Free Square Snapper (Detective Inspector Burgess) by Deborah Middleton Page A

realized they had snagged a body and mayhem had ensued. This was one diving trip they would never forget.
    Later, when the police boat had arrived and taken away the body, the story would also surface that the victim was Deon White. He had been found fairly well preserved by the tarpaulin, except for his feet which had been eaten away by fish. The combination of gases in the body and the slow seepage of white paint from the cans, had caused the body to come to the surface more quickly than would have been the case had Deon bothered to put the paint can lids back on more securely - an irony he was, however, in no position to appreciate.
    Burgess and Archie made their way down to the dock to supervise the offloading of the body. The police photographer and an ambulance had both been notified, as had a hundred or so more people, by cell phone and internet. There was quite a crowd gathered eager to be eye witnesses to the gruesome business so they could hold forth at work the next day. Burgess looked around for Johnny McCabe and was rewarded with the sight of his cameraman setting up for the action. Archie came back from talking to him and had learned that Johnny was busy interviewing the witnesses on the dive boat and would be coming over shortly. Burgess marvelled at the energy of the man. He was everywhere and on top of every event that took place on the island. While at times their jobs put them at loggerheads, he had a real appreciation for the reporter’s tenacity and work ethic. He often got to interview witnesses before the police did. Perhaps the police should put him on retainer . He found himself smiling. The police boat was idling a few feet from the dock waiting for the go-ahead to dock.
    “Get this area cordoned off and leave about thirty feet around the dock. We need room to work here.”
    Archie sprang into action at Burgess’s words, taking charge of the crowd and having them moved back. Uniformed police were gradually making progress and giving the police boat a chance to come in without fear of hindrance from the public.
    Burgess walked over to the boat.
    “Don’t do anything until the ambulance gets here. Is the body covered up?”
    “No sir, only with the tarpaulin it’s wrapped in. We don’t have anything big enough to cover everything.”
    “Okay, do your best, then.” Burgess could hear the siren of the approaching ambulance. Jacintha ’ s going to need some help with this one. Look at all those paint cans and the rope tied all around it. At that point, Burgess caught sight of the feet and his stomach lurched.
    “Cover up the feet,” he shouted over to the boat.
    Archie’s voice next to him said, “Did you see what’s left of them? What the hell is Jacintha going to do with this package? God, I’m glad I don’t have her job.”
    “Couldn’t have said it better myself, bro’. Let’s stay upwind from this. The smell is pretty awful too. You guys need more help?” He shouted to the men in the boat who were now passing the tarpaulin clad body over to the ambulance crew.
    “We’re okay, sir. Thanks.”
    “Okay, take it back to Dr. Brangman at King Edward’s. I’ve notified her to expect you.”
    “Yes, sir,” said the ambulance driver.
    Chapter 17
     
     
    At his office in the Cabinet Building, the Premier had gathered the Minister of Health, Minister of Tourism, Police Commissioner, Minister of Immigration and the Director of Customs. They sat in a semi-circle around his desk on a dark blue leather couch and comfortable wing back chairs. Each had a solemn expression. The Police Commissioner had just finished briefing them on the status of the investigations.
    “And this Detective Burgess… can he handle this without Scotland Yard?” asked the island’s leader.
    “Premier, I believe we have made tremendous headway on the two investigations. We believe that the girl’s murder is linked to the Deon White murder and that White and his accomplice were possibly responsible for