by Ruby Loren
Lowell flicked his phone torch off and dialled, turning away when someone answered.
My thoughts turned to Lucky, hopefully safe and sound and still shut in my office. I only hoped the same could be said for the other animals. I took a step towards the open door of the critical care unit and then hesitated. Where was George Ashdown? Was I about to find out?
I steeled myself and walked into the unit. My fingers found the light switch and I flicked it on, grateful for the fluorescent tubes. There was no blood visible in here, but it did look like a bomb had gone off. Cupboards had been pulled open and their contents scattered across the tiled floor. Mr Limey’s vivarium was no longer on the counter where George had left it.
A quiet chattering drew my attention and I realised the baby meerkats were awake. I went over to them and watched as they made hopeful little noises in my direction. With the exception of Mr Limey, it didn’t appear that any of the animals had gone missing. While I should be grateful for small mercies, that didn’t answer any questions. Where had George Ashdown and his snake gone? Why had the place been ransacked? And most importantly, why was there a corpse outside?
The police arrived in a blaze of blue lights. Lowell and I were questioned inside the care unit, as the weather still wasn’t being kind. It wasn’t long before Trinity came down and also spoke to the detective inspector in charge of the investigation. I selfishly wondered if my career as a consultant had ended before it ever really begun.
“You said that this George Ashdown had a snake with him?”
I blinked and returned to giving my statement to a police officer I thought must be around the same age I was.
“Yes, it was a green mamba. He thought it was sick, which is why he brought it here. I think he said he’d had an argument with his fiancée and she kicked him out, leaving him with no money and this unwell snake.” I suddenly thought about how strange that story was. Why would he have picked up Mr Limey on his way out? Had the argument somehow been about the snake?
“Sorry, did you catch the name of the fiancée?” The officer asked.
“I think he said her name was Jackie."
The police officer’s expression turned grim.
Something clicked in my head. “Is she the woman outside?”
“We’ve only just begun our investigation, so I can neither confirm nor deny her identity,” he reeled off, but I knew what I’d seen. George Ashdown’s fiancée had come here looking for him and had ended up with a meat cleaver stuck in her skull. Meanwhile, her husband-to-be had pulled a vanishing act.
It didn’t take a genius to draw the most probable conclusion.
“Excuse me, I’ve got to check on one of the animals,” I said when he’d finished scribbling down my statement.
“Okay, but you’ll be around if we have any further questions?”
My eyes were inexorably drawn to Trinity Snidely’s and I knew she’d overheard the officer’s question. She slightly inclined her head and I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t being immediately dismissed.
“I’ll be here,” I said and quickly scrawled down my contact details, including those of the small apartment I was renting short term.
I swiftly exited the critical care unit and poked my head into my office. In the dim light, I could just see Lucky, fast asleep on his bed next to the computer. I smiled and quietly shut the door again. He hadn’t been disturbed.
It was only when I walked back into the critical care unit and glanced up at the animal cages to my right that I saw it. In one of the larger enclosures, intended for bear or big cat cubs, was a familiar looking vivarium. I opened the door and lifted it out, noting that Mr Limey looked pretty much the same as he had earlier. He was definitely a forlorn snake.
“Hey, this is the snake!”
Lowell, Trinity and the rest of the police force had left the unit. The officer I’d spoken to earlier was the only one present. I showed him Mr Limey and explained his significance. The officer wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic as I’d imagined - even less so when I explained how venomous mambas were.
“Thanks for letting us know. It would probably be best if you kept him here. I doubt we would give him better care,” the officer said.
“But don’t you think it’s weird that he got left behind? If George Ashdown made the effort to hide Mr Limey, but then killed his fiancée, why would he leave the snake behind?”
The police officer shrugged. “I’ll be sure to make a note of it. Right now, I think we’ll be focusing on finding Mr Ashdown.” He suddenly frowned. “And I in no way confirmed nor denied that the victim was his fiancée.”
I flicked my eyes heavenwards. “Sure. Well, let someone around here know if you decide to look at the snake.” I sighed and glanced back at the forlorn Mr Limey. I would definitely have to speak to one of the experts about him. I was sure they'd know what to do.
The next morning, my phone went off before I even made it to the block of buildings that included the critical care unit. I’d seen that the front was still taped off, far enough back so the public couldn’t see the stains - although the rain had washed most of them away.
I pulled my cheerfully singing phone from my pocket and was surprised to find it was Auryn.
“Hi, how are things?” I asked, somehow sensing this wasn’t your usual catch up chat.
“Hi Madi, I hope you’re okay. I’m just calling because, well, it’s Grandad. He’s had to go to hospital.”
My heart immediately sank. Mr Avery Senior had been forced out of retirement and back into running the zoo full time, but it looked like his age might have finally caught up with him. Due to Auryn’s father being convicted of illegal animal trading and assisting murder, Auryn was next in line to take over the family zoo. At the young age of nineteen, I knew he felt out of his depth.
“Do they know what’s wrong?” I asked and was met with a world-weary sigh.
“They think it’s his heart. I hope it’s nothing too serious. I just don’t know…” He hesitated and I knew he’d been about to say he didn’t know what he would do if his grandad passed away, but he probably thought it sounded selfish.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked, feeling awful about the hundreds of miles between us. Auryn was a really good friend (although I knew he wanted to be a little more than that) and I hated that I couldn't be there for him.
He gave a humourless laugh. “You can tell me how well your job is going. That’ll pick me up.”
My long silence must have been clue enough that things weren’t going swimmingly.
“So, what’s happened?” he asked.
I gave him a few of the highlights, glossing over the more distressing details when I could. It turned out to be pretty difficult to gloss over someone who was killed with a meat cleaver.
“Well, no one’s been murdered since you left Avery Zoo, Madi, so I guess that’s something,” Auryn said when I’d finished.
I frowned at the handset. “Are you saying that death follows me around?”
“No! I just… sorry,” he said and then sighed.
I decided to cut him some slack. “It is important to look on the bright side when you can. I needed a joke. Just as long as no one else dies,” I added and then bit my tongue. Luckily for me, Auryn laughed. “I’m just going to stop talking now,” I said, wanting to dig a big hole. Sleep deprivation and trying to figure out exactly what the hell had happened yesterday were clearly making me say stupid things.
“I think I’m going to be dealing with the fallout today and I’m sure you’ve got a ton of stuff to do, too,” I said, still feeling bad I wasn't there to help. “If you need anything, just let me know. And if you do need me to come back, I’ll be there,” I promised him, knowing that some things were more important than a job.
“Thanks so much, Madi. I already feel better about it,” Auryn assured me. I thought he was probably just putting on a brave face now that he knew I had my own problems to worry about.
“Ca
ll me again if anything changes at all,” I told him, hoping he would take me up on it. I really wanted to be there for him - especially when he’d already been through so much recently.
We both hung up and I paused for a moment to appreciate the August sunshine. The storm we’d had last night had really cleared the air. Somehow, I didn’t think the same could be said for the situation at the Safari and Wildlife Park. I still wasn’t convinced my current contract was safe, and if I got kicked out of my second ever consultancy contract… well, I doubted I’d be getting another chance this early in my new career.
The first place I visited was the critical care unit. The police had left everything lying around, but beyond the crime scene cleanup needed out front, I knew they’d finished taking evidence. I looked in on Mr Limey and even dropped a dead mouse into the cage. His tongue flicked out but he turned away and ignored it.
“Look on the bright side, Mr Limey. At least you’re still here,” I told him. It was the only consolation I could give. I was calling one of the manor’s reptile specialists the moment the working day officially began. I hoped they'd know what to do about the big lump Mr Limey had in his tail.
My next pre-work stop was my office. Lucky would no doubt be up and clamouring for food.
I was intercepted before I could open the door.
“Hi, how are you feeling?”
I turned and saw Lowell walk into the building through the back door. “Lowell! What are you doing here?” I thought back to last night and remembered we hadn’t exactly said goodbye. The police had seen us for separate questioning and then it had been so late, he’d gone back to his car and me to mine - both with empty bellies.
All in all, it wasn't the best first date I’d ever had.
I tried on a smile, although it was an effort this early in the morning. “I’m okay, just going to feed Lucky. Then I guess I’ll have to find someone in charge and find out what my position is here,” I said, fretting all over again.
“Come on, you didn’t murder anybody and I was right here when George saddled you with that snake. You put the animal’s welfare first. I would hope that an institution like this one would appreciate that. It’s also not as though you didn’t immediately ask for help. Everyone was just too busy entertaining to get down here. This is not on you,” he repeated.
I pushed open the door and we both stared at what was inside. A woman was sprawled out on the narrow settee at the back of the room. I looked at Lucky, who was still safe and sound on the desk. He seemed to give me a withering glare when the mystery woman let out an earth-shattering snore.
“How long has she been there?” Lowell asked, as if I’d know.
“I checked on Lucky before I left last night,” I said, thinking back. “But I didn't push the door all the way open. Who is she?” I whispered.
“Let’s find out,” he said and marched into the room, clapping his hands. “Up! Up!”
The woman on the settee jumped and looked blearily around her. Her dyed red hair stuck up all over the place. It must have been pretty heavily bleached too, as her dark roots were strikingly obvious.
“What? Where’s Jackie?” she said, looking around the room and finally focusing in on us.
I gave Lowell a sideways look. Everyone had assumed that George was the killer, but we could have another suspect sitting right here in front of us.
“Who are you?” I pressed.
“I’m Marie. Didn’t Jackie tell you that?” She frowned and looked around. “Why is it daytime? I just said to her I was going to lie down for a sec. I was up all night the other night at The Bright Sunny Dayz Club. You know it?”
“Uh, no. So you were with Jackie?” I prompted, hoping for some more useful information.
“Yeah. We came here because George said this was where he brought his snake, Mr Limey. He’s sick but there was a, uh, disagreement and he got shut out without money, so couldn't go to a vet.”
Lowell and I exchanged a look. Marie wasn’t being completely honest.
"Why did Jackie want to come find George if they'd fallen out?” He asked and Marie shrugged, flicking her bird’s nest back over her shoulder.
“Oh you know. Lover’s tiff. It happens all the time with those two.” She smiled like it was nothing. “So, um, where is Jackie?”
“She’s dead. We found her outside the critical care unit last night with a meat cleaver in her head. Do you know anything about that?” I said, tired of pussyfooting around while other people thrust their problems at me.
Marie’s eyes opened wide. “Dead? But I was only just with her! Like…” she looked out of the window again “…a few hours ago, I guess.”
I fought the urge to explain that’s what happens when someone is brutally murdered, but I could tell I was just in a particularly bad mood this morning. If Marie really was Jackie’s friend, this news would no doubt be upsetting. Or at the very least, surprising. I tilted my head and examined her.
“I don't get it. What did you say happened? Where’s George?” she said.
I reluctantly revised my opinion that Marie could have been the one who'd done it. I was fast getting the impression that she wasn’t in possession of one of the quickest of wits.
“George has gone. His car’s gone, too, so the police think he’s probably responsible,” I told her, figuring it would be public knowledge by now anyway.
Marie goggled for a moment. “No way! George would never do that. He loves Jackie.”
“You mentioned they had a lot of arguments,” I reminded her.
“Yeah, but it was never anything serious. It was just about what Jackie and I…” She trailed off.
Lowell and I stayed silent, sensing that she’d been about to say something important.
The unexpected visitor looked down at her hands. “Well, Jackie and I have been in a bit of trouble lately. We were just doing our best to make some money on the side, you know? But George didn’t like it - especially when we got caught. He thought after that, Jackie would want to quit but he caught her with some of the stuff we sell yesterday while I was there. He started trying to preach about it being bad news but Jackie got really mad at him and kicked him out of the house.”
“How’d he get the snake?” I asked and she looked surprised for a moment before shrugging.
“I don’t know. He likes them a lot but Jackie made him keep them out in the garage. I guess he went there. I didn’t even know it was sick until she told me we had to go and get him and the snake and take them to the vet, coz no one was helping him out, you see.” She looked up at me. “No offence.”
I shrugged. I’d done what I could but there had been a number of distractions last night that had conspired against me.
“So, what exactly were you selling with Jackie?” I asked, but the girl on the settee clammed up.
Lowell cleared his throat. “We’d better call the police. I’m sure they’ll be very interested to hear that someone who has been in trouble with them before was present at the murder scene of her partner in crime. She’ll definitely be a suspect for assisting murder, if not the murderer herself.”
I nodded along, wondering what his game was. We both knew Marie was neither the mastermind, nor the killer. She’d definitely been surprised when we’d told her her friend was dead and I didn’t credit her with enough imagination to be able to act that well.
“Do you have to get the police involved?” she whined.
I shot a sharp look at Lowell. He wasn’t seriously considering…
“Madi, can I talk to you for a second outside?” Lowell asked and I followed him out of the room and a little way down the corridor.
“I don’t like leaving Lucky in there,” I muttered, but Lowell gave me a disbelieving look.
“He was fine all last night.” He ran a hand through his dark hair and a few strands flopped onto his forehead. “So, what are we going to do? I think she knows something she’s not telling us and I also think it’s pretty obvious that she’s not going to tell
the police if we turn her over.”
My mouth dropped open for a second. “Are you serious, Lowell? We shouldn’t have anything to do with this. A guy brought in a sick snake and then his crazy fiancée and her usual partner in crime came along and had an argument - only this time there was a meat cleaver lying out on the chopping board, one room away, so it ended badly. Why would we get ourselves involved?”
“You know there’s something more going on here. You heard her in there. She didn’t believe that George would kill his fiancée.”
I raised an eyebrow. “People don’t want to believe a lot of things. You never know when someone's going to snap.”
“Well then, why did he leave the snake? He cared about it enough to bring it in when he couldn’t get to the vet and then he refused to leave it behind. Why would he then abandon it after killing his fiancée?”
I shrugged. “Maybe he figured he couldn’t just walk into the vet now he’d be wanted for murder,” I said, although it was hard to reconcile this selfless act with the exceedingly selfish one of murder - especially one as impulsive as Jackie’s death had been.
“Okay, maybe there is more to it,” I conceded.
“Let’s see if we can get her to open up any more about what it was that she and Jackie were selling that got them in trouble. My money is on drugs. Once we think she’s telling the truth, then we can decide what to do,” Lowell said.
I folded my arms, unsatisfied. “Well, we won’t be able to turn her over to the police then. We’ll get done for obstruction of justice.”
“Hopefully it won’t take that long. Anyway, I think she knows more than she knows, if you follow my meaning. I don’t think she had anything to do with the murder, but I do think she isn’t convinced that George is guilty.”
The door to my office opened and Marie popped her head out. “Hey, have you got any food? I would love some breakfast. Also can I stay here for today? I was living with Jackie and George but I’m guessing their place is probably a no-go at the moment.”
I glared at Lowell. This was such a bad idea.
“I can go and get you something. How does a pain au chocolat sound?” I offered in my nicest voice.