Chapter 11 – The Night Shift

Back in the staff room J P and Ruby had filled the others in on their conversation with Polly.

'Gosh there are a lot of potential leads there!' exclaimed Florence.

'Do either of you know this Polly Jackson at all? Can we be sure that what she has told you is true?' Jack took a cautious approach.

'Well, I don't actually know her personally' said Ruby 'But I remember she was in my younger brother's year at school. He spoke of her as the school gossip and said she could be a bit annoying, but she never told any lies about anyone'

'She works at the Honore Palace and Catherine has taken her on as a kitchen volunteer for the duration of our time here' added J P.

'I guess Catherine must trust her then. OK we'll set up a board with all our suspects to date and perhaps we could write on the details we know for sure in one colour and the details given by Polly in another, just to keep them separate for now?' suggested Jack. Florence had brought up an easel and a large sheet of paper from the art classroom and Nikki now helped her to set it up.

'Will that be big enough?' enquired Nikki, who was used to having whole walls to work with.

'It's the size we're used to' Florence assured her, and she stood back to see how the Caribbean team did things.

'Now we haven't been able to print off any photos of our victim or suspects so we will just have to use text only' Jack began.

'Or artwork!' Ruby excitedly took a coloured pen and began to draw a stick man lying on the ground , then drawing figures above him to represent the mannequins.

'OK, thank you Ruby' Jack continued. 'So, what do we know about our victim?'

'Well we know for certain his name was Gavin Harper and he was twenty-nine years old' confirmed Florence. 'He was a journalist from York and was engaged to Tiffany Smith. He did not know anyone on Sainte-Marie except the group from England he and Tiffany had just met' Jack noted this down in black pen.

'According to Polly he worked for the Northern Gazette and he was going to have to wait a few years for an editing opportunity' added Ruby. Jack wrote this last piece of information in red.

'OK so what do we know about Tiffany Smith?'

'Hmm…twenty-seven, originally from Darlington, works as a book-keeper' Florence checked her notes from this morning. 'Says she was in the ladies' bathroom when Gavin was murdered' Ruby drew a stick woman, doing her best to avoid getting in Jack's way as he noted down the details.

'Polly said she had just been told by Gavin of a delay in his promotion and she was not pleased about this' J P advised, and this was written in red.

Half an hour later the board was complete with all the information known and assumed regarding all the suspects and a stick drawing to go with them all.

'So, where do we go from here?' asked Florence.

'Well, I think we need to have a chat with each of our suspects to try and ascertain whether what Polly told us is true.

'I agree. But looking at all the information we have so far, it looks to me like Pete Gifford has a solid alibi since he would have definitely had to wait in the queue to get the group's places in the hall and he has acquaintances to confirm this' Florence pointed out. Also, Adam Williams was with him for most of his time in the queue so wouldn't have had a big margin of opportunity to commit the murder either'

'And Adam's DNA did not match what was found on the murder weapon' Nikki reminded them.

'And Tiffany was with Gavin until a few minutes before he was killed as well' pointed out Ruby.

'True' said Jack. 'This David Marsden's story seems a bit strange, though, don't you think?'

'If you mean the story about him looking for better accommodation then yes!' agreed Florence. Am I right in gathering you had met this man before, Nikki?'

'Yes, I sat next to him on the bus from the airport yesterday' Nikki confirmed. 'He seemed to be chatting me up. I wasn't sure if I should be flattered or not. He didn't strike me as my type, though, so I was happy when we got to my hotel and discovered he was staying somewhere else, to be honest!' she laughed.

'Aside from the unwanted attention, did you learn anything about him that could be useful for the investigation, or did he behave in any way that might be typical of a murderer?' asked Jack.

'Not really. He just spoke about the storm but with a hopeful look in his eye. I kept him occupied talking about the preparations that were being made so didn't really learn anything about him'

'OK. Do we have any thoughts on any of the other suspects?' Jack moved on.

'The two ladies said they went to the canteen, where the murder weapon is believed to have come from, so they may have had the opportunity as well if the staff cannot be certain nobody unauthorised got into the kitchen' Florence pointed out.

'Yes, I agree' said Jack. 'That just leaves our unhappy Mr Phillips'

'He hasn't given an alibi as yet' J P pointed out.

'Yes, we need to speak to him in the morning. Locating him is a priority'

'There are certainly plenty people looking out for him so presumably it won't take long!' commented Ruby.

'Let's hope not' said Florence.

'Gosh, it's been a very full day and I'm exhausted!' said J P as they were wrapping things up. 'If we were back at the station I would be suggesting we go for a drink at Catherine's'

'And I would gladly join you!' exclaimed Ruby. 'My head is buzzing and I could do with something to help me wind down!'

'The best we can get in here would appear to be a tea or coffee' pointed out Jack.

'Actually, my mum told me they were serving hot chocolates last night' Florence informed them. 'That certainly helped a few of the medical room patients and their families to relax'

'OK so what say we to a hot chocolate at the temporary Catherine's then?' Jack looked around at his team and they all nodded.

'I think I'll work into the night and get the fingerprint and DNA samples we took from Adam Williams' friends analysed' said Nikki. 'That will help you in the morning'

'Surely it would be better for you to get some sleep and do the analysis with a fresh head in the morning?' suggested Jack. 'Besides, it is possible the murderer may be on the loose in the school so I would rather you were not working alone'

'I'll be OK, I've dealt with a lot of psychopaths in my time and can look after myself' Nikki assured him.

'Well I would still rather you didn't work alone'

'I had a break this afternoon so would be happy to stay up and assist Nikki, even if it is just lookout duty' suggested Florence.

'Are you sure you wouldn't be better to have a rest with your family?'

'It's no problem. My dad is making good progress and he has the rest of the family beside him'

'Well, if you both insist, but please come and have a hot chocolate with the rest of us first' Jack finally agreed.

It was after eight in the evening by the time the police team were seated with their hot chocolates in the canteen. Even though there was no alcohol they managed to switch off from work, no doubt due to sheer exhaustion.

'What is the accommodation like in the medical room?' J P asked Florence.

'Pretty much the same as in the main hall for non-patients' she informed him. 'Those who are sick were brought in on hospital beds and are being made more comfortable'

Is it quieter in there?' asked Ruby.

'At times. But one or two patients took bad turns in the middle of the night and that was disturbing to witness'

'We are in the gym with the families' Ruby advised the others. 'It is constantly noisy in there with babies crying and children complaining about being bored. I was imagining last night that the main hall must be the best place'

'It was fairly quiet at night' confirmed Jack, 'but it is much more crowded than anywhere else and people were getting restless and frustrated this morning'

'The woman on the mat next to me kept rolling over and squashing me last night' Nikki laughed at this now. 'The others in my area are not very open or friendly either. Two reasons I am happy to work tonight!'

'Let's just hope we get out of here tomorrow and get back to our own beds and hotels!' said J P and the others all agreed.

'Do you get storms like this in England?' asked Ruby.

'Nothing like this!' replied Nikki. 'There have been hurricanes and floods that have caused damage but nothing I can remember that resulted in a mass evacuation like this'

'You're lucky' said J P, just as a small tremor was felt.

'You have to put up with the wind, rain and snow over there but at times like this it seems worth it!' commented Jack.

'I'd miss the sun but not these storms' said Ruby.

An hour later, Jack, J P and Ruby had returned to their mats in their allocated hall and gym areas while Nikki and Florence had returned to the science lab.

'OK, here is the DNA sample we found on the murder weapon' said Nikki, laying the pattern she had drawn up out on a desk in front of her. 'Now, I need to get some of the saliva from each of these swabs, or rather cotton buds, onto a petri dish so that I can have a look for the DNA pattern and compare it to this one'

'OK. I'll get you a few more petri dishes' said Florence. 'I seem to remember they were in the cupboard over here'

'Thank you, Florence. Do you normally do finger-print analysis?'

'Yes, that's something we do at the station. Would you like me to have a look at the prints we took and see if there is a match with the prints on the knife?'

'That would be very helpful, if you don't mind'

'Not at all'

'By the way, forgive my confusion, but is it actually Florence or Florence? I have heard people addressing you by both pronunciations'

'Aha, good question. Well, officially it is the French pronunciation, but when Jack, that is Inspector Mooney, first arrived on the island he had terrible trouble pronouncing it correctly so I told him just to say it the English way and that seems to have stuck with everyone in the police team ever since! Feel free to say it your way if it is easier'

'OK then, if you don't mind. I assume Nikki is easy enough but I have no objection to being called Nicole if that's easier for you?'

'Ha ha, no Nikki is fine!' They chuckled and both got to work.

'Anything?' Florence asked after they had both worked for what seemed like an hour or two.

'No. No matches at all' Nikki sighed. 'What about the finger-prints?'

'No matches'

'OK let's try the samples from the kitchen staff to see what we can rule out'

They worked at those for another seemingly interminable period of time.

'I think I have finger-print matches for two of the staff' said Florence. 'Would you mind taking a look to confirm whether you agree?'

'Sure' Nikki looked through the microscope that Florence was using. 'Yes, I would say those were matches. So, if we assume the staff used the knife prior to it being used by the killer then it is likely the killer's prints are one of the two remaining – either this one or…this one!'

'I see, thank you'

'The DNA samples seem to confirm what you have found as well'

'Well I hope this will help the investigation even though we are not any further forward with identifying the murderer since none of our suspects who have given us samples to date appear to have got prints on the weapon'

'The only conclusion we can present is that it was either someone other than the group we interviewed, or the killer wore gloves or used some thing to avoid getting prints on the knife'

'Well I guess that's something at least. I don't suppose it was likely we were going to solve the case overnight'

'It's rarely simple as you are no doubt aware'

'Indeed' They began to pack away the equipment. 'So Nikki, what brought you to Sainte-Marie?'

'Well, I was supposed to be meeting my boyfriend here for a week's holiday. He lives in Washington and has a very stressful and important job so we decided, since a rare occasion arose when we both have leave at the same time, that we would find somewhere quiet and sunny and far from where either of us live and work, and have some quality time together'

'Oh dear, and you arrived to this – virtually the opposite of what you were looking for!'

'Yes, and Matt's flight was cancelled so he is still stuck in Washington!'

'Oh no, so you didn't even get to see each other!'

'No. But life rarely turns out the way you expected'

'No, you're right. It doesn't' Florence looked away from Nikki and appeared distracted.

'Are you OK?' enquired Nikki.

'Yes, it's just…nothing'

'I don't mean to pry but you seem to have the weight of the world on your shoulders for one so young. I know we barely know each other but if you want to talk about anything I'm known to be a good listener'

'Well, the thing is…my life has not exactly turned out the way I was expecting it to at the beginning of the year'

'I see. In what way…if you don't mind me asking?'

'Well, I was engaged to a lovely man and due to get married, but two days before the wedding…' tears welled up in Florence's eyes as the memory surfaced once again. '…he…he was killed…shot' the tears came on fully. Nikki put her arm around her new friend.

'I am so, so sorry, that is just awful!' The two women hugged for a few minutes. Nikki gave Florence a spare handkerchief to dry her eyes once they broke apart.

'I must say, you are very brave to continue your work on the island after what you have been through' Nikki remarked.

'Actually, I didn't, not until now anyway. A week after Patrice's funeral I left the island for Martinique and I have been staying with my aunt and uncle ever since. I still haven't decided what to do long term. I just returned to Sainte-Marie yesterday to be with my dad as he had a heart attack'

'Oh goodness, how is he?'

'Thankfully out of danger and making good progress'

'That's good at least, but it must have been an awful shock on top of everything else'

'Yes, it was'

'So how did you end up working with the police team again? And how has that been for you?'

'Well, I volunteered. I felt so much sadness for the victim's fiancee, who is going through everything I was, and worse since she is being investigated as a suspect, and I felt I had to do something to get her justice. Plus, it is great to see all my colleagues again. I have missed them so much, especially Jack I think'

'He seems like a great boss and an excellent detective from what I've seen so far'

'He is. He has also lost the love of his life – his wife died two or three years ago, just before he came to Sainte-Marie'

'Oh goodness, the poor man!'

'I know. I often think he was lucky that it was natural causes but then…I guess it hurts just as much. There have been so many times over the last six months when I have wished I could talk to him. Hear him tell me the pain won't last forever, that I'll get through this. But it is difficult when you are on different islands and he is always very busy'

'It sounds like you and Jack are close'

'We are. We spent a lot of time together last year after Jack's daughter returned to England to go to University and he was on his own. J P has a wife and Dwayne, our other colleague at the time, had found a girlfriend, and because I was single at the time I was the one who spent the most time with him. He became almost like a second father to me'

'You were lucky to have a boss like that. I had a boss, Leo, who I had a similar relationship with. My own father abandoned me as a child so Leo took his place in many ways'

'Gosh, I couldn't imagine growing up without my father. That must have been really tough for you'

'It was, but my love of science got me through it in the end. I loved Leo and was absolutely crushed when he was killed a few years ago. It was like…it was like losing my father!'

'Oh no, I'm sorry. I guess you understand grief too'

'Yes I do. I also lost my mother when I was a teenager and thought I would never get over that. But you know what? What you imagined Jack telling you is true. You never stop missing the person you loved but the sorrow does ease with time'

'Thank you Nikki. It really helps to hear this even though I have heard it said before'

'I am glad to be here for you. And you know what? We are survivors!'

'Yes, but being a survivor is not easy. You see…I almost died too. Patrice's killer shot me as well. I was left alone in an abandoned building and was terrified. At that point I didn't know whether Patrice was dead or alive, and the pain in my abdomen where I was shot…it was almost unbearable. I tried to call Jack but his phone kept going to voicemail. I really thought that was it, I was going to die. I was so scared, Nikki. If I hadn't though to try J P and somehow hung on long enough to describe where I was…'

'Oh Florence, how terrifying! That must have taken its toll on you psychologically?'

'I think it did for a while. There have been times I wished I hadn't survived. That I wasn't having to live with all this…'

'Oh, my friend, I understand, I do. I have faced death and terror too. I have been shot before and lived. But that's not all. Two and a half years ago I was in Mexico. I had gone for the funeral of a friend I believed had died. I ended up working for a group who searched for people kidnapped by a cartel. In the course of that I got drugged, captured and sealed in a wooden container, and I thought I was several feet under the ground. Being a doctor I was only too aware of how long I could survive in there with the oxygen that was available. I had no idea where I was, and although I had been given a phone and could talk to my colleague who was also in the country, he had no way of locating me. I lay there, screaming at times, resigned to fate at other times, and for the first time in my life admitting to someone else that I was afraid'

'Wow!' exclaimed Florence. 'It's no wonder you were afraid. Surely anyone would be in that situation, no matter how resilient normally?'

'I suppose so'

'And what happened in the end? How did you get out?'

'Well, when the time I had calculated ran out and I found myself still alive, I realised I couldn't possibly be underground. So, I broke the side of the container open…and was greeted by bright light, the light of the outside. I was actually on a hill, on an excavation site. If I had really been underground…I would have been crushed by falling earth. If I hadn't been a scientist…'

'Oh Nikki, what you must have suffered!'

'It wasn't just the event itself. When I got out and returned to England I struggled with the trauma for some time. I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's very common in people who have been through things like we have'

'I have heard of that but have never really thought about whether I might have it'

'Well, have you felt any feeling of distress or anxiety in any situation that resembled any part of your ordeal? I started having panic attacks any time I was in a confined space'

'Umm…when I first came into the school and I had just been reunited with Jack, I saw Adam Williams holding Gavin's body. Seeing someone with blood pouring from a wound caused me to almost faint. I suppose that could have been described as a panic attack'

'It sounds like it. You should find a counsellor to speak to who specialises in PTSD. Assuming they have these services over here?'

'They have counselling services but nothing specialist like that, I don't think. I will have to look into it'

'Well, if you want to talk some more with someone who has been through similar things while I am on the island, or via Facetime after I leave, you are welcome to get in touch with me'

'Thank you. That means a lot to me'

'Anything for a fellow survivor' The two women hugged once again and left the lab for the night well after midnight, and as firm friends.