Murder On The Mainline - S01 E43

Story 2 days ago

Murder On The Mainline - S01 E43

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 43

Mike says, "When I detailed for him the damage he did to her, he got sick. Guess it serves him right. I think he'll leave now without any further problems. We'll still have to keep an eye out for him. He's a bad one when he's drinking."

Roger says, "No change then? No visits?"

"That's right."

"Are you planning to grab a bite of lunch while you’re down here? If so, I'll send Jack here, up to Recovery. He'll let us know when they're ready to move her."

"Sounds good. Have you had lunch?"

"Not yet. Care to join me?"

"Let's do that."

They enjoy lunch together then Mike returns to Marie's side. She's sleeping. The Nurse checks on her occasionally and around three she finds her awake. Soon thereafter she is moved to the secure ward. Mike talks with Roger and he is assured she will be monitored. He leaves the hospital and heads for home.

Marlene greets him with a kiss when he comes into the kitchen. "Well, handsome, have you solved all the problems of the valley?"

"It was an unusual day. Ms. Mathers informed me after extensive surgery that she loves Robert. She asked me if he had come in to visit her while she was unconscious or asleep. On the other hand Robert told me that he loves her and she is his whole life. They both asked me to remember the other to their opposites. It doesn't make sense. He almost killed her. She should hate him and he should be after her for destroying his alibi. That is the only progress I have for the day. Robert does not have an alibi for the night of the slaying."

"Where does he say he was?"

"He doesn't know. He says he was blacked out drunk, no memories of the night. She says he came in early in the morning. But the circumstances of the crime don't fit him. I suppose if he encountered Flo in his drunken state, tied her up, carried her to the crime scene and throttled her, perhaps even raped her... but no, we have discounted an actual rape. He would have had to use some implement to ravage her then flee the crime scene without leaving any fingerprints. Hmmmmm, I suppose it's possible. But that doesn't take into account the evidence they have on Ray, her blood and fluids. Damn, nothing works!"

"So, you still have all five suspects. Is no one eliminated yet?"

"Yeah. Scanlon's been cleared. RCMP and border guards had him under surveillance the night of the crime. He didn't do it. I'm also fairly certain Ron Harrison is in the clear. An RCMP statement seems to confirm his actual location that night, although it doesn't jibe with his alibi. We're down to Ray, Tony, her ex or some unknown sixth individual we haven't considered yet. Do you know if Nina's home yet?"

"I haven't seen her come in but she should be along soon. Why?"

"I wonder if she has heard of any new suspects in the case?"

"I'll keep an eye open for her." She's working at the sink and can see their driveway through the kitchen window. "You go ahead and get ready for supper. Hold on, I think that's her car. Yes. She’s just pulling into their driveway."

Mike heads for the side door, "I'll try not to be too long. Go ahead and put on supper."

He goes out and down the drive. As he steps into their drive he sees Nina pulling a bag of groceries out of the passenger side of the car. He calls, "Hi there, neighbor. Got a minute."

Nina sits the bag back down on the seat and waits for him. "You got away from the hospital, eh? How's Ms. Mathers?"

"Recovering under the watchful eye of hospital security. I spoke to Robert and he's agreed not to bother her, but one never knows what he'll do if he has a drink. I'm here actually to pick your brain, any new suspects in the Hanson case? I'm down to three unlikelies."

"None that I'm aware of, although they may be checking up on any number of others and not producing any written reports until they have something. My impression is that the team is at a standstill right now. They think they have their man and that's Ray."

"Do you have access to the evidence they are holding?"

"No. That's locked up in the evidence storage. What are you thinking of now?"

"I'd give anything to see that address book of Flo's."

"No! I won't copy it for you! It's too dangerous."

"I don't want a copy; only the names of those with a 'Mr.' before them. I think that's her code for the 'Johns'. Addresses and phone numbers would also be helpful."

"I can keep my eye open, but no promises. Is that all?"

"I wouldn't mind taking you to the hot tub, but I guess that's out." She grins at his wink and reaches for the groceries again. He says, "Let me carry those in for you."

"No thanks. Jeff might not appreciate it. Thanks anyway." Mike closes the car door for her and she heads for the house. Mike says, "There is one other thing that just occurred to me. Do you know if the evidence I turned over to your boss has come back from the lab. It was hair samples that will require DNA analysis."

"As far as I know, nothing has been sent out for DNA analysis. If there were such an order, I would have typed it up. Where did it come from?"

"Flo's house. Your sure?"

"Not unless someone else is typing for them. If so, I don't know about it."

Mike mulls this over in his head as he goes home for supper.

After supper he sits in his office studying the three suspects' files. Tony has no alibi; Robert has no alibi and Ray's alibi is discountable. Robert has the motive to kill her. Evidence points at Ray. Tony was probably doing business like Scanlon's, something illegal. Who else did she trust with a motive to kill her? She hardly knew Ray or Tony and she wouldn't trust her ex. There has to be someone else.

He takes from his briefcase the red matchbook from the Gardens with the phone number written on it. Pulling up his cross-reference directory he looks up the number. It's not listed, but the prefix; that is the first three numbers, are allocated to cell phones licensed in the Vancouver area.

Mike pulls the phone closer and dials the number, turning his answering machine to 'record' at the same time. It rings twice, some clicks are heard then a recording announces that the number you are calling is either out of range or has his phone turned off at this time. He hangs up and switches off the answering machine. Another temporary dead end, but he'll try again later.

He calls Trudy at the truck stop in Laidlaw. "Nice to hear your voice, kid. You busy?"

"Yeah, it's been busy. What's up?"

"Want to go sleuthing tomorrow morning again?"

"Sure. What time?"

"Nine."

"See you then."

Mike puts everything away and goes upstairs. He checks on the kids. The girls are staying over at a friend's place tonight and Richard's on his computer. Marlene's sewing a tear in a pair of Richard's pants while watching TV. Mike sits down beside her.

He watches TV, but can't keep his mind on the show. He thinks instead about Flo and her unknown assailant. If he could just put a face to that man, he could rest. He tells Marlene he's going to bed early. He's going to get an early start tomorrow on tracking down the killer. He kisses her goodnight and goes upstairs.