The Baby Jane Murders (4 page)

-------

Kroupa was in deep thought
when he returned to the Hydro. "Mr Kroupa,
Mr Hendrych would like to talk to you. He said that it was urgent,"
the Concierge informed him.

"Where can I
find Mr Hendrych?"

"
I
believe he is in his room. Should I announce you?"

"No need
. You said he was expecting me, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did,
Sir."

Hendrych greeted Kroupa with open arms. "You
won’t believe my
news. You’ll think I’m making it up.”

"
Let’s hear it then. I'm all ears."

"I was
attacked by two highway men. Do you believe me?"

"
Whatever you say."

"And you’
re not surprised?"

"No. What did
the highway men want?"

"Money, what
else."

"Did you give
them any?"

"I gave the
m a couple of Ashi Barai and Kin Geri. They’re probably
still recovering. Kin Geri is an especially painful kick if you aim
accurately."

"Did you get a
good look at them?"

"I didn't
get the chance. Besides, they were wearing stockings over
their heads. I reckon they were quite young, teenagers… no more,
and it must have been their first attempted robbery. They were
amateurs. That's all I can say. You don't seem to be impressed.
Why?"

"What is there
to impress me?"

"You are
awful, Rowan. You really are."

"Alright, I’
m awful, but you are stupid. How could you fail to look at
the faces of two incapacitated highwaymen. Who ever heard of such
silly thing?"

"
Okay - I am stupid and you are ungrateful. Let’s quit and
have a drink."

The
y
did, grinning at each other like two young boys who’d made
themselves look silly and didn't want to admit it.

---------

The local Gazette provided
a charming story about the dog Nugget, which had been found by his
happy owner. The parrot, Shakespeare, was entertaining his mistress
with his talking once again, but the main report was about the two
missing boys, Greg Sharp and Mark Cotton. Police confirmed that
both boys were known to the police in relationship to the previous
theft of groceries at an Aldi store
on the nineteenth of
January
. The theft was
a
minor
felony
, but
a
s a
precaution the
police had taken their
photographs, vital statistics and fingerprints, without their
consent. The boys claimed in their defense that they did not want
to return to school
or home,
and needed
a small
supply of food and drink. The police reprimanded
them and took into consideration that it was their first offence
and released them without
giving them a
record.
It was all good for the police, but the boys' parents were
increasingly worried and requested that the police release the
photographs and the boys' descriptions in the Gazette. The police
dutifully complied and the distressed parents issued a statement
that they wanted their sons back and assured them that any fear of
punishment was baseless. The pictures were clear enough for the
faces to be recognised and with the description and statistics
there was every chance they would be found.

Kroupa was looking at the photographs when constable Milton
phoned. "Did you see the Gazette. Sorry I didn't ring you
immediately, but you know the deadlines in the papers. But better
late than never. The fingerprints on the cans are an
exact match to
those of the Sharp and Cotton boys. How's that for a
coincidence!"

"Congratulation
s, Senior Constable, I should have thought of it
before. When did you have the boys down at police
station?"

"I
’ll have to check… wait a moment. I’ll get the
files.”

There was a
pause and Kroupa waited.

“Here we
are, January nineteenth, at fourteen hundred hours. They were held
for two hours and thirty minutes, roughly."

“But
where are the boys now? Thank you very much, constable
Milton."

"Senior
constable, Sir."

"What's up?"
Hendrych was feeling cosy, sitting in a comfortable armchair,
sipping his beloved Martini.

"Milton
unfortunately believes that the two boys did it."

"How does he
know that they attacked me?"

"Not your
minor incident. I mean the murder. What an ass."

"Isn't he a
policeman?" Hendrych chuckled."

"Sara, I have a job for you. Come
on, we’ll leave the lazy man here
drinking."

"Oh, no! I
want my exclusive. May I go too? Please." mewled Hendrych
theatrically.

"Come
on then… First we have to go to Cottons and
Sharps."

"Why?"

"
To
find the boys. I think that they’ll still be sore, if you were as
good as you claim."

They found both the boys
’ parents very cooperative. They happily
parted with pieces of clothing for Sara to sniff, and the trio
proceeded to the place where Hendrych had defended himself so
bravely. Sara caught the trail instantly. She led them deep into
the forest. She was quiet. There was a dead stillbess surrounding
them, till Hendrych loudly asked, "Did you get our position? On you
iPhone, I mean."

"Of course I
did. For what do you take me? An amateur?"

"Pssst. Look at Sara" Hehdrych was pointing to Sara who was
in full alert.
The sound of disturbed branches and twigs cut through the
silence of the rainforest. And there was another sound, the sound
of falling water. Not far from were they stood was an opening, a
little pond, a rocky wall overgrown with moss and lumps of unevenly
distributed water-grass, and all this was behind the curtain of a
waterfall. Sara was quick to run to the falling water and barked.
Kroupa hinted to Hendrych to follow her and see why she was so
excited. Hendrych complied and soon was behind the watery drape,
after which Kroupa could hear his voice. "There is a cave over here
and it’s inhabited. Come and have a look."

Kroupa followed his instruction. Behind the waterfall was a
cave large enough to accommodate two people. In the middle were
still smouldering cinders and ash. Agains
t the stone wall leaned a crudely
made bow with five equally crude arrows. Sara was clever enough to
know that the first part of her job was accomplished and that there
was still more for her to do. She sniffed the travel rags under
which the occupier had slept, gave a loud bark and was on her way,
regularly waiting for her companions to catch up with her. She
arrived at a huge grey eucalyptus tree. It looked like it had three
trunks, with a mane of beautifully curved thick branches. The bark
was peeling in large pieces, which crumbled and broke with a
crepitating sound, echoing in the almost scary silence. Sara kept
barking at the tree. "O.K. boys. It is time to go home. Your mums
are waiting for you. I will not press any charges for the shot."
Kroupa shouted at the top of the gum. The young boys took their
time, but eventually joined the trio. Together the boys went home
with Kroupa and Hendrych, who made sure that they were safely
deposited to their parents before returning to the hotel. Sara
first followed the call of nature and then, after a bowl of
Pedigree and another bowl of water, she fell asleep exhausted,
snoring softly. Kroupa and Hendrych took their showers and went to
the restaurant for an early dinner; in the middle Kroupa nervously
searched for his iPhone and after recovering it, called constable
Milton. "If you're still looking for young Sharp and Cotton, you'll
find them explaining to their relieved parents all their adventures
and mischievous behaviour. But if I were you I would not charge
them with the murder. I wouldn't want you to bark up the wrong
tree. '
Man that is born of a woman is of
few days, and full of trouble
'
.
They may have other sins to
answer for. Have a peaceful night, senior constable. And since I
can't resist giving you my advice, I would recommend you release
Miss Whiteford. She’ll be happier in her own bed. Besides, I'd like
to have a chat with her in her own home. It's more friendly and
intimate, don't you think? Good night, constable." Hendrych was
watching Kroupa enjoying his portion of steak chateaubriand and
rolling a 1954 Grange over his tongue. "I deserve it," he said in
self-satisfaction.

He was thinking whether he should have
another talk with Alyson Brunt.
He had her contact details, he just thought it might be too late.
But there again, it was not even eight o'clock and there was surely
something on TV to entertain the old woman. He decided to go.
"Johan, do you want to join me in the company of an old
gossipmonger?"

"No, I don't
want to, but I will. Is Sara going, too?"

"No. I
’ll let her have a good night’s sleep. She’s worked so hard
lately, poor thing. Besides, Miss Brunt poses no danger to
us."

"Oh, that’s where
you want to go? I wonder if I shouldn't
reconsider."

"You
’re going, and there is no way out. That’s final. I'll
announce ourselves and then we can go."

--------

Alyson Brunt was an elderly woman, short, stocky, with pink
cheeks and a cunning, sly smile. Hendrych didn't like her at all
and Kroupa seemed to share his sentiment. But Miss Brunt received
them
in a
friendly manner, with the hospitality for which the Blue Mountains
were famous. "Tea or coffee, gentlemen?" she greeted them and
showed them into the dining room. The cottage was rather small. It
resembled a miner's cottage, which probably had had one bedroom
originally, as well as a bathroom, dining room and kitchen. "I have
biscuits, Anzac biscuits. Will they do? And did you decide, coffee
or tea?"

"Coffee for me, thank you," answered Hendrych and Kroupa
added, "Me too, please." Miss
Brunt shuffled to the kitchen, the whistle of a
kettle sounded, and soon a plate of Anzac biscuits - an Australian
tradition - was on the wooden coffee-table with a pot of strong
coffee. Kroupa noticed with appreciation that the coffee set was
Meissen, simple but 'echt' Meissener Porzellan with crossed swords.
He didn't expect such luxury in a little house like this. Miss
Brunt noticed his surprise and casually noted, "The little cottage
that smiles is better than a palace that cries."

"It is
unfortunately another cottage that cries now." Kroupa said in half
whisper.

"Yes, it is a
shame. Very unfortunate, if you ask me. Very unfortunate. But not
surprising, if you know what I mean."

"Sorry, I
don't. Could you elaborate a bit?" Kroupa suggested.

"I could, but first tell me, gentlemen, in what
capacity
did
you come here to interrogate me?"

"Let me assure you, Ma'am, that we are not here to
interrog
ate
you. We are here purely out of personal interest. If I may
introduce myself, I am Detective Chief Inspector Kroupa, and this
is my dear friend, the journalist and my assistant Mr Hendrych. We
came here to spend a couple of days in this beautiful part of the
world in which you have the privilege to dwell and we came across
this dreadful incident. You know, old habits die hard. I am a
detective and there is something to report on. You understand,
don't you?"

"
Of
course, I understand. But I’m not a gossip monger. On no account.
And I certainly don't want to be labelled as one. But since you are
a detective, I might just assist you in your inquiries, if I can. I
am financially independent, but if there is a reward for helping
identify the killer, I would not mind being acknowledged, if you
know what I mean."

"Unfortunately we can't speak for the police, but I
can
promise
you that if we come to the right conclusion, you will be publicly
acknowledged. Please, begin." Kroupa indicated to the biggest
armchair. Miss Brunt sat herself in it, her short legs gently and
comically swinging, and she began. "As I said before, I don’t like
to gossip, but it is my public duty to assist the police where a
murder is concerned. Do you follow me, gentlemen?"

"Yes, we do,"
Kroupa and Hendrych said in one voice, and nodded to Miss Brunt to
continue. Hendrych secretly turned on his voice-recorder.

"Well, gentlemen," Miss Brunt began h
er narrative with a pompous
gesture and matching tone, "Miss Winterbottom was a strange person,
if you know what I mean. Take her age, for instance. To look at her
she was an elderly woman of around sixty, wouldn't you say? But
you’re wrong, gentlemen. She was much, much younger. She was the
only woman I know who wanted to look older. But why? She had to
have a reason. I asked myself, 'Why'? She had to have a dark secret
in her past that she wanted to hide or forget, or both. But what
could it be? I searched and asked, not that I am an inquisitive
person, mind you, but one should know about their neighbours.
However all I know is that she lived in Sydney before moving to the
Mountains more than twenty years ago. Why, I don't know. She
started teaching music, singing; that is how she earned her
miserable living. She shopped at Coles in Katoomba, and lately more
often at Aldi, which is cheaper. She never had a car and had to
take the train everywhere. She befriended Miss Whiteford, but in
general she tended to ignore me and we didn’t really have any
contact. And you yourself know how it ended. Winterbottom is dead
and Whiteford is behind bars, in the slammer. There you have it. I
can't tell you anything else. Except that I heard it on the
grapevine, that before she started shopping at Aldi, she had a fit
at Coles. She didn't argue with anyone. She just had a fit. Make of
that what you will. And now, gentlemen, is there anything
interesting you could tell me?”