Lexie, who had hardly said a word, spoke at last.
‘How did the analyst go with the bikie data base? Did anyone come up with the nickname “Grub” or something similar?’
‘There were a few hits on bikies who go by that name but not in New South Wales, though we’ll still check them out.’
The phone on the boss’s desk let out a shrill ring. Casey spoke quickly to the person on the other end of the line.
‘Good work. Let me know how you go.’ She hung up.
The room was still as they waited for her to elaborate on the call.
‘That was Grumpy. He’s spotted Dorothy Magentagitt’s car parked several streets away from her home. He’s arranging for some uniforms to doorknock around the area, show Maggot’s picture around to see if he’s been spotted.’
Josh was surprised at Grumpy’s unusual competence. The man was usually half asleep or too uninterested to notice anything that was going on around him.
Casey glanced at her wristwatch then back at Josh.
‘You two had better prepare to speak to Donaldson.’ She shifted her gaze to Lexie. ‘Will you be all right to sit in on the interview?’
Josh knew Casey was referring to the search warrant incident. He glanced at Lexie, who nodded her head. Her face was a beautifully controlled mask not giving anything away. He dragged his gaze back to Casey.
She gave him a long look. ‘Good luck with Donaldson.’
Josh sucked in a breath, a bubble of excitement forming in his gut. ‘I’ll do my best.’
‘That’s all I ever ask. And Josh,’ she paused for effect, ‘try not to upset him this time.’
CHAPTER 22
Lexie wondered if it was the tight confines of the windowless, oppressive interview room that was making her feel claustrophobic. Or if it was merely the presence of Rex Donaldson, whose daunting bulk seemed to rob the room of air, and whose close proximity was playing havoc with her already frazzled nerves.
Donaldson sat between them, in one of the three chairs positioned around the small table pressed against the back wall of the room. Space was limited, causing Lexie to wonder why the police department couldn’t provide their staff with safer working conditions and better facilities. Of course it all came back to funding. Blame the government until something bad happened, until someone got hurt and then they’d have the typical knee-jerk reaction and fix the problem to appease the outraged masses.
Lexie thought the intimate restrictions of the room may have originally been designed for the purpose of intimidating suspects. Though if that were the case, didn’t it also work in reverse? Donaldson wouldn’t even need to stretch his arm to its full capacity to place his enormous hands around her neck and strangle the life out of her. Maybe if that occurred, brand new state-of-the-art interview rooms would be installed into every police station in New South Wales? Her death would not be in vain. Perhaps she would even be considered a hero of sorts?
Angrily she shook these ridiculous and destructive thoughts from her mind. Fear is a parasite that will eat you alive. No it won’t!
He was just a man, a man who had just lost a close friend, Lexie told herself, focusing on Donaldson. Although his eyes were on her, he seemed to be staring through her rather than at her. He seemed to be a long way away, his head cocked to one side as though listening to the activity outside. Though the thick walls muffled the noise, it was still easy to hear footsteps scurrying past and phones ringing in the next room.
Inserting the recording discs into the ERISP machine, Lexie willed her hands not to tremble.
Where possible, these days all interviews were done by way of ERISP – acronym for electronically recorded interview with a suspected person. Long gone was the old way of manually typing down questions and answers. This computerised system was much more time-effective. It was also completely reliable evidence that could be produced at court if necessary because the whole process was recorded. There was no disputing audible and visual proof.
Lexie turned her attention to Josh, who seemed almost ready to begin, and awaited instructions.
‘We are about to commence the interview,’ Josh said, breaking the silence. ‘Is there anything you would like to say before we start recording?’
Donaldson, who had said little since being ushered into the room, was still staring vacantly at Lexie. His head snapped up so suddenly Lexie felt herself push back in her seat. She caught Josh flash her a concerned glance and checked herself. She couldn’t let the cool veneer she tried so hard to maintain slip now.
Handle it, Lexie!
‘No,’ Rex sniffed, wiping the back of his hand across his nose. ‘I mean yes. I do have something to say.’ He fixed his eyes on Lexie again. ‘I don’t hit women and I’m sorry that I hurt you at the clubhouse. It was an accident. You just got in the way.’
Lexie was lost for words, too stunned to speak. A bikie apologising; now that had to be a first.
The silence in the room stretched until Josh cleared his throat and asked Lexie to start the machine. Lexie flicked the switch and watched the green light flicker on as it commenced recording.
Josh glanced at his wristwatch, then checked it against the clock on the wall.
‘The time is now 12.13 pm on Sunday, 12 December 2011. This is an electronically recorded interview conducted at Bondi Junction Police Station between Detective Sergeant Josh Harrison and Rex Donaldson. Also present is Detective Senior Constable Lexie Rogers. For the purpose of this interview could you please state your full name, rank and position.’
The question was directed at Lexie.
‘My full name is Alexandra Rogers, and I am a Detective Senior Constable attached to Bondi Junction Detectives Unit.
Josh then asked Rex to state his full name, date of birth, occupation and position within the club.
‘My name is Rex Oswald Donaldson. My date of birth is 17 November 1966. I am a mechanic by trade and I hold the position of sergeant-at-arms of the Devil’s Guardians Motorcycle Club.’
Lexie didn’t miss his intentional omission of the word ‘Outlaw’ usually associated with the club.
‘Detectives are conducting an investigation into the shooting death of Robert King and I intend to ask you some questions relating to that matter. Do you understand that?
‘Yeah.’
‘There are a number of standard pro forma questions I have to ask you, so bear with me.’
Rex grunted, his eyes roaming the room before resting and staying on Lexie.
Reaching the end of the standard questions and answers, Josh continued.
‘As I mentioned before, you will receive an audio CD of this interview at its completion. I am now informing you that you are not obliged to say or do anything unless you wish to, but whatever you do or say may be later used in evidence. Do you understand that?’
Rex darted forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing to slits, his whole aspect suddenly menacing.
‘Am I a suspect? You just cautioned me. I’m not stupid, you know. Bluey was one of my best mates. Why am I a fucking suspect?’
Lexie held her breath, secretly surprised at the bikie’s understanding of police terminology. Rex had said, ‘You just cautioned me.’ Civilians would not normally use that wording. Then again, this bloke had probably had more dealings with the cops than she’d had alcoholic beverages.
Josh extended both hands in the air defensively.
‘Calm down, Rex. The reason I cautioned you is in case you inadvertently say something that may incriminate you. It’s standard; everyone spoken to in relation to this investigation will be cautioned. It is not an accusation of guilt. Do you understand?’
Rex gave him a long suspicious look before finally relaxing and leaning back in the chair.
‘We want to find Bluey’s killer as much as you do,’ Josh insisted, doing his best to build a rapport with the man. He wanted to find a common goal, and build an alliance of sorts. ‘We are on the same side in this matter, Rex.’
Rex
grunted, apparently deciding to co-operate for now.
Josh referred to his notes.
‘Robert King, also known as Bluey, a member of the Devil’s Guardians Outlaw Motorcycle Club, was fatally shot at your clubhouse last night, 11 December, between 8.15 pm and 8.35 pm. Kate Bushell found the badly wounded King lying on the lounge room floor and called emergency services. Police arrived at 8.47 pm. An ambulance conveyed King to hospital but he died shortly after.’
Josh made eye contact with Donaldson. ‘Is there anything you can tell me about this?’
Donaldson shrugged. ‘I wasn’t there.’
‘I’m aware you weren’t there at the time of the shooting but is there anything you can tell me about it?’
Donaldson shook his head. ‘You’re the cops; you know more than me.’
‘Can you tell me your movements on the day of the shooting?’
‘During the day I went with Kate to buy some baby stuff, a pram and cot and stuff, you can check on that if you want. We went to East Gardens then to Babies Galore or some shit. Then about 6 pm I went over to Rowdy’s house and had drinks there with a few of the boys. I forgot we had to report at the police station until Kate called me, so she came and picked me up, we went and reported and she dropped me back at Rowdy’s place.’
‘That’s where you are staying at the moment?’
‘Yeah. I know you went there this morning.’
‘We’ll get on to that later,’ Josh said. ‘Can you tell me who was there, at Rowdy’s place, on Saturday night?’
Lexie scribbled notes as Josh asked the questions.
‘Rowdy and Roid were there. Moth, Scud and . . .’ He hesitated. ‘That was it.’
‘Are you sure about that? There were only four of you?’
‘I’m sure.’
Josh asked Rex to supply the names and details of each person he’d mentioned. Lexie jotted them down.
‘Why weren’t they at the hospital with you?’
‘They left before Kate rang and told me what happened.’
‘I’m sure you’re aware that during the course of this investigation it will be necessary to speak to all of your gang members separately. I would hope you will encourage them to be cooperative.’
Rex nodded and Josh reminded him that he needed to answer for the recording.
‘Yes, they will be.’
‘What time did the other men arrive at Rowdy’s house?’
‘They were there when I got there around six.’
Josh asked, ‘What time did they leave?’
Rex shrugged. ‘Roid, Scud and Moth had a party to go to. I think they left about 8.30 pm.
‘So that just left you and Rowdy, is that right?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Was Rowdy there with you the whole time?’ Josh asked, casually.
Rex hesitated for just a split second. It was enough. He drew in a deep breath before answering.
‘Yeah, I think so. I was a bit pissed. Why?’
‘I’ve been told that there was previously some sort of love triangle between Rowdy and Bluey, a bit of jealousy over a woman, is that right?’
Rex shook his head and groaned. ‘Who told you that shit?’
Josh had no intention of telling Rex ‘that shit’ came from Bluey’s sister, Carolyn King, who had taken a liking to Batman when he’d taken a statement from her a short time ago. With a bit of gentle coaxing and a flash of his baby-faced smile he’d managed to get her to reveal her intense dislike of Rowdy.
‘Oh, I know.’ Rex started nodding his head as though something important had just occurred to him. ‘Carolyn’s been slagging him off because he dumped her. That was the only issue between Rowdy and Bluey – his stupid sister. She’s a slag. Rowdy’s harmless and was good mates with Bluey. He had nothing to do with this. Besides, he was with me.’
‘A moment ago you didn’t seem real sure if he was with you the whole time. You were a bit pissed.’
Rex pawed the end of his beard. ‘Well, I just remembered, didn’t I?’
Josh paused for a moment, giving Rex a long look. Lexie could almost see his mind churning over the facts, trying to decipher the best line of questioning. Rex would protect his men no matter what.
‘So Rowdy definitely didn’t go anywhere while you were at his house?’
Donaldson shook his head. ‘No.’
Lexie sensed Josh didn’t believe him. Neither did she.
‘So how did you hear about the shooting?’
‘Like I said, Kate rang me from the hospital, screaming.’
‘What time was that?’ Josh inquired.
‘I don’t fucking know,’ Rex snapped. ‘I was pissed and in fucking shock. My mate had just been shot. I just got to the hospital as quick as I could.’
Josh sighed, but kept chipping away. His tone changed from soft to firm. Good cop and bad cop rolled into one. His voice was firm now.
‘Rex, I have to ask these questions. There is no need for aggression. Now, how did you get to the hospital?’
‘I rode my bike,’ he told them defensively, crossing his arms across his chest, ‘and I know what you’re going to say. I was over the limit. I was pissed – so fucking shoot me. My mate was dying and I had to get there fast.’
Lexie felt a trickle of perspiration slide down between her shoulder blades even though the room was air conditioned and surprisingly cool. This guy was like a volcano, totally unpredictable.
‘That’s okay, Rex. Calm down. Your drink driving is not the issue here. We want to find out who killed your mate and anything you can tell us might help us do that.’
Josh paused, seeming to consider how to word his next question.
‘Did Rowdy go to the hospital with you?’
‘No.’
‘If Rowdy was with you when you got the news about Bluey, wouldn’t he go to the hospital with you?’
Rex paused before answering. ‘I was just getting on my bike when Kate called. I was about to head home because I knew I’d be in trouble if I was any later. Pregnancy makes Kate a pain in the arse. I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t think to go back into the house and tell him. I just bolted to the hospital. I rang Rowdy when I got there. He and . . . he met us at the hospital.’
His story didn’t ring true, Lexie thought, and she hadn’t missed his close blunder. He and . . . who? She made a note to follow that line of enquiry later in case Josh had missed it.
‘How did Rowdy get to the hospital?’
Rex cleared his throat. ‘He rode his bike.’
‘Did he arrive alone?’
‘Um . . . yeah, I think so. I didn’t take much notice. I was frantic.’
It was clear evasion.
‘Who else met you at the hospital?’ Josh asked pointedly.
Lexie realised Josh had not missed a thing. She tried to rub the exhaustion from the back of her neck as a knot pinched the muscles between her shoulder blades. How could you be exhausted but totally wired at the same time?
‘What do you mean?’ Donaldson asked innocently.
Josh sighed and pushed up the sleeves of his shirt. She noticed his fists were clenched, his frustration becoming harder to disguise.
‘It’s a pretty simple question. Who was at the hospital with you?’ He pronounced the words slowly, precisely, as though talking to a small child. ‘Obviously Kate was there. Rowdy had just arrived. Were there any other club members with you? Any girlfriends of club members?’
‘No, it was just me, Kate and Rowdy. I called a meeting and told the other members later on. I didn’t think it would be a good idea if they all turned up at the hospital. It could have been messy.’
Josh nodded. ‘By messy you mean there could have been trouble?’
‘Yeah, some of the guys are fiery, you know. Go off half-cocked. I didn’t need that shit.’
‘So if we check the surveillance tape of the emergency waiting room we won’t see that anyone else was with you?’
Rex gave Josh a hard stare. ‘Do
what you like. There were other people around but they weren’t with us.’
Yeah, right. Lexie wondered if Josh was thinking the same thing. Who was Donaldson protecting?
‘Can you tell me if Rowdy lives alone?’
Rex grunted. ‘Yeah, but as I said before, we’ll be staying with him for a while; me and Kate.’
‘Is there anybody else staying at Rowdy’s house at the moment apart from you and Kate?’
‘Not that I know of, but then again it ain’t my house,’ Donaldson said flippantly, staring at Josh. He was trying to figure out why Josh thought this point so important.
‘You and Rowdy are close, I take it?’
‘He is my next down from Bluey.’
‘Meaning he is the next closest to you after Bluey. Is that correct?’
Rex nodded, then looked at the ERISP machine and said, ‘Yes,’ loudly.
‘Does Rowdy have a girlfriend?’
‘Not that I know of,’ Rex said evasively. ‘What does Rowdy’s love life have to do with Bluey’s murder?’
‘Does Kate own a striped beach bag?’
Rex’s eyebrows furrowed and he rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t fucking know. What kind of question is that?’
‘As you know, we went to Rowdy’s place earlier and spoke to Kate. She took an awfully long time to answer the door and it appears that while we were there someone jumped out of the bedroom window. Whoever that person was, they took a striped terry towelling beach bag with them. Can you shed any light on that?’
Rex stretched his thick neck and shook his head.
‘Don’t know about the bag. Don’t know about anyone jumping out the window. It was probably just Rowdy’s mangy cat. And I told her not to let anyone in. That’s probably why it took her so long to answer the door.’
‘Why’s that, Rex? Why would you tell her that?’
‘Because my mate had just been shot and I don’t know who the fuck I can trust. That’s why.’
Josh drilled Rex with a stare but didn’t pursue that line of questioning. It was blatantly obvious Donaldson would not be forthcoming with any information if he could help it.
‘Can you tell me about your relationship, or association with, the Assassins bikie gang?’
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