A Predetermined Course Of Events by Robert F. Clifton (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

“No. No I'm not.”

“Let's see your arms.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know when you shot up last.”

“It's been a while.”

“Then show me your arms.”

Edith stood and removed her winter jacket then sat down again and offered her bare arms to the Sergeant.

“Damn woman. You got track marks upon track marks. Let's see now. How about this one,” said Woodson as she squeezed what appeared to be a fresh needle mark. When she did a small amount of yellow puss oozed out of the injection site.

“I see you're still using dirty needles,” said Woodson.

“I'll admit I have a chippy.”

“You have more than a chippy. Heroin has you hook, line and sinker. You know that eventually it's going to kill you, don't you?”

“Right now it doesn't matter. I blame myself for Ethel's condition. I was using when I was pregnant. I believe it caused her mental problems.”

“Alright, let's talk about Ethel.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Two things. Where did she go and who did she associate with?”

“When I asked her where she went or where she had been she would tell me, church.”

“Did she mention which church?”

“No.”

“How about who she associated with. We have information that she was often with wino's and homeless men.”

“If she did she never mentioned anyone in particular to me.”

“When Ethel was found she was not wearing panties.

Did she wear panties or not?”

“I made sure she wore them every day. However, once out of the house if she had to shit she'd go someplace and remove them. I think she used them to wipe herself. I was always buying her panties.”

“Sure you did when you weren’t buying H. Nonetheless

my question is was she wearing panties the last time you saw her?”

“I don't know.”

“You don't know. You don't know what church she went to. You don't know who she associated with and you don't even know if your daughter wore panties on the day she was murdered. I bet you know more about your dealer then you do about your own daughter.”

“I never claimed to be the perfect mother.”

“And I can't imagine why. McKenzie, take this woman home. I'm finished talking to her” said Woodson.

After Edith Lamb Left Wallace turned to Woodson and asked, “Will taking to the father be any better?”

“Probably not but for the record we have to do it.”

***********************

Two days passed before Sergeant O'Neil was able to find Henry Lamb sober enough to be questioned. When the man walked into Captain Wallace's office Wallace got up out of his desk chair and offered his hand in friendship. “Mr. Lamb. Thank you for coming in to talk with us,” he said.

“Captain, somebody killed my baby girl,” said Lamb.

“Yes sir. That's why you're here. We're hoping you can tell us something, anything that might help us find out who did this thing.”

“I'll try but don't know too much about what my Ethel did most times.”

“Why is that Mr. Lamb.”

“It be the drink. I can't stop Captain. It going to kill me I know but anyways even when I was sober didn't see or know what that girl was doing or where she be.”

“Can you remember her saying anything about anyone and in particular any man or men?”

“I kinda remembers her saying something bout E or a name beginning with the letter L.”

“Do you know what church she was going to most every day?”

“No sir.”

“Let me change the subject somewhat. We know that Ethel was suffering from impetigo. Did you know that?”

“Knew she had some skin problem. That be Edith's responsibility. The girl wouldn't take a bath. Scared of the water I believe. Anyways, Edith made her wash her hands and face. Don't know anything about her washing the rest of herself.”

“And what was your responsibility Mr. Lamb?

“Puttin food on the table and a roof over our heads.”

“What about the responsibility of taking care of your daughter?”

“Been all over that with the State the court and Children Services. I tell you like I told them. I do the best that I can. Specially since I got the sickness.”

“Apparently it wasn't enough. OK thanks for coming in. you're free to go. If we need to talk to you again we'll let you know. Tom? Take Mr. Lamb home.”

“Yes sir.”

After Henry Lamb left the office Wallace turned to Sergeants O'Neil and Woodson And said, “Well, what we have now is the fact that the girl spent some of her time at a church.

However, we don't know which church. Bill, I want you to check all of the churches in Ethel Lamb's immediate neighborhood. Talk to the ministers or anyone who might know her or in fact saw her around their parish. Edwina, I want you to concentrate on anyone named El. Maybe some of the kids you know might have some information about Ethel.”

“No problem, I'll do it in the Juvenile Bureau. It's not too smart to question kids in the Major Crime Squad Office,”

Woodson replied.

“And I agree,” Wallace replied.

“ It's a little late in the day Cap. I'd like to start tomorrow,” said O'Neil.

“ OK.”

*******************

The next morning Sergeant Woodson sat talking to a teenage boy. “So, what can you tell me about a girl named Ethel Lamb?, she asked.

“Dummy? Not too much. Know that she be weak in the head. Also dirty, smelly most of the time.”

“Why do you call her Dummy?”

“Cause she is. Born dumb, acts dumb, is dumb.”

“That's not a very nice thing to say.”

“ Nice don't cut it.”

“If you consider her dumb who do you consider smart?”

“Lot's of dudes including me.”

“How do you figure that you're smart?”

“Been told lots of time that I'm street smart.”

“I see. Then if you're street smart that means you know practically everything going on in the neighborhood. Isn't that right?'

“Damn straight.”

“Then do you know anyone named El?”

“Might. Might not.”

“If you do or if you should hear about someone named El and was involved with Ethel Lamb would you tell me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I ain't and I'll never be a snitch to the police.”

Chapter Three

Churches, Streets And Alleyways

At ten o'clock on a sunny morning Sergeant Bill O'Neil parked his unmarked police car across the street from Saint Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church. When he got out of the car he locked the driver side door and as he did he took a long, hard look at three men standing and watching him.

After crossing Murray Street O'Neil walked up three wooden steps that led to the porch of the manse. At the front door he stood and knocked then waited. After a short time the door opened and a short, matronly woman said, “Yes?”

“Good morning. I am Sergeant William O'Neil of the Nautilus Police Department. If possible I'd like to speak to the Reverend please.”

“What about?”

“Let's just say that it's a police matter.”

“Um Hummn. Wait here. I'll see if the good Reverend got time to see you.”

“Thank you.”

A few minutes later the woman returned and said, “Come in and follow me. The Reverend is in his office. He will see you.”

After thanking the woman O'Neil followed her down a long hallway until she stopped in front of a door. This is it. Just go on in.”

O'Neil opened the door and stepped into a large office. A man stood up and said, “ Come in officer, come in. How may I help you today?,” he said.

“ I'm sure by now that you have heard about the young girl who was found murdered out by the city dump,” said the Sergeant.

“Yes, of course and a sad and terrible thing it is to have happened to anyone.”

“Yes sir. The girl is known to us as Ethel Lamb. We have information that she had been spending time at church. My question to you sir is are you familiar with her and if so did she come to your church most days?”

“I can answer both of your questions with a no. You see

Saint Paul's at this time have no youth programs. Our finances prohibit that kind of function at the present time. As far as the Lamb girl attending services here, she did not. May I suggest Sergeant that you inquire at Saint Nathaniel’s Episcopal Church

two blocks from here and at Saint Charles Catholic Church four blocks from here.”

“Thank you Reverend. I shall. However, I need your full name for my report.”

“Of course. I'm the Reverend Horace Johnson.”

“Thank sir for your time.”

“My pleasure Sergeant. My pleasure.”

Sergeant O'Neil then walked out of the house and crossed the street walking to his parked automobile. As he did he noticed that a small group of young men and teenagers had gathered on the sidewalk and were watching him. As he reached the car someone asked in a loud voice, “Hey man. When you goin to catch the dude that killed that young girl?”

O'Neil unlocked the driver side door and without responding started the engine and drove away. Heading for the next church on his list. After stopping at the next two churches and meeting with the clergy he came up empty when it came to information on Ethel Lamb. He returned to headquarters and reported that fact to Captain Wallace.

“Alright. Tom I want you to check the list of all registered sex criminals in the city. Look for a guy with a first name beginning with either El or the letter L.

At the same time the rest of us might have to rely on any informants we have that might either know something or can come up with a piece of information,” said Wallace.

Just as he was finished speaking the telephone on his desk rang.

Picking up the receiver Wallace spoke, saying, “Captain Wallace.”

“Captain, this is Daniels in Forensic. We were able to lift several latent prints from that piece of glass you wanted tested.”

“Really? How many and in what condition?”

“We have the right thumb, right index, right middle, right ring and a partial of the right little finger. The condition is perfect. There will be no guessing if and when you land a suspect.”

“Then I can assume that the killer is right handed?”

“No, but you can assume that the killer used their right hand to hold the piece of glass that probably killed the victim.”

“I see. Have you run them through N.C.I.C.

(National Crime Information Center)?”

“Not yet. Right now we're checking our own data base.”

At three fifteen PM Tom McKenzie walked into the office with a White man approximately thirty to thirty five years of age. When he did Wallace looked up with interest from the paper work he was doing and said, “What do we have here?”

“Captain this is Elwood Wilson. Right now he lives at thirty seven north Belmont Place which is six blocks from French Street,” Tom reported.

“I didn't know where I lived is a crime,” said Wilson.

“It is if your an ex-con and didn't report a correct address,” Wallace replied.

“I did, you can look it up.”

“We will. Have a seat. We only want to ask you a few questions,” said McKenzie.

Wilson sat down and waited for McKenzie to begin questioning him.

“Alright, you told us where you live. Now, where do you work?.” asked Tom.

“Tony's Bar and Grill.”

“Doing what?”

“Washing dishes.”

“So, you're a dishwasher.'

“Yep. When you're an ex-con they don't make you chairman of the board.”

“As an ex-con why were you arrested?”

“Having sex with a minor.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Not too much to tell. I met a girl. She said she was nineteen. We had sex and it turned out that she was fifteen.

I was arrested and convicted for statutory rape.”

“How much time were you given?”

“Five years. I was out in three.”

“Where did this happen?”

“Bayonne.”

“How long have you been living and working in Nautilus Beach?

“About sixteen months.”

“And you registered here as a sex offender?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know a girl by the name of Ethel Lamb?”

“No.”

“Have you ever spent any time in or near the churches on Murray Street.”

“No.”

“What do you know about Ethel Lamb?”

“Not a damn thing.”

“Do you know that she was murdered?”

“Was she?”

“Yes.”

“What's that got to do with me?”

McKenzie was quiet for a