Murder On The Mainline - S01 E32

Story 1 day ago

Murder On The Mainline - S01 E32

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 32

Just then one of the officers comes back out the door and says, "You still have him? Good work, Mike." A thin blonde girl of about twenty comes to the door shaking and smeared with blood. She glares at the cuffed man and screeches, "I hope they throw you in jail and you rot, bastard!" She spit’s out the last word.

An ambulance arrives and the officer waves them inside. He then comes back to Mike and says, "You know this guy?"

Mike grins and says, "Nope, I just got here in time to catch him flying through the door. I stopped his flight and called you guys."

"I'll take this one in custody, but hang around, the Staff Sergeant's on his way. He wants to talk to you. Who are you, Ma'am?" He's speaking to Trudy.

Mike says, "She's with me."

She says, "I'm his mistress, I mean, his assistant. Oh shoot! I'm with him!"

The officer grins and says, "She must be your associate. She can't be one of ours."

Trudy pipes up, "I resent that remark!"

Mike and the officer both chuckle at her red face.

Next the officer questions the cuffed wiry man on the steps. "You got a name?"

"I got nothing to say. I want to call my lawyer. You can't hold me."

The medics come wheeling a stretcher out with a woman's form draped on it and an IV running to her arm. "She's lost a lot of blood. We'll have to rush her straight to the hospital. We're taking her to Burnaby General, officers."

The second officer steps up to the first and says, "This guy thinks he's a surgeon." He holds up a kitchen butcher knife in a plastic bag. Just then a burly red-faced man arrives and the two officers group with him to talk. He nods Mike to join them.

"You've joined us at last, Mr. Claymore. Welcome aboard. I'm Staff Sergeant Lindross. I understand you apprehended Mr. Scanlon's attempted exit. Good work."

"Thank you, sir. I didn't get a chance to go inside. What was going on in there?"

"It appears Scanlon was helping one of his girls to have an abortion... the hard way. And against her wishes, according to her friend there."

"Does she work for Scanlon, too? It's the girls I came to question on the Hanson case. I only stepped into this mess by accident."

"Well, quick thinking on your part. You got anything for us on the Hanson case?"

"Just that Scanlon's alibi for the night is shot full of holes. Speak to Peaches at 41 Park Lane. That doesn't mean I have anything solid on him yet, just a lot of suspicion"

"Hmmm. So do we."

"But your charges against Ray still stand?"

"We have enough to take it to the judge. Doesn't mean we're not still looking though."

"If you don't mind I'll continue by speaking to the lady of the house. Do you suppose we might get a peek at the Hanson girl's digs?"

Lindross speaks to one of the officers for a moment then says to Mike, "This officer will take you over there. It’s only a few blocks away. The side door should be unlocked. Make sure the police tape is secure over the door when you leave and don't take anything without itemizing it and reporting to us. You know the rules of evidence, I presume?"

"Yes, Staff. Thank you for your help."

"Thank you, Mr. Claymore."

Mike speaks to Trudy, "This officer is going to take us to Flo's place. Then we'll come back and talk with the other lady of the house here. We're going to be a while and you will probably be late for work. Do you want to call in?"

"I guess I better call work at least."

She takes Mike's cell phone and makes her call as they follow the officer to Flo's last address. Trudy hands Mike the phone saying, "The boss isn't very happy. They're busy and it’s Saturday. With the mixed weather and all a lot of tourists are staying longer. I told him I would be in as soon as possible, but I would be late. He said he was going to call me in early."

Mike parks behind the cruiser. "Keep him busy while I look things over in here. If there are any traces of evidence, I don't particularly want him to see them."

"I'll do my best." She lifts her skirt and wiggles her bottom on the seat. Mike looks to the sky and says, "Lord help him."

They walk to the side door where the officer carefully removes the yellow police tape and opens the door for them. Trudy steps through first and trips on a mat. As she catchers herself both men catch a glimpse of her bare behind. She straightens up and places one hand on the officer's arm while she lifts her one leg and rubs the ankle. "What a hazard! I've twisted my ankle. I hope your wife has sense enough not to leave loose mats like that inside a door."

"Uh, I'm not married."

Mike moves on into the house as he hears behind him, "You're not? I'm surprised. Could you look at that ankle, here let me lift my skirt a bit..."

Quickly Mike moves to the bedroom and searches drawers, under drawers, under the bed and dressers. The bedroom is definitely feminine with sheer curtains and a lacy edged spread on the bed. Lights flank a mirror over a makeup area and the chair has been recovered with material and lace to match the bedspread. He doubts she ever brought a trick to this room, or even to this house. By the makeup he spots a trace of red beside the mirror. With his jackknife he lifts the edge of the mirror and the red drops down. Using the point of his blade he pries loose a matchbook cover from The Gardens. On the back is a phone number in blue/black ink. Glancing quickly into the mirror he sees the room is still empty and pockets the cover.

One more quick survey of the room and he moves to the bathroom. More lights, more mirrors and a medicine cabinet behind one. Inside Tampax, creams, more makeup, cough syrup, aspirin, mouth wash, toothpaste, the usual. There is also two razors, one distinctly feminine and the other quite heavy. Mike unscrews the handle of the heavier one and drops the blade with accumulated soap and bristles into a plastic bag.

He reassembles the razor and places it back inside the cabinet. There is a shower and separate tub in the bathroom. Mike checks the soap in both but finds both bars have been scraped. He checks the drains and wipes a clean tissue around each. Some hairs of two distinct colors are apparent on the tissue. These go into another plastic bag and join the other one in his pocket. The bathroom is very well kept so he cannot see any other useful areas to concentrate on. Just as well. He hears footfalls and voices. " ...must be in the bathroom."

"Hi there, I'm here in the bathroom. You guys swept this place pretty clean."

The officer calls from next-door, "Our people usually do a pretty comprehensive job." and in a lower voice, "You still can't put any weight on it? It may be sprained. Let me check it again for swelling. Put it up here on the bed."

Mike steps out of the bathroom and goes to the combination kitchen/dining area. Again he checks the bottoms of drawers and behind them, also cracks around the windowsills and counters. He notes the garbage can is empty and checks the freezer over the fridge. He steps up on a kitchen chair to check the top of the fridge and down in behind it. Nothing.