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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT - Conclusions

The following day… Friday 21st April…

9:00 am

Inspector Hawkins sat at his desk blowing smoke-rings in the air. Dr. Gabriel Lang was seated on the chair opposite. The Inspector had a report to fill in and it was time to sort things out.
“Right, let me clear one mystery up first,” started the Inspector, “and then perhaps you can fill me in with the rest.”
Dr. Lang nodded his head.
“You mean about Clive Carter,” he asked.
Inspector Hawkins lit another cigarette before answering.
“Yes, about Clive Carter. I think his little disappearance threw you for while,” he suggested.
The doctor agreed. It did throw him off the rails a little.
“Yes, it did a bit,” he answered honestly.
The Inspector smiled.
“Well we were doing something too and we were coming basically to the same conclusions as you. Certain evidence pointed to Clive Carter so we took him in for questioning. He’s just been release from London, along with Roger Downton. They are travelling back together as I speak,” explained the Inspector.
The doctor returned the smile. He was glad Roger had been released. He was pleased for Mimi too.
The doctor returned his mind to the issue of Clive Carter.
“It was the Mercedes car wasn’t it?” he suggested.
The inspector nodded agreement.
“Chloe’s statement mentioned a Mercedes, and Roger Downton had said that he had taken Sylvia Sparelli to see Clive Carter. So we knew the two had met. We took him in for questioning yesterday morning about an hour before you turned up,” he explained.
The doctor was with him up to a point. At least it explained the empty house and the van parked outside. But he was still not quite clear over one issue, so he asked another question.
“That’s as far as I got, then drew a blank,” he told the Inspector, “So, why was his car there? Why was his car parked so close to where Gayle was abducted? That’s what I don’t understand.”
The inspector grinned then blew another smoke-ring in the air.
“His sister’s,” he said simply.
“What?” the doctor responded.
“Yes, Clive Carter was parked outside his sister’s house. He was paying her a visit. His sister was married and under another name so we didn’t pick it up straightaway,” he admitted.
Dr. Lang laughed out loud. It was such a simple explanation.
“Well, I see it all now… but when I finally got round to knowing who the abductor really was I knew there had to be a perfectly good explanation for Clive Carter’s car being where it was… and now you’ve cleared up that little matter I guess it all makes a whole lot more sense,” the doctor summarised.
Inspector Hawkins blew another smoke-ring.
“Well doctor, I think it’s your turn now… there’s so many things I still don’t understand… what for example brought you round to thinking it was Malcolm Smith in the first place?... the boy was meant to be dead for God’s sake!” he asked and looking rather puzzled.
The doctor cleared his thoughts. He had a long and complicated tale to tell.
“I guess it was something Wendy said that finally got me thinking the impossible,” he started. “She told me she had come across Malcolm Smith’s old motorbike leathers and boots down a well at Cuckoo Cottage. Well this set me thinking. Malcolm Smith’s motorcycle was found in the dunes along with his helmet. So I asked myself; why would his clothes turn up three hundred miles away? I then began to piece everything together… It all finally fell into place when I looked through the photographs and records at the Littlesea Gazette offices, and I must admit it surprised me too.”
Inspector Hawkins lit another cigarette.
“Tell me the story, from start to finish… explain to me how Malcolm Smith survived,… then perhaps I’ll understand a little better,” he said.
The doctor prepared his thoughts once more. This was an even more complicated tale to tell.
“The guess the story goes something like this,” he began. “A couple of nights before Malcolm Smith arrived on the scene our hippie friends were holding a party at the castle. They’d forced their way in to the castle by breaking a lock and descend to the chamber below. From there a tunnel led to the catacombs. One of the hippies, probably drugged up to the eyeballs, must have wandered off and got lost in the catacombs… I don’t think he was missed until it was too late… I think the hippies in the photograph were out looking for him when the body was brought to the surface… whether they thought it was their hippie friend or not I’m not quite sure… but they never reported him missing…
“Anyway, then along came Malcolm Smith pursued by you of all people… you chased him deep into the catacombs… there was rock fall and you recovered a body a day later… you and everyone else, including myself, assumed that the body was that of Malcolm Smith… but the truth was, the skull and ribcage were so badly crushed no one could identify the body properly… not even his mother… his skull was squashed flat and even his dental records were useless under the conditions...
“But we now know that Malcolm Smith survived… he must have wandered about in the dark for days before he stumbled on a way out… he came out on the side of the hill facing the dunes… from there he came across the deserted campervan and used it to drive to Muddleton Morton… I guess the motive there was to collect some money… I think there was a lot of it about… he’d probably stashed some away somewhere for safe keeping… you found cash on his motorbike for instance... anyway, once at Cuckoo Cottage he changed his identity… he cast off his motorbike leathers and threw them down the well… he then took up a new life, returning to Littlesea and living as a hermit in the woods…
“At one point he must have drifted into the old railway tunnel and found all the scaffolding and equipment there… so when the time came he had the resources to build his makeshift rack and suspend the chain and pulley from the roof… and that was how he managed to hold the girls prisoner and keep them undetected for so long.”
The Inspector nodded his head pensively. He could see it all clearly now. He understood the doctor’s tale, and thought it to be a brilliant deduction. However it still did not answer the one burning question that still baffled him completely. Even if Malcolm Smith was still alive, why did he go for two girls from Cropwatch?
“I see it all clearly now, but there is still one question I don’t understand. Why did he go for Cropwatch?… We had a whole team working on it... We spent days trying to figure out the link and got nowhere,” he asked.
Dr. Lang gave a wry smile.
“He didn’t,… it had nothing whatsoever to do with Cropwatch, and that’s what threw me too,” he answered simply, “they simply happened to be two innocent girls that got themselves tangled up in this whole sordid affair for an entirely different reason... The fact that they were both from Cropwatch is purely coincidental,” he explained.
Inspector Hawkins looked more than a little confused.
Dr. Lang saw the expression on his face and felt the need to explain further.
“Well Inspector, the story goes something like this,” the doctor continued, “but first you must understand what was going on in Malcolm Smith’s mind… I’ll try to avoid medical terms… but basically he was, and still is, a very sick man with a severe split personality disorder… and not just with one split personality… but with several split personalities… he was already on the brink of a mental breakdown before all his traumas set in… and add to this a few bangs on the head... one we know about by a poker at Cuckoo Cottage, and I suspect another when the roof caved in… then finally being forced to assume another personality to avoid detection… all these factors combined to help to push him over the edge.”
Inspector Hawkins interjected. “What sort of split personalities would these be?… Could I have spotted any of them?” he asked.
The doctor thought for a while. He wanted to give a first hand example that the Inspector would recognise. He thought of one and nodded his head.
“Think back to Malcolm Smith’s first impersonation... The time when he took on the role of a chauffeur to kidnap Wendy,” the doctor suggested. “I believe I’m right in saying that he tried to impersonate the chauffeur that was meant to pick up Tracy at Castle Point… and a very good impression it must have been… it was a pity he abducted the wrong girl at the time.”
The inspector recalled the mix up and it was his turn to nod his head thoughtfully. He could also think of another occasion when Malcolm Smith assumed another identity.
“And I guess when he took on the role of Dominant Male to abduct Vicky Bailey and take her to Cuckoo Cottage was another example,” he said thoughtfully. “She went entirely of her own free will in the belief that he was her Master.”
The doctor thought back in time. He had forgotten about this. He recalled that Vicky Bailey was a friend of Katie Brown’s, and Malcolm Smith had taken both girls to Cuckoo Cottage; one unconscious; the other believing to be his slave. He nodded his head. Yes, it was another example.
“Yes Inspector… that must have been a convincing performance too… Vicky Bailey obeyed his every word and went along with everything he said,” agreed the doctor.
The Inspector nodded his head in response. He was starting to get the picture, but he still had a few more questions to ask.
“Then what personality was Malcolm Smith assuming when he abducted these two girls from Cropwatch?” he asked.
Dr. Lang rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Not Cropwatch remember?… let me explain it this way,” he continued, “Malcolm Smith on occasions would revert to his original personality… the personality he had before all these traumas set in… that is to say, he found himself being the caretaker at the local amusement park all over again… and we must not forget, when he was caretaker he had a personality that was deeply in love… everything he did as caretaker… the capture of the four girls in Littlesea… and then the other girls afterwards at Cuckoo Cottage… all these abductions were done for the love and attention of Katie Brown… he adored and worshipped the very ground she trod on and would never accept that she did not return that love.”
The inspector nodded his head. What the doctor was saying made sense. But he was still unclear about there not being a Cropwatch connection.
“You keep on saying it has nothing to do with Cropwatch?” he asked, “but why not?… that’s the question that still baffles me.”
Dr. Lang smiled. He realised that he had been keeping the Inspector in suspense for far too long.
He began to explain: “Malcolm Smith’s reversion to caretaker would come about after every chance meeting with Roger Downton… Roger was the New Caretaker… he saw Roger and recognised himself… it was like looking in a mirror… Malcolm Smith would see his own reflection and suddenly flip to being back at work at the amusement park… and, as I have already pointed out, someone that was deeply in love… but that lover, Katie Brown, had told him she did not love him,… but he could never admit to that and put up a mental block… and as a result he would always see the girl by Roger’s side, whoever that happened to be, to be his one and only true love… but of course in reality he could never have her… and the only way he could get close was to capture her and hold her prisoner.”
Inspector Hawkins nodded his head. What the doctor was saying made sense, but he still needed clarification. He tried to summarise.
“So Malcolm Smith must have seen Roger Downton with both Gayle Jackson and Sylvia Sparelli at different times; believed them to be his own girls, and set about abducting them?” he asked.
Dr. Lang nodded his head.
“That’s precisely the point Inspector,” he replied, “but it all goes back a little bit further than that… Malcolm Smith’s original target was Mimi… that’s the reason why he was seen stalking her through the woods... he must have wanted to get a closer look at her,… but he was never able to do so… they spotted him and scared him away… then shortly afterwards came the tragic accident and Mimi ended up in hospital before he could do anything about it… this must have been the great shock that finally pushed him over the edge… because after that his allegiances switched to whichever girl he saw Roger with at the time… and at the same time he reverted to being a caretaker deeply in love,… and at a guess, after Mimi, I think it must have been Chloe he next fell in love with.”
A look of bewilderment befell the Inspector’s face. He could not see why Chloe was the next target. He needed further clarification.
“Chloe!” he exclaimed. “Why Chloe?”
Dr. Lang smiled and tried to explain.
“Yes, Chloe,” he stated. “Malcolm Smith was actually trying to kidnap Chloe when he abducted Gayle by mistake... and that’s the bit that fooled me, and I guess you too… cast your mind back to the day of Godfrey’s funeral,… Roger and Chloe were together… Malcolm Smith was there at the church hovering in the background… Chloe that day was dressed in a dark suit and wearing sunglasses to hide away the tears… after the funeral Malcolm Smith followed Roger and Chloe to London and noted the university where Chloe resided… he then rented a room close by and began to stalk his pray… one week later, when both Chloe and Gayle set out for the club, what Malcolm didn’t realise was, that Chloe had dressed down into jeans and sweater and Gayle instead was wearing the dark suit and sunglasses… the dark glasses being a result of an accident one week before… anyway, with both girls being of similar build and appearance, this all helped to confuse… therefore, when Malcolm Smith kidnapped Gayle Jackson in the park; it was late at night and he thought that it was Chloe Chambers he was abducting.”
Inspector Hawkins pondered for a while, then smiled and nodded his head. What the doctor was saying made a whole lot sense. The two girls were of similar build and appearance; and what occurred was simply a case of mistake and identity. Malcolm Smith believed Gayle Jackson to be Chloe Chambers, and it had nothing to do with Cropwatch after all.
“Well done doctor,” he praised, “I can see now how it all came about.”
There remained however one more mystery to clear up. There was still the case of the second person, Sylvia Sparelli, to resolve. The Inspector was still not clear as to where she fitted into all this. He put the question to the doctor.
“But what about the second person doctor?.. Sylvia Sparelli? How does she fit into all this?” he asked.
Dr. Lang pondered for a while to collect his thoughts. He then summarised the situation as he saw it.
“It must have occurred when Roger took Sylvia to Castle Point,” he reminded the Inspector, “If you remember they were stood together whilst Roger chatted to Clive Carter outside his cottage. Malcolm Smith must have watched them talking, probably from behind the hedge or just down the hill. Seeing Roger would be the trigger for him to revert back to being the caretaker once more, and from then onwards he would have the driving urge to pursue Sylvia wherever she went… I guess he must have followed her all the way to London by train, and subsequently to where she lived. He then made elaborate plans for her abduction; turned up on the doorstep offering flowers; and the rest you know.”
The Inspector clapped his hands.
“That’s just brilliant doctor,” he told him, “I think I can finish my report now.”

10:00 am

Whilst Dr. Lang was away facing Inspector Hawkins at Littlesea Police Station, it seemed the rest of the activity had moved to the hospital.

Roger Downton turned up in the reception area of the Intensive Care Unit carrying a big bunch of flowers. The receptionist was thrilled to see him and let him move quickly through to the side ward where Mimi was staying.
Mimi was sat on the edge of the bed with her back to the door when he entered. She turned, saw Roger and leapt up from the bed. Within seconds she was upon him and threw her arms about him.
They embraced and kissed.
“Hey, careful, you’re crushing the flowers,” he told her.
Mimi did not care and they kissed again.
Locked together they moved towards the bed and still embraced they collapsed down upon it.
“I love you Roger,” whispered Mimi as she came up for air.
“And I love you too Mimi,” Roger whispered back.
“Then don’t ever leave me again,” said Mimi.
“No… I never will… I promise,” he told her.

Two more people in love, but acting a bit more sedately were PC Grantford and WPC Watkinson. They were in a side ward together. David Grantford was sat up in bed, his chest heavily bandaged. By the side of the bed sat Georgina. They were holding hands.
“When are we going to get married?” David asked her.
“Why?… Are you proposing?” she asked.
“I guess I am,” said David.
Georgina considered the proposal.
“I’d love a summer wedding,” she replied.
“This summer?” he asked.
“Yes, this summer,” answered Georgina. “This summer will do nicely.”
She then leant forward and kissed him hard.
“Ouch!… mind my chest,” he said, then changed his mind. “No, forget it,… let’s do that again.”
And Georgina did.
This time they kissed hard and long.

Not far away, in another side ward over on the other side of the corridor a similar scene was taking place. This time it was Tracy in the bed and Chloe sat by her side. They too were holding hands.
“You’re going to be all right aren’t you Tracy?” asked Chloe and sounding concerned.
Tracy nodded her head.
“Yes, fine… it’s only a couple of nicks,” she assured her.
“You had me worried,” Chloe told her. “You just disappeared, and I called and shouted and you didn’t answer.”
Tracy squeezed Chloe’s hand.
“It’s all right now Chloe,” she assured her. “I’m fine and we’re back together.”
A tear entered the corner of Chloe’s eye.
“I love you Tracy,” she said.
Tracy squeezed Chloe’s hand more tightly.
“And I love you too Chloe,” she  whispered. “I really do.”

Two more people in love, but nowhere near the hospital were Wendy and Tim. They were at Wendy’s home on Castle Point, and what was even better, Wendy’s parents had gone out for the day.
It was Wendy that was horny. She was relaxed now and could not help it. Every time she was alone with Tim she had this urge for sex.
“Tim, let’s go upstairs to bed,” she told him.
Tim could see the mischief in her eyes.
“You’re thinking of bondage, aren’t you?” he asked.
Wendy grinned and nodded her head. She grabbed at Tim’s hand and began to drag him towards the stairs.
“Come on, I’ve got some rope… you can tie me to the bed and have your wicked way with me,” she encouraged.
Tim grinned then licked his lips.
“You smooth talker you,” he replied and followed her up the stairs.

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End of Story

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POSTSCRIPT

This story reportedly took place in 1988.

In October of that year Davina Townsend gave birth to a son. They called him Gabriel. The following year she had a daughter. Davina still lives with her husband in Canterford and keeps in touch with Sylvia Sparelli on a regular basis.

Georgina Watkinson is now Georgina Grantford. She married Police Constable David Grantford in the summer of 1988. She is now retired from the force and spends her time looking after her four kids; two girls and two boys. David is now Sergeant Grantford, and has a desk job at Littlesea Police Station.

Wendy Bartlett married Tim Walker four years later in 1992. They waited until 1997 before having their first child. It was a girl. Latest reports suggest Wendy is expecting another. Tim now runs his father’s business and is a successful business man. They live in London.

As for Tracy and Chloe. Well they split up soon afterwards and neither are married. Chloe wanted to pursue a career in Law, whilst Tracy felt she wanted a fresh start. She became an air hostess and for years travelled the globe. Gone are her lesbian tendencies, and when last seen she was living it up with someone twice her age in the south of France. Chloe finally made it as a solicitor and works with a practice in East Anglia where she was born. She is quite happy being a career woman.

Talking of career women, Sylvia Sparelli remains a spinster. She continues to live and work in London, and still finds time to run and organise a number of protest groups. Cropwatch is still going strong but neither Sylvia nor Gayle are members.

Speaking of Gayle Jackson, she graduated from university with honours, but unlike Chloe did not pursue a profession in Law. She took up modelling and reportedly made a lot of money. She has several boyfriends, but sees no one on a regular basis. She commutes between London, Paris and Rome.

One quick word about Dr. Gabriel Lang. He still works at Littlesea General Hospital. Nothing has changed and he is still overworked. To make an appointment now takes six months, not six days. So much for progress.

As for Roger and Mimi, then I guess you needn’t be told that they got married three weeks after Roger’s return. In the summer of that year Mr. McTavish retired and returned to Scotland, and Roger became the new Manager at the Amusement Park. That is where he still works. They bought a modern house in a quiet cul-de-sac just on the outskirts of Littlesea, and Mimi spends her time looking after her three children. They go to school with both Davina’s and Georgina’s children and all see each other on a regular basis.

There is one sad note to report: Inspector Hawkins died of lung cancer in 1999.

With nineteen chapters of ‘The Caretaker’, and with another thirty-eight here, I’m sure there are a lot more characters I’ve not paid a mention, including Katie Brown, Malcolm Smith’s first true love. This I do deliberately. Maybe you’ll get to hear about her in some brand new story!

Finally the last word I’ve reserved for Malcolm Smith. The youth that made this whole saga possible. He was imprisoned in 1988. Having served his sentence, and with time off for good behaviour, he is due for release in 2003. Perhaps the first thing he will do on release is to travel north to seek out Katie Brown. Who knows? And then what might happen? It could be the start of another brand new story.

Well I guess that just about wraps things up, so it’s goodbye and best wishes from me.

Nosbert
 

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The End