The English Woman

by Inch, Jennifer

  A CONNECTION?

  After an enjoyable weekend at the Silver Dollar Fair Detective Berkman wondered how he would spend Memorial Day Bank Holiday. He still wasn't convinced that the English woman was telling the truth, she didn't have the right attitude; he just had a bad feeling about it. He called in at the reception desk to confirm that he would like his room for at least one more night as the earliest connecting flight he could get was the day after. The receptionist had become quite familiar having spoken to him regularly over the last four days.

  "Morning Irma, how are you today? Did you manage to find time to go to the Silver Dollar Fair? It was really enjoyable and so well attended, I should think the whole of Chico was there" Berkman said with a smile.

  "Oh good morning Frank. Yes, I did manage a few hours and had such fun. Nearly all our guests were there at some point; I even saw the gentleman with the foreign name on the rifle range" she said smiling back.

  "Well, I was just checking if it is alright to stay another night, the earliest connection I can get is not until tomorrow afternoon."

  "Yes, that's no problem. Will you be getting involved in the investigation of the body they found in Butte Creek this morning?"

  "What body?"

  "Some hikers found a man dead in his car at the bottom of the creek. Some say he was shot in the head."

  "I think I'll walk down to the Police Station as it's only a block away. I might be able to help; I've nothing else to do today. Have a good day Irma" Berkman said and walked off.

  "And you Frank" Irma shouted after him.

  When Berkman arrived at the Police Station, after showing his badge at the front desk, he was taken into the office of Harry Crosby, the Detective in charge of the case of the mysterious body found in the creek.

  "Good morning Detective Berkman, how come you are in Chico? Is it for pleasure or are you working on a case I should know about?" asked Crosby.

  "Well, I am investigating the death of a Lithuanian student called Daina Petusky, she was drowned in St Petersburg, Florida and I am with the Tampa Police Authority" Berkman informed him. "I've heard that a body of a man was found in a car in Butte Creek this morning."

  "Yes, although there was no identification on the man, as he was found in a rental car we were able to obtain his identity through the car rental company. His name is Raimondas Wajanis; he is Lithuanian and worked for the Lithuanian Government in California. Do you think there could be some connection with your case?"

  "Well there could be; and there was no papers on him or in the car?"

  "No we only traced the rental company through the sticker on the car and the number plate. There was one thing" Crosby paused and took a piece of paper from his drawer "this was found in his pocket. It was wet of course, but we managed to dry it out and I think you can make out the image" Crosby said as he showed Berkman the photo of Angelo Rossi.

  "I think I recognise this young man. I think he is a student at the University. Can I have a copy of this?" Berkman asked Crosby.

  "Sure" and Crosby walked over to the photocopier and made a copy for Berkman.

  "If you can give me directions I'll call in the morgue and have a look at the body if that's okay."

  "You don't need directions, it's next door" Crosby said with a smirk.

  "Oh. Thanks for your help. I'll be in touch" Berkman said as he left the office.

  When Detective Berkman saw the body in the morgue he recognised it as the man staying in the Holiday Inn that he saw at the bar on Friday evening. "What is the connection between the Lithuanians and the student? The English woman was speaking to the student in the photo, I need to speak with her again" he thought as he walked back to the hotel.

  "Hi Frank, what happened at the Police Station?" Irma asked as Berkman approached the reception desk.

  "I'm sorry to say the body found this morning is one of your guests, Raimondas Wajanis."

  Irma looked as though she was going to faint "Oh Frank, that poor man!"

  **********

  As it was Memorial Day Bank Holiday Richard and Stephanie did not go into work and Joe arrived at the house in time for lunch. Fran had spent a while in her bathroom washing the blood out of her clothes and was glad she had been wearing a cotton print dress and not her jeans and tee-shirt. She put the clothes with some other hand washing into the clothes dryer and then walked out on the veranda. Joe thought she looked tired, so the four of them spent the day relaxing and watching the 'tubers' go down the river.

  "I'd like to have a go at that." Fran said enthusiastically, referring to the people who were sitting in large inflated tyre inner tubes and riding the rapids down the river.

  "I've always wanted to" Joe said. "Lot's of the University students do it, but there have been a few people drowned in the past" he added.

  "You don't expect us to go with you. After our last experience, never again!" Richard looked alarmed, but they continued to discuss it. He said that the river from their house to the covered bridge was the easier part of the journey so it would be best to start from there. They could borrow the tubes from Brandon that he and Stephanie had used before on the day Stephanie nearly drowned.

  **********

  The following day Fran stayed around the house in the Canyon while Richard and Stephanie went to work. She was startled when the door bell rang and when she opened the door Berkman was standing there. This time she did not ask him in.

  "My God; I thought you had gone back to Tampa. Why are you here?" Fran asked in a shocked voice.

  "A body of a man was found in a car in the creek yesterday morning. All he had on him was this photo" he said as he showed Fran the copy. "Do you recognise him?"

  "Yes, it could be one of the students at the University, Angelo Rossi" Fran said hesitantly.

  "Am I right in thinking it's the music student you were talking to in Moe's To Go on Saturday just before I spoke with you. The one who's father is a millionaire?"

  "Yes, it looks like him."

  "What were you talking about?"

  "Not much, he just mentioned his show. Oh, and he said his father was coming to see it."

  "Have you any idea why his photo was on the body of a man who was found in the creek on Monday morning?"

  "No, why should I know anything about it; anyway who was the man?" Fran asked as she could feel her palms sweating.

  "We don't know his identity yet" Berkman lied, because he did not want to give her any information.

  "Wouldn't it be better if you asked Angelo?" Fran said sarcastically.

  "I will go to the University and speak to him now. I just wanted to know if you thought the photo was him. Anyway thanks for your help" Berkman said as he walked back to the waiting cab.

  Berkman rode the cab to the University where he soon found Angelo, who agreed that the image in the photo could well be him. He was unable to glean any information from Angelo so he decided it was time to go back to Tampa. He got back to the hotel with just enough time to pack and get a cab to Chico Airport for his flight back to Tampa via Los Angeles.

  ‘SO LIVE YOUR LIFE THAT THE FEAR OF DEATH CAN NEVER ENTER YOUR HEART’

  When Richard and Stephanie came home from work they informed Fran that they had arranged for the three of them to go with Joe to a Mexican restaurant near Chico. Fran had been thinking of Joe all day and was looking forward to seeing him, particularly as she was feeling uneasy after Berkman's visit that morning. Richard and Stephanie drove to a bar and Richard ordered three Margaritas while waiting for Joe. The waitress asked Fran for an ID but she didn’t have any ID with her so Richard and Stephanie said that they would vouch for her. This had happened on a few occasions before and Fran had shown her passport. Fran found it hard to understand why the waitress should want to see if she was over twenty one when she was twenty nine!

  When Joe arrived he laughed when Richard told him that the waitress didn't believe that Fran was over twenty one. Fran thought that maybe that was why he was still attracted to her. He also
ordered a Margarita and soon afterwards they went to the Mexican restaurant. They had a good meal and they couldn’t eat it all because it was so much. They had a laugh with the waitress because Richard called Stephanie “my bride”, which he so often did, and the waitress offered them her congratulations thinking they had just got married!

  **********

  Nancy had arranged to take Fran and Jessica to Sacramento, so the following morning Fran arose early to be ready for the 100 miles or so drive to Sacramento. Their first stop was Sutter’s Fort. It was founded by John Sutter in 1839 and was built in adobe style out of straw and mud bricks. Sutter was a German and had travelled to the States in 1834. Many travellers from other parts of the States rested in the Fort before finding suitable land. Agriculture, fur trading and a brandy distillery helped establish the little community. In order to qualify for a land grant in 1840 Sutter became a Mexican citizen. Captain Freemont stationed a garrison at the Fort in 1846 during the war with Mexico and no one knew where Sutter’s loyalty lay. James Marshall discovered gold in January 1848, which changed the history of California. Then thousands of gold seekers passed through the Fort.

  They toured the Fort for an hour using ‘wands’ which they held in their hands and picked up commentary on each point of interest. The Fort was divided into rooms from the humble possessions of the Indians to the quarters of Sutter homes.

  After Sutter's Fort, Nancy stopped at an Almond Factory which was located only about one mile from the Fort. The tour commenced with a film and then two women showed them around the factory. California grows many almond orchards and there were many around Chico, so Fran found the tour interesting. 75% of the almonds from California were sent to this one factory for processing and packaging. The process included roasting them in many different spices – hickory smoked, barbecue, cheese etc. or packing them whole, in pieces or halves; making them into almond paste and confectionary, including sugar almonds. Nancy collected some recipes and bought a packet of almond strips.

  After leaving the Almond Factory Nancy stopped at a restaurant on the side of the road. "I'm in need of a snack and a drink" she said as she parked the car.

  "So am I, and I need a sit down" Jessica said as she got out of the car.

  "Yes, although the tours were interesting, it does take it out of you" Fran said as she walked towards the restaurant.

  After the waitress took their orders Nancy said to Fran "I'm pleased you're here for Joe at this difficult time. It's helping him cope with Sara's illness. Has he taken you to see Sara yet?"

  "No I haven't met her, but I would like to because he seems so close to her."

  "Yes, they have always been close and he loves the girls. Glen is struggling to cope so that's why I had the girls, but Larry is looking after them today to give me a break, although I don't know why he thinks I need a break. They are going to take the girls into the hospital to see Sara this afternoon and I will go in this evening with Joe" she explained.

  "I want to see Sara, so maybe you could come with me tomorrow" Jessica suggested to Fran.

  "Okay" Fran said but she didn't sound convincing. "I don't really like hospitals, but I guess Joe would be impressed if I make an effort" she thought.

  When they left the restaurant they visited the Governor’s Mansion, which was a short tour because due to lack of fire exits the top floor was not open to the public. The Mansion had been built in 1877 and had been the home of thirteen California chief executives from 1903 to 1966 including Ronald Reagan in 1967. Reagan only lived there for a few months because his wife didn’t like the house – it was too old fashioned and Fran was inclined to agree with her! Although it was a nice house to look at she wouldn’t have liked to live there. A new Governor’s house had been built near Sacramento where the current Governor, Gerry Brown, at present lived.

  Nancy then drove to the State Capital building and they looked at the official offices and walked around the gardens where squirrels scurried about. It was well into the afternoon when they reached Old Sacramento where the buildings had been preserved since the 1800s. The three of them went to a rather expensive restaurant and ate outside. As the evening drew closer they visited the new Old Sacramento Railway Museum, which had been opened only a few weeks. As Fran looked around she was very impressed by the condition of the huge steam engines, which were presented in an exciting and informative manner.

  When Fran eventually got back to the Canyon she was exhausted and as she took of her shoes and flopped onto the couch she wondered how Nancy and Jessica felt as they were a lot older than her. She then gave Richard and Stephanie a rundown of her day.

  **********

  On Wednesday morning, when Fran was heading to Sacramento, Detective Berkman walked into the office of the Chief of Police in Tampa who greeted him in a loud voice and with a face red with rage. "What's going on; I've had Vadimas Petusky on the 'phone. He's furious that his man has been found dead in Chico. Petusky said he sent him there to speak with the English woman. Damn it Frank, there must be a connection between his daughter's death and this guy Raimondas Wajanis being killed."

  "Well if they left the investigation to us perhaps he would still be alive. You're right, there's something fishy about the whole business. Why did Wajanis have a photo of the Italian student Angelo Rossi on him? The Italian is a friend of the English woman, and I spoke with them both and they don't know why. Someone must know; it must have something to do with Wajanis's death" Berkman said looking like he had just had a battering.

  "We will look like fools if we give the official cause of Daina's death as accidental drowning when she could have been murdered. Frank, I want you to go back to Chico and work with the local police on this. What's the detective’s name?"

  "Detective Crosby, Chief."

  "I must get the Lithuanian Government off my back, and if the Italians are involved then this is becoming an international fiasco. Find me something to keep them happy."

  "Yes Chief, I'll get back there."

  "And Frank; I don't want any dead Italian turning up, right!"

  "Okay, okay. It won't happen" Berkman said as he walked out the office faster than he had walked in.

  That evening Detective Berkman called at Teddy's apartment. When Teddy opened the door he looked happier than the last time Berkman had seen him.

  "Oh, Detective Berkman, come in. How is the investigation going, have you found Fran?"

  "Yes I saw her in California and she seems okay, but she couldn't tell me anything more about Daina's death than we already know. She has been accepted by a guy named Joe Peterson and his family."

  Teddy thought 'accepted' was a strange word to use. "So you mean she's like one of the family, just like when she was in Tampa?"

  "I guess so. Anyway I've come to talk to you about another matter. Have you heard that a guy working for the Lithuanian Government was found dead in Chico, killed by a bullet to the head?" and he added, "not far from where Fran is staying."

  "Yes, I've heard. Why was he killed?" Teddy was asking himself rather than Berkman.

  "We don't know if his death has anything to do with him working for the Lithuanian Government, but I am liaising with the Chico Police Department to see if there is any connection with Daina's death. Do you know this guy, his name is Angelo Rossi?" Berkman showed Teddy the photo.

  "No, but I know of a Lorenzo Rossi who is a millionaire who invests heavily in Lithuania. I recently read an article about him in a Lithuanian newspaper."

  "Ah, so there could be a connection, although I don't know where Fran comes into it. Well I'm heading back to Chico tomorrow. You can get me at the Chico Police Department if you think of anything. Thanks Teddy, be seeing you" and he waived his hand as he walked down the steps to his car.

  **********

  Richard and Stephanie dropped Fran off at Jessica’s on the way to work the next morning, and after a coffee Jessica drove Fran to the hospital. Jessica had been to see Sara before so the nurse at the desk recognised her. “Go
od morning, have you come to see Sara Adamson; I’m afraid she is full of morphine, she may not know you are here” she said with sympathy in her voice.

  “That’s alright nurse, we won’t stay long” Jessica said, as she headed to a private room to the side of the main ward. They walked in and all Fran could take in was a very pale woman lying in the hospital bed attached to wires and various electrical gadgets. “Hello Sara love, it’s Jessica. I’ve brought a friend of Joe’s with me” she said while holding Sara’s hand.

  “Hi Sara, Joe’s told me all about you” Fran said, because that was the only thing she could think to say. Then she just stood there her mind wondering anywhere other than in that room, while Jessica continued to talk to Sara. All the time there was no response from Sara and Fran thought that the nurse was probably right; she didn’t know who they were.

  “Aunt Jessica; Fran” whispered a familiar voice from the door. Fran turned to see Joe standing at the doorway with another man. “Mother said you were bringing Fran in to see Sara,” he said to Jessica, and to Fran he said, “Fran, this is Glen.” Glen forced a smile and Fran thought that his mind was probably on his wife lying dying in the hospital bed.

  “Hi Glen, I wish we could have met under different circumstances. We’ll be going now and leave you alone with Sara” she said as she passed Glen in the doorway followed by Jessica. She felt stifled; she couldn’t breathe and wished she hadn’t come.

  “Sorry you had to see Sara like this. It’s so sad that you never met her before, you guys would have got on so well” Joe said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Bye Aunt Jessica, see you soon” he said as he hugged Jessica.

  As they walked to the car, Jessica said to Fran with tears in her eyes and choking on the words “she is such a lovely woman. She’s a wonderful wife and mother.”

  Fran thought “Something I could never be."