Murder On The Mainline - S01 E19

Story 2 days ago

Murder On The Mainline - S01 E19

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 19

CHAPTER EIGHT
3RD MONDAY

The phone wakes him around ten. When he catches it, its Jerry, one of the local dispatchers at CPX, "Mike, I've got an early run for you tomorrow. It will be loaded tonight so you can go whenever you like after midnight. Two loads for Calgary and pick up a long box in Sicamous on your way back. Central dispatch in T.O. says they may have a load for you to run up to Edmonton when you get into Calgary, so make sure you call them. I guess they're real busy up in cow town."

"Do you know if the shops got a headlight in that rig of mine. I left a work order on it but I haven't been back to the yard since."

"Hang on, I'll check." He puts Mike on hold and in a few minutes he's back. "Headlights in and they said they fixed a turn signal light as well. Guess they checked her all out for you."

"Thanks, Jerry. Len with me on this one?"

"No, he's out with another driver. You won't need him. It’s all terminal to terminal."

"Okay Jerry. You take care."

Mike hangs up and checks to see where Marlene is. She's lying down in the bedroom, but the phone woke her up so he tells her he's going out but will be back for lunch.

He heads for ABC Security. He could have called in but feels he wants to be on site to check for any more work. He gives them the go ahead on the ICBC fraud claim and the boss shakes his hand.

"Well done, Mike. I don't have anything else right now, unless you want to try an arson investigation. One of the mills out in Whonnock burned down last night and I have a call from the Fire Marshall on it. They want immediate action. Got time to give it a try."

"I'd love to but I have a two or three day run scheduled this week. Sorry."

"That's alright. I'll do the investigation myself. When you due out?"

"After midnight tonight."

"Oh well, thanks again for the fast job on that fraud case. You'll get a nice chunk of change from them on that job. Where you going to spend it all?"

"With three kids, you have to ask me that?

They both laugh and Mike heads home for lunch.

While they're eating the phone rings. It’s Nina.

"Mike, I have to see you tonight. Something's come up. They have more forensic evidence and your not going to like it. It looks like Ray is probably the killer."

"Where are you?"

"At the drugstore. I'm using the payphone. Why?"

"Don't say any more. I'll see you tonight."

"What's the matter? Never mind, I'll talk to you later, I might even do more than talk." She giggles and hangs up.

Mike no more than gets back to the table when the phone rings again. "Go ahead and eat. I'll get it."

Marlene comes back and hands the phone to him. "It’s for you, dear."

He takes it into the living room and says, "Hello."

"Mike, it’s Ray. My lawyer sprung me this morning. I'm out on bail. How are you making out with your investigation?"

"I can't talk now, Ray. Where are you staying?"

"At home. I went down to the yard and they said to report in for work tomorrow morning. Ain’t that something?"

"I told you that a lot of us don't believe you had anything to do with that murder. Now do you believe me?"

"Yeah, I do. I checked my locker while I was there. They said the cops had been through it. My boots and coveralls are gone. Do you suppose they have them?"

"Probably. Was it locked?"

"I don't have a padlock. I only close it with the catch. Nothing of value in there, anyway."

"I have to run here Ray. If anything comes up I'll catch you at home or at work. Take care, now."

He finishes his lunch pondering what's going on. Mike is sure the cops haven't yet had a chance to tap his phone, but he wouldn't bet his life on it. While he's away on this run he's sure they'll try. When they figure out the link between him and Nina that will end that source of information. She will probably get demoted, even if they can't prove she helped him. Damn! Best to get what he can as fast as he can. Or maybe it’s time to beard the lion in his den.

Mike picks up the phone again and dials the POCO Detachment. "Port Coquitlam Detachment, may I help you."

"Nina?"

"She's out at the moment. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yeah, put me through to your boss. It’s concerning the Flo Hanson murder."

"Yes sir."

In a moment a hard male voice says, "Staff Sgt. Lindross here. To whom am I speaking?"

"Mike Claymore. I want you to remove the tail on me. Kapish?"

"Well, you've decided to speak to us, have you? Getting hot, is it? What have you got? Bring it in and we'll talk. Until then everything stays status quo. Kapish?"

"I want you to know that I overheard two of your team discussing the suspects in the case and I'm compiling information on those suspects. I am as sure as I can be that you have the wrong man charged in the case. Can we work out a deal and work together on it?"

"Bring what you've got and we'll discuss it."

"Not likely. You'll confiscate my notes as being in the best interests of the law. You want them, get a court order."

"Be careful, lad. Don't cross the line or we might just do that."

"Look, I have a license to do private investigations under the law, the same as you do. You have me under surveillance. I'd like to know why?"

"You haven't been very forthcoming with your cooperation now, have you?"

"What! If I hadn't told your guys in the van that Hanson's old lady was home, they'd have wasted the taxpayers' money for God knows how long, watching for her. I think that falls under cooperation!"

"I concede you were helpful in that instance. See, we can work together. Why don't you bring in whatever you have on the case and we'll go over it together?"

"I don't have that much. Just the suspects list and some leads I'm following. Why not give me some slack and I'll call you in to make the arrest?"

They both laugh at that one and Mike says, "I see I'm wasting my time. You have a good day, Staff Sgt. Lindross."

As he hangs up he thinks that he now knows who's in charge of the case. Maybe they'll ease up on him, maybe not. Time will tell.

He putters in the afternoon with the kids at a local mini golf course and makes sure he's home well before five. He has watched all afternoon and his shadow disappeared about three. He hopes that's permanent. He drops the kids off and heads out towards Mission. He parks along the Abby-Mission highway where he can see everyone and everything in all directions and waits to see Nina's car approach. As he spots her Pinto he flashes his lights and waves. She waves back and he sees brake lights as she passes. She stops and he runs across the highway. He gets into her car. "Take off!" he says and she floors it, blending back into traffic.

"Turn left on Clayburn then left again at the next crossroad. Head for the river and take the last crossroad to the right. Let me know when we're behind Sumas Mountain." He lies by her foot on the floor.

"What's going on?" She turns onto Clayburn Road.

"RCMP have me under surveillance. I shook them this afternoon but I don't want to get you involved, if I can help it. What've you got for me? Just tell me, don't try and get it out yet. If we get stopped, you haven't given me anything. I got the suspects list by overhearing two members of the investigations team discussing the suspects. I might have told you that at any time. That's all I have that you know of."

As she applies the brakes she says, "Mike, if they catch you they'll have me too. I don't care. I won't let them blame you alone. It was my fault as well."

"Keep going! Don't stop! We can work this out..."

"I was just slowing down for the corner, idiot." The car picks up speed again. "We're headed towards the Fraser. How will I know the last crossroad."

"It's a dead end."

"You could have told me."

"You didn't ask till now."

"I have a further Forensic Report on the coveralls and boots taken from Ray's locker at work. Flo's blood and urine are on both of them and the boots match the footprints taken at the scene. It looks hopeless for your friend. Are you sure he didn't do it?"

Mike just groans.

Before they drive in behind the mountain, Mike has her check they are not being followed. When they have gone a few miles they come to a gravel pit and Mike has her pull in. He is sitting now and asks her for the report. She gets it out of her purse and puts it behind her back. "Kiss me first."

"Oh no you don't. You know I won't stop with a kiss."

"Kiss me if you want it." She watches him with a triumphant smile curving her lips.

Mike takes a deep breath and wraps his arms around her, deftly removing the papers from her hand. He gets out of the car and studies the reports in detail, leaning against the fender. He ends up by touching a match to the corner of them. As they turn to ash he drops them and watches the flames consume the last bits. Nina comes around the car and says, "Why did you do that?"

"They’re too close. Don't bring me anything else. If you can memorize documents in the future, all right. But don't copy anything. You must not get caught." He scatters the ashes with his foot and turns back towards the car. He hears gravel stones crunching under car tires and grabs her. "You wanted a kiss." He bends her back against the fender and kisses her long and hard. She has her arms around his neck and she runs the tip of her tongue under his upper lip as he opens her blouse and exposes a breast by lifting her bra aside. He glances up and confronts an RCMP officer in uniform who looks him up and down.

"Are you Mike Claymore? Miss, please step away from him. And make yourself decent!"

"I am and I think she's pretty decent as she is. Go way and leave us alone. They paying you guys to patrol morals, now?"

"I have a warrant here to search your person and the area in which you are found. That includes the car." A second officer has come forward and has Mike place his hands on the vehicle. They frisk him then ask him to stand to one side. He then approaches Nina and says, "Ma'am, will you give me permission to pat you down? If not, I will have to radio for a female officer to come and do it?"

"Tell me what your looking for and I'll give it to you, if I have it."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. You have to do it our way. How about it?"

She grins at his red face and says, "Be gentle." She holds up her arms. The officer looks at his buddy, shakes his head and proceeds with a very quick pat down.

"Thank you, Ma'am, now your purse? Will you open it, please?"

"This is ridiculous. I work at the POCO Detachment. I hope you have a good reason for this." She opens her purse and the officer uses a lead pencil to move the items around without touching anything.

"Thank you, ma'am. Now please move over with the gentleman."

They proceed to search the car very thoroughly and come up empty handed. They turn back to thank the owner and find her exposed again and Mike working on her breasts while he kisses her. One officer clears his throat and says, "Sorry to have bothered you folks. Have a good day." They quickly retreat.

Mike grins and says, "You know what they were looking for." He nods towards the ground and the scattered ashes. "I was afraid of this. Thank goodness I caught you before you got home. They are probably waiting there, as well. This means they know you're helping me. Damn! I didn't want you to become involved in this. Now you won't be able to help me at all and will probably get a demotion, if not fired."

"What should I do?"

"Go in to work tomorrow as usual and if anything is said, complain bitterly about this stop today. You know nothing about how I get my information. Nothing! Got it?"

She sighs and slumps against him. "Oh, I feel weak. Help me to the car." He seats her on the passenger side with her feet out of the car.

"You can't drive. It’s shock. Your system was pushing all kinds of adrenaline through your veins a few minutes ago and now has stopped. Relax and get your breath. Put your head down between your legs and try to breath deeply."

In a moment she looks up red faced. "I feel better. I'll be alright now." She stands and promptly passes out. Mike catches her and seats her again in the car. He goes around and gets behind the wheel. He heads for home.

In less than three minutes she wakens and he says, "Relax, you'll soon be home."

"Are they following us?"

Mike looks in the mirror and all around. "I never thought to look. I was too worried about you. I don't think they are."

"Oh Mike. I think you’re wonderful."

Mike pulls in the driveway, noting a van sitting up the street. Jeff comes out and walks stiffly to the car. "What are you doing here, Mike? Wasn't last night enough... what's wrong with Nina?"

He rushes around the car and helps her out. She waves him away and looks for Mike. Together they help her up the steps. She sits in a lounger on the porch and says, "Jeff, give Mike a ride to get his car. He can explain. I'm alright now."

Jeff is rather cool as he says, "We'll take Nina's car. Let's go."

Mike studies Nina, but she nods and he leaves.

They drive in silence across town. Jeff breaks the quiet with, "What happened?"

"Nina and I agreed to meet on the Abby-Mission highway and go somewhere private, where we could be alone. We took her car and went to the gravel pit on the other side of Sumas Mountain. Police came when we were in a rather compromising position, searched each of us and the vehicle. They may have been looking for drugs, I don't know and they wouldn't say. She became emotionally upset and passed out. That's when I brought her home."

"Did they touch her?"

"They were most respectful."

"Didn't she say she worked for the police? Didn't they look at her I.D. card?"

"Of course. They said they still had their job to do."

Jeff is silent for a while then blurts out, "Bullshit! There's more to it than that. What have you got her into? There's something you’re not telling me. I deal with evasive customers every day who are trying to hide a bad credit history. I know when someone is evading the truth. What's really going on?"

"The reason for our meeting is private. Only she can tell you that. That's all of it. My car is just ahead there on the shoulder."

Jeff lets him out and spins gravel stones before squealing the tires as he pulls away. Mike walks over to his Mustang and finds a ticket under the wiper blade. He crumples it in his hand and tosses it on the seat as he turns and follows the direction Jeff took.

At home he finds Nina in tears in his living room with Marlene consoling her. She sees Mike and reaches for him blindly. "Oh Mike, he won't let me alone. He insists on knowing why I had to meet you."

Marlene says, "I tried to talk to him and he told me to get out of his house. He told ME that!"

Mike goes to them and takes Nina's hand. "Do you want me to tell him?"

"No. He's too straight laced. He believes in law and order. The police can do no wrong. He might go to them and report the whole thing. Don't you see? We could both go to jail."

Marlene looks first at Nina then Mike. "What's she talking about, Mike?"

"Truthfully, I can't say. I will say this, and only once will I say it." He whispers, "Our phones and this house may be bugged. That's why I had to meet her away from the house. Don't say anything!"

Nina looks shocked but Marlene seems to take it in stride. She says, "Who wants coffee... or maybe a martini?" They all manage to smile at that. Mike goes to the front window to study the street. The van is back. He walks purposely to the stairs and descends to the office. He opens his briefcase and checks the contents. Everything pertaining to the suspects and interviews, including the insurance fraud personal papers are in his computer. He closes the case and locks it.

He walks up the street to the van and rips the back door open. A surprised pair of men are playing cards at a low table in the back. He tosses the briefcase onto the table and says, "Tell Staff Sgt. Lindross that's all of it." He tosses them the key, turns and walks back to the house. As he enters he hears the phone ringing. He picks it up and says, "Lindross, call them off!" He hangs up the phone.

In a few minutes the phone rings again. Mike is at the front window so Marlene answers it. "It's for you, Mike."

"Mike Claymore."

"Your not very polite to your new partners, are you Mike? What have you done with the Forensic report that came in today? We know she took it to you."

"I don't know what you’re talking about."

"Very clever, aren't you? We'll be watching you two very closely from now on. But why do you have to do everything the hard way. Let's both of us put all our cards on the table and work on this case together."

"You have my cards. That's it."

"An interview with Mr. Chauffe, an interview with Ms. Mathers and a list of suspects. I think not."

"When you have what you want, I'd like my briefcase back. Is there anything else, Staff Sgt. Lindross?"

Nina turns white when he mentions the name. She puts her head in her hands and starts crying again at the table.

"Tell the young lady she can have the day off tomorrow to recuperate. I'm sorry if we upset your little love nest this afternoon. Good day, Mr. Claymore." The phone line goes click.

"Bastard! You rotten bastard! He hung up on me."

"You were talking to my boss." She's crying and has the hic cups. Mike scratches his head and says nothing.

Marlene stands over Nina trying to soothe her as the kids come in from playing and want to know what's wrong. Marlene takes Nina upstairs to lie down on their bed and comes down to feed the kids their supper. Mike lays down on the couch to try and get some rest before he has to go on his run. After a while he gets up, goes upstairs and quietly packs his bag for the trip. Nina is sleeping so he leaves a note beside her on the pillow saying she has the day off tomorrow. He brushes the hair back from her eyes and gently kisses her brow then leaves the room.

Back downstairs he tells Marlene to remind Nina she has the day off tomorrow then says good-bye to her and the kids. He goes out to the car and looks over at Jeff's place. He shakes his head and drives away.

At the CPX yard he asks the spotter to wake him at eleven fifteen then climbs into his sleeper and calls Trudy. He tells her he'll be leaving the yard after midnight and will see her around one thirty. Then he goes to sleep.