The Job Lot Mystery

By John A Parish

This mystery begins when a professor buys a job lot, at a local Auction house. Job lots are boxes under tables in the auction houses, generally filled with odds and ends, ornaments, lamps, books, etc. Among his job lot, there was a book, that had a message of help scrawled on one of the pages. It was on his mind for a period, his thoughts were it could be genuine. Or could it be an old man's imagination? So with trepidation, he decided to take it to his local police station, for their thoughts on the matter. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: John A Parish
• Release date: Mar 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224539833

John A Parish

I started life in the small east coast town of Nairn, in the highlands of Scotland. I have always over the years been fond of writing, it was easy for me to jot down the odd story or poem. But now being retired I realize that I should have started writing a long time ago. It was not until 2018 that I met a journalist, who encouraged me to do some stories as I could write. so from then on I have been doing the thing I like writing.

Book preview

The Job Lot

All rights reserved on this book or any part of.

The story in this book is not based on anyone person, or person’s. all names are from my imagination. In the event of similar names is purely coincidental Some place names, used are again coincidental, to the geographical purpose of the storyline of the book.

The idea for the story in this book, came to me in 2018, it was partially written until 2022.

It was then completed by August of 2022

C

Dedication

My dedication is to my sister Carol, (sparkles)

WHO GAVE ME JOY, WHO gave me laughter, In the end she gave me sorrow.

Knowing she would not see a tomorrow

But always in my heart.

About the Author

I STARTED LIFE IN A small east coast town of Nairn in the Scottish Highlands

I have always over the years, liked to write. I found it came easy. But not until lately have I thought of doing something about it, having retired. Suddenly I had time on my hands, to please myself. In hindsight I should have started years ago. I was advised some time ago, by a Fleet Street journalist to perhaps write a play as I was good at dialog. She had read the first draft of the  story that I started, in 2018, this encouraged me to get it completed.

I have now got a few more drafts of stories, that I need to get finished. It seems that writing detective type of stories is my forte as such. But I hope to try other types of story lines just for the challenge.  

Prologue

The old professor was heading for the local police station. He needed to get this irksome little problem sorted. It had been on his mind since he purchased a job lot at a local auction house. Amongst the items was a book Grimms Fairy tales. But it’s added contents did not seem a fairy tale, in fact the complete opposite. Was this just a silly old man’s imagination running wild. Would the police dismiss it and tell him to go home. After all the book is ten years old.

Little did he know this simple action on his part would unfold a story of hatred and conspiracies going back to the second world war, up to the present day. The hatred of the Jewish faith from Berlin, was in part now taken to a different level by people who with the same warped minds, who thought they were also right.

This caused problems for the Jewish community of north London.

Who to trust, who would be listening.  

Chapters

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

THE JOB LOT

CHAPTER 1

Agood day for it, the old professor thought. Clutching the book under his arm He just needed to get this sorted, he had been pondering for a week or more, on what to do. Should he dismiss this irksome idea. If he left it unsolved, he would always wonder, what if.

The professor was quite a well know figure in his north London suburb.

He gave lectures, and tutoring at the local college, teaching modern sciences. The local people were more acquainted with his dress sense. He always wore a three-piece suit, bow tie, and invariably a fedora hat. He proceeded along the high street, eager to get to his destination, now he had made up his mind at last.

The police station was one of the last stations to survive through to the modern age, with its warm red brickwork intact. It had an aura officialdom that modern office buildings lack. Most now incorporated in glass and concrete bland buildings. 

But this time he paused at the steps leading up to the old red bricked Police station.

Would this be a fool’s errand he thought, could I be wasting police time. The worse thing that could happen, he could be humoured, and politely asked, to be on his way.

None the less gritting his teeth, a sharp intake of breath he entered.

"Yes Sir, May I help you, the desk Sergeant asked.

Is it possible to have a word with a Detective?

In connection with what Sir

I'M not sure if a crime has been committed

Do you know what sort of crime?

Well, I'm not sure of that either, that's why I need some advice on the matter.

The desk Sergeant studied the man before him. He looked quite normal, not one of your regular misfits, who come in to report the most ludicrous crimes of the day.

I will enquire if there’s any one available, Have a seat in the waiting area. Can I take your name Sir?

Certainly Roberts, Professor George Roberts.

The professor sat on the metal seats bolted to the floor, little else here except for crime stoppers posters on the wall, also a Kitchener type recruitment poster, The Police Need You, pointing a large finger at the reader. Obviously not aimed at an overweight seventy-year-old man. 

A slim man came from behind the locked door beside the main desk.

'Hello, are you Professor Roberts

'Yes, I am. The desk Sergeant informed me you would like to report a crime.

"Well, I am not sure at this stage. 

Come into the office Professor, have a seat, I'm Detective Constable Russell

Now, what sort of crime, do you want to report'

"Well as I said before I am not sure, if this is a crime, or just an old man's foolish brain being overactive. 

Well Just start at the beginning, to give me an idea of the crime, that you think was committed. I will take it from there.

I purchased a job lot, a box of mixed bric-a-brac from an auction house in Finchley.

I came across this book amongst other items in the box, when I flipped through it, I noticed someone had written on a page I’m also aware that's not unusual, being a teacher at the college.

But it bothered me, if it was genuine, A gut feeling if you like.

This is the book Grimm's fairy tales; I placed a marker on the relevant page.

Detective Russell read the marked passage,

Em! This could be just childish scrawling by someone 

HELP ME

IT'S May 20th, 2004

I HAVE BEEN TAKEN

AGAINST MY WILL

MY NAME IS REBECCA FINKLESTEIN

I'M 17yrs OLD

I DON'T WANT TO DIE

I LIVE AT 23 WOOD?

I’m aware it could be just that.

Have you inquired about the book at the Auction house Sir?

No, I was unsure about it, but I thought I would report it to you, as it was on my mind since I read it

Detective Russell looked at the professor, then back to the book I will take some details first.

Name sir!

George Roberts, Professor

date of birth

3/6/46

Address sir!

Strawberry Cottage Oarlock Lane Hendon

Do you have a contact number?

You can contact me at Victoria college during office hours or my home address.

Very well, would you Wait here I will have a word with my governor about this, I won’t keep you too long.

Professor Roberts sat there patiently waiting, perhaps they are in there thinking what a silly old fool I am.

Excuse me Gov, there is an old gentleman downstairs, he brought in this book. He bought from the local auction house. He found a. message written inside, when he looked at it, he thought perhaps it was genuine. A gut feeling, he said.

"Gut feelings I had plenty of gut feelings on the horses I bet on never helped me that’s for sure.

What do you make of him then Jim, not one of the usual riff Raff’s, is he.

Well going by his appearance and manor. NO. He is a