The Monozygotic Touch

By R. P. Reed

On Australia's Gold Coast, three unexplained murders had the local police struggling for answers. Desperate, they questioned a local businessman in regard to offensive weapons, so called, stored in his car. With his reputation and business threatened, David Searle undertook his own investigation his way. In doing so, he exposed his own personal history involving death from decades ago.

Entwined with this a saga of loves lost and won, a confrontational business alliance, cultural differences, and a will to solve three murders and ensure public safety.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris NZ
• Release date: Jul 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781543496499

R. P. Reed

Richard Reed was born into a middle class family, being the youngest of four siblings. His father was a clerk and his mother a seamstress. Living in the small rural town of Motueka, located at the top of the South Island, New Zealand, he enjoyed a love for the great outdoors, with beaches and rivers close by, and two National Parks within a short drive. Initially doing well at school, he was placed in the top classes. However, his academic interest waned in favour of seeing the world, but he still did well in essay writing and history. At sixteen he joined the Air Force, spending two of his twenty years in Singapore, from where he toured Europe. After his military career, Richard worked in Real Estate, the racing industry and self employment in New Zealand's biggest city of Auckland. Today, he has retreated to the town of Matamata, home of "The Hobbit" film set. Hence his revived interest in writing novels.

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Copyright © 2020 by R. P. Reed.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/10/2021

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CONTENTS

Foreword

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

FOREWORD

O n Australia’s gold coast, three unexplained murders had the local police struggling for answers.

Desperate, they questioned a local businessman in regard to offensive weapons, so called, stored in his car.

With his reputation and business threatened, David Searle undertook his own investigation his way. In doing so, he exposed his own personal history involving death from decades before.

Entwined with this is a saga of loves lost and won, a confrontational business alliance, and a will to solve the mystery of three murders and ensure public safety.

An intriguing novel that will leave readers wondering.

CHAPTER 1

T he Gold Coast, Australia. Stretching from Tweed Heads in the south to Sanctuary Cove in the north, with the iconic Surfers Paradise somewhere in the middle. Whitish gold beaches that stretch for miles. A tourist Mecca attracting sun lovers, adventure junkies, professional and amateur surfers, families looking for the fun of theme parks, and others who just want time out. Gold Coast city caters for all holidays in the sun.

Rita Orlowski, among other tourist attractions, had come for the sun. She was born and bred in Chicago to a father of Polish heritage and a mother from Puerto Rico. A strange blend considering Chicago was so distant from Puerto Rica. But her parents had found true love and ignored protests from family members. Their love had survived three decades and was as strong as ever. Their only daughter, Rita, was their pride and joy. Rita had graduated from university with a degree in marketing, and, before commencing life on the work force, had flown to Australia for a vacation, paid by her parents as a reward for her successful graduation.

Rita walked down the sandy track that led to the expansive Broadbeach. She noted the position of the life guard tower and headed in that direction. Among the smattering of beach goers, she selected a sandy spot and laid out her beach towel. The November sun was hot and the Gold Coast was already experiencing temperatures in excess of thirty degrees, unlike back in Chicago where it was snowing. So, she liberally coated her arms, legs and midriff with sun block lotion. She removed her T shirt and fringed shorts, exposing her supple young body clad only in a skimpy bikini, then stretched out on her beach towel.

For an hour she lay face down, digging her toes into the hot sand. The effects of the sun burnt into her back to the point she needed to cool off so she stood and wandered down to the waters’ edge. As she approached three middle aged women were exiting the water, one in a normal bathing suit, the other two in bikinis.

Brace yourself sweet heart, the lady in the one piece said with an Australian twang, It is still a bit chilly this early in the season.

Thanks for the warning, replied Rita, as she tested the water with her toe. It was certainly bracing but did not stop her plunging straight in, diving under the waves as they surged in. Fifty metres out she turned towards the shore and tried to catch a wave to body surf in on. The wave washed over her, but it did not stop her trying again and again, until her knees crunched into the sandy bottom of the shallows. Rita found her feet and waded up to the beach, pushing her long dark hair off her face and back over her shoulders. She made a striking figure as she strolled up the beach towards her towel and belongings, a pose that did not go unnoticed by the life guards and several other males on the beach. As she reached her towel she looked up and noticed the three women higher up on the beach. They were now perched in a group and all were topless, including the lady in the one piece who had peeled the straps off her shoulders to expose her ample breast. Obviously, the Australians were quite comfortable with going topless and no one seemed to perturbed of this show of nudity.

Rita reached down and retrieved her sunglasses from her bag. After adjusting them to sit firmly on her nose, she grabbed a baseball cap from her bag as well, placed it on her tussled hair then lay face up on her towel. After a moment, she thought to herself ‘Why not’, and slipping her hand under her back, unclipped the bra of her bikini. A quick flick of the bra and she, like the ladies on the beach above her, was topless. Her proud young breasts pointing to the heavens as they worshipped the sun. A smile crossed her beautiful facial features as she imagined the life guards binoculars would be steaming up, but no one knew her here so what damage could it do. To add to the guard’s frustration, she reached for her sun lotion and sensually massaged her breasts with a light coating.

But someone else was watching, hidden among the tussock above the beach, not so easily noticed. The viewer had a small pair of binoculars trained on her naked breast. The mind was working overtime as the binoculars flicked between the three topless women and Rita, but kept coming back to Rita.

It was just after noon when Rita sat up and starting searching her bag, finally retrieving her watch. Lunch time. She also noted the breeze was starting to stiffen and was no longer pleasant. Replacing her bra, she donned her shorts and T shirt, packed her belongings in her bag and headed up the beach to check out the many cafes that lined the Gold Coast beaches. What she did not realise, was that she was being followed by the individual that possessed the binoculars. Rita entered an arcade in search of lunch, finding a small café at the far end. She purchased a chicken sandwich and a flat white, then retreated to a table near the footpath so she could watch other people go about their business. And all the time, unbeknown to her, she was being watched.

After lunching, she shouldered her bag and headed in land to the Pacific Fair shopping mall, one of the biggest in the Southern hemisphere. This was where one could purchase goods from a few dollars to spending mega bucks at the famous Gucci store, the latter at which she lingered in awe but refrained from spending, politely waving away the attentions of the shop assistant. The rest of the afternoon she spent idly window shopping, occasionally entering premises for a closer look at products for sale. Before she knew it, some of the outlets were closing their doors. She wondered where her afternoon had gone, and quickly bought a pair of light sandals from a store having a closing down sale. She put the sandals in her bag and headed back towards the beach to her lodgings at the Savanah Motel, unaware she was still being followed.

As she entered the motel, Rita smiled at the receptionist then headed up to her unit on the first floor. The unit was stuffy as she entered so she went directly to the louvre doors that opened up onto a small balcony overlooking the swimming pool. A family of three children were in the pool with the parents in the adjoining spa pool. She went inside to the ice box and took out one of the complimentary bottles of Pepsi, and returned to the balcony with a glass. Pouring the Pepsi into the glass she was unaware she was being watched by an intruder hiding among the palm trees at the far end of the swimming pool. Unnoticed the intruder quietly glided out of the side entrance, disappearing into the growing gloom of the incoming night.

As darkness fell, Rita drank the last of the Pepsi. She noticed how quickly night fell in the subtropics. Sun up at 6am, sundown at 6pm. Fruit bats started making their way out in search of food. Some flew close by her balcony, excreting as they flew. She heard the splat on the pool pavers as their excrement found their mark. No doubt the motel manager would be out early next morning to clean up the mess. The heat and humidity had left Rita hot and sweaty. Top priority was a hot shower. She went to the bathroom and quickly stripped off her clothes. The shower was hot and powerful, the steaming jets stinging her slightly sunburnt skin, especially her breasts that had not been exposed to direct sun light since she was a toddler, but it was refreshing at the same time. As she stepped from the shower, Rita wrapped a large bath towel around her curvaceous body. On entering the bedroom there was a sudden knock on the door. Not expecting anyone, Rita was curious as to who would be knocking, but went to see nonetheless. She opened the door as far as the security chain would allow. Through the narrow gap she saw a young woman, by the hijab she was wearing, obviously of middle eastern heritage. In her arms she had a stack of towels.

Sorry to disturb you Miss, but I have to change the towels the woman advised.

No problem replied Rita with a smile but asked, but could you come back later as I am still using a towel and I’m not dressed for visitors.

I must do it now Miss as I am finishing for the day and my boss does not pay overtime.

Rita thought for a minute then said Okay but make it quick.

Thank you, Miss, replied the woman, although she looked more of a teenager.

Rita closed the door, slipped off the security chain and reopened the door.

The woman quickly entered then asked Rita, You are American?

Why yes, is it that obvious. said Rita, turning her back on the open door to face the woman.

Suddenly Rita felt someone grab her hair from behind and a knee smashed into the small of her back. Shocked by the viciousness of the attack, she did not see the large curved knife the woman had quickly extracted from the stack of towels she was carrying. As Rita waved her arms in a feeble attempt to free herself, the woman swung the knife in a large arc and slashed it across Rita’s throat, severing a jugular vein in one vicious sweep, then reversing the action from the other side, severing the opposite vein and ripping open her wind pipe. Blood spread forth from the wounds and the next thing Rita saw was the floor rush up to meet her face as the attacker behind her shoved her forward. She hit the floor, her body bouncing to one side until she lay on her back, the bath towel slipping away in the assault, baring her beautiful limp body. Through her dying eyes she saw a handsome middle eastern man leering over her, as was the woman, now removing her hijab. As life drained from her body, she heard the two attackers laughing, spitting on her body calling her a filthy imbecile bitch.

As Rita lay dying the two attackers high fived and hugged each other. Then they peeled off their top layer of clothing, exposing modern western clothing of shirts and jeans. After a quick perusal for any evidence they may have left, they shoved the discarded clothing into a small back pack and quietly slid out the door and into the night ensuring the door handles left no traces by wiping them. A minute later Rita Mary Orlowski was dead.

CHAPTER 2

D etective Sergeant Peter Newman had a lot on his mind as he drove to his Surfers Paradise headquarters. There were nine unsolved robberies on his books, six assault charges, two claims of fraud and numerous small incidents which did not bare thinking about. Add to that the cases of drug abuse and drug dealers causing havoc as well as the Government passing a law stating all unnaturalised Australians were to be deported if they had convictions or alliances with any criminal elements. On top of all this he had personal issues to deal with. Mainly his wife of nine years leaving him and taking their two children with her. She failed to realise during their courtship, Peter had a mistress. That mistress was his work. He did get to have his children every second weekend which was hard to manage in his present career. He slotted his unmarked police car into his allocated space and went up the stairs to the back door of the station. The first person he met inside was his trusty junior, Constable Penny Hogan, who was part of the uniform branch but assisted in the Crime Investigation Section.

Good morning Sarge was Penny’s cheery welcome.

What’s good about it? was the grumpy reply.

Come on Sarge. Don’t be such a grump. New week, new adventures, quipped Penny.

It’s the new adventures that worry me. How’s the coffee? enquired Peter.

Coming right up boss was the cheery reply from Penny.

Peter knew Penny had some sort of school girl crush on him and with his marital status up in the air she probably wanted to try her luck. There was no doubt of Penny being attractive. Many a boy in blue had tried their luck but to no avail. Peter was now realising why. Penny had her target lined up, and it was him. Flattered as he was, Peter realised he had enough complications in his life without complicating matters further. He also appreciated the weakness of the flesh as the good book put it. But the unwritten law of a working relationship was ‘you do not screw the crew’. He appreciated Penny was attractive in uniform but on occasion had seen her out of uniform and she had looked drop dead gorgeous. He shook his head as if to clear the thoughts.

Peter have you got a minute? a voice brought him back to reality. It was Inspector Derek Knolls, the station chief.

Certainly Sir Peter replied obediently, paying homage to the status of the Inspectors uniform.

’I’ve just had a call from the Savanah Motel. The cleaning staff have just found the body of a young woman in one of their units. Drop whatever you are doing. I need you down there pronto. Standard procedure in isolating the unit and whatever else you need to acquire, and do the initial investigation. stated Knolls.

"On my way Sir. CONSTABLE HOGAN!" he shouted.

Penny scurried back into the office, Yes Sarge? she enquired.

A body of a woman has been found at the Savanah. Probably a drug overdose but get the kit together. We are out of here in two minutes, said Peter.

It took less than ten minutes to drive to the Savanah. As they drove into the entrance, they saw an anxious manager waiting for them.

As they got out of the car the manager asked Are you the police?

Correct, replied Peter, which he thought a bit silly as Penny was in uniform. Detective Sergeant Peter Newman and Constable Hogan

Thank God’ said the manager, a short and chubby individual who already showed beads of sweat on his brow although it was still relatively early in the morning. Follow me."

The manager led them through reception and up to the first floor. At unit 13/1 he stopped and unlocked the door. As Peter peered in, he saw a naked young woman, probably in her early twenties, lying dead on the floor. Her unseeing eyes staring at the ceiling, her mouth slightly open with a little dried blood where it had started to trickle down her chin. Her neck was covered in blood but it did not hide the two evil slashes across her throat. He heard Penny gasp behind him and turned to her as she herself turned away.

Peter addressed the manager, What time and who found her?

One of my cleaners was letting an electrician in to look at a possible fault with the air conditioning. I heard a scream, rushed up here, saw what had happened, so I locked the door and called you guys. This was about forty minutes ago, Informed the manager.

Where are those two people now? inquired Peter.

In my office. Pretty shaken up by all accounts, advised the manager.

We will need to talk to them so keep them there. Any trouble with the electrician let me know. He does not leave until I say so, instructed Peter as he reached for his mobile phone and dialled a number.

Inspector Knolls, a voice answered the telephone call.

Yes Sir. Peter here. We have a homicide Sir. I need forensics and backup immediately, advised Peter.

Right. Thankyou Peter. I will get matters underway this end. I take it you are remaining on site and securing the area? asked the Inspector.

Correct Sir. I have Constable Hogan with me, Replied Peter.

Peter turned to the manager, You have done well by not contaminating the crime scene. Unfortunately, this whole floor will need to be cleared. I will need a list of all your clients and personnel, plus anyone who has stayed here in the last month. Do you have security cameras? asked Peter.

Yes, replied the manager, but I am not sure how many of them are still working. Cost of repair is outrageous.

Appreciate your problem but it is probably going to make my job a lot harder if you do not have anything on tape. Can you go and check? instructed Peter.

Right away, said the manager as he scurried off to see if he could fulfil the demands of the law.

Peter turned to Penny, Are you alright?

I know it is part of the job and we are expected not to be emotional in such cases, but that is gruesome, Penny replied shakily.

Come here, said Peter, as he wrapped his arms around her. She nestled her head in his shoulder and quietly sobbed. After a few minutes she pulled back Sorry Sarge, she said apologetically.

Not a problem Penny. Now chin up and let’s show the great unwashed a professional front, said Peter. However, the feel of her body pressing against him had aroused him to some degree and the sweet aroma of her perfume added to that want of lust. Perhaps a relationship with Penny was not so bad. Something to think on at a later date.

CHAPTER 3

D etective Sergeant Peter Newman appraised the group seated in front of him. Extra support had come in from surrounding Gold Coast police stations. Six detectives and twenty uniformed police.

Let’s have you. Listen up, he addressed the assembled group. He turned to Derek Knolls and asked, Are you happy for me to brief everyone Inspector?

Go ahead Sergeant. You have more of a finger on the pulse than me at present, acknowledged the Inspector.

Thank you, Sir. Now a quick update. The deceased is an American tourist from Chicago. Name of Rita Mary Orlowski. Age twenty years old. Subject to a post mortem, she was probably killed sometime last night. From what she has told staff at the Savanah, she has recently graduated from university and as a present, her parents shouted her a trip to Australia. Apparently since a little girl she had been in awe of kangaroos. Interpol are contacting her parents as we speak. From what we can gather she spent the morning sunbathing at Broadbeach, and it appears she went shopping at Pacific Fair in the afternoon. I can confirm that by finding a pair of new sandals in her shoulder bag, complete with a visa receipt. Initially forensics have found nothing to identify any suspect or suspects. Also, we do not have a motive at this time. The attack appears unprovoked. From all accounts to date, Rita was polite young lady with no axe to grind. But obviously someone else does have an axe to grind, and our job is to get that mongrel or mongrels behind bars. Also appreciate the annual invasion of teenagers is fast approaching when we will have hundreds of school kids descending onto the Gold Coast. We do not want to have to be chasing a killer while marshalling underage drinkers out of bars or driving while under the influence. Further, we do not want a coldblooded killer among our children, never mind how rebellious they can be.

Peter paused to catch his breath and peruse his listening audience to ensure they were listening and taking it all in.

"Now Constable Penny Hogan is presently down at the Savanah going over what security footage they have. If anything comes from that I will brief you. So, uniforms out on the streets asking anybody and everybody questions. There is a pile of photographs on the front desk here of the deceased taken from her passport. As you can see, she was a beautiful young lady WHO DID NOT DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS!!! So, let us all work hard together and solve this murder. Any questions? Good. Dismissed."

Peter turned to Derek Knolls, All covered Sir.

Thank you, Peter. You seemed to have all bases covered with the limited team we have. I was thinking. Would a caravan at Broadbeach asking for information be of any use? Said Knolls.

Constable Hogan has been given that task Sir, as soon as she has reviewed the security tapes. The promotion caravan has been requested from Brisbane and I believe it will be delivered later today, replied Peter.

Excellent. I will leave the day to day running in your capable hands at this point. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask me, said Knolls.

Another fifty coppers would not go amiss Sir, hinted Peter.

Dreams are free Peter but I will see what I can do, said Knolls as he left the room.

Peter looked around the room as the last of the group dispersed. His mobile telephone rang Detective Sergeant Newman.

Hi Sarge. It’s Penny. Not much showing up on the security film but there is one strange occurrence you might want to look at, said Penny.

I’ll be right there, said Peter.

Peter walked into the Savanah managers office. Penny was there sipping a coffee. So was the manager except now he was no longer anxious, more irritable.

How long are you going to keep me out of business? he inquired from Peter.

Sorry for the inconvenience but this is a murder inquiry. How about we compromise. Room 13/1, and the rooms either side remain off limits, suggested Peter.

I can live with that. And thank you. I think what has happened here is shocking but we must move on, said the manager.

Miss Orlowski’s parents will probably be here in a couple of days. Perhaps you could suggest that to them. After all she is their only daughter, said Peter with malice.

Sorry officer. You are right. That was a bit harsh from me. My apologies. For the record, I am just as eager to find this bastard as you are. Not because it effects my business but because pricks who do this sort of thing to their fellow human being need to be hung by their balls and left to die. Sorry Miss, he said looking at Penny, but I think our penal system in this country should bring back the death penalty.

Many would agree with you but that is up to the politicians to decide. Apparently, politicians serve the people but I fear the people serve the politicians, quipped Peter.

So, what have you got Penny? Peter directed at his junior staff member.

Just this Sarge. These two people here, she pointed to the screen, looks as if they are dressed in Arab style clothes. By the looks of it two women. However, there is no mention of anybody with an Arab or Mideastern sounding name on the guest list. Also, there is no record of them exiting the motel, but that could be a coincidence as there is a side exit through the swimming pool area, which unfortunately the security camera is not working.

Peter looked at the manager Do you have any employees from the Middle East working for you?

Not that I am aware of and certainly not employed anyone from there in the last six months, replied the manager.

Have you fired anyone in the last year? Peter inquired further.

I haven’t fired anyone full stop. I have a good relationship with my staff. Occasional person arriving late for work but they usually stay behind to make up the time without being asked. No. I cannot think of anyone who would be that vicious.

Okay Penny. These two suspects, for lack of a better word, what if they were just visiting someone staying in the motel. I’m sure with conferences and the like, for which the Gold Coast is very popular with all sorts of companies and delegations, they could be innocent bystanders. Also, are two women capable of the brutality displayed? I’m not being a chauvinist here but merely pointing out the fallibility of your line of thought. Nonetheless, I am not going to ignore it at this point of time as it is all we have to go on. Well done. You can buy me a beer at the end of the day, said Peter.

Well. Since you put it that way. The first beer is on me, replied Penny, But!

What do you mean by ‘BUT’? questioned Peter.

Who says that under that Arab attire there are women. All those lose fitting robes could hide anybody, including a man! Penny stated her point.

And that is exactly why I have not written your theory off young lady, countered Peter.

CHAPTER 4

C onstable Penny Hogan stepped in to the Public Relations caravan parked outside Pacific Fair. She would have preferred to be alongside her boss, Peter