Play@YSDC

"I'd be pleased to assist the investigation however I can," says Reg.

Gradually the police get the scene under control and set up a cordon to prevent bystanders getting too close. Meanwhile, our heroes watch and freeze in the cold December night. After about an hour, a man approaches them. He is of average height, clean-shaven and well-built – a tough-looking man. His clothing is well-worn, but not shabby.

“Good evening Gentlemen” he greets the companions, without offering to shake hands. “I’m Inspector Craddock of Scotland Yard. I’d like to talk to you about the deceased, but I have some things to attend to here. Why don’t you return to the Army and Navy Club and wait in comfort? I’ll try not to keep you waiting too long.”

Harry is by now looking incandescent with rage.

"Inspector, this is too much! We came here in the first place as we heard the police whistle and thought one of your chaps was in trouble. We find a member of our club horribly killed. One of your men in uniform accuses me - me! -of complicity in murder. We freeze out here for an hour and now you haven't time to talk to us!"

"This is beyond the pale! What has come to pass that gentlemen - gentlemen! - are treated in such a disrespectful manner. Is this still England? I shall be writing a letter of complaint to your commissioner and my local Member!"

The Inspector is completely unfazed by Harry’s anger.

“That’s your prerogative sir” he says. “I will talk to you all now then as you prefer. Please tell me who you are and how well you knew the deceased?”

"I'm Reginald Smythe," says Reg, "former Sergeant-Major of Prince Albert's Somersets. I've only met the deceased this evening."

Harry snaps out, "And I am Captain Harry Addison, also late of Prince Albert's Somersets. Although we are members of the same club, until this evening I had never met the late Major Gower. And I have no idea how the poor wretch managed to wind up impaled on the fence as he was. We arrived after the police."

Dr. Francis Preston

Preston gives his credentials. "Staff at the Army and Navy Club will be able to testify that the Major left early after we had dined hence we were all still inside the Club when this tragedy must have occurred."

“Thank you” says Craddock. “One of my men will check on that. I appreciate your cooperation gentlemen. Although you only knew Major Gower a short time, do you have any ideas as to who did this or why it happened?”

"I believe this murder may be related to the recent murder of Sergeant-Major Crouch, from the Major's regiment," says Reg. "There was also a private from that regiment who died recently. It was believed at the time that he fell off a train platform, but that might be worth a second look under the circumstances."

Craddock turns his steely gaze to Reg, intensely interested.

“The same regiment? I haven’t heard about this murder. Please tell me what you know.”

"Crouch was murdered in Dover, strangled to death outside his home," says Reg. "Sergeant Morrison of the Dover constabulary is investigating the murder, under the supervision of Inspector Banks. A neighbor had seen someone very tall by near the back gate of his cottage the night of the murder. Whoever put the Major up on that fence must have been likewise very tall. The killer was very strong too. His windpipe had been crushed, the bones in the neck ground together, and bruises left by fingers were on his throat."

Craddock gives Reg his full attention as he listens.

“I see” he says as Reg finishes. “And you also mentioned a private who met with an accident?”

"An apparent accident," continues Reg. "I wouldn't be so sure. There's a saying: once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, three times is enemy action. The man reportedly fell from the platform at Charing Cross Station and was struck by a train last week. His name was Orland Reynolds."

Craddock takes notes. “I’ll be sure to follow this up. May I ask why you gentlemen are so interested in these matters? You seem to be conducting an investigation of your own.”

Dr. Francis Preston

"Our primary concern, sir, was to warn our service compatriots of the potential threat to their lives. It must be said that thus far our efforts have met with skepticism."

Craddock taps his pencil against his notepad. “Well, if there is a connection between these deaths, and there might well be, I’m sure that any other threats will be taken more seriously.”

He pauses. “I take it from your words that Major Gower didn’t take your warning to heart. Also, that there are other former members who might be at risk. Do you know of anyone else?”

Harry has been attempting to regain his composure while occupying himself emptying, refilling and lighting his pipe.

Still sounding irked, he snaps out, "The two we could name are Colonel Hollingsworth and a Mr Alan Paice, a former junior officer. Paice is the uncle of one of our friends and he has a bookshop on Charing Cross Road. One presumes, however, that any member of that regiment may be in peril, if the hypothesis proves true."

"We tried to warn the Colonel too," says Reg, "but he wouldn't receive visitors. He hasn't been seen out for some time. He hasn't been to the club, and he didn't even go to Crouch's funeral."

“Is that so?” replies the Inspector, jotting down the names and details.

"Yes, we called upon him at Kandahar House," says Reg. "His butler went to tell him who we were and why we had come, then came back and said the Colonel wouldn't see us. I think under the circumstances he wouldn't refuse to see you. Kandahar House is quite nice, very posh. He couldn't possibly afford it on a colonel's salary, so he must have some other source of income."