Something close to relief washed over Lexie knowing that at least her friend was safe. How long could she keep Sue talking, she wondered, hoping for some sort of miracle?
‘Burgh was obviously trying to make it look like a gang war was responsible for Bluey’s shooting, so what did Sandy Croft have to do with it?’
Sue shrugged. ‘My only regret about that little druggie, apart from the fact she didn’t die, is her connection to Max. I hate the thought of him being upset, even if it turned out she wasn’t really his daughter after all.’
‘What did she have to do with anything, though?’
‘Burgh was blackmailing her to give him information. He knew she was seeing the Devil’s Guardians bikie, that little weed Rowdy. She was terrified of Max finding out so she did anything he said, including telling him he was the one they were looking for; the Grub.’
‘So she knew too much,’ Lexie said. ‘Like me.’
Sue smiled cynically. ‘But like a typical fucking druggie you can’t kill them. She’s got nine lives. And like I said, I feel bad about Max. He’d kill me if he knew but . . . who’s going to tell him? I also sent you the text messages from Burgh’s secret phone – so nothing could be linked back to me, of course.’ She paused. ‘That was just for fun. To amuse myself, scare you a little.’
Readjusting her grip on the gun, she smiled sweetly.
‘I’m a lot smarter than people give me credit for. Don’t you think, Lexie?’
Amazing, Lexie thought; where there was one rat there was usually a whole pack. But Lexie would never understand what made a cop go bad. Did they start out that way or were they just easily influenced by circumstance, opportunities and other bad cops?
Lexie kept trying to buy time.
‘Do you know Max Croft has cancer?’
She caught the shock on Sue’s cosmetically enhanced face before she swiftly masked it. Her red lips straightened into a tight line and her eyes turned to slits.
‘I know you’re just saying that to throw me. But it won’t work. I’ve had enough of this conversation.’
Lexie’s heart started to hammer again as the gun Sue had lowered partially was once again raised towards her heart.
‘I’m telling the truth. Max told us – ’
‘Stop talking!’ Sue screamed, the gun wobbling dangerously at her.
Lexie was trapped, sandwiched between the walls of the tiny hallway with Burgh’s splattered body the only thing between her and Sue. She tried to stay calm, turn off the fear, but a feeling of claustrophobia threatened to consume her as panic washed over her in waves. Sue’s face began to blur and she felt strangely disconnected, the situation surreal, unbelievable. Stale heat surrounded her and she gasped for air as ripples of dizziness made her grab for the wall. It was so hot in the closed up apartment. She stood helplessly, her palms slick with sweat. Breathing was getting harder and her legs threatened to give out from under her.
Sue is really going to do this. Do something.
‘Look, Sue, we can work something out. You don’t have to kill me. Surely − ’
Sue cut her off. Her eyes were manic.
‘Be quiet, Lexie. You know I have to kill you. You’ve seen me shoot Burgh and you know too much.’
‘How do you think you’re going to get away with killing two people?’ Lexie asked, trying to mask the growing desperation in her voice.
‘Well – ’ Sue put on the cute, little girl voice again, ‘I was out doing an errand. I heard you call off on the police radio and when you didn’t call back on I came to check on your welfare.’
Sue reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of latex gloves. Lexie watched as she stretched them over her hands. Sue then bent down and picked up Burgh’s gun that lay next to his body. Lexie had been eyeing it but knew Sue would have a shot away before she got anywhere near it.
‘When I got here Burgh was about to shoot you,’ she continued, holding up Burgh’s weapon with her right hand as if demonstrating to an audience. ‘I shot him in the back but, unfortunately, he already got a shot off.’
She indicated her own firearm, placing it back into her ankle holster, her eyes never leaving Lexie for a second. She now held only Burgh’s gun, the barrel again pointed at Lexie’s chest.
‘Tragic story, really. Was it a lovers’ spat gone wrong? I don’t know.’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘But I do know that I’m going to be extremely traumatised. Probably have to take some time off to get over this incident. Maybe go on a holiday.’
Lexie felt herself slipping. A million thoughts raced through her mind and she began to shake uncontrollably. This was it. Sue had it all planned out. There was no way out this time. The sun shining through the glass doors behind Sue emphasised the movement of her hand on the gun, the tightening of tendons, the firm grip around the butt, her finger paused over the trigger. Adrenaline shot through Lexie as the most basic instinct of all – self-preservation – took over.
If I’m going down, I’m going down fighting!
Lexie lunged forward just as the world exploded. The glass doors behind Sue erupted violently and she cringed as glass shattered and blew like hail threw the air and across the floor. A bullet whistled past her cheek and her lungs again inhaled the unmistakable scent of gunpowder. Her ears were still ringing when another gun shot rang out, the sound deafening as it reverberated around the walls. Lexie saw Sue fall backwards and hit the floor with a thud. A strangled moan escaped those thin red lips as a look of stunned disbelief spread across her face. The gun dropped from her grasp and then Sue was silent.
Lexie scrambled for the gun, now on the floor just out of her reach, but was blocked by a giant foot. The blood froze in her veins and she was rendered motionless as she stared up at the imposing figure of Rex Donaldson hovering over her. His daunting dimensions blocked all sunlight, but even cringing in his shadow Lexie could not fail to notice the gun that dangled from his fingers.
Her mind spun, full of confusion and terror. What was Rex Donaldson doing here? Was he in on this too? Had he set her up?
She couldn’t remember falling, yet she was on the ground. Her legs were splayed awkwardly out in front of her. Her back was against the wall. Pain suddenly began to register and grow, spreading radiant heat throughout her body. She pressed her hand to her abdomen and saw the blood. She felt sick. A wave of nausea made her head spin. She gasped for air. Her heart thumped so hard, all she could hear was the throbbing of her own pulse.
Rex was crouched in front of her. He was saying something but his words were jolted.
‘Ambulance on way . . . you’ll be all right . . . have to go . . . will blow cover.’
The last words were garbled and tangled together, his voice coming from a long way away. Then he was gone.
Lexie wasn’t sure how long she was slumped there; everything appeared surreal. Shadows hovered above her until they became a grim black cloud closing in around her. White dots danced before her eyes, getting bigger and changing shape. Were they ghosts, poltergeists, from the other side coming to take her away? Was she dying, she wondered, staring towards the light of the doorway? A distorted figure was moving swiftly towards her but she felt no fear – she had nothing left. Feeling detached, disconnected from her body, yet strangely peaceful, Josh’s distraught face was the last thing she saw before everything went black.
CHAPTER 62
The afternoon sun is blissfully warm on her skin as her arms float weightlessly in the cool water lapping at her sides. The inflatable air mattress moulds perfectly to the shape of her body and, despite having outgrown the pool toy long ago, it seems of little consequence. At this moment, nothing matters besides being right here, in her pool, in the back yard of her home, where she grew up.
A million childhood memories tangle together as she absorbs her surroundings. She pictures herself playing in the sandpit, jumping on the trampoline, soaring high on the swing set, shooting hoops through the basketball ring.
Everything is still the sam
e, and yet it isn’t.
The palm trees lining the pool fence sway gently in the breeze.
A choir of cicadas begins a deafening chorus as butterflies surf invisible air currents above her head. The scent of lavender, mingled with the unmistakable aroma of sausages cooking on a barbecue, make her mouth water.
At the back of the yard, beneath the shade of the orange tree, sits her beloved dog Bitsy. A moment of sadness encroaches on her contented mood. Her mother told her Bitsy had died. How can she be here now? She blinks a few times to clear her vision. The dog is still there, Bitsy’s deep brown eyes staring straight back at her.
Hearing a noise, she turns. Josh is walking towards her. His face breaks into a broad smile. Those killer dimples are on full display as his eyes focus tenderly on hers. He beckons for her to come out of the pool and she is torn between wanting to go to him and wanting to stay in this blissful state.
Here, floating in her little pool of tranquillity, she feels safe and secure; nothing, and no one, can hurt her.
Out of the corner of her eye she sees a man crouched beside Bitsy. For a moment she is confused. Then he turns and she recognises him at once. Eyes just like her own stare back at her. They crinkle at the sides as his face ignites into a bright smile. She glances between her brother and Josh and feels a fissure of devotion ripping down the middle of her body. How can she choose?
But the decision is not hers to make. Lincoln stands, but does not move closer. He winks at her. The way he always winked at her. Like they had a special secret no one else shared. Like they knew what the other one was thinking without saying a word.
She moves to follow him but he shakes his head. Her eyes cloud over, understanding what is happening. Looking away, she brushes the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. When she looks back, Lincoln is gone. And so is her beloved Bitsy.
But Josh is still here. He reaches down and she takes his hand, feeling a sense of calm that has eluded her for years. It is time to get out of the pool and join the land of the living.
From somewhere a long way away she hears a voice cry, ‘She’s back.’
And a remote part of her consciousness vaguely wonders where she’s been.
—
Three days later
Lexie opened her eyes slowly. Slats of sunlight filtering in through the blinds hurt her eyes. She squinted against the glare. A strange sound, unlike her own voice, escaped her dry lips as her eyes slowly focused on the woman standing at the base of her bed.
‘Lexie, you’re awake.’
‘Mum.’ Lexie managed a dry croak.
Lyn Taylor was by her side in a second, smoothing her hair, kissing her forehead, thanking God and anybody else she could think of that her little girl was all right.
Lexie glanced around the stark hospital room and this time didn’t have to be reminded how she’d got here. She’d been shot. Still frames, like a slide show, flicked through her mind in quick succession. Burgh dead on the floor; Sue pointing the gun at her; glass shattering; Rex standing over her; lots of blood; lots of noise, excruciating pain . . . then nothing.
‘Oh, Lexie. Thank goodness you’re awake. You’ve been in an induced coma for three days,’ her mother said, her eyes spilling over with relief. ‘You scared the life out of us. Your father’s here, he just ducked out to get me a coffee.’
Her mother was rambling.
Lexie’s eyes were heavy; her lids felt like lead and she could feel the drugs dragging her back under. She couldn’t resist the pull. Resting her eyes and taking her mother’s hand, she drifted back into oblivion.
—
The next time Lexie opened her eyes, Josh was beside her.
‘Finally, sleeping beauty awakes,’ he smiled. ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked, perching on the side of the bed and tenderly smoothing her hair back from her face.
Surprisingly, she didn’t feel . . . too bad. Lexie opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She licked dry lips and tried again.
‘I need a drink,’ she croaked.
Josh laughed. ‘They don’t advise it while you’re on a drip.’
‘Of water!’
‘Oh, no worries, I’ll just get it.’ He moved to her bedside table and filled a glass.
Lexie watched his athletic body, taking in the tight jeans that moulded perfectly to his hard thighs, the white T-shirt emphasising his broad shoulders and flat stomach. He helped raise her head and brought the glass to her lips. She took a small sip, enjoying the feel of the cool liquid sliding down her throat.
‘This was not how I was intending to meet your parents again,’ Josh told her. I met them for the first time at your brother’s funeral . . . and now for the second time at hospital. This is not a good start.’
Lexie’s eyes automatically searched the room. ‘Where are they?’
‘They went home to get some rest. They’re exhausted. They’ve been here constantly; made me promise I wouldn’t leave until one of them came back.’
Josh gave her a sad smile.
‘You’re very lucky, Lexie. Your parents are great people. You scared them like crazy.’
He sighed heavily.
‘You scared us all. I never want to feel that type of dread and fear again,’ he told her sincerely. ‘It was like I had an empty hole in my chest . . .’
His voice trailed off for a moment, overcome with emotion.
Lexie smiled and squeezed his hand. Whatever magic they were feeding her in that drip was definitely making her feel no pain. Or perhaps it was Josh’s words that held the key to her euphoria. Or the fact she knew instinctively she’d been a stone’s throw away from death, yet it held no fear.
‘What happened? Tell me what you know?’ Lexie asked.
‘I’m not sure what you remember . . .’ Josh looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Are you sure you want to talk about this right now?’
Lexie nodded firmly, glancing sideways at all the monitors and tubes she was attached to.
‘The crime scene officers determined that Sue Field shot Harry Burgh dead.’
This much Lexie knew. She could still see his body hitting the floor. She pushed the image away.
‘Sue shot you with Burgh’s gun, but someone shot her through the glass balcony doors.’
Josh gave her a long look. ‘Do you remember anyone else being there?’
Lexie thought for a moment then shook her head. She didn’t want to lie to Josh but . . . she couldn’t help it if she couldn’t remember.
He continued. ‘The bullet that killed Sue Field was a .40 calibre. It came from another Glock pistol; not yours.’
Josh seemed to wait for her to say something; when she didn’t he continued.
‘Jeff Sleeman squealed like a pig when confronted by internal affairs. He was involved in some of Burgh’s rackets but only on the periphery. He had guilty knowledge but wasn’t directly involved.’ His tone was sardonic. ‘That’s his story, anyway.’
‘Sleeman admitted Burgh had been extorting money from the Devil’s Guardians. He only ever dealt with Donaldson or King – Bluey – and when Donaldson put a stop to the payments, refusing to comply with Burgh’s demands, the bad blood started. Then there was some incident where Donaldson supposedly assaulted Burgh and it got worse still. Burgh planted the drugs at their clubhouse, and then tried to make an example out of Donaldson. He was trying to show that to defy him would mean death; hence the attempt on Rex’s life. However, Bluey was shot instead. The footprint found at the crime scene of Bluey’s murder belonged to Sue Field. Burgh may have been the shooter but Sue was there as his wing-man, or should I say, woman.’
His words held no surprise for Lexie. She realised they had been in it together from the start.
Josh took a sip of water from Lexie’s plastic cup.
‘Sue Field was recruited by Burgh about six months ago. She was an easy target; lacking in confidence and self-esteem. It seems her overly done-up exterior was just a mask for a very insecure, unstable woman. Burg
h pulled the strings and she craved the power she thought he represented. It made her feel important, invincible – until she got too greedy. And apparently obsessed with Max Croft.
‘I spoke to Croft, who told me Sue was infatuated with him; had put it on him, made the moves a few times.’ He shook his head. ‘Croft wasn’t interested. He used Burgh as an excuse. She’d been introduced to Croft as Burgh’s woman and it went against bikie protocol to steal another man’s property.’
‘Even though he stole Rex Donaldson’s woman and daughter all those years ago?’
Josh rolled his eyes. ‘It may be Sue got it into her head that with Burgh out of the way, she and Croft would be free to be together.’ He raised his eyebrows and added, ‘How romantic.’
Lexie agreed. ‘You’re right. She told me as much. It was clear her intent was to be with Max Croft. She didn’t believe me when I told her he had cancer and didn’t have that long to live.’
As she reached for a piece of ice to suck on, a thought struck her. ‘So Max Croft admitted to an association with Burgh?’
Josh pulled a face. ‘The last thing Croft wants is to be spending whatever time he has left behind bars. So he’s not going to admit to anything. All he divulged was that Burgh approached him, proposed an arrangement; an exchange of cash for information and protection. Of course he never took Burgh up on his offer.’ Josh’s voice dripped with sarcasm. ‘His main concern was exonerating the Assassins of any culpability regarding Bluey’s murder.
‘A search warrant of Burgh’s house discovered photos of Rowdy and Sandy Croft. It appears Burgh was blackmailing her for information. Maybe that’s how he lured her to the park. We’re not sure but we think he may have made an opportunistic decision to load her up with the murder weapon in the hope it would provide a resolution for the case.’
‘Sue was there at Centennial Park as well,’ Lexie told him. ‘When I was in Dani’s unit they had an argument about why Sue hadn’t finished her off.’
Sinister Intent Page 39