police. Supervisor, please.

And I want to find out

if it was a standing request

for a morning alarm call,

and if so, let's have all the details.

- Can I help you?

- Walliston police.

- Supervisor?

- Yes, sir.

Walliston CID here.

There's been a burglary in Merridale Lane,

and we think

they may have used the house opposite,

that's Walliston 294,

as an observation point.

Would you find out whether that number

called the exchange any time after,

say, 6:
00 yesterday evening?

- 6:
00. I'll check that, sir.

- Right. Thank you. I'll hang on.

Photostat of the suicide note.

Super said to give you a copy.

They're sending the original

to the Foreign Office

and a copy to Marlene Dietrich.

Marlene Dietrich? Who's that?

Sorry, sir.

That's what we call your Adviser, sir.

Pretty general in the Branch

and in the Foreign Office, too.

- Very sorry, sir.

- I think it's beautiful. Don't be sorry.

And don't call me sir.

Typed on his own portable.

- What make?

- Olivetti.

Well, so was the anonymous letter

that denounced him!

Well, it's a pretty common make.

We'll check, of course.

- Hello, caller?

- Hello. Yes?

- I have some information.

- Yes, I'm ready.

The only thing we have down

for Walliston 294 last night was an alarm.

Oh, yes?

It was made for 8:30 in the morning.

I wonder when she asked for that.

- 7:
55 last night.

- 7:
55 last night?

- It was a man who made the call, sir.

- Oh, it was a man, eh?

- Girl's quite sure it was a man?

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