Trap for a Goose

by Liliiana Saint Clair

  Dave Tanner watched with bulging eyes as his boss and Kristin verbally jousted with each other. The unexpectedness of what he saw and heard made his throat tighten to the extent that he coughed involuntarily.

  ‘Sorry,’ stammered Dave Tanner.

  Smiling a dazzling smile, Kristin proudly uttered, ‘Well, since you are already here, then I will have to invite you for a cup of my aromatic coffee.’

  ‘If you insist on an invitation to drink coffee, we are forced to accept your offer,’ said Steve Duke with a smile.

  ‘Okay, a decent answer. Come then, drink coffee. By the way, I never give up,’ said Kristin, opening the front door and entering the house.

  ‘We noticed that, Kristin,’ said Steve Duke, looking at Dave Tanner. ‘Come on man, don’t forget to turn on your brain when you see a woman.’

  ‘Boss, you forgot to say, “beautiful woman”, responded Dave Tanner, softly.

  Sitting in a chair with a cup of coffee in hand, Steve Duke said in a pleased voice, ‘Barbara was not mistaken when she said that you make excellent coffee.’

  ‘I know that, Chief Inspector Duke, but you came to me not just to drink coffee. I’m right?’ said Kristin.

  ‘Certainly, Kristin, you are right. Honestly, I want to note that you not only know how to make excellent coffee, but are also a very intelligent and extraordinary French woman,’ said Steve Duke, courteously.

  ‘I am in deep confusion; I could not imagine that you are able to make compliments. Please do not forget that my blood mix is French and Armenian,’ declared Kristin, proudly.

  ‘Now I understand from where you have derived such stubbornness and self-confidence,’ said Steve Duke.

  ‘Don’t forget about it. Tell me, please, was there any money from Mark Simpson to Danielle Jackson?’ asked Kristin.

  ‘Yes, there was. He sent her twenty thousand pounds about ten days ago. And there were also deposits from Richard Jackson.’

  ‘So, she blackmailed them! You can now safely talk about motives for the crime. Both successful people and with a lot to lose,’ expressed Kristin, confidently.

  ‘By the way, Richard Jackson said that he simply expressed a desire to help his son purchase an expensive car. The money was sent to Danielle Jackson, knowing that James’ pride would make him refuse the offer, and he only met Danielle briefly before his son knew her,’ said Chief Inspector Steve Duke.

  ‘Of course, he hides the truth, one lie,’ said Kristin, quietly.

  ‘Where did you get the information about Mark Simpson?’ asked Steve Duke.

  ‘This is my secret. Perhaps Craig Davidson knew about this blackmail. He certainly would not miss such a chance?’ Kristin continued.

  ‘Kristin, are you saying that Craig Davidson was murdered?’ asked Dave Tanner, puzzled. ‘He wrote a confession and he had the chain from Danielle Jackson’s pendant in his hands.’

  ‘Inspector Tanner, do not forget that I am a sociologist. We can say that I not only think so, but am also almost sure of it,’ said Kristin, smiling.

  ‘Almost sure, Kristin, which is not the same thing as being definitely sure. By the way, James Jackson will be released on bail today. He had an alibi for the time of the murder after all. He was in a car with a nurse from the clinic, Debbie Larsson,’ remarked Steve Duke.

  ‘Debbie Larsson? Were they having an affair?’ Kristin asked.

  ‘No, I think not. It seems to me that she is in love with him, but the feeling is not reciprocated,’ noted Steve Duke.

  ‘I think we need to check the alibis of Mark Simpson and Richard Jackson,’ Kristin reflected aloud.

  ‘Yes, if you remember, I promised to show you one of the murder weapons,’ said Steve Duke, getting up from his chair. He took a photo from his pocket and handed it to Kristin. ‘I hope that these photos will help you.’

  For a few seconds, Kristin studied the photos closely, then returned them to Chief Inspector Duke and uttered, ‘Thank you for the photos, so this umbrella struck the first blows on Danielle Jackson. Chief Inspector Duke, I’m going to visit Daisy Bolton, who lives at 12 Sloan Street, do you want to join me? She is a former friend of Danielle Jackson. By the way, she also told me about an interesting love triangle. Jennifer was once the girlfriend of James, and Danielle stole him from her.’

  ‘Danielle Jackson not only suffered from sex addiction, but also loved to destroy other people’s relationships,’ said Dave Tanner and got up from the couch.

  ‘Thank you, Kristin, for a delicious coffee. I will definitely give Barbara my excellent impressions of your delightful coffee. If you want me to accompany you to your meeting with Danielle Jackson’s friend, then I’ll be free at about half past five. I’ll need a little time to collect some information about Daisy Bolton and will let you know when I’m ready,’ reported Steve Duke.

  ‘Thanks. Then I will wait for your call,’ said Kristin, happily.

  ‘Okay, see you soon,’ said Steve Duke, and he and Dave Tanner left the house.

  ‘Bye,’ said Kristin.

  Who is the Murderer?

  After her unexpected guests had left, Kristin turned the radio on to Classic FM, threw the cups into the dishwasher, and began cooking dinner. However, her thoughts smoothly and quickly rolled into today’s conversation with her unexpected guests. She grinned several times, remembering the face of Chief Inspector Duke when he was stunned to learn that her assertion about Mark Simpson had been correct.

  ‘Who is the murderer?’ Kristin reflected, aloud. ‘Mark Simpson, Richard Jackson, James Jackson, Jennifer Davidson or the mysterious, Debbie Larsson. All these subjects must have hated Danielle. Yes, her cynicism turned against her.’

  So, I am at a dead end, thought Kristin. All these people are considered decent, but every one of them has a motive for the crime. Mark Simpson had a sexual relationship with Danielle, which he deeply regrets and this led to blackmail. I wonder what he was more frightened of being revealed, the infidelity to his wife or the betrayal of a friend? Richard Jackson is a man overly concerned with his reputation. Probably, maintaining this reputation became more important to him than the feelings of those people closest to him. James Jackson is possibly an unhappy husband and an honest person. Learning about his wife’s treason, hatred and aggression could have turned his head. Jennifer Davidson is an eternal martyr. Maybe being betrayed by her sister and husband led her to hate them both, but she is a caring mother and daughter. And a certain, Debbie Larsson, the nurse and friend of James Jackson. Unrequited love may have provoked her to eliminate her rival.

  The killer of Danielle and Craig Davidson must be one and the same. Perhaps Craig Davidson knew what was going on with Danielle and saw an opportunity to take advantage.

  ‘Then where does this note come from? Probably, the killer forced him to write the note. Enough, I’m tired of them all. Today I will meet Daisy Bolton and tomorrow, after breakfast, I will visit Debbie Larsson,’ Kristin expressed aloud and looked at the wall clock. ‘Cameron, I’m waiting for you.’

  Ten minutes later, she picked up the mobile phone from the table and dialed. ‘Hi, Martina! Are you busy? I think the killer of Danielle and Craig is the same person. I now know that Danielle blackmailed Mark Simpson and Richard Jackson. Absolutely, she had sex with them. Now I’m at a dead end. Who is the murderer? Oh, sorry, Martina, there is somebody knocking at the front door, probably my dear husband home from work. In the evening I will call. Bye.’

  ‘Hi, my dear!’ Kristin said as she happily met her husband. ‘How was your day?’

  ‘Hi!’ Cameron said and hugged her. ‘I missed you.’

  ‘Yes, that is good,’ Kristin answered with a smile.

  ‘How was your day, my darling?’

  ‘Everything is fine with me, I prepared dinner and waited for you.’

  ‘It is so good that you were waiting for me, but I feel slightly guilty, my beautiful wife.’

  ‘If a wife is looking forward to the arrival of her husband, then this is some kind of
problem? I do not understand your joke?’

  ‘Sorry, Kristin, I did not want to offend you,’ Cameron said, sheepishly, then hugged and kissed her. ‘It just seems to me that you want to say something, but you do not dare take the risk.’

  ‘You know, I am an open woman and say what I think,’ Kristin sighed and boldly continued. ‘Yes, today I have a business meeting with a woman, but I did not try to hide it.’

  ‘If this is a business meeting, then you have to go, my dear. And if you do not want to talk about it, then there is no compulsion to tell. I only worry about you and really hope that the meeting is not related to this murder.’

  Kristin felt awkward, took a deep breath and said softly, ‘You know that I cannot stop, I must understand the logic of these people’s thinking.’

  ‘I know; therefore, I worry.’

  ‘Barbara’s husband will be with me.’

  ‘Kristin, you’re not a police officer!’

  ‘Of course, but I must finish this article. Please, give me this opportunity, my dear.’

  ‘Is there any way at all that I can influence your decision?’ Cameron asked with a smile.

  ‘Do not torture me, please. Dinner is getting cold,’ Kristin uttered.

  Business Meeting

  Seeing both Chief Inspector Duke and her recent acquaintance on the threshold of her home, Daisy Bolton was incredibly surprised.

  ‘Hi, Daisy, we need to talk to you,’ said Steve Duke in a serious voice.

  ‘With me? About what? Of course, come in, only I did not have time to clean the house,’ she said in a hoarse voice.

  Daisy Bolton lived alone in a small, old house. The house was in a terrible mess: unwashed floors, dirty dishes, objects scattered around at random and everywhere the smell of alcohol.

  Looking around the house, Steve Duke asked coldly, ‘Did you have a party, Daisy?’

  ‘Yesterday my friends came to my house for dinner. Why are you asking?’ said Daisy Bolton in a surprised voice.

  ‘Because I can see that your house looks like a bomb site! Daisy, I hope that you will answer our questions honestly. Giving false information to the police is a serious matter. Do you understand me?’ said Chief Inspector Steve Duke.

  ‘Yes,’ Daisy Bolton answered in a dissatisfied voice.

  ‘Daisy, did you know Danielle Jackson?’ asked Steve Duke.

  ‘Yes, we were friends once. When Danielle married her fancy doctor, however, she stopped talking to me. She probably decided that I was not worthy of her new circle of friends,’ said Daisy Bolton in a fierce voice.

  ‘Did you tell Kristin that she had a relationship with the father of James Jackson?’ continued Steve Duke.

  ‘Yes, they met several times before her marriage, when James Jackson was her sister’s boyfriend. I remember how she boasted to me that he was kind to her, but he ended the relationship soon afterwards. And it really hurt her,’ said Daisy Bolton.

  ‘She was offended?’ asked Steve Duke.

  ‘Yes, she came to me with a bottle and we drank the whole evening. She talked about love and suffering, and that he wanted just to have fun with her in the absence of his wife. I think that’s when she decided to marry his son. Ha ha ha! The blow to this intellectual was way below the belt when James introduced his future wife to his family,’ Daisy Bolton reported.

  ‘Did she love her husband, Daisy?’ Kristin asked.

  ‘Danielle thought that James and Jennifer were very suited to each other, but James did not need a wife like her sister. She did not especially bother to seduce James; the bird just quickly fell into its cage! Learning of this, Jennifer married that loser, Craig Davidson, a month later in Dundee,’ continued Daisy Bolton. ‘I can’t say anything more about Danielle’s relationship with James’s father. I did meet Danielle, however, some time later at a festival and she was in a happy mood after a few glasses of Prosecco. We talked, just like in the good old days. I remember well the phrase Danielle used, “Oh, Daisy, I have an intelligent and wealthy husband who loves me, which is the dream of many women. But often dreams have problems, although this problem can be solved. Nothing is impossible.” And when I asked her what problem was concerning her, she laughed and said wistfully, “Oh, Daisy, if you knew how difficult it is to live with a man who does not excite you. However, there are others who are capable of this mastery. It is surprising that Richard Jackson is superior to his son.”’

  ‘So, this means that Danielle was not happy in her marriage?’ prompted Kristin.

  ‘I am of that opinion,’ supported Daisy Bolton. ‘Especially since they say that Danielle and Craig were lovers. Poor Jennifer, she has no luck with men.’

  ‘Daisy, please tell me if you noticed anything strange about Craig Davidson’s behavior yesterday at Danielle Jackson’s house? It is very important,’ Kristin pleaded.

  Daisy Bolton got up from the couch and quietly went into the kitchen. After a few minutes, she returned with a glass of water and two paracetamol tablets and said, ‘Sorry, but this terrible headache is haunting me. I will have to take some painkillers.’

  ‘Of course, do not worry,’ said Chief Inspector Steve Duke.

  After swallowing the pills and taking a sip of water, she looked at Kristin with a smile and said, ‘You are smart! There was something strange in Craig Davidson’s behavior. To be honest, I suspected that he had just drunk too much, but now I don’t think so. When we were on the terrace, he was annoyed and displeased with something, acting like everything irritated him. I confess that I never liked him, and his arrogant look always disgusted me.’

  ‘Daisy, what was strange about Craig Davidson’s behavior?’ implored Steve Duke.

  ‘When we were on the terrace, voices floated through the open door to the living room, where Richard Jackson and others were talking. Craig Davidson abruptly turned in the direction of the voices and with a smirk, said quietly, “Do not rejoice, you will now have to owe me for the rest of your life!”’

  ‘Do not rejoice, you will owe me now for the rest of your life!’ repeated Steve Duke. ‘Daisy, have I understood you correctly?’

  ‘Yes. Craig then finished his bottle of beer and headed for Richard Jackson. He said something to him, then they stepped aside and after a few seconds, Richard Jackson abruptly pushed Craig and said in a loud voice, “Get away from here!” Richard Jackson then went back to his wife, and they left the house together.’

  ‘Thank you, Daisy,’ uttered Steve Duke and Kristin, simultaneously.

  ‘Tell me, is it true that Craig Davidson killed Danielle and then himself?’ asked Daisy of Chief Inspector Steve Duke.

  ‘While there is an investigation ongoing, I cannot say anything,’ answered Steve Duke, cutely. ‘Thanks again for your help. We will be on our way now but may wish to speak to you later. See you.’

  ‘See you, Daisy,’ said Kristin.

  ‘See you,’ answered Daisy.

  Leaving Daisy’s house, Steve Duke walked Kristin to her car and said, ‘Thank you, Kristin, for your help. Now I’ll have to meet Richard Jackson again for a little talk, especially since his black Audi Q3 was seen near Danielle Jackson’s house late in the evening around the time of the murder.’

  ‘Chief Inspector Duke, does Mark Simpson have an alibi?’

  ‘His wife places him at home on the evening of the murder and his car wasn’t used, although that does not mean anything.’

  ‘Thank you, Chief Inspector, and for accompanying me on my visit to Daisy. Say hello to Barbara for me,’ said Kristin and she got into her car.

  ‘See you soon,’ said Steve Duke quietly and he headed for his car.

  Great Things

  Yesterday’s conversation with Daisy kept spinning around in Kristin’s mind. Moreover, waking up earlier than usual, she lay for a long time thinking about Danielle’s actions towards her relatives. Her deliberations were interrupted by the sleepy voice of her husband, ‘And what thoughts are running through this beautiful little head that prevent my wife from sle
eping?’

  ‘I am merely rejoicing in our happiness, and in what a wonderful husband I have,’ answered Kristin quietly and she hugged her husband.

  ‘And more precisely?’

  ‘To be precise, how lucky you are to have a wife like me. You would be shocked if you knew how many insidious women there are in this world, my dear.’

  ‘Kristin, I have always avoided insidious women,’ said a smiling Cameron and he kissed her head.

  She smiled, hugging him, and said, ‘I am glad that I have such a thoughtful husband. And I will now give you the opportunity to sleep.’

  ‘Are you in a hurry to go for a run, or drink coffee, with your friends?’

  ‘My dear, this is as difficult a question for me, as the primacy of matter or consciousness! See you soon,’ she said and left the room.

  ‘See you, darling,’ yawned Cameron.

  Dressing quickly, Kristin grabbed her little black backpack and left the house, slamming the door behind her.

  Despite missing the start of their morning run, Kristin soon caught up with her friends and out of breath, made her excuses. ‘Sorry for being late, I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed this morning.’

  ‘What happened? Maybe you were too busy yesterday?’ asked an offended Martina.

  ‘Sorry, Kristin. I was talking about Steve and Dave Tanner’s visit to you,’ apologized Barbara.

  ‘Martina, I’m sorry, but I wanted to tell you today while jogging,’ justified Kristin.

  ‘Kristin, I thought we were a team,’ Martina said in a hurt voice.

  ‘We are a team, I just did not want to talk about it on the phone,’ explained Kristin. ‘I thought that today we would discuss everything together.’

  ‘Okay, Kristin,’ said Martina.

  While jogging, Kristin briefly talked about Danielle Jackson’s love and money extorting adventures but didn’t mention the visit to Daisy Bolton.

  After a run, they traditionally visited their favorite café for a cup of coffee and a robust discussion on issues of import. Today, they decided to discuss the essence of femme fatale women.