Death on Tyneside

Chapter Five

Chapter Five“We wait. That's it? Is that all you can say?” Agnes threw up her hands in despair.

It was later that same day and both she and Alan were walking towards the dining room at the hotel. Earlier, while enjoying a couple of drinks in the bar, they had mulled over the events of the day, ending with Alan repeating the statement he had made that afternoon.

“So, we wait until you hear from the pathologist? Surely there's something we could be doing, while he's doing the examination?”

“Something 'we' could be doing?” Alan questioned. “Who is this 'we'?”

“Us! You! Me! The police! For goodness' sake, Alan, you can't leave me out of this inquiry. I found the body. It was me who phoned it in. That poor man could still be lying there if it wasn't for me…”

“Okay, okay. I get it,” Alan interrupted.

He suddenly stopped walking and pulled Agnes to one side.

“You want to be involved in solving this murder case. Hasn't it sunk in yet how close you came to being murdered yourself, the last time you poked your nose into a murder inquiry?”

“Alan, I know I very nearly got myself killed a few months ago.” Agnes took his arm and they restarted their walk down the corridor. “But I got through that. Look at me. I'm still here – alive and well, and ready to be involved in this case. If the body had been found by someone else, then I might have stayed out of it. Might,” she repeated, wagging her finger at him. “But it wasn't. It was found by me. And now I want to see it through.”

She stopped walking and swung around in front of him. “Alan, please, I need to see this through.”

It was clear that her mind was set on being involved in this case and nothing he said would make her change it. Yet, despite her bravado that afternoon, he hadn't failed to notice that she had been terribly shocked at finding the mutilated body. He had also picked up on the fact she had also felt the cold creeping through her coat as the sun slid away. Nevertheless, he knew she would never admit to that, either.

“Yes, I know,” he said, quietly.

He also knew he couldn't win. If he refused, she would only try to work the case on her own and goodness knows where that would lead. At least if he involved her, to a certain extent, he would know where she was and what she was doing. The best he could do was to make sure she didn't get into any real trouble – though, with a woman like Agnes, that was easier said than done.

“However,” he said, “like I said, at the moment we have nothing to go on. Until we get an ID of the victim or fingerprints of the murderer, we are stuck.”

“What about fingerprints of the victim?” Agnes asked. “If he was already in your system for something or another, surely you would be able to find out who he was.”

“Yes, Agnes, we would. However, it seems you didn't notice that the victim's fingertips had been burned, leaving little or no trace of prints,” Alan explained, patiently. “Unless, of course, Doctor Nichols is able to find a tiny area the killer missed. But then, even if that is the case, there might not be enough to establish who the victim is. At the moment, our best bet is the newspapers. Hopefully, once the news of a body found in the park is posted, someone will come forward to report a missing person.”

Just then, they reached the dining room.

“Now, Agnes,” Alan continued, as he held open the door, “can we please change the subject?” He laughed. “At least while we have dinner?”

Agnes smiled. “Yes, Alan.”

During the meal, they talked about Agnes's trip to Australia.

“My sergeant was interested to know whether you had enjoyed your visit to the other side of the world. However, I couldn't really answer him. You didn't say much about it when we spoke earlier,” said Alan. “Though I'm sure you enjoyed seeing your family again.”

“Yes, it was great seeing them again.”

Agnes went on to tell him about some of the things they had done while she was there.

“I had a wonderful time, but it is good to be back.” She hesitated. “Don't misunderstand me… I really did enjoy my stay. It's just that I missed being here – on Tyneside.”

“What did they say about you being caught up in a police investigation?” Alan continued. “I'm sure they must have been horrified to hear about your narrow escape from being shot in one of the Tyne Bridge Towers.”

Agnes glanced away for a few seconds, reliving the terrible moment, which had happened only a few months ago. She had escaped by the skin of her teeth when David Drummond, a thief, and a murderer, pointed a gun at her head. In that instant, her whole life had flashed before her.

But, quite out of the blue, a man had turned up from nowhere and shot Drummond a split second before he pulled the trigger. Agnes knew she owed her life to that man, though she still didn't know who he was. He had disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.

She turned back to face Alan.

“I didn't tell them about that. I couldn't. I simply said I'd been able to furnish you with information about the thefts at the hotel.”

“So the case was not reported by the Australian Press?”

“I guess not,” Agnes replied, slowly. “You know, I never thought about it.” She shrugged. “Maybe it was, and the boys missed it.”

“Or maybe they had read about it and were waiting for you to mention it first?”

“Perhaps they were.”

Agnes turned away and Alan could tell that she didn't want to discuss it further.

“Were they disappointed when you cut your visit short?” Alan asked, moving the conversation forward.

“Yes, they were. But I'll be going back later in the year as there is a new baby on the way. I'm going to be a grandmother again.” She smiled. “Jason and his wife are having their second child.”

“Do you know, I think that's the first time you have actually mentioned one of your sons by name.”

“Gosh! Really?”

Alan nodded.

“I suppose I always refer to them as my boys as I never want to put one before the other,” Agnes replied. “Jason is the eldest. He is thirty-two and his brother, William, is two years younger. However, age has never, ever come into it. They have always got on so well together they could almost have been twins.”

They talked a little more before Alan looked at his watch. It was getting late and, though he knew Agnes would never admit it, she must be really tired by now.

“I think we should call it a day,” he said.

Agnes would have loved to have said no. But she was starting to feel quite exhausted. She hadn't noticed it while they were talking. However, now the evening was almost over, she felt she needed her bed.

“Thank you, Alan. It's been a wonderful evening.” She hesitated. “I missed you while I was away. We get on so well together.”

“And I really missed you, Agnes.”

“Even though I drive you mad with questions about the cases you're working on?” she grinned.

“Yes, Agnes – even then.”