Sibling Rivalry

by E A Harvey

  She remembered that Janet always wanted to be Gollum. She laughed at the thought always something evil. Penny, on the other hand, was Galadriel, or an Elf, someone nice. Peter never cared as long as he could do voices and their cousin Patrick, when he visited, would ask "Is it Hobbit time"?

  Justine closed the book, he had slowly gone to sleep as she read and it was time to leave.

  She said goodbye to the staff who looked after him so well and gave them such privacy. They never came into his room when he had visitors.

  "What do you fancy for dinner Peter"? She asked when she got home

  "To tell the truth mother I am not really hungry. Maybe a snack later will do. I had a large lunch”.

  "I have been with your father and I took a rather nice hamper so I am not really hungry either”. "How is daddy mother, is he any better today"?

  "Just the same as usual son, he looks well enough but as you know he has good days and bad. Today he started off well enough but when I left he really did not know me. "Oh Peter, I heard from your sister today. She might have said that she was in France but the reception was so bad I could have got it wrong"

  "What do you mean mother, where else would she be”?

  "No sorry I meant Janet, she called this morning after you went out".

  "What, why is she there, is she with Penny, is she on her own? What's she doing”?

  "Actually she wanted to talk with you but as usual your mobile is in the living room or kitchen and has not been put on to charge. So plug it in and she will call you tomorrow".

  "Yes mother I will do it now".

  He found his mobile and plugged in into the charger.

  He went to his bedroom and there he went into what could only be called a complete breakdown. He banged his head against the wall, tried to pull great lumps of hair out, and banged his hands up and down on his bed.

  "No, oh no, I won't let her do it not again. I will kill her first" he said out loud

  "Peter darling did you call me"? Justine shouted up the stairs

  "No mother I turned my radio up too loud, sorry"

  Tears of anger were running down his face "no" he said but quieter this time "I will kill her.

  The following morning Janet called him

  "Peter how are you brother what have you been up to"?

  "Sorry Janet I can hardly hear you, where are you, what are you doing”?

  He did not hear all of her replies the signal was almost non-existent. But he heard her say France.

  "What are you doing there Janet” he said angrily.

  "Sorry I can't hear you properly I am sending you a text with the address where I am staying in case Mummy needs it in an emergency"

  "I only rang to see how you were Peter; we have not talked for a long time".

  But he only heard part of the message

  A few moments later a text arrived with an address in France

  After the phone call Peter went back to his room and wrote down the address which had arrived on his phone.

  Chantilly thirty-four miles from Paris, why was she there what was she up to? She is going to do exactly what she did with Bob. Penny would die if she lost Pierre

  What do I do, go to Paris and warn Penny or go to Janet is and warn her to leave France

  Chapter 26 Vampires

  "Rene as I am here as part of my overdue leave, I want you to show me parts of Paris I have never seen, I have two more days and I want some R and R".

  "What is that, R and R"?

  "Rest and recreation, and I want some and you are going to share it with me. You have one day off so you can call in sick and take one more. Then I will go back to the UK and put the case to bed or shelve it".

  They cleared away the breakfast things the next morning.

  "Are you ready for the first part of your thingy, R and R, Sarah”?

  "I certainly am, so what's our first port of call"?

  "I thought as you wanted different and unusual we would go to a cemetery”

  "Cemetery, I am not dead yet, just dead tired, and tired of my job. So what's this burial site about"?

  "Let's wait till we get there and I will tell all"

  Rene drove, parked his car in a restricted area and stuck a police notice in the window

  "Naughty" said Sarah

  "This is Pere Lachaise Cemetery; it is the largest cemetery in Paris covering 110 acres. And it has a few noteworthy residents — Honoré de Balzac, Molière, Marcel Proust, Eugène Delacroix, Edith Piaf, Georges Bizet, Jean de la Fontaine, Maria Callas, Oscar Wilde, Frederic Chopin, Jim Morrison.

  I am sure you know a few of those names and because of them it's become quite famous. The gardens are worth a walk around. I take it you have not visited here before"?

  "Oh no, Rene, this is such a surprise and so interesting. You will make a great tour guide when you retire from the Police".

  They walked around enjoying the gardens and she held onto his arm like an old married couple. Two hours later he took her for an early lunch and they discussed the residents of the cemetery, some she knew.

  "I have one of Edith Piaf's CDs at home and I saw a film all about her. She was a sad lady but a great singer, and Jim Morrison I know about. Delacroix was a French artist, and I am sure I saw a painting by him. I think it was called “Liberty leading the people “and it was in the Louvre “said Sarah.

  "Spot on, and now are you ready for more of the same”?

  "What next, not another cemetery surely"?

  "Not quite"

  They drove through parts of Paris which Sarah had never visited before. They stopped and he parked illegally once more.

  She gave him a “tut tut”

  They walked to the end of a gravel path in the middle of Les Lilas and were greeted by a black and scarlet entrance this opened up to a door leading into a real creepy garden. It looked like another cemetery,

  “What’s all this Rene? You said it was not another cemetery".

  "It's not, just you wait and see".

  As they walked about they came upon plastic bats and bones hanging from trees.

  "Please tell me those bones are not real”.

  "Sorry but not only are they real bones, some are human bones and watch out for real human remains".

  "Rene you’re a bloody ghoul, what is this place"?

  "It's called the Museum of Vampires. Look there it's a Vampire killing kit".

  "Behave yourself Rene or I will use it on you, you might be a Vampire yourself if your into cemeteries and places like this. If I had not been in your bed last night I would go looking for the coffin you sleep in”.

  They both started laughing which caused some funny looks from other visitors.

  "What do you think, are any of those guys Vampires”? She said pointing at the funny looking brigade.

  They walked about looking at books and old manuscripts, which certainly looked the part.

  An hour later

  "Let's go, Sarah. I think we have seen enough bones and body parts and vampire killing instruments don't you? I am sure you want to shower before we go out for a meal”.

  "That was such great fun Rene. Thank you so very much. I never knew I could enjoy a cemetery, bones, and vampires. No one is going to believe what we have done today. I’m not sure I can believe it"

  Later Sarah asked if they could go to that restaurant again for their evening meal,

  "I had such a nice day and I would like to finish it with something else special”.

  "You know you’re such a romantic, Sarah".

  After dinner as they strolled back to his home, she gave a sigh "What was that that sigh was really intense.

  “What's on your mind"?

  "I am sorry it was not meant to come out that loud. It's just that I was lost in my thoughts, I had such a nice day and it seemed so normal being with you and I wondered what it would have been like if I had stayed in Paris all those years ago. At the time I did not think it meant that much to either of us but now I am not so s
ure. It might just be the evening, the magic of Paris and maybe the wine, who knows”.

  They had reached the front of his home, he opened the door and as they entered he gently pushed her against the wall and kissed her very slowly.

  "Sarah, you know how I feel about you. Resign your job and come and stay with me”

  "I can't just pack up and stay, but if you ask me once I have solved this case I will give you my answer. It might just be the great sex, which I am enjoying, but as I fell asleep on you last night let me make it up to you now”.

  The last day they decided to get out of bed very late and do nothing.

  Later

  Kissing him goodbye at the station she promised to keep him up-to-date with the case. Riding the train home she began to realize that Rene meant a great deal more to her than she had realized.

  Back in the UK

  "George we need to find any gay clubs or bars in London within, let's say, a ten-mile radius of our victims home or his University”

  "Yes Ma'am"

  "I know we have a photo of the victim”.

  "Yes ma'am the W.P.C was sharp enough to request one when the officers went to inform the parents of their son's death".

  "Good. Let's get copies printed and issued. We need officers checking, who was Brian Peters, who knew him well enough to want him dead, and why, get these photos shown at every club and bar"?

  "On it Ma'am, right away. Did you enjoy your short break, or did you do nothing but work"?

  "Sergeant, if anyone wants to know I was taking a rest, I did not go to Paris, I did not visit any cemeteries and I certainly did not go to see the home of Vampires or get instructions on how to stick a stake into one. Okay"?

  "Pardon ma’am, Vampires?

  "Don't ask, just don't ask".

  "Yes ma'am”

  "I am off home. I want everyone who is on duty tomorrow at a meeting in the conference room at nineteen hundred hours. Have we had a list of visitors to the victim’s flat back from Mr Scott yet"? "Yes Ma’am and I have got a couple of lads following up, nothing as yet. Also we have talked to local prostitutes and shown pictures of Penny Scott but nothing there either yet, but that’s still on-going”.

  "Well done George"

  Clubs

  "This means a lot of late night’s people”. Sarah was talking to a room full of detectives and police officers.

  "You all have a copy of the victim's photo and we need it to be shown at every gay bar and club in London to start with. Talk to people. Take extra copies and leave them with the guys at the entrance. We are now sure that our victim was gay.

  The questions we are asking are, did Brian Peters use this bar or club, if so who was he with. Did he leave with anyone?

  Sadly these places are only worth visiting in the evening so let the wives and partners know.

  To make things easy I have laid a list of clubs and bars on the desk. Take just one venue each and cover it properly. This is only an idea I am afraid and may lead nowhere.

  George you and I will start at a bar called Circa. It’s in Soho. Opens a bit earlier than a few of the

  others so we can maybe do two calls. The second visit will be a much larger place and I am

  under the impression it does not open till later. It’s called Heaven and that's just behind Charing

  Cross Station".

  That evening

  Circa was a well-presented bar. Very tasteful and Sarah thought this might be the sort of venue you would take a partner if you wanted something more sophisticated, and romantic. Was this the type of guy Brian had been?

  They introduced themselves and had a word with the manager. Had he seen anyone who looked like the photo, no but would gladly keep a picture and ask any of the regulars if they remembered him.

  Much later they finally entered the Heaven a club which opened later than some of the others. The music had George tapping his feet and brought a smile to Sarah's face,

  "I had no idea you were a dancer Sergeant".

  "Yes I was quite a mover in my day".

  They had spoken to the guy on the door but he did not remember seeing Brian Peters but did say that the club had a very large membership and it was impossible to remember everyone.

  The manager said very much the same thing; yes he would post a picture.

  "Thank you very much for your help, I think my sergeant would like to become a member here. He certainly has taken a shine to the music”

  "He would be very welcome” laughed the manager.

  “There you go George, you're in“.

  The following meeting revealed that all the officers had come up with the same thing. All the bars and clubs were pleased to oblige but no actual results.

  After five days and still not one sighting Sarah was unimpressed and the meeting was a little taut.

  "Five days and we have nothing, so this is what I want you to do, grab a copy of this photo”.

  She held up a picture of Penny Scott.

  “Go back to your club or bar and show the picture of our victim but also show this one”.

  "Excuse me, Ma'am"

  "Yes Sergeant Booth"

  "Where are we going with this? We know there was a woman with the victim but what are you thinking? That she was also gay or straight"?

  "Good question Booth, but so far we have had no luck with our inquiries the way we have been going. We know Mr Peters was gay, but let 's not assume anything about his partner"

  That apart the name Penny has come up so let's show pictures of Penny Scott. Yes it's a long shot but who knows"

  That evening George Wentworth revisited "Heaven and Circa" and dropped in the photo of Penny Scott, nobody remembered seeing her.

  "There is a venue which seems popular," she flipped through her notebook, “The Way Out Club.

  That's for Saturday. It's a transgender club and who knows"?

  "Ma'am, I am not sure where we are going with this line of investigation, is there something you know which I don’t? Penny Scott lives in Paris with a man she intends to marry or so you have since found out, why would she be visiting gay clubs with a known gay”?

  "George, to tell the truth, it's just something I cannot get out of my head, a feeling. It's the blonde with the nice legs. Please don't ask me why but I have this idea rattling around in my brain that they are involved as stupid it may seem.

  My French friend always told me “Follow your intuition through till the end" and that what I intend to do"

  Chapter 27 Girlfriend

  "Peter you home?” Justine called up the stairs.

  "Yes mother, be with you in a moment"

  "Peter, you spoke to your sister two days ago. Where did she say she was"?

  "In France somewhere or other, I have no idea where though. Why what has happened? Is she alright"?

  "As far as I know she is fine but I visited daddy this morning and he said that Penny came to see him yesterday. He said she was strange. Of course we know it was not Penny as she has gone back to wait for Pierre to return from Singapore. But if Janet is in France somewhere it certainly could not have been her either. One of the nurses thought they saw a blond girl leaving by the rear entrance, but she did say she could not be one hundred per cent sure. Maybe daddy was just confused".

  "Yes, maybe mother"

  "Peter, are you alright? Is everything well with you and your work? I am sorry but with everything that's gone on with Penny and her wedding, and then daddy I have neglected you. So what are you up to? Do you have a new girlfriend? Who are your friends these days"?

  "Mother everything is fine. I know you have been under extreme pressure with daddy and I can look after myself you know. Anyway, I am on standby at work tomorrow, and yes I have a girlfriend. She is also cabin crew. And friends, yes a couple but with the job you don't get a lot of time in the same country so it’s hard to make arrangements to get together".

  "Young lady hey, so what's her name"?

  "Her name's Brenda mother”

&nb
sp; "And when are we going to meet this Brenda? Is she special Peter? Are we talking double weddings"?

  She laughed

  "Oh mother, I have only just met the girl and I am not sure if I want to get married".

  "You will when you meet the right girl, don't you worry".

  "Do you have any idea why Janet is in France, Peter? Is she with someone do you know”?

  "Tell the truth mother I do not have the faintest idea why she is there. She is not with Penny that's for certain”