“You know the rules. I thought people in your position got special training courses for this kind of thing now? If they move off the college campus, or if there’s danger to persons or property and you wish to make a complaint, then wake up my sergeant and he’ll sort it out.”
He sat on the edge of his bed and began looking for his pipe. Landor took an uneasy step into the room.
“No, there is no damage. Not yet. But they’ve got into the administration block and are staging a sit-in.”
“Same applies. Watch ‘ like hawks when they come out though. They usually steal anything loose, like typewriters, photo-copiers, that kind of thing. What are they after, anyway. Files?” “I fear so,’ said Landor. ‘ what I felt you’d want to know is that they’ve got into the room you’re using, my old study. I fear that they are under the misapprehension that I … “
But Dalziel heard no more. He was too busy buttoning up his trousers and shirt, pausing only to grab the phone and dial Pascoe’s number.
A female voice answered after some delay.
“Dalziel!’ bellowed the superintendent. ‘ Cassabloody-nova out of bed and down to my room, the old study I mean, right away!”
“I’m sure they don’t realize,’ Landor was still saying as he followed Dalziel’s ponderous rush down the stairs and out of the building.
They soon bloody will.”
There were lights on everywhere, though there was not much noise. At least, not until he entered the Old House.
From behind the large oak door to the study there was noise enough.
Dalziel gently tried the handle. It was locked. He beckoned Pascoe who came in through the main door at that moment, still buttoning his shirt.
“I want half a dozen men here in ten minutes,’ he said. ‘ them to come quietly. No sirens, no lights flashing. But I want them quick. Use the pay-phone outside the dining-hall. I suppose they’ve got hold of the college switchboard?”
Landor nodded.
“Right. Now let’s see what sweet reason can do.”
He rapped sharply on the door. Someone inside rapped back and there was a roar of laughter. Encouraged, the humorist cried, ‘ in!”
Dalziel stepped right up to the door and spoke loudly.
“This is the police.”
There was a confusion of noise within, some laughter, a hubbub of chatter, one or two instructions to go away and get sexually assaulted.
A cry of outrage near Dalziel’s right ear told him that Miss. Disney had arrived. Even non-verbally, her tone was quite distinctive.
“This is the police,’ he said again. The reaction was not quite so noisy and he repeated the words yet again.
Now there was comparative silence within except when a voice, clearly Franny Roote’s, said conversationally, ‘ think it might be the police.”
Dalziel spoke again, very slowly, articulating each word with great care.
“The room you are in is no longer part of the administration offices of this college. It is temporarily the police headquarters of a murder investigation. Any papers, files or other material in this room is not college property and interference with it will make you liable to very serious charges. This is a police matter, not a college matter. The college authorities will not be able to exercise discretion in the matter of prosecution. That will be up to me. And, by God, if there’s any damage, I’ll prosecute every last one of you!”
Only in the last sentence did his voice deviate from an impersonal official monotone. Pascoe had reappeared. With him was a constable in uniform whom Dalziel recognized as the local man.
“Someone telephoned him,’ explained Pascoe. ‘ met him on the drive. The others will be here shortly.”
Telephoned?” “A Miss. Disney, sir,’ said the constable.
“I thought our lives were in danger when the noise woke me up,’ declared the lady, unrepentant before Lander’s reproving glance.
Tine,’ said Dalziel giving unexpected support. ”s Shattuck, isn’t it?
Get round into the garden, unobtrusively as you can. Watch the window of this room. Anyone tries to get out of it, grab ‘. Sergeant, wait outside for the others. Let me know when they arrive.”
“Superintendent, you will be careful?’ It was Landor, worry deepening the lines of his finely drawn face. ‘ they think I’ve brought a whole gang of police in - well, records of this kind of thing show that when the police have been involved, reactions can be very violent. Panic, anger - not your fault I know, but … “
I’ll be discreet as possible, and the main body of students is in the new admin, block, not here, I gather,’ said Dalziel. ‘ I won’t let any consideration prevent me from dealing with this lot.”
He nodded fiercely towards the door which at that moment swung quietly open.
“Come in, Superintendent,’ said Franny, standing courteously by the door like a butler.