Page 66 of Hoodoo House
“Obviously not good enough,” Charlie answered, shrugging his shoulders.
“We have nothing to share with you right now,” Declan continued, “but if we find anything that might be of use, we’ll turn it over to the RCMP.”
“Good,” she said.
“Out of curiosity, with regard to the death of the Tull guy, do you suspect foul play?” Declan asked. “I’m just trying to assess the level of danger that my assistant and I might be facing.”
“I can’t say much at present. Now, getting back to your adventure, can you provide me with a complete description of the guys who threatened you?”
“Sure,” Declan said and proceeded to describe them in as much detail as he could, which mostly connected to height and facial hair, since they had all been similarly dressed in biker leathers, goggles and helmets.
Sergeant Bowen typed up the description as Declan talked. When it was done, she printed it off, and Declan looked at the one-page report and signed off on it.
“I’m not sure if you want the tire,” Declan said, “but the bullet in it might be of use. If you do examine it, I’d like it back when you’re done. Those are expensive.”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Sit tight. I’ll get you a receipt for the tire. In the meantime, I’ll get them to put out a call to any cars on the road to be on the lookout for these bikers,” she said, holding up Declan’s description.
She took Declan’s signed statement in one hand, picked up the wheel in the other like it weighed nothing and left the office.
The moment she was out of sight, Charlie reached over her desk and spun the Hoodoo House file around. He opened it, and used his phone to photograph the top two pages of the file. He closed the folder and rotated it back, taking his seat just before Sergeant Bowen returned.
“So, stay in touch and let me know if you hear any more about the computer,” she said, handing them each a copy of her card. She gave Declan the receipt for his wheel. “I’ll give you a shout when you can pick it up.”
As she escorted them back to the front entrance, she asked, “So, are you fellows heading back to Calgary?”
“We have a meeting with the editor at Hoodoo House later today,” Declan replied. “I don’t think he’ll be happy to learn that we lost the computer. We were planning on turning it over to him, but it’s a matter for the publishers and the police to deal with now.”
Declan and Charlie walked back to the Beast.
Declan said, “Thanks for playing along when they asked about the files on the computer. Speaking of files, grabbing those photos was a fast move on your part.”
“I hope you didn’t mind,” Charlie said.
“Mind? I was impressed.”
As Declan pulled the Beast out of the parking lot, Charlie called up the images he had quickly captured on the phone and started to read.
“This is interesting. It appears that the coroner has a good idea of what killed Malcolm Tull.”
Declan said, “What did you find out?”
Charlie said, “Not so fast. I want to look at it more thoroughly. Why don’t I share it with you once we get to Hoodoo House? I think everyone will find it very, very interesting.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
They refuelled the Beast at a nearby gas bar. The car was running on fumes when they pulled into the station. It was moments like this that Charlie was happy that this was a company car. The fill-up came in at a hundred and five dollars.
It was just before six p.m. when they made their way up the drive to Hoodoo House. All looked peaceful. Charlie and Declan got out of the car and took a quick look around the perimeter of the house. Where the entrance to the kitchen door had been, there was now a board and police tape. They walked around to the front door and knocked. There was no response. Declan knocked again, louder. The curtain covering the upper pane of glass parted and an eye peered out.
“Henry, would you let us in?” Charlie asked.
“Gramma Carol told me not to open the door under any circumstances.”
“Henry, you know you can trust us.”
The eye disappeared from the windowpane and Henry opened the door, then quickly locked it once they were inside.
“Gramma Carol’s just preparing some food,” he said, then ran towards the back of the house.
