by Malcolm Rose
“She’s not in work,” he said, keeping his face locked into a neutral expression.
“Why not?”
Tim swallowed. “She... er... She died last night.”
“What?”
“She died in front of a cab.” Tim took a deep breath. “According to the coroner, there were no suspicious circumstances.”
“She committed suicide.”
Tim nodded.
“That’s awful. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry I’ve got to bother you. But why did she do it? Do you know?”
Tim shrugged helplessly. “She’s had something on her mind recently, depressed for a few days. Then she took a turn for the worse yesterday afternoon. But, no, I don’t know why.”
Feeling that Tim needed a break, Luke changed his approach. “What was Arlene like? Fond of animals, for sure.”
“This was the only job she ever had. She loved it. Animals were her life, really. She cared about them – very deeply.” Unable to sustain his rigid posture, Tim’s head drooped at last.
“All animals? What about cats?”
Tim looked up again. “Especially cats. But we haven’t had any snatched in the last few days. She wasn’t feeling down because of that.”
A different idea had formed in Luke’s mind. It made sense if the person who was trying to frame him for murder also knew that Ms Kee and Vince were dealing in stolen cats. Demon Archer could have met Arlene Dickinson and offered to eliminate the smuggling threat in return for some snake venom. If Arlene had agreed to the bargain, she might well have had second thoughts later and felt guilt-ridden about it. Already anxious about what had happened to the venom, somehow she could have heard about Ms Kee’s murder yesterday afternoon and the responsibility might have been too much for her. It could have tipped her from depression into suicide. “Had she seen anyone from the school, just before this black mood?”
“Not that I know about.”
“Did you see her talking to anyone unusual in the last few days?”
Tim shook his head.
“I’d like to have words with her partner,” Luke said. “Who was she paired with?”
At once, Tim’s face fell.
“Oh,” Luke muttered. “I’m sorry. You’re her partner.”
“Yes,” Tim answered.
“It must be very...”
“Yes. It’s... regrettable.”
He said it as if he were mourning the loss of a business partnership. Of course, in a way, that’s what pairing was. It was about stability and control of the population. Love was not really part of the deal. And that’s why Luke hated pairing.
While Luke struggled to think of something fitting to say, Tim continued, “I can’t answer your questions. We weren’t together every minute of the day so I don’t know if she was in touch with the school or not. Like me, she knew Mr Cadman. That’s all I know and unfortunately she’s not here to tell you herself.”
Luke was struck by the contrast between Olivia and Tim. When Crispy died, Olivia had failed to hold herself together. She had not even tried to turn up for lessons and sit stiffly, obediently, at a desk. And she shared everything with Crispy – except their future lives because they would never have been paired.
Trying to keep his mind on the job, Luke asked his final questions. “Could she milk a rattlesnake as well?”
Tim nodded. “Same training as me.”
“Did she do it recently?”
“Not as far as I know, but I can’t say she didn’t.”
“All right, Tim. This isn’t a good time,” Luke said. “I’ll leave you in peace.” Before he walked away from the troubled snake handler, he added, “But let me know if you think of anything or find something that tells you she was in touch with anybody else from the school. All right?”
“Yes, I will,” Tim replied absently.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Back at school, Malc logged on to Mr Cadman’s telephone record and confirmed that the science instructor had received several calls from the conservation park over a long period. The most recent entry was a conversation yesterday afternoon that lasted two minutes and thirty-four seconds.
“Not again!” Mr Cadman exclaimed when Luke and Malc turned up at morning break. The instructor grabbed his hat and slipped on his sunglasses.
“It won’t take long,” Luke said outside the staff room. “I just wondered if you knew someone called Arlene Dickinson at the conservation park.”
“She’s a very dedicated keeper.”
“When did you last speak to her?”
“Face-to-face, some time ago. I can’t remember. But she called me yesterday afternoon.”
Mr Cadman was not showing any signs of knowing what had happened to Arlene after their conversation. Luke decided to get the information he wanted from the instructor before he let on. He didn’t want Mr Cadman distracted by another death. “What was it about?” Luke asked.
“Well, it was supposed to be private.”
Luke shook his head. “I don’t think so. When there’s a murder, we all lose our right to privacy. Solving the crime comes first.”
Mr Cadman stared thoughtfully down the corridor for a few seconds and then said, “All right. I was considering catching up with you at lunch and telling you anyway. She wondered if there were any rumours going around about snake venom.”
“Did you tell her about Ms Kee?”
Behind his sunglasses, he frowned. “Not in so many words. Not bluntly, but I guess I mentioned her memorial tomorrow.”
“How would you describe Arlene’s mood?”
Mr Cadman let out a sigh. “From her voice, I’d say she was upset.”
“Did she say she’d been in contact with anyone at school – apart from you?”
“No.”
“Sure?”
“Certain.”
Luke felt that he had all he needed to explain Arlene’s suicide, even though Malc would still regard his theory as unproven. He also had a duty to put Mr Cadman in the picture. Hesitantly, he said to the scientist, “I have to agree she was upset. Very upset. I’m afraid, after that call, she committed suicide.”
Genuinely distressed, Mr Cadman muttered, “She did what?”
“I don’t think you should blame yourself.” Luke knew what an FI should be doing. He should take advantage of Mr Cadman’s state of shock and ply him with awkward questions. But Luke had not yet developed a hard heart. “I’m sorry to have to tell you, but you had to know.” Instead of exploiting the situation, Luke asked only one more question. “You’re obviously a clever man, Mr Cadman, so I think you know what this means. Does it change any of your answers?”
For once, he stripped off his sunglasses. “No. I’m just... appalled. Poor Arlene. And Tim.” Replacing the shades again, he said quietly, “I guess you think she provided snake venom to someone in school. And you have me as her only contact. But I wouldn’t need her help to get it, would I? I can’t invent another contact just to save my skin. I don’t know one. I just feel so sorry for her.”
****
As Luke strode down the school corridors, Malc said, “I must intervene. You have considered Arlene Dickinson as the source of the venom that killed Ms Kee. This seems likely. However, would it have been sufficient reason for suicide? Her remorse would have been much greater if she had committed the murders rather than merely supplied a weapon. She should be a suspect.”
“Maybe,” Luke replied. “But not a serious one. First, she doesn’t even know me, so I don’t see how she could’ve had a grudge against me. If she wandered into the school at least three times, she’d have been spotted. From outside, she couldn’t fake a telescreen message to Crispy. Most important, she didn’t have a reason for killing him. He’s not involved with cats or snakes or anything. The cat’s a red herring, remember. If you want Arlene on the list,” he said impatiently, “go ahead, but put her at the bottom. And, that reminds me, you can forget scanning everyone for cat hairs now.”
“I assume you want me
to stop performing the analysis rather than deleting the knowledge of it.”
“Exactly.”
Calling in on the sound studio, Luke found out that Jade didn’t know he had a nickname amongst the staff. He got a very different response from Olivia Pang. Crispy’s girlfriend was still cooped up in her quarters and, when Luke asked, she thought it was well known in her year that some of the instructors called him Diamond. “There’s something else,” Luke said to her. “Did you and Crispy know Ed Hoffman in my year?”
“No.”
Turning to Malc, Luke said, “Plug yourself into the telescreen and give us his picture.” When the photograph flashed up, Luke said, “Big guy. Not tall, I mean, but built big.”
Olivia frowned. “Yes. I’ve seen him around. Into running and sport, isn’t he?”
“Certainly is.”
She looked embarrassed, but said nothing.
“What is it, Olivia?”
She glanced at Malc and remained silent.
“I’ll keep you out of the case. I promise. But I really need whatever you’re going to say on record this time. All right?”
Making up her mind, Olivia said, “I didn’t know his name but he bumped into me and Crispy once – almost literally – on the field somewhere. He made a horrid remark to Crispy. I don’t remember exactly what he said, but it was something about being as brainy as you and just as bad at picking girls.”
“Thanks, Olivia,” Luke said. “That’s really helpful.”
****
In the chaotic kitchen, Rick Glenfield did not attempt to hide the fact that he had been the one who had given Luke his nickname years ago. But he denied all knowledge of the people behind the cat smuggling.
“I want you to think back,” Luke said to him. “When you were still in Information Technology, was Ms Thacket into computers?”
He shrugged. “I helped her out a few times with new software. She didn’t take a particular interest as far as I remember, but she was good at getting to grips with all the stuff she needed.”
Continuing his dash around the school, Luke caught Ms Thacket by the tennis and netball courts. The instructor took one look at him and grimaced. “I answered your questions on Tuesday.”
“Yes,” he replied as pleasantly as possible, “but I’ve got a few more now.”
“I heard you were pestering people.”
Ignoring her remark, he said, “I’ve seen you running over by the animal sanctuary. You must know it pretty well.”
“I go round it, not in it.”
Luke glanced down at her trainers and the bottoms of her tracksuit. He didn’t need Malc to tell him that they were dotted with willowherb seeds. “Do you know any of the park staff?”
“No.” She looked away from him and shouted at one of her netball players, “You’re defence, Zara! What are you doing there? You’ve given possession away.” She coughed twice and then turned sternly back to Luke.
“Where were you on Wednesday night, between ten thirty and midnight?”
“What?” she exclaimed.
Calmly, Luke repeated the question that she’d already heard.
“I was with my partner. We were meeting friends in the city.”
“Strange to be out enjoying yourself after Ms Kee’s death.”
“Look. It’s grim in school right now. I needed a break.”
“What time did you get back?”
“I don’t know exactly. Why ask?” Ms Thacket pointed at his mobile. “That can check it to the nearest second.”
Luke smiled. “Yes. That will.” He knew Malc was just a machine but it still seemed rude to refer to him as if he were on a par with a smart fridge. He was a work colleague and as trusted as a friend.
Instructor Thacket cried out, “Yes, it must be very tempting to wallop Zara – I sympathise – but it’s supposed to be a non-contact game.”
Luke didn’t know Zara in Year 7. He guessed that, with Ms Thacket on her back at every opportunity, she was more academic than sporty. Like Rick Glenfield, she looked like a fish out of water. It was plain that the flustered and breathless girl had joined the ranks of pupils resented by the sports instructor. Luke was wondering how far Ms Thacker had taken another one of her grudges – her grudge against him. “If you know what Malc can do, you must be used to computing.”
“Only enough to do my job,” she snapped.
“Did you see Ms Kee first thing Wednesday morning?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“In her office before school.”
“What for?” Luke asked.
“To fix a timetable problem.”
“What sort of state was she in? Normal, agitated, ill? What?”
“She kept rubbing her forearm, grumbling she’d hurt it when someone bumped into her.”
Luke nodded and outwardly remained cool. “Who was that?”
Ms Thacket shrugged. “No idea. She didn’t say. I didn’t ask. Why should I?”
“It doesn’t really matter but did you see who it might have been? Was anyone hanging around near her office?”
“No. No one.”
Hiding his disappointment, Luke changed the subject. “You must have heard the rumours about a trade in cats.”
“Yes.”
“What do you know about it?”
She shrugged. “It happens.”
“Who’s behind it?”
“Not just students, I heard.”
“Which member of staff are you talking about?”
“I don’t know, but has it happened since Wednesday?”
Luke smiled. “Are you suggesting Ms Kee?”
“You’re the great investigator,” Ms Thacket replied. “It’s not hard to work out.”
“All right. On one of your runs around the field, did you ever see a couple getting together near the firing range after school?”
“That’s not allowed.”
Luke said, “No, but that’s not the question. Did you ever see it?”
“No.” She coughed loudly again.
“Getting a cold?”
“You’re not interested in my sore throat.”
To provoke her, Luke smiled again. “You don’t like me so it must hurt to hear what the other staff call me.”
“Diamond! I can think of a few diamond students and you’re not one of them, Investigator Harding. You cheated with exam scores, you cheated at sports day and, as far as I know, you cheated everywhere else.”
Luke didn’t answer or defend himself. He had confirmed that Ms Thacket knew he was called Diamond. That was what he had come to check. It was also as clear as the snarl on her face that she still despised him. “There’s just one more thing,” he said.
“What?”
“Ed Hoffman. You’re pretty close to him.”
“So?”
“Did he know about Ms Kee and cats?”
“We mentioned it.”
“You must have talked about me as well.”
“Huh. You’re not such a hot topic as you like to think. We’ve got better things to do with our breath.”
“Like you, he’d be annoyed if he knew my nickname.”
“Furious.”
“So he does know?” Luke asked.
“Yes. Look. You were wrong to clash with him on sports day. Very wrong. You could have sent him out of control.”
“Over a javelin?”
“It’s nothing to do with a javelin and everything to do with loss of image. And the two of you clash because you’re the same – rivals.”
Luke was astounded. “The same?”
“Use your brain. That’s what you’re supposed to be good at. A top athlete like Ed doesn’t come second. It’s not an idea he can handle. It doesn’t even cross his mind that second’s nearly first. It’s simply not good enough. More than that, it’s complete failure. He’ll do absolutely anything to come first and stay there. That’s why Ed’s a diamond athlete. You’re supposed to be a diamond investigator. Can you imagin
e failing to catch your murderer? Can you imagine coming second? Of course you can’t. You’re the same as Ed.” She looked away, scowling at Zara in one of her netball teams. Muttering, she added, “That’s why you should’ve stuck with sport.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Luke held the tips of his forefinger and thumb one centimetre apart and said to Malc, “If Thacket was telling the truth, she came that close to seeing who jabbed Ms Kee.”
“Unlikely,” Malc replied. “She would have noticed such a close encounter and told you about it.”
“All right. Let’s agree she came within seconds or minutes of identifying Demon Archer.”
“That is more probable.”
“There’s another explanation, of course,” Luke added. “She might’ve bumped into Ms Kee herself and made up the bit about somebody else doing it. That would be a pretty convincing way of throwing suspicion at someone else.”
“I have to warn you about bias. I detect that you are particularly keen to find evidence of her guilt.”
Luke hesitated before replying. “Not true. I’m just doing my job. I’m particularly keen to find evidence proving anyone’s guilt – apart from mine. By tomorrow. Interrogate the school computer again, Malc. What time did Instructor Thacket leave on Wednesday night?”
“Eight thirty-two.”
“And what time did she get back?”
“The security record shows that she and her partner used their identity cards to open the gates at eleven forty-four.”
“She could’ve just made it to Vince’s quarters, then. Maybe that’s where she caught her cold – from Vince. On top of that, she found Crispy’s body and she was perfectly placed to poison Ms Kee on Wednesday morning. They’re facts, by the way, not bias. And now,” he added, “it’s lunchtime and I want the seat next to Shane.”
****
Normally the canteen was a rowdy place. Since the murders, it had become relatively calm. Even so, Shane was sharing a quiet joke with a few friends on the next table. As soon as he spotted Luke, though, his face dropped and he adopted a more solemn manner.
Luke took his sandwiches to Shane’s table and plonked himself down opposite the Year-10 student. “Phew,” he said. “No matter how hard you think the instructors work you now, wait till you’re in a job. It’s non-stop.”