The Case Of The Bog Bodies, Robert F. Clifton [best novels of all time txt] 📗

Once that's done Joyce will be able to examine what we find thoroughly,” said Basham.

Forty-five minutes later the photographers were finished and Joyce Basham walked through the front door.

“Hello Love,” said Alistair.

“Don't hello me. You didn't mention that I would have to wade through bramble bushes just to get to the front porch. Look at me. I'm covered with weed seeds and burrs.”

“Well, you still look beautiful to me. Besides, you are attired in your working togs, not a silk frock,” said her husband.

“Hogwash. Now, what do you want me to see?”, she asked.

“Come with us to the fireplace and tell us what you find,” said Godwin

Joyce followed the two men to the fireplace then leaned over and looked inside the hearth. She stood erect then opened the small canvas bag that hung by a shoulder strap. Removing a pair of latex gloves she put them on and reached into the hearth and removed a large bone. After examining it carefully she turned to the two men and said, “This is a humerus bone or the bone of the upper arm. Of hand, I would say that it once belonged to a female age between twenty and thirty years old. Shall I put it back or do you want it?,” she asked.

“Please give it to Officer Baker here. He's with the forensic team,” said Godwin.

As she handed the bone to the officer Joyce asked,

“What's next?”

“We think we found something in the cellar furnace.

Would you be so kind as to take a look? ” asked Godwin.

Upon reaching the cellar floor the Inspector led Joyce to the furnace. After opening the steel door to the furnace and shinning the torchlight inside Godwin moved aside saying, “Tell me what you see and find.”

Joyce leaned over, looked inside and with the gloved hand removed three small bones. She studied each bone and then said,” These are phalanges, fingers, and toes. Unfortunately here without the proper laboratory equipment, I can't tell you the sex or age of the donor,” she explained.

“But you can say if they're human or not, can't you? ” asked Godwin.

“Oh yes. They are indeed human,” Joyce answered.

“Very well. Thank you, Mrs. Basham,” said Godwin. Turning to Alistair he said, “I will have the backyard cleared

and see if I can locate a GPR as you call it. I hope that you are correct in your observance doctor because this investigation is costing the town of Hesterton more than the budget allows.”

“Look at it this way my boy. The free advertising and publicity Hesterton will receive when you solve the case of the bog bodies will more than compensate for the expenses you are occurring presently. Now if we are finished here my wife and I would like to retire to our hotel. Her to rest and make herself beautiful. Me for a pint in the pub,” said Alistair.

“I shall call you when the yard is mowed and things are in order,” said Godwin.

“Good show, now we would like a ride back to the Bridgeport Inn,” said Basham.

“Of course. Of course. I'll drive you there myself,” said the Inspector.

 

 

Chapter Eleven

Profile

 

Two days passed then at seven AM on the morning of the third day the telephone in the Basham's hotel room rang. “What the bloody hell! Who is calling this early?”, said Alistair.

“Hello,” he said.

“Doctor? Alfred Godwin here, good morning. I just want you to know that the landscape chaps have cleared the backyard. I even had them mow a path from the driveway to the front porch. Now then, the lads from the Manchester City Police will be here shortly and will begin work with their GPR. I expect them to start at approximately eight this morning. Since I know that you and Mrs. Basham want to be here I'll have a patrol car

meet you at the Inn and transport you out here. Say in an hour or so.”

“You being a bachelor means that you have no idea of just how long it takes a woman to get ready in the morning for what she has to do in the day, especially when she'll be wearing work togs. At the same time, I'm sure she would enjoy a bit of breakfast. Therefore, Alfred, I suggest you send the patrol car at about ten AM this morning,” Basham advised.

“Of course sir. I wasn't thinking. Chalk it up to inexperience.”

“Nonsense, I appreciate your enthusiasm. I suggest that you stay with the GPR man or men. If they find something have them mark the place. When we get there Joyce will take a look on the GPR screen and make the determination on whether to dig or not. While she's doing that I want to take another tour of the house.”

“Looking for something in particular?”, asked Godwin.

“No, I just want an overview of the place in case I missed something,” Basham answered.

At ten forty AM Joyce followed Alistair up the new, mowed path that led to the front of the house. Basham helped his wife onto the porch steps holding her arm as she stepped gingerly on each board. They both entered the building and immediately walked to the kitchen, the backdoor then out onto the rear porch.

Seeing the Basham's Godwin said, “Ah, you're here. Good morning,” he said.

Alistair looked up to the sky and said, “Yes, it appears that the day will be clear and free from rain. There's not a cloud

in the sky. A bit warm for this time of year, don't you think?”

“Well, I think it's a good day to do the work at hand. Shall we get started,” said Joyce.

“Excellent. At present the lads from Manchester City

have found three places that indicated that something is buried in the yard. You will notice that they have placed markers where they made their findings. Now, if you will we'll have the chaps go over the area again. This time, however, you will see what they saw and you can make the determination on whether or not to dig,” said Godwin.

“Very well, let's see what we find,” said Joyce.

“While all of you are searching I shall be conducting the grand tour of Ainsworth House,” said Basham as he turned and walked back inside. Once inside Alistair made his way up the winding staircase. At the top of the stairs there was a hallway and from where he stood he could see five doors, all closed. The morning sunlight coming through the broken window panes made for good visibility and he walked slowly to the first door.

He turned the doorknob and gently pushed. It opened and he walked into a room that held a steel stool and an examination table complete with stirrups. “So this is where they did their work,” he thought to himself. Other than the table and stool only dust, cobwebs, broken glass and bird droppings were in the room. Basham then left the room stepped again into the hallway and made his way to the next door. He opened it nd stepped inside. There he found a complete Victorian bedroom set complete with a tufted padded headboard. The bed, dresser, chest of drawers and night table all of which were now dirty still revealed the antique white finish. “ Interesting, a bit of luxury in a place not known for it,” he thought again.

Leaving the bedroom he went to the next door opened it and stepped into a bedroom containing a French Provincial Expresso color bedroom set. The bureau, chest of drawers and night table all matched. Like the first bedroom, the window panes were broken and the rug wet by rain over and over had deteriorated with rot over the years. Continuing his observation of the upstairs the next two doors he opened were both bathrooms complete with bathtub, sink, and toilet. Checking the last two rooms he found them modestly decorated with inexpensive bedroom furniture.

While standing in the last bedroom he heard Joyce call,“ Alistair come here! We found something,” she said.

Basham walked to the broken rear window that overlooked the backyard. “What have you got?”, he called out.

“Bones, a skeleton,” she answered.

Alistair quickly left the room hurried down the staircase entered the parlor turned and made his way to the kitchen and backdoor. Outside he walked quickly to where his wife, Inspector Godwin and the GPR operator stood talking.”What do we have?” he asked.

“I won't know until I get down there. We're waiting for the photographer to arrive. Once photos are taken I'll climb down there and examine the remains,” said Joyce.

Basham turned and watched two men digging on the other side of the yard. “What Are they after?” he asked.

“Probably another body. They have found what I consider to be another grave site. That and one near the wooded property line,” Joyce explained.

“Three graves?”, asked Basham.

“Let's hope that's all there is,” said Joyce.

One hour later Joyce Basham was lowered into the deep grave that held the skeletal remains. She knelt down and then carefully studied the complete set of human bones. After a time she looked up at the men standing above watching her and said. “This was once a young female. I judge her to have been between eighteen and twenty-five years of age. I can tell that she had given birth by the presence of a series of shotgun pellet sized

pockmarks along the inside of the pelvic bone caused by the tearing of ligaments during childbirth. Now, someone give me a hand up.”

Alistair turned to Godwin and said, “That my good man is the remains of Edna Bule.”

“Are you certain doctor? ” Godwin asked.

“Well, at least ninety eight percent positive,” Basham answered.

“Mrs. Basham, can you tell the cause of death?”, asked Godwin.

“No, but a pathologist might,” she answered.

Thirty minutes later Joyce entered the second grave.

Once again she took her time as she studied the skeleton. Satisfied with her determination she said. “This is another young female. Again I believe her to have been between twenty and thirty years old at the time of death. There is no sign of childbirth.”

“Odd, wouldn't you say?”, asked Godwin to Basham.

“Not if the victim bled to death from a hemorrhage caused by a botched abortion old boy,” Alistair replied.

The police, diggers and the Basham's stopped for lunch and Godwin had sandwiches and hot tea brought to the crime scene. As the Inspector, Alistair and Joyce sat on the back porch steps eating Godwin asked, “Are you now any closer to providing me with a profile yet, Doctor.”

“Patience my boy, patience. We have one more body to look at. After that, I should be able to come to some decision. Hopefully, it will aid you in your investigation,” Basham answered.

“I certainly hope so,” Godwin responded.

An hour later Joyce looked up, after finishing examining that latest skeleton. “This one is different. I judge these remains to be that of a female between sixty and seventy years old,” she said.

“And that would be what's left of Margaret Ainsworth,” said Basham.

“Really? asked Godwin.

“Oh to be sure old boy. You see the way I see it

the Ainsworth woman was opposed to doing abortions particularly when whoever that as yet unidentified woman lying in the grave there probably died as a result of a bad abortion. So, they killed her and buried her with the others.”

“What about the Bule girl? asked Godwin.

“We won't know until a pathologist tells us if one can. I would say that Edna Bule probably died after giving birth probably because of poor care, infection, whatever,” Basham explained

“Now, do you have a profile?”, asked Godwin.

“I do. Your killers are a man and woman now in their eighties and living in the area,” Basham answered.

“A man, yes, Charles Fields, but who is the woman?' asked Godwin.

“The woman is Elizabeth Garrick and you'll find her three doors down the hallway from her brother's room in the Oak View nursing home in Manchester City. We were so involved in finding and talking to Charles that we never inquired about his sister. However, Charles Fields is not your killer