Ellacott's Ledger

Details in the book went back three years. The records,on one side, were of drugs ordered, quantities prescribed and costs. The opposite pages contained patient's and doctor's names and medicines prescribed.

Temple studied page after page carefully. Prior to the last eighteen months, entries seemed pretty standard. The same drugs and chemicals occurred regularly. Then, in the spring of the year before last drinomyl, sodium amytal and cocaine began to arise with greater frequency.

"Take a gander at the list of patients receiving medication, Cantwell. You know the locals well. See if there are any oddities in what they have been written up for and how often."

Cantwell looked at the long lists with dismay. Maths had never been one of his favourite subjects; numbers, in general, meant little to him. However, he took the book to his desk and thumbed through for about two hours. By then, his stomach was rumbling and his throat was dry.

"It's all double Dutch to me, Gov." He said eventually.

"Oh for God's sake, Cantwell, surely there must be something there!"

"Well, old Miss Ashfold died over a year ago. Yet, it seems she had sodium amytal tablets last month. The previous month, she had morphine."

"Show me." Temple hurriedly crossed the room to Cantwell's desk.

"Here, Gov. See. Miss Edna Ashfold, The Grove: 25 Tablets of sodium amytal and something or other of morphine - not sure what it says."

Temple seized the book. His knowledge of local people was as nothing compared to Cantwell:
"Well done! Well done, indeed."

Cantwell was astounded. Praise came rarely from Temple, so he basked in the unexpected glory.

"You know what this means, don't you? It means that Eager Beaver's comments about Ellacott and Redbourne and the dodgy dogs and horses now has some validity. All these drugs would have an impact on an animal's racing capability. Still, we'll need to talk to a local vet and the people at the Path Lab. Like you, I'm no expert in these matters."

There was a loud knock at the door. Constable Gurney came in rather nervously and cleared his throat.

"Yes?" Temple asked irritably.

"The captain of a fishing boat down at the harbour has just brought in a body, Gov. The harbour master phoned. The Superintendent thought you should know."

"Right, Gurney, thanks. We'll go right now." Once Gurney had left he turned to Cantwell. "Lock up the ledgers in the filing cabinet. Don't want anyone else nosing about in them."

The 'Jeanette' a small fishing smack was tied up to the jetty. A group of fishermen were standing round talking loudly. They went silent as soon as they saw the two policemen.

"Mornin', Tom," a young fresh faced man nodded to Cantwell. "It's Ben down there." He gestured to the deck of the 'Jeanette'.

Cantwell grunted a response: "Pull him in with the nets, did he?"

"Yeah! Poor old Pete's right shocked!"

Temple listened without comment. Instead, he turned and went down the metal ladder that went over the side of the jetty. Then, he jumped down onto the deck. Cantwell descended much more slowly, almost losing his balance as he jumped onto the swaying deck.

Peter King, captain of the 'Jeanette', stood next to a tarpaulin bundle. He spat out a plug of chewing tobacco and looked at Temple then at Cantwell.

"What you brought in, Pete?" Cantwell asked.

"One drowned man. We're pretty sure it's Ben ... Ben Ellacott. But he's in much of a mess, so tis difficult to be sure, like." He lifted the tarpaulin. The body beneath was bloated. Only the mop of blonde hair led one to believe it was Ellacott. That and shreds of a jacket that still clung to his torso.

An ambulance waited at the harbour as King fixed a hook and a rope onto the body. Two fishermen winched it up and the ambulance crew put it on a stretcher. Then, they drove off to the mortuary.

"Where did you find him?" Temple asked.

"About half a mile off shore. We were just turning back for home. We'd had a good catch but we thought we'd have one more run. It's where the river water has lost all its speed, even when it's in full spate. Often good for fishing." He paused. "Anyway, up he came. We reckon he's been in the water a good week or so."

"We'll need a statement from you. Could you do that later today? The desk sergeant will help you." The man nodded.

Sitting in the car, Temple was lost in thought for several minutes. "What do you reckon? Ellacott?"

"Yep! Pretty sure it is. Do you think it was more than just a drowning?"

"Well, I leave that sort of detail to the pathologist. But I tell you one thing, Mrs Ellacott is in no fit state to identify the body." He smiled. "We'll get our pal, Dr McBride, to do that. I'll be interested to see how he reacts."