“I think it quite probable that Marks was murdered,” Bony replied seriously. “If eventually I discover he is not murdered, I shall be bitterly disappointed.”
Then he laughed at the expression on the sergeant’s face, and went on:
“I have taken charge of perhaps two dozen murder cases during mycareer, and of that number only four were really worthy of my brains. As a general rule, murderers are the most stupid of criminals. Almost invariably they leave a corpse to damn them. A few murderers cut up their victims for the police to discover. Never yet was a perfect murder, but this affair of Marks I am hopeful will come near to it. Consequently I am interested. Nowadays, if there is a corpse in the roadway, or on the doorstep, or lying on the library floor, it fails to interest me. It is too simple-too banal.”
Chapter Two
Disappearance of Luke Marks
“I HAPPENED to be at Police Headquarters in Sydney recently on the Cave versus Black cattle-duffing case,” Bony explained in his soft, musical, drawling voice. “There I was shown your report and photograph concerning this Marks affair. Although your report was comprehensive, it failed to answer one or two obviously important questions. Your chief was agreeable to my coming, but my chief ordered me to return to Brisbane.”
“And you’re here?” Sergeant Morris said with faint interrogation.
“I wired my chief saying that I had come across an interesting murder case, and again asked his permission to take it up. Again he ordered me to return. Sometimes, Sergeant, I am annoyed by people thinking that I am a policeman to be ordered about like a private soldier, whereas I am a crime investigator.”
Bony chuckled. Morris was frankly perplexed.
“Well?” he urged.
“I wired my immediate resignation, adding that I would demand reinstatement when I had finalized the case to my satisfaction.”