‘Lexie has identified Sandy on prior knowledge of the girl. Doesn’t that link her? And we now have two guns unaccounted for.’
Casey shrugged. ‘Put an application together. Make sure you mention our intelligence suggests there may be more firearms on the premises. That might get us through the door with the magistrate.’
Lexie entered the office. ‘Hi Boss,’ she smiled, as she took the only other seat on the far side of Josh.
Space was tight and as she slipped by, her legs brushed his knees. His stomach flipped. It was amazing, just the slightest, fleeting contact sent tingles around his body.
Casey commented, ‘You’ve had an interesting morning?’
Lexie nodded. ‘Never a dull moment.’
‘I’m hoping to get some results, or at least information, on the firearms found near Rex’s accident and in Sandy Croft’s bag very soon. I’ve spoken to crash investigation and nothing out of the ordinary was found where Donaldson’s accident occurred. Not much has come out of the crime scene at the park either. Forensics are of the opinion that it’s not a secondary, that she was assaulted there and then was rolled into a shallow grave nearby.’ She paused. ‘It just keeps getting better, doesn’t it?’
‘It does,’ Josh sighed, glancing through the blinds covering the glass wall. He could see his desk and the chicken caesar wrap awaiting him. ‘Yet we’re no closer to finding the killer than we were days ago.’
‘So where to now? What were you thinking of doing next, Harrison?’ Casey asked.
‘Firstly, we need to get a search warrant for Rowdy’s place. Then I suppose we have to start talking to everyone again. See who has an alibi for around the time Rex’s accident occurred. Since Maggot had an alibi and was in custody at the time of Rex’s accident, we can’t go back to him. Narrowing down when Sandy was assaulted could be harder. Her father – I mean stepfather – hasn’t seen her since Saturday and Rowdy, Donaldson and Bushell won’t even admit they know her. I don’t expect that just because it’s come out she’s Rex’s daughter they’ll all of a sudden start talking.’
Josh shook his head in frustration.
‘Have we got a strike force name yet?’ Lexie asked.
‘As a matter of fact, yes,’ the boss answered. ‘Strike Force Snow-Shoe.’
Josh and Lexie let out a simultaneous laugh.
‘Where do they get these names?’ Lexie asked.
‘The database, supposedly. It must have a sense of humour.’ Casey shrugged. ‘Have you spoken to the ambulance officers who took Sandy to hospital?’
At the hospital Josh had checked the records and noted the paramedics’ details, but as yet hadn’t had a chance to call them. He checked his notes.
‘Sandy was brought in about 6.30 am. I’m about to give the ambos a call to arrange a time for a statement.’
Lexie took out her own notepad and started jotting down points. ‘I’ll take care of that, Josh.’
He nodded. ‘Okay. I’ll update the computer.’
Casey rubbed her eyes underneath her glasses. Lexie thought how tired she was looking; how tired they all were.
‘I have to start the situation report to the commissioner,’ Casey said. ‘We need to establish ASAP if this assault is linked to the murder of the bikie.’
Josh stifled a yawn. They had so much to do.
All heads turned towards the doorway as Sue knocked loudly on the glass.
‘Sorry for the interruption but I have an urgent message for Lexie.’
She moved into the tiny space, leant across Josh and handed Lexie a piece of paper.
Josh automatically pushed back in his chair as Sue bent over him. The action was unnecessary and he found her blatant attempt to catch his attention irritating. Josh watched Lexie’s face crease with concern as she read the note.
‘Can you do without me for half an hour, forty minutes? I know this is bad timing but the mother of my best friend, Dani, just passed away. She’s got no other family. I have to go to her.’ Lexie looked from Josh to the boss. ‘Is that okay? I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be silly, of course you have to go,’ Casey said, waving her hand in the air. ‘The work will still be here when you get back. Go go go. Just don’t be too long.’
‘Thanks, I won’t.’ Lexie got up and squeezed past Josh once more. He watched her rush to her desk, grab her bag and then she was gone in an instant. When Josh glanced back at Casey, she was smiling knowingly.
‘I’m sure you can survive without her for a short time, Josh.’
As long as it’s only for a short time!
CHAPTER 54
Rex was uncomfortable to say the least. He was folded and crushed, compressed into a space too small for his monstrous body. In an attempt to give himself more room, and optimum leg space, he’d pushed the driver’s seat of Kate’s beaten-up Laser so far back he was almost sitting in the boot.
They really should consider investing in another car, Rex thought. This piece of crap was way overdue for the scrapheap and with the baby coming they’d definitely need more space.
Wiping a stream of perspiration from his face, he tried to ignore the persistent ache in his head, the burning in his ribs, the searing pain that shot down his plastered arm each time he made a sudden movement.
God, it was hot!
Rex desperately wanted to escape the suffocating confines of this tiny sweatbox. But he couldn’t. He had to stay put, deal with the discomfort and remain patient. He reminded himself of his purpose and the fact he couldn’t afford to be seen. The car was parked at the end of a short street in a position where he could watch his mark without being obvious about it, though unfortunately there was no shade and the summer sun was beating down on the windscreen with wicked ferocity. Rex cursed the non-functional car air-conditioning as he watched the heat haze rise off the bitumen.
He would not fail this time.
So much had happened over the past few days Rex had scarcely had time to anticipate the impending birth of his new baby. And then in the last few hours he’d discovered that Sandy was Alexandra. It was almost impossible to fathom, too surreal to comprehend.
It had been scary to see the girl he knew as Rowdy’s drug-addicted girlfriend, now his daughter, lying in the narrow hospital bed, attached to all those tubes and machines that beeped and wheezed continuously. Looking down at her tiny body, he’d experienced a rush of affection that took him totally by surprise. The two uniformed police, his escorts, had given him space as he stood, holding Alexandra’s hand, talking to her quietly, telling her how he felt. The tears had flowed freely, unashamedly, and he’d been unconcerned about his tough guy image or what anyone thought of his display of emotion. And for the first time in his life Rex had prayed, pleaded for her to be given a second chance so she could live to know him. So she could know he’d never stopped loving her.
A sharp pain pierced his gut. Never in a million years could he have imagined the tragic circumstances in which they’d be reunited. Over time, Rex had developed a repertoire of cheerful fantasies regarding their reunion. Witnessing his daughter fighting for her life had not been one of them.
After escorting him back to his room, the officers had left. Rex had noticed that, in his absence, the cop who’d been seated outside his room had moved down to the nurses’ station and was busy chatting up a young nurse. There was a note on the bed from Kate telling him she had cramps and had left. She would call him later.
Sensing an opportunity, he had acted on impulse. It had caused him considerable pain, but it had taken only minutes to dress, grab his wallet, and slip out the door and down the corridor while his guard dog carried on flirting, none the wiser. No one had questioned him. Who would dare? Besides, the hospital staff were too busy with their own tasks to pay him any real attention. And luckily, a group of uniformed officers gathered outside the emergency entrance had been too occupied with a collapsed woman to notice him as he ducked around the side of the building and disappeared into the nearest taxi.
/> Kate hadn’t been happy when he’d surprised her at the motel. Rex didn’t care. He had business to attend to. Grabbing the gun he’d instructed her to get from Rowdy’s and some leftover pizza she’d ordered, he’d snatched the keys to her car and taken off. He’d left her sobbing on the bed, but it couldn’t be helped. She would thank him later, when their worries were all over.
Picking up his target had been way easier than anticipated. Rex thought he’d be waiting some time before the Grub came into sight, but there was definitely something to be said about knowing your subject. And Rex knew his only too well. His movements were predictable and it wasn’t long before he’d shown his ugly face. Following him here, to this suburban street in Randwick, had been simple. The Grub hadn’t used any anti-surveillance techniques or checked his mirrors once to ensure he wasn’t being tailed. Had this arrogant monster become so ridiculously complacent? Rex could only hope so.
The most frustrating part of this exercise was that he had no idea what the Grub was doing in this particular street, inside a particular block of flats. He’d been inside for over twenty minutes now and Rex was wondering what the hell was going on up there. Not that he could just storm in. He didn’t even know which unit the Grub was in. Rex hadn’t had time to form a plan. He was totally unprepared, unsure of what he was going to do exactly. He longed for some inspiration to give him direction, a strategy, anything really. Hopefully, luck would be on his side today.
Just then a green Commodore flew around the corner, its wheels screeching on the hot bitumen as it took the curve a little too fast. The car lurched to a sudden halt outside the same block of flats he was watching. After a few moments he saw Detective Lexie Rogers jump out of the car.
What was she doing here?
Rex watched her head swivel anxiously up and down the street, as though looking for something or somebody. She hadn’t seen him; he was parked a fair distance away. She looked nervous and agitated as she gave the street another cursory glance before heading up the pathway towards the building’s entrance.
‘Oh fuck,’ he mumbled to no one.
For some reason, he felt a weird sense of duty towards Detective Lexie Rogers. He couldn’t explain or understand it but her presence here gave him a very uneasy feeling. He had been right. She was in danger. And that just changed everything.
CHAPTER 55
Lexie pulled up outside Dani’s apartment block and for a moment sat motionless in the car staring at the ugly seventies building. Dani’s unit was situated on the ground floor. Her bedroom window faced the street and was obscured by metal bars that served for security and reminded Lexie of the hideous braces that had eclipsed her teeth when she was thirteen. The blinds were drawn, as usual, but for some reason today the building looked not only ugly, but strangely ominous. The dark windows were like malevolent eyes observing her every move.
Don’t be ridiculous, you’re being paranoid.
The uneasy feeling that had been building since leaving the office refused to budge. On the way here Lexie had scrambled around in her bag to find her phone to call Dani, to see if she needed anything. Irritated, she realised she’d left it behind and had a mental picture of it sitting on her desk, next to the computer keyboard.
A thought hit her. Why hadn’t Dani called her mobile instead of her office landline? Then again, maybe she’d tried? She wouldn’t be thinking straight, at any rate. A sudden wave of compassion almost overwhelmed her as she thought how miserable her friend must be feeling. Poor Dani; she had no one now. She was an only child and her father had died years ago. Lexie hoped her supervisor hadn’t allowed her to travel back from the undercover job alone.
What was stopping her getting out of the car? Your friend needs you, now move. Checking the gun, safely secured in her ankle holster, she waited for its power to cast a magic spell, to make her feel invincible. It didn’t work. Making a split-second decision, she reached for the radio transmitter attached to the dashboard. She was probably being overly cautious but with the text messages and Rex’s words at the hospital – ‘You’d better watch your back, Detective’ – who could blame her?
‘Bondi Junction 100,’ Lexie said into the speaker.
‘Bondi Junction 100,’ the radio operator replied.
‘Going off at unit 2/138 Camden Crescent, Randwick, regarding an inquiry.’
‘Copy that, 100.’
Lexie sighed, feeling mildly relieved. Her location was recorded. Even though she was not here on police work at least she could feel secure in the knowledge that if she didn’t call back within the next twenty minutes or so, the operator would start calling her.
A lot can happen in twenty minutes.
Refusing to let demons rule her logic a moment longer, she tucked a portable radio under her arm and stepped out of the car. Automatically glancing up and down the street, she saw nothing unusual as she walked along the concrete path leading to the front of the building. She passed the broken security system, pushed open the heavy entrance door and stepped into the foyer. The only sound in the empty hallway was her heels, clip-clopping against the cement floor as she made her way to Dani’s door.
She knocked loudly.
This is not about you. As soon as she saw Dani she would be okay, she reminded herself. Calling out, her voice vibrated loudly off the walls.
‘It’s Lexie, Dani.’
She heard movement and then footsteps behind the door. The handle turned slowly. Lexie arranged a sympathetic expression on her face. What should she say at a time like this? Knowing how distraught her friend would be, her heart went out to her. Just be here for her, that’s all you can do, she told herself.
The door flew open so suddenly Lexie jumped back a step. A hand shot out and grabbed her arm. Shocked, she pulled back, but the hand had her in a vice-like grip. In an instant she was being pulled inside. The portable radio dropped with a clatter to the ground as she lost her balance and stumbled forward. She saw the floor come up to meet her face and splayed her arms forwards, bracing for impact. Lexie’s body jarred as she landed painfully on hands and knees on the floor of Dani’s living room.
Her heart was pounding hard in her chest and her stomach clenched. What the hell was happening?
She was just struggling to her feet when the sound of the door slamming shut behind her vibrated through her body. It sounded like the seal of a prison gate; enclosing, chilling, final.
CHAPTER 56
Josh sat at his desk and got stuck into his caesar wrap. It was delicious. At the same time he jiggled the mouse to rouse his computer. Between bites he scanned the COPS events that had accumulated and now needed finalisation. Computers were supposed to ease the paperwork, not add to it, he thought, watching Batman make his way towards him.
‘That looks good.’ Batman nodded at his lunch. ‘Going all healthy are we?’
Josh shrugged his broad shoulders. He was just not inclined to put any more fast food into his neglected body right now. ‘I’m a bit over pizza and pies, that’s all. What’s up?’
Batman looked down at the clipboard he held in his hand. ‘I’m filling out the roster for our annual pistol shoot. I’ve got you down to do it on the 15th of next month. If you’re not available I can change it.’
Josh shook his head and jotted down the date on a piece of paper. He found the mandatory firearms assessment a bore, but it was one of those things that had to be done annually. Like officer survival training and safety lectures, there was no getting out of it. If you failed to attend or failed to pass in the required time frame, your gun was confiscated and you were placed on restricted duties until you met the standard prerequisites. Best to get it over and done with as soon as possible, he thought.
‘No, that should be fine. Lock me in.’
‘Are you a good shot?’ Batman queried, a little sheepishly.
Josh wasn’t sure how to answer that. ‘I’m okay, I guess.’
Lurch, coming up behind Batman, laughed loudly.
‘He’s only a
sking because he failed his shoot last week and has to do it again.’
Lurch playfully punched Batman in the arm.
‘He just wants to go with someone who’s a good shot so they can aim a few stray bullets into his target.’
Josh always managed to pass his firearms assessment each year but he certainly wasn’t cocky enough to give any shots away.
‘Sorry mate, I’m not that good.’
‘I did my shoot with Burgh last year,’ Lurch informed them. ‘He’s the best aim I’ve ever seen; put two bullets through the same hole. Didn’t drop one shot, got full marks, so he can afford to throw a few away. I’m sure if you slipped him a fifty dollar note he’d fire a few into your paper man,’ he laughed.
Josh’s feet began tapping nervously. His jaw began to ache. Realising he was clenching it, he stopped, but the pain remained. What had the pathologist said at Bluey’s autopsy? Something like the killer was a perfect shot? Three bullets were fired almost directly into the same hole.
Lurch and Batman continued their boyish banter, unaware of the turmoil in the centre of Josh’s gut.
‘You guys got something to do?’
Josh didn’t mean to sound abrupt but that was how it came out.
They scuttled back to their desks as Josh reached across and picked up Lexie’s phone. He’d just noticed it sitting next to her keyboard. God, she was hopeless with that thing. Without thinking, he glanced at the screen and saw a list of recent text messages displayed. He was surprised there were no security settings to prevent access to her phone. Feeling guilty, as if he was prying, Josh was about to set the phone aside when the wording of one of the texts caught his eye: ‘DO YOU KNOW WHAT CURIOSITY DID TO THE CAT?’
What the hell was that about?
He scrolled further back; there were another few messages, then: ‘LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS.’ What was going on? That heavy feeling in his stomach started to grow tentacles and began squeezing him from the inside. Was Lexie getting threatening messages? And if so, why hadn’t she told him?
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