Pat Ritter. Books

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'The Proposition' (A Bundy Quicksilver Mystery) - Page 39:

‘Unfortunately there’s no evidence of any sighting of Peter. You may have been the last person to have seen him before he disappeared.’ Bundy stated.
Mary wiped her eyes, ‘when he arrived on the footpath, I thought he’d be safe; I went into the house to prepare Les’s dinner. If only I watched him walk over the overhead bridge.’ She sobbed.
‘Don’t blame yourself. We’re trying to piece together his final steps. We know he didn’t purchase a ticket on the day; we know he didn’t arrive at your mother’s home a couple of stops further along the track. Our next step is to find out what happened to him.’ Bundy said.
‘I know he’s alive – I can feel it, he’s my son, it’s a mother’s instinct.’ Mary concluded.
Bundy and Kate thanked Mary for her hospitality and promised to return and keep her up-to-date with the investigation.

‘What do you think?’ Kate asked Bundy after they settled in the vehicle.
‘Mary’s honest – that’s for sure. I think our work is done here, for now. Would you be able to drop me off at my home? I want to go over those files you downloaded to see if anything jumps out.’ Bundy told Kate.
‘Sure – what’s next?’
‘I’ve told you about my forensic scientist friend Quincy Simpson.’
‘We have our own forensic scientists.’ Kate interrupted.
‘Yes – I know, but I want you to meet Quincy. You’d like him. He has a way of seeing things differently.’ Bundy explained to Kate.
‘Alright - when do we visit this friend of your’s – Quincy Simpson?’ She asked.

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‘I’ve got to phone him first to see when he’s available. He lives with his wife on a farm and breeds cattle.’
‘I’ve got a mobile phone here – if you want to use it?’ Kate handed Bundy her mobile phone.
‘How do you use this contraption?’ Bundy asked. He looked bewildered as if he’d been handed a bomb.
‘Flip the lid, dial the number and speak into the receiver.’ Kate instructed.
He flipped the lid; flashing lights highlighted the dials. Pressing Quincy’s telephone number, he heard noises he’d never heard before and immediately handed the phone to Kate.
‘Wait until I pull over to the curb?’ She slowed the vehicle and stopped. ‘You’re a bloody sissy – you know. What is his telephone number?’ She demanded. Bundy gave her the number and she quickly dialled it. Noises came from the phone and Kate pressed the green button, she handed the open phone to Bundy.
‘Hello.’ – Bundy shouted into the phone.
‘Is that you Bundy – why are you shouting, I can hear you. I’m not that bloody deaf I can’t hear.’ A voice came from the other end.
‘Quincy, will you be home for awhile. I want to come and see you. Put the kettle on we’ll be there in about half-an-hour.’ Bundy told his friend.
‘Who’s we?’ Quincy asked.
‘I’ll tell you about it when we arrive.’ Bundy replied.
‘See you when you get here.’ The phone disconnected. Bundy returned it to Kate who closed the lid and returned it to her trouser pocket.
‘Where do we go from here?’ She wanted to know.
‘Up the range, that way’, he pointed west, ‘I’ll show you where to go. It’s about half-an-hour’s drive.’

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Quincy lived in the hills far enough away from the city he never wanted to return. Since he retired almost ten years before; he’d hibernated in the hills with his wife and about five hundred head of cattle. His only visitors, apart from his family, were Bundy from time to time.
Bundy showed Kate directions where to drive. Crossing a small creek, water flowing Kate accelerated across the water course to the other side, ‘it’s around the corner. Stop at the cattle yards and I’ll open the gate. There he is standing on the front veranda of the house up there on the hill.’ Bundy nodded.
Kate stopped the vehicle and Bundy alighted. He opened the gate and waved Kate to drive through. After closing the gate he returned to the car and they drove up the hill to park at the front of the house.
‘How’re you going – you ole bugger,’ came a boisterous voice from the veranda. Kate parked the vehicle and alighted. Her instant image of the man standing on the veranda was one of shock. A little over five foot six inches in height; huge belly; grey salt and pepper coloured beard covered his face and bright blue eyes sparkled with glee to see his visitors. He was wearing shorts and a farm shirt.
‘G’day Quincy, this is Kate Emerson,’ Bundy called out as they negotiated the staircase leading to the veranda. Bundy shook hands eagerly with Quincy – Kate held her hand out while Quincy shook it with delight.
‘Where’s you’re wonderful wife?’ Bundy asked.
‘In here preparing you and your friend afternoon tea,’ a female voice echoed from inside.
‘How are you Victoria?’ Bundy asked. ‘You’re still with this old fellow out here in the scrub – I see?’
‘Yes – I’m better off with the one I know than the one I don’t know. Who’s that you’ve got with you?’ Victoria asked.

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‘I’d like you both to meet Detective Superintendent Kathleen Emerson.’ Bundy introduced Kate to his friends.
‘Pleased to meet you Kathleen, do you want to come inside and we’ll talk and let these two old fellows catch up with what they’ve missed.’ Victoria called out through the window.
Kate entered the house.
‘Where did you find her – you old fox, she’s young enough to be your daughter?’ Quincy asked Bundy with a smile covered his bearded face.
‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’ Bundy told his friend.
‘Try me – you’ve known me long enough to tell the truth.’
‘A couple of months ago I received two medals from the Commissioner of Police.’ Bundy explained.
‘What type of medals?’ Quincy inquired.
‘One for retirement, and another for twenty years continuous service, when I saw them in the case I almost fell over with gratitude. I wrote a letter to the Commissioner to thank him for the kind gesture. In return he contacted me and asked me to visit his office.’
‘This is amazing. You haven’t told me how you met Miss Pretty Face in there with Victoria.’
‘When I visited the Commissioner he wanted me to work with Miss Pretty Face to help solve an investigation into the disappearance of a twelve year old lad who disappeared over eight years ago.’
‘Holy Christ – you were always the lucky one. How’s it going?’
‘Bloody hard, so far there’s nothing only the lad’s mother was the last person to see the boy alive after he left his house to board a train to visit his grandmother. He never arrived and hasn’t been seen since.’

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‘If anyone can find the boy – it’ll be you.’ Quincy finished.
‘Afternoon tea is ready – come and get it.’ Victoria called to the others.
Bundy and Kate enjoyed Quincy and Victoria’s company and over afternoon tea, stories flowed to and fro from Bundy and Quincy how they solved many a crime in their day. Quincy knew Kate’s father, ‘your dad, Harold - wasn’t it; he would be proud of what you’ve achieved Kate. I know he would. He was a great detective and a wonderful man. He always wore a suit and hat.’ Quincy shared.
‘I always wanted to become a detective and follow in his footsteps. Did you ever work with him?’ Her eyes filled with tears.
‘No – he was a bit before my time.’ Quincy finished.
They said their farewells and drove away from the property.

Chapter 6

‘What do you think of my mate Quincy?’ Bundy asked Kate after they’d driven a couple of kilometres.
‘Totally different to what I expected. Did he really know my dad, or was he pulling my leg?’ Kate asked.
‘No – he wouldn’t pull your leg. Quincy is one honest fella and always tells the truth. He’s a type you want on your team. I know we haven’t got much so far but when we get down the track with this investigation and we need his help, he’ll jump in boots and all.’
‘But he’s not working – he’s retired.’
‘He’ll do it for me. Each time I’ve wanted him. I remember once, on Christmas Eve one year a person was killed who’d gone to sleep on the warm bitumen surface on a major highway and was run over by an unknown vehicle.

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I found two cars on Christmas Day. He travelled to where I located them, forensic examined them and found what happened. The drivers thought they’d hit a cow because the person lying on the road was wearing a black and white floral dress. Quincy found imprints of the dress material embedded on the undercarriage of each vehicle.’ Bundy explained.
They drove along in silence.
Near to the turnoff to Bundy’s home it was getting dark, ‘if you want, you can stay the night at my house and return to the city in the morning. I haven’t got any clothes, I discarded my wife’s soon after she passed away; but I’d hate to see anything happened to you. We’ve had a huge day and you must be tied.’ Bundy explained.
‘I always carry a spare change of clothes and an overnight bag. I never know where I’ll be staying or when. Yes, as long as you don’t sleep walk.’
‘You’re safe.’
They parked in the carport at the rear of the house; Kate opened the boot and retrieved an overnight bag. Bundy turned lights on to illuminate the home.
‘Welcome Kate, this is the spare bedroom. The bed’s already made. Open the window and make yourself at home. Turn on the fan if you want. I’ll have a look to see what I can cook for dinner.’
He opened the freezer and pulled out a freezer bag containing chicken wings. After marinating them, placed them into a container, then into the microwave oven to cook for fifteen minutes. Rice was steamed as a side dish.
‘It smells nice what you’re cooking.’ Kate said when she walked into the kitchen.
‘Hope you like it, its marinated chicken wings and rice. It’s quick and easy. Take a seat. I’ll have them on the table before you know it.’

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‘Is there anything I can do?’ Kate asked after she seated.
‘No – I’ve got it totally under control, thank you. You sit and be waited upon.’
After the food cooked he dished it onto two plates and placed one in front of Kate, ‘get your ing gear around this?’ He said.
‘You have some funny expressions.’ Kate answered.
‘Don’t take notice of them – it’s my sense of humour. Don’t you like the way I talk?’ He questioned.
‘No – its not that,’ she took a mouth full of chicken, ‘this is great, I’ll have to get the recipe.’
‘It’s nothing – in fact it’s from the bottle.’ Silence fell whilst they finished their meal.
‘I haven’t got wine but I can make a cup of coffee and we can sit on the veranda to have it.’
‘What - no dessert.’ Kate asked – tongue in cheek.
‘I could muster up some ice-cream and fruit salad. I’m a bachelor, you know.’ They retired to the front veranda after Bundy prepared ice-cream and fruit salad he’d taken from a tin. Each ate in silence.
‘You’ve outdone yourself. This was delicious. I’ll wash-up.’ Kate said.
‘No – don’t worry about the washing up. I’ll do it before I go to bed. Let’s talk about this investigation.’ Bundy asked Kate.
‘What’s there to talk about? Look at the moon, it’s shining bright enough to be daytime.’
‘Yeah – we get that here. It’s open - without glare of city lights, you can see the stars.’ Bundy told her, ‘now back to my original question.’
‘Actually, we haven’t got much to go on – have we? We know his mother was probably the last person to see