A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 22
Irene Roberts slammed down the telephone receiver and stood, shocked and tense. Her hand still gripped the telephone equipment tightly as her large eyes stared at nothing and her breathing became erratic. Suddenly, her hand released the telephone and she hastened to the cupboard and opening the door, took out a half bottle of Gin. She unscrewed the top quickly; her hands shaking, and raised the bottle to her lips. The potent liquid washed over her throat and down into her stomach; she could feel the good-of-it as it flowed with ease. After a moment, she came up for air and clutched the bottle to her breast, like a mother might, her new-born infant. She hunched her shoulders; suddenly feeling a hundred years old. She closed her eyes tightly, but still tears of fear somehow found their way out, dragging behind them, streaks of black mascara from her lashes.
"Oh gawd! Oh Gawd!" She chanted to herself, over and over again.
She raised the bottle to her lips once more, but this time, fate stepped in and she choked on the powerful spirit as it hit her windpipe. After she had recovered, she took a sheet of paper from her desk and began to write.
"Watson, any news?"
Sergeant Charlie Buckton beckoned the Constable into her office.
"Hey Charlie. Well, an interesting development; Rosetta and I were staking-out a fisherman's shed which Hugo Austen seems to have a lot of interest in, and we found a pile of, what looked like, old delivery rotas which belong to the Summer Bay Fish and Crab company."
"Really?" Charlie said, now fully alert and gesturing for Watson to take a seat. "Have you got them with you?"
"No. Angelo said it was trash and to leave them behind. He seems more interested in finding other stuff." Watson replied with a frown.
"Like what?"
"Betting slips; playing cards even gaming chips!"
"What?"
"I know! Sounds bizarre, doesn't it?"
"So, you left the rotas there?"
"Yeah. I guess you have an interest in them?" Watson cagily replied.
"Hmmm. Can you give me the exact location of this shed?"
"Yeah, I'll write it down for you." Watson said, taking out her pen and scribbling down details as Charlie watched.
"Why would Angelo want playing cards and gaming chips?" Charlie pondered.
"Well, Austen is well into Poker, as you know. There's something which Rosetta is after, but he hasn't confided in me, but seems to think it will stuff Austen if he finds it."
Charlie's blue eyes watched Watson's mouth as she spoke, and though she was taking in all that Watson was relaying, her mind was racing ahead; wondering what the tie-up between Austen and Rosetta was and how it involved the Summer Bay Fish and Crab Company.
"There's something else, Charlie..." Watson said, pausing from her task briefly, and looking up at her Sergeant. "We over-heard a telephone conversation that Austen was having with someone he referred to as "Big C" and then, mentioned Irene Roberts' name!"
Charlie frowned. What had Irene Roberts got to do with all this? And on the same day that she had witnessed Colleen Smart, the driver of the unmarked van, intercepting stolen fish goods from the Summer Bay Fish and Crab Company delivery truck. Whatever next?
Joey, Melinda, Diane, Alison and Ingrid, the Police Auditor, sat down at an empty table in the staff canteen.
"Where's Martha?" Diane hissed; her eyes scanning the large room.
"Having lunch with Alf, no less, and in his office!" Alison grinned.
"I thought it unusual not to see her with you, Ingrid!" Melinda laughed, nudging the new girl.
Ingrid smiled as sipped her coffee.
"It's a pleasant change not to have to listen to how marvellous Hugo Austen is and how Martha's the luckiest girl in the school!" She shuddered.
The group of girls laughed at Ingrid's description and settled down to eat. After enjoying a sandwich, Melinda and Diane left the others alone, as they went in search of Leah's wonderful cheese-cake.
"Any news?" Joey whispered as soon as the others were out of ear-shot.
"There's plenty of evidence to suggest that something's been going on, but the bizarre thing is, it's so amateurish! It's just as if someone has been trying to hide something else by inducing this stupid smoke-screen with the accounts ledgers, but not a very clever one. It's almost childish!" Ingrid exclaimed with a frown.
"So where do we go from here?" Alison asked, deflated. "We seem to be barking up the wrong tree!"
"Could I get a transfer into Quality Control, do you think?" Ingrid asked, looking at Joey.
Joey frowned.
"Well, I suppose it could be arranged, but it will draw attention, I'm afraid."
"Yeah, I can't see Tony Holden taking kindly to a having stranger in his section!" Alison agreed.
"Just you leave Mr. Holden to me!" Ingrid grinned. "I've already become acquainted with him. He seems quite smitten with me!"
Joey and Alison sniggered.
"You'd better watch out for his wife then!" Joey laughed. "She's six foot six and weighs three hundred and twenty pounds!"
"She need not worry on that score. He seems a nice enough guy, but not my type, and a bit old! But he'll do to wheedle my way into his domain!" Ingrid winked.
The conversation ended as Diane and Melinda approached, armed with five plates of Leah's very tasty cheese-cake!
Constable Watson pulled up outside Colleen Smart's bungalow, having been sent by Charlie Buckton to make some enquiries . She walked up the pathway and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so Watson knocked again. She stood back observing the prettily laid-out garden and smiled as the large daisies nodded their heads in welcome. After a couple of minutes, she headed back to her car, concluding that Colleen must be out. But suddenly, she heard someone 'Hallooing' from a distance and turning, saw Colleen Smart struggling along the road with two, full bags of shopping.
"Hi Joey!" Ingrid said as she popped her head around Joey's office door. "I'm spending a couple of hours with Tony Holden later. I'm hoping I may learn something, but in honesty, I'm not sure if there is anything to learn!"
"Well, thanks for trying anyway. Good luck and fingers crossed!" Joey smiled.
Ingrid smiled back and crossed her fingers.
Watson sat drinking a cup of tea in Colleen Smart's pretty garden.
"Have another cream cake, Constable!" The older lady offered.
"No thanks, Colleen! I'll be putting on pounds!"
"Not you dear! You have a lovely figure! So, you say that I was spotted driving a delivery van filled with fish?"
Watson nodded as she popped the rest of the chocolate éclair into her mouth.
Colleen frowned.
"Not me dear! I can't even drive! Apart from that, I was with Irene Roberts yesterday; she'll vouch for me! We had lunch together; a lovely bit of steak, with baby potatoes and salad; we even had a glass of red wine to wash it down! Then spent the afternoon and evening watching the 'Die Hard' film series!"
Watson choked on her cake.
"Die Hard?" She questioned when she had recovered.
"Oh dear me, yes! Full of excitement! Irene and I loved it! Next week, we're hiring the 'Lethal Weapon' series! That Mel Gibson always gets me going!" Colleen chuckled.
Watson swallowed; her eyes widening in wonder. She brushed the crumbs from her mouth and thanked Colleen for her hospitality and help. Colleen was very obliging and waved to the Police Constable as she drove away.
After a few minutes, Watson stopped the car and pulled out her mobile phone. She punched in some numbers and waited.
Ingrid Peters, the undercover Police Auditor scratched her head and frowned. She was unable to understand why anyone who was trying to defraud the Company would do it in such an amateurish way! It was almost laughable! She slowly walked back to the accounts department to report her findings to Alison.
"Hey! Any luck in Quality Control?" Alison asked as the pretty auditor entered the room.
"Just the same as the accounts; changed, but done so, very childishly. I still think someone is doing this to take our eye off the ball. In truth, I think there must be something else going on here. It must be a smoke screen! I shall be making out a report for Charlie Buckton."
Alison was disappointed and a little nervous. Why would anyone want to pull such a stunt? What reason did they have, and how was it likely to end up?
Some hours later, Charlie Buckton stood by the fisherman's shed in the quiet woodland. The directions, which Constable Watson had written down, remained in her hand but now twisted out of recognition. Her mind was revolving rapidly with all the information she had unofficially collected; Angelo Rosetta and Hugo Austen's past association; Hugo's gambolling evenings; Joey Collin's fears over the Summer Bay Fish and Crab Company accounts, prompted by Irene Roberts, and Irene's own name playing a part in some intrigue hosted by Hugo Austen. Joey Collins' father had allegedly been cheated out of his shares in the SBF&C and why did Alf Stuart seem oblivious to everything which was happening? And then there was Colleen Smart; a fish smuggler! Constable Watson had reported back that Mrs. Smart had denied driving a van but Charlie was as sure as she could be, that it had been Colleen. She frowned. The only common denominator she could find was Hugo Austen.
She walked a few more paces to the shed door but before entering, checked about for signs of unwanted company. Being certain she was alone, she slowly pushed open the door, and was immediately startled by a bird flapping towards her in panic; evidently having been trapped, and now making a bid for freedom. Charlie jumped in surprise, but as she stumbled back, her boot made contact with something snake-like in the long grass. She looked down quickly, but instead of finding a slithering serpent about to penetrate her leg with venomous fangs, found a woman's arm! Slowly, her eyes moved along the limb and up to its face to discover the identity of the owner. She gasped in horror as her eyes met with those of an old friend, which now stared back into her own, lifelessly.