The Dawson Affair

By Liam Adair

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Benson, a veteran of the RCMP CID division, after putting in his usual solid performance on two major crimes, the second of which almost costs him his career. He is brought before the chief commissioner to account for the high cost of tracking a fugitive into the frozen northern wilds of Canada.

After a somewhat protracted run-in with the chief commissioner over the costs, Benson stands his ground and thinks to hell with it. At this point, he is ready to give it all away and seriously look at retirement.

But due to that hostile conversation with the CC, not only is he not stood down, he is promoted to detective chief superintendent. He goes on to solve a longstanding cold case involving the murder of eight women.

Following that, he is given a new department to head up, with the task of solving serial killings and high-profile murders wherever they occur in Canada. He brings along with him his two longstanding friends and colleagues, Sergeant Al Philips and Special Constable Jimmy Two Bears, a native Canadian.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Aug 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503508408

Liam Adair

I am descended from a long line of Irish-Men, I received my education at a private boarding school in England. I am an author writing under the pseudonym of “Liam Adair.” I currently reside in Victoria, Australia. Since retiring from my former career, I undertook the task of president and tutor of the University of the Third Age, Geelong Victoria, before I dedicated myself entirely to writing, I was in my seventies when I began writing. To enhance the stories and scenarios in my books, I have used my employment history that took me to several countries around the world. Also, my previous military service, to create my first main character ‘Paul Blair,' a fictional character based on my life experiences. I am the author of: - The Sterling Connection. The Rand Connection. The Ruble Connection, The DC Connection, New Directions, (in that order) all of which are focused on the character of Paul Blair, and his team of former Special Forces. Following those are my latest novels all set in Canada? Introducing Detective Chief Superintend Steve Benson RCMP, and his staff of dedicated detectives. They are, Blood under the Maple Leaf, The Douglas affair, Evil in Command, and The First Nations Affair, and as a change of pace, I have now published a short Autobiography of the life and times of William James Adair: - Title “My life, It’s been a Hell of a Ride.”

Book preview

Chapter 1

"MUTILATED BODY OF A MALE VICTIM FOUND

IN SCRUBLAND NORTH OF CITY"

The Journal reports the finding of a badly mutilated body in scrubland north of Edmonton, discovered by a long haul truck driver who had pulled over for a rest break. Police who attended the crime scene reported finding no ID on the body. It was rumoured that the body was wearing slacks and nothing else. The police have at this time put a blanket of security over the case. It is believed that the deceased had been tortured before they died.

In a similar but as far as this reporter knows at this time an unrelated case, the police are still searching for Charles Dawson, son and heir to the Dawson Empire who has been missing for at least a week. Could this be Charles Dawson? Dawson Industries, still owned by the Dawson family is the largest employer in the State of Alberta, and they are one of the wealthiest families in Canada.

*     *     *

As with all great families and the legacy of the financial empire they leave behind, or those who put their mark on this world are usually influenced by circumstances or the efforts of one outstanding family individual.

The family in question is four generations of the Dawsons. The outstanding family member in particular is George John Dawson.

The company that resulted from the efforts of GJ Dawson, an oil wildcatter in the 1860’s, became Dawson Industries. Although he was only on the fringe of the earliest discoveries of coal, oil and gas in North West Canada. Still he persisted until his death and managed to put enough assets aside to pass on to his son David, who established the modern structure of the company now run by GJ’s grandson John A Dawson.

JA was currently in the process of tutoring his son a fourth generation Dawson to take over from him. He knew in his heart that his son was a wastrel, a drunk and a womanizer. He knew no matter what, that if his son took over the rains he would eventually destroy Dawson Industries. It was a thought that stayed with him on a daily basis. He didn’t have the heart to turn over the company to his daughter, a tomboyish fully qualified civil engineer, because like all the old school he couldn’t quite get his head around the fact of a woman running a company involved in mining and exploration.

The heir apparent Charles Dawson had shown from early childhood a tendency towards laziness and a self-centred attitude towards getting what he wanted, particularly his own way. This became more evident when his sister came along. He had been educated in the University of Calgary. Calgary was picked because of its close ties with anything western because young Charles had fancied himself as the King of the Rodeo. It had made no difference as he was too lazy to participate in any sport that was as rough and tumble as taking part in a Rodeo.

What he did major in was gambling on any sport that you could lay a bet on. The inevitable result was that he owed a lot of money to some very nasty people. These same people where part owners of one of the largest hotel casinos in Edmonton, Alberta. They were part of an east coast crime syndicate.

His father had covered his son Charles twice for thousands of dollars and told him the second time that was it. He told him to clean up his act or face the consequences of losing his inheritance. That aside his scholastic record was pitiful and had he not gone to work for his father it is doubtful he would have found meaningful employment. Still his father had persisted to a point, when even he threw in towel and gave up. Whatever happened Charles would have to live with the stupidity of his life when his sister took over the company. When that happened his father made sure his daughter would be well looked after both financially and physically.

Dawson Industries the Mining and Exploration Company that resulted from the efforts of GJ Dawson, specialized in the design and manufacture of mining equipment and ancillaries, this came from his experiences as an oil wildcatter. It now, under the third generation, had one of the largest permanent employee numbers in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. One important thing that Grandfather GJ Dawson did while prospecting for oil was his discovery of a small gold seam in The Northwest Territories. Before working some of the gold seam he first registered the claim in his son’s name, in case of future complications. It didn’t produce a huge quantity of gold, but enough to make it possible to float the company of Dawson Industries. It then became part of any future inheritance.

GJ Dawson knew his son David was smart enough to recognize the future potential importance of Canadian oil reserves. It was his son David following on from GJ that established the company Dawson Industries in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Mainly because the potential was for this area to be the centre of any future oil sand development in Canada.

Of John Dawson’s two children it was his daughter Mary-Ellen who exceled from early childhood to be better. She had graduated from Edmonton University with a degree in Civil Engineering. She had been like any girl growing up a bit of a tomboy, who’s only concern was dolls, boyfriends and fashion not necessarily in that order. All her parents had to worry about was how much her next shopping trip would cost. She made no demands unlike her brother who thought it was his right because of his father’s influence in the business world to be able to demand whatever he required and not have to justify anything. JA knew that he would have to take the bit between his teeth and decide which of his two children should be handed the reins before it was too late.

Having given it considerable thought John Dawson had put in place a team of protectors for his daughter under the control of an old friend. He had known the man he asked to be in charge most of his life. He was the companies’ top oil and gas construction Superintendent Joe Johnson. Joe had no children of his own so he welcomed the chance to protect John Dawson’s daughter. He had Joe put together a team of men from the tough world of oil and gas exploration. The men picked where both loyal to the boss of Dawson’s and Joe Johnson. John Dawson also put aside a special fund to pay for any activity that Joe Johnson deemed necessary. He also put in place a special insurance fund to be administered by the senior partner of the company of lawyers employed by Dawson Industries. This was to make sure that if anything untoward happened to Joe or his team they would be compensated financially. All of this was set up in strict confidentially, with John Dawson, Joe Johnson and the senior lawyer being the only ones privy to these arrangements.

John A Dawson himself was a distinguished looking middle aged man, but with that hint of toughness that is only learned by starting at the coal face. He was as usual impeccably dressed, but still had the air of being able to roll up his sleeves and get down and dirty. The boardroom reflected the stature of the company, the brain child of his grandfather and started by his father and now controlled by John A. He sat alone at the end of the board table studying a newspaper, The Edmonton Journal. The look on his face said it all, as he read the headline and front page which was straight to the point.

Is Dawson Industries in trouble?

The article when on to question the financial viability of Dawson Industries a Mining and oil Exploration Company, that specialized in manufacturing heavy duty mining equipment, situated in Fort McMurray, Alberta, who on the surface at least was progressing well with forward orders to fill and money in the bank. The article was true in one sense in that it had information that could have only come from an inside source. JA couldn’t quite shake the feeling that this was the work of his son Charles.

The rest of the Board of Management of Dawson Industries started filtering in to take their chairs around the table. Last as usual to take his seat was his son Charles. Seated to the left of JA was the General Manager and to his right the Financial Controller. He had the rest move so his daughter who was not usually present during board meetings could have a seat next to the Financial Controller. The rest was taken up by middle management, except for two chairs occupied by two independent members, one of whom was the owner of a small iron foundry and the other the General Manager of Dawson Oil the independent arm of Dawson that actually prospected for and produced oil to be sold on the open market. His son Charles sat at the end of the table facing his father.

When the minute secretary was ready JA said, I want this meeting to be recorded verbatim.

Yes sir, she said, I’m ready when you are.

As everyone was there and without preamble JA said as he tossed the newspaper into the middle of the table, Good morning. Although reading this makes it far from being a good morning. It is obvious from the information this guy has that it could only have come from someone on this board or their secretaries or their PAs. I am looking to employ a professional investigator, I would rather do it with the consent of the board. If not I will do it anyway. Do I have the agreement of the board on this matter?

It was his son Charles who said, Why do we need an outsider to investigate this.

I had a feeling you would be the one to object. Do you have something to hide Charles? When there was silence JA said, If not let’s get on. We need an outsider who is not influenced by any consideration other than being paid to perform a task independent of me or the rest of the board. Would the members like to put it to the vote?

Yes, The General Manager said

The motion was stated and passed without further discussion. It was now official policy. The next two hours were taken up with argument and counter argument, and all the while Charles Dawson stayed quiet. That fact alone was damming in its own way, and just made Charles’ position all the more obvious. To John Dawson it was degrading watching his son’s reaction and surprisingly watching his daughter’s reaction to her brother’s silence. The main point of argument was the loss of a considerable amount of monies that had been invested by a now former assistant finance manager. Everybody had enough when JA called a halt and told them all to get their house in order.

The loss of the monies due to the bad investment were considerable, but JA believed they could trade their way out of it. What would be a blow was that when later he would learn that the company finance director also owed a large sum of money to the same crime syndicate as his son.

There was one thing that was true, JA didn’t know his son was the first one to sell out the company. As his father had thought Charles his son and heir had given as much information to the crime boss as he had at that time. Charles thought it would stop them harassing him about his debts. It was the crime boss that had leaked the story about the company’s financial woes. Although what he had not told the reporter was the fact that Charles was his source.

As the Board Members all left he sat there thinking what am I going to do if my son is involved in some shady underhanded scheme to get more money or to get back at me his father. It would soon learn that it was much deeper than that. He had forgotten that his daughter had been present until she put a hand on his shoulder and said, I’m so terribly sorry Daddy because you think that Charles is involved.

Sitting there he put his arm around her waist and said, If it is only partially true it will destroy his mother. I have made up my mind when we have settled all this I am going to make arrangements to have you succeed me as CEO of the company. I have lost all faith in my son. Walk me back to my office, I want you present when I talk to an old college chum about an independent investigator.

Chapter 2

Several hundred miles away Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Benson, with the help of his team, Detective Inspector Al Philips, Detective Sergeant Jill Burrows, Detective Constable Jerry Armstrong and Detective Special Constable Jimmy Two Bears, as the team was designated Major Unsolved Murder Squad (MUMS) was in the act of sorting themselves into some kind of order.

DCS Steve Benson RCMP was just starting to see some sort of order happen in his new location within the police complex. The primary purpose of the squad was to take over any high profile murder case when called on wherever it occurred in Canada. The rest of the time they would spend reopening any unsolved case that was considered by police command to need solving. It had been agreed that Steve would have the final say when it came to any case command wanted reopened. There would be accountability on Steve’s part, but those who had in the main been responsible for putting Steve in charge of this new squad did so because of his reputation for not been swayed by a rank higher than his own, just because it made for good media coverage.

The first thing Steve had to do was to have an in-depth interview with DS Jill Burrows their newest team member, to find out her strength and weaknesses. Jill Burrows was an attractive woman of 32, who with a degree in sociology and ten years of experience was looking down the barrel of a long career in front of her all things being equal. She had fairly broad experience across the board. According to her record she excelled when questioning female suspects. That and her experience on several murder cases and just generally listening to her, Steve thought she should make a useful member of the team. One thing that made her stand out was the fact that she had passed with excellence a course on surviving in the wild. As luck would have it her instructor on that course had been Jimmy Two Bears. If Jimmy vouched for her then that was good enough for Steve. He welcomed her to the team and sent her back to work.

Many boxes containing the file archives for unsolved murders had been sent from records as a direct order of police command. Everybody set too sorting the files into age by years. Steve had instructed them to separate files younger than ten years and put them to one side. He reasoned that anything older than ten years the team would be unlikely to ever catch up with unless specific new information came to light. Even up to ten years there was a considerable number in terms of how long they would take to solve. There where nineteen files left. Steve had Jerry Armstrong work his magic with the computer and put them into some sort of sequence. While he was doing that Steve had the team place the desks in the main room in a semi-circle facing the whiteboards and at an angle where Steve could observe from his office.

Before they went further Steve gave them a short pep talk. Apart from Jill I asked for and was given the rest of you. Not only that I also asked for and got you promoted up one rank. That comes with a great responsibility to prove that you are worthy of your new rank, and that you will excel in your efforts to try and uphold the great tradition of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I don’t want you sitting there like grinning jackasses. I want you to work hard and use the knowledge you have already accumulated to help solve whatever case we happen to be working on. There will therefore be no excuses for failure. On the other hand if we as a team follow all the clues and still not come up with an answer, then the decision has to be made, Is this case unsolvable and should be returned to the archives. Now let’s show the rest of the RCMP just how good we are.

They then spent the next week reviewing the cases. As each case was profiled it was either put up or down the list of nineteen. Rather than force the issue Steve gave the team the option of deciding which case they would tackle first. Steve explained to Jill Burrows that the case they picked as number one was similar to the Arrowhead Park murders involving a serial killer, which the team had brought to a successful completion. With that experience still fresh it was a good point to start. That would be the protocol until the team was called to take over a current investigation. The rule would be Steve and Al would be first response while the rest carried on with the open unsolved cases. After a quick review of the new current case Steve would decide how they would play it from there.

Apart from the one that made number one on the list the rest where sorted by distance. Anything close to their location was given priority. As they went through this process Jerry Armstrong changed and re-changed the computer to show this. Satisfied for the moment Steve picked up the file for the case the team agreed would be number one.

What photos of victims, suspects and the crime scene that where available where placed on a white board with a short bio to identify them. This is standard in any police investigation. Photos of suspects where named and if know their current address and place of employment. The case had involved two missing 18 year old girls. Their photos where placed on the top of the board, underneath those where the photos of both girl’s parents. The two young women had gone missing a year ago. Their mutilated bodies had been found in some wooded scrub land within two weeks of the case being reported to police, about three miles away from where it was believed they had gone missing. They had been on their way home from their last social night at the high school they had both attended, and they were both looking forward to going to university. They had only a mile and a half to walk home. A trace of the route they may have taken showed nothing out of the ordinary. They would have passed through a quiet and on the surface secure neighbourhood with homes set on reasonably sized allotments on the outskirts on the north side of Edmonton, Alberta. Six months into the investigation it went cold. No matter how much effort the investigating team put in no new evidence was uncovered. It gradually came to a halt and became an open unsolved case.

Prior to this event there had been no reported break-ins or prowlers in the area, everything had appeared normal with residents going about their daily lives, no reports requiring action was necessary by local police. One thing it was a wakeup call to local police, to at least pay more attention.

Okay people now is the time to justify these large pay rises you have all been given, somebody make a useful comment to kick us off. Before you do I have obtained a recording devise to be placed in the centre of the white boards so that we don’t have to remember what everybody said or didn’t say? Okay Al you wanted to kick off. Steve told them.

"There’s nothing in the girls background to suggest they were involved in anything illegal before their deaths. They come across as a couple of normal young women looking forward to life and whatever that may bring. They appear to have had a regular routine. There is no suggestion they were into drugs, or teenage prostitution, or anything out of