Blood Under the Maple Leaf

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 from 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 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503507968

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

June 15th 2007

OTTAWA SUN

"MUTILATED BODY OF A FEMALE VICTIM FOUND

IN ARROWHEAD NATIONAL PARK

NEAR HUNTSVILLE ONTARIO"

Ottawa Sun reports mutilated body of young woman found by a family out walking, in Arrowhead Provincial Park, near Huntsville, Ontario. Local police assigned to the case work exhaustively for a month with no result. Then July, 5th, 2007 a second mutilated body of a young woman is found in the same park by a jogger. Both victims had been murdered by the same method. They had been strangled, their breasts slashed open and their genitals cut wider. It wasn’t known if they were sexually abused. The investigation went on for six months with no more murders and no result. This was in spite of the fact that RCMP had run down every lead no matter how small. On the surface the victims had unblemished records, without as much as a parking fine between them. Both women were unmarried. One was a teacher Sharron Dempsey, who was well liked by her pears and students, and the other a secretary Mary-Jane Kennedy, who also had a good work record. As far as Detectives at the time could ascertain they lived and worked several miles from one another so no links were found between the two victims. The cases were wound down after a year and became open cold cases.

*     *     *

Grace Jennings was the youngest daughter of Roberts and Phyllis Jennings. She was tallish around 5,7ins, with a good figure and thick auburn hair. A bright smile and blue eyes under thick eyebrows. She would turn heads her whole life if she grew into the woman she had potential to become.

Grace had been born into a privileged household wanting for nothing. But even from an early age she was your typical wild child. Always demanding more than her two siblings and generally making life miserable for her mother. Things took a down turn when Grace reached sixteen. She keep dropping out of school, and gave up on sports of any kind. Her mother had constant phone calls from the school board to try and find out were Grace was, as she constantly failed to turn up for lessons.

Then she met Andy Burrows. Burrows was a year ahead of her in school terms. He was your typical good looking eighteen year old when he met Grace. To the young girls he had dashing good looks, and Grace was thrilled when he asked her out on a date. He was a total dropout and the word was he selling drugs to earn money and keep his habit feed, in spite of the fact he also came from a good home. He had no problem with turning her head, and very quickly they became lovers, once sex was introduced it was all downhill from then. Worse than that he talked Grace into turning a few tricks to pay for their burgeoning drug habit. Grace hated herself for prostituting herself, but as long as she had Andy she would go along with it.

The other problem was that Burrows was into the local drugs lords in Thompson, Manitoba, big time for money he knew he couldn’t pay. These were hardened criminals who wouldn’t think twice of killing him and throwing him in a hole in the ground. He keep pleading for more time, but this time he was really out on a limb and was running out of time and excuses. That was when he came up with the idea that he and Grace should stage a fake kidnapping of Grace to extract money from her wealthy father. So they hatched a plan that she should disappear while riding her bike, which she did habitually, on her way to school. They set it up for her to toss her back pack in the tall bushes in the local forest near where she lived. Grace would dispose of the bag while Burrows waited for her at a distance. Everything went according to plan, all they had to do now was to hole up in a motel in the area and wait till her old man delivered the money to a remote spot they picked.

There was still time at this point to maybe rescue Grace from the drug scene. Up till now she had smoked dope and snorted coke, but she was still not into injecting cocaine yet. Although this would come fairly quickly if her life followed the same path. Fortunately for her mother’s state of mind she was unaware of how far her daughter was into the drug scene.

By this time her mother had almost given up knowing what to do next, until she realized her daughter must be on drugs, it was the only thing she could think of. She had heard the stories about some other local children in the area being caught up in the hard drug scene. For one thing money keep disappearing from her purse. It couldn’t be her other two children as they were away at college. Phyllis Jennings having heard the rumours, she came to the only conclusion that made sense, her daughter was on drugs. What also made her realize was that over the last year her daughter’s hygiene had gone downhill in a big way. She had gone from being very particular to being slovenly. She thought I can’t tell her father just yet, because she wasn’t sure how he would take or what his reaction would be. Now to top it all it looked like she had disappeared, because she had not been home for at least two days, or worse she worried Grace had been kidnapped for ransom, or even randomly killed by some predator.

As soon as her mother realized she was definitely missing, she finally told her husband of her suspicions about his daughter taking drugs, and money from her purse on a daily basis, and the fact that she may also be missing. Her father insisted they give her to the following morning before contacting the authorities. The following morning she still had not come home or called. Her Father said That’s it, I will call our company solicitors to have them standing by just in case, and then the police. He made his first call to Dobson & Associates, legal and commercial services situated in Thompson, Manitoba. When they answered he asked for the senior partner Jack Dobson. When Dobson answered he gave him the short version, and told him he was about to call the police. Just keep this under your hat for the moment, Jack. I’ll call you later."

Grace’s father was the founder and CEO of Jennings Investments a very prosperous investment company that had a very good reputation in the industry for security for small and large accounts. He was a graduate of the Harvard School of Economics. He first met his wife while he was on holiday in Canada, after graduation. Romance seem to blossom between them and on his return to the US they spoke on the phone almost every day.

Six months later he was invited to spend Easter with Phyllis and her family for the Easter break. Phyllis’s father ran a sporting goods store a very prosperous business due to the proximity to the wilderness. Jennings loved the area where they lived surrounded by tall forests, fresh air that went on forever and decided he would move there and try to establish himself and then ask for her hand in marriage.

He had started in a back office, but through sheer hard work and dedication he employed first a secretary, and then two salesmen. He had in the space of ten years gone from that to having four floors midway up a central city office tower in Thompson. When you entered the reception area of Jennings Investments there was an immediate air of quiet professionalism. You instinctively felt at home giving up your hard earned money for Jennings to invest. When his wedding to Phyllis was set, he purchased a ranch style house on five acres set amongst tall pines trees, just outside the township of Gillam. Although it was set outside the village it was not too remote. It was protected by a high electrified fence which gave it good security, because it was secluded from the highway. When the time came this would help Steve Benson and his two companions from RCMP CID, move quietly on and of the property in case someone was watching.

I’m going to call the police now before it is too late," Jennings told his wife. He picked up the phone and had the operator put him through to the local police headquarters in Thompson. When he had them on the line he gave them his name and told them he would only speak to whoever was in charge.

When a Chief Inspector answered he again gave him his name, and said, Do you know who I am Chief Inspector?

I do know of a company called Jennings Investments, because I have some money invested with that company. Are you that Mr Jennings by any chance?

Yes I am, my daughter has been missing now for at least two days. My good lady wife has got in her head that my daughter could be into drugs. Because of that I would like my family to have some anonymity if possible. I don’t want the media to have a field day with this in case my daughter just wants to persecute us for some reason. More importantly I don’t want any of this to have an adverse effect on the company stock. Do you understand that Inspector?

Yes I can understand that. How long has your daughter been missing?

Unfortunately it is at least three days now, because at first I didn’t believe it. I hope I haven’t let too much time go by before I called you.

Have you had any ransom notes or phone calls demanding money, anything of that nature?

No not so far. It is a fact that she seems to have disappeared. None of her school friends have any idea where she might be. Let’s put it this way they are not telling us if they do.

"Right Mr Jennings I want to start this immediately. While you give the details to my secretary I will get on to headquarters CID and start the ball rolling. I will endeavour to keep a lid on this, Mr Jennings.

If what my good wife tells me is correct, then it is the aspect of her being on drugs that worries me. Can you understand that?

Yes I certainly do. I will hand you over now so I can talk to CID. In all these cases it is important not to lose too much time in the beginning.

One more thing Inspector, I have the house linked electronically to the Canadian Capital, Ottawa. Winnipeg, and as far away as New York. You should have no problem attaching extra phones for your purposes. Does this help?

Absolutely Mr Jennings, I will have two technicians on their way to you within the hour.

Fortunately for Jennings the Inspector was not one to procrastinate when it came to crimes against minors. He had three of his own and understood the anxiety of thinking you child could have been kidnapped or worse snatched by a stranger, or murdered by a paedophile. He wasted no time, he called in his deputy give the few facts and told him to send the file straight to CID. He also told him he would call the Commissioner himself because of the status of Jennings in the community.

When he called the commissioner all his boss wanted to know was had he put everything in motion.

Yes sir, he told his boss, and went on to explain about Jennings having the house electronically wired to major finance centres which should make it easier for the RCMP to tap into the phone system.

Good, now leave it with me. A senior Detective from Ottawa CID will be with you ASAP. I will try and find the best man available who has a good reputation for solving major crimes. Whoever it is let him run with it, just give him whatever support he requires regardless.

Once Detective Superintended Steve Benson arrived everything would be set in motion, all DS Benson would have to do is to hopefully pick up the trail of the kidnappers.

Chapter 2

Chief Superintendent Bill Stephenson CID was as usual ploughing through a mound of paper work when a civilian clerk came in with a thin file that he handed over. The word is that this extremely urgent sir, and a priority one.

He took the file and had a quick look through. The details were a bit sketchy, but then at the start of any case they always were. He looked out his window into the squad room, thinking who I am going to give this too. Of course Benson is back and the best choice for this case anyway.

First he picked up his phone and called his boss. The Commissioner told him that reading between the lines it looked to be another case of a rebellious teenager, but there is the possible aspect of drugs being involved. "The father is an up-standing citizen and a prime candidate for the payment of a ransom. A word of caution, due to the fact that Mr Jennings is CEO of a blue chip investment company, please try to keep a lid on this as far as the media is concerned.

Stephenson put his phone down got up from his desk and went out to Detective Superintendent Benson’s desk. Good morning Steve, how’s it going with the current case? he asked.

Steven Benson, sitting at his desk in the squad room of headquarters CID section of the RCMP in Ottawa was tiding up paperwork from his most recent case. He looked up when his boss came up to him with a question mark on his face. Before he could say anything his boss said, It’s time to get off your backside and do some real police work, Benson. Forget all that, the Commander said as he put down a thin activity file in front of Steve. That contains what information we have to hand on a kidnapping or otherwise of a minor that occurred possibly two days ago. It’s not much, but then to start with it never is. There is the other problem that the Commissioner believes the girl may have been has been missing for two days before her parents reported it.

So why should we treat it as a kidnap?

Because, his boss told him, "The family are extremely wealthy, so there are two ways to look at it. It is either a prank on the part of the missing teenager looking for attention, or it is a kidnapping, or worse she could have been snatched by a sexual predator.

The first question boss is it for real? Is there a ransom note, a phone call demanding money, or any other communication to suggest that this is real? What has been put in place so far? Steve asked.

Nothing more so far at this point. We have uniformed at the scene now doing a house to house, and the SCOCS are on their way. Before you ask the family say they didn’t realize the child was missing before this morning. Where are you with the summing up for the prosecution on your current case?

There’s not a lot left to do. Another day should see it finished sir.

His boss looked around the room and saw Chief Inspector David Smith and signalled him to join them. Smith didn’t waste any time because he knew his boss hated anyone to linger. David I want you to take over from Steve and finish the report for the prosecution in the Heslop murder trial, he has another important case to execute. I’ll let Steve bring you up to date. But we don’t have a lot of time, so just listen to Steve and take it from there. As soon as you are ready join me in my office Steve, his boss said and left. 0

Steve looked over to his right were Sergeant Alan Philips was sitting. Al, he said as he tossed him his locker keys, Get the overnight bags and call your wife. It looks like we may be on the go again on a possible kidnapping. A long time ago Benson has learned the value of having fresh clothes sitting in his locker for just such an occasion.

He turned his attention to David Smith. Everything is here David. All you have to do is finish writing it up. He quickly pointed out how everything was in chronological order. Now to save making a mess, just use this desk so you don’t have to move anything. That way you won’t get any of it mixed up. There is nothing else on the desk except the Heslop case." He knew Smith would follow the trail that he had laid down. He got up and made room for Smith to sit down to let him look over the paperwork on the desk.

After about ten minutes Smith said, I think I’ve got it. No need to worry, I can always give you a call, anyway.

Steve said, Great David, I’d better go talk to the boss. To Al Philips who had returned with the overnight bags he said, You as well Al. We better find out how he wants to play this. They both left to join their boss. When they entered the office they stood waiting until their boss finished a phone call.

You two keep permanent overnight bays in your locker, have you got them and are you ready to be off. When he had an affirmative yes he went on, There has been a school back pack found in some bushes by other children about three miles from the house and about a mile and half short of the school. The area is treed and there not many dwellings, they think that is why the back pack was not well hidden. But you know what it’s like, it could have lain for years before anyone found it. It will be well and truly compromised for obtaining any evidence from it. The SCOCOS are looking at it now, mostly for DNA if there is any. There are Uniforms doing a ground search of the area where it was found. The girl was known to ride her bike to school every day, so she would not have been too hard to track, if that is what somebody did. The bike has not been found as yet. That is about all the Intel I have for now. I have ordered a chopper to land on the roof to take you there. You will fly first to Thompson, Manitoba, and then to the township of Gillam where the family live. You decide the order of which site you want to visit first. Use the chopper as much as you can, because its time will be limited. Is there anything else?

"Yes sir, I want Billy Two Bears brought in on