Inspector Murdoch and Constable Crabtree stood looking at the reassembled pieces of glass from the Moorhead crime scene.
"Sir," said Crabtree, "That's not a liquor bottle that is a chemist's flask."
"I can see that, George," said Murdoch
"Why would someone keep Liquor in something like this?" asked Crabtree
"Well the first answer that I can think of is that they wanted to conceal the fact that the liquid in the flask was in fact liquor. As you know George liquor of any kind is prohibited on the University Campus."
"You don't think that Moorhead was killed because he caught someone on the Campus with contraband Liquor?!" exclaimed Crabtree
"No I doubt it," said Murdoch, "it seems highly unlikely that a student would resort to murder when the worst punishment for violating of the liquor ban is a three day academic suspension."
"I guess you right." Said Crabtree
"Still," continued Murdoch, "the university is the place to start. Go and talk to the Dean of the science department and find out where the school gets its chemistry supplies."
Crabtree nodded and headed out the door snagging his hat off his desk as he passed by. Murdoch decided to pay a visit to autopsy and see if Dr. Ogden had learned anything from the corpse of the deceased.
When he reached the doorway that lead to the corners office he found that Moorhead's parents were already there raising a fuss because they couldn't have the body of their son yet.
Jonah Moorhead the father was very nearly shouting at Dr. Ogden While his wife was holding a Handkerchief over her eyes and sobbing and their daughter Katie wavered between grief for her brother and fear of what her father might do. Dr. Ogden didn't seem to be able to get a word in edgewise. As Moorhead's voice increased in volume, Murdoch thought it prudent to intervene before the irate Mr. Moorhead started yelling Obscenities at Dr. Ogden, or worse tried to get physical with her.
"Mr. Moorhead!" Thundered Murdoch in an uncharacteristically loud voice, "Kindly restrain yourself, sir." Momentarily startled by the detective's verbal explosion Jonah Moorhead stopped his tirade.
"Who in blazes are you?" he snapped
"I am Inspector William Murdoch, sir," Replied Murdoch inserting himself between the elder Moorhead and Dr. Ogden, "And if you will stop shouting and sit down I will explain what is going on here and why there will be a delay in the release of your son's body.
Murdoch motioned to a small nearby waiting area in a manner that was more of a command instead of a request.
When the Moorhead's were seated and Murdoch was convinced that the elder Moorhead was properly subdued he began to explain the situation.
"We have uncovered evidence that suggests that your son's death was not an accident but was in fact murder." Said Murdoch
"Murdered," exclaimed Jonah Moorhead, "Are you certain?!"
"Quite, certain," said Murdoch, "so your son's case has been reopened as a murder investigation therefore all the available evidence including your son's remains must be re-examined in this new light. I assure however that as soon as this is complete your son's body will be released to you."
"Of course, Of Course," said Mr. Moorhead he looked at Dr. Ogden
"If only you had told me, Doctor." He said. Dr. Ogden folded her arms across her chest and glared and the man.
"I tried." She said in a quiet but accusatory voice.
"Please go back to your hotel and wait, we will keep you informed." Said Murdoch the Moorhead's rose and started to leave. Murdoch stepped in front of Mr. Moorhead.
"Sir," he said in a tone of voice that was calm yet threatening, "I realize that the scene that just took place in the hallway when I arrived was partially the result of your grief and anger over the death of your son, and while you have my sincerest sympathy and condolences I feel I must warn you that if you ever raise your voice to Dr. Ogden like that again I shall be forced to take out that back door and soundly thrash you. Now if you would be so kind as to leave."
The Moorhead's left without another word. After they had gone Murdoch turned around and saw Dr. Ogden looking rather impressed. Clearing his throat nervously he stepped passed her into the Autopsy room.
"Did you find out anything," he said attempting to change Dr. Ogden's train of thought as fast as he possibly could.
"Oh yes," she said, "As I suspected there were no traces of liquor in his stomach or anywhere else in his system. That seems to confirm the information in the medical history. Also the clothes he was wearing had traces of a chemical that I haven't yet identified."
"Let me know when you learn anything else," said Murdoch, then he turned and walked toward the door.
"William," said Dr. Ogden.
He stopped and turned around.
"Yes, Doctor," he said.
"Thank you for coming to my rescue in the hallway just now." she said with a coy smile, "I never knew that you had that much bravado in you!" Murdoch's face softened and one of his rare boyish smiles appeared briefly on his face.
"It was nothing," he said
Dr. Ogden smile widened and she cocked her head to one side.
"Why William," she said, "Are you blushing?!"
"It's the room," said Murdoch Nervously, "it's rather warm." With that he beat a hasty retreat.
Dr. Ogden turned back to her work with a smile that was even wider than before if possible. By the time Murdoch made it back to his office the redness in his cheeks was pretty much gone and Constable Crabtree had returned from his errand.
"That was fast, George," he said as the Constable followed him into his office.
"Sir," I didn't get as far as the university but I did spot something that I think might be of use," said Crabtree.
"Well, out with it," Said Murdoch motioning for him to continue.
"I was taking a short cut through the warehouse district, when I spotted on of the know wino's carry one of those flasks of liquor so I shadowed him and he lead me straight to the Bilge Rat that seedy bar down on the wharf where all of the, shall we say less reputable, sailors hang out. I looked through the window and I saw a bunch of those flasks on the shelves behind the bar. They were selling them there!"
"Well, Done, George." Said Murdoch, "I believe I will go there myself and ask a few questions."
Grabbing their hats, Murdoch and Crabtree stepped out of Murdoch's office.
"Hey Murdoch," Sneered one of the rookie officers, "did your spoke give another lead or did you look in your crystal ball?!"
Crabtree started for the young man but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Let it go, George." Said Murdoch
Ten minutes later…
Murdoch and Crabtree arrived at the Bilge Rat. The place certainly lived up to his name. the floor was dirty and damp and the windows didn't look like they had been washed in weeks.
When they walked in everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and stared at them. George Crabtree began to get a very uneasy feeling.
Murdoch flashed his badge at the bartender.
"From where and from whom did you get the liquor that is those flask containers on your shelf?" he asked calmly
The rough characters that filled the place rose and began to advance on the two police officers.
"Back off," said Crabtree only to get savagely backhanded with a table leg. Crabtree bounced off the bar hit the floor and lay there unconscious.
The instant Crabtree hit the ground another man grabbed Murdoch from behind and held has the one with the table leg advanced again.
"Go on, Hecky," some of the men hollered egging him on, "Show him what we think of cops!"
As the man drew back his arm to strike, it was caught by some unseen force and twisted back hard causing him to drop the chair leg. In the next instant he was knocked to the floor as if he had been punched by and invisible fist. As soon as he hit the floor the invisible force grabbed him by the ankle and swung him around hard enough to sling him over the bar and into the shelf and wall behind it shattering it and the bar mirror. The force of the impact was enough to knock out the would-be tough guy. As soon as he hit the floor there was a deep throaty laugh.
The laugh echoed and reverberated all over the room chilling the very bones of the superstitious sailors and taking the fight out of them.
"Release him," snapped the voice. The thug holding Detective Murdoch immediately released him and retreated to the other side of the room.
"Murdoch," said the Voice, "Get Crabtree we're leaving now."
"The bartender has not answered my question." Said Murdoch as he lifted the young constable threw him over his shoulder in the fireman's carry.
"He can't tell you what he doesn't know," Replied the Voice, "The Payments for and Delivery off the liquor is done through and anonymously hired third party."
Murdoch with the still unconscious over his shoulder Crabtree backed out of the bar room and didn't draw an easy breath until he was outside again.
"Murdoch," said the Voice, "To find the next piece of this puzzle take a closer look at the Moorhead family!"
With a throaty chuckle the voice was gone. And Murdoch was once more alone with his thoughts. A few seconds later Crabtree began to awaken. As soon as he was back on his feet they continued on their way back to headquarters. As they walked Murdoch paused to adjust his coat and that's when he realized there was something in one of the pockets that hadn't been there before. He pulled it out and looked at it. it was a photo of Katie Moorehead. The words of the voice ran through his head again.
"to find the next piece of this puzzle take a closer look at the Moorhead family."
TO BE CONTINUED…
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