Casey followed his gaze.
‘Is he annoying her? If he is I can talk to him.’
Josh shook his head, pretending Batman’s infatuation with Lexie didn’t bother him.
‘No, he’s just being Batman. Besides, Lexie’s a big girl. I’m sure she can ward off any unwanted attention on her own.’
He turned back to his boss who, he noted, was watching him carefully.
‘Anyway, what were we saying? That’s right, Maggot. I don’t know how much credence we can put on anything that comes out of his mouth but, when he revealed he got this call, I had a thought. Because of his limited intelligence, big mouth and tendency to cause trouble, what if someone – possibly from his gang – is using him as a scapegoat, setting him up to look like the bad guy? We have to admit he’d be an easy mark.’
Casey looked unconvinced.
‘It would still bring the Assassins name into disrepute. Bikies don’t like their club or any of their members being publicly disgraced.’
He shrugged. ‘It was just a thought. I’ll get someone to go over his call charge records. I’ll try to narrow down when he received this supposed call, then go from there. That’s if he’ll tell me, of course. The charming bloke is not very forthcoming.’
‘Harry Burgh has dealt with him in the past and said he’s always co-operative. Maybe we should get him to speak to Maggot.’
Casey glanced around her desk as though searching for something.
‘He’s out at the moment but I can call him back in.’
Josh couldn’t stop himself replying.
‘Burgh also said he and Sleeman had searched the house with the permission of Dorothy Magentagitt and found no trace of Maggot.’
Josh paused to make his point. ‘Maggot says he was there the whole time.’
Casey raised her eyebrows and gave him a look.
‘Well, as you just said, we don’t know if Maggot is telling the truth about that, or about anything, really.’
She leant back in her chair.
‘Burgh and Sleeman have spoken to Max Croft again. He hasn’t seen his daughter since Saturday when she cleaned the clubhouse for him.’
She lifted one eyebrow.
‘You wouldn’t know whether to believe that either.’
Letting out a long and heavy sigh, she added, ‘It’s so frustrating, someone has to know something. Even Bluey’s ex-wife knows nothing, supposedly.’
It had been blatantly obvious from the onset of this investigation that the bikies had closed ranks. All of them. They considered themselves the ‘one percenters’ – the one per cent of the population above and beyond the law. No matter what they were saying – or weren’t saying – someone knew something. The problem was their hatred for police would guarantee they’d never tell.
‘I’ll let you get back to your inquiries regarding Maggot. Keep me posted.’
With that Josh assumed he was dismissed but just before he got to the door Casey stopped him.
‘Oh Josh, when we knock off today I’ve suggested we all have dinner at the Royal at Randwick. It’s been a hectic few days and we can’t work all night. I think we all need to de-stress a little. What do you say?’
‘I suppose I’ll have to see what pans out with Maggot, but you don’t have to ask me twice. If I can, I’m there.’
‘Can you let Lexie know?’
She smiled, then drew her attention back to the paperwork on her desk. This time he was clearly dismissed.
Sticking his head into the interview room, he checked on Maggot. He was sitting quietly with his head resting back against the wall. His mouth gaped open and his eyes were closed. A soft snoring sound exuded from his mouth. Josh felt a small amount of relief.
As he walked towards his desk, Batman made a hasty departure.
‘Did you get hold of anyone?’ Josh asked Lexie.
She was in the middle of taking a swig from a water bottle and nodded her head. ‘Grumpy is going to call me as soon as he has some news.’
‘Great,’ he replied, rubbing at his eyes.
They felt dehydrated. His stomach rumbled. He was hungry but didn’t have time to go out and get something to eat. He stared across at Lexie, who appeared to be doing her best to avoid looking back at him.
Sadly, it seemed their shared moment of passion last night had created an invisible fissure between them that now felt as wide as the Grand Canyon. Worse still, he was at a complete loss to know how to even begin to bridge it. Maybe he should fulfil his promise to himself and apologise for kissing her, reassure her it would never happen again.
No, the office was hardly conducive for that conversation. It was too risky; too many people around who might overhear. Things were awkward enough between them right now. He didn’t want to make it even worse. Besides, he’d probably say the wrong thing; or the words wouldn’t come out right and it would be a disaster. No, he’d leave it for now. He’d wait for the right time.
‘So what did you make of Barney Magentagitt?’ Josh asked her.
Lexie glanced away from her computer, though her eyes still didn’t directly meet his. ‘Definitely one of a kind ’
‘He’s an aggressive little bastard isn’t he? I seriously don’t think he’s the full quid.’
Lexie looked thoughtful for a moment.
‘He’s definitely not playing with a full deck. I don’t think Maggot could be responsible for a murder, do you? That was not a heat of the moment crime. I think it was premeditated.’
‘I agree,’ Josh said. ‘The more I think about it, the more I wonder if someone has been setting him up to appear the obvious choice as the shooter.’
Lexie sat back in her chair and finally looked him in the eye.
‘Maggot has a big mouth. He’s had a vendetta against the Devil’s Guardians because of the pub brawl, and has gloated about getting even with them. A phone call telling him the Devils are responsible for his girlfriend’s death adds fuel to the fire and makes Maggot hate them even more. He mouths off again to anyone who’ll listen that they killed his girlfriend – which gives him a motive – revenge. Then he gets told to lie low because he’s the logical suspect – and the knucklehead does what he’s told, which increases the assumption he’s guilty.’
‘If his alibi checks out I’d say you could be right. If it doesn’t, well, he might just be making up crap to save his arse.’
Lexie’s gaze drifted back to the computer and then darted back to him.
‘Did you find it weird that he wanted to talk to Burgh? Didn’t Sleeman and Burgh search his house earlier on and say there was no sign of him?’
Josh was saved from answering by the ringing of Lexie’s mobile. He hoped it was Grumpy with some news on Maggot.
He watched Lexie check the caller identification and smile.
‘Hi, Dani.’
Josh turned away, directing his attention to the stack of papers on his desk, though his ears were homed in to the one-sided conversation.
‘I can’t, Dani. I’m working on a murder investigation. Yes, the bikie.’ Lexie turned away and lowered her voice. ‘No, I’m fine really. I can’t say too much, you know how it is, but I won’t be able to meet you tonight for drinks. I don’t know how long I’ll be tied up here and . . .’
The person on the other end was obviously trying to convince her he’d wait. Josh would wait too if he thought . . . Stop thinking so much!
‘I’ll make it up to you, I promise,’ Lexie was saying. ‘I’m going to have an early night. Thanks for understanding. Talk soon.’
Josh waited until she’d hung up before speaking.
‘Casey informs me that most of the office is going out for a drink and dinner tonight. Now that you’ve cancelled your boyfriend you might like to join us?’
He’d tried to keep his voice casual but it didn’t come off.
‘Or are you serious about having an early night?’
Maybe he should have an early night, give his liver a rest. Like that was going to hap
pen!
Watching Lexie’s face, it appeared she was amused by something. Was she considering the invitation, weighing up her options, or trying to conjure up an excuse?
‘But who’s going to work?’
‘We can’t work 24/7, Lexie. It’s the boss’s idea. Ossie and Grumpy are on call. Any calls to the office will be transferred to the switchboard and Crime Stoppers. The telephone intercepts are being monitored, so once we’ve sorted Maggot out there’s nothing else we can do right now.’
‘Oh, okay,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I suppose we do need to eat. I’m starving.’
He couldn’t help himself, he had to add, ‘Danny will never know you went out.’
Lexie gave him a sharp look as she replied, ‘Dani will know because Dani is my best friend and I tell her everything.’
‘Oh.’ Relieved, he raised his eyebrows and let out a soft laugh. Now he remembered. The girl Lexie introduced him to at the pub was ‘Dani’. That was obviously her. Seeming to relax for a second, she laughed back and held his gaze.
The tension eased a bit, and Josh’s stomach did a flip.
His mobile rang. ‘Hello.’
Grumpy’s voice crackled from the other end of the line. ‘Harrison, Lexie’s line was busy. I’ve just spoken to the barmaid at the Town and Country Hotel. She remembers Maggot being there on Saturday between about 5 pm and 10 pm. We had a quick look at the surveillance CCTV footage. He walked in at 4.50 pm and left at 10.15 pm. He can clearly be seen sitting at the front bar, and during that time only moves for toilet breaks and to have the occasional chat with another local. So I suppose he’s off the hook. What an idiot.’
‘Good work. Make sure you get that tape.’
Josh’s mind was spinning. Maggot had actually been telling the truth.
‘Got the tapes in my hot little hand. Why wouldn’t he have just provided a statement earlier instead of letting himself become a suspect? It just doesn’t make sense. And didn’t Burgh and Sleeman search his house?’
Josh evaded the questions. ‘Sometimes nothing makes sense. Got to go. Great work. Thanks.’
He hung up.
Lexie was looking at him expectantly.
‘Maggot was at the pub when King was shot. Staff and CCTV verify it.’
‘It doesn’t make sense,’ was all she said. It seemed to be the comment of the moment. And it was true. It didn’t make any sense at all. ‘Now what?’
‘We charge Maggot with assaulting police and resisting arrest. And then we let him go.’
He shrugged at the baffled expression on Lexie’s face.
‘Look at it this way. We’ve eliminated one suspect, so now we can concentrate elsewhere. And we won’t be tied up here all night so we can go and have a drink.’
‘So where was Maggot when Burgh and Sleeman searched his house?’
Not sure of what to say, Josh shrugged again and threw his hands out, palms up, in front of him. ‘Don’t know.’
However, one thing he did know, people were starting to ask questions. So maybe it was time to get the answer straight from the horse’s mouth. Then again, maybe it would be smarter to say nothing. Just sit back and watch events unfold.
And hope that by giving someone enough rope it might eventually slip into a noose.
CHAPTER 40
The pub was crowded when Lexie arrived, with people spilling out through the doors and onto the footpath outside. Music and voices intermingled as alcohol-induced vitality ignited the air. Lexie shuffled against the sea of writhing bodies as she made her way to the bar, all the while scanning the crowd of patrons for a familiar face.
After ordering a glass of wine, Lexie headed outside into the courtyard. She found most of her office seated at a long table next to a tree decorated with fairy lights. Giving everyone a wave of greeting, she took a spot next to Sue. Scanning the crowd of familiar faces, Lexie instantly detected the absence of Josh, then scolded herself for noticing.
If only there was a way to disconnect her Josh Harrison radar.
Batman sat at the end of the table deep in conversation with a hard-faced policewoman she recognised from uniform. No surprises there, she thought to herself. Batman was very popular with the girls and could pretty much take his pick. Pausing mid-sentence, he turned towards Lexie, grinned, and gave her a flirtatious wink. He was hopeless, she thought, returning the smile and ignoring the daggers sent from the girl next to him.
She also noted there was no sign of Burgh or Sleazeman. Not that their absence was overly surprising. As far as she could tell, they seemed to keep to themselves. She wondered why they preferred to remain removed from the rest of the office. Did they consider themselves a notch above everyone else? Or was it more accurate to assume they just didn’t fit in? She guessed it was a bit of both.
‘Looking good, as usual,’ Lurch said to her, uncharacteristically cheeky.
He’d been hanging around Batman too long, Lexie thought, grateful she’d ducked home, showered and changed before coming out. She felt refreshed and comfortable in her favourite denim jeans. Her pink singlet top was light, keeping her cool and showing off her tanned shoulders. Her silver sandals were casual, yet classy, and to dress up her outfit she’d accessorised with a variety of silver jewellery. At work, her hair was usually pulled back, so tonight she’d let it hang loose, like a silky veil down her back.
‘We’ve ordered pizzas for everyone; we just need to throw in ten bucks each,’ Sue told her, taking a piece and picking at the topping. She didn’t do carbs. ‘Is that okay with you?’
Great, pizza again! ‘Sure,’ Lexie said.
Sue wore the purple power suit she’d worn to work. The skirt was short enough to show off her muscular legs and the matching camisole top was tight enough to indicate a trim torso.
‘We’re on our first drinks, so you haven’t missed anything,’ Sue said, raising her half-empty glass of champagne in the air. ‘Cheers,’ she said, clinking her glass against Lexie’s. ‘It’s so nice to get out of the office and relax for a while.’
‘Cheers,’ Lexie smiled back, taking her first sip of chardonnay. She closed her eyes and welcomed the cool liquid as it slid down her throat. Sometimes she worried that she’d acquired her grandfather’s taste for alcohol – which was not good considering he’d died from cirrhosis of the liver. The blissful numbness alchohol promised was sometimes just a little too appealing.
‘We were just hedging bets regarding the likelihood of Batman and Lisa hooking up,’ Sue informed her, nodding her head in their direction.
Lurch laughed and, nudging Lexie with his elbow, he held up one hand and used his thumb and index finger to form a circle. A finger from his other hand was used to thrust in and out of the circle, crudely simulating the sexual act. It seemed he had a repertoire of rude gestures for any occasion.
‘I think Batman is going to get some jig-a-jig tonight,’ he cooed in a sing-song voice.
Feigning disgust, Lexie knocked his hands away just as she felt a tap on her shoulder. Glancing around, she saw Josh standing directly behind her. Her mood lightened instantly and although the evening was warm and still, her skin was suddenly hot. He gave her a broad smile that could melt ice, his eyes crinkling at the sides. He was still wearing the suit trousers he’d worn to work but his tie and jacket were gone and his white shirt had been unbuttoned so that a hint of brown chest hair was visible. His sleeves had been rolled up exposing strong forearms and even after a full day at work she could still detect the distinct scent of expensive aftershave.
‘Glad you could make it.’ His voice was sincere.
Raising the beer he held in his hand in a salute, he said, ‘Where have you been? We’ve been here for ages.’
‘I think that’s a slight exaggeration, Josh,’ Sue retorted sharply. ‘I’m surprised you noticed any of us were here at all,’ she continued, a sarcastic edge to her voice. ‘You’ve been over there with your girlfriend for God knows how long.’
Lexie felt her good mood slide.
>
Josh was quick to answer. ‘I don’t have a girlfriend, Sue,’ he defended. ‘Can someone move over so I can squeeze in?’ he pleaded.
Lexie jumped up. ‘Here, take my seat. I’ve just seen someone I know.’
Dani was walking across the courtyard with a tall, good-looking, blond-haired man. Oh no. Lexie had told her she was too tired to go out and here she was, out with her workmates. She was seriously busted. Better to face the music now before Dani spotted her. Besides, she was curious. Where had this guy come from? Lexie had to hand it to her friend; she was a serious man magnet.
Dani was surprised to see her.
‘Lexie, what are you doing here?’ Her voice was almost accusing. ‘Thought you were too tired to go out? Were you giving me the brush-off? Did you get a better offer?’
Dani stood up on tiptoe to glance over Lexie’s shoulder in the direction she’d come from to see who she might be with.
Lexie shook her head.
‘Sorry, I’m past tired and I was going to go home . . . peer pressure from my new work colleagues. What can I say?’ She shrugged. ‘I wasn’t intending to stay long. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.’
Dani waved her hand in the air in disinterest.
‘Enough with the excuses. That detective in your office wouldn’t have anything to do with you being here would it?’
Dani laughed at the look on her face.
‘Don’t answer that. We can catch up next week. I’m off to Port Macquarie in the morning for an undercover job. I’m not sure how long I’ll be away.’
Since completing the undercover course together two years ago, they had both been utilised as operatives in a number of drug operations. Though, unlike her friend, whose ambition was to join the undercover branch, Lexie found it fun and exciting to carry out this field of work on a casual basis only – when she was required. Becoming a full-time UC was way too dangerous and life-consuming for her liking. She knew guys who had worked deep undercover for years and loved it, but it was high pressure and took its toll. Living a double life with an assumed identity in a permanently staged existence left little or no time for a real life or normal relationships.
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