The Young Woman And The Lake

A private detective investigates the drowning of a young woman, believing it to be murder, but can he prove it.

                       The Young Woman And The Lake

There was nothing, no proof to incriminate the man of this terrible crime.  Richard Baker felt disappointed , he loathed it when the bad guys got away with it.  One of the reasons he had become a private eye was to seek justice for the little people, the people that could not stand up for themselves.  Yes, he did charge his clients, so he could make a living, it’s not a perfect world. 

He made it to the top, pitch-black wherever you looked, his trusty lantern helping greatly.  He now stood on level ground, with the light trying to see way ahead.

There must be something, anything, to prove the guilt of this man.  The girl who was only seventeen years of age, was found floating in the lake, a few feet from where he stood.  At first it seemed like a tragic accident.  But a knock at his door and a conversation with the young woman’s father, it became apparent that something more sinister was afoot.

He walked down the narrow boardwalk, staying alert.

Benjamin Peters was a city business man, highly regarded amongst his peers.  He was a man that could not be touched, he was as powerful as they come.  He was above the law.

Please find anything that will connect the man to this murder, he thought to himself.  It was people like these that would use their power and money not for good, but very bad reasons.  It sickened him, and he wouldn’t give up quite yet.

It was late at night.  The moon sat in the starry sky, and there was a chill to the air.  Richard would have to be careful not to slip on the planks of wood just beneath his feet.  He could hear the crunch of ice on the soles of his shoes.  Taking it slowly he should be fine.  Where he walked was five metres above the ground.  So, if he slipped and fell off the wooden walkway, he could cause himself an injury.  At last he had made it to the end, and below him was still water.  

This is where the girl had been found, floating, with lifeless eyes and the palest of skin.  She still wore the flowery dress that her father had noticed her wearing that fateful night, when she said her goodbyes and left the house, saying she was on a date with someone from school.  But then her father’s suspicions were aroused as he noticed a sports car pull up on the other side of the road.  In the front drivers window he saw an older man in his forties at least.  Then he saw his precious daughter entering the car, and his worries grew.  He tried to get in contact with her using his mobile phone, she wasn’t answering.

The water below him, all of a sudden brought back an unpleasant memory.  When he was a child he fell into the water while on a fishing trip.  If it wasn’t for his older brother pulling him out, he would have drowned.  Even to this day he would have nightmares about it.  This was the only reason he took the case, knowing how terrified she must have been, seconds before she died.  Sinking, with her arms trying to push her to the surface, panic would then enter her mind.  The same he had felt on that day many years before.

When the police found the body, they said a cut on the head had been caused by falling from the walkway.  

Baker had other ideas.  He had been investigating Benjamin Peters on the quiet for some time.  Knowing he had a liking for younger women, and impressing them with his expensive car, and slowly gaining their trust.  But he had never murdered before, so why was this?  Unless he forced himself onto her, and she resisted with force?

Baker looked away from the murky water, and in the far distance across the lake he observed some lights.  Lights that shone brightly from the windows of houses.  Then he waited patiently.

He had a plan, knowing that Benjamin Peters was aware of his investigation, he had a hunch of what was going to happen next.  Whilst driving here, he had seen two headlights from some distance away following him.  Finding evidence to take to the law enforcers was plan A, but failing in this, plan B was the only thing left now.

The creaking of wood came from behind him, and he turned towards the sound.  Some metres from him a figure stood, being dark it was hard to make out much detail.

The mysterious person came closer, and said in a deep voice, “Do you know who I am, sir?  With the games you’ve been playing, you’re standing on very dangerous ground.”

Baker was not intimidated in the slightest, and replied in a confident way, “Why did you kill her?”

“What are you talking about?” he snarled.

Baker needed a confession, and needed to play it cool.  “Then why are you following me on this night?  Why am I so important for you to trail me all these miles to this secluded place?”

The man was now silent, he seemed troubled, and with his hands he fumbled his coat pockets.

“Answer me, Mr Peters.  Why did you kill that innocent girl?” Baker said in a calm manner.

“It was an accident,” bellowed the man.  “I will pay you handsomely to drop this investigation.  What do you say?”

Baker felt like he was getting somewhere now, but this was not enough.  His gut feeling told him it was not an accident, but something a lot more callous.

He took a step forward, and the man still draped in darkness took a step back.  

Baker then tried for another angle, to get the truth out of him.  “So, what went wrong, did you force yourself onto her, and she declined your offer, and this made you angry?”

“It was an accident.  We were strolling along the walkway and she fell.  I called out to her several times, but I’d lost sight of her, and in this instance I panicked.  And I’m ashamed to say this, I left her here and went straight home.  I know I shouldn’t of left her, but I wasn’t thinking straight,” he pleaded.

Baker knew Mr Peters was a two-faced liar, a manipulator.  In his investigation he had spoken to some of the girls he had groomed, and they all said he was a dangerous man with an aggressive sexual appetite.  He wasn’t going to let this cold-hearted man get away with it, and in a more serious tone he said, “I don’t believe a single word of your story.  What I think happened was, you tried to have sex with her, and she said no.  And in your anger you attacked her in your car, and somehow she escaped.  Then you ran after her, and the spot we now both stand is where you bashed her over the head and then pushed her into the water, so it looked like an accident.  Am I right?”

“You are a clever man.”

“Why did you kill her?” Baker all of a sudden shouted.

The man made his way closer,  so now his middle-aged face could be seen from the light of the lantern.  He held a gun, which he aimed at Baker, and with a smirk on his face, he said, “Because I wanted too, that’s why.  And as you can see, I’m the one with the weapon.  And if you haven’t noticed Mr Baker, we are miles from anywhere.”

Baker answered him, “So, what are you going to do?”

“Your see,” was all he said.  

Then a blast was heard, and smoke coming from the end of the gun.

Baker felt an intense sensation around his chest area, that pushed him over the edge of the walkway and into the icy lake.  He could see water everywhere, and holding his breath tried to fight his way up, but something below was pulling him down.  He started to panic and he moved his arms and legs in all directions.  Around his collar he felt something grab hold of him.  And with relief he had never experienced before, his head was now above water.  Taking in as much oxygen as he could, his chest hurt.  He was being dragged onto the grass by someone.  He heard a voice familiar to him.

“I got it, Richard.  His confession has been recorded onto disc.  He wont get away with it now.”

Richard stirred, and peered up at his partner.  Now realising what had occurred.  Still feeling the effects of what had just happened, he replied to his partner.  “So, where is he?”

“I attacked him from behind, he’s unconscious.  You scared me for a second there.  I don’t mean this out of disrespect, Richard.  This plan was insane.”

Baker unbuttoned his shirt, the bullet-proof vest had saved him.  All along he knew that Benjamin Peters would follow him tonight, as he had sent him a tip-off through the post.  Out of desperation he knew the man would do anything to silence him.  But what Mr Peters was unaware of, was his trusted partner would also be there with a tape recorder, and if need be, brute force.

He looked up at Fred, and all he said was, “The only part of the plan that did surprise me somewhat.  I would never have expected a pistol bullet to take me off my feet, let alone the blasted water.  Thanks, partner.”

Both laughed.

            The End

Reviews

[Marie]

Good detective work. Sometimes it takes a risky plan to stop a criminal. I like the way it ties in with the dream It shows how brave the detective was; he had nightmares about the water yet was willing to take a chance of catching this murderer by the lake.

You need to watch your possessives.Also I tagged these ero errors:

“Because I wanted too(to), that’s why.
“Your(You'll) see,” was all he said.