23 Paces to Baker Street Page #6

I'll be back in a few minutes.

Oh, Janet, you are a duck.

I'll wait for you.

"Hello, hello?"

Arcade 6549...

- You said to contact you.

- Yes.

This is Janet Murch, isn't it?

Yes.

I recognise your voice.

Well, never mind about that now.

This is Phillip Hannon speaking. I inserted

the advertisement.

It said to contact you.

That's right. I want to talk to you.

Can you come here?

"No. I can't leave home."

Where are you speaking from?

"From my home. I can't leave here, but if

you could meet my father, he'd bring you."

Can he come over here?

813 Regent Court, Portman Square.

"No, but anywhere else you say."

But why not here?

"Someone might see."

Alright. Do you know a pub

called The Eagle, near here?

Yes.

I'll meet your father there, now.

It'll only take me a few minutes.

"No, no, not now.

In an hour would be better."

Alright, I'll be there. Goodbye.

No, I'm sorry, Sir. He doesn't seem to

answer. Can I take a message for you?

Oh, Alright, Sir.

Simmons, would you mind taking

a message for Mr. Mathews?

Not at all Mr. Hannon.

Tell him I've had a telephone call,

and that I've gone to The Eagle.

Ask him to follow at once.

Alright Sir.

- Oh, I'm so sorry!

- I beg your pardon!

Where is this, Governor?

Why you're on the north

side of Portman Square.

Well where's Baker Street?

It's just 23 paces behind you.

Here, take my arm, I'll show you.

Thanks.

It sort of mists up my spectacles

and I can't see anymore

than if I'd got my

head in a bucket.

It must be a great handicap,

having to wear glasses!

Well, here's a brave man.

Oh, it's you, dear!

Good evening.

Straight Scotch, no ice, isn't it?

Yes.

Do you know, I think you're

wonderful the way you get about.

If you hadn't told me, I should

have ever know that you...

I suppose you sort of get used to it?

Don't ever believe that.

You get so there are some things that you

can do, but you never get used to it.

Is there anybody here?

Not a soul, dear. No one's

coming out on a night like this,

Even to get to the water hole.

- I wonder if you'd help me?

- Of course!

I'm expecting to meet somebody here -

should be a middle-aged man.

Take a good look at him and see if he's the

same one I asked you about the other day.

And get him talking, I

want to hear his voice.

If he is the same one, cough.

But I told you I didn't

get a good look at him.

Well if he's anything like

the one you remember, cough.

Alright.

If you cough, I'll go, and you

say "Good night, Mr. Doyle."

Otherwise, come over and give me a drink.

If I think it's the same man I cough, and

say "Good night, Mr. Doyle." Okay, dear.

Now, tell me exactly

where the pinball machine is.

Yes, over there, on the right.

No, a little this way.

That's it.

You've been very kind.

You see, I particularly don't

want him to know about my eyes.

Don't you now?

No.

All right, ducks, whatever you say.

Thanks.

- Good evening.

- Evening.

Half o' mild, please.

Yes, Sir.

Here you are, Sir.

Thank you, ma'am.

- What a night, eh?

- Ah, it is that. You can't see a hand before yer face.

You remember the bad

fog we had in the war?

I reckon this is thicker.

Oh, thank you.

I don't think he's the same one. He

looks quite a respectable little cuft.

Stand in front of him and talk,

so I'll know where he is.

He's on the third

stool from the door.

Well, I certainly didn't

expect to see any

customers out tonight,

and here I am with two.

Well sometimes people have to go out

even in a fog.

Good evening. Nasty night, isn't it?

It is that, Sir.

It makes everybody late for things.

- Your not by any chance, Mr. Hannon?

- Yes, I am.

I'm Mr. Murch. Let's sit down to a table.

Well... er...

I'll take your drink over for you, ducks.

Here's a nice table.

How's that?

Okay, dear?

Thanks.

Good evening, Sir.

Oh, Mr. Mathews, I've got a...

And not a word can I get out of her,

except that she wants to see you.

But there's something

not right, Sir,

not right at all, and not

been for a long time.

Has she ever mentioned a

man named Evans to you?

Evans? No, no never mentioned

that name nor any other.

I tell you, she's been that close.

Well...

Cheers!

Cheers.

How long ago did Mr. Hannon leave?

About 20 minutes ago, Mr. Matthews.

It's only a little bit of a distance.

Do you mind if I take your arm?

I'm not used to these fogs.

Why of course, Sir. Though it seems

to have thinned out considerably.

Yes, it has.

Sharp round here to the left.

He went out of that door,

yes, and he turned right

round to the left and he

was with another man.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

This is it. Here we are, now.

Watch your step. Take care, Sir.

Just a minute, Sir, now while

I switch on the light.

Ah, that's better. Now we

can see what we're doing.

Now will you come upstairs?

I'm afraid it's rather a climb. We're

right up at the top. Careful, now.

Careful. Take a foot.

There we are.

It's a long climb, isn't it? It's not

much of a place, Sir, as you see.

Here we are now.

Now, I'll take you in

and then I'll leave you

together because she

won't talk if I'm there.

Come in, Sir.

Mr. Murch?

Mr. Murch?

Anybody here?

Mr. Hannon?

Mr. Hannon? Where are you?

Bob! Up here, up high.

Mr. Hannon! Stay where you are! Don't move!

Don't move till I get to you.

What's the matter?

Man up there. Come on. Follow me!

- Mr. Hannon! Mr. Hannon!

- Bob, I'm in here!

Are you alright?

I'm alright, just get me out of here.

You're alright now.

Where am I? What is this?

It's a bombed building.

The whole front is missing.

One more step and I would

have been missing too.

- Hello, Joe. Filthy night, isn't it?

- It is that, Mr. Pillings.

Well, did you see Mr. Hannon?

Yes, Mr. Pillings. And it's all done.

That's good news, Joe.

Very good news indeed.

It will save everybody

a lot of trouble.

Hello? Yes.

Joe's just come in...

He says Mr. Hannon won't be

needing a nursemaid any more.

Yes, I will.

Bye.

He says to tell you, "Very well done, Joe."

Thank you, Mr. Pillings.

Would you like some tea, Joe?

No thank you, Mr. Pillings.

Not now, I find if I drink tea

at night it keeps me awake.

Thanks, Jean.

Phil?

I want you to promise me

that you'll never do that again.

Well it isn't the sort of thing

folks do do again, is it?

You know, Jean, the strangest thing

happened to me out there on that ledge.

I thought I didn't care about living

any more, but I was wrong.

I found that out when I came right to it.

I cared desperately.

Do you know what I'm trying to say,

Jean?

Yes, Phil.

Only don't get yourself killed

proving you want to live.

Excuse me, Mr. Hannon, Inspector Grovening

and detective Sargent Luce are here.

Oh, are they? Well show them in.

Won't you come in please, Inspector.

Morning, Mr. Hannon.

Hello, Inspector.

I'm told you've been having

some adventures, Mr. Hannon.

Adventures? No. If you

have a dramatic mind,

you might think someone had

tried to break my neck.

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