Trying to bring the conversation back to Essie, Zara cleared her throat and asked, ‘Was this shearer Melissa’s father?’
Ted sat up straight and put his knife and fork down. ‘Well, now, here’s the clincher. When Essie arrived in Barker, she was pregnant, so I’d have to say yes, that was a possibility. I know she had the child because one of my mates used to work at the hospital and he heard her screaming the house down, when she was having her.
‘“Ted,” he said, “Ted, I really thought someone was murdering that poor girl. When I finished up that day I had to go straight to the pub and have myself a drink.”’
Zara wanted to smile at the absurd story but couldn’t. Her gut was telling her that Ted knew exactly what he was talking about and he was working up to something.
‘Right.’
‘I reckon he was their dad, for sure.’
‘Their dad? Has Melissa got a sibling?’
‘I don’t rightly know.’ He wagged his finger at her. ‘I know she was only ever seen with one child. Someone said she had twins. She screamed enough in labour for that to be the case, but she was only ever seen out and about with one. A little girl. Can’t remember what her name was.’
‘Melissa?’
Ted screwed up his eyes thinking. Then shook his head. ‘Like I’ve said, it was a long time ago. I can’t rightly remember … There was talk that one child died during the labour.’ He paused, his face gloomy. ‘Sad that. Pushed the husband over the edge and he disappeared.’
Chapter 32
Dave left home at daybreak, hoping to catch the Assistant Commissioner before he went into his daily meetings. He was now standing in the large office, the walls adorned with many awards.
‘Sir, please, I’d really like your permission for Jack to speak to Melissa Carter.’
The Assistant Commissioner steepled his fingers. He was sitting in his large plush chair and hadn’t taken his eyes off Dave since he’d sat down. ‘Why are you even here, Burrows? I instructed you to stay away from this case.’
Nodding, Dave said, ‘I know, sir, but I wouldn’t be any good at my job if I did that when I knew the Feds were on the wrong track. I’m not saying Essie didn’t receive the drugs. That was never my argument. What I knew was—’
‘There was more to the story, yes, yes, you’re sounding like a broken record, Burrows.’ He stared at Dave. ‘Tell me what you know.’
‘My source …’
‘Who is?’
Dave merely raised an eyebrow. ‘My source,’ he continued, ‘has named Melissa’s supplier as “Spritz”. I think we both know who that leads back to. And what I’ve believed the whole way along was that the supplier, this Spritz, was threatening either the daughter or granddaughter’s life. My source has managed to get Melissa to trust her. Sir, if we could bring Jack in to get the information officially then we could take it to the Feds. You know as well as I do, they aren’t following this angle any further. Essie is only a pawn to them, expendable, but from the information I have, I believe we could put a lot of drug dealing to bed if we follow this through. Save a lot of lives. I’m sure you would get the credit for giving the Feds the intel, sir.’
The Assistant Commissioner stiffened. ‘I police for the greater good of the community, not accolades.’
‘Sir,’ Dave replied evenly.
‘And questioning the Feds is not something we do lightly, in case you’ve forgotten, Burrows.’ He sat back, and sighed. ‘Tell me what you’re thinking.’
Dave, pleased the reprimand was over, stood up and paced the floor. ‘What are we looking at here? We have a woman being threatened by a family known for their involvement with not only drugs but money laundering and organised crime. We have her daughter, who has named a son of this family, and a granddaughter who could be in danger. If we can convince Melissa Carter to wear a wire, we might be able to shut down the drug-dealing circle and take a lot of drugs off the streets.’
The Assistant Commissioner was listening with his eyes closed and nodded at each point that Dave made. When the narration was finished, he opened his eyes and made a few notes. Then he moved from his desk to stand toe to toe with Dave. ‘You’re not just out to get Simms since he embarrassed you with his complaints?’
‘Can’t say I was happy. I’m neither corrupt nor complacent about the importation of drugs. I think that’s how Simms worded the complaint, wasn’t it? As far as I can see, they were just trying to embarrass the SA police and me. But, no, this isn’t about humiliating the Feds in turn by doing their job for them.’
The Assistant Commissioner raised his eyebrows.
‘I’ve told everyone from the start, what we were seeing with Essie wasn’t what was going on behind the scenes. From the outset, there was more to this story. My source has confirmed that this is true.’ Dave looked at his boss. ‘I’m sure you can understand what I’m saying, sir.’
The Assistant Commissioner shook his head. ‘God, Burrows, you do this all the time. I told you to stay away from this case and yet you went around me and got information I can’t ignore. You’re a pain in the arse.’
‘I haven’t contacted Melissa Carter in person. My source has.’
‘That’s splitting hairs and you know it. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you put whomever your source is up to this.’
Dave didn’t say anything.
The silence stretched out in the office, until finally the Assistant Commissioner sighed and spread his hands in a defeated attitude. ‘Burrows, I’m uncomfortable with this but I’m willing to give you some leeway. But—’ he looked Dave in the eye ‘—you cannot, cannot, have anything to do with this.’
‘Yes, sir, I appreciate that. My colleague Jack Higgins will make the approach.’
‘You seem to forget we’re dealing with the Feds here, and they don’t like to be embarrassed. If you fuck this up, Dave, I won’t be able to protect you. It might be the end of your career.’
Jack knocked on the door of the halfway-house and waited, as Zara had instructed.
Finally, it cracked open and Jack found himself staring at the thin pale face of a man. His eyes were bloodshot and Jack could smell him from where he stood.
‘What the fuck do you want, copper?’
‘G’day. Here to see Melissa.’
The man turned away, not opening the door any wider. ‘There’s a pig to see you, Melissa. You want me to let him in?’
‘Has he got a warrant?’
He stuck his head into the gap in the doorway. ‘Got a warrant?’
‘Nah, mate, I’m just here for a friendly chat. No warrant needed. Tell her I’m a friend of Zara’s.’
Melissa appeared at the door. Jack was prepared for the way she looked, because Zara had briefed him when they’d met with Dave to discuss the way forward.
‘What can I do you for?’ Melissa asked, shooing away the man who had been guarding the door.
‘You said you’d do anything to help your mother. I’m here about that. Can we talk?’
Chewing her fingernails, Melissa shook her head, looked behind her and stepped outside. ‘I’ve thought about it. I know how crazy-arse that man can be. It’s too dangerous.’
‘How dangerous is it to Essie and Paris?’ Jack said evenly.
‘Won’t be dangerous if you just let them continue on the way they have been.’ She glanced around again. ‘Look, he might be watching, so you should go.’
Jack put a hand on her arm but she wrenched it away. ‘Get the fuck away from me.’
‘Sorry, sorry.’ He made a calming gesture. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you. We can’t turn a blind eye to what’s going on with Essie and the drugs. The Australian Federal Police are involved, and they won’t let it drop. Could we please go inside and chat about this?’
‘No. You need to go.’
‘We really need your help. Don’t you want to take this bastard down so he can’t kill any more people?’
Melissa moved from foot to foot. She was jumpy and agitat
ed.
‘We know he sold Ryan the bad batch of heroin. He’s responsible for Ryan’s death, Melissa.’
Melissa turned back to the house. ‘If you get my family hurt, I’ll … I’ll …’ She swallowed hard and stomped inside, throwing open the door to her office. ‘Shut the door behind you.’
‘Thank you,’ Jack said, quietly closing the door. ‘I understand how frightening this must be for you.’
‘You’ve got no idea.’
‘What if I told you that he’d threatened Essie with kidnapping Paris and getting her hooked on heroin? Would that change your mind about helping us?’ Jack leaned forward, holding his breath. That was the last card he had up his sleeve.
His reaction when Dave had told him was pure hatred for a person who could even think of such a thing. No wonder Essie had been so frightened.
‘Fuck off,’ Melissa leaned back in her chair. ‘I know you’re lying.’
‘Why would you think that?’
‘’Cause you’re a copper, and you blokes don’t always tell the truth. Who would do that to a little kid?’
‘A person who has everything to lose and needs to keep people quiet. What I’m telling you, Melissa, is a true story. And let me tell you something else. Your great friend, Dave Burrows, who saved your life? Remember him?’
Melissa nodded.
‘Well, he’s putting his whole career on the line to help you, and Essie and Paris. The only way to clear your mum’s name is to prove she was being blackmailed.’
Silence stretched out between them as Melissa’s eyes darted around, weighing up what she’d been told.
‘What would I need to do?’
‘You’d wear a wire and face Spritz. Get him to talk.’
Melissa reared back as if she’d been slapped. ‘No way. No fucking way! Do you know what he did to me?’ Melissa burst into tears. ‘I was clean. Doing real well and he came and found me. Spiked my drink then injected me. Made me dependent on him again. I don’t want to see that bastard ever again.’
‘We’ll be right there, Melissa,’ Jack looked into her eyes, willing her to believe him. ‘We won’t let that happen again. I promise you.’
She kept shaking her head. ‘No. Please, no.’
‘Think of Paris. Think how you would feel if he got his hands on her. If she was hooked on drugs.’
‘That’s emotional blackmail.’
‘Look, Dave and I will be right in the van alongside you. We’ll have visual and audio contact. We can talk to you through the earpiece. We thought a local cafe would be the best place; out in the open with lots of other people around. We’ll have the Special Tasks and Rescue team ready and waiting to take him down when we’ve got what we need.’
‘What if he searches me?’
‘He’s not going to do that in public. We’ll have every plan we can in place so you will be safe.’
Rubbing her palms along her legs, Melissa seemed a little calmer. ‘Did he really say he’d do that to Paris?’
‘That’s what Essie told Zara when we finally got her to talk. I’ve come straight from her house in Barker to see you. Zara is with Essie and Paris now, and we’ll be taking them to a safe house very soon.’
‘So, he reckons he can kill Ryan and my little girl too?’
Jack nodded. ‘And the hundreds of others he’s sold heroin to. You could be instrumental in bringing him down.’
‘I don’t know.’ She paused and scratched at her arms again, before she stood up and paced to the window.
It seemed to Jack she was unable to stay still.
She spoke in a low voice and Jack strained to hear her. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.’
Melissa turned around and faced him. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I’ll do it. Let’s get the bastard.’
Chapter 33
Zara looked at the photos hanging on Essie’s wall. The one of a young Melissa intrigued her.
‘Do you promise that Melissa will be okay?’ Essie wrung her hands as she sat at the kitchen table. Dave was across from her.
‘We’ll do our best to keep her safe, Essie. Now, can I get you to pack a bag? We really need to get a move on.’
‘But what if he works out I’m not here anymore and he finds Melissa before all this takes place?’
‘We’re doing our best to make sure that doesn’t happen. We’ve got a very experienced team on their way from Adelaide to help out with the operation and they’ll help protect Melissa.’ He wished he could promise that Melissa would be okay, but he’d been involved with operations where things had gone wrong and, despite their best efforts, people had died. Dave’s memories were littered with loved ones yelling, ‘You promised!’ He’d stopped making promises a long time ago.
‘Essie,’ Zara said, ‘I think I’ve said before …’
‘Grandma?’ Paris came in and looked at the many people in the kitchen. Her eyes were wide and questioning.
‘Ah, sweetie, come here.’ Essie held out her hands and gathered her granddaughter to her as if she would never let her go. ‘It’s going to be okay.’
‘What is?’ her granddaughter asked.
‘Essie,’ Zara tried again, ‘that photo of Melissa—I’ve said before, she looks familiar. Do you have any other relatives around Barker?’
The older lady shook her head. ‘No. For such a long time, it was just Melissa and me. Then I met Mr Clippers and he became my family. Then this beautiful one came along.’ She stroked her hand over Paris’s hair and hushed her as she tried to speak again.
‘Where were you from before you came to Barker?’
Dave interrupted. ‘Zara, we don’t have time for this, we really have to get going.’
‘Okay, sorry.’ She got up and went to the door, looking for Kim. She was running late. Together, they were going to pack up the most important things in the house, while Dave and Jack got Essie and Paris safely to Adelaide. Kim had gone to find boxes. Essie had been told it was unlikely she could ever return to Barker.
Zara’s heart had felt like it would break when Essie’s tears started after hearing that.
Dave now took charge. ‘Right, gather what you need. Let’s get on the road.’
‘Where are we going?’ Paris asked.
‘I’m taking you to a special house in Adelaide.’
‘Why?’
Dave raised his eyebrows and Zara could see he wished Kim was there to help him with the persistent questions. ‘Because …’
Zara turned back to the kitchen. ‘It’s a little holiday,’ she improvised. ‘Have you been on a holiday before?’
Paris shook her head.
‘Come on, then, I’ll help you pack your bag.’ She held out her hand to the little girl. ‘Can you show me where your room is?’
‘Yep, this way.’
‘What about this?’ Essie asked, getting up and opening the fridge door. ‘I have lots of food still in here.’
‘Kim’s on her way to clean the fridge out and pack your important things.’ Dave stood. ‘Come on, we need to get a move on. Is your bag packed, Essie?’
‘No, I’ll do it now.’
‘Don’t worry about Paris,’ Zara called out. ‘I’ll help her. Now, where will I find a suitcase for you?’
‘In the passageway cupboard,’ Essie answered before Paris could.
Paris ran to the storage cupboard and yanked open the door. ‘Here you are,’ she said, pulling out an old battered suitcase.
‘Great, let’s get packing! Have you got a favourite dress you want to take?’
She followed Paris into her bedroom and laid the case on the bed, before going through the chest of drawers and pulling out the essentials to pack.
‘Can you get me your toothbrush and hairbrush from the bathroom?’
Paris bounced off and Zara grabbed another bundle of clothes and folded them. As she placed them in the suitcase, she felt something hard in the storage part of the lid. Frowning, she felt along until her fingers touched a hard, square box. She brough
t the box out and looked at it, knowing instinctively that this held something very important to Essie.
Glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching, she tried to open the lid, but it was stuck. She frowned and tipped it over to see if she could wedge a fingernail into the joint. That didn’t work. Giving the box a shake, it sounded like papers rustling inside.
Curiosity got the better of her and she turned to look for a knife.
‘You ready yet?’ Dave called.
‘Not yet,’ she answered.
Quickly, Zara put the box in her handbag and went to find Paris. On her way to the bathroom she passed another bedroom. She opened the door, thinking Paris might be in there getting more clothes, but she wasn’t.
Zara drew in a breath. She’d never seen a bedroom like this; the furniture was from a different era, as were the curtains and carpet. In the dim light, she could see a fine layer of dust covering everything: the rocking chair, the wardrobe, the dresser.
And the two cots. Goosebumps spread across her skin.
Taking a step inside, she looked into both cots—they were neatly made, with a teddy bear in each. To Zara, the room looked lost in time, as if something had happened here that meant the children wouldn’t ever come back.
Her mind flew back to what Ted had told her. She was only ever seen with one child. Someone said she had twins.
Who would have two cots in one bedroom, if they only had one baby? Her mind raced over everything Ted had told her. He remembered Essie catching the train to Port Augusta. She was friends with ladies from the church. What else did Essie get up to in her spare time?
‘Come on!’ Dave’s voice was hurried. ‘It’s time to go.’
Quickly and quietly, Zara shut the door and turned back to Paris’s bedroom.
‘Where have you got to, Paris? We’re not finished packing yet.’
Paris came out of Essie’s room, with Essie behind her. ‘I’ve got what I want,’ she said to Zara.
Essie was looking worried. She carried a small suitcase—one that looked like it had seen better days—and handed it to Dave.
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