Murder on the Ballarat Express 12

...

It was a good two hour run from Ballarat to the Glen Eira suburb where Sue Mason lived. Along the way they stopped for a quick sandwich and a milkshake at a Milk Bar in Bacchus Marsh. While there, Charlie had reported back to the Station the results of the mornings' interviews from a red phone box outside. Pushing aside the sticky fly strips hanging from the door of the milk bar he rejoined Blake at the table. Sliding into the cracked plastic bench seat he picked up the metal cup and sucked noisly at the remains of his 'shake.

'I can buy you another if you like,' observed Blake.

'No, I'm good. Lawson said he had called ahead and Sue Mason will be at home this afternoon to talk with us. Told us not to mess about, this wasn't some sort of junket.' Responded Charlie with a grin.

'Really. He said that, did he?' Blake grinned back.

'Yep. But here's some news as well. Metro police caught Holmes this morning trying to board a cargo ship at Princess Pier! They've got him in custody at Russell Street. Didn't find any of the drug on him, just a bag full of cash. Denies knowing anything about Elizabeth and corroborates Merseys' alibi. They are going to formally interview him there. Boss didn't sound best pleased about that.'

'Yes, I can just imagine his reaction to that,' said Blake wryly. With that the two men got up and returned to the car and resumed their journey.

Over the humming sound of the engine and road noise Charlie had to raise his voice to be heard, 'I don't really understand why we are going to see this woman, Doc. She wasn't a witness nor has anything to do with this case that I can see.'

'Oh I don't know Charlie. It's just something about this entire thing doesn't feel right. Yes, I know no one liked the woman, but no one seems to have a clear cut motive. I'm hoping Sue Mason can give us a better view of Elizabeth. Someone who knew her before she made so many enemies. We need something to point to who might have hated her enough to kill her.'

'Well I sure hope something turns up. Boss says we have to be back before 6 tonight so we can't hang about. How about putting your foot down a bit Doc and actually do the speed limit?'

...

Sue Mason lived in a tidy California bungalow style home on Brighton Road, just opposite the #67 tram stop in Glen Eira. Blake parked his Holden on the street outside and both men got out and walked up the short path to the front door. Faintly through the lead-light glass door they could hear a piano playing.

'Debussy,' muttered Blake.

Charlie knocked briskly and stood back to wait. The music stopped and they could hear footsteps coming down the hallway. The front door opened to reveal a tall woman in her late 30's or early 40's who bore a striking resembalnce to Bruce Fletcher.

'Yes?' she queried with an arched brow.

Charlie stepped forward and showed his warrant card. 'Sorry to interrupt your afternoon. Mrs. Mason? I'm Senior Sergeant Davis and this is Doctor Lucien Blake from the Ballarat police. I believe Chief Superintendant Lawson called you to tell of our visit?'

'Indeed. Well you had best come in.' She held the door open and bekoned them to enter. Both men followed her into a music room. 'We can talk in here.' And she led them into a brightly lit room dominated by a baby grand piano. In the corner of the room was a small child's cot surrounded by a chaos of soft toys. There were several hard backed chairs arranged near the piano and she gestured again and said, 'please, take a seat.'

At that moment, in a distant room a baby began to cry. Sue Mason winced. 'Oh dear, young Paul has woken early. Please excuse me for a moment. The nanny has stepped out for a bit and I hate to leave him crying.' With that she turned and hurried from the room. Charlie sat down gingerly in one of the hard backed chairs. Blake strode over to the piano and gently pressed a key, sounding a soft note.

'Beautiful.' He carefully studied the sheets of music on the piano and smiled to himself. He picked one up and started to hum while waving a hand in time. 'Impressive.'

'You play, Doctor?' Sue Mason was standing in the doorway, carrying a young child of some 8 or 9 months. She was holding a teething ring to his mouth and he was chewing it with serious attention. 'He's teething.' She smiled down at her boy.

'I play a little,' replied Blake, replacing the music to the top of the piano. 'Neither well nor with any true dedication. But I do enjoy the piano. Did I hear you playing Debussy as we arrived? 'Deux arabesques?'

'Oh, well done Doctor. Yes, they are two of my warm up pieces.'

'Yes, wonderfully impressionistic stuff. Very evocotive.'

Gently bouncing the child in her arms, she replied, 'I love the way he weaves the theme through different modes and keys. But,' here she looked up from her son, 'you didn't come here to talk about music, did you?'

'No' responded Charlie. 'We'd like to talk to you about Elizabeth Peterson.'

Sue sighed and crossing the room she gently lay her son in the cot, then returned and sat on the piano bench.

Statement of Sue Mason

This is difficult gentlemen, I have only just been told that she had died by her solicitor. I have not spoken to Elizabeth in over 20 years. It must be nearer 25. She was my teacher, you know, back in Ballarat? Yes, I see you know that, Bruce must have told you. No Doctor, she wasn't an easy or kind teacher, but for me, she was the right type of teacher. She was serious about her music. It meant something to her. I always felt the same way about music, it is important, it is like breathing to me. I thrived on the discipline, enjoyed it even. But she was often cruel to others. She resented having to teach what she called the 'tone deaf and club fisted.' After Bruce's accident they told my mother he would never be able to do much physical labour and she thought it would be a good outlet for him. Oh, you didn't know? When he was 8 he broke broke his back falling from a horse. Mum and Dad didn't realise how seriously he had been injured at first, after all he got up and walked around. But he collapsed a few days later and couldn't walk. He spent many weeks in hospital and months in a brace, he was lucky to ever walk again. He still is in pain to this day. But Elizabeth wasn't sympathetic at all. He couldn't sit still for long and practice so she would hit his hands with her baton when he made mistakes. Once she pushed him right off the stool! Honestly, he had only just come out of hospital! He was in pain again for weeks after that. I think that is the first time I ever argued with her about anything.

(Sue paused in thought for a moment). We started to argue a lot. I was 16 or so when I decided I wanted to study the piano here at the Melbourne Conservatory. I knew she had wanted to do so when she was young and I thought she would be pleased. But she wasn't, not in the least. We argued quite a lot about it. She insisted I wasn't good enough. (laughs a bit). But I was determined. I sent off an application without her approval. Mum helped me write it instead. When Elizabeth found out she was furious. I had never seen her so angry. Elizabeth grabbed me and shook me and told me not to be so silly, that she could never let me leave, that she loved me. (Sue looked at Blake in appeal). I was 17. From a country town. Young and naive. I didn't know what she meant. I told her I loved her too, but I meant as my teacher. I loved her as my teacher! I had only known the love of my parents and brother, I really did not have a clue about the world. Then Elizabeth kissed me, not like a friend or a mother does, but like a lover. I was so shocked and horrified. I had never even had a boyfriend!

(Sue took a shuddering breath). What did I do? I did what every good Ballarat girl does, I ran home and told my mother. THAT caused a ruckus you wouldn't believe! Mum and Dad shouting at each other, at me, yelling on the phone to Elizabeth. Bruce? Of course, he heard it all, he was always right there listening, poor little blighter. So the classes stopped, then I got the interview in Melbourne. Mum came with me and I won the scholarship. It was only later on I discovered from one of my professors that Elizabeth had written the selection committee telling them that I wasn't worth their time or effort. In spite of that they were impressed enough to give me a chance! After hearing what Elizabeth had done to try and ruin my opportunity, any respect or affection I ever held for her was gone.

No Sargeant, I didn't ever speak with her again. I never returned to Ballarat in case I would run into her on the street. Mum used come visit me when she could, but I built a new life here in town for myself. Built a career, married Geoff and now I have a son. But about 10 years ago, after my first concert performance at the Town Hall there was an article about me in The Age. They printed my address. I started to see Elizabeth every so often sitting out there on the tram stop. Just watching the house. It was very upsetting Doctor. The police did not do anything about it, she was always gone before they arrived. Once I left the house to try and go tell her to go away, but she saw me coming and got on the tram before I could speak to her. After that I had these curtains put in so I could hide when I saw her. Geoff thought I was crazy and sometimes I thought I was too, but I did see her there. Watching and watching. I don't know why she kept bothering me after all these years. Yes, I had told Bruce about it, we actually talked again about it on his last visit. He has always been so understanding and believed me when said I saw her. In fact, I am sure I saw her again earlier this week when Bruce was visiting, I pointed her out to him. But Paul here was crying and by the time we calmed him down and looked again she was gone.

Even now that she is dead she won't leave me alone. What do I mean Doctor? Well, apart from you two bothering me about her today, remember I said that I had heard she was dead from her solicitor? It seems she has made me the sole benificiary of her will and left everything she has to me! I don't want it, I don't! I just wanted her out of my life, I don't want her money, life insurance or house!

...

With the baby beginning to fuss again, Blake and Charlie left Sues' house and drove off. At the next corner was a red phone box and Blake pulled up next to it. Charlie got out of the car and made a call to the Ballarat Station.

'Bill? Tell the Boss to pull in Bruce Fletcher. Now. Yes, charge him on suspicion of murder. We'll be back as quick as possible, but don't let him get away.'

...