Read Online Half a Crown by Jo Walton - Free Book Online Page B

don’t know, you couldn’t. I must go to Paddington right away.” He pulled the notes he had made in the Prime Minister’s office out of his pocket. “Give this to Mr. Ogilvie, and tell him to get on it.”
    “Yes, sir,” Miss Duthie said, taking the paper. “Do you want to take Sergeant Evans with you?”
    “No harm in it. Give him a call and get him to meet me out on the portico. Where the devil is my hat?”
    “It’s on the hat stand,” Miss Duthie said, without looking, already dialing, her other hand patting her bun. “Paul? Chief Inspector Carmichael needs you to meet him on the portico immediately.”
    Paul,
Carmichael thought as he walked briskly back the way he had come, settling his hat on his head. Miss Duthie was on first-name terms with all the sergeants and men, though she kept a strict formality with the officers, who she perhaps considered as her own social class. He had heard Sergeant Evans addressing her as Peg, though to Carmichael she was always Miss Duthie. If it hadn’t been for the security check he wouldn’t have known her first names wereMargaret Rose, after the princess. She might be a social oddity but she really could make tea. Besides, she wasn’t likely to go off one day and get married and leave him in the lurch, not at her age, and not with those big glasses. And she had done just the right thing in this Elvira matter; he wouldn’t have wanted Ogilvie going there and putting his big foot into what amounted to Carmichael’s private affairs. However did Elvira come to be in the riot? She wasn’t a little girl anymore. But what could have possessed her to go? And why on earth hadn’t that fool of a Mrs. Maynard, who was supposed to be looking after her, told him she was missing?
    He stopped, halfway up the stairs. Was she missing, or was this a terrorist ruse to get him out of the office in a predictable direction so they could blow up his car? He turned back. It was just the sort of thing they’d try, the BFG, the Scottites, any of the more violent freedom groups. He didn’t really believe it, but he should check.
    “Telephone Mrs. Maynard for me,” he called to Miss Duthie as soon as he was sure she would hear.
    “I tried her, but the maid said there was nobody at home,” Miss Duthie said, dialing.
    Carmichael snatched the receiver out of his secretary’s hand and listened to the slow pairs of rings at the other end. It was picked up by the maid. “They’ve just this minute come in,” she said, when he gave his name and asked for Mrs. Maynard. “I’ll hand you over, or no, sir, here’s Miss Betsy to speak to you now.”
    “Do you know where she is?” Betsy Maynard asked urgently, with no preliminaries. Carmichael’s heart sank.
    “When did you last see Elvira?” he asked.
    “Last night, at Marble Arch. I got swept away from her in the crowd, and then I got my arm broken. They’ve been fussing over me and operating and it wasn’t until just now that we found out that Elvira was missing. Mummy thought she’d have come safely home, but of course she hasn’t, and we’re frantic.”
    “I believe she’s been arrested with the rioters,” Carmichael said. “I’m going to Paddington now. I’ll need to speak to your mother about this. She should have told me Elvira was missing.”
    “Mummy was at the Charing Cross Hospital with me all night,” Betsy said. “Not that it’s any excuse, really.”
    Carmichael was inclined to agree. “If you have a broken arm you’ll need to rest,” he said. “I’ll speak to your mother after I’m sure Elvira is safe.”
    “Yes, do go and get her,” Betsy said. “And if you wouldn’t mind, could you let me know when she’s safely with you? I’m terribly worried about her.”
    “I’ll do that, Betsy,” Carmichael said, and rang off.
    “So she’s really missing?” Miss Duthie asked.
    Carmichael nodded. “I must get up to Paddington. Sergeant Evans is probably getting soaked to the skin waiting for me.” He