Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 14 - Sex Stories

Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 14

... has some skip tracing for him if he's interested. He says he'll check it when he's in. Mike debates what to do next. It's Tuesday, so Bob Hanson will be working. He calls Marie Mathers. He lets the phone ring ten times. No answer. He thinks about her locked and cringing in the house in Surrey, afraid to answer the phone. He decides to try and talk her into going with him to a shelter again. Maybe Trudy could talk her into going, but he feels an urgent need to do something for her right now. He starts the Mustang and wheels out of the parking lot. Swinging onto the Mary Hill Bypass he speeds towards the Port Mann Bridge and Surrey. Taking the first exit he passes the mall and soon is in front of Hanson's house. He checks the street but traffic seems normal and he can't spot anyone staked out here. Surveillance must have ceased on the Hanson residence. He pulls the file and rereads his last interview with Marie. Tucking the file back into his case, he jumps out of the car and crosses the street. Whistling a cheerful tune he walks up the sidewalk and rings the bell. He cannot hear the bell tone so tries it again. Nothing, so he knocks rather loudly and says in a clear voice slightly raised, "Marie? Marie, are you home?" Nothing. He walks around to the side of the house and a neighbor speaks to him over the side fence. "No one about this morning. They had an awful row last night after midnight. I was going to call the police, but it settled down by two. I don't know if she's in ...

... there or not? Are you a policeman?" Mike studies the old gentleman and says, "Uh, no. I'm a private investigator. I'm just here to get a statement from the lady who lives here. I thought she might be out back." "She comes out to work in the garden almost every day. It's such a nice day, I'm surprised she's not out here." "Maybe she went shopping." "Oh, she never goes out alone. He's always with her. He drives bus, you know. I saw him go out this morning. She must be there all right. Maybe sleeping." In more somber tones he adds quietly, "Maybe dead." Mike looks up at the back porch and notices a large window by the back door. He decides to try knocking on the back door and maybe taking a peek in the back window. As the neighbor watches he climbs the back steps. Under the porch roof the air is stale and humid from the hot sun and wet garbage in open cans. His eyes sting and he steps quickly to the door. He bangs loudly and calls out, "Marie! Are you there? Answer the door." He shakes his head and listens. No sound is heard. Pushing a can of garbage aside with his foot he moves towards the window. Nudging another can aside; he gets to a position where he can peer around the edge of the window frame. Flies and bees buzz around him as he tries to make out details in the dark interior. He waves them away and cups his hands around his eyes to see better. "Is she there?" calls the neighbor. "She doesn't answer the door." Mike calls back to him. "Eh? What'd you say?" "She doesn't seem ...