Coral Sea Affair

by Drew Lindsay

The day didn’t start quite the way Ben expected. His room phone rang at 7.30 am. He was awake anyway and had been since before 5 am.

  ‘I’m sorry to disturb you so early Mr. Hood. This is the shift manager. I have Inspector Roy Tanner from the Port Douglas police here to speak with you. He won’t say what it’s about. What do you want me to tell him?’

  ‘I’ll be in the foyer in 5 minutes,’ said Ben. ‘Do you have a small meeting room we can use?’

  ‘Yes Mr. Hood. I’ll take care of it.’

  Ben hung up. He contemplated asking Susan to accompany him, and then dismissed the idea. He quickly dressed and left the room quietly. He wasn’t nervous. More curious.

  Ben crossed the expansive foyer and approached the reception desk. Two men in suits stood patiently to one side. The older man was obviously the Inspector. Ben nodded to the shift manager and moved towards the police detectives.

  ‘I’m Ben Hood.’ He held out his hand towards the older man.

  ‘Inspector Roy Tanner.’ He shook Ben’s hand firmly. ‘This is Sergeant Adam Kennedy. We’re from the Port Douglas police station.’ Ben shook the Sergeant’s hand.

  ‘I’ve arranged a meeting room,’ said Ben. He nodded again to the shift manager, who ushered them along a hallway to a lavishly furnished presentation room. The meeting table accommodated 20. Ben sat on one side, at the end closest the door. It was not his practice to sit at the head of a table. Inspector Tanner and his companion sat opposite him.

  ‘So what’s up?’ said Ben in a light tone.

  ‘Want to see identification?’ asked Inspector Tanner.

  ‘No, I’ve heard of you,’ said Ben.

  Roy Tanner looked quickly at his companion and continued. ‘This is not an official meeting in the true sense of the word Mr. Hood, or should I say Detective Sergeant Hood.’

  ‘So what is it?’ asked Ben. They had been doing homework on him.

  ‘It’s just a fact finding meeting at this stage. We have a few questions.’

  ‘Fire away.’

  ‘We understand that you are currently working here as a security guard for Splendour Pictures,’ said Inspector Tanner.

  ‘That’s true. I’m on a leave of absence from the NSW Police force.’

  ‘Yes, we know about that,’ said Tanner.

  ‘And why your sudden interest in me?’ asked Ben, holding the Inspectors gaze.

  ‘We understand you are riding a Harley Davidson motor bike around Port Douglas?’

  ‘Can’t imagine that’s a crime,’ said Ben. ‘You want to see my bike rider’s license?’

  ‘No, we know you have one. It’s just the ownership of the bike we’re interested in for the moment. I understand it belongs to Winston Mackay of Rocky Point just north of here.’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Ben. ‘Joy Mackay, his wife, loaned me the bike while I’m in Port Douglas.’

  Roy Tanner looked again at his partner and back to Ben, ‘You a friend of Mrs. Mackay?’

  ‘Yes I am.’

  ‘How did you get to know her?’

  ‘I can’t see that is any of your business Inspector Tanner,’ said Ben calmly. His eyes didn’t flinch from the Inspector’s.

  ‘I think it might be of interest to us,’ said Tanner. ‘It may also be connected with what is now a triple murder investigation we’re undertaking.’

  ‘Triple murder,’ said Ben. ‘Don’t see how that could be connected with a dear old lady like Joy Mackay.’

  ‘It may be connected with her missing husband,’

  ‘How so?’

  Tanner looked uncomfortable. ‘I’m not at liberty to say.’

  ‘So where do I fit in?’ asked Ben.

  Tanner looked at his partner again. Sergeant Kennedy took up the questioning. ‘Were you out on the bike last night Mr. Hood?’

  ‘Yep, for a while.’

  ‘Where did you go?’

  ‘Just around. It’s a beautiful bike to ride.’

  ‘You ride anywhere near the police holding yard?

  ‘And where would that be?’

  Adam Kennedy clasped his hands on the desk in front of him. ‘Don’t you know?’

  ‘Wouldn’t have a clue. I’m new here.’

  ‘Wharf Street. Runs parallel to the inlet and down into Port Douglas.’

  ‘Oh yeah, I’ve ridden along that street quite a few times.’

  ‘Last night?’

  ‘Yep, on my way back to the Sheraton. It’s more direct as you would know.’

  ‘Someone broke into our holding yard last night Mr. Hood,’ said Inspector Tanner. Moved one of our surveillance cameras and cut a hole in the fence.’

  ‘What did they steal?’ asked Ben.

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Who breaks in not to steal?’ said Ben looking from one man to the other, totally unfazed.

  ‘Somewhat of a mystery,’ said Inspector Tanner.

  ‘This connected to your triple murder?’ asked Ben innocently.

  Neither answered.

  ‘Look,’ said Ben getting to his feet. ‘I don’t think this fact finding meeting is going anywhere and I’ve got some diving to do on the reef this morning. If you will excuse me, perhaps we can chat another time.’

  ‘We’re not finished yet Mr. Hood,’ said Tanner firmly.

  ‘Well I am,’ said Ben, equally as firmly. ‘You can let yourselves out.’

  ‘I have more questions for you Mr. HOOD,’ snapped Tanner.

  ‘Well I’ve got one for you first Mr. Tanner. Why did you lie to Mrs. Mackay about the ownership of the Lincoln car after the occupants threatened to burn her house down?’

  Tanner’s face went red. ‘I…..I didn’t lie to her.’

  ‘You and I both know very well who owns that Lincoln Inspector Tanner and they don’t live on a farm anywhere near Rockhampton.’ Ben strode to the door. ‘Just a friendly warning Inspector. I’d be extremely careful about what you are either doing, or about to do. There’s more than your police career at stake here.’

  Tanner jumped to his feet, his face red and puffed up with anger. ‘You can’t threaten me like that!’

  ‘Yes I can,’ said Ben, and left the room. The two detectives made no attempt to follow him.

  Back in his room, Ben’s first task was to ring Joy Mackay. She answered immediately. He told her of the visit by Inspector Tanner and his police companion and of the conversation.

  ‘It’s all about beating the bush with sticks,’ he said. ‘It brings the snakes out into the open.’

  ‘Do you know what he’ll do?’ asked Joy.

  ‘Panic I think. He won’t know that I’ve told you about the Lincoln but he’ll be wondering. If he contacts you, act dumb.’

  ‘And what if he asks how we got to know each other?’

  ‘Tell him it’s none of his business. He’s on the back foot now, not us.’

  ‘You still going out on the reef today?

  ‘Yep. Leaving soon. I’m going to need a small boat to get out to Skull Island the night after next. I’ll also need to get some equipment together. Got any ideas?’

  ‘There’s an old salt hangs around the marina. His name is Samuel but everyone calls him Sam. Winston and I know him well. He’s a drunk and a bit nutty. He’s got a boat stashed somewhere I think but I don’t know if it would be up to a trip that far out, especially if the sea got nasty.’

  ‘Would he loan it to me if you asked?’

  ‘In a flash. He used to maintain the motor on Winston’s.

  ‘The boat I need would have to be small enough to not be spotted if I anchored it close to the reef around Skull. I’d also have to know how to secure it so it won’t get bashed against the coral.’

  ‘Sam knows all that stuff. I’ll contact him today and arrange for you to meet him.’

  Thanks Joy.’

  ‘No, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m still dreadfully frightened for your safety.’
>
  ‘I’ll be OK and oh, I’ll need that gun and ammo waterproofed and ready to go night after next.’

  ‘It’s already done.’

  ‘I’ll ring you when we get back from the reef this morning.’

  “****”

  Chapter Thirty