The Soft Centre

Thresby, a small dapper man with a balding head and shrewd eyes pushed back his chair. He stared into space, frowning. He was a conscientious banker. He had been pleased to have obtained Chris Burnett’s account when the Burnetts had come to stay at the Spanish Bay hotel. He was aware of the importance of these two young people … even more aware of their connection with the great Charles Travers. These instructions, given him by Mrs. Burnett, set an alarm ringing in his mind. Twenty thousand dollars, the numbers to be recorded and the money to be put in a sealed parcel meant to him either ransom or blackmail money.

He lit a cigarette and pondered the problem. He and Chief of Police Terrell had gone to school together. They spent holidays, fishing together. He knew he could rely on Terrell’s discretion. Although he felt uneasy that he was going beyond the strict letter of his duty, he didn’t hesitate for long. He reached for the telephone and asked to be connected with Police Headquarters.

Sergeant Thames, the desk sergeant, told him that Terrell was out. He had no idea when he would be back.

‘This is important, Sergeant. Will you ask the Chief to call me at my home any time after six o’clock?’

Sergeant Thames said he would do that.?*****

Joe Beigler walked from the Toy store carrying under his arm a large brown paper parcel containing an enormous Teddy Bear. He felt a vindictive pleasure that the Bear had cost seventy-five dollars. If the Chief was dumb enough to pander to this little horror, he thought, then it was his bad luck if he was to be seventy-five dollars out of pocket.

He arrived back at the motel to find Terrell waiting for him. He was pleased to see his Chief’s face fail when he told him he owed him another twenty-five dollars.

‘I’ll give it to you tomorrow,’ Terrell said and taking the parcel, he walked over to the Prescott’s cabin.

Beigler went to the cafeteria and devoured a couple of hamburgers, washed down with ice-cold beer. As he was about to order a second beer, he saw Terrell come out of the Prescott’s cabin and look around for him. He paid his check and went out to Terrell.

‘It’s paid off,’ Terrell said. ‘I guess I know who these two guys are, but I want you to hear what she’s told me and see if you agree with me.’

Beigler followed him into the cabin where Angel was sitting, looking at the Teddy Bear with wonder and love while Mrs. Prescott, red with embarrassment, stood by the window, watching her daughter.

‘Angel, let’s go over it all again,’ Terrell said. ‘Just once more.’

She smiled at him.?‘Yes.’ She looked at Beigler. ‘Thank you for getting me my Teddy. You’re cleverer than you look.’

Beigler scowled at her, sat down at the table and opened his notebook.?‘Go ahead, Angel,’ Terrell said, sitting down. ‘You woke up at five minutes to one. You put on your torch and looked at your clock. That’s right, isn’t it?’

‘Yes,’ the child said. ‘I looked out of the window and I saw…’ ‘Why did you look out of the window?’ Terrell interrupted.

‘I wanted to see if there was a moon. I like looking at the moon.’?‘And was there a moon?’?‘It was dark, but I could see the moon behind a cloud. Then I saw two men walking down the lane between the cabins. They had to pass under those lights in the tree at the far end of the lane. I saw them clearly.’

‘You saw them well enough to recognise them again?’?‘I would recognise the fat man, but I don’t think I would recognise the nigger. He…’ ‘Angel! You mustn’t say nigger,’ Mrs. Prescott broke in.?‘You should say he was a coloured man.’

Angel gave her mother an irritable look and then went on, ‘All niggers look alike to me, but the other man I’d know anywhere.’

‘Before you describe him, tell me what these two did.’ Well, they walked to Mr. Henekey’s cabin and went up on to the porch. My window was open and I heard them whispering. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. It was too dark there to see what they were doing, but I heard the door creak open and they went inside.’

‘Then what did you do?’?‘I waited because I wondered what they were doing in Mr. Henekey’s cabin. I got sleepy, and when Mr. Henekey arrived. I thought he would find out for himself, so I went to sleep.’

‘You are sure they didn’t leave before Henekey arrived?’?‘No, they were in the cabin all the time. They didn’t leave.’?‘All right, Angel, now tell me about the fat man.’?‘He was very big and very fat. He was the biggest and fattest man I have ever seen.’?‘You told me he was about Sergeant Beigler’s age,’ Terrell said, ‘and he wore a blue shirt and dark trousers. That’s right, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’?‘And you’re sure his companion was coloured?’?‘Oh yes. He had on a yellow and white sweat shirt, and blue jeans.’?‘And there was something else that struck you about the fat man?’ Terrell said. ‘Wasn’t there?’