Bye,’ says Mack. He hangs up the phone just as Detective Sergeant Nick Baxter arrives, smiles and says to Mack, ‘So, Inspector. What’s the goss?’
‘I got a phone call from Dr Airhardt,’ replies Mack. ‘He talked about Alan’s family and said they were upset about his suicide’
Nick stops smiling and says, ‘Oh, that’s sad.’
‘Have you heard about the coat?’ asks Mack.
‘No, I was on holiday,’ replies Nick.
‘There’s a mysterious person who is wearing a coat and who is creeping around in St Kilda and is haunting Tyler and it’s making him mad and crazy,’ says Mack.
‘So where’s this mysterious person now?’ asks Nick.
‘That mysterious person is in a police cell now but I don’t know what that person’s name is and who it is, and, do you know what?’ replies Mack.
‘What?’ asks Nick.
‘That person has got an arsenal of weapons in the secret hideout!’ replies Mack.
‘May I see that person?’ asks Nick.
‘Okay,’ replies Mack. ‘Let’s go and check the door of the police cell, come on.’
So he and Nick walk to the room where the police cells are. When they arrive at the room, they walk to the cells containing the mysterious person, who is all alone. Mack opens the latch of the cell’s door and says to the mysterious person, ‘Are you okay today?’
‘Screw you, copper old fart!’
‘Are you hungry?’ asks Mack.
‘Not yet,’ the mysterious person’s voice replies.
‘Okay,’ says Mack, so he shuts the latch of the cell’s door.
Nick is shocked and says, ‘Oh my god! That person’s voice sounded like Gollum from Lord Of The Rings!’
‘Yes, his voice sounded scary,’ says Mack.
‘I know,’ says Nick. ‘What about the coat?’
‘Well, we sent it to the police lab to check the clues and DNA tested the coat,’ replies Mack.
‘When are the results going to be here?’ asks Nick.
‘Not now, but soon,’ replies Mack. ‘Come on, Nick. Let’s go.’
He and Nick walk out and leave the room.
CHAPTER 16
A
t Tyler’s apartment block it’s half past four in the afternoon. Peter is watching the afternoon news on TV but he is holding a pen in his right hand and a note pad in his left hand; both had come from Tyler’s desk. On the television screen, there’s another newsreader on the afternoon news saying, ‘Good afternoon, and welcome to the afternoon edition of National Eight News and now for the news. A suicide happened at the St Kilda Road Police Station where a man named Alan shot himself to death during a police interview. Alan had been arrested by the police and charged with threatening behaviour at the Duke of York Hotel in St Kilda two nights ago. Reported by Waylon McDermott.’
The footage shows another police press conference at the St Kilda Road Police Station and there’s a lot of media from last night there and behind them is Waylon McDermott in a suit with a microphone which has a logo of the Eight Network. He says, ‘Thank you very much and yes, I’m just here at the conference room at St Kilda Police Station for the second time and this time, it’s all about a suicide. Let’s talk to Inspector Mack Young again as he is being questioned by the media again.’
The footage shows Inspector Mack Young being questioned by one reporter from last night. ‘Inspector Young, what’s going on with the suicide of Alan?’
‘Well, it all started when Detective Sergeant Nick Baxter arrived from his holiday and Nick and I had a brief chat with two men, Tyler Brown and Dr Airhardt, and then after Nick and I entered the interview room, Alan arrived as he was being escorted by Constable Troy Williamson. Then, we interviewed him but he was rude to me and Nick, swearing and using his rude finger. Later during the interview Nick left because he wasn’t happy. I continued interviewing Alan and then, he went mad and he stood up from the chair, walked to Troy, took a gun out of Troy’s holster, punched Troy and ran to the wall. He used the gun and pointed it at me and said he was going to kill me!’ replies Mack. ‘And finally, Alan put the gun in his mouth and I tried to stop him from shooting himself but it was too late.’
‘Did Alan abuse Tyler Brown and Dr Airhardt at the Duke of York hotel two nights ago?’ asks another reporter from last night.
‘Yes, Tyler was in there three nights ago and Dr Airhardt was in two nights ago,’ replies Mack.
‘What type of abuse did Alan use?’ asks another reporter.
‘Verbal,’ replies Mack.
‘Are you going to contact and meet his family?’ asks Waylon.
‘Well, I got a call from Dr Airhardt and he is going to phone Alan’s family but he told me they were upset and disappointed about his suicide when they heard it on the news on the radio so he will talk to them, I think,’ replies Mack.
‘Any updates about the mysterious coat?’ asks Waylon.
‘Yes, Tyler gave me the coat and I sent the coat to the forensic,’ replies Mack.
‘Okay, what about the mysterious person?’ asks Waylon.
‘That person is still in the police cell so Nick and I have had brief contact with that person and that person is not well,’ replies Mack.
‘Are you ready for the results?’ asks Waylon.
‘As soon as possible but I don’t know if we still have to wait a few weeks,’ replies Mack.
The footage went back to Waylon with the microphone in his hand and he says, ‘Well there you go. It’s a sad day for both the police and Alan’s family but it’s a tragedy for his family because it’s breaking their hearts and there are no details about Alan’s funeral. This is Waylon McDermott, National Eight News, Melbourne.’
Peter is upset and says to himself, ‘As soon as possible? Pig’s bum!’ He tosses the notepad and a pen on the coffee table, but there is a knock on the door. Peter says, ‘Yeah, come in.’
The door opens and it is Tyler and Angelique holding hands together so Peter stands up, walks to the TV set, turns off the TV set, walks to them and says to them, ‘Hi, guys.’
‘Hello,’ says Tyler and Angelique.
‘How’s the wedding planning thing going?’ asks Peter.
‘Good,’ replies Tyler.
‘Did you buy something?’ asks Peter.
‘Yes, I bought an engagement ring for Angelique and look, she’s wearing it on her finger,’ replies Tyler. Angelique shows her hand and the engagement ring.
Peter says to her, ‘That’s incredible, Angelique. What type of ring is it?’
‘It’s a simple but elegant solitaire diamond ring, Peter,’ replies Angelique.
‘Wow, it’s great,’ says Peter.
‘Thank you,’ says Angelique.
‘Um, Peter, I have a word for you,’ says Tyler.
‘Yeah, sure,’ says Peter.
‘I want you to be my best man for the wedding,’ says Tyler.
‘Um, all right, okay,’ says Peter.
‘Is that a yes or a no?’ asks Tyler.
‘Yes,’ replies Peter.
‘Good,’ says Tyler, so he and Angelique keep walking but they stop walking and Tyler turns around and asks Peter, ‘Any news?’
‘Nah, just normal,’ says Peter. ‘I’ve just gotta go now so I’ll see you as soon as possible. Hoo roo.’
‘Bye,’ says Tyler so Peter exits and shuts the door but Tyler turns around and asks Angelique, ‘What should we do now, Angelique?’
’Maybe we can have a dinner for two tonight,’ replies Angelique.
‘Good idea,’ says Tyler. ‘I’ll cook a dinner for you and me.’
‘Thank you,’ says Angelique, but Tyler walks to the coffee table, picks up a notepad and a pen from the same table, walks to the desk and puts the notepad and a pen on the desk. Then he walks to the kitchen while Angelique walks to the couch, takes her stilettos off, and lays down on the couch to have a rest after a busy day with Tyler.
In the streets of Balaclava, a taxi st
ops and after Dr Airhardt pays the taxi driver, he steps out of the taxi and then, he walks to a brick house as the taxi drives off. He opens the gate, enters, shuts the gate and walks to the front door of the brick house. Dr Airhardt knock on the door and a voice asks, ‘Who is it?’
‘It’s Dr Airhardt,’ replies Dr Airhardt.
‘Are you the guy who was threatened by my brother?’ the voice asks.
‘Yes,’ replies Dr Airhardt.
‘Okay, just come in,’ the voice says and then, the door opens and it is Alan’s brother who is younger than Alan, tall and with short brown hair but he also wear a black T-shirt. He says, ‘Stone the crows, who do you think you are? A policeman?’
‘No, I’m just a psychiatrist,’ replies Dr Airhardt. ‘What’s your name, young man?’
‘Will.’
‘How old are you?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘I am nineteen, working and at uni,’ replies Will.
‘All right, how old was your older brother, Alan?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘My brother was twenty-five,’ replies Will. ‘I thought my brother was okay but he drove everyone else crazy.’
‘May I speak to your parents please?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Yes,’ replies Will. He walks to the kitchen and Dr Airhardt follows him. In the kitchen, Alan’s parents are at the table. His father wears a grubby crinkly shirt and baggy trousers and looks disappointed. His mother wears a nice skirt with a lovely shirt and a cardigan. She looks sad and is crying with a handkerchief in her hand. Both are middle-aged but as they see Will and Dr Airhardt entering the kitchen, Will introduces Dr Airhardt to them. ‘Mum, Dad, I would like to introduce you to Dr Airhardt.’
‘Hello everybody,’ says Dr Airhardt.
‘Hi, Dr Airhardt,’ says both of Alan’s parents.
‘Would you like a cuppa, Doctor?’ asks Alan’s mum.
‘Yes please,’ replies Dr Airhardt. ‘With milk and no sugar.’
‘Okay,’ says Alan’s mum and then she asks Will, ‘Will, can you make a cuppa for Dr Airhardt?’
‘Yes, Mum,’ replies Will and then, Will walks to the kettle to make a cup of tea for Dr Airhardt. Dr Airhardt walks to the chair and sits down on the chair as he starts talking to Alan’s parents.
‘I’m so very sorry about your son. Alan killed himself during questioning by the police at the police station,’ says Dr Airhardt.
‘Yes, it’s very sad,’ cries Alan’s mum. ‘But …’ She takes a pause. She sniffs her nose and takes a deep breath and says, ‘I’m sorry.’
‘So you’re both sad and upset?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Yes, it’s such a pity,’ replies Alan’s dad. ‘I don’t get it.’
‘Can you tell me what Alan was doing in his daily life before he threatened both Tyler and me which led to his arrest?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Well, on the weekdays, he worked as a mechanic from nine to five and after he finished work, he went off to the Duke of York Hotel to have drinks and a pub meal for dinner,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘What type of drink did he drink?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Beer,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘How many?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Oh, I don’t know, about three, four or five,’ replies Alan’s dad. ‘I don’t remember.’
‘How long did Alan spend at the Duke of York Hotel during the weekdays?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Oh, crikey. He spent from five o’clock to ten o’clock, he was such a very naughty boy,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘So did Alan threaten both you and your wife when he arrived home from the Duke of York Hotel?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Yes, he did,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘Oh, what happened?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘He was so drunk and then, he swore at both me and my wife before he went off to bed to sleep and when he got up early in the morning, he was so tired and cranky and he swore at both me and my wife again!’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘Do you think Alan was a rude person?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Yes,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘What type of behaviour did he exhibit?’ says Dr Airhardt.
‘He was arrogant, aggressive, cranky, grumpy and rude, you name it, he had bad behaviour just like a little brat,’ replies Alan’s dad.
Will hears the kettle whistle on the stove so he turns off the gas, takes the kettle off of the stove, walks to the bench and pours the water into the cup, walks back to the stove, puts the kettle back on the stove, walks to the fridge, opens the fridge, takes a bottle of milk out of the fridge, and puts milk in. He takes the cup of tea and gives it to Dr Airhardt and says to him, ‘Here you go, Doctor.’
‘Thank you,’ says Dr Airhardt, so he drinks the cup of tea fast and says himself, ‘Aaahhh, much better.’ He puts the empty cup on table and then, he asks Alan’s mum, ‘Are you alright?’
‘No,’ replies Alan’s mum because she’s still sad.
‘Oh, okay,’ says Dr Airhardt and he takes a long pause and then, asks Alan’s dad, ‘What did Alan do on the weekends during his daily life?’
‘He did nothing,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘Why?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Because he was bored and tired,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘Was Alan a violent person?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘No,’ replies Alan’s dad. ‘Wait a minute. In his room there’s a box which has his stuff in it you might want to investigate.’
‘Did he have magazines?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Absolutely not,’ replies Alan’s dad.
‘Do you want to get the box?’ asks Dr Airhardt.
‘Oh sorry,’ replies Alan’s dad, so he stands up, and walks to Alan’s bedroom.
Dr Airhardt asks Alan’s mum, ‘Do you want me to help you?’
‘No,’ replies Alan’s mum.
Dr Airhardt takes his own card out of the pocket of his suit, gives it to Alan’s mum and says to her, ‘Here, take my card. If you’ve got a problem, call me.’
‘All right.’ says Alan’s mum and then, she stand up and leaves the kitchen.
‘Well,’ says Will, ‘are you going to leave?’
‘Yes,’ replies Dr Airhardt so he stands up but Alan’s dad arrives with a box of Alan’s stuff which says, ALAN’S HATE STUFF, gives it to Dr Airhardt and says to him, ‘Here, take this box.’
‘All right, I’ll make a file of Alan. It’s nice to meet you and I’ll see you soon because I’ve got the other job about Tyler and the coat. Nice to meet you, so long and goodbye,’ says Dr Airhardt.
Alan’s dad says to himself, ‘Hmm, I like that.’
Outside the brick house, the door opens and Dr Airhardt exits. He sees a taxi driving on the road and shouts, ‘Taxi!’ The taxi stops on the road and Dr Airhardt runs to the taxi, opens the door, hops in the taxi and the Greek taxi driver asks Dr Airhardt, ‘Where to?’
‘Take me to my office in St Kilda please,’ replies Dr Airhardt.
‘Okay,’ says the Greek taxi driver as he drives off.
At Dr Airhardt’s office, he shows the box of Alan’s stuff to Leo and Roy and says to them, ‘Gentlemen, this is Alan’s hate stuff and it contains radical, and threatening information’
‘What in the box, Doctor?’ asks Leo.
‘Well, it’s got diaries, writings on pieces of papers, drawings of his fantasies, and an enemies list,’ replies Dr Airhardt.
‘Can we have a look please?’ asks Leo.
‘Yes, just one,’ replies Dr Airhardt and then, he opens the box of Alan’s stuff, takes one of his things which is an exercise book and gives it to Leo. Leo opens the exercise book and it has Alan’s writing about a list of people that he threatened. Leo reads the list and as he turns the pages he discovers there was no writing about Tyler and Dr Airhardt so he says to Dr Airhardt, ‘Hey, it’s doesn’t have Tyler and you in this book.’
‘Ahhh, gimme that book, Leo!’ frowns Dr Airhardt as he pinches the book from Leo
. He asks Leo, ‘Which day was Tyler threatened by Alan at the Duke of York Hotel?’
‘Two nights ago. I mean, Tuesday March 16?’ asks Leo.
‘Yes,’ replies Dr Airhardt so he writes, Tuesday March 16, Tyler Brown, The Duke of York Hotel, on the page of the same book but he stops writing and asks Leo, ‘What name did Alan call Tyler?’
‘A stupid little bastard,’ says Leo.
‘Okay,’ says Dr Airhardt so he writes that and everything else down.
‘Can we have something to eat for dinner tonight?’ asks Roy.
‘Yes, you can order a pizza, Chinese or any other takeaway including Indian, fish and chips, but you guys have got to survive from hunger working in the night time,’ replies Dr Airhardt. He takes a wallet out of his pocket, takes some money out of his wallet and gives it to Roy and says to him and Leo, ‘Now, I want you to make a file of Alan and then, put it in the filing cabinet before midnight. After midnight because I’ve got to go home and later, got to fight against dirty rotten people in the streets of St Kilda where the streets have no safety. See you tomorrow or on Monday. Goodbye.’ He leaves.
Roy turns and asks Leo, ‘What should we do now? Are we going to survive until midnight?’
‘I have an idea. Why don’t you go searching for the phone book and get take away dinner for you and me, while I make the file of Alan at this office?’ replies Leo.
‘Good idea, mate,’ says Roy.
‘Too right,’ says Leo. Roy walks to the door while Leo is going to search the office for stuff to make a file of Alan.
That night at Tyler’s apartment block after he and Angelique have dinner, they sit on the couch, Tyler with a glass of red wine in his right hand while holding Angelique close to him with her hand on his shirt. They feel warm and comfortable as Tyler asks Angelique, ‘Do you enjoy being with me?’
‘Yes,’ replies Angelique.
‘Good,’ says Tyler. ‘What should we do tomorrow?’
‘I was just thinking about going to the Alfred Hospital to see my mother but I need a favour from you,’ says Angelique.
‘What is it?’ asks Tyler.
The Mysterious Coat Page 7