Frisby Waterless Murders – 68

Excerpt from the Frisby Waterless Murders

Knowles’ phone began to ring. He made his excuses and walked outside to take the call. It was Linda Smythe.

 

“Allo, Linda, what’s happening?.. He’s been what? Well that explains why he hasn’t come home. How?…found in the river but appears to have been hit on the head. Well, eerily enough, I have just arrived at his house to be told by his wife that he hadn’t come home yet. I told her there was nothing wrong. Now I have to tell her the exact opposite. Can you get the victim support unit around here pronto, so I can come over to you? Thanks Linda – I take it Forensics are on their way?…Good, see you soon.”

 

Knowles rang off and phoned Barnes, leaving a message for him to get over to the Fishing Club as soon as possible. With that, he turned around and steeled himself to convey the bad news to Mrs Trimble. This was the part of the job he enjoyed least. Dear Mrs Trimble, I regret to inform you…

 

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“Did you finish your match, Barnesy?”

 

“I did, Inspector, but there were two other matches outstanding and we were 1 point ahead, so it could still go either way.”

 

“Did you win?”

 

“I did, sir, left him with double three, which he couldn’t use in his last three goes, so I got a bit lucky.”

 

“I am sure it was all skill.”

 

“I didn’t have any threes left, so I couldn’t lose. Anyway, what has been happening here? Mr Trimble has been found in the river?”

 

Knowles and Barnes were walking towards the Fishing Club accompanied by the flashing lights of three police cars and the Forensics van.

 

Knowles replied – “He was found at 7 p.m. when someone on the Fishing Club verandah saw him in the water. They dragged him to the shore, but were unable to revive him – it seems as though he didn’t drown but was hit on the head by a rock and then deposited in the river.”

 

“Didn’t that happen to him before, except that he wasn’t hit on the head?” asked Barnes.

 

“Yes, he thought the Major had done it after they’d had words about the Fishing Club accounts, but perhaps it was someone else.”

 

“This is connected with the train I can feel it in my bones.” Knowles thrust his hands deep into his trouser pockets and stared off into the distance.

 

“You don’t think he could have hit his head after falling in the water, do you sir?”