by John Holt
“Do come in gentlemen,” Walker said, as he stood up to greet us. “Please, take a seat.” He indicated the sofa.
“I’m Detective Bates, and this is Jack Daniels a local private detective,” said Bates as he sat down.
Walker nodded and looked at me. “I know Mr. Daniels,” he said. “We’re old friends aren’t we? Although I didn’t think I’d be seeing you for a while.”
Bates looked puzzled, and looked at me. I merely smiled.
“It’s good to see you again,” I said. I was tempted to ask whether he had received my report, and my bill, and could I look forward to a check real soon. I decided against.
“Thank you for seeing us at such short notice,” said Bates.
“I’m always happy to assist our police force,” Walker replied. “Can I get you some tea?”
I would have preferred something stronger, but tea would have to do. And some cream donuts would be good.
“No tea, thank you,” Bates replied.
Guess there wasn’t going to be any tea then.
“Alright Thomas, we shan’t need you any further,” Walker said, waving his hand dismissively. “I’ll ring if I need you.” He then turned back to face us. “So, what can I do for you?”
“It’s about the body that was recently found in Battery Park,” Bates started to explain. “You may have read about it.”
Walker nodded. “Yes I did, but what has this got to do with me?”
“Just a few questions that I hope you can help me with,” Bates replied. “We shan’t keep you too long.”
“Alright officer, carry on,” said Walker.
“It’s about Susan Brady,” Bates explained.
“The one they found dead in the Park the other day,” said Walker. “It’s simply dreadful. What a world we live in.”
“I understand that the lady had been blackmailing you,” Bates continued. “Demanding payment from you for keeping silent about something?”
Walker nodded. “Your information is correct,” he replied.
“And you never reported it to the police,” said Bates. “Would you care to tell me about it now?”
Walker shook his head. “With the lady dead it hardly seems necessary now.”
Bates decided to leave to one side, and heaved a sigh. He placed a single cufflink on to a side table. “Have you ever seen that before?” he asked.
Walker picked it up and looked at it for a few moments. “I think I have a pair just like it,” he replied. “Why do you ask?”
Bates pointed at the cufflink. “That was actually found at the murder scene.”
Walker looked at the cufflink for a few moments longer, and then handed it back to Bates. “Is that supposed to mean something as far as I’m concerned,” he replied. “I imagine dozens of men, perhaps hundreds, have similar cufflinks. It’s a fairly common design.”
Bates nodded. “Yes sir, it is, and I imagine that you are correct. I’m sure that many men have that same design,” he said. “Nonetheless, could I see your set, please?”
Walker looked puzzled. “Why on earth would you want to see my cufflinks?”
“If you could just fetch them, sir,” Bates insisted.
“Oh, this is ridiculous,” replied Walker. “Do you have a warrant?” he asked, and then shook his head. “Never mind, I’ll get them.”
He then stood up and walked over to the door. He opened it, and stepped into the hallway. “Ah, Thomas, could you please bring down my case containing my cufflinks, you know the one. The police seem very anxious to see them.”
A moment or two later he returned to his seat. “Thomas won’t be long,” he said. “Was there anything else?”
“Do you know Chantry Woods?” I asked.
“Yes I know Chantry Woods,” Walker replied. “They are about a mile, mile and a half, from here. Why do you ask?”
“Do you ever go there?” Bates asked, ignoring Walker’s question.
“Yes, I often go there,” Walker replied. “I take my dogs there two or three times a week. Why?”
“Because that’s where Miss. Brady was murdered,” I replied.
“And you think I had something to do with it, is that it?” replied Walker angrily.
“You had a good motive,” I said. “Blackmail is always a good reason for killing someone.”
“At this stage, Mr. Walker, I don’t think anything,” said Bates interjecting. “At present all that I am doing is making enquiries, you understand. So if you could just answer the question.”
Okay so that was Frank’s view, the official position, but I thought differently. Walker was my number one suspect. More than that, I was convinced of his guilt. Alright, I admit we still lacked proof, but everything was beginning to fit together, and everything was pointing at him.
At that moment the door opened, and Thomas returned. He was holding a black leather case. He handed it to Walker who opened it and started to search through. After a few minutes he looked over to Bates. His face was white, and he was sweating.
“What’s the problem, Mr. Walker?” Bates asked.
Walker looked back at the box and shook his head. “I don’t understand it.”
“What don’t you understand, sir?” asked Bates.
Walker shook his head once more, and looked over at Thomas. “There’s only one cufflink here. How can that be?”
Thomas shook his head. “I’ll look upstairs, sir. It may have fallen behind the wardrobe, or somewhere,” he said as he left the room.
“Right, it may have fallen,” I repeated. “These things happen.”
A few minutes later Thomas returned, shaking his head. “I’m afraid I can’t see it anywhere, sir.”
“Perhaps you lost it out somewhere,” Bates suggested.
“Perhaps in Chantry Woods,” I added.
Bates glared at me, and stood up. “I shan’t delay you any longer, sir,” he said. “Thank you for your assistance.”
I stood up and looked at Bates, just wondering exactly what help Walker had been.
Walker stood up. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help,” he said. “Thomas will see you out.”
* * *
“You know Frank I’m convinced that Walker killed that woman,” I said as we walked back to the cars.
Bates nodded. “I agree with you, but we just need to prove it. He certainly had a good motive.”
“And the opportunity,” I added. “And it definitely looks like his cufflink puts him at the murder scene, so what else do you need?”
Bates shook his head. “I hear what you say, but anyone could have left that cufflink there.”
I started to smile. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Are you suggesting that it could have been Mrs. Walker, or even Thomas?”
“No, that’s not exactly what I meant, although it’s possible,” Bates replied. “No, what I meant is that there must be hundreds of guys with the same type of cufflinks.”
I nodded. “I’m sure that you’re absolutely right,” I said. “But they weren’t all being blackmailed by the murdered lady were they?”
* * *
Chapter Eleven
Denis Walker Is Dead
I just couldn’t understand it. Why had Bates let Walker off the hook like that? I mean so easy. I was convinced of his guilt. He had the motive, the opportunity, and, as far as I was concerned, that cufflink certainly put him at the scene of the crime. Precisely what more did Bates need? Okay, okay, it was all circumstantial evidence, and he lacked the proof. I accept that. But there was more than enough to bring Walker in, and really question him at the Station house.
If only the forensic guys would turn up some more evidence at the murder scene. There must have been something. Fingerprints, tire marks, or fibers, anything. The murder weapon would be good.
I had visions of Walker getting away with it. You know I’m not usually vindictive, but in this case I’d make an exception. I mean the guy was just no good. Cheating on his wife like that, and because he had money
, lots of it, he would probably get away with murder. Okay so blackmailing is hardly a noble cause, but nonetheless Miss. Brady didn’t deserve to die.
Suddenly the telephone rang. It was Bates. “Hi Frank, I was just thinking about you. How’s it going?” I asked.
“We’ve just had a call from Thomas,” he said.
Thomas,” I repeated. “You mean Walker’s butler? That Thomas?”
“Denis Walker is dead,” Bates replied. “Murdered, a couple of hours ago we think.”
“What?” I cried. “Say again.”
“I said that Denis Walker has been murdered. Thomas has just found his body by the garages,” Bates explained. “He has been stabbed to death.”
“Just like the other one,” I said.
“That’s right,” agreed Bates. “Just like Brady. And I’m guessing that it was probably the same knife.”
“It must have been the blackmailer,” I murmured.
“What did you say?” asked Bates.
“I was guessing that it might have been Brady’s partner,” I suggested.
“Why would he want to kill him?” asked Bates. “It doesn’t make sense to me. Why would you kill someone who was paying you money?”
I thought for a few moments.
“Well Daniels?” Bates asked again. “Why? Tell me.”
“Just a second,” I replied. “Let me think this out.” I paused for a few moments. “Okay, how’s this. Let’s say that Walker knew the guy, and recognized him, so Walker had to be silenced.”
“I’m not convinced,” replied Bates. “Besides I thought you had decided that after Brady’s death there wasn’t a blackmailer anyway. Something about Walker not contacting you and not seeming to be that bothered, I believe you said.”
“So maybe I was wrong,” I replied. “Maybe Brady did have a partner after all. And maybe he got greedy, and decided that he didn’t need her. So he kills her, and he plants a few things to throw suspicion onto Walker, alright so far?”
“I guess so,” replied Bates, far from convinced. “It’s possible.”
“Then he decides to continue with the blackmailing. He turns up to collect, and Walker sees him. It wasn’t meant to happen, but it does, so Walker has to be killed. What do you think? It makes sense to me.”
“Could happen that way, I guess,” Bates reluctantly agreed. “But we still don’t know who the guy was though do we?”
* * *
Mrs. Amanda Walker, and Thomas, were waiting for us as we arrived. Clearly she had been crying. Okay so he was a louse, a piece of junk, but he was still her husband, and no one deserves to be murdered. I walked towards her, holding out my hand. She looked up, took my hand, and tried to smile. “Oh, Mr. Daniels I just can’t believe it,” she said. “I can’t believe he’s dead.”
I have to admit it, but neither could I. Only a few short hours ago he was my number one murder suspect. He had no right to be dead.
“He’s over there,” Thomas advised, pointing towards the garage block.
I looked over to where he had indicated. The forensic guys were busy sifting everything they could think of. Detective Bates walked over and joined them. I followed.
“Okay so what have we got?” Bates asked.
“He’s been stabbed four times,” an officer replied. “Once in the left shoulder, and three times in the back, somebody wanted to be real sure that he was dead.”
Bates took a deep breath, and nodded. “How about the time of death?” he asked
“The doctor puts it between eleven o’clock and one,” said the officer.
Bates glanced around. “Do we know why he was here?” he asked.
“I’d guess he was meeting someone,” I suggested. “Maybe the blackmailer to make another pay off.”
“Could be, I suppose,” Bates replied, shrugging his shoulders. “But I thought you had been employed to keep an eye open for him, the blackmailer I mean?”
Bates was absolutely right, I had to agree, but Walker was supposed to have kept me advised of any contact there was. I hadn’t heard a word.
“Funny thing that,” I replied. “He was supposed to tell me about any arranged meetings but he never said anything about any arrangement for today.”
“Perhaps he decided to act alone,” suggested Bates.
“Perhaps,” I said. I turned and looked back towards the house. Thomas and Mrs. Walker were still standing by the entrance. Bates and I walked over to them.
* * *
“I’ve a few questions, I’m afraid,” said Bates. “So if we could go inside.”
“Certainly, we can,” Mrs. Walker replied as she turned towards the house. Thomas stepped forward and opened the main door, standing to one side allowing us to pass by.
“We’ll go into the living room,” she said. “Can I get you some tea?”
I didn’t think I’d get a better offer, so I took it. “That’ll be good,” I replied. “Cream, and one sugar.”
And you Mr. Bates?” said Mrs Walker.
“Not for me,” Bates said, but he was too late, Thomas had already left the room.
“Please sit down, gentlemen,” Mrs. Walker said. “Thomas won’t be long.”
I looked at Bates. He simply nodded.
“Mrs. Walker, I know this must be a bad time for you, but if you could answer a few questions,” I said.
She raised a hand to her face and brushed her cheek. “If I can help in any way.” she replied. “If it helps find Denis’ murderer.”
I wondered how much of this whole affair did she actually knew. I knew that she was aware of the blackmailing, but did she know the reason behind it? Did she know about her husband’s cheating? Did she know about the Carlton Hotel, and Miss. Franklin? Guess I’d never know unless I asked.
“You know that your husband was being blackmailed,” I said. “But did you know why?”
She looked at me, and took a deep breath. She shook her head. “Yes I knew about the blackmail, but I never knew why,” she replied. “I knew there was something. I just didn’t know what.”
“Why did you think that?” Bates asked.
She shook her head, and took a deep breath. “I’m not sure,” she said. “He just seemed troubled, something was worrying him. Work maybe, but I wasn’t sure.”
“He never said anything to you?” Bates asked.
“No he never said anything. That’s how he was,” she continued. “He said that I wasn’t to worry, and that he would take care of it.” She paused and a tear ran down her cheek. “And now he’s gone. How will I ever manage without him?”
How indeed, I wondered, though I guessed that with almost two billion dollars at her disposal, she’d muddle through. For a fraction of a millisecond, I wondered how Miss. Terri Franklin would manage. Of course she didn’t even know he was dead yet. Then I thought who cares? Presumably in the eight months she’d been seeing Walker she had made provision, and had managed to accumulate a nice little nest egg.
Mrs. Walker looked up. “He always wanted to protect me, you understand,” she said. “To keep me from harm, that’s what he used to say.”
* * *
Chapter Twelve
Just A Few Questions
Bates looked at me. Clearly he was as impressed as I was. I merely heaved a sigh. He turned to face Mrs. Walker. “Who actually found your husband?”
“It was Thomas, who found him,” she replied. “Denis had gone out to the garage about ten, ten thirty, something like that. I never gave it much thought.”
“Oh, why not?” I asked.
“It was nothing unusual,” she started to explain. “He often went out there, to look at his toys.”
“His toys,” I repeated. “What do you mean by that?”
“Yes he has – had - two vintage cars,” she explained. “They are worth a lot of money. He never ever drives them but he is always polishing them, or something. I couldn’t see the point myself. I would have sold them long ago.”
Don’t ask me why, but that
rattled my cage, if you know what I mean. There was just something about it. Not so much what she said, but how she said it. Now of course Mrs. Walker you are completely free to do just that. You can now do whatever you like with the guy’s money. But have the funeral first.
“Did he say that was why he was going out to the garage?” I asked.
“I think so,” she replied. “I’m not sure now. I don’t remember.” She paused for a moment, and brushed another tear from her cheek. “But he was gone for hours, so I just assumed that was the reason, I suppose.”
I guessed that made sense, sort of.
“Okay, so Thomas eventually went out to the garage, and found him,” said Bates. “Do you know what made him go there?”
Mrs. Walker shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know. I wasn’t actually here.”
“But I thought ….” Bates started to say.
“Shortly after Denis went out I went to my room,” she explained. “One of my headaches I’m afraid.”
Suddenly the door opened and Thomas returned with the tea. He placed the tray on to a side table. “Will there be anything else?” he asked.
Mrs. Walker looked at him, and then looked at Bates. “I think these gentlemen may have some questions for you.”
Bates smiled and raised his hand. “Yes, just before you go Thomas, I do have a few questions, if that is alright.” He looked at Mrs. Walker. She nodded. “Firstly do you know why Mr. Walker had gone out to the garage?”
Thomas nodded. “Oh yes, sir,” he replied. “He said that he wanted to get something from one of the cars.”
“He never said anything about meeting anyone?” I asked.
Thomas shook his head. “No sir, he said nothing like that. He just needed something that’s all.”
Strange I thought. There was something decidedly odd. “He wanted something from the car,” I said. “As simple as that.”
“That is correct, sir,” replied Thomas.
“Did he say what it was?” Bates asked.
Thomas shook his head. “No sir, he said nothing about it, just that he needed something, and that he would go and get it.”
“Thomas, why didn’t he ask you to go?” I asked. “That would have been quite natural wouldn’t it?”
