Read Among the Mad for Free Online

us,
want to be seeing any more, though I imagine that might be a wee bit of a faint
hope.” MacFarlane cleared his throat. “Can you explain how a man who has made
veiled threats that amount to a risk to our country’s security might know the
name of a little wee lassie like yourself?”
    Maisie bristled, but checked herself, aware that the
goading was deliberate, though she knew that, in the circumstances, she might
have employed the same tactic herself. She leaned forward, mirroring
MacFarlane’s position. Darby looked at Stratton, and raised an eyebrow.
    “Chief Inspector, to be perfectly honest with you, at
this juncture I have no idea why I was mentioned in such a letter. However,
your line of questioning regarding the tragedy I witnessed on Christmas Eve
would indicate that you see a relationship between the two events, and I am
inclined to veer in that initial direction myself.” She turned to face Stratton
and Darby, bringing them into the conversation. “I was the closest person to
the victim to walk away without significant physical injury—and yes, I see him
as a victim. So if—if—there was an associate of the dead man nearby, I would
have been seen. If the two cases are linked, the person who wrote the letter
could be that same individual, perhaps using my name as leverage to give some
kind of weight to his endeavor. It might also be a means of subverting your
attention, of course.”
    MacFarlane leaned back in his chair, as did Maisie in
hers. The policeman smiled. “Just like bloody Blanche! I move, you move, I do
this, you do the same thing. It’s like being followed.” He shook his head.
“Look, Miss Dobbs, I know—know, mind—that you haven’t anything to do with this
tyke, but you might have had some brief contact with him, you might have seen
him, or he might have an interest in you.” He brushed his hand across his
forehead. “I know this could be the work of a bit of a joker, but my nose tells
me this boy is serious, that he means what he says. Now then, we can play a
waiting game, see what happens next, or we can start looking. I favor action,
which is why I’ve asked you here. You’re involved in this whether you like it
or not, Miss Dobbs, and I would rather have you under my nose working for me
than anywhere else.”
    “I’m used to working alone, Chief Inspector.”
    “Well, for now you can get un-used to it. First of
all, let me apprise you of the work of Special Branch. Even though I am sure
you have some familiarity, if you are going to be reporting to me, then I want
to start us off on the right foot. So, a little lesson, and I’ll make it
snappy. The Special Branch is, technically, part of the Criminal Investigation
Department, but as you may have heard we like to go about our business in our
own fashion. Suffice it to say that we only answer questions when the person
asking has a lot of silver on the epaulettes, or around the peak of his cap.
Our normal work is in connection with the protection of royalty, ministers and
ex-ministers of the Crown, and foreign dignitaries. We also control aliens
entering our country. We are responsible for investigation into acts of
terrorism and anarchy, and to that end have a lot of people to keep an eye on.
Before I go on, I should add—mainly because I can see a bit of a problem looming
here—that on occasion we cross paths with Military Intelligence, Section Five,
for obvious reasons. We try to get along, and they need us, mainly because we
have powers of arrest. There, now I can take off my professoring hat and get
down to business. Do you have any questions?”
    “No, sir.”
    “Good. Back to the case in hand. Let’s look at what
we’ve brought together here in the way of information—facts. I want action and
I want the man behind the letter brought in as a matter of urgency. And Miss
Dobbs—whatever you’re doing, I want you to report to Inspector Stratton here
every single day.”
    Maisie nodded. “If that’s the case,