by Chris Taylor
Her meeting with Marcia Slater had made it clear that someone else was likely involved. Declan’s file had been accessed a month before the alleged incident had been brought to her attention. While nothing appeared to be missing and Marcia had assured her nothing had been copied, it was still more than possible the login details had been stolen.
Most people carried a cell phone and every cell phone she knew of housed a camera. It wasn’t too much of a stretch to imagine someone photographing the contents of Declan’s file, including his login details. Particularly if they were accessing them for nefarious reasons.
The prosecution’s case depended upon the Crown proving Declan was the only person with access to his username and password. After her interview with Marcia, it was clear that wasn’t the case.
It might have been unusual for someone to request access to an employee’s file, but the fact was, from time to time it happened and she now had proof that it had happened to Declan. What she didn’t know was why?
She bit her lip in consternation. The magistrate entered and she stood automatically, bowing in his direction, as was the custom before he took his place on the bench.
She now knew she needed to see her uncle. For some reason, it appeared his office was involved. She didn’t believe for an instant her much-loved uncle—an intelligent, affable family man who’d made good in politics—was responsible, but someone close to him was and she needed to identify them.
As the spectators and lawyers took their seats, Chloe gazed across at Declan. He had half-turned in her direction and was now looking at her over his shoulder. Their gazes met and he smiled at her as if she was the best thing he’d seen all morning. Her breath caught at the intensity of emotion in his eyes.
Her lips moved of their own volition and she found herself smiling back. He’d been put through hell, mostly by decisions that had been made by her and yet, he still managed to smile at her. His thoughtfulness and consideration in the middle of his committal hearing warmed her through.
With a final lingering glance, he turned away to face the barrage of lawyers and court personnel in front of him.
Chloe drew in a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the proceedings. Neil Abbey was making his closing arguments. His voice rose with heat and passion as he asked that the magistrate find sufficient grounds to commit the defendant to stand trial.
The gravity of Declan’s position suddenly hit her hard. A flood of nerves knotted her stomach and made it difficult to breathe. If the magistrate sided with the prosecutor, the next time Declan appeared in court could be in front of a jury. Being committed for trial was a long way from being found guilty, but she hated knowing she was responsible for putting him there in the first place, especially now she knew someone else was involved.
With a sigh, Chloe forced herself to let it go. Besides, she still had no idea who was behind it. The best thing she could do for Declan now was to help him prove the charges false by discovering the real person or persons responsible for plotting his downfall.
Regardless of what Declan had to say about his friend, she still hadn’t written off Charlie Stanford. He seemed completely convinced Declan was a pedophile. He showed none of the loyalty Declan had showed to him. What kind of a friend wrote another friend off so quickly, believing the worst of a mate with barely a second thought?
Not the kind of friend she wanted—that was for certain. Recalling Savannah’s presence in the courtroom, Chloe looked across at the huddle of media and caught her friend’s eye. She indicated with her head for Savannah to meet her outside. Savannah nodded and a few moments later, stood and left the courtroom.
Chloe looked back toward the bench where Abbey was still engaged in his ardent oratory. With a quick motion, she shouldered her handbag and slipped quietly outside.
Savannah waited for her right outside the door.
“Hey, you!” she said and smiled. “I can see why you’re so tied up in knots about this guy. He’s absolutely gorgeous! If I wasn’t so madly in love with Jonathan, I’d snatch him up myself!”
Chloe grimaced and looked around to make sure there was no one nearby. “Shh! Someone might hear you!”
“So what?” Savannah replied nonchalantly, lifting an elegant shoulder. “It’s not a crime to find a man attractive and I’m only engaged, not blind.”
“You’re talking about the defendant in a matter I investigated. I need to keep up some semblance of propriety.”
Savannah grinned knowingly. “Ah, I see you’re not denying he’s the hottest thing you’ve seen in quite some time.”
Heat scorched Chloe’s cheeks. “Savannah, stop it! It’s not as if we’re dating. Hell, we’re on opposite sides of the law. It’s not something we can simply forget about.”
“But I thought you said you were having second thoughts about his guilt? Isn’t that why you went to meet him last night? To clear up the confusion?” A sly smile widened her full mouth. “Or did you spend the time getting to know each other better?”
Chloe slapped at her friend without malice. “Stop it! You’re incorrigible. Can’t you raise your thoughts above your navel for just a nanosecond?”
Savannah pretended to look hurt. “Now, now, Chloe. There’s no need for you to be like that. It’s not my fault Jonathan spends every waking moment sexting me. He’s insatiable and it’s starting to rub off. I just can’t help thinking lascivious thoughts when I see a guy who could double as Hugh Jackman.”
Chloe stifled a groan. The analogy was spot on, despite the differences in hair color. Thinking about the comparison made trying to concentrate on her friend’s conversation even more difficult.
“So, did you kiss him?”
Chloe suddenly zeroed in on Savannah’s question. “What? You have to be kidding. He’s the defendant.” She hoped she sounded suitably outraged and that Savannah wouldn’t notice Chloe’s cheeks were about to combust.
Savannah laughed. “Just joking, but I have to tell you, I don’t know if I’d have that much self-control. He’s one fine specimen.”
“You need to go and find Jonathan and cool your libido, Savannah. Go and surprise him in his office. Despite your boastful references to the contrary, it’s obvious you’re not getting anywhere near enough satisfaction.”
“Look who’s talking?” she replied with a cheeky grin.
Chloe returned her smile. “Yeah, well maybe I can cope with it better than you.”
Savannah grinned and Chloe grinned back at her. “Enough of this, I need to get back in there and find out what’s happening.”
“So, did you find out anything during your meeting with the hottie?”
“Off the record?”
Savannah perked up, suddenly all ears. “Of course.”
“I mean it, Savannah. Strictly off the record.”
Savannah’s shoulders slumped. “Dammit, Sabattini, you’re no fun at all.”
Chloe sobered. “I’m not sure what’s going on, Sav, but I need to talk to my uncle. I think his office is involved.”
Savannah’s eyes widened. “You mean the Home Affairs Office?”
“Yes. A clerk from my uncle’s office accessed Declan’s file a few months ago. The file contained details of his username and password.”
“Wow, that is interesting. Have you told anyone? Declan? His lawyer?”
“No, I haven’t had a chance and I want to speak to my boss first. I’m sure he won’t want to make anything public until we know for sure what’s going on, so don’t say anything to anyone, agreed?”
Savannah nodded. Chloe blew out a breath on a sigh.
“The closing arguments are almost finished. It’s too late to bring fresh evidence forward at this stage. If there is anything worth bringing to someone’s attention, it will have to wait.”
“I guess you’re right. It won’t make any difference to the outcome now and I’m sure you’ll bring whatever it is to the attention of the defense prior to the trial.”
“Of course. As soon as I
have anything concrete, I’ll pass it on. I’ve always believed in playing fair.”
“Does that include the media? Please tell me that if anything comes of this, I’ll be the first person you call?”
Chloe smiled. “Savannah O’Neill, you’ll be the first person I call.”
Savannah stepped forward and gave her a brief hug. “Thanks, Chloe. You’re the best friend ever.”
Chloe tried to hide her pleasure. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s what you always say.”
Savannah collected her handbag off the floor and started down the corridor. “I’ll talk to you later,” she called over her shoulder.
Chloe opened the door to the courtroom and quietly regained her seat. Declan’s barrister now had the floor.
After summarizing the evidence against his client, Roger White concluded his measured address to the magistrate by asking that the matter be dismissed. Whilst lacking some of the prosecutor’s passion, his charismatic baritone rumbled through the courtroom with sincerity and conviction.
Chloe watched Declan take a deep breath and exhale it on a heavy sigh. He rolled his shoulders and neck. She could see the tension in his tautly held body.
The committal hearing was over. It was now up to the man who sat high above them on the bench, to decide Declan’s fate. A fifteen-minute recess was called and the occupants of the courtroom stood as one and waited for the magistrate to depart. A murmur arose from the small crowd the minute the magistrate’s black robes disappeared from view.
Chloe watched as Declan acknowledged his family with a nod of gratitude. Moments later, his gaze moved on and found hers.
The distance between them became almost nonexistent. Chloe held her breath and tried hard to pretend her heart rate hadn’t accelerated the minute his gaze locked on hers. The more she delved into it, the more it appeared Declan Munro was exactly what he said he was: an innocent man who cared about the safety of his family and of his community; a man who had pledged his life to the service of others; a man who was fighting for his very survival.
He paused to speak briefly with his barrister and then stepped down from the dock and began to head in her direction. Her belly clenched in panic.
Surely, he couldn’t intend to speak with her here, in front of everybody? She looked left and right in an effort to formulate an escape.
“Good morning, I’m glad you’re here.”
Too late.
His deep voice rumbled over her. She bit her lip and forced herself to look up at him.
His gaze tangled with hers. Her heart tripped over, but she resolutely refused to pay it heed.
“How do you think it went?” she said, determined to keep things on a professional level.
He grimaced and offered a halfhearted shrug. “I guess we’ll know shortly when the magistrate returns with his decision.”
Her lips compressed. Despite her earlier decision, she wondered if she should just come right out now and tell him of her discovery. But what could she say? She didn’t know if what she’d found meant anything yet, and she needed to speak with her uncle before she said more. He was family, after all. He deserved her loyalty.
“I guess all we can do is hope for the best.”
Declan’s shoulders slumped, as if he’d been hoping for something more. Guilt surged through her, but she determinedly pushed it aside.
“I’m going to reinterview Charlie Stanford,” she offered in an effort to lift his spirits.
“What for? He’s hardly going to admit he lied.”
“He’s lied to me or he’s lied to the court. Either way, I’m going to ask him why. He knows more about this than he’s letting on. I’m sure of it. There’s no other reason for him to have been dishonest.”
The door to the courtroom opened and people began to file back in. Chloe glanced at her watch. Declan’s fifteen minutes were up.
“I need to return to the dock,” he said. “The magistrate will be back soon with his decision.”
She bit her lip. She hated to see him treated like this, like a common criminal. She reached out a hand and then just as quickly withdrew it. “Good luck,” she murmured, feeling inadequate.
He acknowledged her with a tight nod and turned away. He gazed quickly across at his family. Chloe followed his line of sight. A blond-haired woman she presumed was his mother, looked drawn and pale. A tall man with dark hair liberally splashed with gray who conducted himself with an obvious air of authority pulled the woman close, his expression grim. A younger man with messy fair hair gave Declan a halfhearted thumbs-up. With equal looks of dread and resignation, they all took their seats.
Declan turned away. Chloe watched as, with another heavy sigh, he headed back to the dock.
CHAPTER 15
Chloe, from her position in her Honda Civic, took in the sight of Parliament House perched high up on the Hill. While she looked upon the building every day during her commute to her office, it never failed to inspire her.
The sun bathed the building in warm light and glinted off the enormous steel structure that crowned the roof. The rich green grass that surrounded the building covered the steep slope it sat on and looked like it was growing up to meet the sky. It was smooth enough to double as a carpet.
She slowed for the security guards who were perched inside a booth at the entrance to Parliament House and the underground car park. Pressing the button on her armrest, she lowered the window, her security pass at the ready.
Within moments, her credentials were checked. Blinking against the dimness, she pulled her Honda into the first available parking space. The darkness of the underground car park was a little disorientating after the bright noon sunshine.
When the magistrate announced there was sufficient evidence for Declan’s matter to proceed to trial, she’d waited only long enough to offer him brief commiserations and had then made a beeline for her car. Although she was conscious of the necessity of touching base with her superiors and bringing them up to speed, the need to speak with the Minister was more urgent. It was possible he could enlighten her about Eric Stoltenberg and the reason why he’d accessed Declan’s personnel file.
Phoning ahead, she arranged to meet her uncle for lunch in the building’s cafeteria. It had been awhile since she’d seen him and if the situation hadn’t been so grave, she would have been looking forward to the catch-up.
He was already there when she arrived and greeted her with a smile and a warm hug.
“Princess! How wonderful to see you. It’s been too long.”
She returned his embrace and then moved to take a seat opposite him at the small wooden table.
“It’s lovely to see you again, too, Uncle Ronnie.”
“What have you been up to?”
She drew in a breath. “Until now, I’ve been involved in a committal hearing. I’ve come straight from the Magistrate’s Court in Civic.”
“Busy as usual, I see,” he replied with a fond smile.
Chloe shrugged. “You know how it is.”
“Yes, unfortunately I do. Sometimes I wonder what in hell I was thinking when I put my hand up for this job. I go from morning to midnight—and often well after—six, sometimes seven days a week. There always seems to be something that needs to be done.”
The twinkle in his eyes belied the brusqueness in his tone. Genuine affection surged through her. Her uncle looked so much like her father, they could be twins. With only thirteen months between them, people had often mistaken them as such, but unlike her father, her uncle carried an extra fifty pounds.
“You love every minute of your job, uncle. You wouldn’t have it any other way,” she teased.
He sighed dramatically. “Yes, you’re right, princess. I wish your aunt was more understanding. She never stops haranguing me about getting home so late.”
“Perhaps you should surprise her one day. Get home before dinner time. Better still, take her out to dinner.”
The Minister smiled and let the comment slide. “What are you having for
lunch?”
Chloe scanned the extensive menu in front of her and quickly decided on her usual. “I’ll have chicken, avocado and mayonnaise on a toasted Turkish bread roll, no butter. And a skim latte´ in a mug.”
Her uncle shook his head. “What’s this skim nonsense? You’re fading away to a shadow. I’m the one who should be ordering skim.”
Chloe laughed, but refrained from commenting. Her uncle had always been self-conscious about his weight. Not that it was enough to make him do something about it. Her earliest memories had him larger than life.
He stood and went over to the counter to place their orders. Chloe glanced around her while she waited for him to return. The usual scattering of public servants dressed in dark, conservative suits surrounded her. From all the chatter, they appeared to be making the most of their lunch hour to catch up on office gossip. Her uncle returned, tucking away his wallet inside his suit jacket.
“Thanks for treating me lunch, Uncle Ronnie.”
“It’s my pleasure, princess. We don’t do this half as often as we should.” He seated himself at the table and his expression turned somber.
“Now, what’s going on? I assume you need to speak with me about something more serious than the family’s latest exploits?”
Chloe smiled ruefully. “What gave me away?”
“Well, your office isn’t exactly next door to mine. You’re busy. It’s the middle of the working week. Yet, you’re here. Out with it, princess.”
“You know me too well. You’re right. There is something I wanted to talk with you about.”
“Fire away.”
Chloe took a deep breath. Her pulse picked up its rhythm and all of a sudden, she didn’t know what to say. Then she thought about Declan and the look on his face when the magistrate handed down his decision. The memory of that spurred her on.
“I’ve been investigating a case involving an agent by the name of Declan Munro. There was a brief mention of it on the news last night. Do you know him?”
Her uncle’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t think so. Sandra Callan, my personal assistant, mentioned it this morning at our daily debriefing. She said something about a committal hearing. I didn’t realize you were involved in it. Given that Munro’s under my jurisdiction, I guess the media will be looking for a sound bite from me at some stage.” He eyed her curiously. “What are the charges?”