Murder On The Mainline - S01 E40

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4 hours ago

Murder On The Mainline - S01 E40

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 40

On the way a nurse checks the IV that the medics have attached to her enroute and shoots a needle of something into the IV bottle. He asks of one, "What will they do?"

"First, try for a stronger pulse then repair that gash in her head. After that X-rays and scans. But first she must be stabilized."

"Will she be conscious?"

"She's better unconscious at this time. She's suffering from a lot of trauma; likely a concussion and fractured collarbone. It also looks like it happened a few hours ago, I'd say about ten or more. She's in shock. We may not be able to save her."

Mike follows along to the operating room and turns back to a nearby chair in the hall. He sits and feels weak. He knows what it is. Aftershock, he calls it. The draining of adrenaline from his system after he's been on overload for a period of time. He patiently wait’s it out, breathing deep and trying to relax. After about four of five minutes he feels some strength returning to his legs and tries to stand. He feels a bit woozy, but otherwise, functional.

He walks back down to reception. One of the officers who were at Marie's is at the counter with another officer he has not seen before. He walks toward them. The one he knows hails him, "How is she? Is she going to make it?"

"No one knows yet. They just took her into the OR. They said she would likely remain unconscious for a while. I'm debating whether to wait it out or head home. I'll probably stay around for a while. Is someone still at the house?"

"Yeah, we'll have someone there until Robert Hanson is picked up. Just on the chance he might come home before we catch him. There's an investigation team there now, trying to put together exactly what happened."

"I'd like to be the one to catch him." Mike has that steely look in his eyes. The officer just nods.

Mike goes through to Emergency and asks the girl at the desk to let him know if Marie recovers consciousness. He finds a comfortable chair and relaxes in it. He dozes off.

Mike comes awake when he hears his name. An attendant is peering down at him. Mike starts up in the chair. The attendant speaks, "Mr. Claymore? Are you Mr. Claymore?" Mike nods. "Ms. Mathers is asking for you."

Mike sits up straight in the chair and says, "She's asking for me? Where is she? How is she?"

"She'll survive. It'll be a long road to getting her health back but she's young and tough. She'll be okay. She is in the recovery room. You can go right in."

"Thank you. She asked for me, eh?"

"If your Mr. Claymore, she did?"

"Thanks." Mike heads directly for the recovery room. He barges in and a nurse slows him down. "What are you doing in here?"

"I'm Mike Claymore. Ms. Mathers is out of surgery and asking for me. Can you direct me to her?"

"Oh yes. Follow me."

She leads Mike down the row of beds to a swathed and bandaged figure that looks like a pile of bedding. "Ms. Mathers? Are you awake?"

A faint murmur is heard from the bed. The nurse speaks again. "Mr. Claymore is here, dear."

Mike hears a hiss and the words, "Please, take me away!"

"She seems to be agitated at the mention of your name. Perhaps there's been some mistake. Please wait outside, sir."

"There's been no mistake. I know what she wants. She wants me to remove her to a place where her husband cannot find her and beat her. He did this to her!"

"I see. I'll allow you to speak to her but I will stay here to monitor. If she becomes too agitated, I'll have to ask you to leave. Understood?"

"Yes. That's understandable and I agree."

Mike steps to a point where she can see him. He says, "Marie, no one will hurt you here. I'm here to make sure. Do you understand?"

In a weak drawn voice she says, "He saw me with your card. I was trying to call you."

"Is that when he beat you?"

"I was trying to call you to come and take me away. He made me lie for him. I think he killed her."

"He did not come home that night?"

"Around six thirty in the morning." Her voice is very weak. Mike jots the conversation verbatim in his notebook.

"Where was he?"

"Hesh druuunk." Her one hand flutters and she closes her eyes. Mike gently takes her hand in his and whispers, "I'm right here. He can't touch you."

He feels her relax. He stays by her side for about ten minutes before she opens her eyes again. The nurse has left and they are alone. She whispers, "Can't talk much."

"I know. Don't try. You have told me all I need to know. Now you have to relax and get better."

"I didn't think you would ever come. I tried to call you. He broke the phone. He tied me up. I think he hit me with something heavy."

"Easy now. You’re in the hospital and I'm right here. Try to sleep. I'll watch over you."

She closes her eyes again and Mike holds her hand until he's sure she's asleep. He steps to the hall and asks a nurse to call downstairs for the police officers at the front desk. If they are still there ask one of them to come up.

In a few minutes a familiar face shows up in the door. Mike explains the statement she has given him. He suggests they regard Robert as a possible murderer and asks him to contact Staff Sgt. Lindross. "Have him call me here, please."

"I'll do that. It might be better if the RCMP pick him up, anyway. City police can only charge him with assault on his girl friend."

"For the record I better get your name and badge number."

"Patrol Officer Ken Bishop A492367 and my partner is Patrol Officer Grant Bishop, no relation and I don't know his number. Just a minute, I've got it. A497211. They call us the Bishop's Patrol." He grins. "Hottest team in The Surrey PD. New West and Vancouver PD’s have tried to recruit us."

"I'll remember you guys."

"I better make those calls." He leaves.

Mike checks the time. It's after six. He goes back to Marie's bedside. She's breathing evenly and more easily. Mike sits down beside her bed. In about twenty minutes a nurse comes into the room with a phone. She plugs it in by his chair and says, "RCMP on the line for you. They asked that we bring the phone to you."

"Thanks." He picks up the receiver.

"Mike? Are you there?"

"Nina? What are you doing still at work?"

"I'm not. I'm at home. I saw the report that came in indicating you were still at the hospital. How is she?"

"In very bad shape, but she'll survive. A lot luckier than Flo, I guess."

"Why are you still there?"

"She was trying to reach me when he beat her. She wanted me to get her out of that house. I told her once I would take her to a shelter. Now she's scared he'll come and finish the job. I've been trying to give her assurance that he will not reach her. Can you let Marlene know where I'm at? I don't know how late I'll be."

"They hadn't caught him yet when I left work. I stayed late but finally came home. I just got in. Mike, please be careful. He could be very dangerous. He's not one of your fraud cases. He's a likely murderer."

"I know that. I'm in no danger. Stop worrying."

"He knows she was trying to reach you. He knows she was going to tell you she lied. The Staff Sgt. says you are in danger! Are you listening?"

"Nina, I know that. Please, don't tell Marlene that. I'll be okay! Please just tell her I'll be late."

"Oh Mike. Let me know when you get home, ... I don't care how late it is! Please."

"I'll meet you by the hot tub." He laughs.

"I'll be waiting for your call. Good night."

She hangs up. Mike depresses the button under the receiver, lets it up again and dials.

"Port Coquitlam Detachment, may I help you?"

"Staff Sgt. Lindross. Is he in? It's Mike Claymore."

"He has left for the day. Would you like me to page him? If you give me your number, I can have him give you a call."

"I'm in the Recovery Room at Royal Columbian Hospital on an extension. I don't know the number. Would you have him call me?"

"I'll try, sir."

"Thank you."

Nurses come and go keeping a check on Marie. Mike waits for the call. In about half an hour the phone rings.

"Mr. Claymore, this is the switchboard. I have a Staff Sgt. Lindross on the line. Will you take the call?"

"Yes. Please, put him through."

"Mr. Claymore, you wished to speak to me?"

"Right. I was wondering the status of your progress on picking up Robert Hanson. Have you had any success yet?"

"On what charge, Mr. Claymore?"

"Didn't the Surrey patrolman tell you Marie's statement?"

"Yes. She lied or was forced to lie to give him an alibi. Is that correct?"

"It is."

"So he doesn't have an alibi. I suppose many hundreds of people don't have an alibi for that night. Including yourself! You were enroute home when the crime occurred, right? Your friend, Ray, doesn't have an alibi. I don't think your swamper has one, either. What ties Mr. Hanson to the crime? He has motive to do her harm. Granted. But in the case of your friend, we have physical evidence, blood and urine samples of the victims taken from his clothes.

"But he is likely to do further harm to Ms. Mathers."

"I thought you were protecting her."

"I can't sit up here twenty four seven. I planned to stay until he's picked up."

"We don't have a warrant for his arrest. I believe the Surrey Police have a warrant for assault charges on him, but I don't think she's signed a complaint against him yet. They will try to pick him up relying on her pressing charges when she's capable. That's the best you can hope for. Have a good night, Mr. Claymore. Oh, one other thing. I would be careful around Mr. Hanson, should he show up there. He may have it in for you. You take care of yourself, now. Good night."

Next Mike calls the Surrey Police Dept. He hears a friendly familiar voice on the other end. "Fred, It's Mike Claymore. They got you on the night desk now, eh?"

"Hey Mike. It’s been awhile since I talked with you. What's up? How are Marlene and the kids?"

"Fine. They're all fine. Abbotsford is treating us good. I called to see if you guys have had any success in picking up Robert Hanson. I'm sitting up here at Royal Columbian with his common law spouse. He nearly killed her last night so I'm sitting tight until he's off the street."

"Robert Hanson, was that? Just a minute, I'll check."

Mike wait’s for nearly four minutes.

"Hey, that's the guy whose ex was murdered in POCO a few weeks back. I remember him. Looks like they tried to get a warrant this afternoon but it got to the judge too late. Should have a warrant in the morning. Oh oh! Looks like we were supposed to have coverage on his residence tonight. I better get someone up there. Damn! Short handed tonight, too. Seems to be the way it always happens. When nothing's going on the place is crawling with spares, but let us get busy and everyone has the flu. Uh, Looks like you won't have any action on that fella until tomorrow. Sorry, Mike."

Next he calls ABC Security in Abbotsford. He asks to have a man sent down to the hospital in uniform. He requests and gets Charlie McBain, a tough Scot and close friend from the past. He'll be down in an hour. It'll go on Mike's account. He says to have Charlie call him before he leaves his home in Langley.

When Charlie calls, Mike is half asleep in the chair. He grabs the phone quickly so as not to disturb Marie. The switchboard puts him through and Mike says, "Chuck, is that you?"

"It sure enough is, laddy. What you gone and got yourself into now?"

"I asked for you because I wanted someone who could handle themselves in a tight spot. Can you do a twelve hour shift on such short notice?"

"No problem. Bring me gear?"

"Might be a good idea."

"Alright now. Royal Columbian Recovery Room, right?"

"You got that right. I'll be waiting for you."

"See ya in bout forty five."

"Good."

Mike gets off the phone and relaxes. With Charlie coming he feels a lot better. His gear he was referring to is a five-cell Mag Light flashlight made from aircraft aluminum. In the hands of a trained security officer, they are every bit as good as a nightstick. Also his gear will include either handcuffs or electrical ties like Mike uses for restraining an individual. Whatever Charlie carries in his gear, Mike knows he's well trained in the use of it or he wouldn't carry it.

Mike calls Trudy next. He explains what's going on and apologizes for not being able to move her tomorrow. She says she understands and she will put her plans on hold for now. She wishes him luck and sends him lots of kisses. He says he'll keep in touch.

When he gets off the phone he notices Marie has changed her position some so he goes over to see if she's awake. Her eyes are open and she whispers, "I knew you were still here. I heard your voice. What time is it?"

"It's nearly nine."

"Have the police caught him yet?"

"They're working on it. When you feel up to it, you'll have to sign out a complaint against him. They won't expect you to do that for a few days."

"Me? No. No, no, no, I can't. He'll kill me." There's real fear in her eyes. "No, no, no, no, no, nooooo." Her voice fades out. Mike takes her hand and rubs it. He says for her not to worry about that now. She must rest and get better, first.

"Why? No one can stop him. I'm going to die anyway. He killed her, didn't he?"

"We don't really know that, do we? All we know is that he's not able to account for his presence that night."

"Then why did he threaten me? He killed her! I know he did. I'm going to be next. Please, don't let him get me."

"He won't while I'm here. I have a friend coming who is even better than I am. He will be with you tonight and I'll be back in the morning. I think that's him now."

Mike steps away from the bed and she moans. "Please. Please don't leave."

"I'm right here and this is my friend, Chuck. He's a good Scotsman, like me. Charlie, this is Marie Mathers. Marie, Chuck is going to stay with you. He will keep Robert away. You can count on him."

Mike explains the situation to Charlie and says he'll be back at nine. Marie is still a little distressed at his leaving but seems to be warming up to Chuck as he talks with her. Mike heads down to the car. He half expects to find it has been towed away, but on the windshield under the wiper is a note. "Emergency Parking Permitted" and it’s signed by Ken Bishop, Patrolman, Surrey Police Dept.

Mike has kind thoughts about the Bishop's Patrol as he heads out of Surrey towards Langley and Abbotsford. He should be home by ten thirty at the latest. He uses the cell phone to ring Nina's number. Jeff answers and he says he will get her. She comes on the line, "Mike? Your okay?"

"Yep, on my way home. Should be there in an hour or a bit more. I'm just leaving Surrey."

"You've had an awful day. I think your idea of meeting me in the hot tub isn't a bad one. Think Marlene will miss you for an hour?"

"Not if she has Jeff for company."

"Just a minute." He hears her talking to Jeff. "He says, 'one hour only'. I think he's concerned because of the night we swapped and we were still going in the morning." She laughs and it thrills Mike to hear her.

"See you in an hour then, itty bitty pretty one."

Mike starts whistling and the time flies. Next thing he knows he's pulling in the driveway. He goes in the side door and finds Marlene sitting at the table with Jeff and Nina. He gives Marlene a big kiss and Nina says, "Come on, our hour is started. Let's go."

The two of them dash over to the house second door down and start to strip in the living room. By the time they splash into the hot tub they're bare. Within ten minutes they are out of the tub on the mats along side of it. They seek to pleasure each other in anyway they can.

When they've had their fill they splash back into the hot tub and relax. The hour is up so Mike reluctantly slips on his pants and shoes. He carries everything else and walks back home with Nina. She meets her husband at the side door and they all wish each other good night.

Marlene is happy when he comes to bed. "I didn't think Jeff would ever want to have sex with me again. When he broke it off with me he was quite adamant. I think he misses it a bit. He was quite amorous tonight. It was fun to screw him again. Was it good for you too, honey?"

"Mmmmm, it just hit the spot."

They cuddle together and kiss. Soon they are having intercourse in a slow lazy way. They go to sleep still coupled.