Murder in the Second Row

by Bev Robitai

  Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence. But he sweeps away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He pursues his foes into the darkness of night.”

  ‘Yikes,’ Stewart expostulated, ‘this is a bit heavy, isn’t it? Do you think somebody’s trying to tell us something?’

  ‘I’d hate to think what.’ She took it back, gave it a cursory glance then screwed it into a ball. ‘It’s probably just one of those religious nutters, stuffing vague warnings into everyone’s letterboxes to keep them on the straight and narrow. They do so love to tell people how to live their lives. I think we’ll file that one in the round file, don’t you? No point in writing it up as “correspondence received” when there’s no return address on it.’

  She arced it across the room. One shot, neatly into the bin.

  Above the bin was the season clock. She moved the hand round to “5 weeks till Opening Night” and winked at him.

  ‘Not long to go now. Right, I’m going to go and write up these donations and put them into Gerald’s pigeonhole. He’ll think it’s Christmas!’

  When she’d gone, Stewart retrieved the scrunched-up letter and smoothed it out. Something about the heavy purple paper had looked faintly familiar. He folded it up and slipped it into his pocket to puzzle over later.

  Jessica got home around lunch time to find an unfamiliar car parked in her driveway. She peered inside it as she walked past but saw nothing indicating who it might belong to except a dark jacket folded neatly on the back seat.

  ‘Hi Jessica,’ a voice called from her veranda as a tall figure uncoiled from her sun-lounger. ‘I hope you don’t mind that I made myself comfortable while I waited for you.’

  ‘Detective Senior Sergeant Matherson, this is a surprise. Are you looking for further assistance with your enquiries?’ She kept her tone cool, a little wary after their previous encounter. She didn’t like being made to feel like a complete idiot.

  He came down the shallow steps to meet her. ‘Actually, I am. But first I wanted to apologise for my ill-considered statement at dinner. It wasn’t very smart to take a beautiful woman out for the evening and then talk about a wife, however mythical. I saw how uncomfortable it made you and I’m very sorry.’

  She waved it away as inconsequential despite the annoyance it had caused her. ‘Hasn’t crossed my mind since, Jack. Forget about it.’

  ‘Good. So long as you’re not unhappy in my company. Now, I was wondering if you happen to know where Austin Sudgeway might be. We’d rather like to speak to him but he doesn’t appear to be at home, and hasn’t been there for the last week. Did he have a trip planned, do you know?’

  She frowned, thinking back to conversations with Austin over the past couple of weeks. ‘I don’t recall him mentioning anything. Maybe some family emergency has come up and he didn’t have time to let any of us know. I think he has a brother down south somewhere.’

  ‘We’ve spoken to him – no help at all. Does Austin have a cell phone number? There wasn’t one on the crew list you gave us.’

  ‘No, he’s a bit anti-technology. No cell phone, and I’m not sure if he’s even got a computer to go online with. He’s the sort that still carries a chequebook rather than use a cash machine.’

  Jack rolled his eyes. ‘Honestly, sometimes it’s as if people just don’t want to have their movements traced. How are we expected to breach his civil rights if he leaves no digital trail whatsoever?’

  She smiled despite herself. ‘I’m sure he’ll turn up soon. The theatre is his second home and I doubt he’ll stay away for long.’

  ‘Unless he’s hiding for some reason,’ said Jack gravely. ‘Do you think that’s possible?’

  ‘Nah, not Austin. Really, he’s pretty harmless. A bit sleazy at times, but the worst you could say about him is that he makes horribly inappropriate jokes. Not really an offence you could lock him up for, is it?’

  ‘Not unless we had much bigger jails! But seriously Jessica, if you do hear from him, would you let me know as soon as possible? It really is important that we speak to him, if only to rule him out as a suspect.’

  ‘Sure, fair enough. Is there anyone else you’ve got your eye on that I need to hunt down for you? Since you seem to be having a bit of trouble locating people?’

  He eyed her sternly. ‘All right, Miss, that’ll be enough of your lip. Now then, is there any chance of a cup of coffee since I’ve been waiting patiently for so long?’

  She rapidly weighed up her intention of doing an hour’s housework against the chance to enjoy a chat with a handsome copper, and decided the vacuuming could definitely wait. ‘Come on inside.’

  She unlocked the front door, solid wood with a leadlight window, and he followed her up the wood-panelled hall to the kitchen.

  ‘This is a lovely old place,’ he said, looking round appreciatively. ‘Did you do it up yourself?’

  ‘Yes, with a bit of help from the theatre guys. Gazza sorted out the wiring because that was a bit tired, then he and Howard gave me a hand with some of the heavy work like replacing the kitchen bench and cupboards. The painting and varnishing I did myself.’

  She filled the kettle and reached for two mugs hanging on a mug tree.

  ‘You’ve done a very nice job. I’m in a police house for now, so it’s pretty nondescript. When I get a bit more settled I’ll look round for something like this that has more character.’ He looked momentarily self-conscious. ‘I’ve decided to try some of that “quality of life” thing that people keep talking about. After eighteen years in the force it’s probably time that my career isn’t the most important thing in my life.’

  ‘Wow. That’s a tricky step for a guy to take. Whetford’s a good place for it, though. We’re very hot on “work-life balance” and “finding yourself” and alternative lifestyles. You want an aura analysis or chakra readings, let me know and I’ll hook you up.’

  His dark eyes regarded her with mild suspicion. ‘You wouldn’t be poking fun at my life-changing aspirations, would you? That wouldn’t be very kind.’

  She spread her hands in innocence. ‘Who, me? No, of course not.’ She grinned. ‘I’m just helping you with your enquiries, like a good citizen should.’

  She poured milk into his coffee and handed it to him. ‘Speaking of which, why did you pull Phil in for questioning like that? Surely you didn’t need to haul him down to the station and get him publicly humiliated? There can’t have been much evidence to base that on.’

  He frowned. ‘You’re right, actually, but keep that to yourself. It was D.I. Carthew’s idea, hoping that giving our best suspect a fright might shake loose more information. It’s not the way I would have gone about it.’

  ‘Of course not. You’d have given him a psychic reading and known straight away he was innocent, wouldn’t you? I mean, his aura alone would have told you how sweet and harmless he is.’

  Jack stared at her. He pointed to his forehead. ‘See these worry lines? Do you know what caused them? Eighteen years of talking to people like you. If I stay here any longer I’ll need botox to maintain what looks I have left.’

  ‘Awwww, poor Jack! You’re wrong though. I don’t cause frown lines, I cause these.’ She reached over and traced his laugh lines with her finger. ‘These are much more fun. And they add to your good looks, so you should be thanking me.’

  ‘I? Thank you?’ He gestured dramatically, feeding her the next line.

  ‘You’re welcome!’ she laughed.

  He looked at her over the rim of his coffee mug. ‘Do you have any thoughts about who we should be looking at as a suspect? Is there anyone at the theatre who’s been acting strangely recently?’

  ‘What? This is amateur theatre we’re talking about! Everyone is strange to start with. But I know what you mean.’ She struggled with her conscience for a while, then sighed. ‘All right, officer, I’ll come clean. Nick has been bothering me a bit. A while ago
he was all over me like a rash, but when I told him I wasn’t interested he switched straight to Tamara and was playing sucky face with her all round the theatre. I thought maybe he was trying to make me jealous, but who knows? There might have been some other motivation going on. And it did worry me that he had those bruises and scratches on his face. Did he explain those to you?’

  ‘Yes, he said he fell on some rocks. We did check under Tamara’s fingernails but there was no tissue of any kind so it appears that she didn’t scratch him.’

  ‘So he’s innocent then?’

  ‘Not necessarily. There’s just no evidence either way at present. We have some DNA tests under way and those results will be back in another week or so. Sadly, it’s not quite as fast as they magically perform them on C.S.I.’

  ‘How did she die?’ Jessica asked, hesitantly.

  ‘She was muffled with the sleeve of her cardigan and stabbed with a very thin blade of some kind.’

  ‘God. That’s horrible.’

  ‘Homicides usually are, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Hang on a minute – a cardigan? That doesn’t sound like Tamara. She wouldn’t be seen dead in a cardigan – oh. She was, wasn’t she. But honestly, she wouldn’t normally wear something so… conservative. I’ll bet the last time she wore a cardie was as part of her school uniform.’

  ‘That’s interesting. I’ll check into that more closely. It did appear to be her clothing – we found her hairs on the sleeves and collar. ’

  ‘Ah, the good old epithelials, eh? Always a C.S.I. favourite!’

  ‘Actually, no, those would have required DNA analysis. Hair is easier. The lab just checked the colour and structure under the microscope and matched the hairs to the ones in her file.’ He grinned at her. ‘You thought you were an expert for a minute there, didn’t you? I’m afraid real life forensic science tends to be a bit more on the mundane side.’

  ‘So she wasn’t strangled resulting in a fracture of the hyoid bone?’ she said hopefully.

  ‘Nope, just the stabbing. And your facts are wrong again. Strangulation by a ligature, such as a sleeve for instance, has a different effect from manual strangulation which is what tends to snap the hyoid bone. Also, the victim was quite young, so the hyoid bone was still pliable. It’s generally the older victims with more brittle bones who show that kind of damage. Next question?’

  ‘Dammit! Just when you think you know stuff, it all turns out to be wrong. I think I’ll give up on the scientific clues. Forget C.S.I., give me good old Agatha Christie. Leave it with me, Jack – I shall apply my little grey cells to the problem and try to come up with a solution for you some other way. It’ll be the human element that’s the key, you know. Motive is everything.’

  ‘I’m sure your insight will prove invaluable. Let me know how you get on.’

  Chapter 10

  Jessica arrived for Sunday’s rehearsal, feeling she’d spent far too much time at the theatre lately. The morning’s tour had gone well, but it had been awkward at times, trying to satisfy the public’s fascination with the macabre without allowing any details of Tamara’s murder to slip out. Now she was tired and cranky and ready to snap if anyone got out of line.

  Walking towards the Green Room, she could hear Simone’s powerful voice raised in anger and her only thought was “Oh God, what now?” As the door opened, Simone reached full volume.

  ‘It’s perfectly obvious that some hideous pervert has been getting their disgusting thrills by spying on women in the lavatory, and I demand action. This theatre must be made accountable for the actions of its members, however depraved, and must make restitution for the harm inflicted upon every female in the company.’

  She was holding up a small electronic device with wires dangling from it, which Jessica assumed she had found in the backstage toilet. ‘Ladies, we must make our anger known. This outrage must be dealt with! Let us band together to raise our voices and be heard. Unity is strength!’

  Pippa and several female cast members were trapped in the kitchen by Simone’s substantial bulk. They cast pleading glances at Jessica as she advanced towards Simone.

  ‘Is there something I can help you with, Simone?’ asked Jessica.

  ‘Ah, at last, somebody with some authority. I found this spying device in the backstage lavatory and I insist that you take action, both to find the perpetrator and to make good the suffering and humiliation inflicted on the women in the cast. What are you going to do about it?’

  ‘I will take charge of the evidence, of course, so that a full investigation can be carried out. May I have it please? Thank you. Now, can you show me exactly where you found the device?’

  ‘Right up here.’ Simone stomped heavily up the two steps to the backstage toilet area. Pippa and the others made a break for it and escaped from the kitchen.

  ‘It was wedged up here at the top of the cubicle wall. I dread to think how long it has been up there – it was covered in dust. Obviously the cleaners haven’t been doing their job properly for quite some time or it would have been found and dealt with. We have incurred needless harassment and embarrassment while these layabouts failed in their duties.’

  With every sibilant ‘s’, a fine spray of saliva landed on Jessica’s arm. She stepped back out of range.

  ‘Well, thank you very much, Simone. I’m sure we’re all grateful for your excellent powers of observation and your diligence in bringing this to our attention.’

  Simone’s overstretched balloon of indignation slowly deflated. ‘That’s all very well, Jessica, but I want your assurance that this will be properly looked into. It’s a major breach of our privacy and I do feel that restitution is in order.’

  ‘I quite understand,’ said Jessica, her calm exterior almost ready to crack. ‘Rest assured, Simone, I will give this matter all the consideration it deserves. There will be an in-depth examination of the scene and the device, and a full enquiry into the circumstances of its positioning and discovery.’

  ‘Well I suppose that will have to do then. Get out of the way, girl, I’ve got a rehearsal to prepare for.’ Simone squeezed her way past Jessica and stomped back down to the Green Room where Pippa and the others were suddenly intently focussed on their scripts.

  Jessica stood still for a moment, fighting back an urge to fling the device with full force at the back of Simone’s head. She took it down to the workshop and showed Howard instead.

  ‘Look at it, it must have been there for years! It’s faded and dusty and looks as if it wouldn’t work even if you put 50,000 volts through it. What exactly is it, anyway?’

  ‘Some sort of listening device, I think. The sort of thing they sell the components for, and you make it up yourself. It would broadcast whatever sounds the mike picked up and send the signal to a receiving device, but it wouldn’t have much power so the person listening would have to be no more than a couple of rooms away. Here, look at the battery – it’s completely corroded. This thing hasn’t worked in months. Probably years.’

  ‘Oh thank God for that – it puts us in the clear with Simone. Do you know what she said? She wanted us to fork out restitution for invasion of her privacy!’

  ‘I guess you’d better go tell her the bad news then.’ Howard grinned at her expression. She shook her head.

  ‘Actually, I think this is so serious in her eyes that only the president of the society is exalted enough to bear those tidings. You tell her, Howard. It’ll be safer that way. Otherwise, she might provoke me enough to jam this device where it wouldn’t see daylight for many a long year. I’m in that sort of mood today.’

  ‘Ah. Right then. Fair enough. Thanks for the warning – we don’t want to lose any more actors, do we? I’ll just go and have a little chat with her then, shall I?’

  He edged away, pretending to flinch when she moved. She picked up a length of timber and menaced him with it. He headed for the stairs, laughing.

  Jessica took a moment to wind down a bit, feeling pleased that she had managed to hand over respo
nsibility to Howard instead of taking it on herself. She was becoming increasingly aware of her tendency to take on every task and was trying to combat it.

  She went back to the Green Room where Terence had just arrived, and took the opportunity to introduce him to the rest of the cast and crew.

  ‘So, Terence, it’s been a while since we’ve seen you on stage. How have you been?’ Howard asked him, and Jessica smiled to herself.

  ‘Actually I’m just out of hospital, Howard. Yes. Had to have a cholecystectomy and I’m only just back on my feet again.’

  Jessica grinned as Howard tried to back away. Terence was relentless once he’d got an audience. ‘The surgeon said he’d never seen gallstones like it. Big as marbles, some of them, not a word of a lie. No wonder I’d been so uncomfortable!’

  Jessica watched with a horrified fascination as she guessed what was coming next.

  ‘Would you like to see one? The surgeon gave it to me. I’ve got it right here wrapped up in my pocket. It’s the biggest one of the lot.’

  ‘Actually, Terence,’ gabbled Howard, his voice strangled, ‘I just have to – um, just have to go and see Simone about something. I’ll catch up with you later, OK?’

  ‘All right, Howard. We could go for a drink, eh? Just a soft drink for me of course – not allowed alcohol any more, doctor’s orders. I’ll look forward to it. After rehearsal then?’

  The stage door had already swung shut behind Howard’s rapidly-departing back.

  Moments later it opened again and Gerald came through with a handful of papers. He greeted the cast members then spotted the new face among them.

  ‘Hello, Terence, back with us again? How – ah, how nice to see you again.’ He spotted Jessica in the kitchen and hurried over. ‘Hello, Jessica. Look, I don’t want to upset you, but I just found this pushed into the letterbox and it’s a bit worrying.’ He unfolded a piece of heavy purple paper and handed it to her. Jessica glanced at it briefly and laughed.