‘Where are you, Mr. Dedrick?’
‘The house is called Ocean End. You probably know it. It’s rather isolated and lonely. I’d be glad if you would come quickly.’
I know it. I’ll be over in less than ten minutes.’
‘There is a private road from Ocean View. You’ll find the gates open. As a matter of fact, I have only just moved in here and…’ He suddenly stopped talking.
I waited, then as nothing happened, I said, ‘Hello?’
I could still hear his quick, uneven breathing, but he didn’t answer.
‘Hello? Mr. Dcdrick?’
His breathing went off the line. There was a long, silent pause, then a gentle click, and the line went dead.
IV
Ocean End is situated in the sand dunes, about three miles from my cabin. It was built in the late ‘twenties for a millionaire who never lived there. Before he could take possession, be was caught in a financial smash and shot himself. For some years the place stood empty, then a syndicate bought it and made a pot of money out of it by renting it to visiting fleshpots and foreign nobility who considered themselves too grand to stay at the Orchid Hotel.