In the short story The Red Signal, Inspector Verall is a Scotland Yard officer. He is called to investigate the murder of the psychiatrist Sir Alington West.
By question witnesses such as the manservant Johnson, Verall quickly determines that the prime suspect is his nephew Dermot West. However when Verall goes to Dermot's apartment to arrest him, Dermot pretends that he is his own manservant Milson. Dermot subsequently escapes from his apartment.
Dermot has been framed. Fortunately, Verall listens to Claire Trent and believes her and they managed to trap the real killer.
Portrayals[]
In the episode The Red Signal of The Agatha Christie Hour, a TV film adaptation of the story, the part of Inspector Verall is played by Robert Keegan. He gets more lines and on stage time than in the book as his interview with Johnson is dramatised. He also goes to the Grafton Galleries night club to look for Dermot and has a few lines there.