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Miller H Caldwell, click here
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Chapter 22
Chapter 21
Behind the silver cloud
The following Tuesday, while Tony was leafing through his list of clients the telephone rang.
‘Ah superintendent, how are things,’ asked Tony as he recognised the salutation.
‘No longer superintendent these days....’
‘Ah Chief Superintendent now. Congratulations.’
‘No, no no. I’m leading you astray. I am retired or perhaps I should be more truthful, I was asked to retire.’
Tony rapidly tried to interpret what he had heard. ‘Had to retire?’
‘Taken over by the city. I’ve been replaced by Chief Superintendent David Rae. Says we are not making enough progress on the murder and explosion. Keeping our eggs all in one basket, as it were. Not throwing a wider net around the place.’
‘Doesn’t seem wrong to me. The answer is surely within the Muslim community.’
‘Well, he’s covering all possibilities. There will be a fingerprinting of all males between 18 and 40. It’s bound to show we are not making any progress. I can see some officers giving it a wide berth.’
‘So he’s already decided it wasn’t a female.’
‘Frankly, when this matter is resolved I could not care less. My days in the police are over. No longer Superintendent Graham, just plain Colin Graham.’
The weekly paper’s headline read: City Cop Takes Over Murder Inquiry. Tony read further. Chief Superintendent Rae was scathing of Colin Graham and showed a determination to have the cases wound up within the next few weeks. All males over 18 and 40 years of age were to make their selves available at any of the town’s four substations to have thumb prints taken. The Supt insisted that if they had a clear conscience, then their prints would prove it. All innocent prints would be shredded on completion. Extra staff had been called in to record the prints which would take each individual only a couple of minutes of their time. The Chief Superintendent suggested they should come with passports or recent utility bills or any other irrefutable documentation of identification.
It was time to get the cleric’s musical group up and running again. Tony sent out e-mails for Sink or Swim to come to a practice the following Friday. There was a full turn out.
Tony began the meeting to explain why Paul would no longer be attending.
‘Oh dear. I was a bit harsh on him last time we met. I was only trying to get him to hold on to his or any other faith but he seemed, well, out of this world. I now know why, poor Paul,’ said Lizzie.
‘Perhaps I should call and see him. Do you think that would be appreciated?’
‘Alan, the McMillan nurses are likely to be there. Perhaps take their advice first,’ suggested Tony.
‘McMillan nurses,’ said Marti, ‘he seems to be very ill indeed.’
‘One trombone down then,’ said Ivan assembling his clarinet.
That evening they played for almost two hours and after a general discussion, principally led by Lizzie, they decided to give a town hall charity evening. Alan agreed to create the programme and all were pleased to hear he had plans to add a spot for a local comedian as well as a local poet.
All police stations had a steady flow of young men coming to have their fingerprints taken. A team of four experienced officers stood by to examine them immediately after the attendee’s identification was complete. The Muslim community were anxious to attend as they felt their demonstration had led to this more comprehensive exercise.
Magdalene Smith was following the Chief Superintendent’s intervention in the cases. She was persistent keeping an ear to the fingerprint progress. Her column commented in the weekly paper that all females were not under suspicion as were the teenagers some of whom caused vandalism and other anti-social activities in the community. It also precluded the over 40s of either sex. It was not a truly comprehensive trawl. Chief Superintendent Rae responded that the police knew how to target the probable offender range and by doing so, they would not cause as much offence as a totally comprehensive trawl.
The following day Magdalene had a scoop. She learned that three of the Muslim volunteers who had come forward could not provide conclusive evidence that they were bone fide citizens of the United Kingdom. One had brought a gas bill with another householder’s name on it. Another brought a Pakistani passport informing the police he was only a visitor. However it soon emerged that he had outstayed his permit. The third man spoke no English at all. An interpreter was called. He brought no identification and was detailed to join the others. All three men were taken to the UK Border Force’s detention centre.
The news did not endear itself to the Muslim community and Faisal Muhammad made an appointment with the Chief Superintendent. It came two days later.
Faisal’s eyes grew large as he was escorted into the Chief’s room. He was not going to beat about the bush. ‘Sir, first you target the Muslim Community to have its fingerprints taken. Then you climb down and now target our community by a snatch and grab policy. This is intolerable.’
‘Mr Muhammad it is a universal right to travel but not to outstay a welcome.’
‘You do not understand that these men are helping their elders. They do the shopping and cook meals and tidy houses for our elderly community. That saves the NHS time and money and keeps beds free for the more needy.’
‘That may be so but the law is the law. They can appeal their detention but they are in this country illegally. I said illegally.’
Faisal turned to leave the office. ‘You come here and sack the Superintendent. Don’t think you can do any better.’ Then he left slamming the door behind him in a moment of anger. The walls seemed to shudder. The wall calendar no longer hung perpendicularly and his glass of water on his desk rippled.
Chief Supt Rae lifted a desk folder and slammed it down. As a senior pen-pusher he had not been used to dealing with the public for some time. All he could do now was to hope for a finger matching.
Dr Karen Kane’s appointment was the last for the day. She had requested an appointment after the last musical practice. What would be her reason? Tony had no idea but he had subconsciously tidied his office before she arrived.
‘Come in Karen. Take a seat.’
Karen brought a seat nearer to Tony’s desk. He noticed she was wearing makeup, not something she did at music practice. He sensed some perfume in the air too.
‘So I presume no incidents to tell me?’
‘Tony, I’d like to thank you sincerely for all you have done. You have taken me from that dark place, organised the medication and that’s given me a more confident take on the world.’
‘Hmmm on the world even,’ Tony clarified.
‘Well makes me feel more on top of life perhaps.’
Tony smiled taking in the beauty of her face. She did not speak and Tony struggled to find his words. The silence lasted a few agonising seconds, a time in which eyes were moving all over the place in embarrassment, expectation, doubt and hope.
Karen’s eyes dropped down to her lap. Then she looked up into Tony’s eyes.
‘Tony...I.....I’m not sure....I...’ she smiled then relaxed defeated in sharing her thoughts.
‘Karen, I think you have a spell on me and it’s most efficacious.’
He looked to see what reaction his thoughts might have and she was clearly smiling so widely he could see her gleaming teeth.
‘I was not aware I had the power to make spells but....if spells are about....Tony, I think I’m under a spell too.’
Tony came towards her and lifted her hand.
‘I am divorced, have been for some time. In the past few years I’ve settled here in the south west getting into golf, walks, Rotary and work. Thought my days ahead would be alone but wondering if it had to be that way.’
Karen opened her mouth but Tony placed his finger on her lips. ‘Let me have my say first. I was beginning to think I’d live life alone from now on. Then through circumstances, you came on to my books as it were. I felt right from the start that you took my breath away. I realised if I ever settled down again with a partner it would be someone just like you. And the feeling grew. On our Rambling excursions I’ve seen you as a caring member, thoughtful, fun loving and entertaining. What more could a man wish for? Karen, I think I’ve said enough. Have I offended you?’
Karen blushed a dark pink and her dimples produced deep shadows. Tony was pleased she had not spurred his sentiments or run out of the room threatening him but what was on her mind?
She stood up a foot or two away from him. Her arms drooped by her side. She took two steps forward.
‘Tony, will you kiss me?’
Tony smiled at her. He raised his arms he stepped forward and held her close. He lowered his head and kissed both of her dimples. She closed her eyes. She pouted her lips and his met hers.
They parted, standing a step back.
‘I have to be honest. I simply had to let you go. Had you stayed on my books my professional standing was in question. I could have lost my job. Dating a patient, it’s a big no-no. But I could justify releasing you.’
‘Oh I hope not releasing me, just after we have kissed?’
‘I think we need to have time to talk. Get to know each other better. Are you free tomorrow night?’
‘Of course I am,’ she replied
‘But what about your music preparation on a Saturday night?’
‘I can cope I assure you.’
‘Let me take you to Primo Piano.’
‘The Italian restaurant?’
‘Yes, in town. I know the manager. He’ll give us some quiet discretion.’
‘Very thoughtful,’ she said.
‘Then I’ll pick you up from your home at 7 p.m.?’
‘Just in case the neighbours pry, will you be in disguise?’
‘Oh yes certainly. I’ll drop my professional guard.’
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Web Site:
A Clerical Murder
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It looks like the new man on the case is not doing too well with the public. I'm beginning to wonder who the culprit is. You are hiding it quite well.
Ron