Detective's Day Off
JOHN DICKSON CARR WITH CHRISTMAS only three days away, men and women throughout London were celebrating the season of joy and goodwill by elbowing and pushing each other ferociously through every shop and department store.
And at Omniums, the giant store in Oxford Street, it was worse than anywhere.
Outside, past lanes of lighted windows, festive snowflakes sifted from a darkening sky. A loudspeaker van blared ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ to crowds struggling in slush.
Inside, frantic shoppers assailed the gift counters, and assaulted each other in the process.
Their noise was a shuffle and roar. Their aroma was a steam of wet overcoats.
. . .
