Scorpio's Lot (80 page)

‘Come now, Mr Harrison, you’re
not using your head. Think about it. All the answers are there bar one.’

‘Oh, then could you please
enlighten us?’ I insisted.

Findlay responded with an air of
authority. ‘Certainly. I’ve shared with you the evidence accumulated over the
past ten years. Now couple this with the Simpson letter and everything remains
consistent and supportive from both sources. To begin with, Alfred spoke of
using the mathematical formula in conjunction with a street map. My source
provides the scale of map to be used. Alfred makes reference to the submerged
three-pointed star. Our research provides identical information but with one
subtle difference - the discovery of the equilateral triangle, which is
supported by the website you located at Perkins Press. Additionally, further
evidence has come to hand categorically stating that the second or smaller
equilateral triangle is in fact the star. I can continue with further examples
if you wish.’

‘Okay, you’ve made your point,
but how in the hell can I turn this blackboard drawing into something that will
ultimately locate the underground network?’

Findlay stepped toward his
diagram to emphasise its importance. ‘Points one, two and three are your
entrance points to the subterranean passageways. Point four becomes the central
star well.’

‘What is a central star well?’
queried Arthur.

‘This becomes your central
pivoting point.’

‘Your what?’ Arthur asked.

‘You’re not looking at the bigger
picture. Cut an outline of the triangle and place it on a Pedley street map
that has a scale of 1:50 to 200 yards. In other words, you’re making up a
template. Why? Because this three-pointed star is to the exact same scale as
the map. I’ve provided you with the tool, but I can’t help you with the sites
of the three entrances. That’s something we don’t know. Initially you must find
the location of the central star well, which as the name implies is an old well
site situated in the exact centre of the triangle. Once you’ve discovered this,
place point four of our drawing onto this spot to act as your pivoting point.
You will then enable the three-pointed star to rotate at a certain radius. The
three underground entrances are somewhere on that circular line. Again, that
part of the puzzle you’ll have to work out yourselves.’

‘Tom, remember the article I read
in the
Advertiser
?’ said Hamish. ‘It was about some guy who claimed he
had found the subterranean passageways.’

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘it turned out to
be a disused well when the authorities decided to check. I wonder if that
report mentioned the location.’

‘I can’t recall. We didn’t
realise the importance of that report at the time,’ confessed Hamish.

‘We can always return and look
through those microfiche cards again,’ Arthur said and then added, ‘This
explanation is beginning to make sense. As you rightly point out, Gordon, you’ve
provided us with the tool and now it’s up to us to make the damn thing work.’

‘Exactly!’

‘The one thing that hasn’t been
discussed is the star being submerged,’ said Arthur, to ensure all aspects were
covered.

‘Elementary, my dear Watson,’
responded Findlay, taking a swipe at Arthur’s ridiculous outfit. ‘Find the
locations to one, two, three and four and by submerging the star at these
precise points you will reveal the underground network.’

Unexpectedly, Hamish had one last
enquiry that took everyone by surprise.

‘Mr Findlay, do you happen to
know a person called the Piedpiper?’

Findlay’s eyebrows shot up
instantly. A mixture of frown and oppression was etched on his face. I couldn’t
help but think that Gordon Findlay and his expression wouldn’t exactly excel in
noble art of poker. He paused before committing himself.

‘Certainly not! My only knowledge
of this man is from what I read in the newspapers, nothing more. Why do you
ask?’ asked Findlay.

‘Because he’s probably located
the subterranean passageways,’ replied Hamish in a surprisingly calm manner. ‘This
person has received information from some reputable source, that’s all.’

‘Well, he didn’t approach the
Huesmann Historian Group if that’s what you’re implying.’

‘My intention wasn’t to offend,
merely enquire,’ Hamish said.

Arthur intervened to soften the
contentious remark. ‘We wish to thank you both for your generous contribution.
Its time we returned to Pedley and recommenced our investigation.’

‘Good luck with the remainder of
your search. Please let us know if you discover the subterranean site,’ stated
Findlay in a passing gesture.

~ * ~

After
leaving Findlay’s house we agreed to dismiss the second publishing house. Time
would not allow for further research, and besides, we had what we came for -
the tool to uncover the elusive underground network. The return trip to Pedley
was full of discussion, each of us laying claim to where the elusive fourth
point should be inserted on the map. We had become a Sherlock Holmes trio, each
believing it to be our destiny to solve this mother of all puzzles.

‘I bet it stood along the main
street,’ I said. ‘Any ideas, Arthur? You’ve lived in the place a lot longer.’

‘Tend to agree, Tom. I believe
the central star well has got to be in the heart of town, considering how far
back in time these cryptic clues go. Back in those days there wouldn’t be many
roads in Pedley. As to its exact whereabouts, I’m not sure, for there’s been no
well during my time.’

‘Just look for a divot in the
ground. There still might be a slight hollow where they tried to fill it up,’
offered the Irishman.

‘That’s bloody ridiculous,’
Arthur said. ‘It’s over a hundred years ago! Get back to your driving, Hamish.’

‘You realise we’ll have to inform
the police about this. Can’t hold back on this evidence from our illustrious
Detective Forbes,’ Arthur said.

I groaned. ‘You’re right, but
bloody Forbes of all people.’

Wherever this site may prove to
be, it was indeed a major breakthrough. Momentum had suddenly taken a giant
leap forward. We would revisit the
Advertiser
in hope of relocating the
microfiche that displayed the disused well story, and maybe it would depict the
exact location. I had taken the liberty of drawing the star and had noted the
various clues. Tomorrow I would go in search of a street map to the required
scale. I tried to visualise a circle produced by the three-pointed star,
knowing the underground entrances lay somewhere on that drawn ring. And that
somewhere lay in wait as our next elusive hurdle. I also realised that without
the correct central pivoting point the matter would never be resolved.

~ * ~

orbes
appeared agitated with the influx of further agents from city office. Twelve
officers had arrived to lend their support in apprehending the drug leaders.
Numbers, it would appear, was headquarters’ solution to securing earlier
arrests. But Forbes wasn’t so sure. He already had sufficient men at his
disposal to tackle the day-to-day demands. And now this. Pedley Station was
beginning to resemble some bloody police convention, he thought. Damn people
everywhere with not even enough room to swing a cat.

He contemplated using his newly
acquired backup team to intensify their search for Scorpio HQ. Spread the men
and give me some room to breathe, was Forbes’ idea. On top of this the
operational units of SOG and Air Wing were on standby. Although somewhat
appreciative of the response from headquarters, he was, nonetheless, of the
opinion this immediate injection was overkill. Vast numbers would be better
served when infiltration of the enemy became assured.

Forbes had briefed the new
arrivals on arrival, with the intention of conducting a further meeting in the
afternoon, primarily with the subterranean passageways in mind. In the meantime
his immediate duty lay elsewhere.

In reception, awaiting the
detective’s arrival, sat a nervous Ms Szabo. The unannounced arrival of Martino
caught Piochsa unawares.

‘Forbes will see you now,’
Martino said. ‘Please follow me through.’

He led her through to a rear
office, a small room containing three chairs and a desk. No pictures hung on
the wall. The physical layout gave the impression it was designed to maximise
the suspect’s discomfort and sense of powerlessness. A conspicuous observation
mirror stretched the length of one wall. Piochsa immediately felt an air of
exposure, unfamiliarity and isolation. The interrogation room had heightened
her anxieties and she had a compelling sensation to make a run for it. Forbes
and Doyle occupied two chairs. Martino gestured for her to take a seat in the
remaining vacant one, which looked distinctly uncomfortable. The young
constable then left the room.

The pompous detective commenced
in an unusual manner, unlike the interviews with Slatttery, Muller and Harrison
that required a more direct approach.

‘Ms Szabo, thank you for your
attendance,’ Forbes said. ‘Trust you’re well?’

‘I’m fine, detective,’ Piochsa
coolly acknowledged.

‘Ah ... the Esplanade. I must say
they do pour a good beer. Been working there long?’

‘Around three years part time.’

‘Oh, I didn’t realise. Then the
saloon is not your main source of income?’

‘No. I’m a pathologist by day
employed by the Pedley Base Hospital.’

The small talk continued. Forbes
was a master at the art of interrogation. His initial task would be to
determine guilt or innocence regarding drug possession. Was the suspect that
sat before him an active member of Scorpio? If proven to be, then the
constabulary could lay claim to a monumental breakthrough. He knew it was
important to develop a rapport with the Hungarian by using the casual approach
to create a non-threatening atmosphere. Forbes’ objective was to encourage
conversation with the use of harmless topics prior to the discussion turning to
crime. He was well aware that to share some of Piochsa’s interests or beliefs
would assist with general talk.

The two progressed through a
range of subjects. Conversation rarely faltered. The detective was in his
element as he dictated proceedings with relative ease. Piochsa was becoming uncomfortable
with this excessive irrelevant gabble. Why not get to the damn subject in
question? The reason why I’m bloody here, she said to herself. The ever-quiet
Doyle, to this point, continued to be an observer.

Forbes was patient. It was
crucial with the evaluation process. His method of questioning was both clever
and unsuspecting. He purposely chose an array of subjects to force Piochsa to
access different parts of her brain. His non-threatening questions simply
required a memory recall, while the remainder forced the creativity or thinking
component. From his years of practice, he knew that when a suspect was trying
to remember something: the eyes invariably will move to the right. This
remembering factor generally signaled a truthful answer. Similarly, with the
thinking aspect, the eyes often moved upwards or to the left. This behaviour
often indicated deception or guilt. Forbes detected these visual patterns and
considered he had Piochsa’s measure. No ravishing beauty was going to persuade
him otherwise. He was now ready to apply his technique to the case in hand.
Forbes’ third-degree technique was about to be unleashed.