Authors: Dianne Yetman
“What do they use hydrogen cyanide for
”, Withers asked.
“HCN is produced on an industrial scale, and is a highly valuable precursor to many chemical compounds, ranging from polymers to pharmaceuticals. Laymen terms: used in nylons, medicines. So we need to look for a killer
who has
a good chemistry background and has access to the compound. Simple, right?”
An answer wasn’t expected and he didn’t get one.
“
George will soon be releasing the victim’s body for burial
today
.
Okay,
time
to give me
your latest
, folks
.”
Kate and Roger both shared the results of their interviews. Shirley advised
all
background checks on cast and crew
came out
clean. Withers recommended someone follow up with June Grayson, the hairdresser
,
as she was a close friend of Camira’s and may know something.
“Thanks, Withers”, Gordon said, “
It’s
all yours.
Kate and Roger, get on t
o t
he HCN. Find out where the killer could have got a
hold of it.
One more thing before we wrap
. T
he Chief
checked in last night from the police conference in New York. I filled him in the Stone’s murder and he’s hot for
anything to give to the press
.
A solved murder case would make for a nice welcome home gift for him and the press. See what you can come up with. And, in case any of you have forgotten, next weekend is a long one
–
Remembrance Day
.
So if you want to spend it with your families, get moving.
”
***
Cst.
Shirley Proctor found a parking spot on one of the side streets just off Bedford Highway
.
She filled the meter and walked towards the high rise
complex
, heart in her throat. Her first interview and she didn’t want to blow it.
Her husband’s word echoed in her head
– chill out, stay calm, Shirl,
d
on’t blow it girl by trying too hard.
She walked into the larger foyer of the apartment building,
and
her heart beat a little faster.
She loved policing. Had put in
seven
years at the precinct working a 9 to 5 job as
A
ssistant to Deputy Chief waiting until she didn’t have to
work around the
kid’s
babysitters
, and her husband’s shift work,
before
applying and being accepted as a
rookie police offer.
Now, she wanted nothing more than to be one of those independent, irreverent, hard working detectives.
She
nodded at the doorman and stepped into the foyer.
The high ceiling, cream and brown marble floor, the bank of elevators tucked away in the left hand corner
blended together to create a quiet,
rich ambience.
To the right, a
large circular mahogany counter enclosed the working
space
of the front security officer.
It
was empty.
From the back corridor came the sound of hurrying feet and a short,
overweight,
balding man
,
nearer 70 than 60, came bustling up to her.
“Constable Proctor
? Hello.
I’m
Harold
Tell
, the security officer
on duty the night
of Ms. Paul’s unfortunate demise. I apologize for not being
out
front but I had nipped out back to hurry Arthur, my replacement, on his way.”
And on cue, a tall, lanky man with the posture and long face
of
Eyore
s
huffled behind the counter.
Harold
led her down the back corridor to a small office.
He
sat behind the desk and motioned her to the
red chair
. She
opened her bag,
took out
her notebook and began the interview hoping her voice wouldn’t betray her nervousness.
“Mr.
Tell
, how long have you been working in your current position?”
“Call me
Harold
, please.
It’s bee
n seven
years now.
Retirement didn’t suit me and t
he building
manger happens to be related to my wife and gave me the job. A job I like and, if I say so myself, good at.”
“
Y
ou must know most of the residents pretty well.”
“Yes I do and I have to say,
they’re
a fine bunch
.
Mo
st of them are retired. They like
the personal touches
we offer
and of course, the security.
”
A red flush
began at the base of his neck and
travelled up
wards.
“
How well did you know Ms. Paul?”
“
Quite well,
she was a friendly,
always
smiling
. G
enerous too
, s
he
never forgot staff at Christmas.”
“Did she have a lot of visitors?”
“
There were t
wo regulars
. H
er cousin, Rev. Hanya
,
and her grandmother.
A few
others
but they weren’t regular
.”
“
Who were these few others?”
“T
heatre people
. A
sharp bunch
,
laughing, talking all at once, believe me, once they were in the elevator, the silence was deafening.
”
“
A h
igh-spirited bunch. Is that how you would describe Ms. Paul?”
“
Goodness, no. Ms. Paul,
w
as quiet, kept mostly to herself. Came back tired on nights she was acting; I could see it in her face.
”
He shook his head.
“
What happened
to her
is horrible, beyond
belief. S
he was too young to die. And I don’t believe for one moment she committed suicide.
It h
ad to be an accident.”
“
Did you speak with Ms. Paul o
n the night
she died?”
“No, I never laid eyes on her. Like I told those two detectives, she had no visitors either, o
ther than her cousin.”
“How do you know there were no other visitors?”
“I was on the front desk all evening
.”
“You didn’t leave your post at all?”
He shifted in his chair
.
“
O
nce
,
but it was
only
for a few minutes. Mrs. Cunningham
, her apartment’s on the first floor, around the corner from the elevators, came to see me all upset. Her cat got out.
I
se
ttled her in th
is
office
and took a quick look through the hall corridors.
I f
ound it in the
staff
washroom, stretched o
ut
in front of the toilet, sleeping.
I was only away from my post 7 minutes
t
ops.”
“What time was it when you went
to
search
for
the cat?”
“
Sometime around 9 o’clock.”
“Did you notice anything
when you came back to your post?
”
“Yes
. I heard the bell ring as I entered the foyer and noticed someone get into the elevator.
I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman as their back was to me. It seemed odd
that
someone
would
face the back of an elevator
, doesn’t it? Some folks, you never know where they come from
.
Had on a long black coat and one of those old fashioned fedora hats.
The elevator stopped at the 4
th
floor.
”
“
That’s Ms. Paul’s floor, isn’t it?”
He nodded
.
This man’s blades
need
sharpening
.
“Did you see this person come back down?”
“No, I didn’t and I was here the whole time. Perhaps they left after my shift or stayed the night. Hard to say.”
“Who did you see come off the elevator after this person went up to Ms. Paul’s floor?”
“
There w
asn’t a lot of lobby traffic
.
It was a quiet night. Let’s see, t
here was Mrs. Cunningham
,
of course, then Mr. Nelson, a long time tenant,
he
came down to check his mail. And a tall man, dressed to the nines who nodded hello, and a very slim,
tall,
elegant looking woman
. No one else came down.”
“Could someone using the stairwell bypass the lobby?”
“Well, yes, if they went to underground parking.”
A little oil
on those blades
wouldn’t hurt either.
“Do you have a security camera?”
“Yes. Hidden pretty well isn’t it
? It’s
behind that
moulding
over the entranceway.”
“Is there one in underground parking?”
“Yes, as far as I know.”
“
I’ll need those
tape
s.”
“Sure. I’ll drop th
ose
by the precinct
on my way home
.
I live in the city, not too far away.
”
“
I’d a
ppreciate it if you would
give them
to me
when we finish our interview. Do you have replacements?”
“
”I’m not sure. I’ll check.
”
“Maybe you could get your man Arthur on it.”
He picked up his two way and gave Arthur the instructions.
Shirley handed him her card.
“Would also appreciate you giving more thought about anything else you may remember about that night.”
“Will do.”
She
asked to see Ms. Pauls’ apartment. It wasn’t part of her mandate but she wanted a glimpse into Camira’s life, her personality, and nothing would reveal it more than her living quarters. She took her time examining every nook and cranny. It was a saddened police constable that left the apartment
- s
ad at the loss of such a beautiful, talented woman.
She
thanked him
Graham
for his cooperation
on her way out. Expecting a parking ticket, she was pleasantly surprised to see an empty windshield. S
he got into her car and made her way back to the precinct.
The faster I write this up
, she thought
; the faster it gets to Gordon’s desk.
When
Shirley
entered the precinct, she saw people
s
cattered
across the
foyer
like leaves tossed about by the wind. They were
dressed
just
as colourfully
as well.
A
large lady
wearing
bright orange
was
leaning into the face of a small man decked out in bright green
. A tired looking woman, dressed in black and gray, stood next to
a
tattooed,
body pierced teenager, d
ecked out
in torn
black
jeans
, a lime green sweater and yellow jacket.
St
anding off
to the side
was a
tall, good looking
man wearing a royal blue blazer, light grey pants and a cream colo
u
red t-shirt sporting a ‘
dare to imagine’
logo
.