Execution Tales Chapter 44 Revision 2
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44: The Search Widens
The next day McEwan, Henry, Jackie & the third member of the Tribune Investigation team, Tom Chalmers, met to discuss where they were in the investigation of Penny’s disappearance
Henry said, “I think it is still important to talk to some of the former College girls the question is how do we find them?”.
Jackie pondered for a moment & said, “Why don’t we get them to come to us? We put an appeal in a prominent place in the paper for former College girls phrased in a way that maximises the chances of them getting in touch”.
So for the next seven days a large half page appeal appeared on page 3 of the Tribune seeking former College girls, stressing the benign nature of the search, emphasising that the anonymity of all respondents would be guaranteed if requested & the fact that information supplied would be paid for. Not surprisingly it generated no replies
When Cheryl, April & Beth saw the appeals for information in the Tribune they weren’t overly concerned as they knew that they would inevitably fail to elicit any new information
At their next get together Henry said, “I find it difficult to believe that not one of the fifteen or so former College girls that we know must be working in the Chicago area haven’t seen those adverts or had them drawn to their attention. Also wherever they may be working they are unlikely to be earning much money & we are offering payment for information supplied so why have none of them contacted us?”
Jackie spoke slowly, “Supposing none of these girls are actually out there”.
Harris had learned to respect her intuitive contributions, “What do you mean Jackie?” he asked
She replied, “Well if you stand back & think about it we have no concrete evidence that any of these girls actually left the College or the owners’ house”
The room fell silent as the four journalists pondered the implications of Jackie’s statement
McEwan said “Jesus Christ Jackie! Do you understand what you are suggesting!”.
He looked at Harris & said, “Charlie, I want you & Jackie to go to New York to find out all you can about the Edwards’ case. Focus on the role of the Refuge especially. Tom you continue to follow the girls when they leave the College. We will run the advert appeal for a further week”
Two days later Henry & Jackie were welcomed into his office by Captain O’Hanlon & Lieutenant O’Rourke of the New York PD. Initially the journalists were just going to say they were researching an article on the Edwards case but instead they decided to be up front with the officers, taking the view that they would liable to be more co-operative if there was a potential real case here.
After they explained why they were there O’Hanlon said, “You must be barking up the wrong tree. We got to know Cheryl Barnes, April Jones & Beth Slade quite well & I just can’t see them being capable of what you are suggesting. However I will ensure that you are given access to all the information we have on the Edwards case & I will request that the state Attorney General’s office do the same. The only condition I will make is that you must assure me you update the Chicago PD when you return home”.
Henry promised the Captain that he would & thanked him for his co-operation
A week later McEwan, Henry, Jackie & Chalmers met again to review progress
Henry & Jackie had stacks of notes with them detailing all they had found out in New York, Chalmers had followed one more student leaving the College with the same result & McEwan reported that there had still no responses to the Tribune’s appeals for information
McEwan said, “Where do we go from here?”
Henry replied, “Well Boss, we did give an undertaking to the NYPD to ensure their co-operation that we would share everything we had with the Chicago PD & I think we are obliged to honour that commitment”.
The editor nodded & said, “I agree Charlie. I will contact the Police Commissioner & set up a meeting which I think we should all attend”.
The next day McEwan, Henry, Jackie & the third member of the Tribune Investigation team, Tom Chalmers, met to discuss where they were in the investigation of Penny’s disappearance
Henry said, “I think it is still important to talk to some of the former College girls the question is how do we find them?”.
Jackie pondered for a moment & said, “Why don’t we get them to come to us? We put an appeal in a prominent place in the paper for former College girls phrased in a way that maximises the chances of them getting in touch”.
So for the next seven days a large half page appeal appeared on page 3 of the Tribune seeking former College girls, stressing the benign nature of the search, emphasising that the anonymity of all respondents would be guaranteed if requested & the fact that information supplied would be paid for. Not surprisingly it generated no replies
When Cheryl, April & Beth saw the appeals for information in the Tribune they weren’t overly concerned as they knew that they would inevitably fail to elicit any new information
At their next get together Henry said, “I find it difficult to believe that not one of the fifteen or so former College girls that we know must be working in the Chicago area haven’t seen those adverts or had them drawn to their attention. Also wherever they may be working they are unlikely to be earning much money & we are offering payment for information supplied so why have none of them contacted us?”
Jackie spoke slowly, “Supposing none of these girls are actually out there”.
Harris had learned to respect her intuitive contributions, “What do you mean Jackie?” he asked
She replied, “Well if you stand back & think about it we have no concrete evidence that any of these girls actually left the College or the owners’ house”
The room fell silent as the four journalists pondered the implications of Jackie’s statement
McEwan said “Jesus Christ Jackie! Do you understand what you are suggesting!”.
He looked at Harris & said, “Charlie, I want you & Jackie to go to New York to find out all you can about the Edwards’ case. Focus on the role of the Refuge especially. Tom you continue to follow the girls when they leave the College. We will run the advert appeal for a further week”
Two days later Henry & Jackie were welcomed into his office by Captain O’Hanlon & Lieutenant O’Rourke of the New York PD. Initially the journalists were just going to say they were researching an article on the Edwards case but instead they decided to be up front with the officers, taking the view that they would liable to be more co-operative if there was a potential real case here.
After they explained why they were there O’Hanlon said, “You must be barking up the wrong tree. We got to know Cheryl Barnes, April Jones & Beth Slade quite well & I just can’t see them being capable of what you are suggesting. However I will ensure that you are given access to all the information we have on the Edwards case & I will request that the state Attorney General’s office do the same. The only condition I will make is that you must assure me you update the Chicago PD when you return home”.
Henry promised the Captain that he would & thanked him for his co-operation
A week later McEwan, Henry, Jackie & Chalmers met again to review progress
Henry & Jackie had stacks of notes with them detailing all they had found out in New York, Chalmers had followed one more student leaving the College with the same result & McEwan reported that there had still no responses to the Tribune’s appeals for information
McEwan said, “Where do we go from here?”
Henry replied, “Well Boss, we did give an undertaking to the NYPD to ensure their co-operation that we would share everything we had with the Chicago PD & I think we are obliged to honour that commitment”.
The editor nodded & said, “I agree Charlie. I will contact the Police Commissioner & set up a meeting which I think we should all attend”.
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