Deadly Trust

by J J Cooper

  ‘Not my conclusion. Mark’s.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘I went to his apartment and cleaned out his army stuff to return to the barracks. I had planned on taking it all back and then boxing up his personal gear for my uncle.’

  ‘ “Had planned?”’

  ‘That’s right. I was on the last of his army gear from his cupboards and then went to check his study to see if he had anything in there. There wasn’t, but I noticed a chalkboard with a few things pinned to it.’

  Jay nodded.

  ‘Aren’t you going to ask me what was on the board?’

  ‘I was an interrogator. We don’t interrupt. Ask questions at the end of the story.’

  She gave a short nod. ‘Mark always used to do that. On the board was a front-page story about the recent anthrax attacks with bits highlighted. And no, I don’t remember what was highlighted.’

  Jay made a mental note to come back to that information.

  ‘There was a medical slip for an appointment with a doctor in town two weeks ago. On a separate sheet, there were all of your names; Bowen, McClelland, Davis and you. It also had the doctor’s name; who he went to see. Next to the doctor’s name in red were the letters CBT. Does that mean anything to you?’

  ‘It does. What else was there?’

  ‘Nothing on the board.’

  ‘Do you still have it all?’

  ‘That’s the thing. I took Mark’s army stuff back and returned probably an hour later. When I went to start in on his personal stuff, everything on the board was gone.’

  ‘How do you remember the details of what was on the board?’

  ‘As soon as I noticed it was missing, I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down everything I could remember.’ She dug into her top pocket and handed a folded-up piece of paper to Jay.

  ‘Any sign of a break-in?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Who else has a key?’

  ‘My uncle said Mark left him the spare key and, as far as he knows, that’s the only spare.’

  ‘Girlfriend?’

  ‘Nothing regular. Not that he mentioned anyway.’

  ‘Anything else taken?’

  ‘Not that I could tell.’

  ‘So someone else has a key, assuming you locked up properly.’

  She frowned. ‘I did.’

  Jay ran a hand through his hair. ‘Who has Mark’s keys?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘He was found under his car in the garage. I know he’s like me and would have locked the front door while working downstairs or outside. So he should have had his keys on him.’

  ‘Makes sense. I’ll have to ring my uncle.’

  ‘You can use the phone here.’ Jay pointed in the direction of the kitchen.

  Toni hesitated and Jay couldn’t get a read on why she would. Perhaps he was being too brash.

  ‘It’s okay. I’ve got a mobile. I’ll just duck outside to make the call.’ She got up and headed to the door.

  ‘I wouldn’t.’

  Toni froze and turned back to Jay. Her eyes widened and she appeared to be holding her breath.

  ‘The neighbour has a habit of being nosy. Lazes around most of the time in a robe, smoking a cigar and swilling beer. You can use Dad’s office.’ He pointed to the room leading off from the kitchen.

  Toni let out her breath. Without another word or looking at Jay, she headed for the office.

  Again, Jay thought her body language was strange. She had seemed so precise and calm before Jay mentioned she should call her uncle. He decided to let it go for now. No doubt it had been a turbulent week for her and she didn’t need the added pressure of his suspicion.

  It took less than three minutes for Toni to return from making her call.

  ‘How did you go?’

  ‘My uncle said the police found the keys on Mark and they gave them to him with his watch and wallet.’

  ‘That rules out the theory that if he was killed, someone took his keys.’

  ‘I’d say so. But he did say that he gave the keys to a friend of Mark’s this morning. One of his fishing buddies.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘He couldn’t remember the name. Though he’d seen him before with Mark. Apparently, once a week, when Mark wasn’t away, the two of them would go fishing off the old Hornibrook Bridge at Redcliffe. You know where that is?’

  ‘Yeah. My dad used to take me there to fish. Why did this friend need the keys?’

  ‘All of his fishing gear is at Mark’s. And he said he was going up there tonight to throw a line in for him. As a tribute.’

  ‘You seen this guy before?’

  ‘My uncle said he was at the wake. I wasn’t introduced but I think I know who he was talking about.’

  ‘So you’d be able to recognise him if we went up there for a chat tonight?’

  ‘I guess so. He didn’t say what time he was going there. I remember Mark once saying that he always fished on the turn of the tide. Whatever that means.’

  ‘When it stops coming in and starts draining out. Or vice versa. That’s the same time we always fished from there.’ Jay got out of his chair and hobbled towards the study. ‘I’ll check it out. Won’t be a sec.’

  ‘Mind if I make another coffee?’

  Jay waved a hand without looking back. ‘Go ahead.’

  He had found what he was looking for through a Google search and returned as Toni was plunging the coffee, ready to pour.

  ‘That was quick. What’s the best time for fishing off the bridge tonight?’

  ‘Ten.’

  ‘I guess we have some time to kill. Care to tell me now what happened to you? I’m guessing there’s a link.’

  ‘I’d say so.’

  Jay recounted the events of the previous day. All except the night mishap when Detective Green accidentally fired her weapon. Just figured there was no need to include something that didn’t fit with what they were doing. Toni didn’t ask any questions and kept a poker face throughout. Seemed like she was genuinely interested.

  After Jay was finished, she said, ‘Some day. You killed two guys–’

  ‘One.’

  ‘Maybe two. How can you be so sure?’

  ‘I know how to kill. Someone else killed him.’

  ‘Underwood?’

  ‘Possibly. I haven’t thought too much about it since.’

  ‘Your friend looking into it?’

  ‘He is.’

  ‘Heard any more news about the little girl?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  Toni nodded and put down her empty cup. ‘What next?’

  ‘I assume you have to go back to work sometime.’

  ‘Correct.’

  ‘So I guess I’ll keep doing some background searching and meet here tonight. We’ll head up together.’

  ‘Sounds fine. If I’m here at nine-thirty, that’ll give us twenty minutes to get up there before high tide. Should be about right.’

  A small alarm sounded inside Jay. Toni knew the exact time for the high tide, nine-fifty. He had mentioned ten as an approximate time for the best fishing. ‘Great. I’ll see you then.’

  He hobbled to the door and watched her down the front steps. He now had the afternoon to figure out who Toni really was, and what she wanted from him.

  FOURTEEN

  Like most army personnel, Jay rarely asked about his fellow soldiers’ personal lives. It just didn’t seem appropriate. Soldiers travel the country on different posting cycles to differing localities. One year, or two maximum, with the same team. The trip to Afghanistan was the first time Jay had met Mark Simpson. Simpson had gone through his interrogation training after Jay and they hadn’t met until shortly before their deployment. When they deployed, Jay had moved to a forward area with the SASR while the others had remained in a rear echelon, manning a primary interrogation facility. Jay now found himself making up for lost time by figuring out who Mark Simpson and his cousin, Toni, really were.

  Detective Peterson had be
en prompt in his request for background checks for both. Within an hour of Jay asking, Peterson had provided all of the details he could get his hands on, which was very little. Apart from a speeding fine for Mark two years ago, he didn’t register anything else.

  Toni didn’t have any traffic offences, but did have a concealed weapons licence and a registered 9mm pistol in her name. That wasn’t unusual for a military police officer. The main piece of information Jay took away was both their addresses. Jay requested one of the secret agents to do some discreet surveillance on Toni while he was driven by the other agent to check Mark’s apartment.

  The apartment complex was a couple of suburbs from Jay’s father’s house. A two-storey, L-shaped formation made of bricks that had noticeable cracks from earth slippage. The suburb position probably put the units in the mid-market range. No doubt a rental for Mark. Jay walked up the sloping driveway, happy that his leg was responding to the icepacks and that the swelling was receding. There were seven single garages with numbers painted in fluorescent green in the middle of the roller-doors.

  Only one unit was located on the ground level at the end of the driveway. Jay checked the number against the address Peterson had supplied. He got lucky. No need to walk up stairs. And ground level meant he could look through the windows.

  A double window sat beside the weathered front door. Jay moved to the window, and peered in through a slit at the bottom of the faded yellow curtains. He made out a dark leather lounge and a cabinet with various bottles of spirits, wine glasses and some photos in frames. Toni hadn’t done a very good job of packing for her uncle.

  He walked around the corner and noticed outlines of various bathroom products behind the frosted glass. Strike two for Toni. He sensed someone approaching and turned.

  A short woman, mid-sixties, with thick eyebrows had come up behind him. She wiped her hands on an apron slung around her waist. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘Hello. I’m Jay Ryan, a friend of Mark’s. Do you know where I could find him?’

  ‘Sorry, love. Haven’t seen him for weeks. But that’s not unusual.’

  ‘Do you live here?’

  ‘Right above.’ She cocked her head to one side. ‘Saw you snooping around.’

  Good, Jay thought. ‘Has anyone else come by in the last few days?’

  She straightened and looked above Jay in thought. ‘Not that I saw. Why?’

  ‘Mark has some of my fishing rods and I’m supposed to be taking my son fishing. He’ll be disappointed if we don’t go.’

  She seemed to soften with the mention of the fictitious son. ‘Well, love, we’d hate to disappoint. How old is your boy?’

  ‘Five.’ Jay didn’t like being deceptive, but he needed to get into the garage. And he figured the neighbour knew how.

  She looked around to make sure nobody could hear. ‘I think I could help you. Mark keeps all his fishing stuff in the garage and he gave me a spare key once. My washing machine was bust and he let me use his. I still might have that key somewhere.’

  Sure you do. ‘That would help me out so much. My boy would be so pleased.’

  ‘Why don’t you wait around the corner, love? I’ll be right back.’

  She scurried away and returned to open the garage moments later. A dust-covered late model Holden ute took up most of the space. There would have been no room for Mark to work under it in the garage. He would have had to work on it in the driveway.

  ‘You ever see Mark work on the ute?’

  ‘You’re kidding, love. I know more about cars than that boy.’ She giggled at her own joke.

  Jay squeezed down the side of the ute to the back of the garage. A sink, washing machine, dryer and a dozen fishing rods. The rods were stacked neatly in a rack. An assortment of surf rods to smaller rods used for bay fishing. Mark had a good selection for just about any occasion. Jay couldn’t remember Mark ever mentioning his love of fishing. But, by the gear he had, it was obvious.

  Jay grabbed two of the smallest rods with reels attached and rejoined the neighbour.

  ‘Here they are. My boy will be pleased.’

  ‘Where are you taking him fishing, love?’

  ‘Redcliffe. Off the old Hornibrook Bridge.’

  ‘He’ll love it. My Walter spent many a night on that bridge when he was alive.’ She frowned. ‘Spent many a night at the pub too.’

  Jay didn’t know how to answer, so he remained quiet and gave a knowing look.

  ‘Anyway, love. I’ll let Mark know that you picked those up. Hope you and your son catch some good-sized fish.’

  ‘I hope so too. Thank you for your help. You have a great afternoon.’

  ‘Bye, love.’ She turned her back and closed the garage door.

  Jay checked the concrete on the driveway as he walked back to the car. He was looking for a large stain. He knew he wouldn’t find one.

  After throwing the rods in the back seat of the Chevy, the secret agent drove Jay home to finalise his plan.

  The bridge itself proved to be the main hurdle to the plan due to its size. Built in the early thirties, it spanned just under three kilometres, linking Sandgate to Redcliffe. At the time of construction, it was the largest viaduct road in the southern hemisphere. It closed to vehicle traffic in the late seventies after a replacement three-lane bridge was built next to it. Since that time, the old bridge had become a favourite fishing spot and a regular route for runners and cyclists. Jay recalled the best fishing spot was near the middle where the channel was deepest. It was identifiable by a rise in the road like a large speed bump. After Peterson and Bill had arrived from Byron Bay, it had taken over an hour of heated debate, mainly between Peterson and Bill, to come up with the best option.

  By nine o’clock, the plan was finalised, all of the key players in place and Jay had all the equipment he needed. He cleared his mind with a strong, milky coffee and waited for Toni to arrive.

  FIFTEEN

  They chose Toni’s Rav 4 for the drive to the bridge. Jay probed her with questions to test her ability to lie. Simple questions, like the details regarding the cremation and wake. He figured it would come in handy to study her body language now and compare it later when he had her under pressure. In another lifetime, he would have been a famous actor, or so he thought. A method actor of considerable quality, perhaps.

  Spot on ten minutes to ten they arrived at the Sandgate side of the bridge. Jay smiled. He had made a bet with Bill. They both figured Toni would leave her 9mm pistol in the car when picking up Jay and then after arriving at the bridge, they would walk for a bit before she would make an excuse to go back to the car. The real reason would be to get the pistol. Their bet was about the excuse to go back. Jay got in early and bet Toni would make the excuse of retrieving her mobile from the hands-free set in the car. Bill had protested the choice because it was what he wanted. Eventually, he went for the option that she hadn’t turned her lights off correctly.

  Jay wandered around to the front of the car and shook his head. No way he was going to let Bill win the bet. A carton of beer was on the line. Toni joined him and before they moved off Jay said, ‘You left your parking lights on.’

  She looked stunned and then recovered. ‘Won’t be a sec. You head off, I’ll catch up.’

  ‘I’ll wait.’

  Jay noticed her taking a deep breath, before turning back to her car. He watched as she switched off the lights. Her shoulders had dropped a notch by the time she returned.

  They started walking to the bridge, having parked around twenty metres away. They passed under the old brick archway that served as a toll booth decades before.

  ‘Shit!’ Toni said.

  Jay looked out over the bay, hiding his grin. ‘What?’

  ‘I left my mobile in the car.’

  He wasn’t going to make it easy for her. ‘I have mine. We’ll be right. Shouldn’t be long.’

  ‘I’m on call. I need to get it.’ She started to turn back.

  ‘We’ll be five, maybe ten minutes
tops. Don’t worry about it.’

  She paused. Her jaw tightened. ‘No. I really need it.’

  Jay didn’t push the game. ‘Fine.’

  Toni walked back to the car. In the dim light he could see her opening the passenger door. He knew she was reaching for the glove box. The phone was a secondary matter. She used the door to shield the movement of placing the pistol in the small of her back. She then reached around for a small backpack. The ruse was complete in less than a minute. She rejoined Jay.

  ‘All good?’ he asked.

  ‘All good. Let’s go and find this dude.’

  ‘What’s with the backpack?’

  ‘Habit. Got some stuff in there I don’t want to leave in the car.’

  Jay felt like asking exactly what, but let it be.

  Although he never ate seafood, Jay loved to fish. Something about the smell, the thrill of the chase, the calm. He could, and used to, sit for hours just waiting, contemplating life. The smell hit him again as they advanced on the bridge. He loved the open water and respected the moodiness of the sea. It gave life to millions and took a selected few.

  Small barricades dotted the bridge where holes had formed in the bitumen cover. Jay assumed, because it was heritage-listed, repairs would take longer. Tight-arse government.

  They walked side by side, Toni on his right. He raised his left hand as if scratching his neck. Instead of scratching, he lifted an earpiece from under his jacket collar and fitted it.

  A voice came through the earpiece. ‘Radio check. Ask her what colour knickers she is wearing so we can confirm you can hear us,’ Bill said. A chuckle followed.

  Jay couldn’t help but let out a small huff and shake of the head.

  ‘What?’ Toni asked.

  ‘Oh, nothing. Reminiscing.’

  His earpiece came to life again. ‘Loud and clear. Should have asked her though.’

  Jay wanted to stir Bill about the bet. ‘What kind of phone do they give you in the army now, anyway?’ he asked Toni.

  Through the earpiece, Jay heard, ‘Smartarse.’

  ‘Cheap Swedish brand. Nothing flash,’ Toni said. ‘Why’s that?’

  ‘Just making conversation.’

  Jay eyed the smooth waters. There were no signs of police vessels under the old bridge. At least he hoped they were under the bridge. Peterson had promised to organise a small army of police on the ground securing both ends of the bridge on command, and a small police naval presence awaiting the same command. So far there was no sign of either. A shiver went up his spine. He scratched his back and felt for the comfort of the Glock.