Good Policing. Who Is The SHZS?

Mayor Clements has towed Irene's car back to Windcreens O'Brien. Now he is dropping her off.

Thanks Peter, says Irene. See you tonight at the Town Hall?

You will, says Mayor Clements. See you later, Irene.

Irene heads across to the police station.

Afternoon, Victor, says Irene. You any good at decoding?

Of course I am, says Victor. What have you got for me?

This! says Irene.

She writes upside down on his charge sheet:

2 slout shzs ths wknd !!

Victor frowns. No one writes on his charge sheet.

Well? says Irene.

Victor turns the charge sheet around so he can read it.

Two somethings this weekend, says Victor.

I guessed that much myself, says Irene. But what's SHZS?

Any clues you can give me? asks Victor.

It was on someone's phone. A message from someone called David, says Irene.

David .....hmmm........ says Victor. Is he Jewish?

How do I know? says Irene.

Whose phone is it? asks Victor.

The person who calls himself Jacques Cousteau, says Irene. An imposter.

And how did you come by his phone? asks Victor.

(What a thorough policeman!)

He lost it, says Irene.

Perhaps he'll come by and claim it, says Victor. Then we'll find out who he is.

Victor, says Irene. I don't have it. Mayor Clements has it. He's returning the bike and the phone as we speak.

So you know where he is, says Victor.

Yes, I know where he is, says Irene. He's staying at the backpackers. He's a guest of Mayor Clements. He's here with the chap who goes by the name of David Suzuki.

Did you says Suzuki? says Victor. Perhaps he's the SHZS.

David Suzuki, says Irene. Perhaps he's the David.

Yes, perhaps he's the David, says Victor.

I don't think so, says Irene.

Irene, you are not being helpful, says Victor. Policing is difficult enough without introducing red herrings.

Well, I'll just leave it with you, says Irene. You seem to have plenty of time on your hands.

How annoying Irene can be.

Victor hopes for an imminent crime.

As if in answer to his hopes the phone rings.

A surfer has been attacked by a shark at Stokes Bay!

He is just getting ready to head out there in his police car when the phone rings again.

Traffic accident on the Esplanade at Hogs Bay, involving an infant and a grasshopper.

A grasshopper. That can't be right!

Vincent springs into action.

Irene watches him spring.