Jessica. Chapter eight
Sergeant Bill Walker ate a muesli bar as he drove. The cavity in his molar filled with fragments and the tooth began to ache. A police officer with twenty years service behind him, he had experienced his share of danger but nothing scared him as much as the dentists chair! He hated dentists but knew he could not put off the inevitable visit much longer. He sucked the damaged tooth and tried to lever the offending fragments of food out with his tongue. He enjoyed some success but the tooth continued to throb. Hopefully he could get a couple of toothpicks and some Panadol at Nullarbor roadhouse. And some answers too. It was a long way to drive for nothing. There had better be answers!
Neville Gain hated this place. Nothing to do and nobody to talk to. He sat in a chair outside the front of the motel and watched the world go by. The world, that was a joke! A passing car every hour or so was hardly the world! So his interest was piqued when the brown range rover pulled off the highway and entered the motel car park. A khaki clad cop got out and strode purposefully toward him. Gains stood up.
“G'day officer” he called cheerfully.
“Good morning sir, could you tell me,” Walker asked, “is the manager available?”
“I am he, your...your from Ceduna, about the missing guest?”
“Yes sir but first,could I trouble you for a toothpick and a couple of Panadol?”
“What?”
“Toothache” Walker shrugged.
“Oh..come in and I will see what I can do.”
Walker swallowed the pills and sipped his water slowly as though relishing some rare vintage wine. Putting the glass down he asked, Mr Peterson has not returned yet?”
“Nah” Gain leaned forward confidentially. “bloody queer if you ask me.”
“Queer?”
“Yup.” Gain scratched his temple. “I mean, what sort of man nicks off and leaves all his stuff behind? Not to mention the delectable Jessica, she's a goer if ever I saw one!”
“And whom would this lady be?”
“Jessica Bergman, she is travelling with Peterson, he's old enough to be her father but some chicks like older men, or so it seems.
“And this Miss Bergman left for Perth with Mr Alderman the day before yesterday?”
“Yep, on the Greyhound.”
“Returning when?”
“Dunno about the chick, Alderman is due back in twelve days or so.”
“How long have Alderman and Miss Bergman know each other, do you happen to know.?”
“Well”...Gain couldn't hide his lecherous smirk, “Since she arrived with Peterson, five days ago I think.”
“Not before that?”
“Nope...not that I know off anyway.”
“Hmm” Walker raised an eyebrow, “It it normal for guests to ride off into the sunset with the manager in your experience?”
“No”, Gain laughed. “Half his luck though, she looks like one fiery piece of homework!”
“Alright Mr Gain, there is nothing more to do here for the moment.”
“So,” Gain spread his hands and cocked his head questioningly.”
“So Mr Gain, stay away from the two guest rooms in question. They may be a crime scene. A forensic team will arrive early tomorrow morning. Please give them your full cooperation.”
Is that it?”
“Well, I have the address of Alderman in Perth, your statement and the scene is secure.” He smiled at Gain, “yes I do believe that's all...for now” As he was leaving he turned back toward Gain. “Oh yes,” Walker smiled and shook his head, “Don't go anywhere Mr Gain, not just yet!”
Walker notified the Perth Police that a Leo Peterson had done missing from the Nullarbor Motel and that two Abalone divers has discovered the vehicle he had been driving. It had lain in fifty feet of water some miles west of Ceduna. It had been sent to Whyalla for forensic testing. There was no body. Mr Peterson had not been found and there were no clues. Had there been foul play or not? Was this a time wasting hoax? Whatever the case the question remained, where is Peterson?
Inspector Sam Snyder read the scant report for the second time. Leaning back in his swivel chair he swung gently back and forth. He stopped abruptly and drummed a short tattoo on his desk with his index and middle fingers. “Yeah”, he muttered to himself, “better pull this Alderman turkey in, and the woman, see what they know.” Snyder called detective Frank Jackson over. He was nick named Colombo because because he was a shortish man that looked a bit like the TV detective Colombo, but without the raincoat. “Hey Colombo, want ya to go to the Langley Plaza and pick up an Arnold Alderman and a Jessica Bergman. Tell them there has been a development in the Peterson case and put them in separate interview rooms.
Arnold was worried and his anxiety increased when the interview room door opened and a large man entered, he was about forty,had thick bark brown hair and a large old fashioned handle bar moustache. He tossed a thin folder on the table and sat down opposite Arnold. Snyder said nothing, just fixed Arnold with a long stare. Those cold gray eyes seemed to bore right through Arnold.
“I..I say old man” Arnold licked his lips nervously, “ What's going on? That other chap said there was a development?”
Snyder smiled coldly. “You have it arse about. I ask the questions here.”
For the first time in a long time Arnold was really worried.
“As it happens Arnold, you don't mind if I call you Arnold?” Snyder raised a bushy eyebrow, “Petersons four wheel drive has been fished out of the drink.” Snyder folded his arms and leaned back on the wall. “What do you know about that Arnold?”
“God!” Arnold gasped.
Snyder walked over and leaning on the table brought his face to within inches of Arnold's. “God Arnold,” you saying it was an act of God?
“NO!...it is such a shock....was...was Leo in it? Jessica will be really upset, Leo was a close family friend you know.”
“Close friend was he? Well I can tell you there was no body in the Land rover.”
“Well, that's a dashed jolly good thing what!”
“Don't play the smart arse with me son!” He glared balefully at Arnold, “Detective Colombo is interviewing Miss Bergman as we speak, it will be interesting to see how your stories compare.”
Arnold turned gray. They had not prepared for this. “Colombo?”
“Jackson but he is smart like Colombo” Snyder leaned on the table again, “should you be worried?”
Just then the door opened and a man appeared, whispered to Snyder and left again.
“Well,well,well” Snyder said quietly, “Seems your girlfriend is singing like a canary!” Snyder walked to the door and pausing said ominously I'll be back, just going to have a chat with miss Bergman, don't go anywhere now.”
Twenty minutes later Snyder came back, Jackson was with him and there was no sign of Jessica.
“Seems you have been a naughty boy Arnold. Shot Peterson and frightened miss Bergman into helping you get rid of the body and the vehicle.”
“I say!” Arnold jumped to his feet indignantly only to be shoved back into his seat by Jackson.
Arnold slapped the palm of his hand down on the table, “I was jolly well protecting him.”
“By shooting him with a duelling pistol? Snyder roared.
“NO!..yes...No, sort of but not really”
“Oh yes? And how does that work?”
“It was all pretend” Arnold sighed lamely.
Snyder clasped his hands and made a steeple with his index fingers. He paced up and down briefly,tapping his lips with his index fingers. He stopped in front of Jackson. “See that Jackson, it's all a mistake, just a joke.”
“When do we start laughing sir?” Jackson scowled.
Snyder just rolled his eyes.
“Try again Alderman, Who were you protecting him from and how exactly?”
Arnold sighed. “From Jessica,” she was going to make him kill Jackie for her and...”
“Slow down son, who is Jackie”
“She is Jessica's mother's lover's wife.”
Snyder rubbed his temples, “It is going to be along night Jackson he moaned.
“Why” Jackson asked Arnold, “would she want to do that?”
Arnold sighed heavily. “ Jessica thinks her mother's death is the fault of her lover. As he is also dead, she wants to exact vengeance on his widow.”
This all sounds like bull shit son but go on, how were you protecting Peterson?
“I told Leo what Jessica wanted him to do” Arnold shrugged, “Leo was pretty upset, she was going to use him to get revenge and stitch him up at the same time.”
“Yeah? Jackson said, why didn't he just tell her to bugger off?”
“Never happen old boy, he is totally under her spell, putty in her hands and all that sort of thing.” He shrugged and sighed again. “But Leo is no killer. He didn't know what to do. I suggested the mock duel. He played dead. Dashed good job of it actually. Jessica helped me get him into the Land rover. I drove it to a secluded spot on the coast. There is a ledge about eight feet down. I rolled Leo onto it. Jessica thought he fell three hundred feet to the sea. Haha” Arnold rubbed his cheek.”It would have been easy for Leo to climb up,get to the road and hitch a ride to Perth. Then make his way to his sisters .She was expecting him after all.” Arnold grimaced. “Don't know what he will say when he finds out about the Land rover though!” He tipped his head to one side and added awkwardly.. “there is another problem old chap”
“Really” Snyder sighed, “and that is?”
Arnold sniffed, “actually Jessica expects me to kill this Jackie for her now, actually.”
“And you expect us to believe all of this” grunted Snyder.
“I know it sounds rather odd and irrational but that is Jessica for you.”
“Alright.” He turned to Jackson, “put them both in the holding cells for the night.”
“I say!”
“I think you have said enough for now Arnold.” Snyder said grimly, “If we can't locate a living Peterson tomorrow, you might want to get a solicitor.”
“You will find him,Jessica know where his sister lives, he told her, I know he did.”
Snyder shook his head, “At the very least Alderman, the pair of you will be charged with wasting police time and resources, maybe vehicle theft and vandalism too.” He smiled brightly. “And if I get lucky, maybe murder. Get this smart arse outa here Jackson.”
C Gainsford © copyright 2012
Neville Gain hated this place. Nothing to do and nobody to talk to. He sat in a chair outside the front of the motel and watched the world go by. The world, that was a joke! A passing car every hour or so was hardly the world! So his interest was piqued when the brown range rover pulled off the highway and entered the motel car park. A khaki clad cop got out and strode purposefully toward him. Gains stood up.
“G'day officer” he called cheerfully.
“Good morning sir, could you tell me,” Walker asked, “is the manager available?”
“I am he, your...your from Ceduna, about the missing guest?”
“Yes sir but first,could I trouble you for a toothpick and a couple of Panadol?”
“What?”
“Toothache” Walker shrugged.
“Oh..come in and I will see what I can do.”
Walker swallowed the pills and sipped his water slowly as though relishing some rare vintage wine. Putting the glass down he asked, Mr Peterson has not returned yet?”
“Nah” Gain leaned forward confidentially. “bloody queer if you ask me.”
“Queer?”
“Yup.” Gain scratched his temple. “I mean, what sort of man nicks off and leaves all his stuff behind? Not to mention the delectable Jessica, she's a goer if ever I saw one!”
“And whom would this lady be?”
“Jessica Bergman, she is travelling with Peterson, he's old enough to be her father but some chicks like older men, or so it seems.
“And this Miss Bergman left for Perth with Mr Alderman the day before yesterday?”
“Yep, on the Greyhound.”
“Returning when?”
“Dunno about the chick, Alderman is due back in twelve days or so.”
“How long have Alderman and Miss Bergman know each other, do you happen to know.?”
“Well”...Gain couldn't hide his lecherous smirk, “Since she arrived with Peterson, five days ago I think.”
“Not before that?”
“Nope...not that I know off anyway.”
“Hmm” Walker raised an eyebrow, “It it normal for guests to ride off into the sunset with the manager in your experience?”
“No”, Gain laughed. “Half his luck though, she looks like one fiery piece of homework!”
“Alright Mr Gain, there is nothing more to do here for the moment.”
“So,” Gain spread his hands and cocked his head questioningly.”
“So Mr Gain, stay away from the two guest rooms in question. They may be a crime scene. A forensic team will arrive early tomorrow morning. Please give them your full cooperation.”
Is that it?”
“Well, I have the address of Alderman in Perth, your statement and the scene is secure.” He smiled at Gain, “yes I do believe that's all...for now” As he was leaving he turned back toward Gain. “Oh yes,” Walker smiled and shook his head, “Don't go anywhere Mr Gain, not just yet!”
Walker notified the Perth Police that a Leo Peterson had done missing from the Nullarbor Motel and that two Abalone divers has discovered the vehicle he had been driving. It had lain in fifty feet of water some miles west of Ceduna. It had been sent to Whyalla for forensic testing. There was no body. Mr Peterson had not been found and there were no clues. Had there been foul play or not? Was this a time wasting hoax? Whatever the case the question remained, where is Peterson?
Inspector Sam Snyder read the scant report for the second time. Leaning back in his swivel chair he swung gently back and forth. He stopped abruptly and drummed a short tattoo on his desk with his index and middle fingers. “Yeah”, he muttered to himself, “better pull this Alderman turkey in, and the woman, see what they know.” Snyder called detective Frank Jackson over. He was nick named Colombo because because he was a shortish man that looked a bit like the TV detective Colombo, but without the raincoat. “Hey Colombo, want ya to go to the Langley Plaza and pick up an Arnold Alderman and a Jessica Bergman. Tell them there has been a development in the Peterson case and put them in separate interview rooms.
Arnold was worried and his anxiety increased when the interview room door opened and a large man entered, he was about forty,had thick bark brown hair and a large old fashioned handle bar moustache. He tossed a thin folder on the table and sat down opposite Arnold. Snyder said nothing, just fixed Arnold with a long stare. Those cold gray eyes seemed to bore right through Arnold.
“I..I say old man” Arnold licked his lips nervously, “ What's going on? That other chap said there was a development?”
Snyder smiled coldly. “You have it arse about. I ask the questions here.”
For the first time in a long time Arnold was really worried.
“As it happens Arnold, you don't mind if I call you Arnold?” Snyder raised a bushy eyebrow, “Petersons four wheel drive has been fished out of the drink.” Snyder folded his arms and leaned back on the wall. “What do you know about that Arnold?”
“God!” Arnold gasped.
Snyder walked over and leaning on the table brought his face to within inches of Arnold's. “God Arnold,” you saying it was an act of God?
“NO!...it is such a shock....was...was Leo in it? Jessica will be really upset, Leo was a close family friend you know.”
“Close friend was he? Well I can tell you there was no body in the Land rover.”
“Well, that's a dashed jolly good thing what!”
“Don't play the smart arse with me son!” He glared balefully at Arnold, “Detective Colombo is interviewing Miss Bergman as we speak, it will be interesting to see how your stories compare.”
Arnold turned gray. They had not prepared for this. “Colombo?”
“Jackson but he is smart like Colombo” Snyder leaned on the table again, “should you be worried?”
Just then the door opened and a man appeared, whispered to Snyder and left again.
“Well,well,well” Snyder said quietly, “Seems your girlfriend is singing like a canary!” Snyder walked to the door and pausing said ominously I'll be back, just going to have a chat with miss Bergman, don't go anywhere now.”
Twenty minutes later Snyder came back, Jackson was with him and there was no sign of Jessica.
“Seems you have been a naughty boy Arnold. Shot Peterson and frightened miss Bergman into helping you get rid of the body and the vehicle.”
“I say!” Arnold jumped to his feet indignantly only to be shoved back into his seat by Jackson.
Arnold slapped the palm of his hand down on the table, “I was jolly well protecting him.”
“By shooting him with a duelling pistol? Snyder roared.
“NO!..yes...No, sort of but not really”
“Oh yes? And how does that work?”
“It was all pretend” Arnold sighed lamely.
Snyder clasped his hands and made a steeple with his index fingers. He paced up and down briefly,tapping his lips with his index fingers. He stopped in front of Jackson. “See that Jackson, it's all a mistake, just a joke.”
“When do we start laughing sir?” Jackson scowled.
Snyder just rolled his eyes.
“Try again Alderman, Who were you protecting him from and how exactly?”
Arnold sighed. “From Jessica,” she was going to make him kill Jackie for her and...”
“Slow down son, who is Jackie”
“She is Jessica's mother's lover's wife.”
Snyder rubbed his temples, “It is going to be along night Jackson he moaned.
“Why” Jackson asked Arnold, “would she want to do that?”
Arnold sighed heavily. “ Jessica thinks her mother's death is the fault of her lover. As he is also dead, she wants to exact vengeance on his widow.”
This all sounds like bull shit son but go on, how were you protecting Peterson?
“I told Leo what Jessica wanted him to do” Arnold shrugged, “Leo was pretty upset, she was going to use him to get revenge and stitch him up at the same time.”
“Yeah? Jackson said, why didn't he just tell her to bugger off?”
“Never happen old boy, he is totally under her spell, putty in her hands and all that sort of thing.” He shrugged and sighed again. “But Leo is no killer. He didn't know what to do. I suggested the mock duel. He played dead. Dashed good job of it actually. Jessica helped me get him into the Land rover. I drove it to a secluded spot on the coast. There is a ledge about eight feet down. I rolled Leo onto it. Jessica thought he fell three hundred feet to the sea. Haha” Arnold rubbed his cheek.”It would have been easy for Leo to climb up,get to the road and hitch a ride to Perth. Then make his way to his sisters .She was expecting him after all.” Arnold grimaced. “Don't know what he will say when he finds out about the Land rover though!” He tipped his head to one side and added awkwardly.. “there is another problem old chap”
“Really” Snyder sighed, “and that is?”
Arnold sniffed, “actually Jessica expects me to kill this Jackie for her now, actually.”
“And you expect us to believe all of this” grunted Snyder.
“I know it sounds rather odd and irrational but that is Jessica for you.”
“Alright.” He turned to Jackson, “put them both in the holding cells for the night.”
“I say!”
“I think you have said enough for now Arnold.” Snyder said grimly, “If we can't locate a living Peterson tomorrow, you might want to get a solicitor.”
“You will find him,Jessica know where his sister lives, he told her, I know he did.”
Snyder shook his head, “At the very least Alderman, the pair of you will be charged with wasting police time and resources, maybe vehicle theft and vandalism too.” He smiled brightly. “And if I get lucky, maybe murder. Get this smart arse outa here Jackson.”
C Gainsford © copyright 2012