The Case of the Mysterious Shamrock

Chapter 1/3

He's here, he's there, he's everywhere!

She was only thirty feet, a glorified daysailer, but with her traditional hull, wine glass transom, clipper bow and a long keel she was ideal for cutting through the building chop. He hauled on the main sheet and then adjusted the downhaul and finally a touch on the vang to take the flutter out of the mainsl. A bit of a tweak to the stays'l and the yankee and his "La Femme Francaise" was slicing the Caribbean Sea with a bone in her teeth and a shout of joy on her master's lips. "Let's see now." He ponders. "I just need a bit more sail. A 'lapper' or a 'one ten genny' to lay her over a bit more to get me more waterline. We'll hit eight knots yet old girl. Aye, ... we will! You're a real sailorman's dream."

The harsh ring of his phone shocks him from his sleep.

"Poole here. … What? … Say again! … Dwayne. … You sure? … Round up the others. I'll call the Commissioner and be at the station in sixteen minutes. Go … Go … stat!"

D I Richard Poole tosses his phone, in speaker mode, on the now empty bed, sheds his pajamas and is in his suit in seven minutes. As he dresses, he summons a cab. With phone in one hand and his ubiquitous, battered briefcase in the other, he is out the door at eleven minutes. During the five-minute, high speed, midnight run to the Honore Police Station, Richard calls Commissioner Patterson and gives him the thirty second recap of Dwayne's call. Selwyn responds with a terse confirmation of his arrival within the hour.

Dashing up the steps and into the station, Richard is greeted by Dwayne, phone pressed to his ear, posting a pin on the large-scale map of St. Marie, now attached to the large cork board on the easel.

"Got it man. Get your 'cul' in here, the Chief's gona be here 'tres vite'!"

"What the bloody … what's going on Dwayne?"

"Chief, it's crazy out there. We've had over twenty break-ins in the last hour. … It's my turn to be duty officer on call if anything serious happens. Well at midnight, the phones start goin' crazy. The four, night patrol officers are gittin' one call after another. I called in the two Port Royal day officers and sent them out ta work that area. the calls are all the same. Locks picked, no damage done, nothin' taken. but here's where it gets weird, chief! Every place reported a small kid running away, but kinda like a shadow, nobody's got an ID! And when the victims look around, they all find a real shamrock … ya know a real green four-leaf clover. We ain't got no clover growin' on Saint Marie!

"Those pins represent the break-ins you've got on record?"

"Yes aye, chief. everyone so far."

The sound of multiple feet pounding up the stairs outside draws Richard and Dwayne's attention. With Camille in the lead, Fidel, J P and the two Honore day officers assemble in the station. Richard quells the babble of voices and questions with a raised hand.

"We've got a strange rash of break-ins, but no burglaries. Dwayne will fill you in on the details we have so far. I have a couple of calls to make. I'll be outside on the veranda. Take over Dwayne."

"I'm on it Chief."

Richard calls the two bank managers for the Saint Marie bank branches in Port Royal and Honore. with the two managers on a conference call, Richard gives instructions.

"Maurice, Geoffrey, get to your branches as quickly as possible. One, check to see if the locks have been compromised. Two, see if anything, is missing. Three, check if anything, namely a shamrock, has been left behind. Four, go into security lockdown. Five call me with a report ASAP! I'll have an armed officer on the outside for additional security. Stay put until I give you the 'all clear'. Okay, gentlemen, let us move swiftly. I'll keep you apprised of developments."

Completing his call, Richard turns to find the Commissioner standing behind him.

"Do you believe the break-ins are merely a diversion, Detective Inspector?"

"Not enough evidence yet Commissioner, but I'm not taking any chances. Come, let's get inside meet with the rest of the team."

"All right team! We are confronted with a conundrum., and we have neither the time nor sufficient hard evidence to guide us at this point. We are faced with three possibilities. One, this is some sort of childish prank. But we have no knowledge of any 'child 'gangs on Saint Marie capable of caring out this type of coordinated attack. I don't think even Mr. Dickens' Fagin could produce 20 child master lock picks. Two, we may be the victims of some sort of PR stunt. Or thirdly, we may be facing a diversionary tactic to obscure some nefarious crime.

"Detective Sergeant Bordey and Officer Best get on the phone and alert all the resorts that they need to concentrate their private security agents on the high value targets. J P, co-ordinate the remainder of our forces into teams of two and issue weapons. Commissioner, I would be obliged if you would assume 'Command and Control". I will hold Fidel back as our forensic expert, if anything substantive shows up."

"Inspector, might I suggest that I call my Simone in to assist Sergeant Best? She was a forensic expert to the Met for many years. A most valued resource, I can assure you."

"Well … well … of course sir … that is if it would be of no inconvenience."

"Nothing would please her more than getting back in the saddle. She has nagged me for years to allow her to be of assistance. You would be doing me a favor Inspector. Believe me."

"Of course, Sir, I'd be most grateful for the assistance. That will leave Camille and me to act as a 'flying squad', to go wherever this odd occurrence leads us.

At dawn the team is in the process of reassembling in the Honore Station. After the initial rash of break-ins, all has gone quiet. Not a single call. No complaints of barking dogs, or loud music or drunks or domestic disputes. The entire island of Saint Marie is silent.

"Well Commissioner, no major events. I think we can take it from here. Dwayne and J P will be back shortly. I have sent the remainder of the force to get some rest.

Madame Patterson, you were a fantastic help. You and Fidel process a mountain of data for us. Thank you!

Simone grinned. "I haven't had so much fun in years. Please call on me at any time. Sergeant Best is exceptionally talented. Make sure he receives additional training. He has a bright future. Come Selwyn, I'm famished."

Simone smiles, the commissioner smiles. All is well in the upper echelon. … Richard makes note!

With the Patterson's on their way, Richard, Camille and Fidel turn back to the precisely spaced pins on the map and what significance they might have. As they remark on the geometric precision of the spacing of the break-ins, the rumble of the motorcycle draws their attention. Amidst mumbles and curses, Dwayne and J P stumble through the door carrying a wriggling, cursing small bundle of humanity, wrapped from shoulder to ankle in coils of rope!

"Ya eejits. … If'n I had me shillelagh I'd be givin' ya what for and top o'the mornin ta boot. Aaaaaaaah … be pottin' me down now afore'n I get sore greaved an' start givin' ya a rap or two!"

Dwayne and J P placed the struggling figure upright on the station floor.

Richard, Camille, and Fidel stare in disbelief at the disheveled trio.

End Chapter 1 of 3