He clenched his hands angrily. He couldn’t hang about the Park gates. Some copper would come along and start asking questions. He would have to get into the Park and hide so that he could watch Rollo and yet not be seen himself.
He made sure that Rollo was not looking in his direction, then he slipped into the Park, and keeping in the shadows, well away from the stationary car, he walked softly across the grass to a nearby clump of shrubbery. He settled down on the grass out of sight and waited.
The minutes dragged by and then, suddenly, Rollo opened the car door and stepped out. He touched off the long white ash from his cigar as he looked up and down the moonlit avenue of the Park.
A few taxis still bowled rapidly through the Park and a few stragglers loitered in the street beyond. It was a fine night and London was reluctant to go to bed.
Rollo glanced at his watch. It was ten minutes past one. He had no idea how long he would have to wait, but he had an odd feeling that Gilroy would, somehow or other, deliver the goods’. He had said the girl would come and Rollo believed him. He had to believe him as he had no alternative. If the girl did not come then he had no idea how he was to find Cornelius’ body.
He sat himself down on the running board of the car and began to read Doc’s diary. As he read, he again felt an overpowering desire to punish Celie. He closed the book impatiently when he had assured himself that it contained no further reference to Butch or Celie and put it in his pocket.
He got up and began to pace up and down. He had an odd feeling that he was being watched, but after looking round carefully and not seeing anyone, he decided that he was getting nervy.
Long Tom stuck his head out of the window. “ ‘Ow much longer do we ‘ave to wait?” he whined. “I could do with a good night’s kip, boss. Can’t we go ‘ome?”“
His thin voice reached Butch who grinned sourly. He too would be glad to go to bed, but he wasn’t going to leave Rollo for a second.
“Shut up,” Rollo growled, scowling at Long Tom. “We may have to stay here until daylight.”
“Oh Gawd!” Long Tom groaned, and settled himself once more down in his seat. He closed his eyes and tried to doze.
When Rollo had finished his cigar, he got back into the car. He was feeling heavy and tired, but he knew he could not afford to doze’. Gilroy had said she would come and he must not miss her.
It was nearly a quarter-past two, before Susan Hedder walked into the Park.
Butch was the first to see her and he nearly sprang to his feet, but restrained himself in time. He looked quickly across at Rollo’s car. Rollo had the door already open and was getting out. In his excitement, he had shoved Long Tom violently and Long Tom was cursing under his breath.
The three men from their various positions, watched Susan with concentrated attention.
Susan walked stiffly into the Park and then when she was quite close to Rollo’s car, she stopped.
Rollo stared at her. The moonlight lit her face and he could see her eyes were blank and her face expressionless. She was looking straight through him and after a moment’s uneasiness, he suddenly realized that she was not aware of his presence.
She stood there for some moments and then turning abruptly on her heel, she walked swiftly, with stiff, gliding steps towards the Park gates.
“Come on,” Rollo said. “Leave the car. We mustn’t lose sight of her.”
He set off after Susan without waiting for Long Tom. It was happening just as Gilroy had said. He knew now that Susan was leading him to Cornelius’ body. He was so excited that he did not take his usual, elaborate precautions.” Nothing interested him now but the chance he would have before long of laying his hands on three million pounds. He threw caution to the winds.
Not so Butch. If he had known that Susan was going to take him to Cornelius’ body he might have been less cautious, but all he knew was that, for some odd reason, this girl, who was in mortal dread of Rollo, had unexpectedly appeared and Rollo and she were going off somewhere. In the distance he could see Susan’s slim figure moving towards Constitutional Hill. A few yards behind her were Rollo and Long Tom, a few yards behind them was another figure which had appeared from out of the shadows. Butch suddenly went cold. He recognized the tall, broad-shouldered figure of Detective Sergeant Adams. Butch had made it his business to know every police officer in his locality and he prided himself that he could spot them at any time of the night and day.
Automatically his hand groped for his gun, but as soon as his fingers closed over the cold butt, he knew the danger and uselessness of such an action. Moving like a shadow, he came out of his hiding place and tailed on behind Adams. His immediate reaction was to warn Rollo that this copper was tailing him, but how? Then he decided that it might be a good thing if the copper pinched Rollo. It would give Butch a chance to get away with the money.
Rollo, in the meantime, unaware that Adams was behind him, kept after Susan. She had passed Buckingham Palace and was now walking towards Sloane Square. By this time the streets were deserted and Rollo and Long Tom did not bother to conceal the fact that” they were following the girl.
Adams had a far more difficult time. But he was experienced and not once did he allow himself to be caught far from a doorway or cover of some kind. But Rollo did not look round. This surprised Adams, as he expected that an old hand like Rollo would always be on his guard against detection.
Adams had immediately recognized Rollo. The sight of the great, bulky figure had set his heart racing. There must be something up, he decided. If Rollo was mixed up in this business, and it was obvious that he was, then it looked as if Adams had a case for which he had been waiting.
From time to time, Adams glanced back to make sure that he was not being followed, but Butch was ready for that. He slunk along in the shadows, invisible in his black suit and black hat. He hugged the wall, stepped from shop doorway to shop doorway and took great care how he turned a corner.
So they went on; and it seemed to Rollo that Susan would go on walking for days and days. His great frame sagged and sweated as he lumbered along. He had never walked so far in his life and he longed for the comfort of his car. Long Tom, shuffling along at his side, was secretly enjoying the sight of Rollo’s exhaustion.
“She don’t ‘alf like ‘er walk,” he muttered, unable to hold his tongue.
“Blimey! At this rate, she’ll be in Brighton in no time.”
Rollo snarled at him. If she did walk to Brighton, he would follow her. If he had to crawl on his hands and knees he would be there. Wasn’t she leading him to three million pounds?
“ ‘Ullo,” Long Tom said. “She’s stopping again.”
Rollo moved into the shadows, pulling Long Tom with him. Twenty yards further back, Adams stepped quickly into a doorway. Ten yards further back, Butch flattened himself against the wall.
Susan had paused. She hesitated for a moment or so and then disappeared down the alley.
“This is it,” Rollo said and stepped forward quickly. He almost ran to the mouth of the alley. As soon as he convinced himself that it was a cul-de-sac, he turned to Long Tom. “Go back and get the car. Hurry. There’s not a moment to lose. I’ll handle her, but we must have the car.”
Long Tom began to grouse. “Wot, walk all the way back? Blimey, guv’nor, ‘ave a ‘eart. Me dogs are achin’ somethin’ crool.”
“Do what I say,” Rollo said, a vicious look jumping into his little eyes.
“Orl right,” Long Tom returned and walked hurriedly back the way he had come.
Adams saw him coming, but he had no time to get out of sight, so he continued towards Long Tom, his head bent and his hands in his pockets. Long Tom had no great interest in the police. He had not made a study of them as Butch had, so he passed Adams without even a glance. .