Thompson waited until the morning meeting had dispersed before she sat down beside Compton. She was holding a paper shopping bag.
Compton asked, "What have you got there lass?"
"An item of ladies underwear sergeant and I think it must be McGregor’s."
"Ah then the trip out to Halidon’s was not wasted?"
"I am glad you gave me the opportunity to watch Sergeant Bridgeman. He really knows what he is doing. When he had found something that his fingerprint powder brought up, he put a little numbered marker before he took his photograph and then used something like the things they stick stamps in albums with. I had to keep the numbers straight and write down where the fingerprint was found. You told me to make sure he did the window and there were bloody fingerprints on the glass and blood on the sill."
Compton looked at her with approval. "That is a very good way to prove that she was there and support the rest of her account. I expect Bill will want you to go with him when you get the...smalls identified and take her prints."
Martin had listened to the exchange. "Does that give us what we want sergeant?"
"You have got to start to think these things through yourself DeVere. In this, as in every crime situation, if you want to get a conviction you have to find someone who witnessed it, someone who confesses to it or someone the criminal told about it. The last is the most uncertain depending upon their reasons for giving evidence. In this case it’s likely to be the only thing that we can hang our hat on unless we get very very lucky."
"Is there anything I can do this morning sergeant?"
"Well we have got another one of those ‘ignore at your peril’ things. I do hope that you have remembered your mother’s birthday because Nancy is giving a little reception. You are invited and she asked you to bring Caroline Denson."
Martin’s expression showed clearly that he had forgotten.
Compton raised a finger, "They don’t mind if there is no big present but you have to remember a card."
"I will get one right away sergeant but I don’t know if Caroline Denson will want to come. I have given her a wet outing and a big car scare so she is not well disposed towards me."
"Give it a try son...give it a try."
The Watch Committee was meeting again and Trubman was in the Chair. "How is the murder investigation going Chief Constable?"
"I can’t really tell you sir. The murder team are being very secretive. My superintendent was denied entry to their office yesterday and I think that they are taking things too far. They need some experienced officer running it and keeping us informed."
Trubman hid a smile. "I expect that they know what they are doing and of course we don’t. Let’s wait and see."
The Superintendent had been almost purple when he visited the Chief Constable. "Refused entry in my own station and that detective inspector has started to side with them. I thought he was going to resort to violence when I said I would go in anyway."
The Chief Constable did not share his indignation, "Give them enough rope..."
"You don’t understand sir, traffic offences are not being reported, no licensed premises inspected, the whole city is going to the dogs!"
"Keep doing your best I expect that we will survive."
It was a friendly group that gathered at the Compton’s. Martin had telephoned Caroline’s invitation and her father had said immediately that he knew she would come. He found her waiting outside the front door in a summer dress and high heel shoes.
These were not really practical wear for the cramped confines of an old car but she seemed to manage and tied a scarf around her hair. She talked quite animatedly about the work that was being done on the old Church Hall and the first dance, which was to be held in a fortnight’s time.
She looked seriously at Martin, "Do you dance?"
Caught by surprise he said truthfully, "I have never tried."
"Oh well we will have to teach you."
Before he could protest they had reached their destination and Nancy Compton was waiting to greet them. Martin presented his card and a spray of roses, which it was plain to see his mother really appreciated.
Compton gave him a glass of beer and picked up his own as Martin’s elbow was guided out into the garden.
"Give them an opportunity to put the world to rights son. They do like to gossip and you did the right thing with the flowers. I am sure you know by now that you are a stand in for your father sometimes if you take a careful look at her expression."
Martin had never really looked at it like that but was surprised again at the sergeant’s understanding.
"Just a little bit of business constable and then we will forget it for this evening. I have a feeling that those Teds are going to come back soon and when they do there will be trouble. After the Hippodrome they will be after Ramsay and the people at Ivys. I have asked Angus Somers to let the car crews know and then he will tell me. I might jump in with both feet and take a chance if I think the males have left Halidon’s but you will see when the time comes."
As they walked back into the house he said absently, "I hope they taught you a little self defence when you did your National Service."
They had enjoyed a very nice tea of sandwiches and were holding plates with pieces of birthday cake when Caroline Denson said quietly, "I have something to talk to you about Mrs DeVere and I hope you don’t mind me bringing it up now."
"Laura dear please and we are all friends here."
Caroline went to stand by her, "After you gave me the details I asked for I searched the probate records and there seem to be some assets that your accountant never mentions in his account statements. I also traced his old office assistant and learned a lot from her. I discussed this with Mr Trubman who looks after my Dad’s affairs and who I think is a very good accountant. If you agree I have brought something which you can sign and which will transfer everything to his Firm. He can then look over everything carefully and by the look of the charges that have been made by the present Accountant it will cost you a good deal less."
Laura DeVere looked at Martin and he was reminded of the sergeant’s earlier comment. "I think that would be a good idea mother. It will clear up things that have always worried you."
Compton looked at Caroline. "Is Trubman going to see Marles to make the transfer?"
"Yes he says this is the right way to do it."
"Good, don’t give any advance notice and I will come along if you like."
Martin looked as if he was going to argue. "No son, leave this to me. It will be better that way."
Trubman phoned on the following morning and Compton met him outside the accountant’s building. Compton was not surprised to see Caroline Denson with him.
"Nice of you to come along sergeant. I hope that we don’t have any trouble."
There was a young woman sitting at the reception desk in his office and the inner door was closed.
"Are you here to see Mr Marles. He is out at the moment and I do not have any appointments for him."
Trubman said, "We will wait for him Miss."
She had some difficulty finding things to do and there was an air of relief when the office door came in and a fussy individual in a three piece suit came in and reacted with some surprise when he saw the group that was waiting.
"I’m sorry I can’t give you any time this morning I am afraid."
Trubman gave an expansive smile. "Let me introduce you to your visitors sir. You know who I am and this is Miss Denson who assists me and Detective Sergeant Compton from Canonsfield C.I.D."
Marles paled visibly, "Why is the detective here. I don’t understand."Trubman was soothing, "Why don’t we go into your office and Miss Denson will wait here with your secretary."
Marles opened his office door and said over his shoulder, "You can go out if you have to Iris." The girl got up from her desk and Caroline also stood up.
"Wherever you go...I am going too. "
"Oh I was only going to powd
er my nose."
Caroline said, "What a good idea," and followed her out.
When they came back the girl was a lot less composed and asked, "What is this all about?"
Caroline said matter of factly, "Your boss will tell you in due course."
Marles was doing his best to look calm and assured but there was little colour in his face. Trubman reached in his pocket and produced the ‘Instruction’ which Laura DeVere had signed.
"One of your clients is not happy with your services and is transferring her business to Trubmans. You will find that this gives full authority."
Marles took a quick look and then blustered, "I can’t do that without some verification."Trubman heaved himself up from the chair and pointed, "You will see that the sergeant has witnessed her signature and so have I. I will want all the records pertaining to the DeVere account."
Marles said quickly, "I don’t have all of them here I‘m afraid. I will have to send them on to you."
"That won’t do sir. We will wait while you gather them together."
Marles opened the office door. "Iris we need the DeVere files. You will have to go and get them."Caroline smiled sweetly, "Shall we?"
Marles grumbled as he pulled out a file from a filing cabinet behind him. Trubman dismissed it quickly, "This is just the account statements that you have sent her to justify the fee which you have removed in advance. I am looking for any assets that she might have inherited from her husband."
Marles was really grey now. "I can’t think of any off hand."
The door opened and Iris walked in holding a large folder with Caroline close behind her. Trubman got up to receive it. "Ah this might be what we are looking for."
Marles walked round the desk. "I will leave you to it gentlemen because I have to go out."He found Compton standing in the office doorway. "You are not going anywhere until Mr Trubman is satisfied."
"You can’t keep me here. This is my office and you can all get out."
Compton put his thumbs in the top of his waistcoat. "How long do you think it will take me to get a search warrant and make a thorough search. In the meantime nothing will leave these premises. Now do you want me to do that or are you going to sit down and wait for their examination to end."
Trubman had shared some of the folder with Caroline and they were showing items to each other that they found. Eventually Trubman looked up and said, "I am very disturbed by the things that I have found in this file. We will go to the two Banks that you are using and have the money transferred to Trubmans."
Marles looked as if he was going to protest but took one look at Compton who returned his gaze with a wicked grin. Marles put his coat on again and dragged his feet as they walked to the street in which most of the Banks operated.
In each case the Bank Manager was called and they all knew Trubman. He told the Manager, "Just a matter of a change of accounting services. If you will give me the balance in each of these accounts Mr Marles will instruct you to transfer them to Trubmans.
He was reminded of a serious omission when Compton said, "We will also want to see any safe deposit in these account names."
Marles made a serious move as if to leave but once more Compton was barring the way. "No sir we will wait until Mr Trubman gets confirmation from his bank that the transfer has gone through. The Manager here will give you a receipt for any cash that is in the safe deposit and it will be put into a form of transfer as well."
When they finally left the second Bank and Trubman professed himself satisfied, Marles was moving at a rate of speed down the street.
Compton shook his head, "I think we have really ruined his day."
"Come back to the office sergeant and I will show you what we found."
"I can’t sir, I have a big investigation to run, but later I will be really interested to see if we should be investigating him. I know a snake when I see one."
Trubman was serious. "He brings disgrace on our whole profession. I will see that one of our Inspectors visits him. Caroline says that there are more folders down in that storage area where he obviously keeps the details that he does not want his clients to see!"
When Compton arrived at the C.I.D. office he found Martin waiting impatiently. "Sergeant Somers says that the Teds are back and roaring around at Halidon’s. So far they haven’t made any move to come in to the city but there is a lot of noise and music and they think that they brought some booze with them. Do you think we should warn them out at Ivy’s?"
"You met them son. They may be old but they are still cagey old soldiers. Still I hope they are on their toes. Make sure Ramsay keeps out of the way."