by Logan May
Now he knew why Theresa had been so keen for him to recover the recorder and not tell anyone else about it.
THIRTEEN
‘Good morning, Constable Gallen,’ Lukas said pleasantly.
Gallen kept a wooden face. ‘It’s almost lunch time, sir. I suppose you’ve come to see Detective Sergeant Goodall?’
‘Very good, constable. You’ll go far.’
‘I might even become a legend like you, sir.’ With a flourish Gallen pressed the button for the security door. ‘And legends are allowed straight through, aren’t they sir?’ Now he wore a strange smirk that Lukas couldn’t read.
‘Yes, yes they are,’ Lukas said, frowning at him.
Lukas had called ahead and both Goodall and Beth waited for him at the detective’s desk.
‘You’ve got something new and exciting to tell us, Lukas?’ Goodall said, also wearing an odd smile.
‘Something revealing?’ Beth added.
‘I’ve hit a jackpot. This is serious stuff. Have a listen to this—ah, why are you two looking at me like that?’
‘Like what, Lukas?’ Goodall said innocently.
‘Like… I don’t know. Like something.’
‘You’re imagining it, Lukas. We’re just glad to see you, that’s all. We’re anxious to hear what you’ve got for us.’
Beth said, ‘We’ve seen quite a lot of you lately, haven’t we, Detective Senior Sergeant Goodall?’
‘Now Beth,’ Goodall scolded her gently. ‘We can never see too much of Lukas, right?’
‘No, of course not, sir.’
They exchanged an amused look.
‘What the hell is wrong with you two?’ Lukas said. ‘Do you want to hear this evidence or not?’
‘Be my guest, I can’t wait,’ Goodall pointed to the chair.
Lukas had brought his laptop. Setting up the computer, he explained what the audio file was and how he’d got it. Then he played the recording and made them listen closely. At the end of it Goodall inclined his head and raised his eyebrows.
‘I see what you mean.’
Lukas told them, ‘Edward Rewold didn’t like where this was going. He was okay with dead chickens and blowing up vats of cooking oil, but he didn’t want to go any further. The rest of his business partners didn’t agree and decided Edward was going to be a problem. Except he’d recorded this meeting as insurance—a policy that lapsed when someone else stole the contents of his safe and took the recorder as well. So Edward did the next best thing and painted my name on the bottom of his feet in case the worst happened. It was a message to say that what I was looking for—what was inside his safe—would explain who killed him, if he wound up dead somewhere. It was nothing to do with the money. He didn’t mention the recorder specifically, because it was possible whoever stole it hadn’t listened to anything on it and didn’t know its importance.’
‘Okay, I get it,’ Goodall thought it over. ‘It’s just a recording. We don’t really know who else is on it apart from Theresa Rewold, they only discuss a solution without being specific and they’re potentially planning it, not admitting to something that’s already happened—and no one says anything about killing Edward Rewold, of course. That’s guesswork on your part about what happened later.’
‘It’s a good guess.’
‘Maybe, but what can we do? It’s not enough to start bashing down doors and arresting people.’
‘I’m going to find out who else was at that meeting. Narrow down who arranged Rewold’s hanging and possibly figure out who did the dirty work. How’s that for a start?’
Beth asked, ‘Shall I bring Theresa Rewold in for questioning?’
Goodall turned to Lukas. ‘Do they all know you’ve found the recorder?’
‘By now, yes. But they don’t know what’s on it.’
‘Then we’ll let ‘em stew a bit longer. There’s no point in showing our hand too soon.’
‘Talking of showing too much…’ Beth said, smiling again at Goodall.
‘Yes, Detective Constable Reynolds, you’re raising a valid point.’ Goodall gestured at Lukas’ computer. ‘May I?’
‘What’s wrong with yours?’
‘Oh, we’re not allowed to watch this sort of thing on our work terminals,’ Goodall said, tut-tutting and typing into the laptop. ‘Goodness no, that wouldn’t do at all.’ He swung the screen around so everyone could see.
It was a video called “Heathcliff’s Secret Audition”. Goodall had already pressed the play button. The first thing that Lukas recognised was the huge leather couch. Then he saw Robbie’s rapturous face. Next came a whole lot more, including a lot of Lukas.
‘Oh fuck,’ he breathed. ‘Oh shit.’
‘A solid performance, Lukas. The guys in Cybercrime were very impressed and they see quite a lot of this sort of thing.’ The grins on Goodall and Beth were getting wider. Goodall pointed at the screen. ‘Look, you’ve got over four hundred thousand hits already. You’re a star.’
‘God damn it—I swear, I didn’t know anything was being filmed. She tricked me, the scheming bitch.’
‘Of course she did, Lukas,’ Beth murmured. ‘A man of your high morals would hardly volunteer to take part in something like this.’
‘Do you really think I’d do something like this? Are you bloody joking? And look—look. That’s not even me, that’s a stand-in. She told me they do that all the time.’
Beth looked closer. ‘Really? Most girls would be disappointed to hear you say that, Lukas. Of course, I’m not surprised. You always seem to be over-compensating for something.’
‘Well, I’m saying only that part’s not me, but it’s… close,’ Lukas stammered. ‘I mean, I’m not saying that I… oh, fuck it. Never mind.’
‘It’s nearly an hour long, Lukas. Is that clever editing, too?’ Goodall asked.
‘No, if you must know,’ Lukas said through gritted teeth.
Goodall glanced at Beth, who shrugged back at him giving Lukas the benefit of the doubt. She said, ‘They’ve got pills and sprays for that sort of thing.’
‘Ah, of course,’ Goodall nodded.
‘Get them to take it down, erase the damned thing,’ Lukas snapped.
‘Who?’
‘Cybercrime—the Fraud Squad, I don’t care. Just get rid of it.’
‘It’s consenting adults and all that,’ Goodall said. ‘Hey, this bit’s interesting. That’s very athletic of you, Lukas.’ He tipped his head, following the action on the screen.
‘Okay, show’s over.’ Lukas slammed down the lid of the laptop. ‘I was filmed without my consent. I expect your full support, when I bring charges.’
‘Sorry, not my department, Lukas.’
‘You didn’t seem to be under any duress,’ Beth added. ‘Except for that bit at the end. You could have hurt yourself.’
Lukas snatched up his computer. ‘While you two stuff around watching dirty movies, I’m going to find Edward Rewold’s killer. Are you interested?’
‘Keep us in the loop, Heathcliff.’ Goodall grinned at him.
By the time Lukas got through the security door he could hear everyone in the room laughing at him. Gallen was waiting for him.
‘More legendary investigating, sir?’ he asked, trying to keep a straight face.
‘Piss off, constable.’
FOURTEEN
Lukas drove straight to the Black Ball Pool Hall. It was a waste of time. The place was locked tight with shutters put over the inside of the windows. A printed sign was taped to the door announcing that the hall was temporarily closed for renovations and repairs. Lukas figured that “repairs” was the key word and the brawling had run its full course, damaging the tables. That shouldn’t mean Robbie’s film studio had to go on a hiatus as well and Lukas strongly suspected the lock-up was partially for his benefit. Bashing on the door would achieve nothing.
He stared around and found a faded contact number for the pool hall sign-written above the windows. He tried it on his mobile and got an automate
d message service. Lukas couldn’t call Robbie directly. Despite everything he hadn’t taken a business card and Lukas doubted it was the kind of company listed on the white pages.
Lukas hopped up and down trying to see over the fence separating the pool hall from the next building. He saw nothing except decades of waste and trash in the narrow gap, and Lukas wasn’t keen to go there. An option was to drive through the service alley behind the hall and try to pick a rear entrance. Lukas decided against it. As riled as he felt, this wasn’t so important right now. Having a chat to Robbie about retiring from his unexpected, brief acting career was going to have to wait.
Mind you, four hundred thousand hits in a few hours is pretty good. I’ll bet even she wasn’t expecting that. Take that, Big fucking Johnno.
His phone rang. Lukas didn’t know the number. He had a thought and looked around, checking for a security camera and wondering if it was Robbie watching him trying to get in.
‘Lukas Boston.’
Theresa Rewold’s overly-cheerful voice answered him. ‘Lukas? I’m so glad you’ve answered. I believe you’ve had some success in solving who stole my father’s money? Job has admitted to everything. Thank you so much, Lukas. That’s very impressive work.’
‘Thank you, Theresa. You’re welcome.’
‘What about that other matter you and I discussed, Lukas?’
‘What matter was that, Theresa?’
‘My father’s missing recorder. I’m sure you remember the conversation?’
‘Oh that, yes—I found that as well. There are some very interesting recordings on it, Theresa.’
‘Oh, well done! Anything I should know about, Lukas?’
Lukas dangled some bait. ‘I heard the recording of a meeting between, let’s say persons mostly unknown, talking about what could be done with the Wharftown Markets. It didn’t sound very pleasant, Theresa. Not very legal either, I must say. I’d hate to be involved in that.’
She laughed. ‘For God’s sake, that must have been weeks ago. We’ve come to a completely different arrangement now. You can forget all that nonsense, Lukas. That was simply everyone getting a little heated in the boardroom and saying silly things. It happens all the time.’
She’s guessed, Lukas decided. Either that or there’s another recording that Theresa has listened to and she knows how much shit she’s in. Lukas remembered the bugged office in the Wharf Tourist Retail Corporation and figured not much went on in that building that wasn’t covertly recorded.
‘It sounded a lot more serious than that, Theresa. I’ve seen what you’ve already done to those people in the markets. This recording connects you directly.’ He didn’t say how tenuous a connection Goodall considered it.
‘Really, that’s all finished with, Lukas. We’ve decided upon another plan altogether and we’ve even promised to make amends to those poor vendors in the markets who were affected. You’re right, it was dreadful behavior—not my doing, of course—and we’re going to offer compensation.’
‘Right,’ Lukas said, trying to read between the lines. ‘So what exactly is this new plan?’
‘We’re going to buy the empty warehouse next to the Wharftown Markets and redevelop that instead.’
‘The one next—where your father died?’ An enormous truck was grinding slowly past with rattling chains and a hiss of brakes. Lukas had to stick a finger in his other ear.
‘We can’t be too sentimental about these matters, Lukas. I’m sure we can move on from that terrible day.’
‘But how can that compensate the people in the Wharftown Markets? The competition will probably wipe them out.’
Theresa turned sweet. ‘We’re going to offer them first refusal on business spaces at a very generous discount. You can’t get better than that. I’m just about to meet that lovely girl from the magical shop on site to explain everything. I’m showing her exactly how everything will be designed. She can even pick where she wants her new stall right now, if she likes.’
‘What?’ The truck hooted a klaxon loudly at something. ‘What did you say? You’re meeting Carrie now?’
‘I must go, Lukas. I hope this sorts everything out. Don’t forget to send us your bill.’
The phone went dead. Lukas stared at it, thinking furiously. He had a very bad feeling and hurriedly scrolled through to Carrie’s number. She answered straight away.
‘Carrie? It’s Lukas, thank God you’re—’
‘I’m sorry, Lukas who?’
‘What? Come on, how many men called Lukas do you know? It’s Lukas and I have to talk to you. It’s urgent.’
Carrie’s voice was brittle. ‘I’m sure you do, but the only Lukas I know is a man who lures innocent women into his bedroom, secretly films them having sex and posts the video on the internet. I certainly wouldn’t want anything to do with someone like that, would you?’
‘I did what?’ Lukas was stunned by several thoughts at once. First, Carrie watched pornography on the internet. That was promising. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to take much notice of the video’s finer plot lines. He recovered, saying, ‘No! No, you’ve got it the wrong way around. She tricked me into having sex and filmed the whole damned thing without telling me. I had no idea what was happening, honestly. But listen, that’s not what I want to talk about—’
‘It’s not what I want to talk about either, Mr Boston… or should I call you Heathcliff? I don’t think we have anything to discuss at all. Goodbye.’
Carrie hung up on him.
‘You’re fucking joking,’ Lukas moaned, hanging his head momentarily and redialing. He wasn’t surprised that Carrie didn’t answer and he resorted to sending a text message. Lukas was crap at sending SMS’s and he labored over the buttons, swearing and cursing as the text refused to make sense. After he sent it Lukas strode back to his hire car, glancing at the phone every few seconds for a reply. The screen stayed blank and Lukas had to assume that Carrie either didn’t believe him, thinking his message was a ruse to make her get in contact, or Carrie had switched her phone off to avoid him completely.
Lukas had to get out to the markets.
FIFTEEN
He parked well away from the beach and forced himself to pause and take stock. The car park had plenty of vehicles and there was no way of knowing if any belonged to Theresa. A stiff breeze whipped off the water causing whitecaps in the harbor. Lukas could go and see if Carrie was still in her stall inside the Wharftown Markets, but that might waste precious time.
He needed to check the warehouse first. Even better, he might run into Theresa and let her know he was around, keeping everyone safe and honest.
The small access door still hadn’t been locked and Lukas let himself through, wincing at the creaking of the hinges. Then he stood and listened intently, hoping to hear voices. The warehouse only echoed its usual noises of slapping waves and distant seagulls, and the wind moaning through gaps in the walls. The loose tin banged once.
If Theresa was waiting for Carrie, the logical place was the clearing in the middle where Edward had died. Lukas crept between the stacked boxes, searching down the narrow walkways as he passed them until he reached the open area.
There was nobody in sight and he breathed a sigh of relief. Now the tables had turned and Lukas could lay in wait for whoever arrived. He stepped into some shadows, cocked his head for any sounds again and heard nothing. Lukas figured it was safe to light up a smoke.
‘A filthy habit, Lukas,’ a voice said, pressing something into the small of his back.
‘Damn it, I hate that,’ Lukas groaned. He walked forward into the clear floor and turned around to see Job pointing a double-barreled shotgun at him. ‘What’s that, a family heirloom?’
‘It was my father’s, yes. He kept the keys to the gun cupboard in the safe, too. Of course, I didn’t tell you that.’
‘I’m deeply hurt you weren’t entirely honest with me, Job.’
‘You don’t know the meaning of deeply hurt, Lukas. You’re about to find out. Put
your hands up.’
Lukas shook his head. ‘I don’t do the put-your-hands-up thing. Besides, I’m trying to smoke.’
Job blinked at him. ‘Then I’ll just shoot you.’
Lukas spread his hands. ‘I rest my case. What’s the difference? I’m not putting my hands up.’
With a disgusted sound, Job told him, ‘Then throw your gun down onto the ground and do it slowly.’
‘Nope, not going to do that either. You watch too much television.’ Lukas regarded him steadily.
‘For God’s sake,’ Job said and called loudly, ‘Can someone please come and take his gun away?’
Corrine walked into the light and scowled at Job. Over her shoulder she carried a large coil of rope with a hangman’s noose on the end. ‘I thought you said you could handle this, Job?’
‘He’s handled, isn’t he? Just take his damned gun.’
Lukas told her, ‘You said that you were good with ropes.’
‘You weren’t too bad with knots yourself.’
‘Let’s do it again sometime?’
She hefted the rope. ‘We’re going to do it again right now.’
They were interrupted by someone else arriving. Lukas hoped it might save him, but Theresa bustled in. ‘He’s already here?’
‘Like a spider straight into our web,’ Job said.
‘You mean a fly, you idiot,’ Lukas said. ‘The spider makes the web.’
Job simmered with anger and raised the shotgun slightly.
‘Not like that,’ Theresa said sharply.
‘Like what, then?’ Lukas asked. ‘You’re going to hang me the same way you killed your father? I’ll bet you played the same trick, too. You told Edward not to worry anymore about the people in the Wharftown Markets, because you were going to redevelop this warehouse instead. You even invited him down to see how it was all going to work out. Then you hung him from the rafters and made it look like suicide—not very well, by the way. The police soon figured out he was murdered.’
‘Maybe, but they have no idea who killed him,’ Theresa said calmly. ‘We’d given that a lot more thought.’