Shiny Rocks

Copyright Gary Weston 2012

Smashwords Edition

• Shiny Rocks

Chapter 1

'So. You two. How's it going?'

'Good, Sir,' said Ducket.

'Now then, young man,' said The Chief. 'We are off duty, and I'm here visiting my niece. Call me Bernard.'

'Yes, Sir. Err, Bernard.'

'Uncle Bernie. You'll give Ferret a complex.'

Poppy Mitchell set the tray of tea and biscuits down on the coffee table. She was still flustered from dressing in a hurry when Uncle Bernie had paid a surprise visit. They were enjoying a Sunday morning lie in when the doorbell had chimed. She nodded at Ducket to tell him the zip of his jeans was undone.

'Ferret. Don't you mind being called that?'

Ducket covered his open fly by leaning forwards, his forearms on his lap.

'The problem with nicknames is once they catch on, it's impossible to stop. I'm cool with it.'

'Well, call me old fashioned, but I'll call you Fred. Only off duty, of course.'

'Of course, Sir...Bernard.'

'Uncle Bernie. You know I love you to bits, but why are you here?'

The Chief sipped his tea. 'Ah! Got me. Not entirely a social call. I've received something of disturbing communication recently.'

'Uncle Bernie...'

'Poppy. This will probably be as upsetting for you as it was for me. In fact, I know it will be. It certainly was for me. I think...because I'm not completely sure...I had a message from your mother.'

Poppy took a sharp intake of breath. 'No!'

'I said I wasn't sure, Poppy.'

Ducket felt the change in atmosphere as surely as if a polar wind had blasted through the room.

'Sir. Bernard. Would it be best if I left the room so you and Poppy can talk?'

'No, Fred. As much as anything, it is your help that I seek.'

'I really don't unders...'

Poppy said, 'Ferret. My mother died fifteen years ago.'

'I know. You told me.'

'Then how do you explain this?' said the Chief. 'Arrived Friday. That is my sisters handwriting, without a doubt.'

Poppy reached for the letter, but recoiled, unable to touch it. 'She's dead.'

'That was what we all thought. But we never saw the body.' The Chief's eyes glazed over. 'How do you think I felt when I opened this letter? I was stunned. All the old hurt and pain opened up. My sister, thought dead all these years. And now, after all this time, this.'

'She's dead.'

'Poppy. If there's the slightest chance...'

Poppy got up, still not taking the letter. 'No. She's dead. Stop this. It's horrible.' She ran to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

There was an uncomfortable silence when Ducket, still covering his open zip, watched the Chief wipe away his tears.

'I should go to her,' Ducket said.

'Yes. She needs you. But let me say something first. God. I've been a wreck trying to decide what to do about this. On one hand, this has opened up a lot of old pain. But on the other, if my sister is still....' He stared at Ducket. 'I need your help, Fred. I need your talent, but most of all, I need your discretion.'

'You have all three, Bernard.'

'Thank you. Now go to her.'

Chapter 2

'Ducket not in today?' asked Detective Sergeant Vincent Crowe.

'He's in his office,' said Detective Senior Sergeant Stanley Morris. 'I saw him first thing, then he said he had some work to be getting on with.'

'Like what?'

'I've no idea. When I asked, he said he'd rather not say what it was.'

'That's not like Ducket.'

Morris said, 'The look on his face told me to back off and let him be. He'll tell us in his own good time. Now. How's that security guard?'

'He'll live. He's in no condition to give a statement yet. The doctor told me he'll be kept in a drug induced coma for a few days. That's a serious head wound. He may never be able to tell us what happened.'

'There'll be repercussions over this. International ones. The Empress Jewels are priceless.'

'The Japanese government have been notified?' Crowe asked.

'That pleasure belongs to the museum, I'm glad to say. I wouldn't want to be the one making that call.'

Detective Inspector Dale Andersen entered. 'Vince. Anything from the guard?'

'He's in a drug induced coma for a few days. I just got back from the hospital.'

'Damn. I was hoping...oh, well. As soon as the Scene Of Crime team have done their thing, we'll all go back to the museum. Where's Ducket?'

'In his office,' said Morris. 'He's busy on something.'

'Is he? On this case?'

'No. I'm not sure what, exactly.'

'I'll have a word. We need all hands to the pump on this one. We'll be needing his special talents.' With that said, Andersen headed off to find Ducket. He was about to knock on the door, when he noticed the do not disturb sign. 'What the hell...?'

He opened the door, to find Ducket writing on his chipped and battered whiteboard. He hastily wiped everything off so the Inspector couldn't see it.

'Ducket.'

'Sir?'

'What are you up to?'

'Just busy on a case, Sir?'

'What case? It isn't the Empress Jewels. I know that much.'

'I can't talk about it, Sir. Sorry.'

Andersen's face started to redden. He had enough to contend with, without insubordinate constables.

'I demand to know what you are up to.'

'I can't...'

'Ducket!'

'Sir. Would you please have a word with the Chief?'

'The Chief? What's he got to do with it? Okay. I'll talk to him. But this Jewel robbery is the number one priority as far as I'm concerned.'

Andersen stormed the stairs to the Chiefs office. Two civilian staff worked full-time for the Chief. Personal Assistant Monica Nolan, and secretary Amy Jones.

'Inspector Andersen. Good morning.'

'Monica. Good morning. Is the Chief busy at the moment?'

'He's not coming in today. He's got some family matters to attend to.'

'Oh. Right. Does he know about the robbery?'

Nolan said, 'I told him when he called earlier. He said he knew you would take charge of the case.'

'Was that it?'

'Yes. He said he didn't want to be disturbed unless it was an emergency.'

Andersen thought about phoning him anyway, but knew the Chief too well to do that. He turned to leave. 'I don't suppose you have any idea what Detective Ducket is up to?'

'Ferret? No idea.'

It seemed the whole division knew Ducket as The Ferret. Frustrated, Andersen left the office.

Chapter 3

'Poppy. We need to talk.'

Poppy had been reluctant to even let her Uncle Bernie step foot inside her tiny apartment. He made it clear he wasn't going anywhere without seeing her. Finally, she gave up and let him in.

'Poppy. I know how you must feel, but it isn't going away.' Without being asked, he sat down.

'I'm sorry. This can't be easy for you, either. Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee?'

'Tea will be fine. Are you keeping busy these days?'

From the minuscule kitchen, Poppy said, 'Not too bad. I'm just working on a new web page for new small business. It won't pay much, but working from home, my overheads are minimal. Not a working day for you today?'

'It should be, especially with that robbery. You heard about that?'

'On the radio. Worth millions, they said.'

'Several millions. Ridiculous, really. All that fuss over a pile of shiny rocks. Still. Very embarrassing for our government if the jewels aren't recovered. Inspector Andersen will be dealing with it. I was more determined to see you.'

Poppy handed him a mug of tea and sat opposite him. 'Do you have the letter?'

'I have a copy. Your boyfriend has the original. That and the envelope. Here.'

She took the piece of paper. She paused for a moment before opening it. 'Does Ferret know what happened all those years ago?'

'I told him everything. I had no choice. If he has any chance of getting to the bottom of this, he needs to know all I can tell him.'

Poppy unfolded the letter. 'Is this it?'

'Yes.'

'Bernard. I need your help. I'll contact you Saturday night. X, S.'

'It makes no sense. I know that,' said Bernard.

'Are you sure it's from her?'

'Unless it's a clever forgery, yes. See how she does the letter E? More like an A. I always teased her about that. I found a few old letters of hers from before...It's her writing.'

'But she never called you Saturday night?'

'I never left the phone for a minute. She never called.'

'Was it postmarked this country?'

'Yes. I don't know if she's been in the country all these years or not. The handwriting's bad, even for her. It looks like she wrote it in a frantic hurry.'

Poppy said, 'I'll never forgive her. What she put me and Dad through. It killed him, her doing that.'

'You don't know that.'

'I watched him drink himself to death. He never drank like that, not before. She killed him through a broken heart. I was seven. I lost my mother, and watched my father die slowly, day by day.'

Bernard sighed. 'I know. You're right. But you have to understand. Sandra's my sister, so I have to find out. When we find her, you can decide what to do then.' He got up to leave. 'I'm calling into work. Just for a couple of hours. I want to see Andersen and also find out if Fred has found anything yet. Shall I call you tonight?'

'I'll be seeing Ferret. He'll tell me if there is anything to tell.'

Bernard hugged her. 'You were more like my daughter, than my niece. It's how Joyce thought of you when you were living with us. God, I wish she was here to support you now.'

'Not just me. You.'

He nodded. 'She was always my rock. When the cancer took her...' He kissed Poppy on her cheek. 'Even after five years, it doesn't get any easier.'

'Can I keep this letter?'

'Yes, of course. Like I said, though. It's only a copy.' He thought he detected a slight softening of her attitude. 'Call me any time.'

'I will.'

Chapter 4

The Chief went to the headquarters in his civvies. The first port of call was to see his P A, Monica Nolan.

'Monica. I'm not stopping. Anything important?'

'Only the robbery, Sir. Inspector Andersen is looking after that.'

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