The irony was even the man himself wouldn’t know he was the ‘Grub’. It would be driving him crazy trying to work it out, Rex thought, allowing himself a moment’s satisfaction.
But it was short-lived as he remembered Bluey’s bloodied body at the hospital.
I will avenge your senseless murder, Bluey, Rex silently promised his mate. He was the only one who could do it.
Other bikie gangs secured their members’ loyalty and silence by involving them in criminal activity. Rex didn’t believe in controlling his men that way. He believed that there was no need to tell everyone everything. Not all people could be trusted one hundred per cent with all facets of bikie business. And he couldn’t rely on all of his men to control their temper. If they even had an inkling of who was behind this crime, there would be no stopping the violence.
He’d had to tell Kate. There was no choice really. He was the intended target, which meant she was also in danger. The Grub could come after her to get to him. She needed to be on guard. Besides, he needed someone to talk to. Kate might be an emotional mess but at least he knew he could trust her.
The sun was starting to fade in the sky and it was now just Rex and Rowdy left sitting on the grass. It was the first chance they’d had to speak privately since this morning.
‘Have you spoken to Sandy?’
Rowdy shook his head, clearly annoyed.
‘The stupid bitch must have turned off her phone. I’ve left about ten messages.’
‘Not surprised she doesn’t want to talk to you,’ Rex grunted.
Rowdy gave him a confused look as Rex continued.
‘The cops came around this morning to speak to Kate while we were out. Sandy jumped out the fucking bedroom window. They’re asking questions about who she is and why she ran away from them.’
Rowdy got up and started to pace a trail in the grass.
‘Shit, shit, shit.’
He kicked at a pile of fallen and bruised frangipanis at his feet.
‘If Max Croft finds out he’s going to kill her, and then he’ll kill me. I’ve stayed out all day avoiding the cops because I was scared about my alibi. But now it’s even worse. Why would she jump out the fucking window?’
Probably to score, Rex thought to himself.
‘She must have got scared,’ Rowdy said, trying to rationalise her actions.
Rex lit a cigarette and spoke once more.
‘The cops will be in a hurry to speak to you now, you know that, don’t you? It’s only a matter of time. I told them you were having a drink with me at your place at the time of the shooting, which you were, so you just have to stick to that story.’
‘But I wasn’t. Well, I was, but then I had to go out and pick up Sandy, so I was gone for about forty minutes with no alibi. What if they know that? What if they can find out that I wasn’t home and then I have to tell them about Sandy?’
Rex sighed.
‘They’re not that good. But they did ask me who else was with us at the hospital. So I’d say by now they have CCTV photos of us. Sandy will be in those photos so it’s only a matter of time, as I said.’
Rowdy slumped down, putting his head in his hands.
‘What would you rather?’ Rex asked, drawing in a lungful of nicotine and letting it waft out through his partially open lips. ‘Having to fess up to having a girlfriend or have the cops harassing you, thinking you’ve got something to do with a murder?’
Rowdy snatched Rex’s cigarette packet from the grass next to him and lit up. He hadn’t smoked for years and started to cough violently.
‘Don’t do that, you idiot. You’re a bloody asthmatic, remember?’
Rex snatched the cigarette from Rowdy’s hand, stubbed it out and threw it away.
‘Calm down. The cops aren’t going to find out you weren’t home the whole time unless you tell them.’
‘How do you know so much about how the cops work?’ Rowdy asked.
That was the second time Rex had been asked that question lately. He’d have to watch himself. Be more mindful of what he said.
‘I’ve had years of experience, mate, years of experience. Anyway, I think Max Croft has more important things to think about right now than you and his daughter. Like he and his gang members being suspects for a murder.’
‘Do you think the Assassins did it?’ Rowdy asked, studying his face.
‘I have no idea,’ Rex lied. ‘But I do know we can’t jump to conclusions. We need to get our facts straight first and remember the cops are watching all of us. But trust me, Rowdy, when we find out, when we know for sure who’s behind this – they will pay.
And he would.
Rowdy looked vacantly at Rex. His mind was clearly somewhere else; no doubt worrying about his precious Sandy.
‘Come on, let’s get back to your place. I need a beer. Plus, Sandy’s probably waiting there with her tail between her legs.’
‘Just let me deal with her, Rex. She’ll be scared enough as it is.’
Rex was finding it hard to have any pity for the dumb junkie. Her actions had brought them unwanted attention from the cops. No doubt they’d all be watched more closely than ever now.
Rex got to his feet and he and Rowdy walked across the park towards their bikes. Rex scanned the street for anything resembling surveillance vans or unmarked police cars. He saw none.
Rowdy mounted his bike and turned to Rex.
‘Sandy’s getting off the drugs. I’m going to get her clean. She’s a good chick, Rex. She’s just had a hard life.’
‘If you say so,’ Rex grumbled.
‘I do. Imagine growing up with that bastard Max Croft for a father?’
Rowdy pushed the key into the ignition and started the engine. It roared into life. He yelled over the noise: ‘If she’s not at my place when we get home I’m going to really start worrying.’
Rex kept his thoughts to himself. If he never saw that girl again he’d be more than happy. He didn’t trust her, she was trouble. And he got the distinct impression dear little Sandy knew a lot more than she was letting on.
CHAPTER 28
Lexie was on the phone to Brad, laughing at his account of how he’d managed to break his arm while negotiating his front steps – completely sober, of course – when Josh came out of the boss’s office. He didn’t look happy, so she cut Brad off and put the phone down.
‘Brad said to say “Hi”,’ Lexie told him, then added, ‘Is everything okay?’
Josh fell into his chair, waving his hand in the air dismissively.
‘It was nothing. Burgh made a complaint about me; said I’d questioned his work ethic.’
Lexie stared at him. ‘Did you?’
‘You heard me. You were in the car when I spoke to him. All I did was ask if he knew Sandy Croft.’ He groaned. ‘Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t matter. The boss knows what he’s like. She knows he’s just trying to cause trouble but she had to ask me about it.’
This discord between Burgh and Josh kept getting more intriguing.
‘I just have to give my Mum a quick call, see how my sister is doing.’
Lexie felt a double-edged stab of guilt. She hadn’t called her own mother in days and she hadn’t even asked about Josh’s sister. Then again, their relationship had hardly been conducive to familiar pleasantries. Up until last night, they had hardly spoken, let alone divulged specifics about their personal lives.
Josh picked up the landline only to quickly replace it.
‘The line is busy,’ he said to nobody in particular, staring down at the stack of papers spread across his desk
‘How is your sister? Will she be all right?’ Lexie asked tentatively.
Josh looked up as if surprised by the question.
‘Oh, she will be,’ he replied, giving her a strained smile. ‘It happens from time to time. Jenna has an episode, loses the plot for a bit, goes in for some therapy, comes good for a while, and then does it all again six months later.’
Lexie stared at him con
fused. Was she missing something? It sounded like his sister was in a mental institution, not a regular hospital.
He read her face and explained further.
‘My sister is twenty-five and suffers from bipolar, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anything else you can think of. She’s a real worry to my parents, so when she spins off the rails I try to help out as much as possible, give Mum and Dad a break. Although I haven’t been much help this time with this murder investigation taking up all my time.’
Lexie was fascinated. It seemed there was a caring, considerate side to the complex puzzle that made up Josh Harrison.
‘I’m sorry to hear that – about your sister. I’m sure your family understands you’re busy.’
Josh rolled his eyes.
‘Doubt it; you don’t know my Dad.’ He changed the subject abruptly. ‘That’s enough about me. Have you solved the murder yet? Got any theories, ideas on suspects?’
Lexie fiddled with a loose strand of hair, feeling the full effect of his green eyes on her.
‘Well . . .’ She chose her words carefully. ‘I suppose Maggot is a possibility. He’s certainly making himself look guilty by hiding out and avoiding us.’
Josh looked thoughtful. ‘Mmm, you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Maggot yet, have you?’
‘No.’
‘Well, unfortunately I have, too many times, and I can tell you, he’s an absolute oxygen thief. I doubt he’d have the intelligence to carry out a murder.’
‘What do you think, then?’
‘I’m really not sure what to think, but just because Croft and some of his Assassins have solid alibis doesn’t mean they’re not behind it. I still think it’s weird that we get a tip-off there’s going to be trouble at the Assassins’ clubhouse – so a few of them make sure they are seen inside the premises, perfect alibis – while the actual shooting takes place at their rivals’ clubhouse. Convenient, isn’t it?’
Josh raised his eyebrows.
‘And then there’s the ex-wife. There’s usually always a story there, no matter how much they seemed to “get on” after their divorce. We should probably find out why they broke up in the first place – who instigated the split. See if there was another woman, another man. You never know. Domestic-related killings are our number one statistic.’
He paused.
‘I also think we need to consider Rowdy as well. The man has something, or someone, to hide. He’s been avoiding us all day, hasn’t returned my messages. There’s also the issue of him going out with Carolyn King, the victim’s sister. We need to know what happened there.’
Lexie nodded as he spoke and jotted down bullet-points.
‘First thing tomorrow we’ll visit Rowdy again. Donaldson would have got to him by now. He’ll know we want to speak to him about his girlfriend and why she jumped out his window. If he evades us tomorrow we’ll know something’s up for sure. And if we can’t find this Sandy we may have no other choice but to pay her father a visit.’
Lexie hoped it wouldn’t come to that. She couldn’t imagine that scenario turning out well for anyone. Any hope of getting any information out of Sandy would literally be out the window. That gave her a thought.
‘Tomorrow, when we go back to Rowdy’s, maybe one of us should stand at the window in case anyone tries to jump out of it again,’ Lexie suggested, with a soft laugh.
Josh smiled. ‘Not a bad idea. Sounds like the perfect job for you.’
Lexie gave a thumbs-up gesture. ‘I think I can manage that.’
‘After that I’d like to pay Dorothy Magentagitt a visit.’
‘Aren’t Sleeman and Burgh supposed to be dealing with her?’
‘Exactly. That’s why I’d like to speak to her myself.’
Should she? Should she ask? Lexie still couldn’t believe Burgh hadn’t been able to recognise Sandy from the security photos. Could he seriously have forgotten a girl he only spoke to last week? What kind of cop would that make him? No, Lexie sensed he knew exactly who she was, so why feign unfamiliarity? Whatever his reasons they could only be considered questionable, at the very least.
Ask him. She glanced around the empty office. They were alone. Now was the time to speak.
‘You don’t trust them, do you?’
As she spoke Lexie hoped Josh wouldn’t tell her to mind her own business. Or worse.
Josh gave her a long look. He seemed to consider his answer before speaking.
‘Sleeman’s a waste of space who should have been drowned at birth. And let’s just say Burgh and I have history.’
Josh moved forward, placing his elbows on the desk and chin in his hands as he waited for the next question he knew was inevitable.
Lexie leant forward in her chair, then realising this put her in very close proximity to his face, rapidly sat back again.
‘What kind of history?’ she asked.
‘As I said before, it’s a personality clash. We don’t like each other. It’s as simple as that.’
Lexie couldn’t help feeling a rush of disappointment. Josh was being evasive. He clearly didn’t trust her enough to reveal the reason for their mutual animosity. Though really, what had she expected? He was guarded at the best of times. Just because they were now partnered on a murder investigation and they’d been working together for over twenty-four hours straight didn’t guarantee an instant connection. She changed the direction of the conversation.
‘Will we know more when we get the results of the gun profiling?’
‘Let’s hope so,’ Josh said. ‘We certainly need something, because we haven’t got much.’
Both their heads turned as Batman entered the office carrying a pizza.
‘Hey, this is for you two,’ he told them, clearing a spot between their two desks and placing the box down around folders and paper piles. ‘Boss’s orders.’
He hesitated, looking between them, then around the deserted room.
‘Do you want me to stay and help?’
Josh shook his head. ‘No, you go home. We’re just finishing up here.’
‘Okay. See you tomorrow, then.’
Batman was staring at Lexie and then meaningfully at the pizza. Lexie gave him a wave before getting back to her computer screen. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him grab a slice of pizza then head out the door.
‘I think Batman has a crush on the new girl,’ Josh said in a sing-song voice.
Lexie laughed.
‘I don’t think so. I think he’s just keen to prove himself, get his teeth into the investigation.’
‘I’d say he definitely wants to get his teeth into something but it’s not the investigation.’
Lexie gave him a look.
‘Josh, we’re in the midst of a murder investigation. I doubt he’d be thinking about . . .’
Her voice trailed off as she listened to her own words and the direction her thoughts had been heading.
Josh shrugged.
‘Oh come on. We’re always in the middle of some investigation or another. That’s what we do. I’ll ask you this. How many cops do you know who are married to each other? Or having affairs with their colleagues?’
Lexie pulled a face. It was common knowledge that there was usually at least one illicit affair going on at most stations at any one time, but she was surprised he’d actually said it out loud.
‘My mate met his wife at work. He’s an accountant. So if two accountants can fall in love, or lust, over a tax return, why can’t it happen to two detectives going about their business, doing what they do every day?’
Was there a hidden suggestion behind his words?
How had they got on to this? Lexie wondered. They had got totally off track and she was beginning to feel uncomfortable, but before she could consider how to change the subject, Josh did it for her.
‘I’m starving.’
When wasn’t he starving, Lexie thought.
Josh stared appreciatively at the pizza.
‘Dig in.’
>
It wasn’t a suggestion, more an order. Helping himself to a piece, Josh expertly pulled at it so he didn’t lose the cheese.
Lexie hadn’t realised she was hungry but she had to admit, the pizza did smell great, and despite the gruesome crime scene photos spread across the desk next to her, she was surprised to discover she was actually famished.
She glanced surreptitiously at Josh as he ate. Lexie had thought she was too tired to feel anything, but all day, all morning and last night, she’d been acutely aware of his presence. Her body stunned her, jumping to attention every time he accidentally brushed her arm or his eyes met with hers. She wasn’t happy with her body’s betrayal. It was just hormones, she reasoned with herself. It had been a while.
She kicked off her shoes under the desk and leant over, lifting a thick slice of pizza onto the napkin in front of her. She took a bite, savouring the taste of pepperoni and mozzarella. Then she let out an embarrassed squeal as sauce ran down her chin. She dabbed at her lips with the napkin.
Josh laughed at her.
Avoiding his eyes, she rubbed at her mouth harder than necessary and glanced out through the black window beside her. Their eyes met in the reflection, locked for a moment, before she turned back to her computer screen. Those rotten butterflies were back flittering around her stomach. And for some reason this made her angry.
‘I’m exhausted,’ she blurted out a little too loudly. ‘I think I’ll just put my gun in the safe and head home. Is that all right with you?’ she asked, not daring to look at him but feeling his eyes still boring into her.
‘Sure,’ he replied slowly. ‘We’ve got an early start again in the morning and lots to do. Go home and get some sleep.’
Lexie tensed, contemplating sleep as she fastidiously tidied her desk, packing papers away in perfectly aligned trays, placing pens in drawers. Sleep equalled nightmares. Nightmares equalled panic and lack of sleep. Stop thinking, she reprimanded herself, snatching her handbag from the floor and rummaging around inside for her keys.
She was aware of Josh’s scrutiny and the look of fascination on his face.
‘You really are a neat freak, aren’t you?’ he commented, his voice light with amusement. ‘I’d love to see your home. I bet it’s in perfect order, neat and tidy.’
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