That was unexpected, and Robert was rocked back on his heels. If that was really true-that the girl had mentioned screaming before there was any question of the Sharpes being in trouble-then the evidence would be damning. Robert got up and walked restlessly to the window and back. He thought enviously of Ben Carley. Ben wouldn't be hating this as he hated it, feeling inadequate and at a loss. Ben would be in his element; his mind delighting in the problem and in the hope of outwitting established authority. Robert was dimly aware that his own deep-seated respect for established authority was a handicap to him rather than an asset; he needed some of Ben's native belief that authority is there to be circumvented.
"Well, thank you for being so frank," he said at last. "Now, I'm not minimising the crime you are accusing these people of, but it is misdemeanour not felony, so why a warrant? Surely a summons would meet the case perfectly?"
"A summons would be in order certainly," Grant said smoothly. "But in cases where the crime is aggravated-and my superiors take a grave view of the present one-a warrant is issued."
Robert could not help wondering how much the gadfly attentions of the Ack-Emma had influenced the calm judgments at the Yard. He caught Grant's eye and knew that Grant had read his thought.
"The girl was missing for a whole month-all but a day or two," Grant said, "and had been very badly knocked about, very deliberately. It is not a case to be taken lightly."
"But what do you gain from arrest?" Robert asked, remembering Mr. Heseltine's point. "There is no question of these people not being there to answer the charge. Nor any question of a similar crime being committed by them in the interval. When did you want them to appear, by the way?"
"I planned to bring them up at the police court on Monday."
"Then I suggest that you serve them with a summons to appear."
"My superiors have decided on a warrant," Grant said, without emotion.
"But you could use your judgment. Your superiors can have no knowledge of local conditions, for instance. If The Franchise is left without occupants it will be a wreck in a week. Have your superiors thought of that? And if you arrest these women, you can only keep them in custody until Monday, when I shall ask for bail. It seems a pity to risk hooliganism at The Franchise just for the gesture of arrest. And I know Inspector Hallam has no men to spare for its protection."