Taunton Barr

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

  Ellis was in his office when he noticed the report, was put on his desk to be handled with the utmost delicacy. A vehicle reported stolen from Edinburgh airport had been found in the possession of a one Theo Delores in Australia. Delores had been involved in an accident, he returned a positive blood test and was affected by alcohol and cocaine. Ellis struggled with focusing on the investigation and had asked to be relieved of his duties regarding the Barton investigation, the powers to be had refused the request and stated the alternatives were relocation and possibly overseas. He took the comments as a voice of support although he was now involved with family members that were part of the investigation and outside of police protocol, controlling bodies from elsewhere had voiced support of his involvement. Only one political lead had been established via suggestive complaint in the media, it fell away quickly as Blake with the help of the willing traced the source. Without prejudice and in full view of all that had interest Ellis had a meeting with Blake. Upon greeting they were immediately interrupted by Kalika. She was begging to dress differently, gone at times were the riding pants and boots in place warm dark slacks and a blue cashmere jumper topped with a white cashmere hat. She looked disappointed that Graham had not informed her of his presence. She had become completely polite of late but in this instance dropped formalities confronting Graham. 'Any reason why I should not know you are here.'

  Graham was a bit taken back. 'Emm, bit of official police business with Winston.'

  'We don't have official police business round here we have family business.'

  'It's a murder investigation surely you understand.'

  'I'll wait in the kitchen with Mavis and talk to you when you come out.' She stormed toward the door.

  As she opened it Graham stopped her. 'Wait, I'll come now.'

  Winston continued to go about his work and Graham quietly closed the door returning in a few minutes, Winston folded his arms and looked on in anticipation. 'The dangers of officialdom ring in here as well as out there.'

  Graham coughed and looked glum. 'Yes, em, I am battling with work and family.'

  'Speaking of family, some time now you have spoken of your parents visiting.'

  'Another thing I'm finding hard, my father forbid me to join any government force be it military or civilian. I did so and he has held to his word, we have not spoken for many years. I don't even know if my mother is still alive.'

  'Have you mentioned this to Kalika.'

  'No, we spoke only briefly of such things and I avoided any in depth conversation.'

  Winston raised his eyebrows and gave a sigh looking away briefly. 'That make's things difficult for you I can see, we perhaps should have spoken of this earlier.'

  'I find it something I avoid, can't talk about something that isn't real, I would indeed be pulling your chain.'

  'Mmm, I understand, I never speak of my daughter.'

  'I would like to meet her some time.'

  'So would I.'

  'This Barton thing is getting nasty, you were right about Smiths secretary a Miss Campbell, she is we strongly suspect Ella Barton. We have had to send female officers to see her, she chewed up and spat out every male we sent. I avoided going personally for other reasons, I did the Taunton investigation and I don't want her knowing what I look like.'

  'I would have thought it might be a good idea that Kalika doesn't know what she looked like.'

  Graham appeared uncomfortable. 'Indeed. but I need to know about something else. The Australian police have found a vehicle that was stolen from the Edinburgh airport, a.....'

  'Bentley sports, black, rebirthed and used by a one Theo Delores.'

  Graham looked startled. 'Rebirthed not quite sure what you mean.'

  'Theo Delores, car dealer and once horse race trainer and owner for want of a better title. I planted the car there some time ago, in his driveway in Sydney.'

  'Why.'

  'Cars are dropped at his place on a regular basis, they are then taken away, usually expensive luxury cars and have their particulars changed, he then sells them on. I expected to be able to trace his network as the Bentley is fitted with a satellite surveillance system embed in the frame, I got far more than I bargained for.'

  'In what way.'

  'He decided to keep the car himself.'

  'Why such intensive scrutiny of this man.'

  'He picked up Lindy Cumberland's double when she returned to Australia a while ago.'

  'So you don't trust him.'

  'Ha, nobody trust's him, and he attracts the same kind.'

  'So you think he is up to something, with Cumberland's double.'

  'No, information we have received via the car is very detailed. He tried but she refused to cooperate, I have however tracked his entire network and have video of his phone conversation in the car. He's on parole, the information would see him back in prison for a long time.'

  'He was arrested yesterday, under the influence of drugs and alcohol in the car.'

  'Mmm, making mistakes, I dropped some of the transcripts of his phone conversations on his desk via a friend. Just to let him know what he's up against, the pressure may have got to Theo, not real smart when it comes to that kind of thing.'

  'Well he'll be put away for quite some time.'

  'No, leave him, he still drives the car, best source of information we have at present in Australia, he is dealing with the equine industry again but not sure how deep as yet.'

  'He is up for some very serious charges.'

  'He's out on bail, case won't reach court until well after the national, lawyers handling his case work for me.'

  'These things are highly irregular.'

  'Like police officers posing as drug dealers.'

  Was silence for a few seconds. 'Is any of this information helpful in the Barton case.'

  'No, the only connection is underhanded tactics in the equine industry.'

  'Could still be linked.'

  'Absolutely, only lack one thing, evidence.'

  'Where from here.'

  'I'll give you the evidence on his entire car network, take it down, will force him into the equine industry further, for money.'

  'I would have difficulty in suggesting any of the things we have discussed.'

  'You won't have to, knowing about them will help, I have no idea why the Barton's were murdered, Ella Barton may be the key but I'm not convinced.'

  'Again we have strong suspicions that she was involved but no evidence just rumours.'

  'Ella seems to be caught up in the supernatural, I pressured an associate of Smith's and he was adamant she was tied up in some kind of druid clan. They held meetings, ceremonies and such, seems strange the bodies were found in Wick in Scotland and from the area of Wick near Taunton.'

  'Current investigation would indicate she is interested in sex and not much else.'

  'Could be she was in these clans for that very reason, reading about them in court manifesto's is nothing short of disbelief if you read the stuff in a novel.'

  'She has some powerful friends as well, getting complaints from quite a few, one being a government minister.'

  'Can be distracting, they are driven by lobbyists most of the time, probably would have no idea what they are getting into but worth a look, politicians are generally responsible for nothing.'

  'I have to go and talk to Kalika.'

  'Don't be despondent you have changed her allot, for the better I feel.'

  'Really battling with many things.'

  'So I can see, what tears you down generally makes you stronger.'

  'I may need some more help.'

  'I just gave you as much as I can, matters of heart, you are on your own.'

  He said nothing more, just got up and left. Winston waited, his opinion on timing was close, Kalika came in unannounced, she didn't sit down. 'Grahams work is causing him great stress.'

  'Mmm, no doubt.'

  'Can you help him.'

  'No more than I already have.'r />
  'How can I help.'

  'You just did.'

  'What do you mean.'

  'You came and asked for help where you feel you can give none.'

  She looked blank and silent, moments passed. 'I cant do anything for him.'

  'Did raise your voice.'

  'No, I just hugged him.'

  'Congratulations, that's far more help than I can give him.'

  'Do you think he loves me.'

  'No.'

  'What.'

  Winston looked over his glasses. 'No, I don't think, I know he does.'

  Kalika was taken back. 'Oh, I see. What do I do next.'

  'Why don't you go into town and discuss it with Graham over lunch, I can give no more advice than that.'

  Kalika shrugged her shoulders. 'That's what I was thinking.'

  'Then you don't need my advice any more, just my support.' She skipped toward the door. 'Oh, Kalika, I like your outfit.'

  'Thank you, I think I know what you mean.' She left.