The Plot – Chapter 19
Home to Roost
‘Thanks for coming in, Professor,’ said DS Mel Hanrahan. ‘We really appreciate it. Come into my office. Can I take your coat?’
‘Thank you – and it’s no bother. Anything I can do to help,’ replied Bettina Crisp. ‘An awful business, isn’t it?’
She was a funny little sparrow-like woman, thought Mel, with her quick glances and way of tilting her head to one side. She even had a chirping kind of voice. If sparrows had grey hair and wore it in a bun, she would be the spitting image.
‘Yes. Yes it is. Now, please come and sit here at the screen. That’s it. Make yourself comfortable. Cup of tea or coffee?’
‘Herbal tea, if possible. Peppermint?’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’ Mel beckoned a constable she could see lounging at his desk, instructed him accordingly.
‘Won’t be too long. Shall we get started? We’ve obtained some video footage that was recorded at the Plot, and we’re keen to identify the individuals concerned.’
‘I’ll do my best, but wouldn’t it be a good idea to put it on the news, you know, Crime Stoppers?’
‘Some of the material is of a sensitive nature, not really suitable for public distribution.’
‘I see. Sorry, I shouldn’t be trying to tell you your job. Very annoying.’
‘It’s fine,’ smiled Mel. ‘Everyone else does.’
‘Ha! Well, as I say, I’ll do my best.’
After watching the first video, Bettina turned to her, disappointment in her eyes and the turn of her mouth.
‘I’m very sorry, I don’t recognise that man at all. Maybe if he wasn’t wearing the mask? But from his physique, he doesn’t look like … the type we have as members, if there is a type exactly. He’s a chap who spends a lot more time in the gym than in the garden, by the look of him. I suppose that’s what I mean.’
‘That’s fine,’ Mel reassured her. ‘Honesty is always more useful to us than a wild guess.’
‘He seems quite wound up, doesn’t he? Pacing up and down like that. So is he the one who attacked that poor man?’
‘We have reason to suspect that he might be, from his behaviour, the weapon and the timing. Now, this second video we’d like you to watch, Professor, I’m afraid it’s of a rather embarrassing nature.’
‘Oh?’
‘It includes nudity and sexual activity.’
‘Oh, really?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. So if you think it would be too …’
Bettina laid a hand on her wrist. It was light as a child’s hand, but cool and dry.
‘My dear young lady, why is it that every generation seems to imagine that it invented sex? When one’s very existence is proof that one’s parents were “at it” before one’s birth? Probably enthusiastically and often. And good for them!’
Mel had to laugh.
‘So, bring it on, I say.’ The Professor clasped her hands and looked at the screen expectantly.
‘Goodness!’ she exclaimed when the clip had been played through. ‘They’re very keen on each other, aren’t they? Bless them. And so athletic!’
‘Do you need it played again?’
‘Again? Oh, well, why not? It can’t do any harm.’
At length she sat back, took her glasses from her nose and polished them.
‘I know the young man. I’m quite sure. Although I’ve not seen him from that angle before, or with so few clothes.’
‘No, I suppose not.’
‘His name is Nico Conti. He and his wife were members for a while, but never great gardeners. I think it was one of those fads. You know – young people like to try things out. They watch Gardening Australia and it all looks so fun and easy, but …’
‘Is that Mrs Conti in the video?’
‘Oh, no, that’s not her. No, she’s quite a slight lady as I recall and this one is much more …’ Bettina paused, ‘well-rounded. Is the nurse’s uniform part of the performance, do you suppose?’
Mel tried to suppress a smirk.
‘No, we believe it’s a real uniform. So, do you have contact details for Mr Conti?’
‘I can ferret them out. He won’t get into trouble?’
‘No, not at all, but we’d like to speak to him. Discreetly. It may be the case that this nocturnal activity is connected to the assault the following week.’
‘Ooh, a jealous husband.’
She was sharp, this one.
‘Possibly.’
‘Then that would mean that poor Mr Kapanadze was a victim of mistaken identity,’ mused the Professor. ‘How awful! Not that it makes any difference to him now, of course. Dead is dead.’
‘His widow might not be as philosophical about it,’ Mel felt obliged to point out.
‘No, I don’t suppose she will, poor woman.’
At that moment, Mel’s phone rang.
It had been a quiet morning at the front desk. A good chance to catch up on a bit of paperwork. Lachie’s stomach was rumbling: looking forward to a good lunch. He could just go one of those steak-and-kidney pies and a bowl of chips …
But hello, what was this coming through the front door? She was clearly upset. Tear-streaked mascara and flushed cheeks. And he looked scared half to death. Kid gone missing, perhaps? A mugging?
‘Hello, Madam, Sir. How can I help you both?’
‘My husband,’ she blurted. Lachie turned enquiringly to the man. He shook his head.
‘He followed us here. He’s going to kill us, I know it! He put some kind of tracking device in my handbag. We were driving down the street and it started beeping. We thought it was just my phone at first.’
She waved the bag at him. It was indeed issuing a high-pitched sound at intervals. Another would-be stalker who didn’t read the instructions properly, thought Lachie.
‘Then I saw him in the rear-view mirror. Please help!’
‘Easy now. You’re safe here. I’ll just have your particulars, then we’ll get to the bottom of this. Alright?’
After taking down the couple’s details, Lachie had a constable usher them into an interview room. Then he picked up the phone.
‘DS Hanrahan? Sergeant Wilson here on front desk. I’ve got a male and a female in an interview room, just come in off the street in a distressed state. Could be a DV and stalking case. I think you might want to talk to them.’
Next week in The Plot:
Chapter 20: The Net Closes
The investigation comes together.
Disclaimer: The people, organisations and events described in this story are entirely the product of the author’s imagination; they bear no intentional resemblance to real-life people, organisations and events. Some locations are based on real places, however the City of Corymbia and its localities are inventions of the author.