Murder at Seething Wells (The Ralph Chalmers Mysteries Book 5)

by P. J. Thurbin

  “The University’s a pretty tight community,” Ralph said, trying to keep things low key. “Not too much happens without word getting around.”

  “They probably even think I killed him.”

  “Well, if they do, it hasn’t trickled down the grapevine to me yet,” Ralph side-stepped, “but people are always looking for a scapegoat.”

  “Chen was a phony. When I discovered the scam he was operating and called him on it he gave me the sack.”

  “Rumor has it that he sacked you for making racist remarks to him,” Ralph countered. He wanted to see how Windham would react.

  “Well, all this PC stuff is ridiculous,” Windham said. “I may have called him a name or two in the heat of the moment, but the real crux of the row was over the research reports. Chen deceived Kramer into thinking that he was near a breakthrough and when I called him on it he used the remark I made to try and discredit me and turn attention away from the lies he was putting in his reports. It all came to a head when I threatened to write my own report to Kramer and tell them about the false claims he was making. I tried to tell Jack, but even though he was Chen’s Deputy he didn’t really know what was going on and like the others, he swallowed Chen’s lies and I finished up out the door.”

  The drink had obviously had its effect and Windham had dropped any defenses he might have had when fully sober. Ralph could see how volatile he could be when faced with someone as inscrutable and controlled as Chen. The ‘Fu Manchu’ and ‘yellow peril’ remarks must have tripped easily from his tongue during the row.

  “But you’ll get your chance to explain all this at the employment tribunal hearing, assuming the University internal enquiry process doesn’t clear you.”

  “You must be some naive bugger if you believe all that cods wallop. Internal process, my backside. Oh, the buggers will pretend to go through the motions all right, but

  where there’s money at stake, not to mention bad publicity, they’ll stitch me up tighter than a kipper and then kick me out. The Union rep as much as told me we didn’t stand a chance and advised me to take any offer they made. You know, cash on the table; Judas gold or whatever the biblical expression is.” He leant forward holding his head in his hands. For an awful moment Ralph thought Windham would cry. He had enough trouble when a woman cried in front of him.

  “I think that the break-in at the labs and Chen’s office is linked to his murder,” Ralph said as he tried to move the conversation back to Chen’s death. “It was just after Chen was killed and I think someone wanted to get hold of anything that might incriminate them in what he was up to. If we could find some tangible evidence as to what Chen’s research really achieved, or some proof that he had fudged the results, then that would back up your story and you would no doubt be reinstated.” Windham sat upright.

  “You’re the first person who’s said anything sensible since all this happened. So far no one has bothered to listen to my side of it, so I guess I’ll have to trust you. I know I’ve probably had enough, but I really could do with another drink.” Ralph was stunned. Was he about to hear a confession? He would have a hard time trying to explain to Inspector Linham how he was in the Lamb on a cold wet January night and just happened to bump into Windham when he was in a soul-baring mood. Still, he could hardly just walk away now, so he replenished Jack’s drink and sat back to hear what he had to say.

  “Chen took this research job because he thought it was a way to get Kramer’s funding while secretly making a deal with a Chinese pharmaceutical company to funnel the results to them behind Kramer’s back in exchange for a whopping big backhander. On the surface it looked like a straight forward project with Kramer supplying the funding and Chen carrying out the scientific research. The problem arose when Chen couldn’t deliver the results he’d promised and started tweaking the data to make it look like he’d had a break-through.”

  “Well, that’s all well and good as a theory, but how can you prove it? And even if you could, how does that resolve anything now that Chen is dead?”

  “I have the evidence. Letters to his girl-friend, agreements from a Chinese pharmaceutical to pay him a lot of money if he gave them his results, letters and reports to Kramer that were not backed up with the work that we were actually doing, and an outline of how the vaccine could be used by terrorist groups to hold governments to ransom.”

  “But if you have all of this information, why didn’t you go to the police with it, or at least tell Harriet Warner? And how did you get it, anyhow?”

  “When Warner called me in and told me I was being kicked out for what I said to Chen, I was pretty mad. I cleared my desk and went into Chen’s office to get the report that I had left on his desk showing that his reports about progress were based on faulty data. I had only put it there that afternoon and I knew he hadn’t looked at it yet. I thought he might destroy it to make me look like a troublemaker. It was only later when I was at home sorting through my stuff that I realized that I must have picked up one of Chen’s files along with my report. It contained all those papers and letters of Chen’s that I just told you about.”

  “It’s too bad you didn’t take them to Warner, or at least to Jack White. After all, he is your friend. It was your chance to clear your name.”

  “I know, I know. But I didn’t. I wanted to think it through first. And of course I didn’t know then that Chen would go and get himself killed, did I. The next thing I knew Chen was dead and the police were on to me straight away. They thought I’d murdered him because of that row we had. So I just put the papers in a drawer at home.” Windham looked at Ralph. “Now I don’t know what to do. Granted there was no love lost between me and Chen, but I didn’t kill him.” Ralph could see that Windham’s outburst was drawing attention from some of the other patrons as well as the publican.

  “Everything alright over there?” The publican called out as heads turned to see what the disturbance was all about.

  “Yes, thanks. Just swapping a few war stories. Sorry about that,” Ralph called over the din as he turned back to Windham.

  “Look Richard, it’s your decision, but my advice is that you go and see Jack first thing tomorrow and the two of you need to show those reports and papers to Harriet Warner; and then you need to take them to the police.”

  “She’ll just try to cover things up.”

  “You have evidence that’s part of a murder enquiry. The police have got to be told about this, especially as those letters confirm Chen’s links with terrorists.”

  “But they already think I killed Chen.” Ralph could see that Windham was getting agitated.

  “Okay, look. Harriet Warner needs to know the truth about the research. People’s jobs, and maybe even their lives are at stake here.”

  “I know. You’re right.”

  “She may not need to tell the police about the research issues, but the letters that involve terrorist groups being interested in the research for their own ends is at the very least a matter of national or even global security.” Ralph could see that Windham was wavering but was not yet convinced, so he decided to throw out one more carrot. “Once Dean Warner has hard evidence that Chen was using you as a scapegoat to cover up his own unethical, perhaps even criminal activities, she is likely to drop the case against you for dismissal.” He could see that his last remark had hit home. “If you will give me your word that you will go to see Jack tomorrow morning with all of this, I’ll wait until lunchtime to speak to Inspector Linham and tell him that the University has new evidence that might help his enquiries. It’ll give you a head start to talk with Jack and Warner.”

  Windham reluctantly agreed, and having drained the dregs of his whiskey, stood up and pulled on his coat and scarf and waved adieu to the publican. Ralph watched as he strode purposefully towards the river without saying goodbye or thanks. No surprise there, thought Ralph. The poor bloke was now on a mission to clear his name and three sheets to the wind as well.

  Walking back to his apartment trying t
o avoid the larger puddles, Ralph passed the usual array of eateries along the High street: a pizza take-away with a row of scooters ready to deliver to late night snackers, the enticing aroma from the fish and chips shop and the familiar red and white bucket with the Kentucky Colonel’s image advertising chicken that was ‘finger lickin’ good’. With The Red Rose, Zizzi’s and another Italian restaurant, Surbiton was certainly not short of eating houses. No wonder England rivaled America in the obesity stakes. He reminded himself that he needed to get back on schedule with his training for the upcoming triathlon, and that strengthened his resolve not to give in to temptation. The trick was to avoid being enticed by the aromas and the illusory promise of comfort. His ribs still ached, but a steady 10 mile run would soon get things moving. He walked past the YMCA, crossing the road to avoid a rowdy crowd of youths under the railway bridge who seemed to be warming up before heading for the local disco. He was in no mood to sort out a bunch of kids.

  ***

  As promised, Ralph waited until noon before phoning Inspector Linham. The Inspector was, as Ralph had anticipated, primarily interested in the connections between Chen and the terrorist group and in finding out the name of the Chinese firm that had been paying large sums of money into Chen’s account. Either or both had obvious motives for wanting to silence Chen. Linham also told him that the French police had rounded up a number of suspects believed to be linked to Al Qaeda, and the fingerprints of one matched those found at Li Mei’s apartment. It appeared that Linham was beginning to believe Ralph’s theory that terrorist groups could have been involved in Chen’s murder as well as the break-in at the University. Linham agreed to give Dean Warner a couple of hours to contact him herself about the incriminating papers Windham had promised to turn over to her, but told him that if he had heard nothing from her by four o’clock he would charge her with withholding evidence in a murder enquiry. Ralph’s belief that Linham was a good man at heart was confirmed.

  ***

  Ralph could not stop thinking about Ryan Miller’s involvement with Chen in Singapore. Why, in spite of the disastrous trials there, had Claus Stein offered to support Chen at Kingston? And why hadn’t he mentioned anything about it to the police? With Chen being so unscrupulous it was no surprise that someone had wanted to silence him.

  A few days after Ralph’s evening at the Lamb, he received an unexpected phone call.

  “Professor Chalmers, Harriet Warner. It was so nice to meet you the other day. We don’t often get the chance to get together with our colleagues at Gypsy Hill.”

  “Dean Warner, how nice to hear from you. How may I help?” Ralph was under no illusions that Harriet Warner simply called to have a friendly chat.

  “Actually, I want to ask a favour.” Here it comes, Ralph thought. After years of being on the receiving end of Rupert Granger’s ploys to get him to do his dirty work, he began to wonder if there was secret manual for Deans on ‘How to get staff suckered in’. Dean Warner carried on as though his acceptance was a given.

  “I’ve been in conference with one of my key staff members, Dr. Windham, and I’m afraid it’s called into question some of the research Dr. Chen was carrying out for Kramer Pharmaceuticals here in the Science Faculty. Now I feel that we should call in an independent expert to evaluate Dr. Chen’s progress.”

  “I’m very flattered that you should take me into your confidence about this,” Ralph chose his words carefully,” but as you know, science is not my area of expertise.”

  “I know, I know,” Warner brushed Ralph’s response aside. “I plan to ask Dr. Ryan Miller at the Wellcome Foundation at Oxford to do the independent evaluation and I understand you know him.”

  “Yes, we’ve met.” Ralph was immediately on alert. Firstly, how did Warner know that he knew Miller, and if she really wanted an independent evaluation, surely a scientist who had worked with Chen in the recent past could not be all that independent. Ralph smelled a rat. “So how can I be of help?”

  “Jack White assures me that Dr. Miller is an expert in this area. I’d like you to set up a meeting as I want to see if he is willing to help out.”

  Ralph was lost for words. Presumably Windham had been taken back into the fold to make sure that Chen’s activities were kept quiet. Now there was an attempt to get a prestigious scientist to give them a basis on which to fend off any complaints from Kramer once they realized that Chen had been falsifying his reports. But he had to admire the Dean’s guile, if not her integrity or her concern for the truth. There was a short pause.

  “Well I have met Dr. Miller once or twice. I could give him a call and set up a meeting at Kingston,” said Ralph.

  “No need to put him out. Tell him that I’m free on Thursday afternoon if that would suit him. We can drive down there together. Dr. White will come with us as he is closer to this than I am. We can’t pay Dr. Miller, of course, as that would not be ethical. But I’ve spoken to the VC, and we could offer to give him an Honorary Doctorate at our graduation ceremony in March, or perhaps an honorary Professorship. It’s within our power to do that, of course.”

  “I see,” Ralph said. He knew that these were standard ploys used by Universities to repay some deed or make a connection to someone in a power position. Harriet Warner knew the ropes.

  “Look, I must go now. Once you’ve set the time let my admin assistant know. And by the way, Dean Granger has kindly agreed to release you from any teaching duties on Thursday so that you can accompany us to Oxford.” Birds of a feather, Ralph thought. But she must have an Achilles heel. They all did.

  Ralph sat back as the phone clicked. He felt like a pawn being sacrificed to gain some advantage or protect a more important piece. If Warner could succeed in getting Miller to support the University’s claim to have made reasonable progress for the monies they had been paid, then the argument to Kramer would be that Chen’s unfortunate demise had halted progress. The University could then negotiate its way out of the contract without losing face or money. It was a clever strategy but it hinged on Miller’s being willing to co-operate. Ralph reluctantly picked up the phone and dialed Miller’s extension. Following a short phone conversation, Miller agreed to meet the Kingston contingent at Oxford Thursday afternoon at two.

  ***

  Ralph was not a good passenger. Worse, as he was last to arrive at the car park, he had to sit in the back. Warner’s new Toyota Prius might boast 60 miles to the gallon, but it was still a tinker-toy in his book. He was accustomed to the sound of a burbling engine as it idled at traffic lights then that throaty growl as it went through the gears to settle at 2500 revs while cruising at 80. This was like being in a plastic bubble. To add insult to injury, the CD player was groaning out some third rate elevator music as the speedometer hovered just below 65. Warner hummed to the music and Jack White dozed off, or at least pretended to, as Ralph squirmed and turned to try and find a comfortable position.

  ***

  Miller did not fit Ralph’s preconceived view of scientists at all. He was quite charming as he welcomed them to the site. They were soon settled in the conference room that was no doubt reserved for special visitors, and Dean Warner immediately inundated Miller with compliments about how the work at the Trust was an inspiration to scientists and young students in her Faculty. Miller made suitably self effacing noises and congratulated Warner on the research being carried out at Kingston. But Ralph could see that all the while he was waiting for Harriet to make her move. Ralph had to keep reminding himself that the seemingly dedicated scientist at the conference table was the same man who had been Chen’s accomplice in carrying out the research in Singapore that had resulted in the deaths of some eighty per cent of their volunteers. Furthermore, he had thus far managed to avoid being brought to account. Once the sycophantic ball was tossed back and forth sufficiently, Harriet made her play.

  “Dr. Miller, I’m sure you’ve heard about Dr. Chen’s tragic death.” The poor bloke was murdered! Why not say it. Screamed Ralph, in his mind. Harriet continued
to set the scene. “He was making great progress on developing a vaccine against the SARS virus when he was struck down. Perhaps Dr. White can explain in more detail since he was Dr. Chen’s deputy and is more familiar with the technical details,” she smiled as she turned to Jack who, for some reason chose to stand up to make his pitch. He had obviously been briefed by Harriet on his role in persuading Miller to support the claim that good progress had been made. The two scientists exchanged some details of the research while Ralph watched his tea get cold. His role was to set up the meeting and make the introductions. That accomplished, he felt he was surplus to needs, although he was determined to try and find out why Miller had not revealed his prior involvement with Chen in Singapore to the police. He could see that Harriet was waiting for a chance to sign Miller to her cause. Then as Jack sat down she struck.

  “So, Dr. Miller, as you can see, we are a long way down the road. But we must face the fact that our position is vastly changed now that poor Dr. Chen is no longer with us.” She sounds like a parson at the funeral of one of the village elders, thought Ralph. He’s dead. Murdered. Possibly by the man you are trying to co-opt into your scheme.

  “How do I fit in to all of this?” Asked Miller as he sipped on tea that was obviously stone cold. Playing for time, thought Ralph. Making her break cover and reveal her true agenda.

  “Although your current research is in a new area, we are aware that in the past you too were interested in research into a possible cure for SARS, and would value your looking at our results to date.”

  “But how would that help? As you mentioned, without Dr. Chen to lead your team, your research into SARS at Kingston has effectively come to a halt.” Miller sat back and waited for Warner to put all of her cards on the table. Ralph had to admire his ability to make Harriet Warner work for her supper.

  “You have an outstanding reputation as a research scientist,” Warner gushed. “We feel that you could provide impartial but expert support to Kingston’s position that we have fulfilled any obligations to Kramer Pharma, the sponsors of the project, regarding Dr. Chen’s research up until his untimely death.”