# I explained — The Lazy Detective

> Chapter companion for The Lazy Detective by George Dilnot.

## What happens

Divisional Detective Inspector Harry Labar is warned by Chief Constable Winter that crime in his division must be cleaned up or he will face consequences. Labar, known for his laziness, is preoccupied with the elusive crime organizer Larry Hughes, whom he knows to be behind much of the professional crime in the West End but cannot prove. After a meeting with his colleague Moreland, Labar is handed a hundred-pound note by a girl in a speeding car—an obvious but clumsy bribe. Later, at his office, Sergeant Malone reports a major jewel robbery at Streetly House, worth a quarter of a million pounds, which Labar immediately suspects is the work of Larry Hughes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Laziness and Efficiency

Labar's acknowledged laziness is contrasted with his ability to concentrate fiercely when needed; the Chief Constable criticizes his indolence, yet Labar's efficiency in identifying Larry Hughes as the mastermind is evident.

### Crime and Justice

The chapter introduces the cat-and-mouse game between police and organized crime, with Larry Hughes operating with impunity despite being known to the police; the bribe attempt and jewel robbery underscore the challenges of justice.

### Class and Wealth

Larry Hughes is portrayed as a wealthy, cultured gentleman who uses his status to evade suspicion, while the robbery at Streetly House involves immense wealth; the bribe attempt also highlights the intersection of money and crime.

## Character check-ins

### Harry Labar

Divisional Detective Inspector, lazy but brilliant, under pressure from his superiors to solve crime in his division; focused on Larry Hughes.

### Larry Hughes

Sleek, cultivated crime organizer; Labar is certain he is behind much of the professional crime in the West End but cannot prove it.

### Moreland

Detective Inspector of the Flying Squad and friend to Labar; offers encouragement after Labar's reprimand from the Chief Constable.

### Malone

Detective Sergeant; reports the Streetly House jewel robbery to Labar and suspects Larry Hughes's involvement.

### Solly Gertstein

Victim of the Streetly House robbery; described as 'foaming at the mouth' over the loss of a quarter of a million pounds in jewels and curios.

## Key lines

> You're lazy—damned lazy. If things don't clear up in your division in the next month or so you can count on something happening.

The Chief Constable warns Labar that his division's crime rate must improve soon or he will face consequences.

_Sets up the central conflict of the chapter: Labar's need to solve crimes under pressure._

> It was a bribe of course. But the touch of melodrama was amateurish and clumsy. The most illiterate crook in London should have known that a hundred pound note was ridiculously easy to trace.

Labar recognizes the hundred-pound note as a bribe but considers the method amateurish since such notes are easily traced.

_Highlights the unusual nature of the bribe and Labar's analytical mindset._

> They've made a clean sweep of Streetly House. Old Gertstein's foaming at the mouth. Quarter of a million of pounds worth of jewels and curios melted away as clean as a conjuring trick.

Sergeant Malone reports a major jewel robbery at Streetly House, with a quarter of a million pounds in valuables stolen.

_Introduces the key crime event that will drive the plot forward._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lazy_detective_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters