“Well, I can tell you this much, Mary, Professor Henderson was very concerned about you, and that was why he came here this morning. He said under normal conditions, he would have been pleased with your invitation; however, he said that he wasn’t the type of man to take advantage and that he had too much ‘baggage.’ Do you know what he means by that?”
Wrinkling her brow, Mary slowly shook her head, “No, I have no idea, Cam. I hadn’t seen or heard from Jim since we were at uni together. I don’t know anything about his personal life between then and now. You don’t suppose he has a wife somewhere, do you Cam?”
“I’ve no idea, Mary, but I’ve asked Dan to run a complete background check on him. We should know later today.”
“And I should have a copy of the DNA report by then too. Maybe, we’ll get lucky, and our murderer will be in the database.”
Standing up and reaching a hand down to Mary, Cam helped her to her feet, “Well, it looks like you’ll be tied up here for a while. How about I swing by here and pick you up for lunch?”
Shaking her head, “I’m not really hungry, Cam.”
“Nonsense, I bet you didn’t eat breakfast, and your car is at my house anyway. Besides, Helen will throttle me if I show up without you.”
Laughing at the image of the petite Helen strangling the much taller and stronger Cam, Mary nodded her head in agreement, “Alright Cam, I certainly don’t be the one who is the cause of Helen being charged with GBH.”
Waving goodbye as he left the lab, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of his wife causing grave bodily harm on anything except the beetles that had recently been attacking her beloved rose bushes.
Chapter 18
Bright and early Monday morning Sergeant Roberts stood knocking at the door of Alma Lacey’s cottage at 61 Cottage Lane in Hereford. He had just raised his hand to knock again when the red door swung open, and Miss Lacey stood there with her purse draped over one arm, “I’m ready to go, Sergeant. Shall we get this show on the road, as the young people say?”
Dan smiled at the elderly lady as he held the front passenger door open for her, “Yes, Ma’am. Chief Inspector Fergus and the sketch artist will be meeting us at the station in Ross-on-Wye.”
Settling into the seat and fastening her seatbelt, Miss Lacey reflected, “Ross-on-Wye…now that’s a lovely market town. Wait, did you say, Chief Inspector Cam Fergus?”
“Yes ma’am, why?”
“I knew a Detective Cameron Fergus, but he was with the Met.”
As he maneuvered through the crowded streets of Hereford, Dan glanced over at his passenger and tried to picture her in her former role with the Met, “Yes ma’am that would be one and the same. The Chief Inspector took over here at the station about three years ago. He’ll be glad to see an old workmate from London.”
Smiling the older woman replied, “Oh Sergeant, I wouldn’t be so sure of that. You might want to ask him what their nickname for me was.”
The rest of the drive was made in relative silence as Miss Lacey peered out the window watching the scenery. It was obvious to Dan that the elderly lady didn’t get out into the countryside often, and she was definitely enjoying the change of scenery.
Cam was just getting out of his car when Dan pulled his vehicle to a stop behind the station. Unconsciously straightening his tie, Cam strode over to the car and opened the door for Miss Lacey, “Detective Chief Inspector Lacey, it’s good to see you again.”
Stepping out of the car, the diminutive elderly woman pulled herself upright before taking her cane and poking Cam in the stomach, “Put on a few extra pounds there since we last met, and I see you still haven’t learned to properly tie a tie.”
With that, she stood on her toes and leaned forward and placed a kiss on Cam’s cheek, much to Cam’s surprise.
After escorting their visitor into the office and leaving her with the police artist in his office, Sergeant Roberts joined Cam in his office.
“Well, that certainly was a surprise. Old Iron Bottom must have mellowed in her old age,” said Cam as he touched his cheek.”
Dan started to laugh, “So that was what you called her. She said that she didn’t think you would be glad to see her, and said her men had a nickname for her.”
“You wouldn’t know it by looking at her now, but she was the toughest boss I ever had. Everything had to be by the book, and if you stepped out of line, well, god help you.”
By the time that Cam finished quickly checking his emails for anything urgent; he fixed a cup of tea for their visitor and headed for the Sergeant Roberts’ office.
“I’ve brought you a cup of tea, Detective Chief Inspector.”
“It’s just plain Miss Lacey now, Chief Inspector or Alma if you can manage it,” she said, turning her alert blue eyes on him.
Sitting down beside her as the artist worked on completing the sketch, Cam smiled back into the now warm and friendly eyes that had once caused fear to course through his veins, “I would be honored to call you Alma, as long as you call me Cam.”
Reaching over and patting his hand, she replied, “Cam it is, then.”
The warm reunion was abruptly interrupted when the police artist slid the sketch in front of Alma and Cam, “Is this a likeness of the man who you saw speaking to the victim.”
“Yes, that’s him.”
Pushing the sketch closer to Alma, Cam said, “Please have a closer look. Are you 100% sure that this is the man you saw outside the coffee shop with the victim.”
Pushing the sketch back, the elderly lady replied, “My vision is still perfect, and yes, that is the man I saw. I can tell by that look on your face that you recognize him. I hope he’s not a friend of yours.”
“No, he’s not a friend of mine. More like a friend of a very dear friend of mine, I’m sorry to say,” Cam replied, looking down at his watch. “How about you and I have some lunch before I drive you back home, Alma?”
Smiling brightly now, Cam’s former boss replied, “That would be lovely; if you’re sure you can spare the time.”
“I just need to leave some instructions with Sergeant Roberts. He can manage everything from here. He’s top-notch. Frankly, he’s the best sergeant I’ve ever worked with. I’m surprised he hasn’t moved onto bigger and better things,” said Cam as he got up and went in search of Dan.
Cam found Dan waiting patiently in his office, “I have the background report on the Professor, Sir. Do you want to see it now?”
“Give me the highlights. I’m just leaving now to take Miss Lacey to lunch, before dropping her off at home, so I’ll be a while.”
“The report reveals that he had been married once over twenty years ago and later divorced his wife when she began an affair and deserted him. Apparently, the wife moved back to Ireland with her lover after emptying his bank account and running up considerable bills leaving his finances in a mess. He was forced to give up his home at a loss, and the records indicate that he had been living in rooms at the university for several years until he managed to pay off the debts.”
“Any criminal record?”
Shaking his head, Dan Robert’s said, “No sir, nothing, not even a traffic violation, and not a hint of scandal. Apparently, he is well-liked among faculty and students, a large number of which he mentors. From his background, he sure doesn’t seem like someone who would murder two young girls.”
Taking a deep sigh, Cam grabbed his car keys off the desk before turning back to Dan, “That may be true, but Miss Lacey has just positively identified the Professor as the last person to be seen speaking with Ali before she disappeared. Take a break for your lunch, and then swing by and bring the good Professor in for questioning. I shouldn’t be very long.”
Chapter 19
Cam selected a riverside pub as the lunch venue and was able to secure a table in the garden room, giving his former boss a view of the beautifully manicured lawns leading down to the fast-flowing River Wye.
“Will this do?” Cam asked as he held out a chair for Miss Lacey.
“This is just lovely, Cam. I’ll bet it’s even more beautiful in the spring when all the flowers are in bloom. Do you come here often?”
Pointing out the window, “Do you see that section of woodland to the left? Well, my wife, Helen, and I love to come here in May. The bluebells grow so thick in there that the trees appear to be floating on a carpet of blue. Add to that, the fact they serve a lovely Sunday roast, and you have a winning combination.”
Rubbing her hands together like an excited child, “Sunday roast at the pub. How very lovely. None of the pubs near me serve a good roast dinner, anymore. They cater to the young university crowd, so it’s all that fast food.”
“Well, I tell you what, Alma. Helen and I have a reservation a week from Sunday. How would it be if I added one more person to that reservation and I pick you up.”
“That would be wonderful, as long as your wife doesn’t object.”
“Helen will be happy to meet you. I’ve told her so much about you over the years.”
Starting to laugh, the elderly lady said, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
After a leisurely lunch of creamy leek soup, and cheddar and asparagus quiche, Cam dropped Alma. Lacey off at her cottage and reluctantly headed back to the station to question Professor Henderson. All the way back to Ross, Cam worried about how Mary was going to take the news that her first romantic interest, since the death of her husband years before, was possibly a murderer. He didn’t have long to wait to find out.
Cam had just parked his car behind the station when he heard the unmistaken rattle of Mary’s old Land Rover coming to a grinding halt.
“Hey Cam, Hereford sent me a new copy of the DNA test results from the scrapings I got from under Tony’s nails. Unfortunately, there were no matches in the system.”
Hesitating for a moment as her eyes lighted on the Professor’s car, Mary asked, “What’s Jim doing here, Cam.”
“He’s helping us with our inquiries, Mary. But before you go in there, I feel that you should know that he’s been positively identified as the last person to be seen with Ali before she disappeared.”
Mary’s face seemed to lose most of its colour as she traced a circle in the gravel with her foot. After a brief moment, the professional in her took control of her emotions, “See if you can get a DNA sample from him, Cam. I’d like to get this resolved as soon as possible, for everyone’s sake.”
Putting his arm around her shoulders, Cam walked into the station with Mary. Leaving her in his office, Cam grabbed the evidence file and proceeded to the interview room where Sergeant Roberts sat quietly listening to the Professor discuss the latest finds from the dig at the castle.
Looking up as Cam entered the room, Henderson asked, “Chief Inspector, your Sergeant says that you have some more questions for me. I really don’t know what else I can tell you.”
“Well, Professor Henderson, you can start by telling us why you failed to mention that you had met the young woman who was unearthed in that trench at your dig.”
Taken back by the question, the Professor started to stand up.
“Sit down, Professor,” ordered Cam.
Slowly easing his lanky frame back into the chair, the Professor rested both his hands on the grey metal table and stared steadfastly into Cam’s eyes, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Chief Inspector!”
Pulling the photo of a smiling Ali from the evidence folder, Cam slid it across the table to the Professor, “Do you recognize this young lady, Professor.”
Studying the photo for a few minutes, he scratched his head, and after a few minutes slowly replied, “Oh, dear Lord, is this the same girl that was in the trench?”
Cam carefully observed the expression on the man’s face who sat opposite him. After all his years on the force, Cam had grown to be a good judge of human behavior. Judging from the Professor’s reaction, he couldn’t help but think, ‘Either this man is a great actor, or he is genuinely shocked.’
“I’m sorry, Chief Inspector; I do remember this girl, now. It was nearly a month ago if I recall correctly. She was asking about her older sister and showed me a photo. I had seen her sister at one of the pubs closer to the university, and I directed her up there.”
“Did you walk her there?”
“No, I had to get back to uni. I had a morning class that day, so we parted company at my turn-off to school.”
“Did you ever see or speak with her after that, Professor?”
“Absolutely not, Chief Inspector, I can honestly say that I never saw her again after that day.”
“OK Professor, there is one more thing, we’d like a sample for a DNA test so that we can exclude you from our inquiries. Will you have a problem with that?”
“Absolutely not, I have nothing to hide. I’m sorry that I failed to recognize the young lady. That poor child in the trench looked so different from the vibrant girl I met that day.”
Sergeant Roberts, who had remained silent until then, readied the swab kit before blurting out, “Yeah, and the fact that someone had caved her skull in didn’t help.”
Cam rolled his eyes, “Thank you for your co-operation Professor. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you not to leave the area until otherwise advised. When is your dig due to wrap up, anyway?”
Putting his coat on and heading for the door, the Professor turned back, “We have four more days on the dig, and I am due back for classes the following Monday. Please let me know if it appears that you will need me for a longer period, so I can arrange for an associate to take my classes.”
Rising to his feet to escort the Professor from the station, Cam said, “Hopefully, that won’t be necessary, and this will be wrapped up by then. Thank you again for your co-operation.”
As soon as Professor Henderson was out of sight, Cam turned to Sergeant Roberts, “Dan, We don’t have enough to hold him, but I want him watched day and night. Can you arrange for that while I give this DNA sample to Mary?”
Cam leaned against the faded green wall outside the interview room, trying to decide on what bits of information he could share with Mary, based on her relationship with the suspect. Clutching the bag containing the DNA swab in his hand, Cam pushed open his office door to find Mary whispering on her mobile.
Holding a finger up, Mary signaled Cam to give her a moment. Finally, disconnecting from her call, she turned to Cam, “That was Jim. He saw my car parked out back and asked me to meet him for lunch. I put him off and told him that I’d phone him later. So, how did the interview go? Is he still a suspect?”
Cam held out the evidence bag containing the DNA sample, “That all depends on the results of this, but I feel it only fair to tell you that we will have to keep him under 24-hour surveillance until these murders are wrapped up. I am only telling you this Mary because I know that I can depend on your professional integrity not to disclose this to him.”
Nodding, Mary replied, “You can rely on that, Cam.”
Perching on the corner of the desk, Cam continued, “I showed him the photo of Ali, and he has admitted speaking with her but claims he only spoke to her the one time outside the coffee shop and never saw her again. He claims that he did not recognize the girl in the trench as the same girl he had briefly spoken with.”
“I guess that much is possible, considering the amount of damage to the skull and the level of decomposition. What is your gut feeling, Cam? Did you believe him?”
Cam’s forehead wrinkled up, “I’d rather reserve my opinion on that question, Mary. I have met some pathological liars during my career that could convince you that day is night, but if you must know…my gut feeling is…yes, I believe he was telling the truth.”
“Thanks, Cam, that does make me feel a bit better. I’m going to personally deliver the sample to the lab in Hereford when I leave here. It can take 24-72 hours to get the results, but I’ll push them, and ho
pefully, it will be closer to the lower end. Thank goodness that science has come a long way recently, or we’d be waiting weeks for this,” said Mary as she walked down the hall with Cam and out into the brisk autumn day.
Cam placed a hand on Mary’s arm, bringing her to a sudden stop, “Are you still planning on meeting your Professor tonight?”
When Mary pulled a face, he continued, “You’re a grown woman and an intelligent one, but be careful. Make that meeting in a public place.”
Nodding her agreement, Mary climbed up into her Land Rover and with a wave of her hand, was off on her way to Hereford.
Chapter 20
Mary had only just returned to her small-holding and was getting ready to tend to her animals when her mobile rang. Looking down at the number, she instantly recognized it as Jim’s.
“Hello, Jim. No, I’m home, but I just got in and am getting ready to feed the animals…. Why, yes, that would be fine…. I’ll meet you over at The Cove, say at 7:00 for dinner. ”
Jim Henderson hung up the phone and let out a sigh of relief. He had been afraid Mary would either not answer her phone when she recognized his number, or would just not agree to meet him for dinner, and he desperately wanted to explain his behavior after their last date. Time was going to drag until he got the chance.
Jim looked at his wristwatch for the third time in the ten minutes. Mary had promised to meet him at The Cove for dinner at 7:00, and it was now twenty minutes after. Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, “I can’t say as I blame her.”
He had just raised his hand to get the attention of the waiter, so he could get his bill for the glass of Chablis he drank while waiting for Mary when the door opened and in she walked. Instead of apologizing for being late, Mary sat down and stared down at the table cloth with fists clenched in front of her before saying, “I’ve been sitting in the parking lot for the last twenty minutes, trying to make up my mind whether to come in or not.”
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