Baxy still hadn’t figured out how the supposed neighbour had known where he would be at the time. Baxy had known there was no time for him to reach Nayxana so he could pretend to her husband that he cared about her welfare – Lodax lived on the mainland and this was the special day they always had together each week. So he ordered Lodax to phone Oskin and tell him to get to his house pronto and find out what was going on.
Next day Baxy heard about the murder and how his employer, Oskin Vasco, had been taken into custody. But never mind, the most important job had been done for him and that was the despatching of the vile aberration called Nayxana. Baxy had celebrated with Ferdy over several double whiskies at The Deer’s Antlers and felt rewarded when Sly had managed a rictus of a smile before falling asleep again in his chair. Life was still good, Baxy thought – Oskin had paid him in advance so he hadn’t missed out financially. But there was still a nagging thought that bothered him more than he would admit even to himself. Who had made that phone call to him at Lodax’s house and why?
CHAPTER 12
Curtis hadn’t heard from Janux for two days and wanted to read her report on the interviews she’d done at the Ryxin Women’s Refuge. He sent her a mind message and waited. He’d already become concerned when Janux had written about Uxxl’s disclosure of Nayxana’s telepathic powers. This was dangerous knowledge and he wondered how many others also knew. But what interested him most was that Nayxana had been kidnapped by a man and a woman working together. Plus the fact they’d used a van. Whose van was it? Why did it smell of fish?
He wasn’t shocked to hear of Zelene’s apparent eavesdropping while Janux was interviewing her husband. Perhaps Uxxl’s affair and upcoming marriage to Nayxana was something she’d had difficulty accepting. On Ryxin up to three wives had been culturally approved, but here on Earth, Human wives – like Zelene, were nearly always upset when Ryxin men sought out other women.
As Curtis sifted through the knowledge he and Janux had already gathered, he still felt confused. There were those with clear motives but only one motive so far had a ring of truth to it. Firstly there was the knowledge that Nayxana Vasco had communicated telepathically with Uxxl. Secondly, the description Uxxl had given of the man who’d been watching Nayxana sounded very much like someone both he and Janux had encountered before on more than one occasion – a pure-blood descended from one of The Ten who’d rebelled against them and joined a rebel group of pure-bloods. His name was Baxy Hurzy, a long-time acquaintance of Sly Onyx and most likely still one of his loyal supporters.
Then he remembered Oskin Vasco saying a woman had phoned him with an urgent message to get home quick and help his wife. What if Zelene was that woman and had somehow been involved in the kidnap and killing of Nayxana so she could have Uxxl to herself again?
Of course there was also the problem of the man who’d notified the police that something bad was happening at 56 Kekeno Street, Seal Bay. No one seemed to know who he was either and the H-Police didn’t care. They had their man and the case was closed as far as they were concerned.
He knew his need to see Luxinda was daily escalating and encroaching on all areas of his life. For this reason he needed Janux more than ever to steady him and help keep him on track. He couldn’t afford to allow distraction to stop him concentrating on the solving of this important case. If only she’d answer his message.
On my way, Janux sent through as Curtis paced his outside porch with a mug of coffee, mentally sifting through all the information available so far. Oskin’s trial was only two weeks away and he knew they needed a breakthrough soon. Then Curtis heard the sound of the motorbike’s engine and felt an unexpected sense of quiet joy.
“Ah at last my Trainee Assistant has arrived. We’re going to the Muritai Police Station to see Detective Soubert. He’s been working on Muritai for years and our noble mayor, Siegfried, has obtained permission for us to see the crime scene photos. But they still may want to scan us, so be prepared.” Curtis felt positive again and sure they could solve this case together.
Janux instinctively felt the back of her neck. There was still a slight bump there but it wasn’t as sore as it had been. “They’d better not press on it then,” she said.
“The scanner doesn’t even touch your skin, so you’ve nothing to fear.”
“Hah. I still can’t believe how easily we gave in to the system.”
“I think we both know what we’d be up against by not complying.”
“Don’t I know it,” she said, taking off her helmet and discarding the windproof jacket. “Let’s go then, but I’m surprised we’re permitted to see any of the H-Police evidence.”
“No worries, my love, Siegfried has quite some power. His position does have its advantages, you know.”
Curtis backed out his Fiat and soon they were heading south to the village where the police station was situated, one block down from the People’s Microchip Centre. Janux shuddered as they passed the latter, noticing again how bleak and cold it looked. Almost like a prison, with only a couple of windows high up in the grey concrete wall.
The police station, by contrast, still had a warm, old-fashioned ambience, having been built many years ago, before minimalist modernity had taken over the design of public buildings.
After confirming that Siegfried had approved their visit, the constable at reception showed them through without being scanned. Detective Soubert, close to retirement age, was seated at a desk in the far corner of the station. His job consisted of paperwork – the filing of reports and keeping meticulous records of everything the H-police were working on each day. He was a small, round, balding man who wore glasses.
When Curtis and Janux approached his desk he looked up with a bewildered expression. “Yes, what can I help you with? Siegfried did mention someone was coming to see me today.”
Curtis reached out a hand. “Detective Soubert, I’m Curtis McCoy and this is my Trainee Assistant, Janux Lennan. We’ve come to ask you a favour.”
The detective rose immediately and smiled at Janux, ignoring Curtis. “Hello, my dear, I’m so pleased to meet you. Do sit down and tell me how I can help.”
Curtis was taken aback as all the detective’s attention was focussed on Janux.
“I am merely an assistant,” Janux said, hastily sitting down. “My superior, PI McCoy, is the one you need to address, sir.”
“Of course, my dear. Now, where were we? Oh yes, I had to find out what it is you wanted. Let me see.” He began to shuffle papers frantically around his desk.
Curtis cleared his throat. “We’d like to see the crime-scene photos from the murder at 56 Kekeno Street, Seal Bay. They were taken on May 13th.”
“I think I have those somewhere,” Detective Soubert said. “Are you defending the accused?”
“I’m working on the defence case,” Curtis said. “We are required to see as much of the evidence as possible.”
“Of course you are. Yes, indeed, even those who are guilty must have someone to try and get them off. We all know that, don’t we?” He chuckled to himself as he opened a drawer behind the desk. “I had a few cases just like that. Of course they were all guilty and we all knew it, but the motions had to be gone through. Don’t ask me why, heh, heh.”
Curtis and Janux exchanged glances. Then a large manila envelope was placed on the desk in front of them. “Take a look at these. I’m sure you’ll realise why we don’t want this man to go free, now do we? Sure, he’s Human, but when it comes to murder of a spouse the same law applies to all of us, doesn’t it?”
“Innocent until proven guilty, sir,” Curtis said quietly. “Thank you, we shan’t be long.”
“You can view them over there at that table,” the detective said, frowning and muttering to himself then settling himself back at his desk.
“Oh, my Kieran.” Janux looked at the photo of Nayxana lying on the floor with the wooden-handled knife still protruding from her chest.
“What kind of monster are we seeking here?” Cu
rtis felt himself go rigid and his face felt like carved stone as he took in the scene.
Janux observed the sadness in Curtis’s eyes. “May Kieran give us the wisdom to find this person,” she said in a low whisper.
Curtis believed in the wisdom of Kieran but had never thought of him as having special powers. Then he noticed a name on the front of the envelope that had held the photographs. A Constable Melvyn had been present at the crime scene and had signed in as a witness that the photographs were a true and correct record.
After he and Janux had studied the photos carefully and jotted down the main points they needed to remember, Curtis replaced them in the envelope and took it back to Detective Soubert’s desk.
“Where can I find Constable Melvyn?” Curtis asked him.
“Glad you asked, sir. I was going to suggest you speak to him. He was there, you see. What a fine young man and so reliable. He’ll put you straight about the killer being already behind bars where he belongs. He’ll not be spared, you can count on that – guilty all the way, if you ask me. Anyway, if you can wait two hours Mr Melvyn will be here. He’s on late shift.”
“Thanks for your help, detective. We’ll wait for him.”
“Goodbye – and don’t forget now, the guilty must be punished.”
They were directed by the constable at reception to wait in a small staff lunchroom where they could avail themselves of a hot drink if desired. They sat drinking instant coffee and avoided the stale-looking biscuits. After two hours, Constable Melvyn came on duty. He was young, perhaps no more than twenty years old, and had a fine, sensitive face with grey eyes and red, full lips.
“My boss, the Detective Super, will be here in ten minutes and then we’ll be going out to view another crime scene, so you’d better be quick. How may I help?”
“I’m told you attended the murder scene at 56 Kekeno Street on 13th May?” Curtis said.
“Yes, I was there. My job was to scan the body and obtain an identity. She was a fine- looking woman, sir. We’re all pleased her husband will get the death penalty for her murder.”
“His guilt hasn’t been proven yet, constable. Can I ask if there was anything at all at the crime scene that caught your attention?”
Constable Melvyn hesitated and looked behind him to make sure there was no one listening. “I’ve seen it before,” he said.
“Seen what?” Curtis asked.
“Another woman with a knife through her heart just like Mrs Vasco had.”
Curtis knew time was running out. He spoke quickly. “Where did you see that, constable?”
“At Pohatu Cove last month - it’s an unsolved murder, Mr McCoy. She was Ryxin also and her Human husband was away at the time. I shouldn’t be telling you this, I know. Still, she was an especially beautiful woman too – just like Mrs Vasco.”
The sound of a door slamming near reception alerted them and Constable Melvyn jumped.
“What was her name?” Curtis whispered urgently.
“Oonagh Bleyis. There’s only been a three-line notice in the Muritai Weekly, saying she was killed and where. No other information has ever been released,” Constable Melvyn whispered back.
“Thank you, constable – I appreciate the information, which could be a big help to our enquiries. Just keep an open mind, okay?”
“I’ve got to go, it’ll be the DS.” He scurried out of the lunchroom while Curtis and Janux stayed and drank the last of their lukewarm coffee.
CHAPTER 13
Curtis invited Janux to stay the night. He didn’t tell her, but he was concerned for her safety after what Constable Melvyn had disclosed to them. Besides he wanted to ask her what she thought of his next plan – to interview Baxy Hurzy. Curtis was almost certain Baxy was the one Oskin Vasco had hired to watch his errant wife and report back to him. Perhaps Oskin was scared of Baxy and that was why he wouldn’t tell Curtis his name.
Later, on passing Janux’s room he thought he heard sobbing so he knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Janux said in a muffled voice.
“What’s the matter, my love?” Curtis said, observing her tear-stained face.
“I’m worried. There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
“You’re being followed?”
“I don’t know, but Lodax told me I was in danger. She said they know about my telepathic powers and she said I was on a list.”
“Hold on a minute, darling. Who is Lodax? You’d better start at the beginning.”
Janux told Curtis the full extent of her research to date concerning the inheritance of the telepathy gene. She hadn’t yet found out which women had the gene but Kieran’s site had at least confirmed that they’d all inherited it from the descendants of just two women who’d come with the first group of fifty women to Earth from Ryxin in 1905.
Janux also told Curtis how the research was difficult since King Dymon 3rd had passed a law commanding Kieran to keep the information out of reach. Loyalists to the king still had enough power to ensure this law was obeyed, regardless of the fact that King Dymon 3rd was long since dead and the Ryxin planet had died through lack of sunlight.
No one knew if the royal line still existed on another planet somewhere in the cosmos, yet abject fear of that possibility was enough to keep the loyalists obedient to the ancient law. Historic records spelled out in detail some of the horrific punishments meted out by King Dymon 3rd. It seemed the fear he’d once inspired in his subjects had a very long arm indeed.
“You must stay here with me,” Curtis said, putting his arm around Janux. He realised then just how much he’d missed her and wanted her with him all night. But that would be breaking the PI code so she’d have to stay in the spare room.
Next morning they both scoured Kieran’s website to find out where Baxy was living and his current occupation. The data came back promptly to confirm he was still living with Sly Onyx in Ngahere Road. Sly was convalescing from the Ryxin blood-disorder and Baxy had been hiring himself out as a private investigator, specialising in matrimonial disputes.
Curtis backed out his Fiat and they roared off, taking a right turn about two kilometres south off Tahatika Road. Ngahere was a no-exit road and Sly’s house was almost at the end. It still stood alone and lonely looking, surrounded by paddocks dotted with a smattering of woolly-coated sheep.
He strode determinedly up the wide concrete steps of the old homestead, Janux trailing behind. After a loud rapping on the solid wooden door there was complete silence. They stood waiting, listening intently for any sign of life within. Curtis knocked again and leaned over and put his ear to the door.
Suddenly he almost fell as the door opened and there stood Baxy Hurzy, smirking at them from a face sporting at least two days’ growth of whiskers.
“Curtis McCoy, to what do I owe this honour?”
“May I ask you some questions, Mr Hurzy? I’m investigating the death of Nayxana Vasco. You see, I don’t believe her husband killed her. That’s why I’m hoping you may be able to help me out. After all, you were working for him, weren’t you?”
“I suppose you could call it work. Standing around watching someone all day was a money spinner, all right. Come on then, I’ll answer your questions. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“My Trainee Assistant will need to accompany me – to take notes, you understand.”
Baxy scowled at Janux and looked as if he was about to say something. “Suit yourself then.”
They followed him down the dark, gloomy hallway and into a small room that looked like a study. There were two easy chairs, which Baxy directed them to, and a swivel chair that he chose.
“So what happened to your client?” Curtis asked him.
“He murdered his bloody wife,” Baxy answered.
“What did he employ you for?”
“He told me to watch his wife and find out what she was up to.”
“And what did you find out?”
“Not much. He already knew she had a lover – another Ryxin
called Uxxl, who used to be a weightlifter before he became a lawyer. They were up to tricks for a while before he twigged.”
“What else did you find out?”
“Things like where she was living. She was shacked-up with the guy and his missus. He was taking turns with them, sleeping with one or the other of them. I couldn’t see any problems – no, none at all. That was always the way on Ryxin. He could pick whichever one he wanted for the night. That’s the way it was. No worries, mate.”
“Oskin wanted Nayxana back but I understand she wasn’t going to return. How come she went around to his home?” Curtis had always felt this could be the key to solving the case.
“I dunno. Maybe he asked her to go there – pretended he wanted to talk to her – and then killed her. I dunno, mate. Like I said, I was only watching her movements. I couldn’t tell why she did things. Anyway that was my day off. I was over on the mainland.”
“Do you have a wife or girlfriend?”
“Nah, not me. I did have one, a live-in woman, but she wanted to get pregnant. I couldn’t give her that, mate – against the law. She was Ryxin, just like me. She buggered off to Australia and ended up with a Greek Human. They’ve got a few kids now, so I’m told. Not me though, mate. I won’t touch even a Human woman any more. The one I did have wanted me to marry her and give her kids too. I said no, I don’t agree with the Flim-Flam law. You go and find another Human to give you bloody kids. That was my last fling with women – had enough of ’em, mate.”
“Did Nayxana know you were watching her?”
“She did see me a coupla times, I reckon. So after that I hadda be very careful.”
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