Fatal Mistake

by Karen M. Davis

  ‘I’m going to get in touch with the UC Branch, see what I can find out there. We’re all going to have to watch we don’t step on each other’s toes. We need to collaborate. It would probably be best to set up a meeting with all involved.’

  His gaze flicked to Marty Wells, who had a self-satisfied grin on his face.

  ‘So tell us what you know, Marty. How is that profile on Teddy Johnson going?’

  ‘I thought you’d never ask.’ Opening his manila folder, he spread it across his lap. ‘At this stage I can’t give you an answer – in case you were expecting miracles – as to whether TJ Cowell and Teddy Johnson is the same person. But I can tell you it will make my life so much easier if they are.’ He licked his lips and crossed his feet under the chair. ‘Teddy Johnson has disappeared off the face of the earth. He has no driver’s licence – never had a record of one. He doesn’t live at his last stated place of abode. He has no bank accounts, although he did have two Commonwealth accounts a year ago. He’s not listed with the Department of Housing or the Electricity Commission. He is on the electoral role under his old address at Redfern. His last criminal offence – a small supply – was two years ago and he hasn’t been picked up since then.’ Marty let out a heavy sigh. ‘I’ll start doing checks on this TJ, see if I can identify any similarities between them.’

  ‘Could Teddy have morphed into TJ – created a new identity for himself?’ Dani suggested. ‘We all know they can be bought if you know the right people. Perhaps he’s hiding or didn’t want to be associated with his criminal history?’

  ‘Possible,’ Marty said. ‘Though Teddy Johnson was in the army. When you rang that information in earlier, I got onto a recruiting officer at the Australian Defence Force and he tracked down Johnson’s details.’ Marty raised one eyebrow. ‘He was a trainee, never in explosives but that was what he was interested in. He never got there because he lasted only six months: was dismissed from the military on suspicion of selling drugs, but there was insufficient evidence for criminal charges. The officer was going to email me a recruitment picture of Johnson so we can compare it to this TJ. I’ll get back to him and find out if they have a record of TJ Cowell.’

  ‘That’s great, let me know when you receive the picture,’ Cook instructed. ‘If TJ is a separate person but has also been in the armed forces, they would have his prints for comparison to Johnson’s. This is good police work, everyone. Keep it up and keep me informed.’

  Marty smiled. ‘I haven’t finished yet. I’ve saved the best for last . . .’ All eyes were riveted on their analyst. ‘Guess who Teddy Johnson named as his next of kin on his military application form?’

  Cook, Brad and Dani, shook their heads.

  ‘His father – Amitt Vincent, the bastard who stabbed Lexie Rogers.’

  CHAPTER 47

  The doctor’s voice was deep, refined and compassionate. Lexie could easily imagine him not only soothing sick patients, but also happily reading nursery rhymes with his grandchildren perched on his knee. ‘He is doing very well,’ he told Lexie and Lyn. ‘If he continues to improve, he can go home in the next few days.’

  They were standing in the doorway of her father’s private hospital room. Jack Taylor was asleep and a nurse was taking his obs. They moved outside and Lyn reached for the doctor’s hand.

  ‘Thank you so much, doctor. I can’t tell you—’ Her voice cracked.

  The doctor cast his kind eyes over Lexie’s mother while patting her hand between his. ‘My absolute pleasure.’ He checked his watch. ‘I’ll see you lovely ladies before Jack is discharged.’

  A buzzer sounded. Somewhere nearby there was an emergency.

  ‘Oh, got to go.’ The doctor turned and fled down the corridor, waving an arm in the air as a final goodbye.

  ‘What a nice man,’ her mother gushed.

  ‘I think someone has a crush,’ Lexie teased.

  Her mother giggled girlishly. It was good to see her happy, relieved.

  ‘Have you got time for a chat?’ Lyn asked.

  They sat in the hospital cafeteria talking easily, sipping their steaming mugs of hot chocolate and sharing a slice of banana bread. All around them was noise: the hustle and bustle of a busy hospital.

  Lyn Taylor’s expression turned serious. ‘I’m worried about something.’

  ‘Oh Mum . . .’ What now, Lexie thought, before instantly scolding herself: You are lucky to have this family – remember that.

  ‘It’s Jayden,’ her mother confided, swiping a strand of blonde hair from her face. ‘He keeps talking about “his daddy”. You used to do the same thing when you were young. Not talk to your daddy,’ she clarified, ‘your invisible friends.’ Lyn sipped her drink and frowned. ‘I thought that was just what kids did. But he actually has full conversations, gives me messages from his daddy in language too old for a child his age, and sometimes he—’ Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Jayden says things Lincoln would say.’

  Lexie smiled. Her grandmother Lorna – Lyn’s mother – had been psychic. Apparently, she predicted many a happening that came true. Lyn’s sister Carol and her daughter Shelley also told of some interesting experiences they’d had with the spirit world. However, her mother had the intuition of a house brick. She knew this and hated the fact.

  Lexie decided to be straight with her. ‘He sees Lincoln, Mum.’ She had never told her mother of her own experiences with her brother for fear of upsetting her. ‘I was with Jayden in the living room at your place the day Dad was in bed sick and he told me about seeing “his daddy”. Lincoln is watching over him, Mum, over all of us. That thought should comfort you.’

  Lyn Rogers blinked away her tears. ‘Have you had any . . . Um, I know it’s a weird question but . . . Nothing strange or spiritual ever happens to me.’ She sounded disappointed. ‘I would like to see him. Why doesn’t he come and visit me?’

  Lexie rubbed her mother’s hand, knowing tears were near. ‘I don’t know how it all works, Mum, but I can assure you, Lincoln is around. To answer your question: I have seen him in my dreams. I have seen movement, shadows, felt things, and I have most certainly heard him – usually warning me of something. Maybe if you open yourself up, try to feel him, look for little signs, I can’t tell you what but . . . I don’t know. Maybe you don’t need to see or hear him. Just believe he is close.’

  Hearing her phone ringing, Lexie fished around in her handbag until she found it. She checked the screen – no caller ID. She thought about letting it ring out, have the caller leave a message, but curiosity got the better of her.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Are you alone, Lara?’

  Lexie’s heart jolted when she recognised Rachel Dean’s voice. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled and a quiver skipped along her spine. Something was wrong. However, for her mother’s sake, she didn’t let on.

  ‘Hold on . . .’ she said into the phone.

  Lexie stood and kissed her mother on the cheek. ‘It’s work, Mum, I have to go.’

  Her mother nodded and waved her away. When she reached the hospital lifts, Lexie told Rachel she was alone.

  ‘I’m just—’ She remembered she hadn’t told Rachel about her father’s operation. ‘I’m just getting into my car—’

  ‘No, don’t tell me where you are,’ Rachel intercepted firmly. ‘I don’t want you to panic, but I want you to drive straight home, to your new place,’ she clarified. ‘And stay there until I arrive. Do not let anybody else in.’

  ‘You’re scaring me, Rachel. Can you give me a hint as to what’s going on?’

  ‘I don’t want to take any chances,’ Rachel said. She was talking about the phone – was the line compromised? ‘Stay calm and be careful. It will be all right. I’ll see you soon.’

  • • •

  All the way to her undercover home, Lexie mechanically negotiated the streets while continually checking her surroundings. Her gaze jumped from the car’s mirrors, to scanning the roads and footpaths for she didn’t know what – just anyth
ing or anyone who looked suspicious, out of place, might be following her. She clutched her handbag against her lap and pulled the butt of the Beretta out slightly, for easy access.

  Lexie flinched as a car sped past her. This was ridiculous, she thought, lowering the window, needing some air. Then she changed her mind – at least the tinted glass offered some protection from prying eyes. She told herself to breathe.

  It hit her then: this was about Lenny – whoever Lenny was. It had nothing to do with the undercover job and everything to do with Amitt Vincent. She knew it as certainly as she knew her name.

  With all that was happening with work, the undercover job, Josh and her father, Lexie hadn’t given much more thought to the phone call from ‘Lenny’, besides her initial sense that he was suss. But Rachel had done checks on his phone that had led nowhere, so what could this be about? Lexie was glad she had decided to keep her gun on her. This was one of those times when she needed the security of a weapon. Lexie gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white and her hands began to ache.

  Opening the garage door beneath her block of flats with the remote control, she drove inside and let out a great sigh of relief. Being enclosed by walls, no longer out in the open, allowed her to feel more confident, in command of herself. Bounding up the stairs two at a time, Lexie paused before opening the front door. What if someone were inside? Nobody, besides a select few, knew where she lived, that’s why Rachel told her to come straight here.

  Reaching into her handbag, Lexie gripped her gun and pulled it out.

  Her hands were shaking as she placed the key in the lock. Standing to the side – out of firing range – Lexie gently pushed the door open and peered inside. A feeling of sickness invaded her stomach as she scanned every corner, behind the lounge, under the table. The room appeared to be exactly as she’d left it. Creeping across the living room, Lexie hardly dared to breathe as she poked her head around the corner and glanced into the kitchen. It was clear.

  Hugging the wall, Lexie silently edged down the hallway. A car backfired somewhere outside and her heart leapt into her mouth. With the gun pointed low, ready to be raised in an instant, she continued her inspection. Pausing next to the open door of the bathroom, she crouched low, ducking her head out quickly. One glance told her it was empty. She did the same with the two bedrooms. She even checked under the beds and inside the wardrobes to make sure no monsters or bad guys were waiting to gobble her up.

  It occurred to Lexie she could have waited for Rachel to get here; she couldn’t be too far away. But she didn’t want to look like an idiot who was scared of her own shadow, cowering on the landing outside the flat, waiting for reassurance to arrive.

  Back in the lounge room, Lexie let out the breath it seemed she’d been holding since receiving the call at the hospital. It was little relief. She felt like the walls were closing in on her and feared she might scream if Rachel didn’t show up soon. Like a caged animal, she paced the floor, eyes darting in every direction.

  When the knock on the door did come, Lexie trembled. She rushed to open it, and then stopped short.

  A strange, illogical fear gripped her by the throat. What if Rachel were in on this? Her previous experience with two bad cops had left Lexie suspicious, overly wary of everyone.

  ‘Are you in there? It’s Rachel, I’m alone.’

  Lexie hesitated. The unmistakable tang of dread settled on her tongue. What if . . . An image of Sue Field pointing a gun at her flashed behind her eyes. Blinking quickly, Lexie cleared the vision, angry, scared and hating herself for being vulnerable.

  The doorknob turned. Lexie’s pulse reached fever pitch as she began to back across the room. She hadn’t considered Rachel might have a key. The door opened slowly and Rachel poked her head into the room only to freeze, her eyes widening with shock and terror. Lexie flashed a look over her shoulder. There was nothing there. Oh god, what was she looking at? What was going on?

  Rachel kept her eyes fixed on hers. She seemed to be considering what to say, what to do. Lexie wondered what was wrong with her.

  ‘Lexie,’ Rachel said her name calmly, ‘I’m not coming in until you put the gun down.’

  CHAPTER 48

  Rachel lifted her hands slowly into the air and stood perfectly still. ‘I’m sorry, Lexie. This is my fault. I didn’t mean to scare you earlier on the phone. I just wanted you to be safe. My gun is in my bag, but otherwise I am unarmed.’

  With measured movements, Rachel lifted the legs of her jeans to display the absence of an ankle holster. The snug fit of her T-shirt made it obvious there would be no other place to secrete a weapon. ‘I’m on your side, Lexie. You are safe with me. Put the gun down.’

  Lexie stared at her hand as though it belonged to someone else, realising she was still holding the gun. Her mind clicked back into gear and she saw how crazy she was being. She bent down, placed the gun on the floor and stepped away from it. Tears burnt her eyes. She could not hold them back.

  Gently, Rachel guided Lexie to the lounge, sat down beside her and embraced her. Her supervisor’s kindness and understanding was her final undoing. Lexie’s tears spilled in a torrent of pent-up emotion.

  ‘Oh god, I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed.’ Lexie rubbed her swollen eyes and blew her nose. The last thing she’d wanted was to have a meltdown in front of her boss, who would think she wasn’t coping and possibly take her off the drug job. That could not happen. ‘Don’t ever apologise for getting upset,’ Rachel told her sternly, patting her leg. ‘You are one strong lady, but we all have a limit. And you’re under a lot of pressure.’

  Rachel told Lexie to go and wash her face while she made them a cup of tea.

  When they were back on the lounge, Rachel said, ‘Your father has been sick. Your boyfriend is away. You’re living in a strange flat. A significant trial is imminent and you are working deep undercover with some very dangerous criminals. You can’t tell your friends or family what you are doing, or where you are living. So don’t be so hard on yourself. Not many people could do what you are doing, Lexie.’

  ‘I’m still sorry about the tears.’

  ‘If you apologise again I will have to hit you,’ Rachel joked.

  ‘Okay, okay.’ Lexie forced a smile and got comfortable, curling her legs underneath herself. she noted her heartbeat was slow and her body felt heavy. She was finally relaxed. Then she remembered why Rachel was here. ‘I’m fine now. You can tell me what’s happened. I promise I won’t freak out again.’

  Rachel rolled her eyes. ‘I’m glad that wasn’t another apology because I will hit you.’

  Lexie laughed, yet there was a nervous tinge to it.

  Rachel looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘All right. I’m just going to tell you how it is, no bullshit.’

  Lexie nodded. She didn’t trust her voice enough to speak.

  ‘I received a call from your boss at Bondi Junction, Detective Inspector Casey Blair. The Intelligence Unit at Long Bay Gaol contacted her about a phone call they intercepted between an inmate and his son. The conversation set off alarm bells, as it sounded like they were discussing a hit. The inmate is Amitt Vincent.’

  Lexie’s heart sank. She knew where this was going. Shakily, she put the cup of tea she was cradling onto the coffee table. Rachel was watching her for a reaction, so she did her best to keep her expression neutral until she knew all the facts.

  ‘The Department of Correctional Services did some research, found you were the key witness in Vincent’s trial, so they went through the chain of command, which led to your permanent boss, Casey Blair. Vincent’s son is Teddy Johnson. He’s wanted in connection to the Assassins bombing, which is Brad’s investigation. His phone number is the same as Lenny’s, the man who called you, wanting to supply information.’

  ‘So Lenny is Teddy Johnson? And he’s trying to draw me out because he wants to kill me on behalf of his father so I can’t give evidence?’

  Rachel nodded. Strangely, Lexie was relieved this had not
hing to do with the undercover job – she had to finish that for Rex’s sake. However, she feared this new situation could run interference.

  ‘I won’t go into everything,’ Rachel said. ‘Professional Standards Command is also involved in this. It’s believed Teddy Johnson, who has not been located as yet, works at Club Hellfire. It’s possible Johnson, and TJ Cowell, are the same person. Do you know either of them?’

  ‘I’ve never heard of Teddy Johnson, though I know TJ. I’ve spoken to him and would be able to identify him.’

  ‘Good, that’s good. There’s a multi-agency meeting this afternoon to map out a plan of attack. A few other investigations – including Josh’s – are linked with ours. We need everyone on the same page.’

  Rachel gave her a long look and Lexie dreaded what was coming.

  ‘I know you won’t be happy, but I’m pulling you off the job.’

  Lexie jumped up in protest. ‘No, I have to finish it, I have to . . .’ Her voice broke as emotion got the better of her once again.

  ‘It’s too dangerous,’ Rachel insisted. ‘Amitt Vincent’s son is out there looking for you. We don’t know where he is, or what he looks like at this stage. Although Brad’s working on that. Did I tell you I spoke to him?’

  Lexie was pacing the floor, her mind on overdrive. She couldn’t remember.

  ‘Brad mentioned you were supposed to work at the Assassins’ bike show the day of the bombing. If Johnson is willing to blow up a load of bikies and innocent people to get to you, god knows what else he might do.’

  ‘We don’t know that was about me,’ Lexie stated.

  ‘My theory, and Brad agrees, is that it was about you, Lexie. Teddy Johnson blew up the Assassins’ clubhouse to kill you and have it appear an accident. To make it look like you were just another victim of a bikie war. That way, his father would not be implicated. When your name wasn’t on the news as one of the deceased, he most likely stalked your flat. Your neighbour downstairs, Mr Smith, saw a man knock on your door recently. He saw the same man sitting in a car outside, more than once. Unfortunately he didn’t think to get a registration number.