A Case Of Murder (Kendall Book 6) (24 page)

Chapter Thirty-One

Some Interesting News

Kendall replaced the handset, and looked at Mollie. “Right that’s all arranged,” he said. “I’m seeing Donovan in an hour’s time, so one more coffee, and then I’ll be off.”

“So what did he say?” asked Mollie.

“About what?” replied Kendall.

Mollie shook her head. “Your news,” she replied. “That what.”

Kendall shrugged. “I never told him, I thought I’d surprise him.”

Surprise him,
thought Kendall. It certainly would surprise him. Why were the packages still there after so long anyway? They were worth a considerate sum of money, on the street. And yet they had just been left there. It didn’t make sense. Why hadn’t they been removed long ago? Had they simply been forgotten? More to the point who had put them there?

Good questions, all of them, Kendall thought.
So who had left them in that cave? Abel Nadir, perhaps, but not likely, after all two packages had been used to incriminate his alleged killer; and certainly it wasn’t Brian Charters. So that left just one possibility. Someone else entirely, the murderer maybe.
As always, Kendall never had a problem with questions. It was always the answers that stumped him.

* * *

Kendall was just about to ring the doorbell, when the door opened. “Ah, Mr. Kendall, right on time. I saw you through the window,” officer Donovan said, as he stood to one side to allow Kendall to pass by. “Come in, come in.”

Kendall entered into the narrow hallway, and Donovan closed the door. “In you go,” he said. “You know where the office is.”

“It’s good to see you again,” Donovan continued as he sat down at his desk. Kendall sat opposite. “So, how’s your investigation going?”

Kendall smiled.
Exactly how was his investigation going?
Was he any nearer finding the murderer? Or was he really just wasting his time, as he had been told by so many others. Was he just clutching at straws, trying to make the evidence fit into his ideas. “Oh, two steps forward, and three back.”

Donovan shook his head. “That’s not good,” he replied. “So perhaps that means that Charters is guilty after all.”

Kendall said nothing, but merely shook his head.

Donovan decided not to continue down that road. “How about some coffee,” he said. “And I’ve got some biscuits. I always like a mid-morning snack.”

“Sounds good,” replied Kendall.

Donovan stood up and went over to the corner of the room, where the coffee machine was kept. “So, tell me, what can I do for you?” he called out.

Kendall stood up and walked over to where Donovan was preparing the coffee.  He looked at the plate of biscuits that Donovan had laid out. He was pleased to note that amongst them, there were one of two chocolate ones.

“I’ve got some interesting news for you,” Kendall said.

“That’s sound intriguing,” said Donovan, walking back with the coffee. Kendall walked slightly behind carrying the biscuits.

The coffee and biscuits were placed on the desk, and the two men sat down. “I don’t know if you know a couple of young guys, Michael and Alan?” Kendall continued.

“Ah, yes I know them very well,” replied Donovan. “So what have they been up to? Not causing any trouble I hope.”

“Oh no, it’s nothing like that,” said Kendall. “No they’re good lads.” He paused and picked up a biscuit, dunked it in his coffee, and took a bite. “The thing is they’ve been exploring down at the cove, there’s some caves there. Do you know it?”

Donovan nodded. “I know where you mean.”

“Well it seems that they have found something,” Kendall continued. “Something quite important.”

“Go on, I’m listening.”

Kendall took a drink and reached for the last chocolate biscuit on the plate. “They found a wooden box, and inside were several packages of heroin,” he replied. “They were found in a cave on the north side of the cove, about a hundred yards in.” He dunked the biscuit and took a bite, brushing the crumbs away.

“Heroin,” repeated Donovan. “Are you sure?”

Kendall looked offended. Was he sure? What a question. Ten years with the NYPD was more than enough for him to be sure. He knew heroin when he saw it. He knew the smell of it, he knew the taste of it. He opened the briefcase he had with him, reached inside and took out a white packet. “This is one of them,” he said. “And I think you’ll find that package is identical to the ones found in Charters’ house. And I’m betting they came from the same batch.”

Donovan looked at the packet. “It certainly looks similar,” he said. He untied the cord and opened the packet. He dipped his finger into the white powder, and then placed a small sample on to his tongue. “Heroin right enough,” he said, as he re-tied the cord. “And that came from the cave you mentioned.”

“It did indeed,” Kendall agreed. “And the box I mentioned containins fifteen more of them, sitting there right now. I suggest you arrange to take a look and take them away as quickly as possible. I’m sure the boys would be happy to take you.”

Donovan reached for the telephone and dialled a number. “I’ll get on to it straightaway.”

* * *

Ten minutes later the arrangements had been made. “They’ll be there within the hour,” Donovan said. “I said I’d meet them down there. Could you get the boys to meet with us?”

Kendall nodded. “No problem,” he said. “In fact they are probably already there, if I know them. More exploring. More adventures.”

Donovan smiled. “Oh to be young again, eh.” He took a drink. “How about coming along yourself? I can show you where they found poor Mr. Mulligan.”

Kendall nodded. “Why not,” he replied.

“I wonder why Charters left them.” Donovan continued. “I mean why were only the two packages found at the house? Why leave the others?”

“A fair question,” said Kendall. “Maybe he never had the time to collect them,” he suggested

“It’s possible,” agreed Donovan.

Kendall shook his head. “Possible, but it doesn’t seem likely to me,” he said. “If he had the time to collect two he could easily have collected the rest.”

“Why do you suppose he left them?” asked Donovan. “In a damp cave like that. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

“That’s another good question,” Kendall agreed. “But who knows the mind of a criminal.”

“Good point,” said the Constable. “Who indeed.”

Kendall took another bite of the biscuit. “But you know, I don’t actually believe that Charters knew anything about the drugs.”

“What are you suggesting?” asked Donovan.

Kendall paused for a moment, trying to get his thoughts into some kind of order. What was he suggesting anyway? He took a deep breath. “It is quite possible that our friend from Turkey, the dead man, stole those packets, and intended to go into business for himself.”

The officer looked puzzled. “Go on I’m listening.

“Those fifteen or more packets are only part of it,” Kendall started to explain. “I believe that somewhere there is a main dealer, and our Turkish friend was working for him. One day he decides to go into business for himself. He takes a few packets and hides them, intending to sell them. His boss finds out and gives orders for him to be eliminated. Two packages are planted at Charters house to incriminate him. And, I’m guessing, whoever planted those two packets, must know about these others.”

“That’s assuming that the two packages were planted, as you suggest,” said the officer.

“They were planted alright,” said Kendall. “I’m certain of that, and I am now convinced that Brian Charters wasn’t the murderer.”

Donovan shook his head. “Can you prove it?”

The one question Kendall had been dreaded, but he knew would be raised. Could he prove it? No he couldn’t, but he was convinced.

“No, I can’t actually prove it,” Kendall replied. “But hear me out will you?”

Donovan heaved a sigh. “I’m not sure why, but go on, I’m listening.”

“Thanks,” replied Kendall. “But before I begin, unless I’m very much mistaken we haven’t yet established a motive for the killing have we?”

The officer had to admit that was true. “It has been suggested that there was an argument, and a fight broke out. The problem is that Charters denies all knowledge, and the other party is dead, so we can’t be sure.”

“I guess that’s possible,” said Kendall. “But I’m not convinced. I think the whole thing was planned, from start to finish. Oh sure there could have been an argument, and a fight, but it was all staged.”

“I’m listening,” said Donovan.

“I’m convinced that Charters was set up,” Kendall continued. “And set up by the real murderer.”

Donovan shook his head, still not convinced. “But why choose Charters?” he asked.

Kendall smiled. “Simple,” he replied. “It was all to do with the timing.”

“Timing,” repeated the officer. “I’m not sure that I understand.”

“We know that Charters usually reached the cove round about seven, every night,” Kendall started to explain. “Regular as clockwork, walking his dog. But on this night, for some unknown reason it’s being suggested that he was there much earlier. Why would he be earlier?”

The Constable heaved a sigh. “Perhaps he had an appointment,” he suggested

“Perhaps he did,” said Kendall. “Let’s think about that for a moment.  Let’s say he did have an appointment with the murdered man. And let’s say that there was an argument, and there was a fight. But that would suggest that the murder wasn’t intentional. It was more accidental, agreed.”

The constable nodded in agreement.

“Let’s continue shall we,” said Kendall. “There is a fight, He knocks Nadir to the ground, and kills him. So what does he do? Does he quickly leave the area? No he hangs around for almost ten minutes waiting for you to arrive and find him still holding the knife. Not very likely I would say. Anyway Mrs Mulvy said that she saw Charters on his way to the cove just a few minutes before seven. Long before the ambulance was called.”

Kendall shook his head. “I just don’t buy that,” he said. “We know that Charters always walked his dog in the evening. He always went down to the cove, and always at the same time, just about seven o’clock. The murderer knew that. In fact the murder was planned with that in mind. Nadir arrived on the beach at about ten minutes to seven. The murderer was with him, or waiting for him. Nadir is murdered. Charters arrives a few minutes after, as normal. He finds the body. Then, following a phone call, you arrive and find him holding the knife.”

The Constable nodded. “The call from Mrs. Duffy you mean.”
Kendall shook his head. “No not the call from Mrs Duffy. It was that call that, for me, throws considerable doubt on Charters’ guilt. If that call had never happened I wouldn’t be here saying what I’m saying. I would have accepted Charters’ guilt, and be long gone.”

“So what call are you talking about?” Donovan asked.

Kendall picked up his coffee, and drained it. “The second call, you mentioned,” Kendall explained. “A few minutes after Mrs. Duffy’s call.” He paused for a moment. “That call was from the murderer himself, to make sure that you arrived in time to see Charters.”

Donovan said nothing for a moment, absorbing what Kendall had just said. It certainly made sense. “So Charters didn’t do it,” he said. “So you are suggesting that we should release Mr. Charters?”

Kendall thought for a moment or two, and then shook his head. “No I’m not suggesting that at all, not for the moment,” he replied. “We still don’t know who the real murderer is do we? No, I suggest we let the real murderer continue to feel safe in the knowledge that a suspect has already been charged. Let’s see if he makes a slip up.”

Kendall stood up. “I best get going,” he said. “I’ll see you at cave in about thirty minutes.”

* * *

Chapter Thirty-Two

Mallory Comes Clean

It was just after eleven o’clock on the following morning, when Kendall and Mollie arrived at Mallory’s door. There had been much discussion as to whether they should telephone first, or just pay a surprise visit. It was Kendall who had decided that the surprise visit would be best.

“Catch him off guard,” said Kendall. Mollie shrugged and raised her eyebrows, but decided that to argue would be pointless. So a surprise it was to be.

Kendall rang the doorbell. There was no answer.

“We should have called to make an appointment,” Mollie pronounced knowingly. Kendall said nothing, and rang the bell once again. Still there was no answer.

“Told you so,” said Mollie.

“The bell’s probably not working, that’s all,” Kendall pronounced. “I’ll give it one more go.” This time he used the door knocker, rapping it hard “They must hear that surely.”

Mollie shook her head. “Perhaps they’re out,” she said. “Did you ever think that might be possible? You should have rang earlier.”

Kendall never got the chance to answer. Suddenly the door opened. “Tom,” Mallory said sounding out of breath. “Mollie. This is quite a surprise. I was in the garden, never heard the bell.”