Fatal Mistake

by Karen M. Davis

  ‘Shadow?’

  ‘Oh . . . sorry. I thought everyone knew Shadow around here. He’s . . .’ James looked suddenly uneasy, glancing nervously around the empty office. ‘He’s a local identity, I suppose you could say.’

  ‘What you tell me could really make a difference here,’ Josh encouraged. ‘You’re a local kid and I get the feeling you know a lot of what goes on.’

  The boy glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one had miraculously appeared behind him. ‘Shadow runs Club on Elm.’ He lowered his voice. ‘It’s a place to go if you want to score.’ He put his hands in the air as though just realising how that sounded. ‘I’m not into drugs, man . . . I’ve just heard.’

  Smiling, Josh said, ‘Tell me what you know.’

  Once James understood there would be no ramifications, he divulged similar information to what Jake Goodstein had told them.

  On a positive roll and hoping their good luck continued, Josh and Karly attended Paul Denning’s Real Estate Agency. Again, the small office was almost deserted. The only occupant was a large, matronly looking woman who remained seated at her desk while greeting them with a wide smile. The bright red lipstick she wore had smudged onto her teeth.

  Again Josh made the introductions and showed his police badge.

  ‘Please sit.’ The woman indicated two black metal chairs opposite her desk. ‘My name’s Jasmine. My parents own the business but are away at the moment, so I’m it,’ she explained. ‘How can I help you, detectives?’

  On closer inspection, Josh realised Jasmine was much younger than he’d first thought; probably around thirty. Her weight and conservative black clothing made her appear older than her years.

  ‘A rental property your business manages has come under notice during an investigation we are involved in. I’m hoping you can tell us who’s renting this particular place.’

  ‘Don’t you need a warrant for that type of information?’ Jasmine asked, smirking at Josh while flicking short brown hair from her hazel eyes. ‘I’m joking.’ She laughed. ‘I won’t make you go to all that trouble.’ Looking at Karly, she added, ‘Aren’t you the lucky one?’

  Karly grinned as Josh blushed.

  No one spoke while Jasmine searched the computer database. ‘Ah, there it is . . .’ Jasmine shot another smile at Josh.

  Karly kicked him gently under the desk. Josh didn’t react. As much as her attention was making him uncomfortable, he needed to keep Jasmine on side.

  ‘The house is rented to a company: Entertaining Enterprises. Has been for just over six months now and the rent is paid directly into our account.’

  Josh asked for the bank details, hoping he wasn’t pushing his luck, only to be told she didn’t have access to that information. ‘My father looks after the money side of things.’ She gave Josh an apologetic smile.

  ‘Have there been any complaints from neighbours or inspections done on the property?’

  She glanced at her computer screen. ‘It says here my father did an inspection only a month ago, right at lease renewal time. There have been no complaints from neighbours, or anyone, about anything.’

  ‘Thanks, Jasmine.’ Josh stood, ready to leave. Karly followed his lead. ‘You’ve been most helpful.’

  A rush of crimson climbed up her neck at the compliment. ‘My absolute pleasure,’ she said, plucking a business card from a small box on her desk and handing it to Josh. ‘If there’s anything else I can do to help, please give me a call.’ She gave him a penetrating stare. ‘Anything.’

  Josh thanked her again and left in a hurry.

  Once outside and safely out of earshot, Karly burst out laughing. ‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t hold it in any longer.’

  Josh slowed, looking sideways at her. ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘Like you don’t know,’ Karly teased. ‘It seems you have another admirer.’

  He straightened, continued walking. ‘She was just being helpful,’ he said over his shoulder, then stopped abruptly as Karly’s words sank in. ‘What do you mean another admirer?’

  Karly seemed to think his comment was hilarious and almost doubled over with laughter. She ran a hand through her cropped white hair and shook her head. ‘You can’t be serious?’

  When they reached the car, she unlocked the doors, then climbed behind the wheel. Josh got into the passenger seat and stared at her.

  Karly turned to him. ‘Oh boy, men are so dumb. Can you see why I prefer girls?’

  Still confused, Josh raised his eyebrows. He liked Karly, she was funny, easy-going, forthright and a good worker. But he was clueless as to what she was trying to say.

  ‘We have four women on this strike force and one has the hots for you big time.’ She put the key in the ignition and belted up. ‘It’s not me, because I’m gay. It’s not the boss, because she is gay too and hates all men. It’s not Natalie, because she is happily married, so that leaves . . .’

  ‘Brooke?’ Josh shook his head. ‘I don’t think so, she’s just a flirt. Not that it matters either way. I’m not interested. I have a girlfriend.’

  Karly scoffed. ‘I know Brooke, went through the academy with her, and trust me, she doesn’t care if you’re taken or not. Actually she prefers taken – loves a challenge – and she usually gets what she wants. Most guys would jump at the chance to bed her.’

  Josh laughed at Karly’s choice of terminology. ‘Bed her?’ Brooke was attractive but she had nothing on Lexie, although he didn’t say that to Karly. He didn’t need to justify his relationship to anyone. ‘Let me assure you, I’m not one of them.’

  ‘You’re on her radar . . . big time.’

  Shaking his head, Josh groaned. ‘Girls like that make me sick . . . Brooke should spend more time concentrating on the job than – I don’t know . . . thinking about her love life.’

  Karly pulled out of their parking space and started back towards the station. ‘I know you have a girlfriend. And I know you’re not interested. But just a word of warning . . . Brooke is trouble. Be careful. You are kind of damned if you do and damned if you don’t. You don’t want to know what happened to the last poor guy who refused her.’

  As they cruised along the streets of Byron Bay, Josh was oblivious to the warmth of the sun, the salty scent of sea air blowing in through the windows, the magic, laid-back atmosphere of this unique beachside holiday town, or the colourful characters that garnished the locale. All he could think was that Karly was wrong. He did want to know; had a feeling it was crucial he knew exactly what he was dealing with.

  • • •

  The white X-Trail with the tinted windows and registration number Rex had committed to memory was parked in his street when he pulled into his driveway. He kept the ignition running and sat and watched it through his mirrors.

  Rex had noticed the suspicious car only after learning of the contract on his life. He realised it may have been surveilling him for some time. Finding the tracker under his car had been confirmation Ugly Phil’s information was correct. So, instead of removing the tracker, Rex decided to use it to his advantage. No doubt the killer had a strategy of his own and was awaiting an opportunity. Which was why Rex had to change the game plan. After much consideration, he constructed a strategy to lure the killer out of the city, away from his comfort zone. He needed the upper hand not only to survive this battle, but to bring his assassin to justice.

  Earlier, Rex had waved farewell to his wife and daughter at the airport and although it was hard to say goodbye, he knew it was for the best. Knowing his family would be safe on the other side of the country allowed him to concentrate on the task at hand. Their security had eased the cold tentacles of fear squeezing his gut. In their place was a burning outrage, a depth of anger so ripe, so brutal, it almost frightened him.

  For days Rex had been on constant alert, hyper aware of any signs of danger, his brain in overdrive, in the pursuit of the smartest, most clear-cut, achievable scheme to ensure success. He had considered surprising the driver of the X-Trai
l, pointing his gun at his head and demanding an explanation, eliciting a confession from him, but it was too risky. This was a suburban street. The car doors would be locked. Rex would be a sitting duck if the driver panicked, felt cornered and decided to off him right there on the spot. He could not let the sheer injustice of the situation consume his better judgement. He would not exist under a veil of fear, skulking at shadows, afraid of being visible. He had to take action. There was no other choice.

  Rex was ready. The bag containing a few days’ worth of clothes and some staple provisions was in the boot. The car’s tank was full of petrol. He took one last look at the house he had lived in for the past year and backed out of the driveway. Cruising slowly down his street, past the white X-Trail, Rex kept his eyes straight ahead. He had to appear ignorant of its presence. He wasn’t surprised when the car didn’t instantly follow him. The tracker ensured there was no urgency.

  As Rex weaved his way through the back streets of eastern Sydney avoiding traffic hot spots as he travelled towards the M4 motorway, he tried not to think of the what ifs, the potential hazards. He knew nothing of who wanted to kill him, or why. But what Rex did know was that he was a trained undercover and surveillance operative. He was street smart and tough. He was prepared, and had the element of surprise on his side. He would draw the dirty insect into his web. And then he’d eat him alive.

  CHAPTER 25

  Josh had to ask. ‘Well . . . are you going to tell me?’

  Parking in the designated area for Strike Force Viscount vehicles, Karly turned off the engine. She smirked. ‘I knew you couldn’t help yourself.’

  Josh ran a hand through his hair. ‘If we have a troublemaker in our office, I think I should know about it.’

  Karly looked suddenly stricken. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything . . .’

  ‘Well you have, so spit it out. What happened to the last guy Brooke Fisher was involved with?’

  Shaking her head, Karly corrected him. ‘Not involved with – who refused her attention.’

  Josh nodded his head impatiently.

  ‘I personally have no time for Brooke. Girls like her make us all look bad.’ Karly unbuckled her seat belt, leant one arm on the driver’s wheel and turned to Josh. ‘At the academy she got a reputation for liking the instructors – especially the married ones. Then, when she got to her station, she had two affairs, one after the other, both with married men. One transferred to the country to get away from her and the other . . . Brooke made sure his wife found out about their relationship, which turned into a major shit fight, as you can imagine.’

  Josh listened, a knot of concern tightening his stomach.

  ‘Then she nearly had a friend of mine charged with sexual assault. He swears blind he had nothing to do with her. In fact, he knocked her back, and that’s when she turned nasty.’

  ‘She is really something,’ Josh remarked, feeling his stomach tighten. He wondered how to handle this information.

  ‘I was joking around saying she likes you – but she does. I’ve heard her make comments. I know you’re not interested, but that doesn’t stop her. I’d hate to see her make your life difficult.’ Karly frowned. ‘If I wasn’t gay, she’d have it in for me because I’m working with you, on your team. She’s a right bitch, but not one I particularly want to get on the wrong side of, know what I mean?’

  ‘I’ll keep my eyes open. Can you let me know if Brooke targets anyone in particular?’ Josh asked.

  ‘She has targeted someone, Josh,’ Karly said. ‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, perhaps badly. She’s targeted you.’

  Josh recoiled. ‘Well if that’s the case, I’m glad it’s me and not someone else who might be tempted by her superficial charms. At least I’m forewarned. I appreciate you telling me this, Karly.’

  Thankfully, Brooke wasn’t on Josh’s team so he’d had little to do with her; had no reason to. Now he would be sure to give her an even wider berth.

  Karly still looked worried. ‘Brooke doesn’t like rejection, Josh, so just be careful.’

  He gave her a nod. ‘I’ll be very careful, don’t you worry about that.’ When Josh and Karly walked into the office, Brooke, who was standing at the photocopier near the doorway, glanced his way and smiled. Josh’s gaze skimmed past her, pretending he hadn’t noticed her attention.

  ‘I told you,’ Karly whispered under her breath before peeling off towards her desk.

  The small office Josh shared with his flatmate, Detective Sergeant Greg Walton, was empty. Greg was a nice person, but he was a have-a-chat, and it was sometimes hard to get work done when he was around. At his desk, Josh swivelled his mouse to wake his computer, then tried searching ‘Shadow’ on the central names index. Since this was not a real name, he was not surprised when he got no hits. Then he typed in ‘Johnny Mavaris’ and was pleasantly surprised to find the name was not bodgie. Within minutes, he had an address, a criminal record, a photo, a list of his tattoos and a pile of intelligence reports.

  Mavaris was twenty-eight years old, lived in Beecroft in Sydney, and was the younger brother of Kings Cross identity Angelo ‘Lucky’ Mavaris. He had priors for minor drug supplies and had done six months inside for the last one, three years ago. He had been clean since then. He was interviewed by detectives four months ago regarding the overdose of a girl at Club on Elm in Byron Bay, as was everyone else who was there at the time. He was also interviewed three months ago regarding another overdose at Club Hellfire at Kings Cross, where he works.

  Lexie’s target premises.

  Was Johnny one of the men Lexie was working on? Was this the link he needed?

  Feeling a tingle of anticipation, the signal he was perhaps getting somewhere, Josh sprang out of his seat and left the office. Jogging down the stairs, he stopped to pluck a can of Coke from the vending machine in the foyer, and then walked outside into the heat of the day. Taking a seat on a wooden bench sheltered by a huge palm tree in a reserve across the road from the station, Josh called Lexie. Surprisingly, she picked up straight away.

  ‘How’s life in paradise?’ Her smooth voice floated down the line.

  ‘It’s not all fun and games here, you know. I am working. Actually, I think I may have some interesting information.’ He heard the sounds of traffic in the background. ‘Are you driving? Can you talk?’

  ‘I’m on my way into work, so you’re on bluetooth, go ahead.’

  ‘Do you know a Johnny Mavaris?’

  ‘I do. His brother, Lucky, is one of our main targets. Why do you ask?’

  ‘He’s here in Byron Bay.’

  There was a pause. ‘Oh, I saw Johnny at the club last night. He must have flown up to Byron early this morning.’

  Josh told Lexie about the drug overdose at Club on Elm, how Johnny had been there at the time and had been interviewed by police regarding that investigation. ‘Johnny Mavaris was also at Club Hellfire the night of Kelsey Leech’s death. This was probably not surprising since he worked there but . . .’ He also told her about Marilyn Jones’s tip-off regarding the rented house behind hers. And that her description of the man she’d seen at the house matched Mavaris.

  ‘It’s leased by Entertaining Enterprises. A local drug supplier called Shadow lives there. It seems Johnny Mavaris stays there when he’s in town – which is apparently quite often.’

  ‘Wow, and here I was thinking you were just pulling out marijuana plants.’ Lexie’s voice was light with excitement. ‘I don’t know of any Shadow, but do you think this rented house could be where they store drugs? What if Johnny is the courier? We’ll have to check with the airlines, find out how often he’s travelling to and from Byron.’

  ‘I’ll do that from this end,’ Josh told her.

  ‘Hmm, I made an order for a supply of cocaine from Rocco last night. He said the product would arrive by the end of the week. I wonder if Johnny’s up there to collect?’

  ‘We might be on to something,’ Josh said. ‘I’m about to do more checks but I
wanted to talk to you first, make that connection.’

  ‘I’ll tell my supervisor when I get to work. What are your plans, what will you do next?’

  ‘I’ll look into a few things and let you know how I go. If Entertaining Enterprises have a financial interest in Club on Elm, we’ll know the clubs are linked. But before I do anything I have to tell the Dragon.’ He groaned, dreading what he knew he had to do.

  Lexie laughed. ‘Come on, Josh, man up,’ she teased. ‘Are you seriously telling me your boss is immune to your charm?’

  ‘The woman detests me, Lexie.’ His voice was flat. ‘You have no idea. I know it’s hard to comprehend, but she seriously hates my guts.’

  • • •

  ‘So what do you propose we do next?’

  Josh was sitting across from Detective Inspector Tina Scott who, slouched in her leather chair, was regarding him with barely concealed contempt. Having just relayed all he’d learnt about the possibility of the drug house, the existence of Shadow, the identity of Johnny Mavaris and his link to Club on Elm in Byron Bay and Club Hellfire in Kings Cross, he’d hoped to have incited just the slightest bit of excitement from her. But he got nothing.

  ‘I suggest we put surveillance on Johnny,’ Josh said, ‘and on the house where he’s staying. Get number plates, pictures of heads coming and going. Get our analyst to start a profile. Liaise with intelligence at Kings Cross about their local dealers and problem licensed premises. The UC Branch is also conducting an operation that involves numerous identities including Johnny. I think this could be our first break. We don’t want to go and knock on the door, scare them off. We have to remain covert, let them believe they’re not under notice. I’ll get onto Telstra, see if we can get a number and then apply for a warrant for Johnny’s phone.’ He had a thought. ‘Though I’ll check with the UC Branch to make sure they haven’t already covered that. Maybe we can apply for a listening device to be installed inside the house . . .’

  Tina Scott appeared bamboozled. Josh wondered if his boss had spent most of her career concentrating on climbing her way up the promotional ladder instead of being hands-on running investigations.