Death in the Police Canteen: Inspector Renz Fox

By Benn Flore

Just after retiring, Renz Fox can’t resist interfering with the investigation of his colleague’s murder. Despite promising to spend quality time shopping and visiting galleries with his lovely wife, in addition to his ex-boss’s discouragement, he barrels into the case. In order to find out more, Renz talks with the police officers he used to work with. And, of course, he offers his condolences to his late colleague’s girlfriend. He learns from her that the victim was having an affair with a fellow officer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Benn Flore
• Release date: Nov 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9789491599309

Benn Flore

Benn Flore schrijft en publiceert op verschillende vlakken. Zijn Nederlandstalige boeken vind je meest in het misdaadgenre. Daarnaast schrijft Benn Engelstalige filmscripts. Een drietal scenario’s won internationale awards, in Cannes, Los Angeles en Boekarest. Sommige verhalen werden kort verfilmd en geselecteerd door filmfestivals in steden als Lissabon, Turijn, St. Petersburg en ook eenmaal in Hollywoods Leammle Theater. De zero budget familiefilm ‘Garden of Eden’, met een vriendengroep geproduceerd in Zeeland, zit in het programma van Amazon Prime Amerika en Engeland.Benn heeft altijd geschreven; boeken voor uitgevers Elsevier en Ten Brink, cartoons voor kranten en lang geleden ook sketches voor TV, zoals voor Kraaijkamp sr. Hij combineerde dat vele jaren met doceren van wiskunde, natuurkunde èn gymnastiek, naast marketing zijn basisopleidingen. ‘Core business’ is daarentegen de meeste tijd wel marketing § communicatie geweest met zijn eigen bureau Florad.Benn heeft werk in privé zo goed mogelijk geprobeerd te combineren door al vroeg van Amsterdam te verhuizen naar Goes. Wie eenmaal een vakantie in Zeeland heeft genoten, moet zich kunnen voorstellen hoe mooi het is om in deze prachtige provincie kinderen en kleinkinderen te zien opgroeien.

Book preview

Death in the Police Canteen

Inspector Renz Fox – Riddle 1

Benn Flore

Translated from the Dutch Published Police Series Renz Fox,

the retired inspector who loved his job too much to retire.

By Benn in Books – translation/editing by Mirjam Elisa Middelwijk.

Florad Publishing Copyright © 2020 Florad - ISDN 9789491599293

Smashwords Edition

Table of Contents

Renz's Retirement Party

Renz's Retirement Party

It was Friday afternoon, and the Dutch weather forecast was grim. In hindsight, you could have seen it as an omen. The sun was still shining when an exhausted inspector Renz Fox left the countryside of Zeeland for the busy city of Amsterdam. It felt pleasantly warm in the car, despite the time of year.

It had started to rain as Renz was getting closer to the Kleinpolderplein near Rotterdam, and that rain had turned into sleet when he finally got out of the car in Amsterdam. It was one of those unpredictable days with fickle weather.

Renz hadn't had much to do that morning. He had been feeling a bit sluggish, and the muscles in his upper legs had been aching. Last night's sleep had not been great, and boredom had struck him mercilessly. He had trudged into the bathroom in his pajamas to stare at his reflection in the mirror. The bags under his eyes annoyed him, as did the belly he couldn't hide under his police uniform anymore. He had washed, shaved, and combed his thinning grey hair before getting dressed. His wife Maartje buttoned up his shirt as though she was tending to a child. She smiled, and smothered his muttering by tightening the knot of his tie. Renz had already loosened the knot half a minute later, but he had to tighten it again once they arrived in Amsterdam.

You look handsome tonight, Renz. Just right for an occasion like this.

Perhaps.

Renz had navigated through a darkening Amsterdam and parked the car behind the Hema Store, near the office on the Linneaustraat. He got out of the car and straight into a puddle of rotting autumn leaves, prompting him to start complaining again.

I told you so. I should be wearing a proper jacket and boots this time of year, rather than a suit!

You really need to stop now, replied his ten years younger wife Maartje, balancing on her high heels. Those weren't everyday shoes for her either. As an artist, Maartje usually wore overalls at the easel in her art studio.

This is supposed to be a celebration, she said. Renz had other thoughts about that.

Renz and Maartje made their way across the street and around parked cars until they reached the police station, about a hundred yards further up. Renz had enjoyed entering this building every working day for more than forty years, more so than for this so-called celebration. He had loved his job. It was hard to say goodbye. One handshake from his colleagues would have been enough for him. He entered the familiar hallway, which was empty apart from sergeant Van Belzen. The sergeant had been Renz' would-be successor, overruled by the chief of police van Stee by appointing inspector Monroe instead. Van Belzen was waiting for Renz and Maartje:

Hello, pensioner, we have a surprise for you.

Renz wanted to reply but was interrupted by a push in his back from administrator De Beukelaar who hastily squeezed himself through the door behind Renz and Maartje.

Nasty weather out there. The little bald man took his wet winter coat off. Renz did the same. Van Belzen politely took Renz's jacket and smiled when he saw the fancy grey suit.

Can I visit the ladies' room before we go in? Maartje asked.

She returned with glossy, combed hair and fresh lipstick. Van Belzen proceeded to lead his guests through the building with his waddling, duck-like walk, which sergeant Taylor could imitate so aptly. They passed the reception desk, made their way through the office with desks covered in paperwork, and approached the bare double doors that could use a lick of paint. For the last time, Renz turned his attention to the portrait of King Willem Alexander, which had replaced that of Queen Beatrix not long ago.

Van Belzen opened the door and pushed Renz into the canteen, where he was greeted by a modest applause. A colleague called out, Surprise!

Not really, Renz thought. He had received an invitation with the signatures of his colleagues a few weeks ago. Renz looked around the canteen. The plain tables with white Formica tops and worn edges were joined in a long row. Yellow-checkered tablecloths provided a bit of color and did their best to create a cheerful atmosphere. Plates and cutlery had been laid out on the tables in front of each metal chair with a wooden back. Large glasses of red wine waited next to each plate, anticipating the toast. Almost all chairs were taken; his colleagues had arrived a bit earlier. Some of them, were wearing their uniforms, and a few had brought their partners along. Everyone was sitting down, except for the chief of police Van Stee, who was stood at the head of the table with his cap under his arm. He pointed invitingly at two empty seats next to him. His colleagues started to sing their specially made version of Andre Hazes' 'Blood, Sweat, and Tears'. He couldn't quite