The Beacon by P.A. Thomas

Author:P.A. Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, crime, mystery, murder mystery, Byron Bay, Australia, beach read, beach murder, suspense, surfing, Riptide, journalist, amateur detective, secrets, small town, dark humour, grief
ISBN: 9781760688622
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction
Published: 2024-01-04T00:32:59+00:00

Chapter Forty

At the police station, Jack was left alone in an interview room, and he settled himself on the uncomfortable plastic chair to wait. Begley and Kowalski were no doubt interviewing the fishermen in another room, and organising an ongoing supply of crustaceans.

Jack’s phone rang – it was Nicola Fox. He answered, ‘I’m in the police station.’

‘I’ll be quick. There are faint abrasions and pressure marks on the remaining ankle. No embedded rope fibres. The pattern may be from a chain. You didn’t hear that.’ She ended the call.

The abrasions were just what Jack was expecting. Whoever killed Patrick must have submerged the body for a day or so and released it when they removed the orange buoy. Perhaps they thought the prolonged immersion would make the body look less suspicious, or wash away any forensic evidence. It seemed a lot of trouble to go to, and yet Jack shouldn’t have been surprised – everything had been so meticulously planned, the murderers had almost got away with the deception.

An hour passed before Begley and Kowalski entered and sat facing him across the table. Kowalski nodded acknowledgement. Begley just glowered.

Jack wasn’t perturbed when Kowalski switched on the equipment to record the interview, but was shocked when he began reciting the cautions Jack had heard so many times before. Surely he wasn’t being considered a suspect?

Begley asked, ‘Tell me why I shouldn’t charge you with murder?’

‘What?’

‘You found a leg in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. You had the crab fishermen take you straight to the exact location. That implies you knew where it was in advance. Oldest trick in the book, of course, pretending to assist us with our enquiries to remove suspicion from yourself.’

Jack laughed. ‘I thought you’d be offering me an honorary appointment at the station, given I’m the only one doing any policing around here. Or at least roll out some red carpet, even just a metre or two.’

Begley glared. ‘You still haven’t told me why I shouldn’t charge you.’

Jack told him about finding Eric in the forest, the vanishing orange buoy, and the crab fisherman. He didn’t mention it was Kowalski who suggested he speak with Rosco.

Begley leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. ‘Okay, you got lucky. Someone saw the buoy and gave you the perfect cover story for going back for the leg and making yourself look innocent.’

Jack wasn’t intimidated by the bluster. ‘You’re sore because I made you look foolish, and so you want to take me out. Go ahead, charge me. You’ll just look even more incompetent.’

Begley looked at Kowalski then nodded to the recording equipment. Kowalski announced the termination of the interview and stopped the recording.

Begley said, ‘Your account is corroborated by the fishermen. I needed to be certain before the homicide detectives arrive from Sydney.’

Kowalski looked surprised. ‘Sydney? What about our guys?’

Begley turned to Kowalski, an eyebrow raised as if to say his question wasn’t appropriate in front of Jack. ‘Overruled by the assistant commissioner. He’s flying up Duffy and Maguire.’

‘For God’s sake,’ said Kowalski.

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