Gifts From The Kasbah by Robert F. Clifton (smart ebook reader txt) 📕

“Any one else?”, asked Wallace.

“It seems to me that there was a new girl that they met and use to hang out with. A Gloria, something. Gloria? Gloria? I'm sorry at the moment I can't recall the last name”, she said.

Wallace wrote the name in his notebook. “Maybe you will recall the name later. Right now I need to know if Elizabeth drove her own automobile”.

“Yes, she did”, said Doris Kerr.

“What make is it?”,asked Wallace

“It's a Mercedes-Benz 450L”, Donald Kerr responded.

“And where is it?”, asked Wallace

“In the garage with the other cars”, said Mr. Kerr.

“Then, I assume that she didn't drive on the night of her death”, said the Captain.

“That's right. As a matter of fact we don't know how she got to the hospital. Some one had to take her there”, said Donald Kerr.

“Interesting. I'll check on that”, Wallace answered. “In the meantime I want all of you to be aware of the fact that the police department is obligated to inform the public through the news media of all crimes, especially

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homicides. When we do you will be set upon by news reporters from papers, T.V. and radio. My advice is if you feel that it is necessary for you to communicate with the media that you tell them only what you have told me. You see, information leaked at this stage of the investigation alerts those responsible and creates false leads from people. Some citizens after reading or hearing things about the case while trying to help actually hinder our attempts to find evidence”, he continued.

“I'll see to it that no one meets with or gives any information to the press”, said Donald Kerr.

“In your case sir, that is a good idea. It is my understanding that you are or are thinking about entering politics. At this stage of your political career the press as well as any political opponents would love to delve into your private life and affairs. Now I'm going to call for the crime scene technicians to come here and go over Elizabeth's automobile and the garage. Until I release both back to you the car and garage are off limits to everyone. Do you understand? Good. May I use your telephone?”, asked Wallace.

Forty minutes later Captain Robert Wallace stood in front of the Kerr's garage and watched three crime scene investigators put on Tyvek suit coveralls which protected them from contaminating the site and at the same time being contaminated. Attired in white from head to foot the technicians went to work.

Wallace heard the sound of a vacuum cleaner with its sterile filters as the technician swept the interior of the automobile gathering dust, dirt, and particles of matter that would be analyzed later in the lab. He took a long look at the Mercedes two door sports car. It was silver colored with a black interior. The perfect graduation gift for any rich girl. Now, it was just a piece of evidence in the rich girls murder.

As the vacuuming continued another technician dusted the exterior of the Mercedes for latent prints. At the same time samples of soil was removed from the under carriage and placed in evidence bags and tagged.

Two hours later the technicians were almost finished. Sergeant June Campo reported to Captain Wallace. “That's about it Captain, we need the keys to open the trunk” she said.

24. “Aren't they in the ignition?” asked Wallace.

“No sir”.

Alright, I'll get them. Did you find anything?”, Wallace asked.

“Yep! Flower petals”, Campo answered.

“Flower petals? What kind?”, asked Wallace

“We can't tell right now, but they are old and dry”.

“Let me know when you find out Sergeant”.

“Will do”.

“Thank you”, said Wallace as he wrote that information in his notebook.

Entering the Kerr residence again Wallace found Mr. and Mrs. Kerr along with Jane Chambers still in the library. “Miss Chambers, could I ask you to bring me Elizabeth's pocketbook again please”.

“Certainly”, answered Miss chambers as she got up and left the room.

“Did you find anything Captain?”, asked Mrs. Kerr.

“Probably only more questions I'm afraid,” Wallace replied.

When Jane Chambers came back into the room she handed Wallace the pocketbook. He took it, opened it, looked inside and noticed that there were no car keys.

“I have a question. If Elizabeth did not drive her automobile then where are her ignition keys? Did anyone of you drive her car recently? Does anyone have her keys maybe by mistake perhaps?”asked Wallace

“The only other keys are the spare set that are kept with all of the automobile spare keys”, said Donald Kerr.

“I see. Now, where has Elizabeth been where she could accumulate flower petals?”Wallace inquired.

“Flower petals?” asked Doris Kerr.

“The technicians found dried flower petals inside the Mercedes”, said Wallace.

25. “We have no idea”, said Mr. Kerr.

Wallace then looked at Miss Chambers hoping for an answer. Seeing the inquisitive look on his face she shook her head then said, “As for the keys let me look around the house for them. It's possible Betty just tossed them somewhere when she came in. I'll call you at your office when and if they turn up”.

“Thank you. I appreciate that. In the mean time I want Elizabeth's address book. It might shed some light on just who she was associating with", Wallace replied.

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Chapter Five

On Thursday, December 28, Robert Wallace sat at his desk typing a formal report from the notes he had written in his notebook. As he read the lines it occurred to him that Jane Chambers had not called about the missing car keys. Had she forgot or was she still looking? He resisted the urge to reach for the telephone on his desk and to call her at the Kerr residence. “No, I'll wait and call her at home tonight”, he thought to himself.

His thoughts were interrupted when Meredith Maxwell walked into his office. Wallace looked up and said, “Good morning Commissioner. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Yes. You can start by obeying my orders”, said Maxwell.

“I see. And, just what were they again?” asked Wallace.

“You know damn well what they are. You were ordered by me to investigate the death of Elizabeth Kerr and report back to me or Chief Monahan”.

“Which I did”, said Wallace.

“I have not received any information”, said Maxwell.

“Then, I suggest that you speak to the Chief. He has my reports. Whether or not he has read them is another story, but I submitted my reports.”

“In an effort to save time Captain bring me up to date, verbally if you don't mind”, said Maxwell sarcastically.

“Certainly. What we have at present is a homicide. The Kerr girl was poisoned. What with, we don't know at this time. The State labs are working on it. When I know, you will know”, answered Wallace.

“Any idea who killed her and why?

“Commissioner, at this point of the investigation the poisoning could be accidental or it could be intentional. My investigation is only hours old”, Wallace responded.

“It is my understanding that the girl was a junkie”.

“Right now you are relying on hearsay or street talk. The definition of a junkie could be one addicted to heroin. The Kerr girl was a user, but it is too early in the investigation to label her a junkie”, explained Wallace.

Maxwell's face became red with anger but he fought the rise in

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his temper turned and walked away. “Keep me advised Captain” he said walking out the door.

“Yes sir”, said Wallace.

When Commissioner Maxwell left the Captain's office Wallace glanced at his wristwatch. He noticed the time to be ten forty five A.M.

He had contacted Martin Thomas by telephone at exactly nine A.M. that morning and the young man agreed to come into headquarters no later than eleven o'clock. As Wallace read and re-read his notes and reports searching for any piece of information that he might have over looked a voice in the office doorway made him look up.

“Captain Wallace? I'm Martin Thomas. We spoke this morning on the telephone', said the young man in the entrance way .

Wallace stood up. “Come in, come in. Have a seat”, said the Captain as he walked across the floor and shook hands with the young man. As he did he looked Martin Thomas over. He found a man about twenty or twenty two years of age. The man was neat, clean and dressed in the style of the times, blue jeans, tennis shirt, loafers, no socks. Thomas was clean shaved and sported, long blond hair.

Taking his seat behind the desk Wallace began to speak. “First, I want to thank you for coming in to see me. I’m going to ask you several questions, mostly about your friendship with Elizabeth Kerr. At this time I want to advise you of the fact that our conversation will be recorded. Do you have any objections?

"No sir".

"Good, as you probably know by now I'm investigating the death of Elizabeth Kerr. It is my understanding that she was more than just a friend of yours. Am I correct?”

“If you mean our dating was more than just a friendship, then you are correct”, said Thomas.

“Then I take it there was nothing serious, no romance or anything?”,asked Wallace

“No sir, just a girl I dated from time to time”, Thomas answered.

“When you dated, did you use your car or her car?”asked the Captain.

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“Some times hers. Sometimes mine”

“And when you used her car, who drove?”

“Most of the time I did”

“Why?'

“I don't know. It's probably a macho thing. I drove. She never objected.

“Alright, now let's go to the night she died. Did you see her that evening?”

“Yes sir”

“Where and under what circumstances?”

“I was at home watching a basketball game on T.V.

The telephone rang I answered and it was Betty. She told me that she was parked near the Hollywood theater and that she was sick and needed help. She asked me to come get her. I jumped into my car and drove into town, spotted her car, parked mine and went to her. When I got there she was really sick”.

“Let me stop you right here. When you say she was really sick. Describe for me what you saw”, said Wallace

“When I opened her car door I saw that she had vomited. I talked to her and I think she heard me, but now that I think about it I don't think she recognized me.'

“Anything else?”

“She told me that she couldn't see, that everything was blurry”.

“And?”

“And she had terrible pains in her stomach”

“Alright, then what did you do?”, asked the Captain.

“I guess by now it is no secret that Betty was using heroin”, said Thomas.

“That's right. It is no secret”, answered Wallace

“Well, at the time I though she was O.D. The stomach pain and vomiting to me was a result of her eating too much horse”.

“Is that how Elizabeth used it, by ingesting?”

“Yes sir”.

“Go on”, said Wallace.

“Like I said, I thought she had over dosed so the only thing I could think of was to get her to the hospital where she could get some help. I pulled her over on to the passenger seat, got behind the wheel and drove there. When I got to the hospital thinking that drugs were involved I realized that I didn't want to get involved so I pulled her out of the car and carried her to the bench near

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the emergency room entrance figuring that someone would come along and find her. I guess someone did”.

“Yes someone did. What did you do next?”

“I didn't know what to do. I drove around for awhile in her car, then decided to take it to the all night self service car wash. I used the water there to wash and clean the floor mats where she had vomited. Then I drove to the her place. I pulled into the garage and parked it. I walked home. The next day a friend drove me into town so I could get my wheels'.

“Do you still have her car keys?, asked Wallace

“Yes sir. Not thinking I got out of her car and put the keys in my