The Soft Centre

‘He was murdered all right,’ Lowis said. ‘The killer worked him over before killing him. His body is a mass of cigarette burns. He was finally killed by someone putting a cushion over his face and sitting on it. He must have been a very heavy man. Henekey’s nose is broken.’

Terrell and Beigler exchanged glances. Then Terrell said, ‘Thanks, Doc. Okay, if you’re through, let’s get him away.’

When Henekey’s body, watched by the tourists, had been taken away in an ambulance, Terrell and Beigler went into Henekey’s cabin. The Homicide Squad had finished their work. Hess came over.

‘No prints, Chief. There’s one interesting thing…’

He walked into the bathroom followed by Terrell while Beigler remained in the doorway. Hess lifted a loose tile in the bathroom floor.

‘Could have been a hiding place for something. There’s nothing in there flow.’

Terrell glanced into the cavity.?‘Could be why he was worked over,’ he said. ‘Let’s go look at the office safe.’

It took an expert half an hour to get the safe open, but they found nothing to give them a lead on Henekey. They returned to the cabin. Hess and his men were leaving.

‘Still nothing, Chief,’ Hess said. ‘This is a professional killing. Henekey went to bed around two o’clock. It’s my bet the killer or killers were waiting for him in the cabin. The lock shows signs of being tampered with. They must have worn gloves. I can’t turn up one fingerprint that isn’t Henekey’s.

Terrell grunted.?‘Make a list of all the cabins. See if anyone heard anything. Then check Henekey’s print. He may have a record,’

Hess left, leaving the cabin door open. Terrell sat on the table while Beigler prowled around the cabin.

‘What do you think, Chief?’ Beigler asked finally. ‘Think this has any connection with the Parnell killing?’ Terrell took out his pipe and began to fill it.

‘Yeah… seems more than possible. Could be Henekey was lying when he said he didn’t know the girl. Could be he vas holding back something and the Parnell killer came back, tortured him and finally killed him.’

A shadow falling across the floor made both men look around sharply. Standing in the doorway was a little girl of around eight years of age. She was quite beautiful with blonde hair hanging below her shoulders. Her features were small and delicate, her eyes big and alert. She was wearing a blue and red check sunsuit and she was barefooted.

‘Hello.’ she said. ‘Are you the police?’

Beigler was young enough to have no time for children. He scowled at her.?‘Run away … get lost,’ he growled.

The girl looked inquiringly at Terrell.?‘Who’s the loud mouth with the ugly face?’ she asked, resting her small, tanned body against the doorway.

‘Hear me!’ Beigler barked. ‘Run away!’

The child pursed her lips and blew him a raspberry that resounded through the still cabin. ‘Drop dead!’ she said with withering contempt. ‘If you’re not all that tired of life, go suck your toenails!’

Terrell watched with amused interest. Beigler’s face, dark red, was a study.?‘If you were my daughter, I’d smack your bottom,’ he said furiously. ‘Run away I’?‘If you were my father I’d have my mother’s head examined,’ the child replied promptly. Terrell turned a guffaw of laughter into a loud cough. Beigler glared at him, then with slow, deliberate steps, he began to advance on the child who faced him without fear and with such a sophisticated expression that Beigler came to a hesitant standstill.

‘If you touch me, I will charge you with rape,’ the child said.

Beigler took two hasty steps back and then looked helplessly at Terrell.?‘What a little horror!’ he exclaimed bitterly. ‘It’s all very well for you to sit, grinning. I don’t see anything funny in this little monster.’

Terrell sat forward, resting his large hands on his knees.?‘I’m the Chief of Police,’ he said and smiled at the child. ‘Who are you?’

The child drew a bare foot up her leg while she regarded Terrell with interest.?‘My name’s Angel Prescott. Who is the face over there?’?‘He helps me,’ Terrell said gravely. ‘His name is Beigler.’?‘You really mean he helps you?’ Angel looked astonished. ‘I wouldn’t have believed it.’

‘He’s very clever,’ Terrell said.

The child cocked her head on one side and studied Beigler who was slowly growing puce in the face.

‘You never know, do you?’ she said finally. ‘He looks like my uncle … he’s poorly. They even have to feed him.’

Beigler said with violence, ‘Get out of here! Get lost!’?‘He is noisy, isn’t he?’ Angel said. ‘I really came here because I wanted to help you.’ ‘That’s very nice of you, Angel,’ Terrell said. ‘I need all the help I can get. Come and sit down.’

Beigler made a strangled noise and walked without thinking into the bathroom. Once inside, he didn’t know what to do with himself, so he came out again.