The Murdered Street Musician: Murder Mystery

By Walkees

The Murdered Street Musician is a complex mystery, which will exceed the reader's interaction with the story. It is a standalone book, but the main characters of the investigation and certain locations are the same as those in this author's previous mystery, The Secret. The Murdered Street Musician is a mystery with a lot of food for thought, and an excess of crimes and suspects. Blackmail, threats, multiple murders, but also a dose of humor and camaraderie, are featured. Surprising from start to finish, with many twists and ultimately smart solutions. The mystery about the murdered street musician is the beginning of a long-term collaboration between a professional investigation team from the police headquarters in Rotterdam and a detective agency from a small neighboring village. The mix of using novice amateur sleuths from this small village, and the professionals of the detective team, makes the book unique.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Walkees
• Release date: Sep 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215652442

Walkees

Born in 1958, in a small village at the west coast of The Netherlands, Walkees grew up, being a very adventurous and independent boy. As the son of a father who was out most of the time, and a mother who was always working, he had to find his own way in life. His brothers and sister were out of the house already when he was still a young boy. Until his sixteenth, he provided himself with enough money to buy the clothes he liked, and to go out, which he already did from when he was 14. In that time, school was not for him, he always had many other interests. Beside going out on the weekends, and on Wednesday evening, he played football at the local football club, but he was also an excellent ice skater. At the end of the secondary school he just left it and started working at a company that made parts of ship motors. His education Walkees made more than good later, while he was in the army. The work in a factory also was not something for him, so, when he was about to get his draft for the army, he joined it on voluntary bases and signed for 4 years. After the training period he was located in Germany, from where he got sent out to other countries and places. After his time in the army finished, Walkees found a job in the South of Holland, settled there, and married his first wife, with whom he got 2 sons. Here he started building up a career, resulting in a 30+ year career in Logistics. At the end of his career, he trained managers and staff in personal improvement and gave lectures about Logistics and Motivation and Improvement methods. He divorced his first wife after 13 years of marriage, and when he was 56, he moved to Vietnam, where he married his present wife. In Vietnam he started giving private English lessons to Vietnamese children and adults, which he still does. Here he also wrote his first crime novel and soon made it a series. For the characters of the main family in the series,, in his mind, he used his own family as the characters. So, Special Detective Chau, in his mind, was his daughter, which all made it easier for him to write, and it made him able to write, whenever he wanted, never short of ideas or words.Also, he started writing books related to his professional career where he developed and gave trainings and seminars about motivation in life and work.In their free time, the family likes to travel. He enjoys watching many sports. His top favorites are soccer and Formula One racing.

Book preview

The Murdered Street Musician

Author: Walkees

Cover design: Kim Khanh

Crime mystery

All names of persons, relationships and events mentioned in this book are fictitious. Similarity to actual persons, relationships and situations is purely coincidental. For better readability, some character names, names of places and buildings have been translated into names in the English language.

No part of this publication may be reproduced by means of print, photocopying, computerized data files or any other means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Copyright © 2023 Walkees

1.

Jenny Davenport plops down on the sofa, in the lounge of her own hotel in the small village of Aandelek, on the river De Lek, about fifteen kilometres from the city of Rotterdam. The hotel has the appropriate name, Hotel Lekview.

Harry, the doorman and jack of all trades at the hotel, was already walking out to help Jenny's fiancée carry the suitcases inside, and apparently already had an urgent question for the, according to him, chief of police, Rijnmond region.

You need to get back to work right away, surely, Chief Constable? Or have you not heard of that murdered street musician? Jerry smiled at Harry.

Yes Harry, they have already called me, which is why we are now back from vacation a day earlier than planned. I have to leave in a good hour. I am expected at eleven o'clock at the police headquarters in Rotterdam. But Harry, you don't have to give me a title or be formal in any other way, you hear? I live here now, and we already know each other well enough, I would say. By the way, I have a bit more to tell you about that, but that later. So it's Jerry, ok? Then Jerry also plopped down on the sofa, next to his fiancée Jenny.

Say, Jen. I think we should just call your staff together. To tell them about my new job, or rather, ours, which have now taken on a completely different shape than they think. Jenny thought this was a good idea and replied in her own spontaneous way.

Yes, I think that's a good idea, because there will certainly be a few who will sign up with you directly, and they will need to know that I will be at least one of their bosses not only at the hotel, but also there. Oh, how good that feels, haha. By the way, it is quiet, I have already noticed, so let us do that immediately because otherwise you have flown again, and I don't know what time we will see you again if that would be today at all. You go to freshen up first, and then come to the bar in half an hour, where I will gather everyone. Jerry laughed at his new fiancée's words and got up again to go to their living area in the hotel.

Half an hour later, Jerry walked into the bar and saw everyone already waiting for him, some with a curious look on their face. Mouse, the waitress in the bar, and her friend Peter, the bartender, sat with Jenny at the table in the far-right corner of the bar. At another table sat Harry, the doorman of the hotel, and Henry, the chef and his kitchen assistant, Peer. The cleaning lady now present, Pauline and the two chambermaids sat at the front table. Jerry positioned himself with his back to the bar, and Jenny came to stand next to him, and Jerry immediately began to speak.

Dear people, Jenny and I are happy to be back after a great holiday, and our idyllic engagement at the beautiful Canary Islands. Here he had to pause for a moment because of the loud applause and cheers that erupted after his words. Jerry and Jenny kept everyone quiet because there was more to come. Yes folks, don't be afraid, you will have a party to celebrate our engagement, but there's more you need to know. Of course, you are all still of the thought that I am the new chief of police in Rotterdam, and therefore will leave again because of what happened in the village yesterday, with the murdered street musician. And yes, I will indeed go back to work soon, and yes, indeed in connection with that murder. But, not as chief of police. And again Jerry had to interrupt his speech, for now there were sounds of surprise and disbelief. Again, everyone had to be calmed down before he could continue.

"Of course, you are now surprised and curious what this means, and I will explain it to you quickly and succinctly.

During our holiday there was a lot of telephone consultation between me and the public prosecutor, Frans Bellamy. I had begun to doubt the detective/chief constable combination, and my clear desire to remain a full detective ultimately gave the deciding factor. First of all, I changed my mind and thanked for the honour of being chief constable. After that, the prosecutor presented an idea which I immediately liked. I have to be brief, so I am just going to tell you what my new situation is, and later, during the aforementioned party, I will explain everything to you all in more detail. As of today, I no longer work as a police officer, but still, more or less, do the same work." Now there was no sound coming from the room, but Jerry and Jenny only saw questioning faces. Jerry quickly moved on.

First of all, a coming change, closer to home. After our intended marriage, Jenny and I will move into the farmhouse that I inherited from Herbert Davenport, Jenny's uncle, and my great-uncle. In the coming period, the farm will be renovated, and a new outbuilding will be built, where I will have my new office. As of today, I am working for myself. Initially as a private investigator, but also as a special consultant for the Rijnmond police. Now there was no stopping the noise that broke loose, and it took a while before Jerry could close.

"Yes, yes, I understand that this will give you food for thought, but Jenny will speak to you all separately again today, because we actually have certain plans with some of you as well. First of all, this. I am not starting this business alone. Jenny is my full partner, and she will even sometimes participate in certain investigations. We have the same in mind for some of you. Again, Jenny will provide more clarity on that today. But now I have to go, there is already work to be done. In the murder of the street musician, the chimney sweep with his violin, nicknamed by everyone here in Aandelek, the police have already called for my help.

Of course, the fact that the murder took place here in Aandelek plays a major role in this. I will now conclude with the following surprise. We are all going to celebrate our engagement tonight, right here in the bar." Jerry took advantage of the noise that was now erupting again, and, after giving his fiancée a goodbye kiss, he left the bar.

A DAY EARLIER: FRIDAY MORNING AT TEN O'CLOCK, AT THE WEEKLY MARKET OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF AANDELEK.

Aandelek is a small village with about eight thousand inhabitants, close to Rotterdam, where Hotel Lekview is located. In Aandelek there is the weekly market every Friday, from nine in the morning to around one o'clock in the afternoon. It is a busy market, with many local visitors, but there are also always visitors from the surrounding villages. It is a cozy market, cozy, and something for everyone, with, recently even a real street musician, who comes every week to perform his skills on the violin. The people in the village had quickly given him a nickname, after he had shown up at the market for the first time a few months earlier. He had been nicknamed, the chimney sweep with his violin. This was due to his way of dressing, always in a black tuxedo, black patent leather shoes and the always, black, top hat on his head. Furthermore, there were only questions about the man, because he never spoke, and because no one knew anything about him. But this week he is not yet present at ten o'clock, and there are already several people who have noticed this. Soon there is clarity about his absence. At half past eleven the news goes like wildfire through the village and over the market.

The street musician appears to be dead, murdered, found outside the backdoor of the local pub, The Fur Cow. The entire street there has since been cordoned off and is populated by a herd of police officers and a group of detectives. The investigation is led by detective Superintendent Rudolf Double of the police investigation team in Rotterdam.

It is the most important detective team in the Rijnmond region, the team with which Jerry Davenport had previously worked in the investigation of a major fraud and murder case, which had had its base, also in Aandelek. Throughout the day, nothing else leaks out about the murder of the street musician, and the village and its inhabitants remain trapped in a veil of secrecy and riddles, as well as the occasional gossip.

SATURDAY MORNING, ELEVEN O'CLOCK, AT THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, RIJNMOND REGION.

Present are the Chief Prosecutor Frans Bellamy, Detective Superintendent Rudolf Double, Detective Inspector Sylvia Brewer, the new Chief of police Paul North, and Jerry Davenport, now in the capacity of special consultant of the head office. The officer opens the meeting.

"Welcome gentlemen, Sylvia, even if it is not directly because of a joyous fact, but our profession brings that with it. That is why I would like to go straight to the order of the day and take up the investigation into the murder of the street musician. But first my heartfelt congratulations to Sylvia and Rudolf, for their promotion to inspector and superintendent respectively. Unfortunately, we do not have long to dwell on this, because our work requires our direct attention and commitment. First of all, a message for Sylvia and Rudolf. You have already noticed Jerry, of course, and I think it is clear to you why we enlisted his help. However, this will, we believe, only bring benefits to you, and it will not hinder you in your research. We, the chief commissioner, Jerry, and I, have agreed and coordinated the following with Rudolf.

You just do the research as you are used to, and in addition, Jerry does his own research, with the people he chooses. What will be added however, are regular meetings such as this one, where we will jointly coordinate our findings during the investigation and cooperate on certain actions if needed.

So today this first meeting, where it will probably only be about the initial findings of your detective team, Rudolf, and a further explanation from Jerry, about his approach and participation in this investigation. Jerry, please be short and to the point, because we must not lose unnecessary time, and need to get on with the important matters as soon as possible." Jerry kicked off immediately.

Ok, quickly then. Rudolf already knows a thing or two. We have already been in contact by telephone, and I believe that this construction will benefit us all. But now for Sylvia. Here he was interrupted by Sylvia.

Sorry for the interruption, but you can already save yourself some time. Rudolf has already informed me about your new job, so you can limit yourself to explaining the approach and working method during this investigation, mentioned by the officer. Jerry was just happy about that and immediately moved on.

"Ok, then even faster. In a few weeks I will have a new office at my disposal, with my own research room, an administrative assistant, and I will use a number of well-known people during my work, who will work for me on a part-time basis. You will soon find out who they will be. As an aside. My farmhouse is currently being renovated, and it is there where my detective agency will be built, which Jenny, my future wife, will be fifty percent owner and partner of. To keep it short, I invite you all, if the research allows of course, to be our guest at the hotel tonight, where we will do our engagement party again. There will still be plenty of opportunity to discuss the less important matters. Now for the research.

All I know at the moment is the fact itself. The murder of the street musician, and the place where he has been found. Now it is your turn, Rudolf. Do you have anything to say yet? By the way, it is nice to see you again, and I am looking forward to a good collaboration." Rudolf Double stood up and took the floor.

"Likewise, Jerry. That will be fine, I think, and yes, we already have a few things to say, but it is not all very hopeful. First of all, the victim. What we know about him is probably not much more than what you know about him.

Identification of the victim has not yet been successful. Nowhere is there anything to be found about him. Fingerprints and DNA have not yielded any results to date, and we have not yet found anyone who knows anything about him. Then the cause of death and some additional findings. The victim appears to have been killed by a single shot from a so-called 9mm Glock, a highly sought-after weapon in the underworld. The place where the bullet entered the body, in the middle of the forehead, just above the nose, indicates a reckoning, in our opinion. In which area of crime we should look for the perpetrator is not yet known. There is no indication that could link the victim to anything. Nothing is known about drug use or that he could possibly be a dealer. Actually, to be perfectly honest, nothing is known about him at all. Our doctor has estimated his age to be around forty years and has also noted that certain details about the victim's body have led the doctor to conclude that the man did not, or at least did not live in poverty for a long time. The body, and hands and feet were well cared for, and he was also in good health before his death. The doctor also determined that the body was the body of a trained man. Then the place where and when the victim was found, and by whom. So he was found yesterday morning at six o'clock, in front of the back door of pub The Fur Cow, on the Backstreet in Aandelek. He was found by the owner of the pub, André Brown, who let the dog out at the mentioned time. Fortunately, he was able to pull the dog away from the victim immediately, and we were later able to investigate the crime scene without any problems, and had it examined by our forensic team.

Fred, the leader of the team, eventually came to the conclusion that the victim was not killed there, but simply dumped there. The only result we can report is a few fresh tire tracks found in front of the pub, in front of the alley to the back of the pub.

The tracks appear to come from a type of tyre that is often used for light transport vehicles, such as a passenger bus or van. It could also have been an SUV. Ah, one final finding. The victim's violin has not been found anywhere, so we cautiously assume that it is now in the possession of the perpetrator. Details about the violin are not yet known, but they are being worked on, based on photos of the musician, which we were able to obtain through the local photographer Jan Buyer, who often takes photos at the market. Our people from the lab are trying to learn more about the violin, and possibly other things, through those photos. That was it for now. I think, by the way, that we will have the opportunity to attend the engagement party tonight, because in the next few hours there will be little choice but to wait and see what the results of the various investigations will bring us. Tomorrow will probably be different. One more question for you, Jerry. I understand that it will take a few weeks before your new home and office are ready? Does that mean you will have your base back in the hotel, or are you going to find a place here somewhere?" Jerry had his answer ready.

No, your first idea was the right one Rudolf. For the time being, I am going to use the same space as we used with the previous investigation. It will take a week or two before the hotel will be a bit busier again, so that was no problem for Jenny for the time being. Well, if there is nothing else, I will go back to Aandelek soon. We will keep each other informed, and I will see you all again this evening? After everyone agreed, Jerry left the office.

A good half hour later he stepped back into the hotel, where he soon found Jenny, in the bar, where everyone was busy preparing for the party that night. She came straight at him.

There we have my husband-to-be. I have already put everything in order upstairs, Jer. You can use everything there again. However, I do have a few curious aspiring researchers here, who are eager to participate in your research. Actually, I am one of them. And? Are you going to call on us? Jerry got back into it, as everyone here showed their enthusiasm.

Calm down Jen. Now let us get busy with our party first. I will go to my temporary office for a while, and I will let you know later, and maybe I can make Mouse and her boyfriend happy. For now, they have plenty of work to do, I would say. You have to keep making it clear to them that Mouse's job is to be a waitress at this bar, and her boyfriend is and will remain, at least for now, the bartender. If their help or commitment to our new company is desired, they will hear it as soon as it is needed. He quickly gave Jenny a kiss on the cheek and left the bar, heading towards the elevator. As he waited in front of the elevator, Harry came to stand next to him.

Jerry, can I speak to you for a moment? It is about that street musician. Jerry looked up