No Way Back: Sammy Greyfox Thrillers, #3

By hugh macnab

The death of Sherlock

 

When a local private investigator is killed, Sammy is asked to investigate a case that will stretch her to the max, or will it be beyond?

 

Cases galore

 

Possible suspects lay in the usual places. Family, friends, the past, and in open cases where the PI may have stumbled upon something that someone doesn't want known. These alternatives lead Sammy down many different paths, but can she find the right one before others die?

 

A homeless shelter

 

A pastor provides food and shelter for the homeless, but as they start going missing, is there a more sinister side to his benevolence, or is he as innocent as he seems?

 

Excruciating pain

 

A business selling torture and death around the world, becomes more personal for Sammy when she learns who may be the next victim.

• Language: English
• Publisher: hugh macnab
• Release date: Oct 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393618294

hugh macnab

If you need an underground cable pulled in, a cocktail mixed, a Global technology plan developed, or maybe you suffer from one of many Mental Health concerns - I'm your man. Within my career, I have worked with and helped so many people with such varied and interesting backgrounds that this more than compensates for the lack of specific crime, police procedure and political experience when writing my books. Of course I should also mention that I have read thousands of books since the age of four - and am now ancient - so that's a lot of books. Along with my long-term suffering parter, we have five middle-aged children and ten grandchildren between us. For those who have not yet experienced the joy of grandchildren - yes, it is true - you can give them back after their stay! If I am not writing, you may find me on the tennis court when the aches and pains allow, or walking the golf course pretending I know what I'm doing, or putting my partner in trouble with my erratic bidding while playing Bridge. As for my guitars - they look good, although the dust is gathering.

Book preview

1

The sun is still rising, the temperature is already hot, and I’m just climbing into my unmarked, when my cell rings, and I answer it for my lieutenant to give me a new case. So much for a quiet day.

Less than ten minutes later, I pull into the curb behind a black and white at my destination. I recognize the officer standing by the vehicle. He sees me and walks my way before I can get to him.

‘Morning, Detective. This your case?’

‘Morning, Walter. Yes and no. I’ve got a newbie heading over to take the lead in the crime scene investigation. What do we have here?’

‘Woman in the back of the vehicle works here, this place behind me,’ he explains, indicating a flat-roof construction that looks more like a storage shed than an office. ‘Says she turned up for work thirty minutes ago, found the office open and her boss dead inside. She’s pretty shaken up.’

‘Dead bodies do that to people. That your partner at the entrance over there?’

‘Yeah. My new partner. Ross Miller’s his name.’

‘He secured the scene?’

‘We both did. I checked to make sure the Vic was dead. Didn’t touch anything, came straight out and called it in.’

‘How did he die?’

‘Looks like a shooting. You’ll find out for sure when you go in there.’

At that moment, my newbie detective pulls in behind me in a nondescript saloon. The more commonplace these cars become, the more obvious it is that they’re cop cars. You would think whoever buys the damn things would have figured that out by now?

George Jimisson has been in homicide for around nine months, but this will be his first lead on a crime scene investigation. I’ve worked with him a little on previous cases. He’s an okay guy and will be an excellent addition to the Bureau. Most of us call him Jimi.

‘Morning, Sammy. Sorry, you’ve had to wait.’

‘Morning, Jimi. Only been here a few minutes myself. Are you ready for your first crime scene?’

‘Sure. Nervous, but ready.’

‘Okay. Let’s start with what you see.’

Jimi already looks puzzled.

‘What do you mean? Shouldn’t we go in first?’

‘No. You’re job starts right here, right now. You’re already on the scene. Now, what do you see?’

He may have missed me the first time, but he’s got it now. He looks around carefully before commenting.

‘Location is 2210B Sixth Avenue, off Ninth Street. It’s a small building attached to the rear of Pastrami Dan’s. The main building is a standard flat-roof construction with glass at both the front and side, with four shallow rows of near-vertical red roof tiles hanging from the roof. The small building is located in the backyard, which is concrete and in poor repair. There are two telegraph poles with wires strung out every which way and three cars. An old Jeep, a silver BMW three series, and a small red Datsun.’

‘Good. Anything else?’

‘Three large Trash containers?’

‘And why are they important?’

‘Possible locations for discarded evidence.’

‘Okay, Jimi. What about the building itself?’

‘It may have been a small workshop or storage facility. There’s a single window with opaque glass, a front door, and a small brass plate beside it.’

‘What about the officer at the entrance? What’s he doing?’

‘He’s protecting the crime scene’s integrity and has a clipboard. He’ll be recording everyone’s time of entry and departure. The whole yard has been sectioned off with crime scene tape, and someone in the black and white is either the person who discovered the body or a witness.’

‘That’s fine, Jimi. Good start. The woman is the employee who said the door was open when she arrived at work earlier this morning. She went in and discovered the body. We can talk more with her later. What do we need to do first?’

‘An initial walk-through.’

‘Right, let’s do it. Lead the way.’

I follow Jimi as we sign in with Officer Miller and note the details on the brass plate outside the entrance. The graphics include a deerstalker cap, pipe, and magnifying glass. Underneath these, the company name is proudly displayed - Sherlock Private Investigations. We slip on booties and gloves and finally approach the front entrance. First, we check there’s no sign of forced entry, then enter.

Even though it’s bright sunshine outside, the lights are on, but the blinds are down. The Reception area is tiny. Probably ten by ten. There’s room for a desk with a computer on one side, a printer on the other, a swivel chair, and two single rigid plastic chairs for waiting clients. Beyond that, there’s barely room to hang a picture on the wall.

Christmas lights are strung around the desk ahead of me, and an artificial tree is on the floor inside and to my right. It’s covered with fake snow, candy canes, chocolate Santas, colored baubles, and more lights. I feel like I’ve just walked into Santa’s Grotto. I’m only glad that the flashing lights aren’t on.

To our left, the door to a second room stands fully open, and the victim is sprawled over his desk. Overhead lights are also on in his room.

I prompt Jimi to start describing his actions.

He details what I’ve already noticed in the outer office, and then we stand together at the entrance to the second room. He looks around carefully before describing what he sees.

‘This guy’s not so keen on Christmas. Not a single decoration in sight. All business. The office is around the same size as the reception area, with a desk and swivel chair. The victim is sitting in the chair but has collapsed face down on the desk. The desktop contents include a pen, a folder, and several pages of typed text, all blood-stained and held in place by the victim’s body. There’s also a laptop, open and to one side.

Two three-tier gray filing cabinets against the left-hand wall and two plastic chairs for clients, both in front of the desk.

A dozen certificates and photographs on the wall behind the victim and a framed quotation from Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stating …

‘When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.’

Several certificates on the wall tell us that the Vic is a former Boston police officer. There’s also a picture of him wearing a New England Patriot’s T-shirt.’

I interrupt to add that the person he’s standing beside is none other than one of the best quarterbacks of all time - Tom Brady.

Jimi doesn’t seem impressed. I assume his allegiance lies elsewhere. He carries on as if he hasn’t heard me.

‘The victim looks initially to be in his late fifties or early sixties. He has wavy hair, which he wears swept back and to one side - mostly silver with some remnants of mid-brown. He’s clean-shaven with a wrinkled brow.’

At this point, Jimi looks to me for feedback. I give him what I hope is an encouraging grunt. He carries on.

‘The victim’s wearing a blue shirt, a dark-red tie, and light blue pants. There’s a matching jacket on a hook on the right-hand wall.

There’s one visible exit wound and a hole in the back of the victim’s chair.’

Officer Miller shouts from outside to let us know the forensic team has arrived. I tell him we need another five minutes, then ask Jimi to continue.

‘Other than taking measurements and pictures with my cell, that’s about it,’ he tells me.

‘Not quite. You’ve told me what you see; now tell me what you don’t see?’

At first, he’s a little puzzled, then starts to look around with that fresh thought in mind. After thirty seconds, I see him struggling, so I prompt him.

‘When the receptionist arrived, was the front door open or closed?’

‘You told me she said it was already open.’

‘Who opened it, and with what?’

‘The vic….with his keys! The keys are missing?’

‘They may not be missing, but we need to tell forensics to look out for them. What else is possibly missing in his office?’

It takes another few moments before he spots what I’m talking about.

‘There’s a charging cable in the power socket by his desk, but no cell?’

‘Well done, Jimi. Something else to tell the forensic team to look out for. Now, what do you need to do before you let them in here?’

‘Prepare a safe space for their equipment?’

I give him a nod.

‘The only place would be in the reception area.’

‘So have them process there first, gather up any evidence, measure and record everything, then set themselves up. Tell them no one comes into this office until that has been done. Got it?’

Jimi confirms he’s ready, so it’s time to find out who we have from forensics. This could be good or bad news. From the voice I’ve just heard, it’s the latter. I feel for Jimi.

I decide to take the heat and step out in front of Jimi.

‘I should have known it was you!’ says Carrie Womak, the new assistant medical examiner. The word is that the ME himself is about to retire, and they have brought this woman in to check her out as his replacement. But no one will ever replace Arnie Collins, not in my book.

‘Morning, Carrie. Good to see you.’

‘Can I get started now you’re finished messing around at my crime scene.’

Some battles you fight, others you don’t. As the lead investigator, she knows this is Jimi’s crime scene, so there’s no need to point it out. So instead, I smile and stand aside to let Jimi tell them what he wants done.

To be fair to Jimi, she takes instructions better from him than she would from me.

I wait a few minutes until I confirm he’s in control, then tell him I’ll interview the receptionist while he does the evidence bagging and tagging, then worries about the chain of custody issues.

I sign out with Officer Miller and stop to wonder about the three vehicles in the yard as I slip my booties and gloves off. One will belong to the receptionist; I would guess it’s the small Datsun. Something we can soon confirm. That leaves a Jeep and a BWM to account for. More than likely, one belongs to Sherlock. I don’t know who owns the other.

I cross the yard and ask Walter to call for another couple of patrol cars. I need to organize a local canvas for witnesses. As he does this, I walk around his vehicle and get in the back next to the receptionist.

I guess she’s around sixty with hair the color of dry straw, probably from a bottle. She has blue eyes, and a clear complexion most women half her age would kill for. Although she hasn’t even started work, she still has a pair of reading glasses strung around her neck and hanging on her chest. Yet, even as distressed as she is, she still radiates professional control that her late employer would have likely appreciated.

I introduce myself, and she does the same. Her name is Beryl Bertram, and she’s the receptionist, administrator, and research assistant. This isn’t unusual in a two-person firm, but it confirms my thought that she would be a valuable employee.

I ask her to tell me what happened that morning in her own words.

‘I arrived a quarter before eight as usual, and the front door was already open.

I didn’t think too much of that as sometimes Brian….’

‘Sorry, Brian?'

‘Yes. Brian Holmes, my boss.’

‘His name really was Holmes?’

Beryl shrugged. ‘At least he didn’t have to spend much time deciding on the name for his company.’

‘I guess not. Carry on, Beryl. What happened next?’

‘I went inside thinking he was already there….’

‘And you saw him?’

She nods as she wipes fresh tears from her eyes. ‘I didn’t go right in. I could see the blood on his desk and knew I could do nothing for him.’

‘So, you called 911?’

‘Yes, and waited outside.’

‘Tell me, Beryl, how long have you worked for Mister Holmes?’

‘I’ve been with him since we opened the business.’

‘When was that?’

‘Just over a year ago. I know because I negotiated the lease on this place from the owner of Pastrami Dan’s.’

‘And how did you find the position?’

‘Brian advertised in the local paper, and I replied that day. I think I was lucky because I was the first person he interviewed, and we got along so well, so he hired me there and then.’

‘Do you know where your employer was before he opened Sherlock Investigations?’

‘Yes. He was working up in Boston. He was a retired police officer.’

‘And he had just moved down here?’

‘Yes, literally a few weeks beforehand.’

‘Does he have family down here with him?’

‘No. He has a wife and son back home in Boston, where he’s originally from. He and his wife are separated, something to do with him being a police officer, he said, but he was hoping to convince his wife to give it another go down here with him. He sounded optimistic. He was also intending to move his parents down here. They’re in residential care in Cambridge, and he thought they would benefit from the weather in Florida.’

‘When we’re finished, can you please provide whatever contact details you have for yourself and his family members?’

‘Of course.’

‘So tell me. When did you last see Mister Holmes alive?’

‘When we closed up on Friday night, around six.’

‘Was there anything unusual going on?’

‘No, nothing. We both left together.’

‘Do you know where he was going?’

‘Not really, but I suspect it was straight home. He didn’t seem to go out at night, and I think he spent most weekends fishing or going back up to Boston.’

‘Do you have any thoughts about who might have wanted to kill him?’

‘No one obvious comes to mind, but you never know with people Detective. I’m sure you realize that.’

‘Can you let me have a home address for Mister Holmes?’

‘I’ll send it to you now if you give me your cell number.’

After we’ve done that, I ask her if they were working on any sensitive cases.

‘Brian was a good detective, so we were busy with all kinds of work from the very first day. He seemed to have a way with people. He was a good listener, a handy skill in this business. People liked talking to him, and he could get them to open up.’

‘Do you think he got someone to open up about something, and that got him killed?’

‘I don’t know, Detective.’

‘Can you provide me a list of all open cases?’

‘Am I allowed into the office?’

‘Not for a few days, I’m afraid.’

‘Well, no matter. Most of the files are electronic, and I can access them from home. Shall I send the details to your cell?’

Then, I take out one of my cards and ask her to send whatever she has to my email address. Then inform her that I’ll have Walter drive her to the station and take her full statement. Then, as an afterthought, I ask her about the three vehicles in the yard.

She confirms the red Datsun is hers. The BMW belongs to her boss, and the Jeep to the Chef who works at Pastrami Dan’s.

After the black and white with Beryl in the rear pulls away, I duck under the crime scene tape again and cross to Officer Miller.

‘How do you think it’s going in there?’

He grins and tells me he’s glad he’s in uniform and outside.

I wander over to take a look at the BMW. It looks to be around ten years old. It’s got just over eighty thousand on the clock, and by the look of the tires, they’ve seen most of that.

Given that the office looks like crap and probably costs him next to nothing to run and that he doesn’t go out much and runs a car with bald tires, I conclude that either he has very little money or he’s saving for a bright new future.

Given his age, he must have retired on a full pension, so he shouldn’t be short unless his ex is bleeding him dry. Something I should look into. Or at least Jimi should, I remind myself. I’m not used to having someone else lead the case yet.

As I’m still mulling this over, Carrie Womak exits the building and heads for her car.

I cut her off and ask for a brief update on her findings.

‘Double tap to the chest. Died instantly sometime last night between six and ten. No sign of a struggle. It looks like he was sitting at his desk when someone opened up on him.’

‘Any signs of forced entry?’

‘Nothing obvious. I’ll confirm that later.’

‘Can you tell me anything about the shooter?’

‘Not right now. We should get a pretty good idea of his height when we do the autopsy. And obviously, I’ll identify the shell and probably the weapon for you. I can’t see you getting anything else, though.’

‘Did you find the cell and keys?’

‘Keys were in his jacket pocket. The cell is worse for wear. It was underneath his chest when he fell on it. All bagged and tagged.’

‘Any idea when you’ll be doing the autopsy?’

‘We have a couple ahead of this, so it will be late this afternoon. I’ll give your newbie a shout when we’re ready to start.’

‘Thanks, Carrie.’

As she heads off, I almost feel like I’ve made a connection with her. Not something I was anticipating.

Back at the building entrance, I shout Jimi’s name, and he appears at the doorway. I ask him how he’s managing?’

He tells me the Forensics Technicians are just finishing up. All the measurements and pictures have been taken, and the whole place has been dusted for prints. He’s just waiting to bag and tag the last few items, and then the body will be ready for removal.

I hadn’t noticed him arrive, but when I look, sure enough, the Coroner’s wagon is parked up behind me.

As I wait, I’m busy considering what I already know. The Vic is a PI. PIs are not universally popular. I could easily see one of his clients getting pissed about something he discovered. Then there’s his family back up in Boston. Maybe it’s all happy families with a rosy new future; perhaps it was all his pipe dream. Regardless, family members always make for good homicide suspects, although whether his wife or son would fly down from Boston to shoot him is a little doubtful. Anyway, I’ll have it checked out.

Then there’s his apartment and car to check out. Maybe something will turn up there? And when we get access to his cell phone and computer, we might get further clues to work with. I need to be patient for a day or so. This is the part I hate. I always feel we should be moving quickly, but the chain of evidence procedures and due process has to be followed.

I’m still mulling when two black and whites pull up outside, and four officers head my way.

I meet them at the crime scene tape and explain to them what I want to be done.

‘The assistant ME suggested the time of death was between four and ten the previous evening, but I want you to check from around five-thirty to ten. Let’s say from five to be safe. I want an entire block in each direction canvassed for anyone who may have seen or heard anything. This yard would be a convenient late-night parking spot for people who know it’s there.

I also want the staff working the previous night at Pastrami Dan’s interviewed. If they are off-shift, get their addresses and visit them. Someone may have been coming or going through the rear entrance or throwing out the trash.

Finally, collect any security camera footage.’

With that underway, I turn just as Jimi is walking towards me.

‘All done in there?’

‘Just waiting for a wagon to collect all the evidence boxes, but yeah, apart from that, I’m done. I just heard you changed the time of death the AME gave us. Mind telling me why?’

‘What was the first thing we noticed when we entered the office?’

Jimi thinks for a second, then answers that we noticed all the lights were on.

‘Okay, so why were they on?’

‘Because it was dark?’

‘When was sunset?’

‘I’m not sure.’

‘It was five thirty-six, I checked.’

‘So, you’re saying if he had been shot before that, he might not have switched the lights on?’

‘That would be my bet. The narrower the window for the canvass, the better,’

‘I wouldn’t have thought of that.’

‘What about your first crime scene then? Did you enjoy it?’

‘Not so much the Vic part, but apart from that, yeah, it was cool.’

‘So, do you want to do more?’

‘How do you mean?’

‘Well, someone needs to create the case file and collate all the evidence and reports that will start arriving.’

‘You want me to do that?’

‘Why not?’

‘Thanks, Sammy. That’s great. I’ll do my best.’

I leave Jimi with a massive grin on his face, jump in my car and take a left onto Ninth. As I pass the front of Pastrami Dans, even mid-morning, the smell makes me want to fill my face.

2

Back in the office, my first task is to call the Boston Police Department. Not sure where Brian Holmes worked, I call the Downtown Headquarters and ask to speak with Human Resources.

After explaining the help I’m seeking, the woman asks me to hold and puts me through to another extension.

‘Superintendent Dubois. Am I speaking to Detective Greyfox?’

‘Yes, Sir. You are.’

‘I believe you are the bearer of bad news?’

‘Yes, Sir. I’m investigating the shooting of one of your former detectives - Brian Holmes.’

‘I remember him. He served for a full twenty-five before retiring last year. Good man.’

‘I’m sure he was, Sir.’

‘Can you tell me what happened?’

‘Not much I can say at the moment, Sir. He was operating as a Private Detective, and his Receptionist found him first thing this morning, although we believe someone shot him at point-blank range sometime late last night.’

‘Any obvious suspects yet?’

‘Too early to tell. But I have a list of his current and recent private investigator cases to review. Chances are he uncovered something he shouldn’t.’

‘Probably right, Detective. Are the family on your suspect list?’

‘I’m afraid they must be, Sir. However, at the moment, I’m more concerned with getting the news to them.’

‘Do you want me to contact his family?’

‘Yes, Sir. I do.

‘I’ll make some initial discrete inquiries about the family’s whereabouts last night for you and let you know.’

‘Thank you, Sir. That would be very helpful. And one more thing.’

‘Yes?’

‘I would appreciate reading his file if you can arrange that. And can you have his previous department head red flag anything he might think helpful?’

‘You think someone he locked up might be taking revenge?’

‘Probably not, Sir. But I have to cover all bases.’

‘Very well, Detective. I’ll find the right person for you. In the meantime, please keep me in touch with your investigation. I’ll speak with his wife as soon as we finish this call and have his file transferred to you.’

‘Thank you, sir. Sorry to ask you to do this.’

‘One of the most important parts of my job, Detective.’

After ending the call, I’m thinking how lucky the Boston Police Department is to have someone like Dubois working for them. Direct, to the point, but with a solid commitment to his officers, both present and past.

Of course, he would recognize that the family would be high on my suspect list.

I find it reassuring that he immediately accepted the fact and took responsibility for checking their alibis.

I feel confident I can safely leave him to his task and mentally tick off the action against the number one suspect. That leaves me with possibilities in Sherlock’s personal life in Florida or someone who didn’t like what he uncovered in one of his active cases.

I’ll have to leave his personal life until Forensics is finished with his personal belongings. Then, when I get his keys, I can investigate the BMW and his apartment. If there are clues to his personal life, I’ll find them there or when I get his cell phone history and access to his laptop. Who knows, maybe social media was his thing. A PI would undoubtedly use it to research clients, but I’ll have to wait to find out whether he would use it personally.

Confident I’m prioritizing correctly, I access my email and look for the information Sherlock’s receptionist has sent me.

When I open it, her accompanying note explains that she isn’t sure of the level of detail