Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 04 - Sex Stories

Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 04

... "The man is innocent until proven guilty and don't you forget it!" He crosses the foyer and clasps hands with Norm Bailey. "God, it must be a year since I've seen you. How are Charlene and the girls?" They go off towards the coffee room and talk of old times when Norm was with the federal system. He and Mike had worked together and their wives had chummed around together. Later as he is leaving he says, "Wait until I tell Marlene I saw you and she will be bugging me to bring her over. Don't be surprised if we drop in on you one of these days, old buddy. And thanks for your help tonight there, Jenny McLeod. I'll be seeing you." He grins at Norm and they laugh together as Jenny pretends she doesn't hear them. He goes out to the car and checks the time. It's around eight thirty. He can make it back to Abbotsford by nine thirty so he will go check out the lighting in the parking lot at the airport. By nine oh five he's in Mission and by nine forty five he's out at the Abbotsford International Airport. He parks by the hanger from which the car was stolen and gets out. The parking lot is fairly well lit and all cars parked there are in plain sight. He sees some employees in a coffee room so goes to join them. "Hi guys. Is Larry Powell here? Is that any of you guys?" One young fellow in coveralls gets up from a table and says, "I'm Larry. What do you want?" "I'm working for ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) and we're checking out your claim. Could I ask you a few ...

... questions?" "Oh sure. I didn't realize they sent people out to check our claims. I never made a claim before." "Just routine. Could you show me where the car was parked the night it was stolen?" "Sure. Come on." He shows Mike an occupied spot near the hanger almost under the light on the hanger wall. Mike says, "You state it was locked. Your sure about that?" He only hesitates a moment before stammering, "I always locked it. With that new stereo of mine I wouldn't leave it unlocked for two minutes. "Ah, that was the other thing I had to check. Do you still have your receipts for the stereo." "No. I never think to keep receipts. I told them that on the claim where it asks for receipts. I included the price from the dealer where I bought it." "Oh, I'm sorry. I must have missed that. Now, do you know any of the young guys they caught?" He stares at Mike and stammers, "They caught them? It wasn't my idea, you know. They said they've done it many times before and didn't get caught. Oh shit! What will they do to me?" "Of course, you'll have to give the police your statement, but it will be your word against theirs. They did the actual act, didn't they? You should give your statement as soon as you can, in case they aren't talking yet. How be if I have a friend of mine who's with Matsqui Police come over and take your statement? Then they'll know your cooperating." "Yeah, that might be a good idea. Thanks." Mike dials the police on his cell phone and asks for Ken Drydon. In a moment ...