Strike Me Dead

by Bob Goodwin

  ‘You told me a lot but never that you suspected them. So you never saw them with another person?’

  ‘No. They were not sociable types. Who do you think killed this Dale guy?’

  ‘Your brother’s prints were all over the knife and the acid bottle. Strangely, the handle of the knife was unusually free from any blood. Forensic experts suggest it may have been wrapped in something when it was used. If this is so, it suggests that a fourth person was involved.’ Hunter paused and thought for a moment. ‘Any thoughts about that?’

  James shook his head, not as in answering “No”, but in disgust at Hunter’s implication. ‘Well, you’re the detective. You’ll have to work it out.’ He pulled his hand away.

  ‘There were two so-called priests at Mooloolaba when Jessica disappeared. Both looked identical,’ said Hunter as James stood.

  ‘Good, this place could do with more of them,’ snapped James.

  ‘Lawson was abducted by a priest,’ continued Hunter. For a few seconds, James stared down at the sitting detective. It was clearly a trick as Graham Lawson’s name had not thus far been released publicly.

  ‘Lawson? Who is Lawson?’ asked James. Hunter laughed and waved his finger side to side. James turned and continued on his way home.

  ‘You haven’t finished your coffee,’ called Hunter. He watched him disappear across the road. ‘Asshole.’

  * * *

  James felt annoyed, not so much at Hunter, but at himself for almost losing control. He took a calming breath then opened the door to his apartment. No sooner had he walked into the lounge than Carmel was onto him. He heard her calling out.

  ‘James, is that you?’

  ‘Well, yeah. Who were you expecting?’

  ‘What’s all this?’

  James strolled towards his bedroom and the origin of the voice.

  ‘What’s what?’ He looked around as he entered his room. ‘You’ve tidied my room. You shouldn’t do that. We have had this discussion before. I need to have my privacy.’ Carmel was bent over in his walk-in robe. She stood and turned around, holding a pair of heavy black boots in one hand and something else he couldn’t quite see in the other.

  ‘These boots have lots of small blue rocks stuck in them. And I found all these loose ones on your wardrobe floor.’ She held out her hand, displaying the small blue road base stones. ‘Those pictures in the paper ... There were little rocks near those dreadful containers. Near all those dead bodies. James, please tell me that you have been near roadworks or something. I don’t think you’ve told me the full story?’

  He walked over to her and looked down at her open hand of blue rocks. He cupped her hand gently in his then closed her fingers over the small stones and looked into her eyes.

  ‘Well, here’s the thing, Mother. I could tell you absolutely everything I know, but then...’ he paused and smiled before continuing, ‘I’d have to kill you.’

  * * * * *

  About the Author

  Bob Goodwin was born in Nottingham, England in 1953. He moved with his parents, brother and 3 sisters to Australia in 1961 on board the Oriana.

  Most of Bob's working career has been in mental health after he completed General and Psychiatric Nursing training followed by a Degree in Counselling.

  This experience is reflected in much of his writing, and since 1987 he has written many short stories, short plays, one-act plays, short screen plays, feature length screenplays and three fiction novels. Generally, his genre is that of thriller / suspense with a helping of humour here and there.

  Other books by Bob Goodwin

  The 13th Black Candle

  Max Justice (book 1 in the Max Judd series)