‘Why has he asked you to call me?’ Natalia asked.
‘Gitt had those scripts in his wallet and he wants to know if he can get some more.’
Ugly Phil’s eyes did not leave Rex’s as he spoke. Rex nodded his encouragement.
‘Can I speak to him?’ Natalia asked.
‘No, that’s why he asked me to call you. His face is so swollen he can’t talk. Look, I’m on the level. I have his phone. He’s asleep in the next room,’ Ugly lied. ‘I know all about what goes on. I help him do the deliveries to our customers. He gives me a cut.’
Ugly Phil was talking fast and there was an edge of desperation in his voice. Rex gestured with his hands to slow it down and remain calm.
There was silence on the other end of the line for a long minute. Rex knew this was the crucial point. She was deciding whether to trust Ugly or not.
‘Look, if you can’t do it I’ll tell Gitt it will have to wait until he’s better. Our customers will be pissed, that’s all. They rely on us.’
‘Have you got the money? Do you know how our arrangement works?’
The voice was so irritating. Like nails dragged down a chalk-board. Rex’s heart hammered against his rib cage. She was going to take the bait.
‘I can get the money, no probs. And yes, I know how it’s done. I’ve been with him to do the pick-up. It’s Maroubra, box 33, right?’
‘Okay, you obviously know the go. I’ll get the scripts for you tonight. Drop the money in the usual place by 10.00 am tomorrow. The box will be open, so deposit the payment in an envelope and close it. I have the key. Once I get the money, I’ll put the scripts in the box and leave it unlocked.’
There was a pause, then the voice continued, ‘You tell Gitt I don’t like dealing with anyone but him, okay?’
‘Yeah, I’ll tell him. But it’s not like he could help getting bashed. He trusts me.’
‘Tell him I’m only doing as he asks because he has been loyal to me in the past. Have the money there by 10.00 am. And don’t mention this to anyone.’
She hung up.
Ugly Phil stared at Rex with an expression of surprise. Then his face broke into a twisted smile.
‘Did I do good?’
Rex smiled back at him. He was more than pleased with how it had gone.
‘You did real good. I’m proud of you, mate.’
As a reward, Rex handed Ugly a can of beer.
‘Now drink this and stay here. I have a phone call to make.’
*
Lexie was still sitting around the computers and various other equipment in the monitoring room with Brad when her mobile rang. She checked the caller ID. It was Rex.
‘I have to take this,’ she told Brad, leaving the room and moving out into the corridor outside.
‘Hey, that was fantastic,’ Lexie said.
‘Did you get all that?’ Rex asked.
‘We did. The wheels are already in motion for an operation tomorrow morning. What was with the voice?’
Rex grunted, ‘I know. No one talks like that.’
‘You would hope not.’
Lexie was unable to suppress a yawn.
‘Sorry, long day.’
‘I know the feeling. I hope it all goes well for you tomorrow, detective. Let me know what goes down.’
‘Copy that. I’ll keep you posted. And Rex, thanks for everything. Stay safe.’
CHAPTER 37
Josh sat back in Lexie’s recliner and flicked through the channels on the television. There was nothing on. Well, there was nothing on that interested him. He looked at the empty glass on the table next to him. Two glasses of bourbon and Coke had done nothing to calm his restlessness. So he poured himself another one.
Something was bothering him.
Last night Josh had bared his soul as he had never done before, as he would never have imagined possible. He and Lexie had talked. Apologies had been made. Feelings had been declared. They had made love and held each other. Then they had talked some more. It had all been so perfect Josh had not wanted to ask the question that kept haunting him. He hadn’t wanted to spoil the mood . . .
He told himself Lexie loved him. That was all that mattered.
But the fact remained; he was sitting here alone in Lexie’s apartment while she was at work with Batman. Josh threw a handful of nuts into his mouth and washed them down with some liquor. Brad had warned him that Batman was making a play for Lexie, that he was putting in the groundwork. But Josh had been too caught up in his own misery to take it seriously – until he had seen them together at the Clovelly Hotel the other night.
Could Lexie have been so hurt, so disillusioned by his actions, that she’d succumbed to Batman’s advances? And if she had, could he even blame her?
Oh God, no.
His jealous mind was driving him crazy.
Suddenly the phone rang. It was his mate, Troy.
‘Hey, what’s up?’ Josh answered.
‘Where are you, mate? There are a few of us down here at the Clovelly Hotel having a drink. Come down and catch up.’
Lexie could be hours. He knew what it was like when you got caught up with work. And there was no point sitting around worrying and pondering things that may or may not have happened.
‘I’ll see you in ten minutes,’ Josh replied.
Grabbing Lexie’s new set of house keys, he headed out the door and into the night.
*
The office was brimming with nervous energy. Machines beeped, keyboards clicked and printers hummed. Detectives scrambled in and out of the room, barking orders, discussing issues, as they all worked together for one common purpose – to get tomorrow’s operation up and running.
Operational orders were being typed. Various lists were being catalogued: equipment needed, staffing, taskings, arrest teams and surveillance teams were all in the process of being sorted. There was so much to do it was almost overwhelming. Thankfully, many hands made lighter work and by 8.45 pm they were almost finished with the preparations for tomorrow’s operation.
Lexie had sent a text to Josh telling him she would not be home any time soon, but she had not heard back from him. It was too early for him to go to bed, so she wondered why he hadn’t replied, then kicked herself for being so insecure. Josh loves you, for God’s sake. He’s probably fallen asleep on the lounge.
Suddenly Lexie heard a scream, then a yell. She turned in time to see Grace and Lurch simultaneously leap out of their chairs. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up in alarm. What was going on? Grace and Lurch were staring at something on the ground. Their expressions of horror had her instantly concerned and she leapt to her feet.
Batman was on his back on the floor. His whole body was twitching and shuddering violently.
‘He’s having a fit, some sort of seizure,’ Lurch cried, stating the obvious.
It took Lexie a slow second to react.
‘Someone call triple-zero,’ she yelled.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Patch run for the phone. Casey rushed out of her office. All detectives present gathered around Batman. Remaining at a safe distance, they gaped in shock. Brad was suddenly beside her.
Batman’s feet abruptly struck out, kicking thin air. Grace screamed again and jumped backwards. Then his back arched and his arms and legs jerked as a convulsive spasm rocked through his body.
‘Holy shit,’ Brad exclaimed. ‘Everyone move the desks out of his way.’
All police were trained and regularly updated on first aid techniques, but that was the extent of their medical qualifications. Remembering everything you had been taught in a crisis – especially one that involved one of your own – was the hard part. Thankfully, it seemed everyone’s muscle memory activated at once as they cleared a path around Batman, knowing the only thing they could do for a person in the throes of a fit was to limit his injuries by removing any objects that might cause further harm.
Batman flipped onto his side. For a moment the twitching and jerki
ng seemed to subside. Then it started up again. He jerked onto his back. It was horrific and frightening to watch a person’s body take on an involuntary life of its own, spasming and convulsing out of control for what seemed no apparent reason.
Lexie noticed Grace, now backed up into the corner of the room, was crying quietly. Glancing around she saw the looks of shock and concern on every one of her workmates’ faces. Lexie thought Lurch looked the worst.
Where was the ambulance? It had only been minutes since the attack had begun but it seemed so much longer.
When the paramedics arrived only a short time later, Lexie was kneeling on the ground next to Batman. She was speaking softly to him and holding his hand, although she didn’t think he could hear her, as he wasn’t responding. Batman had calmed down considerably. He was still twitching, especially the muscles in his face, but the vicious contractions had ceased – thank God.
‘We’ll take over now,’ an older paramedic told Lexie, as he moved in beside her.
Lexie stared at the officer for a second, then at his younger partner. She had never seen either one of the men before but was very grateful for their presence.
‘Lexie.’
She felt Brad’s hands on her shoulders.
‘Move out of the way so the paramedics can do their job.’
Unaware she had frozen in place, she apologised and quickly moved aside.
‘Sorry, sorry.’
Exhaustion and shock was taking its toll.
‘Looks like he’s had an epileptic fit,’ the older paramedic said, checking Batman’s blood pressure and temperature. ‘We’ll get him straight to hospital. He should be fine.’
Lurch, who had been very quiet during this whole episode, spoke up.
‘He got diagnosed with epilepsy a few months ago. He didn’t want anyone to know in case it affected the job.’
The senior paramedic looked up at Lurch.
‘Do you know if he was taking his medication? What medication he was on?’
Lurch shook his head.
‘I don’t know if he was taking it; he should have been. It’s in his top drawer.’
‘Can you have a look for me, please?’
Lurch rushed around in Batman’s desk, rifled through his drawer, then handed the paramedic a bottle of pills. He glanced down at Batman, a guilty expression crossing his face as though he had just betrayed his friend’s trust.
The paramedic studied the bottle.
‘Epilim. That’s great. At least we know what he was taking; or should have been taking. Does someone want to accompany him to hospital? It will make life easier for us, getting information, personal details and the like.’
‘I’ll go,’ Lurch volunteered instantly. ‘I’m his best mate.’
Moments later, the paramedics had Batman on the stretcher. Brad, Grumpy and Lurch left to assist them down the stairs. Lexie sat back down at her desk, along with everyone else, shocked and speechless.
What else could this day bring? she wondered, covering her face with her hands and resisting the urge to cry.
CHAPTER 38
Rod Bream watched Lexie ready the ERISP machine, in preparation for their interview. ERISP is a police acronym for: electronically recorded interview with a suspected person. Bream had arrived at the station only five minutes ago. Lexie had greeted him pleasantly and hurried him into the tiny interview room, not giving him a chance to ask her any questions. She wanted everything Bream said recorded on tape.
Earlier Brad and Lexie had discussed the tactics they would employ for the interview. Since she knew Bream and had a rapport with him of sorts, she would remain quiet, sympathetic – the good cop. Brad would do the talking, asking the questions in a no-nonsense manner – the bad cop. The rest they would play by ear, depending on how it panned out, how Bream responded and where things led.
Right now, Rod sat with his arms folded and a hard frown creasing his perfect face. It was clear he was not happy. Lexie’s greatest fear was that he would not speak at all.
‘Is all this really necessary?’ Rod asked, glancing around the windowless room. ‘Was it necessary to escort me off the fishing boat by the bloody water police as if I am some common criminal?’
Lexie kept her voice light.
‘Rod, we have been unable to locate you. Nobody, not even your family, knew where you were. We were actually starting to get concerned for your welfare,’ Lexie told him, without meeting his eyes.
‘I didn’t realise I had to broadcast my movements to everyone I know,’ he replied, without bothering to mask the irritation in his voice.
Today Doctor Rod Bream was dressed casually in blue jeans, a green V-neck jumper and white runners. As usual, he exuded undeniable confidence and sophistication. Even his notable annoyance regarding his present situation could not alter his devastating charisma. There was no doubt about it; Rod Bream was a knock-out. Lexie felt a moment’s sympathy for Dani. No wonder she was having a hard time getting over this unfaithful creep. He was definitely a heart-breaker.
Don’t make it personal.
Brad, who had been next door in the detectives’ office, made a dramatic entrance into the room. Taking the last seat available near the door, he quickly introduced himself and shook Bream’s hand.
‘We met briefly at the hospital the other day,’ Brad said.
Bream nodded.
‘I remember.’
Brad gave Lexie the nod and she started the ERISP machine. Brad got straight to it, stating the time, the date, persons present, and then he ran through the list of pro forma statements and questions, also explaining to Bream the nature of their interview. He then issued Bream with the official police caution.
Rod stared at Lexie, concerned.
‘It is also standard to caution you, Doctor Bream,’ Lexie assured him with a brief smile.
‘Do I need a lawyer?’
It was the typical question almost everyone asked when they were officially cautioned. Brad gave his standard answer.
‘If you’ve done nothing wrong you don’t need a lawyer. Everything is being taped so we cannot twist your words or alter the contents of this interview in any way.’
Rod Bream said nothing for a long moment. Finally he muttered, ‘Fine.’
‘Can you tell me how long you’ve worked as a doctor at the Prince of Wales Hospital?’
‘I’ve worked in the emergency department at the Prince of Wales for almost two years.’
‘What other hospitals have you worked at?’
‘I started my internship at a country hospital, Wagga Wagga. I did most of my residency there. I moved back to Sydney after . . .’ he searched for words, ‘for personal reasons.’
‘Can you tell me what they were?’ Brad asked.
Bream hesitated, crossing his arms over his chest.
‘What has this got to do with the murder of Melissa McDermott?’
‘All my questions have relevance to this investigation,’ Brad told him. ‘Can you please answer the question, Doctor Bream? What were the reasons you moved back to Sydney?’
Lexie held her breath anticipating his answer. Would he lie?
Bream glanced at Lexie briefly, then down at the table in front of him.
‘My girlfriend died suddenly. I didn’t want to stay there after that.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Lexie said, sympathetically.
Brad asked, ‘What was her name?’
‘Rachel. Rachel West.’
‘How did it happen?’
Bream’s head snapped up. His eyes challenged Brad. There was no doubt he was evaluating the relevance of this question. However, he answered without argument.
‘She committed suicide.’
He didn’t lie.
‘How did she do that?’ Brad pushed.
Rod Bream gave Brad a hard look, clearly affronted.
‘I don’t see what that has to do with—’
‘Answer the question, please,’ Brad commanded.
Bream gl
anced again at Lexie. She gave him a sympathetic look. He exhaled a heavy sigh and fixed his eyes on Brad.
‘She overdosed.’
‘On what?’
Rod Bream hesitated, then shook his head, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
‘She took the prescription medication, OxyContin. She was a nurse and had taken it from the medicine cabinet at the hospital.’
He paused, then spoke once more.
‘The police did a thorough investigation, by the way. I was totally cleared of any blame. I was at work when it happened,’ he finished, with a hint of sarcasm.
Brad pursued the questioning.
‘Can you tell us the circumstances surrounding her death? Did she suffer from depression?’
‘She had been suffering depression when I met her, but she got better. It didn’t make sense to me then and it still doesn’t make sense to me now. We were happy, I’d thought.’
‘You found her in her flat and she was clutching a red rose to her chest, is that right?’ Brad asked.
Bream drilled a stare into Brad.
‘Well, you seem to know all the answers; why don’t you tell me?’
‘I can do without the attitude, doctor,’ Brad cut in. ‘May I remind you, we are investigating a murder. It is in your best interests to be co-operative and supply honest, straightforward answers.’
Brad paused to give Bream time to think this over.
‘Now, can you tell me what the significance of the rose might have been? Did she have a fixation with roses? Was that her favourite flower?’
Bream shrugged.
‘I really don’t know,’ he replied, his voice now devoid of insolence. ‘I remember buying her the occasional bunch of roses but she wasn’t obsessed with them or anything. Not to my knowledge, anyway.’
Brad waited a few beats before asking the next question.
‘How did you know Melissa McDermott?’
Bream appeared relieved Brad had dropped the line of questioning regarding his late girlfriend.
‘I knew her from the hospital. But I didn’t know her well.’
‘When we saw you at the hospital a few days ago, you told Detective Rogers you did not know Melissa McDermott. That her name didn’t ring a bell.’
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