Abacus

of her brother’s demise, tears trickled down her face. Randall was ever watchful as both mother and daughter interacted.
    The detectives spent a further hour with Mrs. Briggs and Kaitlyn until a number of other family members arrived to support them both. Arrangements were made for them to come to the police station to provide statements and the crucial background information regarding Tony.
    The detectives walked down the stairs of the front porch and down the footpath, which led to the road. As they reached the small steel gate Randall held it open to allow Leanne to pass. As she did, he whispered quietly, “Well, my dear, we can scratch both mum and sis as suspects.”
    Leanne nodded . Genuine grief was hard to replicate.
    * * *
    Later that night, on his way home, Randall made a customary stop.
    Even tho ugh it was a dark night, he easily negotiated the maze of headstones, wrought iron fences and ornaments that surrounded the many decrepit and lonely gravesites. Even the light eerie mist and strange noises did little to unnerve him on his mission to share the good news. The sound from every footstep was exaggerated as he passed over a large section of white coarse quartz near their final resting place.
    Kneeing down next to the double gravesite, he placed a brown paper bag on the ground and draped his arm over the weathered headstone, touching it gently.
    From the bag, he removed a matchbox and candle, which he lit and carefully placed on the grave. Under candlelight, the detail on the headstone appeared from the darkness. R.I.P Matilda and Stan Randall . It had a number of peaceful doves soaring above the script. He removed a handkerchief from the inner pocket of his jacket and carefully wiped the headstone over, removing some dust and the occasional cobweb.
    Shaking the bag, he emptied the contents into his palm, a pale-coloured seashell and a small tube of silicone. Proudly holding out the illuminated shell, he whispered, “Mum, Dad, I have another shell for you and I also have some very good news to share.” He looked down at the raised concrete edging that surrounded the grave and counted the long line of shells on display. “This one makes thirty-two,” he said, squeezing the silicone onto the base of the shell and pushing it down firmly next to the last one. “The good news is the time has finally arrived. Jenkins has a parole board meeting in a week. They are forcing him out and I finally get the chance to get him.” He paused a moment. “I knew the news would make you both happy. I will be back as soon as it is done. You will be the first to know.”
    Stuffing the paper bag into his trouser pocket, he jumped to his feet, nodded to the headstone, and walked back to the car park.
    * * *
    Early the following morning, Randall sat at his desk with his left thumb and forefinger stretched across his brow as he read through the statements obtained from the Briggs family. As he read, he periodically stopped and scribbled key points on his notepad.
    As the team filed into work there was a buzz in the air, they were all aware that the investigation had progressed. The victim identification until now had been a stumbling block, but following the positive identification, the mood had lifted.
    “All right , crime fighters, get your coffees. We’ve got a bit to get through in the task force office in ten. Thanks,” Jesse called from his desk.
    Jesse entered the task fo rce room to a capacity audience, and stood next to the whiteboard. Pulling a cleaning wipe from a nearby box, he gave the whiteboard marker a good scrub, then his hands. The team smiled at each other as they looked on amusingly. Having satisfied his phobia, Jesse opened the meeting. “As you are all aware, last night we identified the phone number for the victim. We have since identified a witness who provided the small piece of paper with the phone number to the victim. She has looked at photographs and has positively identified the victim as Tony Briggs born twenty-one, ten, seventy-eight, formerly of Kensington. Last night the boss and Leanne informed the family and organised for background statements to be taken.”
    Jesse nodded at Hobbs. “Big fella, you want to fill us in with some background info?”
    Hobbs flicked open his notebook and addre ssed the team from where he sat. “We took a number of statements last night and what we have learned about the deceased is that he was a young single man who was a career university student.