Sinister Intent

by Karen M. Davis

  Lexie’s mind was reeling. She had been around long enough to know that not all cops operated by the book. She’d been at this station only two weeks – not enough time to become familiar with everyone who worked here – however, she considered herself a reasonably good judge of character. Her instincts told her that, if there was anyone to be wary of in this place, it was this pair. Her mouth went dry and her heart pounded heavily in her chest as her gaze moved between both sets of eyes that were regarding her more like she was something to eat than concerned, caring colleagues.

  She wished Brad Sommers was here right now. He was the one person she knew instinctively she could trust.

  Josh was suddenly beside her.

  ‘Lexie, you have work to do.’

  Grateful for the intervention, she stared up at him. He did not return her gaze. His body was rigid and his eyes were narrowed and fixed on Harry Burgh, who stared back at him with open hostility. Tension hung like a heavy fog haze, as both men stubbornly refused to break eye contact. Lexie figured it was her cue to leave.

  She couldn’t get out of the room fast enough.

  CHAPTER 17

  The house belonging to Bill O’Grady, whom everyone called Rowdy, squatted silently in the darkness of a narrow back street in the outer eastern suburb of Kensington. Dwarfed by surrounding unit blocks on both sides, the street light out the front cast an eerie glow over the tiny fibro cottage, giving the place a strangely sinister appearance.

  As Lexie and Josh approached the house, Josh checked out the street with a cursory sweep. There were no motorbikes parked anywhere along the kerb. Registration checks had revealed Donaldson and O’Grady owned Harley-Davidson motor cycles – no surprises there – and Kate Bushell owned a 1996 model red Laser which Josh could see parked outside the house.

  Lexie shone her torch on the registration number.

  ‘That’s her car,’ she confirmed.

  They made their way over the mess of grass and weeds towards the front door. Josh noted that the place was in better condition than the clubhouse – but not by much. He knocked on the metal frame of the security door. The sound seemed to amplify in the surrounding stillness. He waited. There was no sign of movement from inside. Josh knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing; the house was as silent as a tomb.

  Lexie and Josh exchanged a glance.

  Earlier at the hospital Donaldson had advised uniform officers that since they were unable to return to the clubhouse, he and Bushell would be staying with O’Grady for a while. Josh would have put money on them all assembling here to talk, to dissect and process what had happened to their friend, to possibly begin making funeral arrangements. So where were they? Not out plotting vengeance, or doing something stupid to inflame the already delicate atmosphere between the gangs, he hoped

  Someone has to be here. Josh pointed in the direction of the gate.

  ‘Let’s check the back. See if they’re playing hard to get.’

  Lexie nodded, following him into the small back yard. It was now almost five in the morning and the full moon had faded as the first streaks of daylight appeared over the city skyline. However it was still too dark to see without the assistance of a torch. Josh flicked the setting to dim so as not to attract too much attention, and shone the beam of light at the ground for guidance. The glow of Lexie’s torch behind him skimmed the shadows but showed nothing more than a drooping wooden fence at the back of the yard.

  Then he heard movement; a rustling noise. Josh froze, his heart racing in his chest as he scanned the darkness. He focused the torch where he thought he heard the sound. Lexie did the same. Both streams of light crisscrossed and then centred on a pair of green eyes that stared back at them. As though in protest at being cast under the spotlight, the cat let out a strangled feline cry and darted over the fence.

  ‘Bloody cat,’ Josh cursed under his breath.

  Josh headed towards what looked like a bedroom window. It was closed, with wooden blinds shut tightly, blocking his view. He moved to the next window further along. Blinds also shielded his prying eyes though they rested just above the window pane allowing a small opening to peer through. He shone the torch through the gap. All he could see was a woman’s striped shoulder bag sitting on a chair under the window and a white doona bunched at the end of a bed.

  Josh turned to Lexie standing behind him.

  ‘Does that look like a woman’s bag on the chair in there?’ he asked.

  He moved back to give Lexie room to see but when she moved forward he was unprepared for the reaction her sudden closeness would have on his senses. The rhythm of his heart suddenly escalated and he felt himself swaying closer, as if his body was being drawn towards her by an invisible magnet. He leaned in even closer just as a soft breeze whipped several strands of her hair across his cheek. At this close distance he noticed the scar along her hairline and wondered about it fleetingly before the scent of her perfume distracted his thoughts.

  Lexie raised herself onto her toes, resting her hands on the window frame for balance as she peered through the dirty glass. Without moving or redirecting her gaze she whispered, ‘That’s definitely a woman’s bag. Looks more like a beach bag than a handbag but it’s certainly too feminine in style for a male. Must belong to Kate Bushell?’

  Josh tried to concentrate. ‘She must be inside then. Most women don’t go out without their bags, do they?’

  ‘I wouldn’t, but I’m not Kate Bushell.’

  Lexie couldn’t have known how close he stood behind her because she turned suddenly, without warning, causing her nose to almost collide with his lips. She gasped in surprise, her warm breath fanning his skin as for a long moment she remained utterly still. Josh felt himself falling into her bottomless brown eyes. The desire to reach out and touch her was almost unbearable. Then, as though just realising their close proximity, her head flew back like she’d been stung and she backed away.

  Josh felt his heart hit his feet. The spell he’d just been under evaporated instantly.

  What’s wrong with you? Remember your rule.

  Just then movement inside the house caught their attention, leaving no time for awkwardness. Something fell, or was dropped.

  ‘Let’s go!’ Josh exclaimed, darting back towards the front of the house.

  Rapping his knuckles hard against the door, he felt a jolt of pain shoot up his arm as he shouted: ‘Police!’ We know someone’s in there. Answer the door.’

  Silence.

  Lexie tried. ‘We just want to speak to Kate Bushell, about last night. Please open the door. We don’t want to have to kick it in.’

  She said it so pleasantly Josh had to stifle a laugh. He raised an eyebrow at her. Kick the door in?

  Lexie shrugged, then kicked the door forcefully. It rattled and quivered around the door frame.

  Josh kept his voice low.

  ‘Lexie, we can’t kick the door in.’

  She shot him a look, putting a finger over her lip to shush him.

  ‘I know that,’ she whispered, kicking the door again, ‘but they don’t.’

  ‘What do you want?’ A nervous voice filtered through the door.

  Lexie shot him a self-satisfied smile.

  ‘It’s Detectives Harrison and Rogers. Open the door, Kate. We just need to speak to you about last night. You’re not in trouble. We’ve checked out your story. We need to ask you some questions.’

  Josh and Lexie had already viewed the CCTV footage from the 7-Eleven on Bondi Road. Josh had wanted to verify Kate’s alibi before speaking to her. It had checked out. She could be clearly seen buying cigarettes at the front counter at precisely 8.23 pm. She’d been telling the truth, so why was she so reluctant to open the door and speak to them?

  The sound of locks clicking caused them both to step back. The door screeched on old hinges as Kate pushed it open just enough to peer through the gap. Her red-rimmed eyes inspected Josh suspiciously before narrowing on Lexie.

  ‘What do you want?’


  She certainly didn’t believe in wasting time on good manners, Josh thought.

  ‘Can we come in?’

  ‘Rex told me not to let no-one in. I’m here by myself.’

  ‘We are not going to hurt you, Kate. We’re the police.’

  Kate huffed and rolled her eyes.

  ‘Yeah, the police never hurt nobody, do they? Where’s your spray?’ she directed the question at Lexie. ‘You’re not coming in with that fucking spray. You almost killed me with that shit.’

  Josh took out his notebook and pen. She was not going to make this easy.

  ‘We don’t have the spray, Kate. I just want to ask you some questions, verify some facts regarding exactly what happened last night. Where are Donaldson and O’Grady? Why are you here by yourself?’

  ‘They’ve gone to talk to Bluey’s ex-wife Carmel and . . . it doesn’t matter, I don’t need to tell you. It’s none of your business where they are.’

  Josh held on to his temper. He was tired and he really didn’t need this girl’s attitude right now.

  ‘Well, that’s where you’re wrong, Kate. This is a murder investigation. We are going to have to speak to everyone, including Donaldson, O’Grady, and every other member of the Devil’s Guardians club. So when they get back from wherever they are, you have your boyfriend call me. You’ll both be required to come to the station to make an official statement.’

  Josh dug his hand into his pocket and fished out a card.

  Kate’s demeanour changed. She gently took the card from his hand and tucked it into her ample cleavage, bending forward as she did so, making sure he got a good eyeful. She smiled.

  ‘I’ll keep it close to my heart . . . detective.’

  Josh smiled back, playing along with her flirting. You catch more bees with honey, he reminded himself.

  ‘By the way, I’m very sorry about your friend, Robert King.’

  ‘Bluey. Everyone called him Bluey.’ She pouted like a little girl.

  ‘I’m sorry about Bluey and I want you to know we are going to do everything we can to find his killer. And what I need you to do is tell me everything you can remember about last night. Are you going to help us catch whoever shot him?’

  Kate didn’t respond. Instead she stared at Lexie for a full five seconds before turning back to Josh. Lexie didn’t react and Josh was impressed. It seemed his partner instinctively knew it was better for her to keep her mouth shut and let him do all the talking. There was no use trying to reason with such open hostility.

  ‘Now, can you tell me Bluey’s movements yesterday? Where had he been? Who had he been with?’

  ‘I need to sit down, my legs are killing me,’ Kate said, pushing the door open and allowing them into the house.

  Josh followed her through the lounge room and into the kitchen. She pulled a chair from under a small dining table and dropped heavily into it. Josh and Lexie remained standing.

  ‘Saturday is Bluey’s day to see his kids. He was out at Camden where they live with their mum all day. He got home around six o’clock because Rex was waiting for him and was getting shitty. They were going to both come here, to Rowdy’s, for a drink with some of the other guys, but Bluey said he was tired and just wanted to veg out in front of the box.’

  ‘And Rex was all right with this?’

  ‘Yeah. He was happy that someone was staying with me.’

  ‘So from six o’clock last night, until the time you went out to get smokes, there were only the two of you in the house. You were alone?’

  Kate’s head came up quickly and she was suddenly defensive. Josh could tell that his unintended implication had affronted her.

  ‘What are you getting at? What do you think we was doing, screwing around? I’m with Rex and fucking seven months pregnant.’

  Josh sighed. ‘I was not implying . . . I need to ask these questions, Kate.’

  ‘Okay, okay okay,’ she waved her hands around in the air. ‘Just get it over and done with.’

  ‘So from six o’clock – ’

  ‘No. Rex and me went to the cop shop to report at around seven, I think. Rex dropped me home then went to Rowdy’s. And then we were alone by ourselves. No one else came over. Bluey watched TV and drank beer. I had a rest for a while, then I watched TV with him.’

  ‘Was he intoxicated?’

  ‘No. He’d had a few but he wasn’t pissed as a fart.’

  ‘What were you watching?’

  ‘What . . .? I don’t fucking know. Hey Hey, It’s Saturday. Funniest Home Videos. Who cares?’

  ‘I care. Did Bluey say anything to you? Was he worried about anyone, anything? How did he get along with his ex-wife that day?’

  Kate tucked a strand of tangled hair behind her ear as she reclined in the chair. He tried not to stare at the teardrops tattooed on her left cheek. Letting her legs splay open, she rubbed her swollen belly over the top of her singlet top and track pants.

  ‘Bluey’d had a great day with his kids.’ She gave a lukewarm smile; she was calmer once more. ‘He gets on fine with his ex, they still have a go at it once in a while, have the stray fuck for old times’ sake, you know what I mean?’ She gave Josh a long look. ‘And, no, he didn’t seem worried about anything. He is . . . was, a nice guy. Everyone liked him.’

  It appeared the distraught Kate of last night had herself under control again, he thought. Had the tears and hysterics been an act? No, Josh was certain they weren’t. This girl was just all front and nowhere near as tough as she wanted everyone to believe she was. However, if she thought she was going to shock him with her colourful language or crude comments she’d have to think again. Josh wetted his lips, suddenly feeling thirsty. It must be all the coffee drying him out from the inside, dehydrating his body that was still detoxing from Friday night.

  ‘He was a bikie. Bikies make enemies.’

  ‘Not all of them,’ Kate shot back.

  ‘Did you notice anything unusual when you left to go to the shop?’

  ‘Like what? Vampires, zombies, werewolves roaming around?’

  Kate’s mood swings were giving Josh mental whiplash and starting to grate on his patience.

  How about I use the floorboards to wipe that sarcastic look off your face?

  Lexie nudged his arm. He gave her a curious look as he waited for a sensible answer from Kate. Without saying anything she motioned with her eyes to a mobile phone that lay on the kitchen counter.

  The silence stretched. ‘Did anything out of the ordinary happen at the clubhouse last night?’ Josh asked at last.

  Kate grunted. ‘No. I saw nothing unusual; no one lurking in the bushes, nothing.’

  ‘Whose phone is that on the counter?’

  Kate stared at the mobile as though it had just appeared like an alien from another planet. ‘Um . . . I don’t know.’

  ‘I think you do.’

  Lexie spoke for the first time since entering the house.

  ‘Its Bluey’s phone, isn’t it? I think we need to take it as evidence.’

  Kate scowled at her. ‘How the fuck would you know whose phone − ’

  Josh cut her off as he marched forward and pocketed the phone. ‘We’re taking it. Is it Bluey’s phone? It won’t take us long to find out, so why don’t you just make my life easier and tell me?’

  ‘Take it. See if I care. It’s not mine. And why would I care to make your lives easier?’

  ‘Maybe so we can find your friend’s killer.’

  Josh was unable to help the acid tone in his voice. Taking a deep breath, he decided to end his questioning there. He knew instinctively that Kate, now standing, arms folded across her chest in a closed stance, would not volunteer any more information. He finished making his notes of her answers in his own scribbled shorthand. He read their conversation back to her and asked that she sign the bottom of the notebook entry.

  She pinched the pen out of his grasp and hurriedly scribbled her name at the bottom of the page.

  ‘I guess you have a lot to do. W
e taxpayers pay your wages so don’t let me keep you from doing your work.’

  This sudden attempt to get rid of them made Josh suspicious. His internal warning device started sounding and then when he saw her gaze flicker down the hallway, he knew.

  ‘Who else is here, Kate?’

  One glimpse at her face and he was certain he’d hit the mark. He heard a faint noise and didn’t wait for her to answer. Lexie was one step ahead of him and had her gun out as he reached for his. She was already moving, edging her way down the narrow hallway. Josh followed, feeling like he should be taking the lead.

  The first door was open. It looked like a guest room. The only furniture in the room was a dishevelled double bed and a set of drawers. Guns pointed at the ground, Lexie and Josh made a quick inspection. It was empty. They moved on, checking the small bathroom before passing on to the next closed door. By this time Kate was behind Josh. She grabbed at his arm.

  ‘Don’t open that door.’

  Lexie moved quickly to the opposite side of the door frame. Josh stayed where he was, his hand resting on the wooden door handle.

  Kate started to pull on his arm. He flicked her away.

  ‘No one’s here. You can’t just do this. You need a warrant.’

  ‘No we don’t. You invited us in – remember?’

  ‘It’s just a cat,’ Kate told him loudly. She was trying to warn someone they were coming, he thought. ‘Don’t open the door, you’ll let the cat out.’

  Josh turned the doorknob and kicked the door open with his foot.

  ‘Police, don’t move,’ he and Lexie yelled in unison.

  Holding their cover on either side of the wall, they pointed their weapons into the room. It was the room they had peered in at from outside and it was empty, though it hadn’t been a short time ago. The bed was rumpled, the blinds had been raised and the window now stood wide open. The bag that had been sitting on the chair was gone. It was clear that someone had just made a very abrupt exit.

  Lexie stared at the window, then back at Josh. ‘Should we give chase?’

  Josh shook his head. ‘They’d be long gone.’