Daddy Long Legs Read Online Free

that Frik insinuated himself into the investigation, right from day one. As can be guessed, his meddling had a seriously detrimental effect on the efforts of the detectives. Fashioning himself as the ‘champion of the people’ he insisted on total transparency in the investigation (Translation: he wanted his ‘important contribution’ to be clearly observable by his voters). As a result, he forced valuable evidence – which should have remained confidential in a case of this nature – to be leaked to the public. But Moerdyk’s meddling didn’t stop there. He insisted on daily meetings with the detectives to gauge the progress of the case and proffered a series of bizarre suspect lists – influenced more by his political dealings than anything else. In this and other ways, Mayor Moerdyk became the single biggest impediment to solving the case. Damage control was only – thankfully – applied late one night on an isolated stretch of Wide Road when Moerdyk was caught enjoying the services of a black prostitute known locally as Maria the Mouth . The Mayor’s unsolicited meddling – and career – both ended suddenly that Friday night. But the damage had been done. And the initiative had been lost. A possible effective strategy for apprehending the killer had been rendered ineffective. The killer simply adapted his modus operandi and thus evaded capture.
    A few days after the Moerdyk incident, one of the detectives resigned to pursue interests in the private sector. He was immediately replaced by a political appointee – nephew to one of the National Party parliamentarians. Meanwhile a sadistic serial killer that exalted in the torture and violation of young boys walked unhindered amongst the community.
    Just over a week after Mayor Moerdyk was unceremoniously stripped of his ambitions, the badly decomposed body of Barry Coetzee was found in the flatlands to the West of Hope. Yvette Coetzee committed suicide the following day.
    On New Year’s Day of the following year, Jason Reed – aged eleven – was seen playing outside his house when he vanished into thin air.
     
     

Four
     
    EXTRACTS FROM A REPORT DELIVERED TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
     
    April 1986
     
    FOR ATT : Colonel Paul Siebert, Commissioner of Police
    RE : Hope Homicides
    DATE : 17 April, 1986
    PLACE : Pretoria House, Roeland Street, Pretoria
    PRIORITY : High (CONFIDENTIAL)
    CODE : EX – 23 – 1L
     
    ... /page 3
     
    PROCESS REPORT – Detective Klaas Haasbroek
    (extracts)
    ...
    Following discovery of body of homicide victim (REED, JASON) by CS WITNESS #1 (SIAPE, THOKO) on 16 January, 1986, confirmation of THIRD (3 RD ) victim of Hope serial killer. Corpse discovered in early stages of decomposition, approx TWO (2) weeks after disappearance. Body was clothed, in similar manner to previous TWO (2) victims (SEE ATTACH #1101 AND ATTACH #1102).
    ...
    Victim’s navy blue shorts were back to front, suggesting body was clothed POST-MORTEM. Investigators conclude victim was possibly naked during time of death, and possibly for duration of incarceration.
    ...
    Dump site was different location than previous sites (SEE ATTACH #1101 AND #1212) and further outside boundaries of Hope. Possible reason for delayed discovery of body. Investigators conclude leak to press forced killer to change MO and choose different dump site.
    ...
    Body posed with hands folded across pubic area. Various bruises visible despite advanced decomposition. Body extremely emaciated, suggesting victim fed little or nothing during incarceration.
    ...
    Investigators conclude perpetrator to be established part of community with fixed residence (most likely with own property) and income. White male, aged between 26 and 36. Highly likely that subject known to victims. Subject regarded as intelligent and educated and of English descent.
    ...
    Calls to Hope Gazette traced to local public phone. Fingerprint inconclusive. Witnesses interviewed but no results yielded. Following lack of