Scorpio's Lot

by Ray Smithies

  ‘Perhaps one very deceptive character,’ acknowledged Gallagher.

  ‘Not necessarily and I think you’re being a bit hasty with your judgment. Reserve your opinions until we’ve assessed all seven,’ Forbes insisted.

  Forbes continued. ‘In his defence there is no evidence of having contact with any Scorpio member. Also take into account his age. At thirty-seven he may be too young to carry out the role of Piedpiper.’

  ‘Then what’s the probability of Collins being the culprit?’ asked Parnell, anxious to hear an opinion..

  ‘This leads into means, motive and opportunity. The means are self-explanatory, whereby his occupation acts as a front or excuse to delve into areas that are normally off-limits to most. He can be persuasive to satisfy a whim or seek out information to pursue the cause. His means are exceptional strong and penetrating. Motive conjures up a very interesting scenario. Stanley Forrester, who owns the Advertiser, is both an ageing and unwell man. He has no direct descendents and there is speculation as to what might happen to his business when he passes away. Enter Ashley Collins, who requires a substantial amount of capital to buy the old man out. On a reporter’s salary he would never achieve the goal, so he decides to partake in the distribution of drugs to speed up the process. Opportunity is certainly present, given a reporter’s life is often away from the office, enabling him to carry out his dual role. Also it’s highly probable that Ashley would have free reign most evenings. Do you have any questions or further ideas about our Mr Collins?’ Forbes prompted.

  Nothing was forthcoming. The four detectives simply stared at their superior following his somewhat incriminating summary.

  ‘Very well, then let’s move onto Helen O’Neill. We have here a lady of many talents. She is pleasant, strong-willed, manipulative and highly intelligent. Of the seven suspects it could be said she has suffered most at the hands of the syndicate, or was it misinterpreted to appear this way? Brigit, her stepdaughter, was driven to Peterswood by Tom Harrison to escape the clutches of Scorpio and as a consequence we see two sides of Helen’s nature. On one hand she seeks to have the police intervene in case they’re being followed, while on the other there is neither approach nor enquiry from the woman during the next three days. Further, we see little remorse coming from a woman who is supposedly a mother figure. Hardly the behaviour you would expect to see. Where did she go for those three days? Our men knocked on her front door daily, but to no avail. She had disappeared off the face of the planet. So what possesses Helen to lay low in her stepdaughter’s hour of need? Had she arranged a rendezvous with the inevitable? Remember Brigit was very adamant when she said her stepmother had married for money. She’s been a woman infatuated with the materials things in life and throughout the years the obsession has forever persisted.’

  ‘But don’t forget that Helen O’Neill was subjected to a mugging in Tom Harrison s car,’ said Gallagher.

  ‘Correction - she witnessed a break-in and was not physically injured. One of our human failings is that our brain will dictate what we want to see and not necessarily the reality of the situation. Don’t underestimate this woman for she is one clever cookie. Even Brigit mentioned she had manipulated people to get her own way on numerous occasions.’

  Forbes continued. ‘Now consider the following scenario. Helen had prior knowledge of her house being broken into with the purpose of having Brigit taken away and relocated. Her stepdaughter had become a burden for she was rebellious, showed no respect and was an embarrassment to her stepmother’s hobnobbing and social aspirations. Unfortunately, Helen’s plan was foiled by the unannounced arrival of Tom Harrison, which ultimately saved Brigit’s premature departure.’

  ‘You’re twisting everything around to purposely paint a very different profile,’ fired Doyle, who couldn’t possibly see Helen O’Neill stoop to such a level.

  ‘Again I’ll repeat myself. To flush out the guilty party it’s essential to assess all possible aspects and not be narrow-minded into believing that someone’s personality holds sway. So we come to means, motive and opportunity. Helen’s means literally opens Pandora’s box, for her multitude of resources knows no boundaries. Given her voluntary community work, she has at her disposal everything from business contacts through to private individuals. Motive would undoubtedly be greed. Helen has been privy to the good life following her inheritance, but having no accumulative working income the funds were forever depleting. She desperately wanted to maintain her lifestyle and sought the rewards of drug distribution to preserve the status quo. Opportunity is without question, for Helen’s application, time and convenience was in abundance. She was always in the fortunate position of making a move when it suited her. Any questions?’

  ‘Don’t forget that Helen has been persecuted along the way, not just her daughter,’ stated Marsh.

  ‘Don’t be misled into believing the obvious. Helen O’Neill’s motive has as much merit as her counterparts,’ he insisted.

  Forbes took a moment to reach for a glass of water. During the short pause his mind began to focus on the next suspect. He was presently held in awe by his colleagues who marvelled at his ability to retain so much individual information.

  ‘Now let’s turn our attention to Stephen Buchanan. Here’s a person who is not only a clever and shrewd businessman, but projects a confident if not shifty manner. Personally I don’t trust him from my brief encounters and I daresay he’s rubbed a few people up the wrong way having played God in the world of finance. This individual conjures up a number of suspicions that make a mockery of the meaning coincidental. He owns a white Toyota Land Cruiser, which happens to be the same 4WD make and colour driven by the Scorpio syndicate. During a brief stopover in Ashworth, both Tom Harrison and Brigit O’Neill witness Stephen Buchanan entering his vehicle in the company of an unidentified person. He fails to return their greeting. Why? Doesn’t he want to be seen or is he hiding something? It all sounds rather harmless expect for one notable difference - Harrison and O’Neill were being trailed by exactly the same vehicle on that fateful day. Unrelated or coincidental?’

  ‘Didn’t you speak with Buchanan on his return?’ queried Parnell.

  ‘Yes, and when interviewing the bank manager he took a distinct dislike to my line of questioning regarding that weekend. His normally confident approach immediately gave way to an uncomfortable and withdrawn manner. He stated the weekend was a mixture of business and pleasure, claiming there was a property to be assessed on behalf of Ben Johnson, coupled with a fishing trip. In a later discussion, the publican verified there was a business deal which fell through. A further consideration is his constant association with Ben Johnson. Are both up to no good, whereby the publican provides the muscle and Buchanan the capital? Still that’s merely speculation prompting food for thought.’

  ‘They can’t both be the Piedpiper,’ said Gallagher.

  ‘Of course not. If the guilty party is one of these two suspects, consider the possibility of them working in conjunction with each other, that’s all. I’ve raised this very point with the phone call in mind, the morning I had breakfast at La Porta’s Cafe. I can distinctly recall Johnson’s comment to Buchanan. He said, “Is the business matter finalised? I need to know when you’re returning ... I must see you at your bank.” What business matter? The property he spoke of was never verified nor purchased. So why the need to meet at the Pedley bank on his return? Also remember the trip was brief, in fact just an overnight stay. So how did Buchanan manage both a real estate evaluation and a fishing excursion in the space of a few hours? It just doesn’t add up, unless there were links to some sinister intent. Keep in mind his country jaunt just happened to be around the time of the Peterswood assault.’

  ‘Pity no number plates were taken at the time to determine if one or two 4WDs were involved,’ said Doyle, harping back to the vehicle coincidence.

  Forbes ignored the negative remark and pressed on with his summary.

  ‘Now let’s evaluate means, motive and oppo
rtunity with our illustrious banker in mind. The means unmistakably points towards capital. Buchanan is manipulative and clever by nature. He has the ability and shrewdness to finance an unscrupulous operation by fixing the books to channel funds directly into their coffers. Motive is slightly unclear, unless there is an underlying intention to gain some monetary benefit from depositing funds into the syndicate account. Opportunity is also apparent, given his position would rarely cause heads to turn and his decision would be final in most financial transactions. Any input on this dubious individual?’

  ‘One thing you haven’t mentioned about Buchanan - he’s supposedly had no direct contact with the syndicate,’ said Marsh, believing the banker had at least some credibility.

  ‘True, which may emphasise how clever and sly this guy really is,’ Forbes quickly responded and then proceeded with a further evaluation. ‘Okay, our next profile to scrutinise is none other than Darren Burke. I’m fully aware this is a sensitive issue, but nevertheless its one that can’t be ignored. Darren is thorough, diligent and methodical by nature. He is dedicated to his work and commands respect from both this peers and public alike. One must not overlook the fact that here is a person who has a clear and distinct advantage over his six fellow suspects. If our sergeant is in fact the culprit, can you begin to imagine the benefits and convenience he’s had up his sleeve? He has literally commanded the best of both worlds. We’re aware of his confrontations with Scorpio and being assaulted at Peterswood and on the Molly Bloom. But ask yourself if this was a front to avoid suspicion? After all, the injuries sustained weren’t life threatening. Also consider the Scorpio trio Charlie, Mick and Morgan, who led the assault and had never laid eyes on the Piedpiper.’

  ‘Perhaps they avoided inflicting serious injury because any fatal attack on a law enforcement agent would attract unprecedented attention,’ claimed Parnell.

  ‘That I won’t argue, but one thing doesn’t feel right about Burke,’ said Forbes.

  ‘What?’ Marsh believed his colleague was the epitome of an honest cop.

  ‘The excessive amount of time he’s been absent from the station.’

  ‘But when duty calls he has no choice,’ challenged Gallagher.

  ‘Understandably, but why does he conduct his investigations so often alone, when strictly speaking he should be accompanied by a fellow officer?’

  ‘What are you implying?’ Marsh was becoming agitated with his superior’s line of approach.

  ‘To my way of thinking it’s been excessive, sometimes as much as two or three hours at a time. Sure I’ve read his reports, but it’s also crossed my mind these numerous incidents could have been conducted in half the time. So what does he do with all this so-called spare time? Maybe he consults with his syndicate members when time is appropriate and non-threatening. Perhaps there’s a dark side to our Darren Burke.’

  ‘Perhaps he was just being thorough, as you pointed out earlier,’ Doyle stated with a hint of aggression.

  Forbes could see he had stirred emotions and decided on a different approach. He had, understandably, his own views and doubts which weren’t necessarily shared by the four detectives. He did, however, acknowledge that in their defence allegiance can sometimes be a blind attribute and hopefully his own suspicions would prove to be unfounded.

  ‘Let’s address means, motive and opportunity. The means are of an authoritative nature, which is a very powerful tool. Burke calls the tune, which enables him access to just about every conceivable subject he nominates. Additionally, he has the convenience of dismissing obstacles or hurdles that may get in his way. Motive is a difficult one to assess. Burke doesn’t strike me as a person stimulated by greed. So if he is the guilty party, what else could be a motivating factor? Perhaps he has a passion for authority, which reflects his line of work. Some would label this role as being a control freak enjoying the position of supremacy. Opportunity is in abundance. As our sergeant of Pedley, he has already demonstrated the time and freedom required to fulfill a dual role. Anything you wish to say about Darren Burke?’

  ‘Its absolute bullshit for the sergeant to be considered a suspect!’ insisted Parnell.

  ‘Couldn’t agree more,’ reinforced Gallagher.

  ‘I don’t deny the accusation hurts, but as professionals in our field we cannot afford to leave any stone unturned,’ lectured Forbes.

  The four detectives were not happy with their superior’s no-holds-barred theatrics.

  Forbes sensed the possibilities had been exhausted. It was time to move on with his next prognosis.

  ‘Let’s turn our attention to Martha Kellett. Here’s a woman that summons a multitude of theories. She is by nature generous, cautious, supportive and highly intelligent. Of the seven suspects, Martha is the only one who is known to have a direct connection with a Scorpio member. Is it intentional or coincidental? Sam, alias Lou Hanna, is her resident gardener-cum-handyman, who decides to impersonate the infamous Piedpiper to protect the real identity. Who is Lou protecting? Of course that’s the million-dollar question. Perhaps it’s Martha herself. In her defence she showed genuine shock in the unmasking of Lou Hanna when caught by the Traffik thugs. Additionally, she was bashed by Scorpio within the confines of Tom Harrison’s living room, but also take into consideration the infiltrators did not know the identity of the Piedpiper.’

  ‘But surely a conversation transpired that could have detected the presence,’ intervened Marsh.

  ‘You would expect so. Her response to the Russian roulette episode was a pitiful display of cowardliness, hardly the reaction you would expect to see from a hardened criminal. But was her performance an act or was it of genuine emotion? A troubling aspect is her voluntary work. She has exposure to the youth of the community who have been subjected to the relentless sale of drugs over time. Maybe her intentions were dishonorable all along, in having a further party employed to distribute the illegal substance amongst the youth she ultimately selected?’

  ‘But Martha Kellett is a woman in her sixties, hardly the image of a regional head,’ claimed Doyle.

  ‘Don’t let appearances deceive you. The Kellett woman can lay claim to the infamous role as much as the next person,’ Forbes declared.

  ‘But didn’t she support Emily Harrison during Tom’s fling in the countryside?’ queried Gallagher somewhat surprised at his venom toward the woman.

  ‘Yes, but again you’re letting the obvious overrule a possible underlying reason. Don’t be fooled by her manipulative and consoling ways. She was after all the only witness to the cliff-side fatalities and maybe devised the story to suit her needs?’

  ‘That’s bloody ridiculous! What on earth could be gained from her fabricating the story? Two people fell from a cliff no matter which way you look at it,’ declared Parnell.

  ‘Then let’s look at Martha Kellett’s means, motive and opportunity. Her means are reasonably easy to fathom out. She’s retired, and unlike most of her fellow suspects has time on her side. Martha lives a comfortable lifestyle, has never married and has no siblings. Logic suggests she’s accumulated reasonable wealth through the years and had the funds to commence such a deceptive venture. Motive is an interesting scenario however. I find it difficult to pinpoint, with any degree of accuracy, what could possibly be Martha’s aspirations. She has a stately residence, her daily chores are attended to and she is quite possibly not short of a quid or two. So what’s missing? After weighing up the options I could only come up with one conclusion: greed. It’s an infectious disease that affects a multitude of social classes, including the comfortable and wealthy. Opportunity is apparent, as a result of the many doors that open with respect to her circle of charity and educational outlets. Any comments?’

  With no further input from his subordinates, Forbes now concentrated his efforts on the Esplanade publican.

  ‘Okay, now we’ll judge the irrepressible Ben Johnson. Here’s a man who is ambitious, rude, vindictive and one very clever customer. If our choice of culprit is to be ba
sed on dislike, then this suspect would romp in. However, this is not the criterion so don’t let personality be your persuading factor when nominating the Piedpiper. There are numerous scenarios when evaluating this individual. For starters his staff has been caught in the possession of drugs. Johnson claimed no knowledge, but was his denial to be believed? I have my doubts. The infamous Brad Morgan was their source of supply for a period of time and on most occasions he became aggressive and verbal just prior to bar closure. Surely Johnson must have been aware of Morgan’s confrontations and his antagonising departures. But the publican chose to ignore these outbursts. Why? Was he protecting this psychopath, and if this proves to be the case, then bingo we have our connection.