Tuesday, April 13th
Rosary Police Station, 9 am
Neil, John and the agents were gathered in the large room on the first floor, equipped with computers and a large monitor where they could project the results of their research.
Bob had just ended a phone call with the hospital. He turned to his colleagues and said:
“No news, unfortunately. The doctor has just told me that, if the hematoma doesn’t absorb on its own, they will have to operate in order to reduce it, because it is putting pressure on the brain. The girl is still unconscious…”
Neil shook his head, and he reflected:
“If she fell by accident, and maybe there was someone who tried to prevent her from falling, why didn’t that person stop and call for help? Why leave her there without her bag and her documents? No, it was foul play! Robbery? She had an expensive necklace and a gold bracelet, but they didn’t take them… And her bag was untouched in her car, a few miles back…”
John intervened:
“Maybe that person was afraid of being discovered. He was on the motorway, and he preferred to hide. Maybe he saw a car coming…”
Neil resumed:
“I can’t help feeling that Rachel’s father, who has disappeared, is involved.” He turned to Steve and said: “I agree with you. I can’t imagine a father who doesn’t call to ask if his family is ok, who is completely and constantly out of reach.”
Billy said:
“I called Rachel’s grandfather as soon as I arrived here, but he told me that he is still out of reach. Mrs Murray is with her daughter at the hospital. I had the impression that Mr Clancy was very nervous, not only because his granddaughter is in hospital, but he is clearly uneasy whenever we mention his son-in-law.”
“We have to talk to him and force him to say what he knows. I wanted to wait, because now I can see that they are worried about the girl, but I think it is necessary to know something more about the family situation. What have you found out about Brian Murray?”
David answered: “No appearances in public, even if his father-in-law is quite a public figure. There are many events where Olivia and Vincent Clancy have been photographed, but Brian is never with them. I have searched the general database for traveling salesmen, but there is no trace of him. It seems that he only exists in the heart and mind of Olivia and Rachel.”
“Have you looked into bank accounts?”
Steve said: “I am doing it now. There is a joint bank account in Olivia and Brian’s name, but I am trying to find a bank account in Brian Murray’s name. I haven’t found it yet.”
Neil looked perplexed, and he was going to comment, when Bob said:
“On the other hand, I have found something interesting about Luke Brown.”
Neil turned to him and asked with curiosity:
“What have you found?”
“Luke Brown is not among the employees of Electroworld, the company that moved its headquarters from Fredericton a few years ago. What’s more, it seems that they closed their branch in Amherst five years ago.”
“I would like to talk to the manager. Can you call him for me, please, Bob?”
Bob checked the number on his computer, and, after a few moments, the phone in Neil’s office rang.
He went to his desk, he put the phone on speaker, and John sat down opposite him.
At the other end of the line, a kind voice said:
“Hello, my name is Mitchell, I am the manager of Electroworld. How can I help you?”
“Hello, Mr Mitchell, I am Inspector McKinley, I am calling from Rosary.”
“I don’t know how I can help the police, but please…” There was no trace of nervousness in his voice.
“I would like to know if a person, whose name is Luke Brown, works for you…”
“He used to work for us, Inspector, until … let me check …” He evidently tapped the keys on his computer, and, after a few moments, he went on: “Until almost three years ago, when we fired him, because he had frequently arrived late for work or hadn’t even showed up. He couldn’t give us any explanation, and, furthermore, his work had become more and more inaccurate.” Neil and John exchanged a glance, and their hearts went to that poor girl, Daisy, who was desperately waiting for her dad.
The manager at the other end of the line went on, maybe afraid of being judged for dismissing a worker:
“I can assure you, we did everything by the book. He had always been a good worker, and so we offered him more than one opportunity to explain, to apologize and to go back to his work standards, but the situation got worse, and so…”
Neil said quickly:
“Don’t worry, I have no intention to investigate your business behavior, Mr Mitchell. We are just verifying something in connection to a case. Did Mr Brown work for you when his daughter was kidnapped?”
“Kidnapped! I didn’t know anything about it… Oh, wait a minute, you mean when they couldn’t find her for a couple of days… Yes, but he told us that she had got lost. I remember clearly, because everyone here told him that it was impossible, that she had been surely kidnapped, but he reassured us that he was sure she had gotten lost… We gave him a couple of days off, while they were looking for the girl, of course! He came back relieved, because she was safe!”
Neil and John exchanged a meaningful glance: another lie, because Louise had told Neil that Luke had reached the petrol station quickly because he was coming home from work… How many more lies would they discover?
“And one more question, Mr Mitchell… Do you remember if he had friends in the Company, a coworker who knew him better, if he hung around with a group of friends?”
“No, here he kept to himself most of the time … But I remember that he frequently had discussions on the phone with someone… They talked about money, that’s why I thought he had already found another job, when we dismissed him, because he didn't fight against it, he just left without complaining, which is rather unusual…”
“Have you heard or seen Mr Brown since you dismissed him?”
“No, Inspector, I have had no further contacts.”
“Thanks, Mr Mitchell, you have been very useful and kind. Have a nice day.” Neil closed the phone call, and looked across the desk at John, who had been silently listening.
John was the first to speak.
“While you were talking to Mr Mitchell, I couldn’t help thinking of Daisy and Louise. How are we going to tell them that they have been living with a cheating man?”
“And I think we will discover more lies as we go on with our investigation.”
“But, Neil, why do you think there is a connection between Brian Murray and Luke Brown?”
“John, it is just a hunch, and, as you know, I have no great experience with family dynamics, but … Oh, it sounds so absurd that I can’t even explain it in words… Let’s wait and see what we find out. I hope I am wrong …”
They went back to the other room and put the agents up to date with what Mr Mitchell had told them. Billy exclaimed:
“Poor Daisy… But how could he support a family without a job?”
“That’s what I want to find out, guys!” Neil answered. He stroke his chin and went on:
“We have two fathers who have something in common: they have the bad habit of disappearing when they are most needed.” He turned to Steve: “Have you found out anything about Luke Brown’s bank account?”
“I am looking, but I haven’t found anything yet. Two years ago he closed the joint account with his wife Grace, but … Where does he keep his money? Under the mattress?”
Neil said: “Go on looking into the lives of these two men, please. We must find something…”
***
Violet’s hairdresser salon, 10:30 am
Sheila had been working with her friend and manager Violet for ten years. They went on well together, and their hairdresser salon was on the Sea promenade, not far from Anna’s Trattoria, in the center of the town, so their business had been constantly growing. They had even hired a young girl, Zelda. They were really good at their job, and their customers loved the joyful atmosphere and the discretion of the three women. Violet, Sheila and Zelda listened to their clients’ tales, but they never sounded nosy or excessively curious, and they seldom spoke about themselves.
When the door opened, Sheila was surprised to see Sue Johnson come into the salon with confidence. Violet welcomed her with a big smile and said:
“Mrs Johnson called yesterday to reserve shampoo and hair set. Please, Zelda, can you wash the lady’s hair?”
Sue smiled at Sheila, who was looking embarrassed at her. She went to the sink, and Violet said kindly:
“Mrs Johnson, are you new in town?”
“Yes, I have just reached my husband here. He is David Johnson, one of the new agents who have recently joined Lieutenant Steele…”
“Oh, Sheila, I think you have met some of the policemen…”
Sheila felt herself blushing. She hoped that Sue Johnson hadn’t noticed her behavior two days before. ‘Oh’, she thought, ‘She certainly didn't pay attention. She was announcing she was going to have a baby, and everyone was congratulating her and her husband …’
She answered:
“I met the Inspector and two agents a few weeks ago.” She turned to Sue and said apologetically. “I am sorry but they only told me their first names, Bob and Billy. I met Agent Johnson last Sunday at Anna’s!” Sue was smiling kindly, and she said jokingly:
“Oh, I imagine “Blue Eyes”, I mean Neil McKinley has already attracted attention.”
There were two women sitting in front of the mirror, who had raised their gaze, when Sheila had mentioned Neil and they were listening curiously.
Violet couldn’t help asking:
“Excuse me, Madam, but … do you know the Inspector well? He looks like a kind, affable man, so different from the serious officer we saw on TV last Christmas.”
“He was my husband’s best man when we got married, and he saved my husband’s life, so … yes, I know him very well, that’s why he puts up with my calling him “Blue Eyes” even if he doesn’t like it.”
Now the women’s attention was completely for Sue.
She went on, conscious of having aroused curiosity:
“He is a wonderful man, and you are very lucky to have him here, because he is the most trustworthy man I have ever met, apart from my husband, of course!” She added with a grin.
One of the women said:
“My nephew plays basketball with him, and I have never seen him so enthusiastic. They look up to their coach as their hero…”
“Oh, he is wonderful with children. In fact, he has saved many children in his career in the ERT.”
They went on chatting pleasantly. It was evident that the women in the salon would have liked to know something more about that handsome man, but Sue was able to avoid the most personal questions, trying to satisfy the women’s curiosity all the same.
When she was ready to leave, she told Violet causally:
“Do you mind if I talk to Sheila for a moment?”
Violet answered:
“Of course not. Thank you for coming, and I hope you will like staying in Rosary!”
Sheila would have liked to hide somewhere, but it was too late. She accompanied Sue out of the shop, and Mrs Johnson invited her to sit on a bench in front of the salon.
She took Sheila’s hand, and she said:
“Sheila, I am so sorry for what happened last Sunday!”
Sheila was taken aback, because she had thought she was the one who had to apologize for leaving in a hurry without congratulating Sue and David.
She felt tears coming to her eyes, and Sue squeezed her hand:
“I know that you have had two miscarriages, Sheila, and I should have asked before announcing the birth of our baby in front of people I had just met.” Sheila didn’t know what to say, and Sue went on: “I had a miscarriage, too, last year, Sheila, and every time a person talked about a newborn baby, I felt bad, because I should have been happy for them, but I really couldn’t. I should have been more careful, and I am sorry!”
Sheila couldn’t resist the impulse of embracing this kind woman. She asked:
“Who told you about my miscarriages?”
“Oh, Sheila, Neil has just arrived in town, but you will soon learn that he notices everything. He saw that you were sad, and he asked Anna. Anna told him what you have gone through, and he told me, because he wanted to avoid seeing you embarrassed once again…”
Sheila’s eyes widened, and Sue smiled. “Yes, Sheila, be careful! Our Neil doesn’t miss a thing, and, I don’t know, maybe it is because he has never had a family, but he grows fond of people easily, and he likes you and Bruno. And when he is fond of someone, he is ready to help, so …, as Lisa said the other day, keep his number on speed dial!” They laughed together, and Sheila relaxed.
Now she was able to say:
“I am sorry for going away like that. I thought I had overcome the disillusionment, but, when I heard you say you are going to have a baby, I just … Oh, I am sorry, I didn’t want to make you feel guilty. You have every right to be happy, and I am looking forward to seeing your beautiful baby, but…”
“I know,” Sue said, “Neil told me that the doctors have advised you not to try again…”
Sheila nodded and bowed her gaze, because she was trying hard to fight back tears.
Sue added: “I don’t want to interfere, because these are delicate decisions, and only you and Bruno can know what is best for you, but … Father Thomas, the Director of the Orphanage where Neil and Billy grew up knows a lot about adoption…”
“We are thinking about it, maybe we are lucky enough to have a child handsome and caring like Neil!” Sue started to laugh, and Sheila went on: “ I wonder why nobody adopted him, he must have been a handsome sweet child!”
“I must say I have never wondered, but … you are right. I saw photos of him when he was ten or twelve years old, and he was really gorgeous…”
“If you need anything, you know where I work, and Bruno is always at the Trattoria… And, by the way, Anna is another person who notices everything. She is our guardian angel here. She told me the names for your baby and the reason for calling him Neil if he is a boy. You must have been scared for your husband!”
“Oh, Sheila, when I saw him without a scar, I felt relieved, of course, but, when they told me that Neil was in the emergency room, I … I wouldn’t have stood it if Neil… Oh, but God listened to my prayers…”
They exchanged their phone numbers, and they left, both feeling more relieved and at peace.
***
Rosary Police Station, 11:30 am
Steve called John and Neil to look at his computer.
“I have finally been able to find a bank account in Fredericton in the name of Luke Brown. Considerable amounts of money have been transferred and withdrawn from this account. Recently the number of withdrawals have exceeded the deposits, but, look at this account, where most of the money deposited comes from…”
Neil and John examined the statement of account, and Steve handed them another sheet of paper. Neil noticed immediately what Steve wanted them to see.
“Oh, my God, John! Look at this. Most of the money comes from…”
“Then you were right when you thought that Brian Murray and Luke Brown are connected…”
“I am starting to think that they are more than connected… I need to talk to Daisy, and then to Mrs Murray…”
He dialed a number.
“Hi, Anna. I am sorry, I know that you are busy at this time, but … Is Daisy there?”
“Yes, Neil, and don’t worry… I wanted to call you, as a matter of fact. Daisy insisted on coming here, because she said she can’t stand staying at home waiting for her father. But she has evidently slept very little, she keeps on wiping her eyes, and I have been able to convince her to talk to you. Can you come after lunch service? Oh, I have a table for you and the other policemen, if you want to eat here…”
“Thanks for the offer, but I have to go to the training center during lunch break. If I am at the Trattoria at two, will it be ok? And could you please tell Louise to be there, too?”
“Louise is here with me. I didn’t want her to stay at home alone… Yes, two is perfect. See you later, Neil…”
“Ok, Anna, see you…”
***
Anna’s Trattoria, 2 pm
One thing Anna had already learnt about Neil was that he was always on time. At two there was a knock on the door of the Trattoria, and she went to open it. Neil smiled affectionately at the woman, and he saw that Louise and Daisy were already sitting at one of the tables. They were both visibly shaken, and it was evident that they hadn’t slept much in the past few days. Neil felt sympathy for the two women, whose lives and happiness depended on a cheating and dishonest man.
He put a hand on Daisy’s shoulder, and he sat down next to her. Anna brought a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Neil without speaking. She put an arm around the policeman’s shoulders and asked softly: “How are you, Neil? Have you had time to eat?”
“Yes, Anna, I am ok, and I ate at the training center with the director, Jeff.” He turned to Louise and Daisy, and he asked solicitously: “How are you holding up? Any news from Mr Brown?” This was a rhetorical question, because Neil knew that it would not be easy to get in contact with him. Daisy shook her head, and she raised her head to look at Neil, a tear stained face with swollen eyes and an anguished expression, which spoke volumes about the predicament she was experiencing.
Neil took her hand, and he said kindly:
“Daisy, now you have to try to calm down. If you go on like this, you are going to be sick. You have to be strong and think that we will find out what is happening to your father, ok?” Daisy had bowed her head, and Neil raised it gently. “Daisy, look at me.” She locked eyes with him, and he went on:
“You trust me, don’t you?” The girl nodded slowly, and the policeman continued:
“We are investigating. Do you know a person called Brian Murray?” Daisy shook her head.
He asked:
“Why don’t you tell me what happened six years ago? What REALLY happened, not what your father obliged you to say?”
Louise was silently following the exchange with a worried expression.
Daisy took a deep breath, and she started:
“I was in the park with my friend and her family. I had to go to the restroom, and I left them. When I arrived in the corridor, I saw that the back door was open, but I didn’t care. I went to the restrooms, and, when I came out, I turned to go back to the little shop, but I felt a strong arm around my waist. I wanted to scream, but my mouth was covered with a towel, and then I don’t remember anything. I don’t know where they took me, how long it took, because I woke up in a bed in a dark room, where there was only a chair.” She had to stop, because she realized that she was doing something her father had forbidden her to do for a long time, but she didn’t feel guilty. Instead she felt a sense of relief at finally being able to tell everything. She also proved a sense of anger towards her father. Why had he prevented her from saying what had happened? Was he involved? Anna put a glass of water in front of her, and caressed her cheek affectionately.
After sipping the water in silence, she went on:
“There was a man, I think the same man who had taken me, because I recognized the tattoo of a dragon on his arm, and there was a woman, who just brought me something to eat and drink and never spoke to me. But I heard them talk in the other room. They kept on calling someone on the phone, they spoke about money, but I couldn’t understand, because we have never been wealthy. They asked me what my name was, and, when I answered, at first they didn’t believe me, then I think they started to understand that they had made a mistake.” Louise was listening with a startled expression. It was the first time she had heard the whole story, and it was evident that she was feeling a mixture of worry and anger, worry for her granddaughter and anger at her son-in-law.
“After two days, the man came to me, he covered my eyes with a blindfold, and he led me to a car, then he drove for a long time, until we arrived at a layby on the motorway. He told me to walk to the gas station and to ask for help, and he drove away. I can’t recall the make of the car, it was dark, black or dark blue…”
Neil had been listening with interest to Daisy’s story, without interrupting. Now he crossed his arms on his chest and said:
“Ok, it was a kidnapping. It was a mistake, because they wanted a rich girl. They realized the mistake and dropped you off. You were lucky, because they could have been afraid you could recognize them.”
Neil sighed because the more he got closer to the truth, the more he understood that many people would suffer, and that only one person was responsible, a person who was loved and cherished by the same people he had repeatedly cheated.
He took out his mobile phone, aware of the reaction he would produce in the two troubled women. He scrolled through his files, and he showed Daisy a photo of Rachel.
“Do you know this girl?” The similarity between Rachel and Daisy was obvious, and Neil hoped not to increase the tension and the concern Daisy was already experiencing.
Daisy scrutinized the photo, and her expression changed from interested to shocked. She gave the phone back to Neil, and she answered: “No, I have never met this girl, but…”
Neil showed it to Louise, who had the same startled reaction, but shook her head.
Daisy asked:
“Who is she?”
Neil chose his words carefully and decided to say just:
“She is a girl who was found unconscious on the motorway three days ago. She is in hospital now, and she is the daughter of a certain Brian Murray.” He didn’t explain further. He had to talk to the girl’s mother first.
He asked Daisy: “Have you got a photo of your father, Daisy?”
She took out her mobile phone and, after some searching, she found a photo of her dad alone and in the foreground. Neil took a photo with his mobile camera, and he said:
“Daisy, Louise. We are investigating, and, unfortunately, what we are learning is not comforting.” He decided to be maybe excessively blunt, but he didn’t want to give false hopes to two kind women, who were already suffering so much.
Daisy bowed her head and whispered: “I know my dad has something to hide. I have known it for some time now, from that moment when he asked me not to tell about the kidnapping, from the way he kept imploring me to hide the truth, telling me that it was for my own sake.” Why did Neil have the impression that Daisy knew something more about her father, and she wasn’t ready to tell him yet?
He asked:
“Daisy, whatever you know, please tell me!”
The girl shook her head and avoided looking at him.
Louise asked:
“How is that girl? The similarity to Daisy is striking, but … Have you found a relative we didn’t know anything about?”
Neil shook his head, and he answered carefully:
“The girl is still unconscious. We noticed immediately the similarity, but we have no connection for the moment.”
He left it at that, and, when Louise and Daisy had left to go home, he turned to Anna, who had remained at a discreet distance during the conversation, and he said:
“Anna, be ready to comfort them, because what we have found out so far is not encouraging, and we haven’t been able to discover where Luke Brown is hiding…”
Anna never asked anything about an investigation, and she simply commented:
“What I don’t understand, Neil, is why Daisy’s father has asked her not to talk about the kidnapping. If she was the wrong person, maybe then they took the right girl, or they are trying to hurt someone else…”
Neil nodded, and, at that moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He answered, he listened to what Bob was telling him, and his concerned expression showed what he was learning was not good. He ended the phone call, and he told Anna:
“I wanted to go to the hospital to talk to Rachel’s mother, but Bob told me that they have just decided to operate to reduce the hematoma, because it is expanding, and it is putting too much pressure on the brain.”
Anna put a hand on his arm, and she said:
“I will pray for that poor girl, Neil. And I will pray you will discover the truth..”
“The problem is not to discover the truth, but the suffering this truth will bring to many people, who are involuntarily involved. Pray, Anna, that this truth will not bring about more tragedies and useless violence…”
He left, and Anna felt that he was really worried. She also perceived that he already knew the truth. He was trying to find the best way to disclose it to the people involved, without making them suffer.
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