‘He was only going to write up the story for his memoirs, but suddenly found himself back in the case. That’s why he wanted me to go with him. He warned me he could get into trouble.’ May was forced to shout into the cellphone. ‘He found what he was looking for, then probably drove around to the poor bloke’s house. You know how insensitive he could be.’
‘The newspapers of the time called him the Phantom, didn’t they? He was probably rather upset to be tracked down again.’
‘Enough to follow Arthur back to the unit and plant a bomb,’ May replied. ‘From what we know of him, it would make perfect sense. A case of history repeating, a farewell performance. Finch said he thought the explosive material was old.’
‘Yes, but sixty years old? Where on earth could he have been keeping it?’
‘Who knows, he could have buried it in his back garden and returned to dig it up. I think seeing Arthur brought back everything that had happened, and ignited his desire for revenge.’ May paused while the trucks juddered past. ‘Listen,’ he bellowed, sticking his finger in his ear, ‘I need you to track someone down for me.’
‘Of course, who do you need?’ Longbright asked.
‘Bryant’s dentist. I know he’s left the practice, but they must have a contact number. It’s very important that you locate him.’
May snapped the phone shut and gave one final glance at the rain-filled sky before stepping into the clammy warmth of the tube station.
41
RUNNING TO DAYLIGHT
‘You realize we’re an hour away from tonight’s dress rehearsal, and that we open tomorrow?’ asked Helena Parole, lighting a cork-tipped De Rezske and fanning the smoke through the opened window in her office.
The young detectives were seated with her. Bryant listened as he cleaned out his pipe bowl with a pickle fork that he kept in his coat for just such a purpose.
‘How am I expected to feel? I’ve got an under-rehearsed cast that’s too panicked to concentrate on the score, a violinist who’s more used to playing in Leicester Square for a hatful of pennies, a musical director who fights with the conductor over every note-change in the arrangements, fifty-year-old mechanical equipment that refuses to control several tons of lethal scenery, a replacement Jupiter who has never performed in the West End, a cleaning lady who’s trying to scrub blood out of the balcony seats, and now some kind of women’s temperance league is picketing the theatre. Stan and Mouse are spreading rumours about ghosts walking through walls. Benjamin got punched on the nose by a woman who says we’re the spawn of Satan. I nearly broke my leg in the foyer after Elspeth’s tortoise pulled rhubarb leaves all over the floor. And you’re telling me we have an abduction on our hands.’
‘How important is Jan Petrovic to the show?’ asked May, attempting to look unfazed.
‘She’s just part of the chorus, not featured at all. I replaced her the minute she failed to show for the rehearsal. That’s not the point. I have to be sure that you can protect my boys and girls, otherwise I can’t go out there and convince them that everything’s fine.’
‘We’re doing as much as we can. I’d prefer to see the production suspended rather than place anyone in danger, but Mr Renalda has every intention of ensuring the show goes on.’
Helena’s voice rose a notch. ‘This is no reflection on your abilities, Mr May, but in view of your extreme youth, I wonder if a senior officer might not be available now.’
‘I’m afraid there is no one else available, Miss Parole,’ he replied politely.
‘They’ve spent a fortune on advance advertising and publicity. There’s not a bomb site in London that’s not been plastered with the posters. To Mr Renalda, a missing chorus girl is less important than an outraged review in the Telegraph.’
‘Obviously we’re all hoping that Miss Petrovic turns up safe and sound. We found signs of a struggle in her apartment, and several small spots of blood that may be hers, but no unaccounted-for fingerprints. What appeared to be a large smear of blood on a wall turns out, rather oddly, to be nail varnish. Beyond that, we know very little.’
‘It seems to me you know very little about what’s been happening at all. I suppose all the good detectives have been taken by the war effort. It’s not your fault, you just lack experience. God knows who I’d blame. I certainly wouldn’t listen to any of the cast.’
‘Why not?’
‘They’re actors, for Christ’s sake, they exaggerate everything. Have you talked to them all?’