Murder in Montego Bay

by Paula Lennon

  “I’m okay. That bullet sounded close though,” she said, reaching for her phone. “Better get an ambulance for him.”

  “Right,” said Preddy. “Let’s go get Lester.”

  Spence cocked her weapon. “Yes, sir.”

  They searched the dense overgrowth, prodded deep holes with sticks and even shone their torches up into the trees. The sound of waves crashing on the shore mingled with the sound of boots trampling dry branches.

  “He’s been spotted on de rocks, sir, up by de caves,” said Spence turning to look at Preddy as she replaced her radio in her pocket.

  Preddy frowned. Lester could certainly move and the fugitive knew the western coastline better than any of the detectives. He must have covered at least a mile of white sandy beach in order to reach the hazardous caves. The detective doubted that even Lester would enter the treacherous terrain in pitch blackness where some of the rocks were as sharp as machetes and hidden under water.

  “We dinnae have our own helicopter, do we?” asked Harris.

  “Ah wha’ wrong you?” Spence snapped. “Dis is not Glasgow.”

  “Detective Spence,” interjected Preddy.

  She kissed her teeth and strode off briskly without looking behind her.

  “I’m worried she’ll shoot me,” Harris said with a frown, watching as she stormed away.

  “She might.” Preddy walked past him and headed back towards their jeep.

  As the officers turned into the driveway of the remote boutique hotel the porter met them and used his kerosene lamp to highlight the spot where he had seen the strange man crawling. The detectives left their vehicles and walked towards the rocks. Preddy leaned over the precipice and peered into the usually clear blue water below, which was now almost black. The light of his torch picked up what appeared to be a torn white shirt which lay floating on the waters.

  “Can we get a rope?” asked Harris, looking at the porter.

  Rabino arched an eyebrow. “Who is going down there?”

  “We don’t need a rope,” Preddy said as he turned around and surveyed the surroundings. “Nobody not going down dere.”

  “Naw?” said Harris, as the veins in his forehead began to throb.

  “No,” replied Preddy.

  The porter hesitated and raised his lamp, illuminating their faces. All these guns were making him nervous. He wondered which of the men was in charge. The white man had to be the boss, they always were, but the black man sounded more authoritative and looked like he meant business. There were plenty of ropes available if these men would just make up their minds, although their expressions said “lynch each other” not “capture a wanted man.”

  “What’s dat over dere?” Preddy indicated a tiny structure in the distance.

  “Is one old pit toilet,” said the porter. “Nobody uses it. Dem soon going take it down.”

  Preddy drew his weapon and walked towards the derelict latrine, which appeared to be held together by rusted zinc. He stopped a few feet away and listening keenly. The only sounds were roars of strong waves buffeting the sharp rocks below.

  “Lester Chin Ellis!” Preddy shouted.

  The detectives circled the hut while the porter quickly backed away, but remained transfixed by the goings on. From inside came a drawn out creak that grated on the nerves of everyone who heard it.

  At first the strangled creaking meant nothing to Lester. In the instant that it took for realisation to set in he was falling and clutching at air. Human excrement enveloped his body right up to his neck. Lester screamed at the top of his voice, over and over. The smell was ten times worse than he could have imagined. He felt, rather than saw, cockroaches flying near his head and heard a rushing sound as hundreds of them scuttled on the walls.

  Preddy kicked at the hinges of the dangling door which capitulated immediately and fell to one side. He teetered over the edge of the broken wooden floor and peered inside the deep hole. The flashlight picked out Lester’s disgusted face and the detective allowed himself to smile as he backed away from the stench. The other detectives holstered their weapons and walked up to the hole. Rabino held her flashlight with one hand and her nose with the other. Spence covered her nose and mouth with both hands. Harris just leaned over and peered in with his hands at his sides as if oblivious to the odour.

  “Don’t shoot!” Lester cried. “Help me!”

  “Lester Chin Ellis, you are so full of shit,” said Preddy as he sat exhausted on the dry rocks.

  “I think ye mean ‘ye are under arrest’?” said Harris with a broad smile.

  Preddy wiped his brow and grinned. “Dat too.”

  “How’s he going to get out of that nastiness?” asked Rabino, trying not to retch.

  Spence shook her head firmly. “Not wid my help.”

  “Over to you, sir,” said Preddy, turning to face his boss. “Be careful how you hold de rope now.”

  CHAPTER 36

  Saturday, 15 August, 9:28 a.m.

  The sun appeared to form a halo around Pelican Walk police station. The media learned about the successful apprehension of Lester Chin Ellis as Commissioner Davis had insisted they be told immediately. Good news would be reported for once rather than the usual doom and gloom littered with scurrilous attacks on his officers. The short official press release explained Lester was a person of interest who was assisting with enquiries in a murder investigation, but the rumour said he murdered his own brother and the public trusted the rumour.

  Lester sat silently in the interview room, watched through the one-way viewing glass by Harris’ team of detectives. After being thoroughly hosed down outside the boutique hotel, he was transported to Pelican Walk clad only in a threadbare gown kindly donated by the proprietor. The on-call doctor had given him an analgesic as a precaution and declared him fit and well. His demands to see Doctor Sherman were ignored.

  A request to have clothes brought from home was denied and so Lester had to suffer the indignity of wearing the ill-fitting gown. He was placed in a solitary cell for the few hours until daylight with two armed officers standing guard. The short rest did not appear to have done him any good as he still generated aggression, but Preddy had no intention of trying to make him feel calm or comfortable. A cup of coffee was as far as he would go in that regard.

  Preddy wanted to question Lester immediately, but the young man had demanded a lawyer and it was their duty to accede to the request before the interrogation could begin. Bets had been taken as to whether their prime suspect would willingly give up any information. Spence and Harris believed that he would not and Preddy was relieved to see that the two detectives could agree on something. Rabino sat on the fence unable to make a firm choice although Lester’s increasingly hostile behaviour suggested that he would remain tight-lipped. Preddy avoided getting dragged into the bet, mainly because he needed to give this interview the best shot possible. It was prudent to avoid anything that would prejudice the outcome in his own mind.

  “How is de watchman doing?” asked Preddy.

  “The man is in shock, but the doctor says he’ll be okay,” said Rabino. “The bullet went straight through the right side of his chest and out through the back.”

  “What about Terence?”

  “Him shoulder not so bad,” said Spence. “Him still a bawl for him leg. Him not going walk good for a while.”

  “The lawyer is here, sir,” said the secretary, walking towards the detectives. “He says he wants to see his client right now.”

  “Good,” said Preddy. “Bring him come.”

  The four detectives watched as Neville Higgs entered the interview room. They recognised him as the same pushy lawyer who had spoken at the Chin Ellis press conference. He glared at them as he walked past.

  “Today must be zoo day or something,” he said and closed the door behind him, promptly rearranging the chairs so that both he and his client had their backs to the watching eyes.

  “Dat’s nice,” said Spence in annoyance.

  “Oc
h, ma lip-reading skills were never good anyway so he didnae have tae do that,” muttered Harris.

  “Those two will need to make up some damn good lies,” said Rabino.

  Preddy shook his head. “Dem don’t have enough time for dat.”

  “Let’s give them ten minutes,” said Harris. “Then it’s our time.”

  When the ten minutes had elapsed, Harris knocked on the door and entered, followed by Preddy carrying a large briefcase. Higgs reorganised the chairs into their original positions so that the two parties faced each other.

  “Mr Higgs, I’m Detective Harris, this is Detective Preddy. Mr Chin Ellis, we’ve all met before.”

  The lawyer acknowledged them. His client did not. Preddy proceeded to read the suspect his rights and asked him if he understood. Lester remained silent. His lawyer leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.

  “Yes, I understand,” drawled Lester.

  “Well, Lester, I must tell you dat de evidence we have against you is substantial,” said Preddy. “I am going to ask you some questions and your co-operation will be greatly appreciated. You should be aware before we begin dat we have already spoken to Marcus Darnay and have a sworn statement.”

  The lawyer said, “Remember you are not obliged to answer any questions. Let them bring the evidence.”

  “Please dinnae interrupt, sir,” retorted Harris. “The questions havenae even begun yet.”

  The lawyer sat back. He was not used to criminal investigations, but he knew that silence was nearly always the best strategy when under suspicion. Let the detectives go chase their tails without his client’s help.

  “We have a number of items in our possession, one of which is a bracelet,” said Preddy, as he opened the briefcase and took out the transparent bag which he pushed towards the suspect. “Have you seen dis bracelet before?”

  Lester said nothing although he allowed himself the briefest of glances at the bracelet.

  “I should tell you dat we took it from Zadie Merton and dat she claims you gave it to her days after Carter’s murder. But you knew dat already, right?”

  “I don’t know anything about any bracelet. Zadie just likes to talk foolishness.”

  “She took a shot at ye yesterday,” said Harris. “So she just likes tae shoot too?”

  The lawyer chimed in, “My client has already said that he doesn’t know anything about the bracelet. Miss Merton is a lovesick prostitute.”

  Lester gave his lawyer the side-eye. “Don’t call her that.”

  “Yer client hasnae really looked at it,” said Harris, pushing the bracelet firmly towards Lester. “Look closely. Carter was wearing it the night he got killed.”

  “I don’t know anything about what he had on,” Lester maintained. He peered at Harris with fake concern. “You need to stay out of the sun, it’s not good for people like you.”

  The lawyer pushed the bag back towards the detectives. “Detective, anyone could have given that bracelet to Zadie Merton. Maybe Marcus Darnay gave it to her, although I’m sure he forgot to put that in his statement. Any of the crime scene officers could have done so. It wouldn’t be the first time that victims have been separated from their property by officers of the law. I’m sure that when Miss Merton gets around to giving her statement she will tell you about all of her police clients.”

  “Same way,” said Lester smugly, folding his arms across his chest.

  “We also have another object with which I am sure ye are familiar,” said Harris.

  Harris removed the black balaclava from the briefcase, straightened the plastic enclosure and spread it in front of Lester, who blinked involuntarily. His thin eyes grew even thinner.

  “Are ye willing tae give us a DNA sample?”

  “No, he is not,” said Higgs. “You can go get a court order.”

  Lester smirked. “What my lawyer said.”

  “Dat is only a matter of time,” replied Preddy.

  The lawyer’s eyes bored into Preddy. “I only hope your chain of evidence is rock solid, because I know your Officer Nembhard gave my client a handkerchief to wipe his face that night, and I am sure it will not be difficult to establish reasonable doubt as to how any of my client’s DNA came to be on that hood.”

  “We can place you inside Darnay’s car,” Preddy lied. “De car dat you picked up from de Orchid and drove in pursuit of your own brother.”

  Lester shook his head. “I never did that.”

  “Ye murdered Carter in cold blood,” said Harris.

  “That’s a fucking lie!”

  “That’s enough, Detectives.” The lawyer stood up. “If you have hard evidence, bring it. Lay your charges. Your witnesses have zero credibility. I’ve seen Marcus Darnay’s rap sheet, or should I say rap blanket? No jury will take him seriously.”

  Lester stood up too. “Looks like we’re done for now then?”

  “Lester, dis is your chance to help yourself,” said Preddy, feeling the air go out of his lungs. “Once you go back to your cell, what next?

  “My client cannot help you any further, Detective.” Higgs reached for Lester’s plastic cup, crushing it under his fingers. “And I’ll take this.”

  “Lester, you going sit in prison maybe for years waiting for a trial?” asked Preddy. “You must know dat no way you are getting any bail, no matter what Miss Ida or Mr Higgs say.”

  “I will get bail,” predicted Lester confidently.

  “Never mind the murder. Ye shot at police officers and ye injured a security guard,” said Harris. “Ye didn’t get bail last time and ye certainly won’t be getting any bail this time.”

  “My client has—with good reason—lived in fear of officers for some time now,” said Higgs. “The court will be told that his fears are well-founded as there is plenty of documentary evidence to support that claim. Ask any man on the street and see if they don’t agree that my client is safer on the street than in jail. He will get bail.”

  Preddy felt a mixture of despair and frustration overwhelm him and he sought to regain control of the proceedings. “You don’t think your mother and father deserve closure, Lester?” he asked. “You going let dem sit and fret maybe for years and not know de truth?”

  Lester’s smirk faded. “Don’t talk about my people. You don’t know them.”

  “Why not talk about dem? Dey talk about you a lot,” said Preddy. “Your father even risked his life to try and help you. We going have to charge him too. Him have a licensed firearm, but dat don’t give him de right to shoot after police.”

  “You better leave Mas Terence alone!” snapped Lester, wiping his palms on his gown.

  “A wealthy, Chinese businessman in prison. He might not get on so well wid de food, de environment... or de neighbours. Bwoy, de neighbours.” Preddy shook his head.

  “Aye, the neighbours won’t like Terence,” agreed Harris. “He doesnae believe ye could have killed Carter. He said you relied on Carter for help, couldnae make a good business move without him.”

  “I never relied on Carter for anything! Carter fooled lots of people, but he never knew more about the business than me!”

  “Well, let’s talk about it and maybe we can also talk about what we can do for Mas Terence,” said Preddy encouragingly. “You really going leave Miss Ida by herself?”

  “I would advise you not to talk anymore,” said the lawyer, rapping on the mirror and beckoning to whoever was now outside the door.

  “Don’t advise me of nothing!” said Lester angrily. “What do you know? From day one you’ve just been milking money from us for legal fees. I can just imagine how you’re gonna try and take away every penny that Miss Ida has once Mas Terence is in jail. Don’t talk to me!”

  Preddy looked at the lawyer. “If you really want to go you can gwaan, but I think your client wants to stay.”

  “He is here tae advise ye, Lester, but ye make up yer own mind,” said Harris.

  Lester stood staring down at the balaclava and the bracelet. His bruised face had
long returned to its bronzed colour, but it now carried small scratches from the previous night’s escapades. His shoulders slumped as all arrogance drained from his body.

  “I have no doubt dat your chauffeur, Officer Nembhard, will be looking for a deal, and you’ll be out in de cold,” said Preddy. “Dey are old people, Lester. Dey have looked after you all your life. Don’t do dis to dem.”

  Lester crumpled back into his seat while his lawyer frowned and resumed his own seat.

  “They were going to take my empire from me,” he whispered quietly. “Can you imagine that? I’m the older one and they were going to make Carter run things. I couldn’t let it happen. And then there was Zadie. He used to treat Zadie badly, slapped her in the face more than once. I warned him about it.”

  “Are ye giving us a statement willingly, Lester?” asked Harris.

  “Yes, you can take my statement.”

  Outside the door, Rabino and Spence cheered and high-fived each other. There was nothing like a long-awaited confession to lift their spirits. Rabino reached for her phone and placed a call to the superintendent.

  *

  Detective Harris contemplated Commissioner Davis’s question as he sat with the leader and his deputy in a secluded room at Pelican Walk. It was not the first time he was having a private meeting with the khaki mafia. These were the men in the top roles who remained remote from the action, but whose shoulder straps were adorned with laurel wreaths of promotion and position.

  “Well?” Commissioner Davis sipped delicately from his glass as he waited on Harris.

  Harris ignored the bottle of imported champagne and his brimming glass remained untouched. “Nothing on him, sir. He feeds the homeless, has only one girlfriend, a nice daughter and a lovely son. Doesnae mix with any undesirables.”

  “Did you observe any corners being cut, anything unethical?” asked the deputy commissioner.

  Harris shook his head. “He is a clean officer and a great guy.”

  The commissioner raised an eyebrow. “I would like to know more about his on-the-job methods.”

  “With respect, sir, he has done a tremendous amount of good work with inadequate facilities and a small team of officers,” said Harris. “His methods may naw be the same as mine, but they do work.”