فصل 41

CHAPTER 41

AN ODD REPORT

EXCUSE ME, SIR.” The secretary stood nervously in the doorway to Chief Superintendent Blake’s Scotland Yard office.

“What is it?” snapped Blake. He was signing the last of the day’s correspondence and planned to be on his way to dinner in five minutes. He did not appreciate anything interfering with his dinner.

“It’s Superintendent Shroder, sir,” said the secretary. “He says it’s of the utmost importance.”

“It had better be,” said Blake. “Send him in.”

The secretary scurried away and a stocky, sweating man entered, holding a piece of paper.

“Sorry to interrupt, sir,” he said. “But a matter has come up which I believe is of the utmost—”

“Yes, the utmost importance,” said Blake, drumming his fingers on his desk. “What is it?”

“Sir, you may recall that you gave special orders that you wanted to be advised immediately if any officer reported any…unusual activity involving children meeting certain descriptions.”

Blake’s fingers stopped drumming. “Go on,” he said.

“Well,” said Shroder holding out the piece of paper, “a short while ago, two officers turned in an odd report from Royal Victoria Dock. I would go so far as to say it is quite unbelievable, sir. However, since the children involved are …”

“Let me see it,” said Blake, snatching the report from Shroder’s hands. He read it quickly, rubbed a hand through his hair, and read it again. Then he handed it back to Shroder.

“You are to take this report to Buckingham Palace immediately,” he said.

“The palace?” said Shroder. “But…”

“Immediately,” snapped Blake. “You are to hand it personally to Baron von Schatten’s assistant, Simon Revile, and no one else. You will then await his instructions. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go!”

Shroder scurried out the door.

Blake sat still for a few seconds, then pounded his fist on his desk, thinking about the dinner he would not be eating anytime soon.