A Failure to Act by Scott Prior

Author:Scott Prior [Prior, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: action, Crime, Murder, Terrorism, drugs, revenge, rallying
Published: 2023-10-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Tell me for Christ's sake!

Parker had walked to the park to meet Dianne as arranged but was, as usual, running late. He hurried through the maze of paths that led to a park bench near the rotunda. He moved with a sense of urgency because Dianne had answered none of his calls or texts since they parted earlier. Dianne would not have responded while she was in the debriefing, but he’d checked and was told she’d left over an hour earlier. Not replying to him was out of character, but ignoring her grandfather simply would not happen.

He'd received a call from the Commissioner saying he couldn’t reach her, which had concerned him a bit. The drug bust the other night would’ve added more names to the already long list of criminals holding a grudge against her. He approached the bench, but there was only a couple sitting there with their Labrador that was trying to eat the young woman's ice cream. Parker looked around the area but there was no sign of Dianne. Approaching the couple on the bench he identified himself and asked if they recognised a picture of Dianne. Neither did, as they’d arrived only shortly before he had. Noticing that both had coffee he remembered the pop-up stand near the entrance. He thanked the pair for their help and walked back there to ask.

Arriving at the stand Parker flashed his ID and showed Dianne's picture to the man running the shop.

"Has this woman been here in the last hour?"

Instantly recognising the image of Dianne the man responded, "Sure! She bought a large cappuccino and a white chocolate chip cookie."

Parker, relieved, double-checked, "Are you certain, mate?"

"Sure am! It was only a $6.50 sale but she gave me a ten, telling me to keep the change."

"OK, that sounds like her. Where’d she go when she left you?" Parker quizzed.

"Not too far, actually. I don't think she was feeling well."

"In what way, mate?" Parker asked, clearly concerned.

"Well, she walked off that way," the man pointed towards the rotunda, "But bumped into a bloke coming the other way and stumbled. There was a quick conversation and they parted ways. A few moments later I saw two other men stop to speak to her. I think they were friends, as they both put an arm around her and helped her move away. Don't think she was very well at all. She didn’t appear to be walking. It was more like she was being supported by the two blokes."

The realisation of what he’d been told cut Parker like a sword ripping through him. Turning back to the store holder he said, "There'll be a uniformed officer here in a few minutes. I want you to repeat to him what you’ve told me, plus anything else you might remember. OK?"

The man agreed.

Parker quickly checked the area for cameras, which were pretty well non-existent. Taking his phone from his jacket he called Paul Edwards.

"Paul, don't talk, just listen. I need you and some uniforms down at the park up the road from City Centre branch.

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