Felicity Young - An Easeful Death

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

sunday night

Prologue

wednesday

1

2

3

thursday

4

5

6

7

8

9

friday

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

saturday

17

18

19

20

21

22

sunday

23

24

25

26

two weeks later

27

Acknowledgements

CITY OF LIGHT

Felicity Young was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1960 and went to boarding school in the United Kingdom while her parents were posted around the world with the British Army. When her father retired from the army in 1976 the family settled in Perth. Felicity married at nineteen while she was still doing her nursing training and on completion of training had three children in quick succession. Not surprisingly, an arts degree at the University of Western Australia took ten years to complete. In 1990 Felicity and her family moved from the city and established a Suffolk sheep stud on a small farm in Gidgegannup where she studied music, reared orphan kangaroos and started writing.

Having a brother-in-law who is a retired police superintendent, it was almost inevitable she would turn to crime writing. Her first novel, A Certain Malice, was published in Britain by Crme de la Crime in 2005.

To Mick with love

Darkling I listen; and, for many a time

I have been half in love with easeful Death

John Keats

sunday night

Prologue

I sit in the unmarked, waiting for case file number 001005 to step out into the gloomy street. To pass the time, I watch the antics of a derelict accosting passers-by for money. Its still light enough to catch the look of fear on an old womans face when the wino demands change for the phone. Although on a stakeout, I cant just sit here and watch an innocent woman being scared half out of her wits.

I step out of the car just as she begins to fumble in her purse. Her hands shake. She knows she wont stand a chance if the wino decides he wants more.

His eyes, sunk in a mat of hair and bristles, shine with a predators gleam. He licks his lips and thrusts out a mittened paw. The other hand clasps a bottle; a brown paper bag clings to it like a mummys skin.

Her voice quavers as she drops a few coins into his hand.

Im sorry, thats all I have.

You got more, I saw it, he says. The woman recoils as the pungent breath hits her. I smell his sickly reek as I approach. He sees me and drops his hand, stepping back into the shadows. My hand edges towards my pepper spray. The last thing I need now is a bottle to my head.

Is that you, Cuthbert? I say. Ive heard the cops talk about this old guy who hangs around Wellington Street at night. The fact that I know his name will make him think twice before trying anything stupid. It will also reassure the old woman that I have the situation under control.

He doesnt answer my question but in an act of submission tosses the empty bottle to the ground. It rolls a few feet down the footpath before catching on a jutting brick wall.

Evening, Officer, he says, slurring his words. Its a cold night, aint it? Nature agrees; a plastic bag brushes against my foot, visits each of us in turn before it is blown from the footpath into the road by another chilly gust.

Time for you to get a move on, I say to the wino. St Catherines should be open now. Theyll give you a warm bed for the night.

We watch as the man shuffles off down the dirty street. The womans shoulders slump in relief. She looks back up at me; her expression of adoring gratitude makes me feel like a Greek god.

Thank you, Officer, she says.

You shouldnt be out alone. All the weirdoes start coming out at this time of night.

Its stupid of me, I know. I was delayed and missed my usual bus. There arent have many to choose from on a Sunday. I was making my way down to the train station.

The station is on the other side of the road, about a block away. I walk her to it and nod at her effusive thanks; its all part of the job.

When I return the street is deserted. I settle back into the car and continue my vigil. I am confident 001005 has not yet left, these kind of photographic shoots usually take several hours. I pass the time by listening to the crackling voices on the police radio.

At last, the wooden door creaks open and I see the head of 001005, and then the rest of her. She stands in the doorway for a moment, looking up and down the street before stepping onto it. The wind blows her black miniskirt against her body and she pulls her thin cardigan to her breasts. She looks up from her clacking feet when she hears the car door slam. We make eye contact; I do not waver, I speak in a kindly but authoritative tone.

Miss Royce? Im Constable Dixon from Central Police. I tap my name badge and flash my ID wallet. A smile would not be appropriate under these circumstances.

She stares at me and her pretty love-heart mouth breaks into a smile of recognition. Oh, its you!

I look back at her, keeping my demeanour serious.

What is it? Whats happened? she asks, worried now.

Your mother asked me to pick you up.

She had mentioned at the cafe, where I spoke to her the other day, that her parents were friendly with several cops. It should be no surprise to hear that someone is pulling a favour. She asked me to take you to RPH. Im afraid your fathers had a turn. The rest of your familys waiting for you there.

Her hand flies to her mouth and I guide her by the elbow to the passenger side of the unmarked.

I settle into the drivers seat. My body tingles in a way that makes me feel phosphorescent. Ive done it by the book, and its all been so easy.

I always feel good when Im about to close a case.

wednesday

1

The absence of sexual intercourse in a crime that is obviously sexually motivated will often indicate some form of sexual dysfunction in the offender.

James L De Vakey, The Pursuit of Evil: A textbook for law enforcement officers (PUV Press, Sydney, 2004)

The telephones were supposed to be the same model, but by now Stevie could recognise each by its own unique shrill. And her sleep-deprived brain was beginning to see the tones in various colours too. With each shriek a coloured streamer seemed to shoot itself into the air and tangle with the others already hanging in the thick fug of the incident room. The one-sided conversations added further texture and tone to this multicoloured net.

You think its your neighbour...

Is that a T for Tom or a P for Peter?

Youve seem him do what with the garden hose?

Serious Crime Squad, DS Angus Wong speaking...

If you can give me your address, Maam, Ill send a uniformed officer over.

But the net was no tighter around the offender than it had been two days ago.

Stevies phone had been silent for all of three minutes. She rubbed her forehead and, taking advantage of the lull, began to transcribe the scrawl of her latest interview. About to rewrite a sentence, she pressed the pencil to her notebook.

A sudden crash made the pencil point snap on the page.