Deadly Trust

by J J Cooper

  Jay nodded. ‘Thanks, doc.’

  ‘You’re welcome. Take care. I’ll call when I hear more about the girl.’ He drew the curtain as he left.

  Less than five minutes later, Jay had the bandage on and went out the back exit. He made his way around the outside of the building, got into the Chevy, and headed for home. He wondered how Underwood would react when he discovered Jay’s disappearance.

  Back in his apartment, Jay grabbed a scotch and dry and applied more antiseptic cream to his various cuts and bruises. He grabbed an icepack and headed out to the balcony. Under the full moon, he watched the tips of the waves as they formed and made their way to the sandy beach. The waves, he thought: first line of defence to the majestic sea. No sooner had he put his leg up onto the balcony, the shrill of his phone interrupted his thoughts. He hobbled inside and returned to the balcony before answering.

  ‘Hi, Dad.’

  ‘One of these days it won’t be me calling, son.’

  ‘You’re the only one who has my number.’

  ‘And that may be convenient for you, but you’re going to have to handle your own calls soon. It’s been long enough. Time to integrate back into the real world. Which is one of the things I want to talk to you about when I get there.’

  ‘We’ve had this discussion.’

  ‘And we’ll keep having it until you start taking your own calls.’

  Jay changed the subject. ‘You said one of the things you want to discuss. What else?’

  ‘I was going to wait until I got there, but it seems some trucker decided to spill his load across the entrance into Byron Bay. It’s a mess and you may want to get some shut-eye before I get there.’

  ‘That much of a mess?’

  ‘Traffic stopped in and out. I’ll wait it out and work the phones for a while. Good chance to clear some calls I have to make. By the way, the check on that police officer is sensitive so it’ll take a while to run. Probably have something by the morning.’

  ‘No worries. What else is there?’

  ‘There’s a military police Captain who has been trying to track you down.’

  ‘That right? What does he want?’

  ‘She.’

  ‘Okay, she.’

  ‘She has some bad news to deliver. And she needs to talk with you urgently.’

  ‘What is it? I’m out of the army now. And after our last little incident, I doubt an MP wants to invite me for coffee.’

  ‘Probably haven’t forgiven you for escaping their custody. Anyway, that’s not it. Remember back to Afghanistan. There were five of you interrogators who deployed first up.’

  Jay thought back to his deployment. The five of them had been hand-picked for the assignment. ‘Yeah, I remember.’

  ‘Three of those interrogators turned up dead last week.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I didn’t speak to the MP Captain personally, but the message I received was that McClelland died after a hit and run outside a pub in Townsville, Davis overdosed on a bad batch of ecstasy in Melbourne, and Simpson died after his car fell on top of him while he was carrying out some home maintenance.’

  ‘Holy shit! All within a week.’

  ‘Yes. And, of course, the other member of that group, Bowen, got murdered last year.’

  Jay remembered that one vividly. Bowen had fallen into an espionage ring and Jay had watched helplessly as he was murdered at the hands of a madman. ‘That’ll never leave me. So what does all this mean? Seems a little too coincidental. But totally different MOs.’

  ‘Normally, being so disparate in type of deaths, this would have gone unnoticed to most. Especially as you all went separate ways.’

  ‘But?’

  ‘But it seems that the MP Captain knew Simpson well enough to try to track down his old buddies for the funeral. No doubt that’s when she heard about the other two. And she went to a lot of trouble to reach me and get a message to you.’

  ‘So she suspects foul play?’

  ‘And rightly so, considering what you’ve told me about your adventures today.’

  Jay thought about the morning incident. They seemed to have gone looking for him, but how would they have known he would be at the RTA at that particular time? ‘Dad, you need to check Underwood pronto. He was the only one who could have known I would be at the RTA ... unless you’re the one setting me up?’

  ‘Only if you were the one sprinkling anthrax at that music festival. I digress. Underwood. Like I said, it’s sensitive. We need to tread lightly so as not to spook him. I know what you’re thinking. I only got the phone call from the MP on my way down to see you. I’ve got two of my agents from the Gold Coast twenty minutes behind me. I’m keeping it close in case the connection is strong with Underwood and within his department. Bill is on his way as well. We’re all converging on your place as soon as we can. Stay put and stay inside. You got protection?’

  ‘I haven’t had a girlfriend in over a year, Dad.’

  ‘No time for jokes, boy. After what’s happened to you today, and to your buddies, I have no doubt you’ve been targeted.’

  NINE

  Jay put on a pair of cargo pants and joggers and headed for the Chevy. Adrenalin shrugged off his injuries. He needed to confront Underwood. No need to wait for his father or Bill. It seemed to Jay that Underwood didn’t have the brains or intestinal fortitude to pull off a hit. That was obvious. Underwood had probably fed information to someone willing to pay for it. Jay wanted to know who the bidder was.

  After he’d got off the phone with his father, he’d called the hospital to locate Underwood. He’d been told the police officers had returned to the accident scene.

  As Jay approached the scene, he could see the emergency services vehicles with lights flashing. A police car was parked a couple of hundred metres before the site of the accident. And he could see police directing traffic from the scene. A familiar face stepped out onto the road and held his hand up for Jay to stop. Constable Barnes. Before Jay pulled up besides Barnes and wound down the window, he dialled a number he had been given that morning. A gruff voice answered.

  ‘Hello, Commissioner, it’s Jay Ryan. I’m about to speak to one of your finest and just thought you may want to hear. He is unaware that you are on the line, but I thought it necessary that you hear this conversation.’

  Jay thought he heard an ‘okay’ as Barnes came around to Jay’s window.

  ‘There is no access –. Well, well, look who it is. The very person who took off from the hospital without giving a full statement.’ He turned and called out for his partner to join him. Underwood pushed himself off the side of his car and moseyed on over.

  A torch beam shot into Jay’s face, blinding him. ‘Great, I’ve been looking forward to catching up with you, arsehole.’

  Jay sat still, hands in his lap, waiting for the inevitable.

  Underwood turned to his partner. ‘Do you smell that?’

  Here we go, Jay thought, hoping the Police Commissioner could hear the conversation clearly.

  ‘Yes, it smells like cannabis. And it must be coming from this arsehole’s tough black Chevy. Do you have any drugs in your possession, sir?’

  ‘You know I don’t, mate.’

  ‘That’s Senior Constable to you, arsehole. Have you taken any drugs this evening, sir?’

  ‘I don’t do drugs, and that’s Mr. Ryan to you.’

  ‘Your eyes look bloodshot and your speech pattern is erratic. That, coupled with the strong smell of cannabis coming from your vehicle, gives us probable cause for a search.’

  ‘You’re full of shit, Underwood.’

  ‘What? You going to make a complaint about me. Go ahead. Your word against two police officers.’

  Jay shrugged. ‘What say I just turn around and head back home? We can forget this happened.’

  ‘No we can’t, arsehole. I’m stuck out here, all hours of the night doing traffic duty because of you. You should be locked up. But it seems shiny arses, who don’t know a thin
g about real police work, have taken a liking to you.’

  Jay knew the Commissioner was going to love being called a shiny arse.

  Underwood continued his rant. ‘Now, I’m gonna have some fun with you. Get out of the car so I can search it. I’m gonna tear it apart, and then work you over for a bit for fun.’

  ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you.’

  Underwood ignored him and opened the door.

  ‘What say we make a deal?’ Jay said. ‘I’m obviously injured. My hands are swollen and I can hardly walk. Plant all the drugs you want on me. All I want to do is fight your hairy arse. One on one. No weapons. Just bare knuckles. If you win, you can even do me for assaulting a police officer. What do you say, big guy?’

  Underwood was about to reach in and pull Jay out of the Chevy when he stopped and appeared deep in thought. He looked up the road. Probably to see who was within earshot. When he looked back, his partner just shrugged.

  ‘Okay, arsehole. Get out.’

  The Senior Constable handed Barnes his weapon and walked to the rear of the Chevy.

  Jay got out and handed his phone to Barnes and stood a couple of feet away from Underwood. He weighed up his opponent. A bit taller and a lot heavier. Years of Mars bars and Coke versus years of military training. Hardly a match, even with Jay’s injuries. But Underwood seemed to realise this and, with a whipping motion, cracked open his baton.

  ‘Not real fair, is it?’ Jay asked.

  ‘I’m putting you back in that hospital tonight, arsehole.’

  Jay kept his eye on his opponent and said, ‘Constable Barnes, can you turn the volume up on my phone just in case your Police Commissioner is placing wagers on this fight. Wouldn’t want him to miss out on it now, would we?’

  Underwood’s jaw dropped a second before Jay knocked it back up. A mighty uppercut lifted the fat man off the ground and sent him flying into the ditch on the side of the road. Jay turned to see Barnes staring at the phone and then slowly raise it to his ear.

  ‘Hello?’ he said into the phone.

  Jay heard the barrage fly from his phone. Barnes stood to attention as if the Commissioner were in front of him. A chorus of ‘yes, sirs’ came from him between each onslaught. Jay turned as he heard Underwood crawl out of the ditch. Clearly, his senses weren’t working well. He raised himself in front of Jay and pulled his baton behind his head ready to strike. Jay’s hands ached and he had opened up the cuts on his right hand with the uppercut. He stepped in and delivered a vicious head butt that sent his opponent back into the ditch: a smashed nose to match his broken jaw.

  As Jay turned again, Barnes took a step away and held up the phone. ‘The Commissioner would like to speak with you, Mr. Ryan.’ The phone shook in his hand.

  Barnes ran around to pick up his partner after Jay took the phone.

  ‘Hello, Commissioner.’

  ‘You didn’t have to go that far with them, Jay.’

  ‘I know. Just had a lot of built-up tension that needed releasing.’

  ‘Assaulting a police officer is a very serious offence.’

  ‘So is being a corrupt cop.’

  ‘Point taken. Just let me deal with them now.’

  ‘No worries.’

  ‘What are you doing up there anyway?’

  ‘Would you believe, going for a surf?’

  ‘I grew up near the beach, so no. Not at this time of night. Stay away from the accident scene, Jay.’

  ‘Sure thing, Commissioner.’

  ‘I’m serious, Jay. Get some rest if you can. I want to speak with you at the station in the morning.’ He hung up.

  Jay had accomplished his first task: to give Underwood a veiled warning along with an arse-kicking. Next task was to find the driver of the four-wheel drive. As the two police officers passed Jay on their way back to their vehicle, a blood-covered Underwood mumbled, ‘You’ll pay.’

  ‘Sure thing, mate. It’ll have to wait a while though. I need to track down your friend. And when I do, I’m coming back for you.’

  TEN

  While waiting for his father and Bill, Jay searched the web for the news on the deaths of his three former team members. He found one brief article in the Townsville Times regarding McClelland’s hit-and-run. There was no mention of any witnesses, just the standard: ‘Police seeking community assistance’. Apart from the fact that it was a hit-and-run incident, Jay couldn’t draw any conclusions to it being a planned hit, not with the limited information he had.

  Jay couldn’t find any information on the death of Davis. Like McClelland and Simpson, Jay had lost contact years before. That was the culture – just the way it was. He had no idea if Davis was a drug user. He certainly wasn’t when Jay worked and socialised with him. The overdose could have been an accident, or deliberate. Again, Jay needed more information.

  A brief grab in a local rag described Simpson’s death as a freak accident.

  The only conclusion Jay could draw from his Google search is that three people had died in different circumstances and different parts of the country around the same time. Their only link was they worked together prior to, and during, a deployment to Afghanistan.

  That left Jay. Out of the five interrogators who were deployed to Afghanistan, four were dead. And Jay had been almost killed twice in the one day. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he was being targeted. He had the link, but not the reasoning or the who.

  A ringing sound interrupted his thoughts: the intercom near the door.

  He checked the small LCD screen above the intercom to make sure it was his dad before he let him in. Jay waited at the top of the stairs. ‘Hey, Dad.’

  Ed Ryan held out his hand. ‘How you doing, son?’

  Jay held up his damaged hands to his father. ‘Love to shake, but they’re a little sore.’

  ‘You don’t look too good, boy. Must have been one hell of an accident.’

  ‘Grab a seat and I’ll tell you all about it.’

  ‘Hang on. Bill’s got his foot jammed in the door while he finishes his cigar.’ Ed hung over the rail and looked down the steps. ‘Come on, Bill. Haven’t got all night.’

  Jay heard some grumbling before the security door closed. He caught sight of Bill as he topped the steps. ‘What happened to the robe, old man?’ he asked Bill.

  Bill gave a cheeky grin at the reference. Before helping Jay the previous year, he had spent most of his time in retirement, hanging around his house in an old bathrobe. Now he wore a tailored suit. ‘Is that any way to address a distinguished gentleman who saved your sorry arse?’ Bill didn’t attempt a handshake. He embraced Jay as soon as he hit the top step.

  ‘Good to see you again,’ Jay said.

  ‘Likewise.’ Bill stepped back for a good look at Jay. ‘You look like shit.’

  ‘Always the compliment.’ Jay looked past Bill. ‘Anyone else joining the party?’

  ‘The two I brought down are doing a sweep outside. They’ll keep an eye on this place while we’re here,’ Ed said.

  ‘And my driver is staying with the car,’ Bill said.

  Ed and Bill sat on the two-seater lounge while Jay tended to the drinks. Scotch and dry. He brought back the cans and received raised eyebrows instead of thanks. Jay took the single-seat recliner. ‘What?’ He looked at his father. ‘Perhaps you would like a beer to wash down the pizza?’

  Ed Ryan grinned. ‘Guess I forgot. Sorry.’

  Bill pulled out his mobile phone and hit a button. A couple of seconds later he said, ‘You know that pizza place we passed on the way in? That’s the one. Can you go back down and order three pepperoni, whatever you want and something for the other fellas who are casing out the place.’ There was a pause and it was Bill’s turn to grin. ‘Yeah, the spies. And grab a slab of Crown Lager on the way back.’ He hung up.

  Jay leaned back in the recliner with his feet up. It relieved the pressure on his injured knee. ‘So I guess business is good, Bill.’

  ‘You guess correct.’

&n
bsp; ‘Okay, you two,’ Ed said. ‘Rapport’s over. Let’s get on with the update. Jay, you start, and don’t leave anything out.’

  It took a can of scotch and dry before Jay finished his detailed account of the day’s events. The pizzas had arrived by the time Ed and Bill started with their prognosis of the situation.

  Bill went first. ‘I agree with your conclusions about the link. Coincidence is too much to ignore. And I suggest we have a couple of options. You want to go first, Ed?’

  ‘Not yet. You go.’

  ‘Okay. I say we use my team of private investigators to follow up the deaths of your three comrades,’ said Bill.

  ‘Nice start. But I can’t afford your services,’ Jay said.

  ‘I’ll take that as an insult. Wouldn’t dream of taking your money, boy. I’m where I am today because of you.’

  ‘You have no problem taking my money.’ Ed Ryan made the comment holding his beer to cover the smile.

  ‘It’s not your money. It’s the government’s. Can I continue?’ Bill looked hurt.

  ‘Go ahead. Sorry,’ Jay said.

  ‘Like I was saying. My investigators will follow up on the deaths. Because the local police are all over both of the incidents from today, I’m thinking, Ed, you’re in the best position to get the inside information – being who you are and all.’

  Ed Ryan nodded.

  Bill continued. ‘However, because we suspect a dirty cop, I want to do some snooping of my own. Think of it as confirming or denying the official line. If something is being hidden by others apart from Underwood, we could possibly flush it out that way.’

  Ed and Jay nodded in unison.

  ‘That leaves you.’ Bill looked at Jay. ‘You need to figure out the why. Why would anyone want to take the lot of you out? We know the loop was closed on last year’s fiasco. So I’m thinking this is unrelated. It has something to do with the deployment to Afghanistan.’

  ‘You thinking the hirer is international?’ Jay asked.

  ‘You said those boys in the RTA were Australian military. That doesn’t necessarily discount an international flavour. But let’s face it, less likely.’