**********
That evening when Berkman was sitting on a plane headed for Chico, Sara died. Joe spent the following day helping Glen, Larry and Nancy with the funeral arrangements. Stephanie was too upset to go to work so Fran spent the morning sitting with her on the veranda overlooking the creek. Fran studied the hummingbirds drinking out of the feeder that hung over the veranda as Stephanie talked. She wasn’t really listening to Stephanie so she said "yes" or "no" when she thought it was the right thing to say. Then she responded when she heard Stephanie say "so who was the man who called in on Tuesday morning?"
"Oh sorry, Stephanie, I was miles away. Oh he was just a detective from Florida. I was at a party just before I left and one of the women at the party drowned. He said he had interviewed everyone at the party except me, so just to make sure everything was covered he had to interview me, but I told him I didn't know anything about it." Fran said hoping that Stephanie was satisfied with the explanation.
"Oh dear, did you know her?" Stephanie said showing concern.
"No, not really, I met her once or twice." Luckily for Fran the doorbell rang.
"Oh, that must be Jessica" Stephanie said getting up from her chair.
The three of them had a light lunch and talked mainly of Sara. Fran felt she was going to explode with boredom and frustration and everything was going around in her head, so she was glad to have the chance to leave.
“I’m going for a walk and leave you two to talk. I won’t be long” she said.
“Okay” Stephanie responded.
Fran thought grudgingly “They’re not interested in me. I think they would rather I was out the way because I’m not family," and as she went out the front door she saw a police car pull up outside the gates. As she hastened towards the car a police officer got out. "Do you live here ma'am?"
"Yes, can I help" Fran said trying to look calm.
"I expect you have heard about the body found in the creek on Monday" the officer said as a matter of fact. "We believe the man was killed on Sunday evening. Were you and your family at home at that time?"
"No we were visiting the Reynolds up the road" Fran said giving the impression that she was the lady of the house.
"Ah you must be the Henderson's; they said you were with them. One other thing, do you keep guns in the house?"
"Richard is a dentist and keeps drugs in the house for emergencies. He worries that junkies may break in so he does have some guns in the house" Fran said still playing the role.
"Does he own a 22 calibre handgun?"
"I'm sorry I don't know what guns he has. I don't have anything to do with them" she said clutching her purse tightly to her.
"Is Mr Henderson at home?”
“No, he’s at work.”
“Okay, maybe you can let him know that we’ll call back to check out his guns. Thanks for your help ma’am" the officer said as he got back in his car and drove down the road.
Fran wiped the perspiration from her forehead and headed up Honey Run Road.
**********
The next day was a hot Saturday and so Richard and Stephanie took Fran to Bidwell Park in Chico. Bidwell Park was a large municipal park and Richard told Fran that it was used for the Robin Hood film starring Errol Flynn. Unknown to them Fran had on her bikini, and much to everyone's surprise she took of her shorts and tea shirt, then jumped into the river and swam with the children who were home from school. After her swim Fran lay out on the grass to dry.
"As we are so near to the office, I think I'll go in and check on things" Richard said as he wiped his brow.
"Can't take the heat, old man" Stephanie teased and she sat down beside Fran.
"I'll pick us up some cold drinks on the way back" he said as he walked away.
He returned after about twenty minutes with a brown paper bag from which he took out three cold cans of Pepsi, before the bag fell apart from the condensation.
"Damn" he said as he pulled the sodden bag off his can. "There was a message on the answer machine from a patient complaining that he had raving toothache and needed to see me urgently. I've arranged for us to see him after lunch" he said to Stephanie.
"Oh Richard, if only you hadn't gone in the office" Stephanie said, then immediately felt guilty for saying it. After all he made good money from his practice and kept her in a very comfortable lifestyle.
"Do you want to have lunch with us and then we could drop you off at Jessica's, that way we wouldn't have to go back home until after we've seen the patient" explained Richard to Fran.
Fran agreed and they had lunch in Lyons, although both Stephanie and Richard found it hard to make conversation. They wished they didn't have to go into work, but there was little they could do as Joe, Larry and Glen were dealing with the funeral arrangements. They dropped Fran into Jessica's, where she stayed trying to comfort her over Sara's death while drinking tea, until Richard and Stephanie picked her up.
**********
It was dark in the Theatre; the only light was coming through a gap where the stage curtains did not quite meet. Fran pulled back the curtain with her left hand and in her right hand was a handgun. Lauren was standing on the stage and Fran pointed the gun at her. “No Fran don’t!” came a shout from the right of the stage. Fran shot a look to her right, was it Joe in the darkness? She looked back at Lauren and squeezed the trigger, the gun went off and Lauren slouched down against the back wall of the stage blood oozing from her chest. Fran awoke to find herself sweating and standing on the veranda in her nightie, and to her amazement she had the handgun in her hand. It wasn't the first time she had walked in her sleep, because she had a habit of walking in her sleep when she was stressed, and the last time was in Florida. As she left the veranda and walked towards her room she noticed her bare feet were dirty. Richard appeared in the corridor in his pyjamas, carrying a shotgun.
"Fran, what were you shooting at, is someone out there?" he whispered as he peered into the night.
"I don't know. Sorry, I thought I saw someone down by the gazebo so I fired a warning shot" she lied, because she didn't want Richard to know that she fired the gun in her sleep.
"I'll go and check. I hope you haven't hit another skunk!" he said trying to make light of the situation.
Fran quickly dashed in her room, put the gun back in her purse and grabbed some tissues from the box on the dressing table. She wiped the dirt of her feet, threw the tissues in the bin and stood in the doorway.
Richard was soon back in. "No signs of anyone. It might have been some animal" he said as he locked the door behind him. "Go back to bed Fran, it's okay, don't worry" he said as he tried not to look at her standing in her flimsy nightie.
********
This time when Detective Berkman landed at Chico airport he hired a car, drove into Chico and checked in at the Holiday Inn. It was Irma's evening off so there was no friendly welcome that evening.
He spent the next day at the Police Station going over all the information they had compiled, including the interviews of the residents of Butte Creek Canyon. When he read the interview given by a Mrs Henderson at the address where he knew Fran was staying, he had a feeling that something was not quite right and told Detective Crosby that he would go back out to the Henderson’s and check out the guns in the house.
On the Saturday morning he visited Angelo at the University, and he confirmed that his father was Lorenzo Rossi, the millionaire who had financial investments in Lithuania. He insisted he did not know anything about his father's business but felt sure it had nothing to do with the death of Raimondas Wajanis. Then Berkman drove to the Canyon to call on the Henderson’s, but when he arrived no one was in. As he walked around the outside of the house he realised it was totally isolated, and as there was no street lighting anyone could come down Honey Run Road at night unnoticed.
He called back to the house the following day, because it being a Sunday he was sure he would find someone at home. However, Fran and Richard had gone to Brandon's house to
collect the two inner tubes for tubing down the river. When they returned Stephanie was preparing the evening meal, so Richard took Fran to Travis and Natalie Lawson's house further up the Canyon for a few drinks. Not long after they had left the doorbell rang and Stephanie was surprised to see a stranger at the door.
"Oh, can I help?" she said, not fully opening the door.
"I'm Detective Berkman from Tampa Police in Florida. I called the other day to speak with Fran and would like to talk with her again" Berkman said as he showed her his badge.
"I'm sorry she is out at the moment. Is it about that poor girl drowning in Florida; she told me you called?"
"Yes. Oh, Mrs Henderson, there’s one more thing, is your husband in?" Berkman just managed to get the words out before she closed the door on him.
“No he is with Fran, why?”
“Well when the police called the other day they said they would return to check out the guns in the house. They are checking all the homes with guns in the neighbourhood.”
“Are they, why?”
“It’s part of the investigation of the body found in the creek on Monday. I thought the police would have told you."
“Sorry, I’m not myself at the moment. You see my cousin died on Thursday evening and I’m still very upset. But, yes I did read about it in the local paper.”
“Oh I’m sorry to hear that. Would that be Sara, her mother said she was very ill?”
“Yes, oh you must be the Detective that called at the ranch?”
“Yes, that’s right. Sorry to bother you at such a difficult time. When will Mr Henderson be back home?”
“He will definitely be home this evening.”
“Thank you, I’ll call back later” Berkman said as he walked back to his car.
When Richard and Fran arrived at the Lawson's they were both dirty from gardening, and Travis was covered in cement from laying a garden path. However, Fran found them to be a very pleasant couple and enjoyed the drink sat in their beautiful garden, which was landscaped to the creek. When they returned home Fran told Stephanie that Travis and Natalie had invited her and Joe to the Dentists’ Barbecue which was to take place at their house the coming Thursday. Stephanie said that Fran was very honoured to be invited as it was strictly for dentists and their wives. She then told them about Berkman's visit and that he would be calling back to check on Richard’s guns.
Detective Berkman called at seven that evening and while Stephanie offered him an iced tea, Richard collected his shotgun and handgun and knocked on Fran’s door.
“Come in, it’s okay.”
“Fran that Detective Berkman is here to check out my guns and to talk with you" he said in a quiet voice as he walked into her bedroom. He took hold of the shotgun next to the bed and faced her and whispered "I need to show him the handgun, where is it?”
When Fran was told that Berkman would be calling she had taken the gun from her purse and put it in the drawer by the bed. She handed the gun to Richard and followed him into the living room.
Richard showed Detective Berkman his two shotguns, two handguns and boxes of ammunition and Berkman checked the guns and made a note of their serial numbers. He then turned to Fran “The checking of guns in the neighbourhood is part of the investigation into the body found in the creek, but I’m still investigating the death of Daina. As part of that investigation can you call in the Police Station in the morning with your passport? The duty officer will ask you to fill out some forms, it’s just procedure.”
“Okay, I’ll do that” Fran tried not to show her annoyance.
“Thanks for your help; and for the iced tea” Berkman said as he smiled at Stephanie and walked out the door.
**********
Richard dropped Fran at the Police Station on his way to work the following morning. She was not happy about giving her details to the Police, but she knew it would look suspicious if she didn't cooperate. The duty officer took her passport into a back office and came back with a copy, which he stapled to the form she had just filled in giving details of all her addresses and work details since she left school. The duty officer looked pleased when she had completed everything he asked of her, but she couldn't wait to get out of there.
Fran felt she needed a coffee so walked into the main street where she remembered seeing a coffee bar. She then noticed Joe's Chevy parked outside the funeral home and thought he must be inside discussing the last minute arrangements for Sara's funeral the next day. Fran thought it best not to interfere, so she headed for a coffee shop that she had noticed across the street. The door clanged as she opened it and two familiar heads turned in her direction.
"Fran!" Joe called across the room. Fran stopped in her tracks when she realised he was sat with Lauren; she wasn't sure whether to go over to their table.
"Hi Joe" she said giving a small wave and feeling as small as a mouse.
"Hi Fran, are you going to join us?" Lauren asked trying to be pleasant.
Fran walked over to their table "I can't stop Joe, I'm supposed to be at Jessica's" she lied.
"Oh. I just came out of the funeral offices and bumped into Lauren and she insisted on buying me coffee" Joe said looking awkward.
"Yes, the poor dear is so sad, I thought maybe I could cheer him up just a little" Lauren said as she stroked his hair. Joe immediately pushed her hand away.
"Well I'll see you at the funeral tomorrow Joe. I really am sorry about Sara" Fran said as she turned away.
"Fran, once the funeral is over we will spend lots of time together" Joe shouted after her but she didn't hear what he said over the clanging of the door as she walked out.
**********
Detective Berkman called in the Station early Monday morning and left instructions with Officer Miller on the front desk that when Fran called in to make a copy of her passport, and to get details of her addresses and employment covering the last ten years. After lunch Berkman called back to the Station and walked up to the desk "Afternoon Officer Miller, has the English woman been in?"
"Yes, I took a copy of her passport and got her to write down all the information you wanted" Miller confirmed.
"And you gave her a new pen to write with?"
"Yes, and I put it in a plastic bag as you instructed" he said as he held up the bag.
"Well if there are any finger prints on it other than the woman's they will probably be yours" Berkman said smiling. "Thanks, good work" he said as he took the bag and paperwork from Officer Miller. Berkman then went into the back office and spoke with a woman police officer.
"Hi I'm Detective Berkman with the Tampa Police Department and I would be pleased if you could find some information for me. Sorry I don't know your name" he said addressing the young police woman and showing her his badge.
"Oh hello, just call me Mandy. How can I be of help?" she said in a well educated voice.
"I'm working on a case of a woman drowned in Florida, but am also involved with the case of the man found in the Canyon a week ago. This is the details of a woman who was in Florida at the time of the drowning and is now in Chico. You will see from the information in this paperwork that she was in the military in England. Can you get hold of anything that might be useful from her military records and her last employer, and check out that the addresses are legitimate" Berkman said handing her all the paperwork given to him including the copy of her passport.
"Okay I'm onto it. I'll contact Scotland Yard to telex information to me, although it will probably take a few days."
"Also, can you pass this onto the finger print guys to see if they can get a print off it" he said as he passed her the sealed plastic bag with the pen in it. "If they are lucky then will you be able to check the prints against the prints we got out of the car found in the creek last Monday?"
"Okay I'll do that. I may have to get help with checking the prints."
"That's okay; I appreciate your help and enthusiasm. I'm calling into the Station daily so when you have anything for me can you let Off
icer Miller know on the front desk."
"I will" she said only too pleased to be of importance.
‘THE SOUL WOULD HAVE NO RAINBOW IF THE EYES HAD NO TEARS’
Although the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky, it was not a beautiful day for Joe. It was the day of his Sister's funeral. With his help Glen and Larry had made all the funeral arrangements and Nancy had insisted on using the Ranch for the refreshments after the funeral. She had called in caterers and was busy checking that everything was as it should be. Joe realised by keeping busy it helped her cope with the loss of Sara. Melissa and Marcia still looked pretty even in their dull dresses, which were black, edged with white lace and white lace collars. All the men were wearing black suits and the women black dresses. Sara was being buried in a cemetery in Chico following a church service.
Joe carried the coffin with Larry, Glen and his brother Mark, into a packed church. The family were well known in Chico and the surrounding areas and many had come to pay their last respects. He couldn't look at all the sorrowful faces because he knew his would only reflect the sadness that he felt. His mind wondered to his childhood days, and he pictured Sara running around the ranch, playing in the barn and climbing on the combine harvesters. She was always happy and laughing, and although she often teased him when they were young, she looked after him and protected him from any bullies at school. Then she grew into a beautiful woman and became a wonderful mother. Up until that morning he had been angry with God for taking Sara, but now he accepted that being angry would not bring her back and he had to be strong for mother and the girls. Tears welled in his eyes as he looked over at Melissa and Marcia sitting next to his mother who was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. Then he caught a glimpse of Fran sat with Stephanie and Richard in a pew behind. For a second his feelings were lifted and then the service began.
Fran went in the car with Richard and Stephanie and little was said when they walked into the church which was fairly empty when they arrived. As the minutes went by the church began to fill and then Fran noticed Lauren enter the church. Soon Joe walked in with the coffin and her heart nearly broke when she saw the sorrow in his face. She didn't think anyone could look so sad and she had to use all her strength to hold back the tears.
The English Woman Page 14
