Murder, He Wrote

by R. S. Higham

  “It’s Stacey, actually.”

  “Is it?” She said. He paused and Kate saw him biting his lip.

  “Aren’t you the waitress who works here?” He asked, smiling again.

  “Yes.” She answered.

  “An’ you know my buddy James?”

  “So it is you. Look, Stacey, Tracey, whatever you call yourself, I’m not afraid of you and I know what you are.”

  “Is that right?” He asked. He was still grinning but Kate could see the fear in his eyes, she had to suppress a smile herself, she’d never stood up to anyone in her life, especially a man.

  “An’ what’s a little girl like you planning ta’ do about it?” He asked.

  “Make you pay for what you did, and free the people you framed.”

  “What people?” He spat.

  “Kelvin Thomas, for instance,” it suddenly dawned on her that she shouldn’t have said anything; she was giving him time to flee the city or even the country. She should have taken him by surprise. But it was too late now. The word vomit wouldn’t stop.

  “Never heard of him.” He said.

  “No? Well what about the people you murdered? I have a list of names in my bag; want me to read them out?”

  Tracey was furious. His purple cheeks flushed bright red and his bulging forehead erupted with veins. Kate felt a surge of fear rush through her. Who was she trying to fool? She couldn’t stand up to him. A haunting look graced his face and as quickly as it had burnt red it was now fast cooling. He didn’t smile, but he wasn’t frowning either. The sudden change in mien sent her spine tingling.

  “I wouldn't be goin meddlin’ no more if I was you, cause Scooby Doo you ain’t.” He turned and walked the opposite way down the street never once looking back at her. She sighed; the cool air froze in her lungs, it felt like she hadn't took a breath throughout their whole conversation.

  “You’re so stupid! You shouldn’t have done that!” She slammed her fist against the lamppost, it stung in the cold. “I need to get to the station. Once the police know everything they can track him down easy.” She assured herself and again started her walk to the station. To get there you could either walk down a busy four-laner or cut through a small patch of dense forest. Kate had been hit by a car when she was eight years old and broke her left arm and leg, she hated roads ever since and she’d never learnt how to drive so that wasn’t an option although she didn’t like the thought of strolling through a forest in the dark either. Of course, her childhood fears caused her to take option B. The forest wasn’t too big, you could be in and out in less than five minutes and it was her usual route for visiting Manny in the cells, of course that had been during the day time. It was small but you could barely hear the traffic it was that thick once you were inside. She stepped off the path and onto the grassy hill, her foot slipping on the partially melted ice. Each step was treacherous, she nearly broke her ankle once or twice but finally making it to the bottom she doubted if it was worth it. “Maybe I should brave the road on the way back.” She knew that was unlikely. Now there was only the forest. It was pitch black inside, she could only make out the first couple of trees but entered it anyway. “If I just keep going forward.” She thought “I’ll come out the other side in no time. Besides I’ve slept in worst places, this is a piece of cake.” Once she was in she struggled to see her hand in front of her face never mind the forest floor, God only knows how much dog shit she was standing in. It was so quiet she could hear her breath; in and out, in and out. It was almost rhythmic.

  The darkness was more than she'd expected, and she was more terrified than she could ever have imagined. Her eyes tried to fill up, in her mind she’d already curled up into a ball on the ground but once she managed to shake that image away she found her feet were still moving. But it didn't erase the fear. She could feel eyes on her but she didn’t know where from, it was that unknowing that frightened her the most. Kate had always been the creature on the wrong end of the shot gun, staring into the barrel. She couldn’t see the way out yet, she thought she would by now, it hadn’t been long but it felt like an age. Turning back was no longer an option, it was as black that way as it was forwards.

  Then she heard a snap. It came from behind her. It was too loud to be a bird, even a fox. It was like- another snap. Closer this time. It was definitely too big for an animal. She swung round but before she saw it a powerful pain struck the side of her head. She flew to the ground hard and looked up. There in the darkness stood a large round figure; Kate knew exactly who it was. She opened her mouth to speak but he came down on her putting all of his weight on her tiny body making her choke. He knew he didn’t have to gag her; he could shut her up with simply his strength. Kate felt as though her lungs were about to collapse as Tracey’s 15 stone body forced further onto her chest. She tried to scream but all that came out was a wheeze that made Tracey smirk and give a slight, breathy laugh. He decided to end it now, he didn’t like her and he didn’t have time to play. He pounded into her plain little face with his meaty fists sending blood and teeth flying. The brutality of her death could only be rivalled by that of a seal being battered against the waves by a killer whale. When he was done, his hands dripping with blood, he left the same way that Kate had entered and wiped the blood off onto the wet grass, trying in vain to scrape the remaining red out from under his nails. He took her duffel bag under his arm, if the police found this he could be in trouble; besides he wanted to see just how much she’d found out about him, out of curiosity and out of fear of anyone else digging anything up. He looked back at the forest, it was too dark to see where she lay but knowing she was there was enough; he was feeling calm, after all, he’d done this many times.

  20

  The bright sunlight boldly made its way into Harrison’s sitting room. His yellow retriever resting by his feet. Resting but looking up at him with huge black eyes, his tail slowly thumping the thatch carpet with its wagging. It was time for his morning walk. When Harrison finished looking through the paper he stood – as did the dog, and pulled on his coat and scarf. He pushed one foot into a damp boot (Mrs Harrison had always dried them properly for him, but she wasn’t here now) and slipped Davie’s collar around his neck. He was starting to sweat in his huge duffle coat and Davie wasn’t keen on having his collar on, that’s why they kept it off in the house. He was jumping up at him and up at the door, biting his collar and barking. Harrison had noticed him becoming more difficult after his wife had passed, it was as if Davie knew the woman wasn’t here, and he acted up out of confusion. Their house sat in front of the park where Harrison used to take the dog to play but he changed their route eighteen months back, neither of them were in any shape to be out too long now so a walk down the road, through the forest, over the bridge and back was enough. Harrison went first with Davie following behind but as they got to the end of the path Davie ran ahead a little. Harrison yanked the lead tight and he didn’t get far. He knew the short and boring route like it was embedded into his DNA; he sometimes walked it all in a half daydream, waking suddenly when he bumped into his front gate. They were just a few metres away from the forest when Davie started barking and jumping. He didn’t act that way much on his walks unless he’d seen a squirrel or a dog he didn’t like, but Harrison neither saw nor heard anything in front of him. “Must have been a big fat pigeon.” He thought. He tugged the lead and kept on into the forest even though Davie was pulling away with all his tubby ten year old weight. “Nothing’s ever spooked him this bad before.” He took his lead off, hoping he wouldn’t bolt it, he didn’t. Davie started sniffing, the floor, the trees and then a patch of grass that was funny coloured. Harrison went over to it and leapt back when he saw what it was. But quickly relaxed his breath.

  “Is it a dead bird or rabbit, Davie. A cat probably had it, bud, you're too late.” He put his lead back on and tried again to drag him into the forest but Davie just sat there, whimpering.

  “Davie. What’s gotten into you? Come on, boy.” He was an
swered with a bark.

  “Do you not want to go in?” Silence.

  “We always go this way. Look, I’ll show you there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Harrison dropped Davie’s lead and turned from him, which caused Davie to start barking again. He starting walking into the woods hoping Davie would follow, by now he was going crazy, bounding into the air and howling. Harrison turned to face him but kept moving backwards.

  “Come on, boy. Stop being daft.” Step by step he moved backwards whilst still watching the dog when he stood on something soft and fell on his behind. At this the dog ran over and barked at the thing that had tripped him. Harrison got to his feet and saw it. A girl. Barely. She was covered in blood, her face a pulp, her body a dead grey. Harrison cursed and scrambled out of the forest with Davie following close behind him. He got to the road and phoned the police on his new mobile phone. He’d never bothered to buy one before but now he was thankful he had. It wasn’t the easiest to use and his wet fingers kept pressing the wrong number but he eventually got onto the police. Within twenty minutes there were two police cars and an ambulance parked on the swampy ground. Harrison thought they might struggle to get back on the road if the wheels got stuck but it was only a distracting thought between a million others. He watched as the forensics team got to work. They looked like they were straight out of a nuclear lab. Four of them; Harrison was unable to determine the gender as every inch of their bodies were covered in white material. They started placing yellow markers on the ground. Now it was light Harrison could see more clearly into the wood and the white suits stood out like a sore thumb. He saw them bending down over something which was most likely the body and placing more markers there. Then *flash* as photographs were taken. The first one made Harrison rub his eyes.

  Naturally the police wanted to talk to him. There wasn’t much he could say that would be of any use, and frankly he wished he didn’t have to but he didn’t suppose he had much choice. Hopefully he would be spoken to here and not taken to the police station. He decided it would be best to initiate the conversation himself. When they finished up and the ambulance had driven away and the police were starting to section off the area with bright yellow tape Harrison went over to them. At first they told him to stay back but a man from behind laid a hand on his shoulder.

  “I’m guessing you’re the man who found the body?”

  “Unfortunately; it’s not something you hope to find this early in the morning.” He answered calmly. If there was one thing his loving but strict parents had taught him it was to keep a stiff upper lip.

  “I don’t imagine so. If you’d like we have a councillor who works with the police helping people who may have been disturbed by a grizzly case during jury duty or after finding a dead body, like you. They’re based over in Garand.”

  “Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind.” He wasn’t going to keep that in mind. He had found his wife lying cold as ice, blue as the ocean and hard as stone in the bed next to him. Her face contorted in pain, her tongue flapping over her lips like a black slug. This was nothing.

  “Can you tell me exactly what happened?” The police officer asked.

  “There isn’t much to tell I’m afraid.”

  “I don’t suppose there is, but I’ll still need to hear it in your words.”

  “Well I was taking Davie out for his morning walk when he started acting strangely; jumping around, barking… being unusual. Something freaked him. First we found the blood over there. Then… the girl.”

  “And then you phoned the police?”

  “Right away.”

  “Right. Well, thank you for taking the time to speak to us, and I hope the rest of your day is, er, much less eventful, Mr?”

  “Harrison. Leonard Harrison.”

  “You have a fine day now, Mr Harrison.”

  It was just past seven. Somehow the sun was up. “Spring must be coming early” he thought walking his dog back home on autopilot. If this wasn’t a good enough excuse for being on autopilot he didn’t know what was.

  21

  James was woken by banging outside of his cell. At first he thought he might be getting a new roommate but a woman with greying hair and a briefcase was escorted over to him and she didn’t look like a criminal.

  “James I take it?” She asked. Her face seemed friendly enough. Educated. She had wise eyes like a doctor. Then it hit him.

  “Yes. And I take it you’re here to help me out of this jam?”

  “I sure am.” She smiled a big beaming, toothy smile that reminded him of Kate, always looking so cheerful not withstanding her obvious sad existence.

  “I don’t think I can tell you how happy I am to see you.” He said. Rather foolishly but it was too early in the morning for him to notice, or care.

  “I’ve never had a man I just met tell me that. Or have I?” she chuckled. A heavenly glow lit her face up from her eyes down to her beaming smile.

  “Sorry. It’s just been a rough night.”

  “Well I’m here to put that all behind you. First tell me everything the police have told you. What they’re charging you for and what evidence they have.” He was let out of his cell and escorted over to a quiet room. Generally used as a spare office for storing old files since the only people that usually stayed here over night were drunks. The female lawyer noticed this straight away. They weren’t 100% on this guy.

  When they sat down she repeated herself and James began by telling her everything they said. From the three men (two of which he didn’t even know about) to the hair that had fallen onto one of the victims.

  “I have no idea who those men are. I’ve never met them! They have nothing to hold me on regarding those two. And the hair is the only bit of evidence for uhh… an Allan-something but apparently that’s enough.”

  “It’s not enough. They have nothing on you, James. That hair could have fallen off anywhere at any time. You could have ridden the bus together or bumped into him on the street. Don’t worry –” She winked. “Let’s get you out of here.”

  James was relieved. He sunk into his chair like it was made of cream cheese. She wasn’t what he thought a lawyer would look like or even talk like. He trusted her. She was almost angelic. The way her pointy shoulder blades stuck out behind her grey blazer like wings and her golden hair swept up into a high pony tail that swung around her head like a halo when she turned. He suddenly thought of Kate. “She should have phoned by now.” Though it’s possible she did, he didn’t hear his phone go off from under the desk during the night but it could have run out of battery. He would phone her as soon as possible.

  He wasn’t sat alone for long. The chief detective came in and muttered something about there not being enough evidence to hold him and that by law he has to release him. James asked where the woman had gone as he wanted to thank her, but he was met with silence. She must have already gone when he walked back into the main hub of the station as she was nowhere to be seen and so his mind went back onto Kate. He collected his things from a locker and checked his phone. It was on 7% battery but it had survived the night and there were no missed calls. “Strange.” He chewed the inside of his mouth. He tried it despite knowing it would cut out at any minute but just hearing her say ‘hello?’ would be enough to put him at ease. But all that greeted his ear was ‘The person you are phoning is unavailable, please leave a message after the tone–.‘

  He felt his brow furrow and forcibly made it unfurrow. Worrying was the last thing he needed to do, besides Kate could be unpredictable, and maybe she found nothing and didn’t want to disappoint him; however he had to tell her she needn’t research him anymore as he was free. –beep– “Hi, Kate. It’s James. The police have let me go due to lack of evidence. Who saw that coming, eh? Told you I was innocent and thank you for always believing in me. You’ve been a true friend and all I can hope is that once day I’ll repay you. This world doesn’t deserve you Kate. I’ll stop by Red’s and hope to catch you there. Bye!”

  It made him feel b
etter even though he hadn’t heard her. She truly was special, one of a kind. He felt like he needed to tell her that, something inside him felt uneasy, he had an unshakable feeling that this wasn’t the end of it, not by a long shot. But before going to find her at Red’s he thought it best to go and have a shower, maybe he could wash off some of his anxiety.

  22

  By 1PM the body had been moved from the crime scene and into the morgue ready for postmortem data collection. Kate’s body was pushed clumsily onto a hard slab. Next to her lay a morbidly obese man who had probably died of a heart attack. His body looked surprisingly more gruesome than Kate’s, but being a bloated, grey corpse didn’t exactly put you in with a chance of winning Miss Universe. There was a man wearing a long white coat and a baby blue mask around his face. His eyes were magnified behind a pair of large glasses that he wore so near his eyes that his eyelashes scratched at the prescription lenses. He peered over his nose at Kate as though she were a bug under a microscope.

  The cause of death was already established by the gaping hole where her face used to be. This was brute force, most likely more than one blow; which meant only one thing – murder.

  The rest of her body was virtually untouched. There was heavy bruising on the chest where the culprit had likely held her down but little else. Checking her face for fibres would be key. A finger nail lodged in the flesh, a hair or piece of material stuck to her bloody face. And of course checking under her nails for skin or fabric torn from the killer. Unfortunately her nails were (somewhat) clean. But he took a sample from under them and put it aside to send for further examination. Under a microscope many hidden things could be revealed.

  The next job would be identifying her. He scanned her fingerprints into the computer and sent them over to the police who responded quickly. She had been arrested three years ago for prostitution, again eighteen months ago and again twelve months ago. She was identified as Kate Silver. The police traced her place of work to a bar on Melvin Row called Red’s Tavern owned by a man named William Red. But her family were harder. There was only four other Silver’s living in New Hatton. Three were over eighty and one was seven years old. He typed up his findings on the computer in the next room and printed out a copy attaching a photo of her body with a paper clip to the top. He shut her into a freezer with a shudder as the thought of William Red’s reaction as he saw his employee’s face caved in entered his mind. It didn’t matter to him; he’d seen it all before.