The English Woman

by Inch, Jennifer

  "I'll go tidy my room" Joe said laughing as he walked off.

  After Fran had said goodnight to the girls she spotted Joe in his room through the open door. As she walked in and looked around she thought it looked like the room of a twenty year old rather than someone nearly thirty. "Your mother told me you were seeing a girl from the University, you told me you weren't in a relationship at the moment" Fran said her heart heavy in her chest.

  "She shouldn't have told you. I haven't seen Lauren since you have arrived; we weren't serious anyway, she's more like a friend" Joe said angrily. “She’s the one I want you to meet; with her friend Angelo whose from Italy" he added trying to play down the confrontation.

  "Well, I'm not sure I want to meet her now."

  "Come on Fran, she means nothing to me, I want you to be my girl" he said grabbing her arm and pulling her towards him.

  Fran tried not to show that she liked his dominance and pulled away. "Do you swear that you are not seeing her, don't lie to me Joe" she pleaded.

  He pulled her back into him and kissed her hard on the lips. She couldn't resist and melted into the kiss. Then he pulled her down onto his bed and pulled up her tea shirt and started kissing her body. She found herself pulling his shirt from his jeans and then stroking his head. He looked up and their eyes met and they were kissing passionately again. Then Fran pulled away "Joe your parents are in the other room" she said as she put her feet over the bed onto the floor.

  "Oh Fran, I need you so much. Please don't be mad at me and say you want to be with me" Joe said as he put his arms around her, the two of them sitting on the edge of his bed.

  "No, I'm not mad at you Joe, but before we go to the cabin maybe I should meet Lauren, so I can see for myself if you have any feelings for her. I don't want any doubts in my mind when we are together."

  They rejoined Nancy and Larry in the lounge for the rest of the evening and then Joe took Fran back to the Canyon.

  **********

  Joe had arranged to go shooting with Richard and when he arrived at the canyon the following morning he asked Richard if Fran could go shooting with them. He explained that as Fran had been in the Army she was comfortable with guns. Richard reluctantly agreed and he took them to a nearby section of open ground used for shooting practice; where across a small ravine cans had been placed on some boulders. Richard handed Fran a small 22 calibre handgun which she handled extremely well. They all succeeded in hitting the target, and fortunately neither of them was shot from any other people shooting in the vicinity.

  "Okay now that we have had a practice, let's go rattlesnake hunting" Richard said grinning as he looked at Fran. Fran was shocked; Joe had not told her that they would actually be hunting.

  Fran reacted in a way she thought the men would expect. "What, oh my God, I'm not sure if I could kill a rattlesnake" she exclaimed.

  They drove along the Canyon to a neighbour's house high up in the mountain where they parked the car, and as they got out a middle-aged tall, lean man in a checked shirt and jeans approached them.

  "Richard; Joe; I wondered if Stephanie would let you come. And who's this young lady" he said offering his hand. “The name’s Edgar.” They shook hands and Fran introduced herself. "Come on, I'll take you part the way up the track" he said as he started walking up the mountain, trying to show them the best way to walk.

  “I’m going to leave you here, you’re on your own now” said Edgar as he started walking back down the mountain.

  “Thanks Edgar. I’ll call in if we get a snake” Richard said as he started up the track, leading with a loaded handgun at the ready. Joe walked behind him, and Fran stumbled along behind Joe looking and listening for any sign of a rattlesnake. "If I see one what will I do" she thought, "shall I shoot it or let Richard or Joe shoot it?"

  "I don't know what to do." Richard said as he came to a halt. "If we go down that path it means that we will have to climb back up again. The other alternative is to go up through the heavy brush, which I don't think would be wise."

  "No it wouldn't," Fran thought, "we could easily step on a rattlesnake. I know they want to shoot one, but I don't think they would like to step on one." "Perhaps we ought to turn back” she said.

  "Yes, I think that's best," said Richard, and Joe nodded in agreement. They were soon back at the car.

  "I bet there will be one in the car!" Fran said laughing as they climbed in.

  When they got back to the house Joe had to leave but said he would 'phone Fran later to let her know when they could meet up the next day.

  Stephanie had not finished her housework so Richard took Fran up to the gold mining museum further up the creek. Unfortunately when they arrived it was closed, so they went on and he showed her the Hippy Village where the sign on the tree said ‘To Hell Town’. Little remained of the rope bridge and it could no longer be used for the purpose for which it was made. A bridge had been built next to it over the creek, which obviously led to private land, but all the passers-by took no notice of the ‘Keep Out, Private Property’ notice which covered the barrier of the bridge, everybody just marched across with equipment ready for picnicking. Hell Town was one of the earliest mining camps in Butte Creek Canyon, established in the 1850’s and during its peak had a population of 2000. It was home to several poets; Pres Longley being the leading poet of Hell Town. The children went to private school and then in 1872 went to Centerville School.

  The people Richard called Hippies looked more like hillbillies to Fran. They reminded her of the mountain people in the 1972 film Deliverance. They just stood around staring at them and not saying a word; they were very eerie and sent shivers down her spine. They didn’t have any electric and running water and so had to get their water from the creek.

  On the way back they stopped again at the museum and Centerville School, which was closed down and only used for special community events. A young couple with their two children also stopped so that the toddler could get a drink of water. Soon Richard became involved in conversation with them as they were looking for property to buy in the Canyon. He invited them to look at his property to get some idea of what can be done. They followed them back to Richard’s house in their car and on arrival Stephanie and Fran sat and talked on the deck, whilst Richard showed the young couple the gazebo and view of the creek.

  TYING UP LOOSE ENDS

  Even though the case was not closed, The Tampa Police Department agreed to release Daina's body for burial in Lithuania because her father was a member of the Lithuanian Government. Teddy flew to Lithuania on the same plane on the Sunday, a week after her body was found. She was to be buried in her family cemetery and Teddy was given the responsibility of ensuring that the coffin arrived safely. As Teddy was away for two weeks Nina spent all her time working on her latest fashion design. As soon as he arrived back on Sunday evening he went to see Nina. They started to talk about Daina, and during the course of their conversation Nina suddenly remembered Chetan.

  “Oh Teddy while you were away Chetan called by to ask if I’d heard from Fran. He doesn’t understand why we haven’t heard from her, and frankly neither do I. I told him the police want to know where she is. All he knows is that she has gone to California.”

  “It is odd that he hasn’t heard from her either. Does he know where in California she is?" Teddy asked with a frown.

  “She told him she would be staying with that guy who ‘phoned. His name is Joe and he lives with his parents on a rice ranch. He thinks the place is called Chico. Do you think I should tell Detective Berkman?”

  “I think you should tell Berkman that Chetan may have more information. Do you know how to contact Chetan?”

  “I know where he worked with Fran, so they should have his address. I’ll call him in the morning.”

  Nina 'phoned Berkman the following morning and told him that Chetan was a friend of Fran's but also worked with her. She told him the name of the place they worked together, and Berkman got Chetan's address when he went to the of
fices of International Laboratories that morning.

  It was seven in the evening when Detective Berkman knocked on Chetan's apartment door. The door was opened by an imposing Indian looking young man "I guess you must be Chetan Hawkins" Berkman said.

  "Yes, and you are?"

  Berkman showed his badge and handed Chetan his card "Detective Berkman. I'm investigating the death of a young Lithuanian student called Daina Petusky. Can I come in?"

  "Yes, sorry take a seat" Chetan said as he showed Berkman a worn out armchair. Berkman sat down and took out his notepad and pen.

  Chetan asked, as he looked at Berkman's missing finger "Am I suppose to know this student. How did she die?"

  "You may have seen her when you were with an English woman called Fran. Her body was found on St Petersburg Beach on Monday 27 April; we believe she had drowned the day before."

  "Oh, there were some Lithuanian students working on the project in Lowry Park; was she one of them?"

  "Yes. Theophilus Lebednick, a Lithuanian guy nicknamed Teddy is related to her father and he was looking out for her."

  "What does, I mean did, she look like?"

  "She was about 5 ft 6 ins, slim with long chestnut wavy hair, brown eyes and a long nose."

  "Well yes, I saw her a couple of times with Teddy."

  "Were you with the English woman called Fran, and did either of you speak to her?"

  "Yes I was with Fran, but we didn't speak to her, only to Teddy. But, yes I remember now, he did introduce her to us as Daina." Chetan recollected.

  "Well it's the English woman Fran I've come to ask you about. She lived in the apartment adjoining Nina Wallace's house, who's Teddy's girlfriend. When did you last see her?"

  "The day before she left I went to her apartment. Oh my god, that was Sunday 26th April." Chetan said thoughtfully.

  "And how was she?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "How was she acting?"

  "Well, a bit strange. She seemed different to usual, but she hadn't had much sleep and we were drinking."

  "In what way was she different?"

  Chetan looked embarrassed "well, she was acting dominant; she came on to me and when I turned her down she became angry."

  "Well I guess most women would be angry if a man turned them down" Berkman said with a smirk.

  "I know" Chetan was annoyed "but you don't understand; Fran is a lot more complicated than that. There's more to her than people realise."

  "Okay" Berkman could see Chetan was agitated. "Did she mention anything about the party at St Petersburg Beach the night before or the swim that morning?"

  "No, she never mentioned it. We only really talked about what we had done together, because she was leaving the next day."

  "She was at a party near St Petersburg Beach with Teddy and Nina. Daina was there and the last time anyone saw her was when they all went swimming in the morning. The verdict will probably be accidental drowning, but I need to tie up all the loose ends before we close the case. I've questioned everyone who was at the party except for the English woman. Do you know Fran's last name and where she was headed?"

  "I did see her name on the form she completed at work. I think it was Knight, that’s with a K, because I remember thinking about the Knights of the Round Table I read about at school. I don’t know anything else about her, but she was travelling across the Southern States and was going to meet up with an old boyfriend in California."

  "Do you know his name and where he lives?"

  "Only that his first name is Joe and he's about the same age, twenty nine or thirty. She said he lives on a rice ranch with his parents. I think she said in Chico, because the Marx Brothers came to my mind" he said with a smile.

  "Thanks I like the way you remember details” Berkman said with a chuckle, and added as he walked out the door “you have my card so if you think of anything else give me a call."

  **********

  The next morning Detective Berkman got on the 'phone to the Police Department in Los Angeles because he figured there would be an organised body for rice growers that they could contact. He told them to enquire if there was a ranch in Chico run by a couple with a son named Joe who was around thirty years old. The LA Police Department came back to him later in the day with details of the Peterson Ranch in Chico, California. As soon as he put down the 'phone Berkman picked it up again and booked a flight to Los Angeles for the next morning, followed by a flight to Chico from Los Angeles and then he ‘phoned the Holiday Inn in Chico and made a reservation for Wednesday night.

  **********

  Teddy also made a ‘phone call on the Monday morning, but his call was to Vadimas Petusky's office.

  "Vadimas, it's Theophilus. I’ve got some further information for you. Fran is staying at a rice ranch with a guy called Joe, who is about the same age as her, 29 or 30. He lives there with his parents and it’s in a place called Chico in California. The chances are that Detective Berkman will be given the same information, so I guess he could be going there to find her."

  “Thanks I'll get someone in California to look into it. What does Berkman look like? Also what is the woman's last name and what does she look like?"

  "Berkman looks like a policeman; he's middle aged, average height and build with a few extra pounds around his middle. Oh and he has a missing little finger on his left hand. I don't know Fran's last name. She is petite, about 5ft 5ins, long dark blonde hair, blue eyes and freckles on her nose. She looks English" he said with a smirk.

  "Thanks Theophilus for your information, if you hear anymore please call me again. Goodbye" he said and put down the 'phone.

  Vadimas had been dealing recently with a Lorenzo Rossi, an Italian millionaire, who had agreed to lend money to the Lithuanian Government if Vadimas gave a Government contract to a major Italian company that Lorenzo had heavily invested in. However, Vadimas had pulled out of the deal because he didn't want any part of the corruption. He had Lorenzo investigated and knew that he was currently in Los Angeles and that his son was at University in Chico. Vadimas thought "Is it just a coincidence that the English woman who was at the party with my Daina is now in Chico or is there a connection?"

  Vadimas called his secretary into the office and told her to find a contact in California who could speak with the English woman. It was not long before his 'phone rang and he gave his man in California the details and told him to report directly back to him.

  MEETING UP

  On the Monday morning when Nina was giving Berkman information about Chetan, Fran was lounging around the house. Joe called her lunch time and said that he had arranged for them to meet his University friends that evening. As Lauren was one of them Fran knew she had to look her best so she showered and washed her hair. She didn't have many clothes to choose from but she settled on a cool pink summer dress that she had bought on one of her trips into Chico, together with a pair of sandals that matched a purse that Stephanie had leant her.

  Joe arrived in the Chevy just as Richard and Stephanie had pulled into their drive. It was about 6 pm and Fran was standing at the door.

  "Hi Stephanie and Richard, Joe's taking me to meet his friends so I will leave you two guys in peace" Fran said as they stepped out of their car.

  "Hi Fran. That's nice" said Stephanie, and added "not leaving us in peace, I mean nice that you will be meeting Joe's friends."

  “You’re looking very pretty this evening” Richard said as he passed Fran in the doorway.

  “I’ll second that” said Joe as he smiled at Fran.

  Soon Joe was driving Fran towards the University. "We are going to meet on the campus because Lauren has a rehearsal and is not sure what time she will finish. It depends on how smoothly it goes. She said there was an art exhibition we might like to see and she would meet us there. I think she told Angelo the same; I hope he understood" Joe explained to Fran.

  Fran was deep in thought and not really paying attention. "Oh, alright" she said as she was thinking of how the evening
with Lauren was likely to go.

  When they arrived at the University Joe gave Fran a quick tour of the campus. She was fascinated and was amazed at the facilities. As they walked out of the theatre they were in the middle of an Afro-American art exhibition. Fran was studying one of the paintings when a black student came up to her.

  “Can you see what it is?” He asked, as she looked bewildered.

  “It’s a trumpet player. These are my paintings.” He went on to explain the paintings. It was his first exhibition and he was nervous but Fran enjoyed listening to his enthusiasm. Then she moved on to the other exhibits, many of which were good.

  As Joe and Fran were drinking the punch with the artists and their friends, Joe heard his name being called out. He turned to see Angelo approaching. "Hi Angelo, this is Fran" Joe said as he turned to look at Fran.

  "Hi Fran, hope you are enjoying your stay in America" Angelo said in a strong Italian accent with a beaming smile, showing perfect white teeth.

  Fran looked up at the tall, handsome young man "Yes, it's been great thanks. I've seen so much, and everyone has been so kind."

  "Lauren should be here soon" Angelo said as he looked Fran up and down, and then picked up a glass of punch from the table.

  They talked about the places Fran had visited and Angelo told them about Italy and his travels. After about twenty minutes Joe smiled over Fran's shoulder. "Lauren, we're over here" he shouted.

  Fran turned to see a young, tall, voluptuous woman with dark brown shoulder length hair and brown eyes, her figure accentuated by her tight jeans and low cut red top and she was smiling at Joe. She instantly felt her stomach knot and her chest go tight, so she took some deep breaths to try and stay calm. Angelo was also looking at Lauren so didn't notice Fran's reaction.

  "Hi Joe, what did you think of the exhibition?" Lauren asked as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Joe frowned at her "it's good" he replied, and turned to Fran "Lauren this is Fran."