The Crucifix Murders

All had been rather quiet at Little Linton since Kent's last big case. It was now May and the summer had set in early. All the trees and bushes were adorned with their colours and leaves. The sun had shone daily since the end of April and was very, very warm. It was now eighteen months since the Plough, the old estate public house had been gutted and thanks to the local council the police authority managed to purchase the land. Much to Kent's delight a new police headquarters was built on the land. It was a far cry from the waiting room at the old railway station. Kent now had his own office with INSPECTOR ARTHUR KENT proudly displayed on the door. There were also three other offices divided by partitions. Kent had managed to keep his collection of old sporting legends and they were professionally placed on the walls of his office. The new building also contained two interview rooms and two cells, these being used only for transit of prisoners to be sent to headquarters at Charles Street, Leicester. Just inside the entrance was an enquiry desk which was manned by a three eight hour shift system. The reason for all the changes was because Kent's responsibilities had become greater. Apart from his coverage of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire he now had South Lincolnshire to contend with. Probably according to his staff the best thing to happen was the installation of a canteen, this was ran by a lady named Maggie Stewart. She was a bonny lady in her middle fifties and always had a smile on her rosy face. Tea, coffee and hot meals could be obtained anytime between 8 am and 6 pm. Maggie enjoyed her job and was always a willing servant. Apart from all the changes, Kent's sidekick DC Moore had returned. He had been on a six month promotion course recommended by Kent for his work on the Johnson case. Much to Kent's delight he returned as Detective Sergeant, he came through with flying colours. Kent had also been fitted with a new prosthesis having lost a leg working for the MET in London. This contraption was far more up to date, the knee joint was a lot more flexible and comfortable. It would be difficult for any stranger to know that he had this infliction. DS Moore still lodged at number 3 The Cottages with Inspector Kent and he still did most of the household chores. Nothing had changed. 'Don't bother with breakfast Don we will have a bacon sandwich at the station', Kent explained. Moore hadn't only been promoted he had also changed his car. He now drove a BMW. Although it was less than a mile to the station Kent always preferred to be driven there. Moore had even been allotted his own parking space. He drove past the village square and into his space feeling quite important. 'Nice model', Kent said admiring the BMW, 'I bet that cost a few quid?' 'Sure did Guv, but I have it on the knock so I will need plenty of overtime to make the monthly payments?' 'Well at the moment things are rather quiet as you know', Kent replied. 'The air conditioning comes in handy as well; this weather is nice, but to put it mildly, some days the heat is over powering. 'Morning Jim', Kent said, when entering the station. 'Mornin' Sir', Police Sergeant Jim Coleman was on desk duty, a burly copper, and the type one didn't mess with. He was at least 6 feet 2 inches tall and almost as wide. A married man aged forty-five with two grown up children. 'Anything to report Jim?' Kent asked. 'No Sir, except for an old lady who reported her pet cat missing'. DC Moore went straight to the canteen. 'Hello Maggie, two bacon rolls and two teas please, no sugar in one the Inspector is watching his cholesterol'. 'Coming up Sarge', Maggie replied. Kent wandered around his desk and at the same time rubbing his hand gently on the highly polished mahogany. He had purchased the desk when on his trips around antique and car boot sales which he frequented on a regular basis when time allowed. Everything in the new premises was computerised, but Kent wasn't too keen. He still preferred the notebook and pencil. He had one computer set up in Moore's office and another on the enquiry desk. It seemed to Kent that the younger generations were born with the confounded things stuck up their backsides. Although he knew the basics he didn't feel the need to use the blessed things for everything. Also the other modern contraption, namely the mobile phone. Whatever did we do without them? Unlike the computer Kent did own a mobile and his ring tone was still Greensleeves, this he chose because his love of music. Kent also continued to coach and run his local cricket team but he had lost one of his opening batsmen, PC Alan Brown. His captain PC Charlie Stubbs was still with him, simply because his ambition in the police force was very limited, he still did his regular beat on the estate side of Little Linton, whereas PC Brown was far more ambitious, he was now aiming for police sergeant and was on course at the Leicester Headquarters. Apart from his police work, Brown had been a good opening batsman. This showing in the teams results without him. Played 3 Lost 3. His replacement was a young PC Steve Hancock; he also trod the beat with Stubbs on the estate. Apart from the new station nothing much had changed at Linton, although Kent had lost his neighbour at number 2, old Herbert Watson had died a week before his eightieth birthday. He had been suffering in his final years and died of a heart attack. His new neighbour's were Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, Ken and Alice to their friends. They kept themselves to their selves. Probably in their late fifties and childless. Kent however got on reasonably well with them. Bert Cooper still ran his garage, but this was now a little old fashioned. Bert had not kept up with the times, the days of lifting the bonnet and doing repairs had long gone. Cars now days were far more advanced in technology, electronics were the in thing. Electronics this, electronics that etc. However Bert still managed to make a living out of it and he also employed a couple of youths off the estate. Kent still used his old watering hole, the Dog and Gun although Bill and Gertie Makepeace had sold up and bought a holiday home in Cornwall. The new tenants Harry and June Middleton were a pleasant couple, although June only did bar meals, as did Gertie. The domino school still met at lunchtimes and evenings. In the three years or so that Kent had been at Linton the four old gents had hardly uttered a word to him. The Dog and Gun was still a pleasant place to relax and have a good chin wag. Occasionally a few of the estate clientele used it but there was very little trouble. Harry Middleton was not a man you would want to fall out with, he could definitely handle himself.

About the Author :
Born in Leicester, the author nurtured an ambition to write a book for many years. Although suffering with vertigo, he regards the positive thing to come out of it being that it gave him time to achieve his ambition. He served in the middle east with the R.A.F. primarily in the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt and spent two years in Aden also visiting East Africa. This is the author's second Inspector Kent Mystery. The first entitled Retribution. See details at appendix.