No Business of Mine

“The weak sister!” Bix said in disgust. “If it’d been half that amount I’d’ve done it.”

“So would I,” Crystal chimed in. “I’d’ve done it for a quarter the amount.”

“And he suggested Bradley should come in on it with him,” I went on, ignoring the interruption. “Bradley thought it’d be an idea to get the police on his side, and he put the proposition to Corridan, offering him a third of the spoils if he acted as inside man after the robbery, steering suspicion from Jacobi.”

“That was smart,” Ullman said approvingly. “I suppose you got all this from Netta?”

“Yeah. She talked. Boy! How she talked. Well, Corridan was after as much money as he could get his claws on, so he agreed to play. Netta now comes on the scene. Nine months ago, she and Bradley married. Bradley couldn’t get her any other way, but he kept the marriage quiet. This arrangement suited Netta as she could continue to live on her own supported by Bradley, and if Bradley ever got tired of her she would be taken care of in the divorce settlement. Bradley bought the cottage at Lakeham for his robbery headquarters and as a love nest for Netta and himself.

“The gang consisted of Bradley, Mrs. Brambee, Jacobi, Julius Cole and Corridan. The robbery was successful, but Bradley and Jacobi quarrelled over the split. Bradley killed Jacobi. Netta was present at the shooting.”

“This is improving,” Bix said, brightening. “Don’t rush over the gory details.”

“Jacobi was killed with a Luger pistol which Bradley had brought back as a souvenir of the First World War. His name was engraved on the pistol butt, and although the name had been erased, Bradley knew the police would be able to read it under ultra-violet rays. If the gun was ever found, he’d swing for the killing. Netta was by now tired of Bradley and had fallen for Corridan. She took the Luger while Bradley was dumping Jacobi’s body in a Soho street, and decided to make capital out of it.”

“What some women will do for money,” Crystal exclaimed, shocked. “Why is it I never have a chance to show how unscrupulous I could be?”

“Netta was scared to approach Bradley direct,” I went on, “so she suggested to Corridan that he should blackmail Bradley, and the two of them share the proceeds. Corridan agreed, but he wanted the gun. He was using Netta for his own profit, and he didn’t trust her. Netta wouldn’t let him have the gun. It was her security in case Corridan tried to gyp her.”

“I’d trust you with everything of mine, precious,” Crystal said, fondling my hand.

“I’ll have that down in black and white when there’s a spare moment,” I said, patting her. “But keep quiet and let me get on. Eat up your nice chicken, and don’t spill any down your pretty dress.”

“When you two have stopped drooling over each other,” Ullman said in disgust, “you might get on.”

“Corridan put the screws on Bradley, who paid up,” I continued. “As Corridan didn’t dare show his face at the Club in case he was seen, and as Netta wasn’t supposed to be in this blackmailing racket, Mrs. Brambee was detailed to collect the money each week.

“Well, that was the set-up until Selma Jacobi discovered that Bradley killed her husband. Cole told her this because he wanted to get even for not receiving a cut from the money Corridan was getting from Bradley. But Cole didn’t tell Selma that Corridan was hooked up with Bradley. He was scared of Corridan. Selma went to Corridan, knowing he was in charge of the Jacobi investigation, and told him what Cole had told her. Imagine Corridan’s feelings. If he took action, he’d dry up his own source of income, and Bradley would squeal on him. If he didn’t, then Selma would go to a higher authority at the Yard, and he’d get caught that way. His only way out was to get rid of Selma. He took her along to Netta’s flat, drugged her, and between the two of them they set the stage for suicide.”

By this time we had reached the coffee stage of the meal.

“For the love of Mike let’s have some whisky with this,” Bix implored. “Listening to you gives me a thirst.”

I ordered whiskies, and a brandy for Crystal.

“Before Selma was murdered,” I went on, after the drinks had arrived, “Bradley had found out that Netta and Corridan were lovers. Bradley told Netta he had given orders to Frankie to lay for her and splash her with vitriol. Whether this was Bradley’s idea of getting even, or whether Frankie was really going to do it, I don’t know. Netta swears he would have done it, and knowing Frankie I think it’s likely. Anyway, Netta was terrified and she decided it’d be safer to drop out of sight. Selma’s body offered the opportunity. Corridan agreed to help, and they dyed Selma’s hair the same shade as Netta’s, bribed Cole to identify her as Netta, passed the news on to Bradley that Netta had killed herself. Do you follow all that up to now?” I asked, looking around.

“Keep going,” Bix sighed. “My brain’s numbed, but the sound of your voice has a soothing effect on it.”