murder in the middle of the leak (Alice)

It wasn’t just trying to clean up crime that tired Alice out. The weirdness round her did keep wearing a person down as well. So Francis has a point. The island itself was a player in this drama.

“Given what I’ve seen here naturally and weird I’d be inclined to agree with you but I don’t have anywhere else I could call home. We need to make things better for the children” Alice softly replied.

“I’m sure we can leave the body there for a while longer. At least till we can get the village doctor to sign off in lieu of the coroner. Then perhaps store the body at the funeral home” she added. This work around wasn’t ideal but they had to use what resources they had. “Let’s go to the village”.

So the next stop would be the fishing village itself. A short drive from here and now they could see the sea again as it got dark. It also had been a long day.

Francis Dominic

In the falling darkness the lights from the jeep Alice was driving on a narrow two lane road near a sea wall the water looked way more active than it did on the north of the island. More purposeful and even angry. People worked here and while not prettied up for the tourists (which might happen later) it did have a charm of its own.

Francis had a question and she replied keeping a sharp eye on driving conditions saying “it would be worth a try and the children might well like. If I was doing officer Stones’ job would be the main reason as it would be a very long commute but who knows the future? Perhaps some day we end up playing sheriff in a thriving village with the occasional tourist being pickpocketed the high point of the day.

This case aside it seems so relaxing already”.

It was easy to follow the road round to the main part of the village. The fishing docks and the landing piers which also was the place of sale were to the west with the village proper being easterly from there. Their focus was finding the police station house but everything seemed so self contained with the lights of houses on the hill behind them.

So when they did find it it looked like it had been around a century at least. Alice pulled up keeping the beams on for now so they could unload what they needed out of the jeep to work the case from here. Now they got to meet Officers Stones and Sartana. Two men with Anton Stones being Caucasian and middle aged. It was clear bring down here working was good for his state of mind and his waistline. Luis Sartana was Hispanic, younger and glad to be out of the big bad old town.

So with introductions made they entered the police station and got set up as well as getting the tour.

Francis Dominic

With introductions made and the tour showing them the small cell block tucked away at the back of the building as well as surprise in the basement they finally all got to eat. A small makeshift morgue was down there which Alice found surprising and useful. The office was what you’d expect to see and not much different from their own office back in the city.

“I could picture you being a Sheriff. One of us might end up doing that” Alice mused cheerfully. So now also set up and with some kind of battered fried fish as dinner the case could start properly tomorrow. She still needed the John Doe picked up and that would need the local doctor as she told the home officers what they’d found so far. Local input was invaluable.

Francis Dominic

Alice chuckled back hearing this and Anton replied “I didn’t think I be a sheriff either. Yet here I am”. He’d been a beat cop before coming here but it was good for him and his partner back in the old town who was Luis. 

“We already could come across any kind of case doing what we do. It’s still a possibility” she remarked to Francis with a little smile. Yet the idea sounded ideal for her. Lucas would have the long commute but the children would love it. Now they’d get to know the key players round here. The local doctor whom they’d deal with at first light. Dr Josephine Jones came from the city as well as the local priest. Father Hugo McKay ran the local community centre as well as the church. It was still open air services for the faithful right now but they should at least be covered soon even if there was no formal building.

“It looks like we have a lot to look at at people to meet” she added turning to Francis. “But first we eat dinner and clock off for the night”.

Francis Dominic

Anton and Luis normally went to the battered local fish option and her partner had a thought about the choice of dining. Luis suggested “theres a bar and diner just down Main Street. They mainly do fish dishes but can get their hands on chicken and pork”. Alice wasn’t a fussy eater and could FaceTime her children and boyfriend soon enough from her phone. So being apart was part of the job but not a big problem.

“That sounds like a plan” she replied to Luis. “We’ll check into the guesthouse first and then get food at the diner” she then suggested to Francis. They’d meet up with the other officers again the next day and find out more about this immediate area. She hoped there was enough to hold the young generation here but in small places like this they might not come back after college.

Francis Dominic

The guesthouse didn’t look like much but Francis was most likely correct about this village not getting many visitors. At least for now but the future might well change that state of affairs. “It looks like they don’t yet but that could change. When the US forces presence settles down they could come here for R&R and once news gets out you’ll find more tourists down here as well” she suggested.

So once checked in they got a room key each and found a shared bathroom at the end of the corridor. They’d just have to take turns and right now they were the only guests. Two more tourists were supposed to be here but they’d gotten stuck in the city. The rooms were small but adequate and at least they’d Wi-Fi.

So leaving of their luggage it was time for dinner. You could see the waves further in now but the tide would be going out in the morning along with the fishing boats.

So entering the combined bar and diner it looked like the kind of place that opened late. You had what you’d expect to find on other Caribbean islands but also on the East Coast USA on the menu so once finding a table they got to look at the menu. Alice went for Jerk Chicken and rice always ready to try something different.

Francis Dominic