Read Online The Toff and the Kidnapped Child by John Creasey - Free Book Online

man was run down,” Rollison assured him. “Keep it right away from the Press, Nick, until I see you.”
    â€œSure I should?”
    â€œI think you’ll be making a grave mistake if you don’t,” Rollison answered carefully. “Have you found any trace of the car?”
    â€œI think so.”
    Rollison asked: “What, exactly?” and tried not to show by the inflection in his voice that there was news of any kind, since nothing in Marshall’s manner suggested that it was good.
    â€œIt was one of the staff cars belonging to the Colfax Advertising Agency,” Marshall told him. “It was taken out eight days ago by a Captain Ralph Kane, an advertising consultant of the Colfax. Kane hasn’t kept any appointments since. I don’t know much about it because very few of the Colfax people can be found at this hour, but I did get the company’s secretary out of bed. The car was found parked inside London Airport, and arrived about the time you’d expect if it was driven from Hapley. No others did, and there’s a copy of a Worcester newspaper in it, so it came from there. I’ve got the airport police trying to trace whoever was in it, and where they went. There was one thing found in the car which I don’t like the sound of.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe broken needle of a hypodermic syringe,” Marshall said. “It’s being tested to see if we can find out what it was used for, and whether it was used recently. Is this a kidnapping or an abduction case?”
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7
SECOND NOTE
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    â€œSo it is Ralph,” Eve said in a flat voice.
    â€œIt begins to look as if your husband is involved,” agreed Dawson. “There is at least one great reassurance in that, Mrs Kane.”
    â€œI can’t think of one.”
    â€œIn your husband’s care, your daughter is not likely to come to any harm. The use of the hypodermic syringe suggests that she was put to sleep quickly, probably in order to avoid frightening her more than necessary.”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œYou can be absolutely sure that everything possible will be done,” Dawson assured Eve earnestly. “Apart from your daughter, we want to get the man who ran Jeff down, and we do not intend to lose any time. The Yard will feel just as strongly, and the best available men will be working on this case until we’ve solved it.”
    â€œThank you,” Eve said woodenly.
    Rollison, watching first one and then another, saw how unimpressed Eve was, and how impatient Miss Ellerby was getting. Miss Abbott looked ghostly pale, and her eyes were large and glassy; she was not used to being up in the early hours of the morning. Dawson, with his grim earnestness, also had an impatient look as he went on: “I’m sure that Mr Rollison will cooperate in every way, and you have my absolute assurance that nothing will be done that is not in the interests of your daughter.”
    â€œThank you,” Eve said mechanically.
    â€œI think it’s time we all had some rest,” Miss Ellerby interpolated, energetically. “It won’t do any good if we stay up all night. Is there anything more we can do for you, Mr Dawson?”
    â€œI would like to look through the young pupil’s desk and belongings,” answered Dawson. “There is a possibility that we shall find some indication there—”
    â€œOh, nonsense,” Miss Ellerby exclaimed.
    â€œIt is essential not to leave any stone unturned,” insisted Dawson, and Miss Ellerby threw up her arms and looked almost furiously at Miss Abbott. “Miss Abbott, I’m sorry it’s so late, but will you please take Mr Dawson wherever he wants to go? Try not to wake the girls, won’t you? If they get any idea of the gravity of this situation they’ll talk about nothing else tomorrow.” She was still brisk, still held herself under rigid self-control. “Mrs