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

there? Were they accidentally lost and dropped by the wearer or were they thrown into the bog to get rid of them as evidence?”

“I don't know,” said Joyce.

“Neither do I but I want to find these answers,” Basham replied.

“Knowing you and your tenacity I'm sure you will,” Joyce responded.

The next day Alistair Basham met with Inspector Godwin.

“My wife found these in the bog yesterday. Notice that the frames are silver, not some cheap wire imitation. The frames also hold one lens. I'm sure if we continue to dig we will find the other. If not, not to worry an examination of the one lens should give us a prescription. Hopefully in time we might connect the prescription to someone. That someone I assume is a female by the size and style of the frames,” said Basham.

“Interesting, however they could belong to any female and the glasses might have been discarded as useless junk” Godwin replied.

“I agree, nonetheless had the bog been used as a municipal dump my wife and the others from the university would have come across items related to so called junk. They didn't. Therefore one must assume that the glasses were either lost accidentally by someone or deliberately buried in the bog.

The question I have now is what other bodies are contained in the peat?,” said Alistair.

“I must admit that presently I am at a loss,” Godwin replied.

“Do not despair my good man. Eventually all these questions will be answered in time. Now, I've been doing a bit of investigating on my own. Nothing that would infringe on your proper investigation of course, merely the history of Hesterton itself. If I am correct during World War Two the town turned to the manufacturing of munitions, namely artillery shells. At the same time it hired young woman as employees. Now, what took place was the presence of young females in a town with few men who of course were serving in the ranks. At the same time there were American Army Air force Bases near Manchester, with Yank soldiers on passes. Combine the two, the women and the Yanks and I'm sure we can determine that there was more then one pregnancy. Don't you agree?,” asked Basham.

“Under those circumstances, yes,”Godwin answered.

“Excellent. Now then, your questioning of the townsfolk, how is it progressing?,” Basham asked.

“At present, nothing new I'm afraid,” Godwin replied.

“Don't despair. Soon or later someone might have a sudden case of remembering those days of the war. Be patient,” Alistair advised.

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

 

Two days later Basham paced the floor of the rented room in the hotel. Turning to his wife who sat brushing her hair he said, “I think that it's about time that we shelve this endeavor and head home. The only thing that we are doing is running up expenses. You are not finding what you are looking for and neither am I. To me this is all just a waste of time.”

“ Not yet dear. Give yourself another day or two, see what happens then decide,” Joyce advised.

“You do realize that I'm dealing not with a season investigator but rather a novice,” Alistair replied.

“What I do know is that each time you get involved in an investigation you think that you must solve it. As a criminologist your job, no make that your position in the case is to provide a portrait profile of the perpetrator not to solve the case and arrest someone. That's the job of the police.”

“A profile you say? Off hand I'm leaning to one or two females who are the killer of the babies,” said Basham.

“And just what brings you to this opinion dear?”, joyce asked.

“ A man, such as an obstetrician bent on committing infanticide could do it at the exact time of birth. There are many ways he could do it. For instance do not create the first breath by not clearing the baby's lungs. If using forceps, deliberately crush the skull. No, there's more here. From what I have determined the infants were alive approximately twenty four to forty eight hours before they were murdered. The question is why? There has to be a reason,” said Basham.

“Be that as it may I am not ready to leave. I have an inclination that I'm about to make a discovery that will allow the university to face it's alumni contributors and if not show a profit financially as well as academically at least ended the dig on an even basis,” said Joyce.

“Well, I wish I could be as optimistic as you dear, but I'm afraid that I'm involved in a cold case homicide that occurred nearly fifteen years ago. I might even be chasing ghosts. The killer or killer might be dead by now. After all there was the war, the blitz, one German bomb might have killed the one responsible not to mention destroying evidence,” said Alistair.

“I chase ghosts each and every time I work a dig. Ghosts of the past, animals, ancient people, primeval civilizations, when I'm stumped with a question I investigate by going back and reviewing what I already know. Some times I find he answer.

Some times I don't but at least I tried,” said Joyce.

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

Two days later Inspector Godwin contacted Alistair Basham. As they sat in Godwin's office Basham said, “I jolly well hope that you have some good news, something concrete old boy.”

“ What I have is the memory of an old police officer who I contacted. His name is Reginald Drayson. Officer Drayson served during the war as a uniformed officer here in Hesterton.

As you already know the town had a munitions factory and many young women workers. Well, it seems that one of the girls turned up missing. A report was made as was an investigation which led no where. The case was never closed, “ said Godwin.

“Does the Drayson chap remember the name of the girl?”,asked Basham.

“Yes, she was known as Edna Bule.”

“What else do you know now that you have viewed the file on the missing girl?”, asked Basham.

“Not too much really. Her address in Manchester was

nine seventeen Oldharn Road. Here in Hesterton she resided in a boarding house on Saint George Street. According to Drayton

a girl living at the boarding house, one Betty Filmore, said that she saw Edna Bule who was pregnant leave with a small suitcase. This was on October 16. 1944.”

“I'm sure that the report contains a description of the girl,”Basham mentioned.

“Yes of course. She is described as being a brunette standing at one hundred sixty four and a half cm. (5'5”) and weighing ten stone ( one hundred twenty eight pounds) She also wore eyeglasses,” Godwin reported.

“Eye glasses you say?,” asked Basham.

“Yes sir.”

“I suggest that you contact the Manchester City Police and ask them, to check that Oldharn Road address for any next of kin residing there. If so, then we will go there and speak to whoever can give us further information,” Basham advised.

“I will sir. Is there anything else?”, asked the Inspector.

“Yes, when you're done speaking with the Manchester City Police I suggest that we will ride out to Rose Bog. I want to talk with my wife. I have a feeling that we just might find Edna Bule.”

Thirty minutes later Inspector Godwin parked the unmarked Hesterton Police Car behind Basham's Bentley.

Both men got out of the vehicle and as they did Joyce Basham stood and removed the rubber gloves she was wearing as she dug in the wet peat moss. “What brings you out here?,” she asked, calling to her husband.

Alistair waited until he was close enogh to speak in a normal tone of voice then said, “You will recall the eyeglasses you found the other day?”

“Yes of course,” she replied.

“Well, I have reason to believe that they belonged to a young woman reported missing back in 1944. I can't say for sure but I have a feeling that her remains might just be here in the bog. I wanted you t be aware of the fact. Naturally, should you uncover anything remotely associated with a dead body and in particularly the body of a woman call me on the mobile,” said Alistair.

“I shall, however I doubt very much that your killer or killers placed the dead body of her in the bog,” said Joyce.

“Why not?”, asked Godwin.

“The babies were buried under twelve to fifteen inches of peat, some under twenty four to thirty six inches .I don't imagine whoever placed them there did it in broad daylight. So, let's assume that they worked in the dark, unseen, unobserved. With the babies it would take one or two turns of a shovel and the work is finished. Not so with the body of an adult.

It would take a lot of effort to dig down deep enough to create a wet grave, particularly when trying to avoid detection,” Joyce explained.

“Godwin smiled. “That makes sense. You speak like a detective,” he replied.

“I am a detective of sorts. The difference is I look for traces of evidence from life that existed many years go,”Joyce responded.

“Nonetheless love, keep a sharp lookout,” said Alistair.

“I shall,” Joyce answered.

As both men walked back to the car Godwin asked, “What now?”

“Now we wait to see how productive the Manchester City Police are in finding relatives of Edna Bule,” Basham answered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Six

Manchester City

 

Alistair Basham sat reading the morning newspaper at a corner table in the hotel restaurant. Before turning the pages of the paper he would lift his cup and take sips of hot coffee. This morning his main interest was how his stock investments were doing and as he was about to turn to the financial page he had to stop and answer his mobile telephone. “Oh, bloody hell,” he said aloud. “Hello”, he said as he answered the call.

“Doctor, Inspector Godwin here. I hope that I'm not disturbing you but I have some news.”

“If it's good news then it's no problem. It is good news isn't it?”

“ The Manchester City Police have located a relative of

Edna Bule,” said Godwin.

“Oh, good show.”

“I'm leaving for Manchester in a few minutes. Would you like to go along?”

“Oh, rather,” Basham answered.

“Fine, I'll be by the hotel in approximaley five minutes.”

“Excellent my boy. I shall be outside waiting,”Alistair replied. After he ended the call with Godwin Basham called his wife who was working at the bog. Joyce answered by saying, “Yes, what is it?”

“Just want you to know that I'm off to Manchester. Seems the Inspector has a lead in this bazaar matter. We shan't be long. I should be back in plenty of time for supper,” said Alistair.

“Fine, go, enjoy yourself,” Joyce replied. Then she pushed the off button on her mobile.

Approximately an hour later Inspector Godwin parked the unmarked, Hesterton Police vehicle at the main headquarters of the Manchester City Police. Both men got out of the automobile and Alistair followed Godwin into the building.

Once inside Godwin identified himself and requested to see Inspector Harry Cummings. While they waited Basham amused

himself by looking at the many glass enclosed photographs taken over the years of members of the police force. Alistair turned when he heard a voice say, “ Ah, Inspector Godwin. Nice to finally meet the bloke I've been chatting up on the telephone. How was your drive up?, asked Cummings as the two men shook hands.

“Ideal, allow me to introduce you to Doctor Alistair Basham. He has been advising me on several factors of this case,'

said Godwin.

“Doctor Basham. Are you the Doctor Basham that helped solve the Emily Watson case back in London during the war?,” asked Cummings.

“Since you used the word helped then I must admit that I am one and the same. However, it was the chaps in the police ranks that actually solved the case. As a criminologist I only provide a profile of the subject involved in a crime,” Basham explained.

“I fear that the professor is being to modest. Now then,

you told me over the telephone that you have located a relative of

Edna Bule,” said Godwin.

“Yes I have. It's her paternal grandmother, Agatha