The Soft Centre

Dr. Lowis came into the cabin where Terrell was still studying the address book.?‘I’m all through,’ Lowis said, resting his bag on the table. ‘She was killed between one and three o’clock. I can’t get it closer than that. She was struck on the head while taking a shower. I’d say it was a flat, heavy weapon… like a tyre lever. The killer dragged her from the shower and threw her on the bed. Then he stabbed her with considerable violence. She was ripped after she was dead.’

‘Okay. Doc,’ Terrell said, getting to his feet. ‘Let’s have a detailed report as soon as you can get it on my desk. This is going to be a tricky one to solve. I’ll need all the help I can get.’

When Lowis had gone, Beigler came in.

‘Nothing so far.’ as Terrell looked at him inquiringly.?‘These cabins get cleaned once a month by the look of them. Dozens of finger prints everywhere, but so far they don’t mean a thing. Hess has got them all and he’s going back to check the files. We might be lucky, but I doubt it. No sign of a weapon. The boys are making a search, but it’s my bet the killer took the weapon with him. One of the occupiers of a cabin three away from the murder cabin says she heard a car arrive around one o’clock. It drove away again some twenty minutes later… could have been the killer.’

Terrell tapped the address book.?‘Lots of work here,’ he said. ‘Looks like this woman was a prostitute. The names of over two hundred men with their telephone numbers are listed in here. The only woman listed could be her sister or her mother: Joan Parnell. She lives on Le Jeune Road, near the airport. We’d better see her right away.’ He tossed the address book to Beigler. ‘I guess anyone of the men listed in there could be the boy we want. It’s going to be some job, but we’ll have to check everyone of them. Let’s go see Joan Parnell. She might give us a quick lead.’

Beigler put the address book in his pocket, then followed Terrell out of the cabin. Terrell had a brief word with Hess.

‘See if you can get anything more out of Henekey.’ he said. ‘Keep the boys searching for the knife. Check all gas stations to see if any car stopped between one and three this morning for gas. It’s pretty hopeless, but we might have a little luck. At that time, there isn’t much traffic. Talk to everyone here. Get their names and addresses. We’ll have to check them all… could be a sex killer is among them, but I doubt it. I’ll be back at headquarters in a couple of hours. Call me if you get anything. Take your time. This one isn’t going to be cracked in five minutes.’

Joining Beigler, Terrell got into the police car, letting Beigler drive.

They reached Le Jeune road just after half-past two, having stopped for a few minutes at a café for a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

Joan Parnell had a neat brick and plaster bungalow that stood in a row of similar bungalows. There was a tiny garden full of roses, a path that led to the front door over which climbed a flourishing Paul’s Scarlet.

Leaving the car, the two men walked up the path and Beigler dug his thumb into the bell push. There was a brief delay while Terrell looked uneasily up and down the long, empty road. This distressing business of breaking the news of violent death always worried him, but it was something he never pushed on to any of his men.

The door opened abruptly and a woman regarded them. She was dark, slim, around forty with a mannish haircut and her gaunt features revealed a strength of character Terrell had seldom seen in a woman’s face. She wore an open neck sports shirt and blue slacks. A cigarette dangled from her thin lips and a faint aroma of gin hung over her.

‘Mrs. Parnell?’ Terrell asked, lifting his hat.?‘Miss Parnell,’ the woman said and looked sharply at him. ‘You’re the police, aren’t you? ‘What is it?’

‘Terrell, Chief of Police,’ Terrell said. ‘Sergeant Beigler. Could we come in?’

She gave both men another searching stare, then turned and led the way into a small lounge, comfortably furnished, but well-used. There were books everywhere, and on the table stood a bottle of Gordon’s gin, a jug full of iced water and a used glass.

The woman went over to the table, poured a big shot of gin into a glass, added a little water before saying, ‘Well? What it is?’

‘You are a relation of Sue Parnell?’ Terrell asked.

She took a long thirsty drink, then hunched her shoulders. ‘So that’s it… I might have guessed. Yes, she’s my sister.’ She looked hard at Terrell, then her mouth tightened. ‘Is she dead?’

Terrell drew in a breath of relief.?‘I’m afraid she is, Miss Parnell.’

To his surprise, she asked, ‘Murdered?’?‘Yes.’

Joan Parnell stubbed out her cigarette. She covered her eyes with her hand for a brief moment, then she stiffened, reached for the glass and finished the drink. She lit another cigarette and then walked across to a big lounging chair and sank into it.