Making Up Amanda by Rozzi Bazzani

Author:Rozzi Bazzani [Bazzani, Rozzi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

22

Sunday

Her phone rang. Bec checked the number and glanced at the clock before she picked up; nine-thirty, Sunday evening. ‘DS Harpin good evening, sorry to disturb you at this hour,’ a voice identifying himself as the duty officer said. ‘I’ve been asked to call you to attend a disturbance in Mair street, the Star and Bell pub.’

‘What is it?’

‘Not sure, something to do with Paradise Pictures I was told.’

‘Okay, on my way,’ she said, and disconnected as the sound of sirens squealing and wailing penetrated the paper-thin walls of her motel room.

The scene before her when she pulled up outside the hotel was ugly; two police vehicles parked awkwardly outside, lights flashing, and several officers manhandling patrons out of the pub, while others, heavily under the influence, already lay semi-hunched over on the footpath.

She walked over to the nearest officer, who’d just dealt with one heavily intoxicated individual by pushing him hard to sit on the ground, and flashed her ID.

‘Constable Pike,’ the young officer said, hands still resting on the shoulders of the bearded man he’d forced to the ground. Nodding his head towards the entrance to the pub, he said, ‘My sarge, Wilson, thought this might be relevant for you. There’s been an altercation with some of those film people.’

‘Okay, thanks,’ said Bec.

She strolled slowly over and stood next to the officer who was talking to the barman.

‘DS Harpin,’ the sergeant said, then excused himself. ‘Wait here, I’ll be back in a minute,’ he said, breaking from his interview conversation.

‘What’s going on here, Sergeant Wilson,’ said Bec, extending her hand. ‘I don’t believe we’ve met.’

‘No, nice to meet you,’ he said.

‘And you,’ said Bec, ‘appreciate you calling.’

‘It’s not as serious as it looks, an altercation that blew up, hot words between a few blokes and a couple of young women some of ’em claim they’re part of the Paradise Pictures crew. Costa told us to let you know.’

‘I see, anyone hurt?’

‘A few bruises, nothing broken I don’t think.’

‘Where is everyone?’ said Bec, scanning around to identify the troublemakers.

‘The picture people are over there.’ The sergeant pointed to a motley group standing together in the back corner. ‘I told them to wait.’

‘Right, and the other parties?’

‘You mean the bloke who started it?’

Bec nodded.

‘No, he seems to have slipped out unnoticed.’

‘Someone local do you think?’

‘Not sure, no one registered who was around, and we only have the film people’s word for it that he was the one who started it. It’s dark in here, no-one was paying that much attention until the roughing up extended to other patrons.’

‘Do we know what they were arguing about?’ asked Bec.

‘The film group had been talking amongst themselves about the missing girl, apparently. They’re annoyed at being targeted as murderers by the local paper – people in the town are looking at them sideways, they say. Anyway, they’re over there waiting to speak to you.’

‘Alright, thanks.’ Bec moved away to where the group was holed up.

‘Detective Sergeant Rebecca Harpin.’ She flashed her ID. ‘Everyone alright? There’s been a bit of trouble here tonight.

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