The Case of the Washed Up Part Five: The Case of the Washed Up, #5

By James Keith

After a shocking revelation Inspector Bronson is unsure on how to proceed. He takes advice from Detective White who is now back on the case.

Officer Swanson assists the men on their investigation, hoping to come face to face with the perpetrator and take justice into her own hands.

The investigation leads them to an old warehouse in the industrial estate, where shock revelations wait in store.

Danger lies ahead, new faces and suspects make a new appearance, but who is the killer that they have both been longing to bring to justice.

How will Inspector Bronson and Detective White proceed, will they survive or will they meet the same fate as Leslie Sykes and Casey Shawe.

This is the final installment of the short story series, The Case of the Washed up by James Keith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Keith
• Release date: Apr 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393402503

Book preview

1

Inspector Bronson stared across at Officer Swanson, who was still sitting on the bed next to Detective White. He put his phone back into his pocket and walked over to the bed. He could feel his chest tightening, his heart beating out of his chest. He knew he had to approach this cautiously, he could not afford to try and apprehend Officer Swanson there in the hospital, he needed backup and support.

He gave her a stare; she could not see him. She was too focused on Detective White who was hoping to be discharged soon.

Detective White, I will call you later. We need to go now. Maria, let’s go.

Why, where are we going? asked Maria.

We have an investigation to conclude. Maria gave Howard a kiss on the cheek before grabbing her jacket and following Inspector Bronson out of the hospital.

Where are we going? Maria was insistent and there was uncertainty about her voice.

Need to find out what this key does, Jim was the only person we knew. He’s dead, so we have to speak to Chris.

That little bastard! You think he knows where the door is for that key?

I hope so, replied Inspector Bronson. He opened his car door and got inside, he kept looking over to Officer Swanson, watching her every move and trying not to bring her attention to this. He had to be subtle, and he had to wait for the right time to make his move.

If you want to talk to Chris, then why are we leaving the hospital? asked a very confused Officer Swanson.

Inspector Bronson paused; he placed his hands on the steering wheel.

We need to search his room, he has lied to us, avoided telling us the truth, and he will only keep on doing that unless we have something to show him. He started up the car and backed it out of the car park. He was biting his bottom lip, wanting nothing more than to expose Maria for what she had done. The journey back to the dorm was very quiet. Maria was fiddling on her cell phone whilst Inspector Bronson just focused on the roads in front of him.

The dorm was particularly quiet, the events of the past week had dispersed the students back home or had confined them to their dorms. Inspector Bronson pulled into the car park and parked as close as he could to the entrance of the building.

Let’s go Maria, he casually said as he stepped out of the car. He started walking first making sure he could hear the footsteps of Maria walking behind him. The clicking of her high heels on the ground indicated to him that she was not far behind.

The hallways of the dorm were empty, it was eerily quiet, the only sounds that could be heard was the clicking of Officer Swanson’s high heels echoing throughout the long narrow hallways. The lights were dim, it was dark. After what felt like an eternity they arrived at Chris’ room.

I got this, stand back. Officer Swanson then stood in front of the door, ready to force it open.

Wait, there is no need. Inspector Bronson pulled a key out of his pocket.

How did you get that? asked Officer Swanson very curiously.

Well after you gave him the beating of his life, it dropped out of his pocket. So I picked it up. I did not think that he was going to need it for a while after the mess that you left him in.

The mess I left him in? Officer Swanson was becoming irritable, I did what I had to do, he had that horrible look on his face and that poor girl was terrified. That little shit got exactly what he deserved.

Inspector Bronson turned the key in the lock. The sound of the barrel turning indicated that he had the right key. The door slowly opened, and they both stepped into the room. To their surprise, the room was immaculate, very clean like a showhome. The furniture was a beautiful crisp white colour, the curtains very luxurious.

How does a student afford all this luxury? The whole place is so clean. Officer Swanson looked amazed by the sight around her. This startled Inspector Bronson; he knew she was involved in the murders yet why would she be so surprised by this. He started to question himself, was her DNA planted on the jumpsuit or was she just a terrific actor.

Honestly, I don’t know. Perhaps he has a much bigger part to play in this than we first thought. This sofa must have cost $5,000 and that is before we start talking about the curtains and carpets in this place. Inspector Bronson made his way into the bedroom. The bed was perfectly made and looked as if no one had ever slept in it.

Wow.. now that is a bed I would love to sleep in, joked Officer Swanson as she came into the bedroom. She made her way over to the window and peered outside, the faint hum of the traffic on the main road could barely be heard.

Inspector Bronson started to look through the drawers in the bedside cabinet. He could not understand