‘Nah. Logan, he’s only tiny, still wakes up two or three times a night. Sometimes I hear him, other times I don’t. I guess you sorta get acclimatised to the noise. And the girls? Emily has started to have these horrible nightmares. She wakes up screaming. The first time it happened I levitated off the bed. Thought someone was killing her.’ He leaned towards Spencer. ‘Did your kids have that?’
‘I think all kids have nightmares at some stage,’ he answered evasively.
Dave knew that Spencer was developing a rapport with Jeff, but he wanted to get things back on track. This guy had the whole of Barrabine looking for him and he just strolled in off the street saying he needed to blow off some steam? What if everyone did that? And none of that explained the gun. ‘So, Jeff, help me to understand. You had an argument about the phone bill?’
Jeff nodded.
‘For the record, Jeff nodded affirmative,’ Dave said. ‘Okay. After that, what happened?’
‘I got in my ute and headed to the pub. When I got there none of my mates’ cars were parked out front, so I thought I’d get a six-pack and drive somewhere and sit for a while. Drink the lot and then go home.’
‘Maaate,’ Spencer said in a ‘what-the-hell?’ tone.
‘I know, I know, shouldn’t drive. Turns out I didn’t, but that was my plan.’
‘What happened instead?’
‘I didn’t buy the beer. I drove. I turned the music up full bore and drove and drove. Kept driving until I got a bit lost. All those windy roads in the dark. I shouldn’t have turned off and gone down the dirt track. Don’t know the area well enough. I parked up for the night and slept in the ute.’
‘Why didn’t you just drive back the next day?’
Jeff pressed his lips together and dropped his eyes to the table. He was silent.
Dave caught Spencer’s eye and they exchanged looks. Was it all as innocent as it seemed?
‘I didn’t want to.’ Jeff’s answer was soft and full of regret.
‘You didn’t want to?’ Spencer said, imitating his tone. He put his clasped hands on the table and leaned forward, trying to get eye contact with Jeff. ‘But, mate, there’s three little kids and a wife who loves you back here. Is there something else going on?’
‘Nah, mate. Nothing. It’s … I’m not …’ He groaned and ran his fingers through his hair and across his stubble. When he started to speak again, his words almost ran together. ‘I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be stuck with the kids and Mary. I feel like I’ve lost my life, my identity. That’s not supposed to happen to us blokes. None of my mates get it. They love their kids. And I think I do too. But …’ He looked up, desperately. ‘Is that real bad, mate? Have either of you felt like that?’
Dave didn’t know what to say. To him, it sounded like post-natal depression, but he’d never heard of a dad getting it before. Maybe this bloke needed some counselling.
‘Jeff …’ Spencer took over the reins of the interview now. It was Dave’s turn to sit back and observe. ‘You’re going through a tough time. But not everything in your story is adding up here. We found a handgun underneath your driver’s seat. Can you tell me anything about that?’
‘I bought it so I could shoot myself.’
There.
There it was.
The real reason he’d gone out into the bush. The real reason he’d left his family.
‘Ah, jeez, Jeff, there’re a lot better things to do than that,’ Spencer said. ‘Tell me a bit more. Why did you leave your vehicle?’
Jeff banged his fists gently on the table in distress. ‘I walked away because I didn’t want to be near the gun. So that night, when I got lost, I got out and tried to start a fire. Course I didn’t have any matches and it was too dark to find any wood. Didn’t have a torch. If I’d known I was going to do this then I would’ve been prepared … Only thing I had with me was a five-litre water container that I always have in the ute.
‘I’d had the gun for about twelve months. Sitting there waiting for the right time. I’d taken out some life insurance so Mary and the kids would be okay. I guess you could say I was working up to it.
‘But out in the middle of the bush. Oh, I don’t know. It seemed so real, you know? Like the air was cold. Made me feel good. Clear-headed.
‘And then—’ He stopped and took a breath. ‘Then I couldn’t be anywhere near the gun, because I didn’t want my kids thinking their dad had killed himself. That their dad was weak.
‘My dad …’ Jeff took a breath and, when he spoke again, his voice was shaky. ‘My dad committed suicide when I was ten and I never knew why.’ His voice broke, but he cleared his throat and kept talking. The words rushed out from him, in a low tone, as if he’d needed to tell someone this for years. ‘Mum always called him weak and a coward. For a while I thought it was the best way out, but now I know it’s not.
‘I ran. Away from the gun. Not the ute.’ His chest was heaving, and he swallowed a few times, but said nothing more.
‘Did you get lost?’ Dave asked quietly.
‘Yeah. Yeah, I did. Stumbled around in the bush until I accidentally came across the main road. God, I was so pleased to see it. I wondered if I might die out there and because I’d just worked out I didn’t want to, it frightened me that I might.
‘Anyway, I followed that and called Mary as soon as I found the phone box. I had to call reverse charges because I must’ve lost my wallet. She wanted to come and pick me up, but I wasn’t really ready to see her yet. To tell her why I did what I did.’ He looked at the policemen despairingly. ‘I’m really sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.’ His cheeks were red and Dave couldn’t work out if it was from emotion or embarrassment. It must’ve been bloody tough for Jeff to come in here and pour his soul out in front of two coppers he didn’t know. Good thing Spencer was such a great interviewer because Dave wasn’t sure he could’ve got the interview to go so well. He might’ve made Jeff angry by making an accusation.
Every time he’d been about to do that, Spencer had butted in.
‘Ah, mate, you’ve had a time of it.’ Spencer stood up and patted the man on the back. ‘Look, we’ll run you home. You can’t get your ute yet because we have processes to go through to get it released. Have a shower and a feed. I’m sure you need a bloody good sleep too. You mightn’t be ready to see Mary and the kids yet, but they need to see you. We’ll be back in the morning to pick you up and have another yarn. All right?’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah. There are a few more things we need to sort through, but tomorrow is soon enough for that. But I do need you to promise me one thing.’ He looked Jeff in the eye. ‘And I need your word as man.’
‘What’s that?’
‘You won’t disappear again. If you need some air, you tell someone where you’re going. Come and tell us if you don’t want to tell any of your mates. That way we don’t tie up resources like the SES. We can go and see Mary and let her know what’s going on and then keep an eye on you. Right? No disappearing?’
‘You have my word.’
‘Good man. Now go home and hug your wife and kids. You might be surprised at what you feel when you walk through the door. And don’t even worry that you should talk to Mary about this tonight. That’ll come in time. We’ll see you tomorrow about ten.’
‘I’ll be at work.’
‘Leave that with me.’ He opened the door and called out to Senior Sergeant Underwood, ‘Got someone who can run Jeff home for me, Sarge?’
‘Yeah, I can.’
‘Great. I’ll leave you in the sarge’s capable hands.’
‘Ah, thanks,’ Jeff said. ‘I don’t deserve—’
‘Mate, everyone deserves to be listened to and helped. That’s what we’re doing. Now get on home.’
Back in the detectives’ room, Dave asked, ‘Do you really believe that story?’
‘Yeah, I do.’ Spencer was flicking through his messages. ‘Well, bugger me. I haven’t heard from Justin for years. I wonde
r what he wants.’
‘Who’s Justin?’ Dave was momentarily distracted by Spencer’s delight.
‘Bloke I used to work with here. Years ago. He moved state and I lost contact with him. I wonder how he found me. Not that I’ve moved. Still, he wouldn’t have known that! Bloody good, bloody good.’ He reached for the phone.
‘Hang on, are you going to tell me how you know the story is true? Some people are good actors.’
‘Not this one. Come on, Dave, I’ve been teaching you to read people the whole time you’ve been here.’
‘But …’
‘Okay, let’s turn it around. Why didn’t you believe him?’
Dave blinked. That was a good question. Why didn’t he?
He went over the man’s body language and the way he answered the questions. Mostly he answered every question straightaway and, when there was a pause, it was because he was about to say something difficult. Dave had learned about behavioural pauses and delays during his detective course. There hadn’t been any verbal and body language disconnect—every time he said yes or no, his head nodded or shook at the right times.
Jeff’s actions had matched up in every way.
There were not gestures of discomfort as he told his story—no grooming gestures or hand-to-face activity. He didn’t try to cover his mouth when he spoke. He’d spoken haltingly but it had been because of emotion rather than lies.
‘Hmm,’ Dave said. ‘Maybe you’re right.’
‘Tell me what you’re thinking.’
Dave listed off the profiling features and liar techniques. ‘There was nothing like that there.’
‘You are spot on,’ said Spencer. ‘It’s not often I’ve been let down watching out for those indicators. You’ve nailed it. Good job.’
‘Detective?’ A first class constable opened the door.
‘What’s on your mind, lad?’ Spencer asked.
‘There’s been a house burglary over in Simpson Street.’
Spencer closed his eyes and let out a breath as Dave reached for his radio.
‘Excellent.’ He didn’t sound as if he meant it.
Chapter 13
Justin picked up the phone and dialled Spencer Brown again. He’d left a message earlier but Spencer hadn’t returned his call yet. They’d been partners for three years and Justin, though he wouldn’t admit it to anyone except his wife, missed the old bastard.
He’d called Spencer TOB—The Old Bastard—even though they’d been similar ages. In retaliation, Spencer had called him Justine.
Spencer had always been a bit more reliable and steadier than he had. Justin had liked the ladies and the pub, both of which Barrabine had been well known for. He’d also liked a bit of a flutter at the two-up. By the time Justin had arrived at Barrabine, Spencer was already married and settled. He’d get into work earlier than Justin and, on more than one occasion, had covered for him until he’d been able to come into work, eyes bloodshot, cheeks unshaven.
As much as Justin missed those days, he wasn’t like that now. Now it was Justin’s turn to be married and settled and guiding his younger crew.
He smiled when the familiar deep voice came on the line. ‘Spencer Brown, I thought you’d be dead.’
There was a long pause and Justin laughed to himself. Spencer had no idea who was on the phone.
‘Well, you’d be wrong,’ he finally said.
‘Maybe if I said: TOB, I thought you’d be dead, you’d know who it was.’
‘Justine? You freakin’ serious? That you, old buddy?’
Justin laughed out loud now. ‘Yeah, mate, it’s me. How the hell are you?’
‘Good, man, good.’
Justin could hear the question in his voice, but there was pleasure there too.
‘Where are you these days?’
‘In Queensland, mate. Been here four years. Out in the centre of the state. Little town called Nundrew. Ah, I guess it’s not that little. ’Bout fifteen thousand people.’
‘Queensland, eh? I’d love to visit one day. Heard it’s a beautiful place.’
‘It’s great—when the heat isn’t trying to kill you.’
‘So tell me, did you make it past being a connie? Or you still down the bottom of the ladder, Justine?’
‘Mate, I’m so far up the ladder I can’t remember what being a constable was like.’
Spencer chuckled. ‘I always knew you’d do well when you bothered to clean up your act. Tell me, tell me. Tell me everything.’
‘Not much to tell really. Once I left you, I went to Melbourne and met a lovely little lady there. Took a few years, but I convinced her to marry me. Her family are from up here, so we decided to head to Queensland to be closer to them.
‘We went to Toowoomba for a couple of years and a few other places. Worked my way up and now I’m Nundrew’s senior sergeant.’
‘Oh, that’s fantastic, mate! I’m real pleased for you. What’s your wife’s name?’
‘Tilly. Matilda. Two kids, Hunter and Pip. They’re out of home now.’
‘Well, I’ll be. What a great story.’ He paused. ‘Man, I am pleased to hear from you.’
Justin wound the telephone cord around his finger. He was happy he’d phoned.
‘So what do I owe the honour of the call?’
Justin heard Spencer’s chair creak down the phone line and he could imagine his old partner leaning back and putting his feet up on the desk, one hand behind his head and the other twiddling a pen between his fingers. The phone would be tucked in between his shoulder and ear.
‘Get your feet off the desk, Brown,’ he said.
‘Wha—?’
‘Your chair creaks. I can hear it.’
‘Cheeky bugger.’ Spencer let out a loud laugh. ‘You don’t sound like you’ve changed a bit.’
‘Oh, I have! Just not in some ways. Anyway, the reason for the call: I saw you had a missing person over there and I’ve got a John Doe here. Thought it was a long shot, but stranger things have happened. Then I saw your name and thought I had to call anyway.’ He grabbed a pen and made a note in his diary that he was speaking to Spencer.
‘Bloody hell, that is a long shot! But you’re a bit late. Our MP walked in our front door yesterday. So he’s all tucked in and accounted for.’
‘You’re shitting me! He walked in?’
‘Sure did. Bit of a long sob story. I won’t bore you with it, but suffice to say he’s back and we’re off to see him today to tidy up the last bit of paperwork.’
‘You lucky bastard. Clearly you don’t have to work hard at Barrabine any more!’
‘We have our moments. Don’t you remember the PGG? Prospectors, gold and guns? The mentality around here hasn’t changed much.’
‘Oh yeah, gold. Turns the sanest of men into freaking idiots.’
‘Doesn’t it? Pleased I’ve never had the taste for it.’
‘Me too. So what’s going on with you now? How’s Kathy?’
‘She’s good. Busy. We’ve taken up ballroom dancing, you know.’
Justin paused and took the phone away from his ear and looked at it. What the? ‘Ballroom dancing, you say?’ He tried to keep the mirth out of his voice. He couldn’t imagine heavy-set TOB quick-stepping around the dance floor.
‘Laugh all you want. I love it.’
‘Never thought you’d do something like that.’
‘Nice to know I can still surprise you.’
‘You’ve done that, for sure. What about your offsider? Any good?’
‘Oh yeah. Real decent fella. Dave, his name is. Dave Burrows. You remember that name, Justine, because he’s gonna make something of himself. Got his heart set on the stock squad, but he could go much higher if he wanted to.’
‘Sounds like gold. Wouldn’t want to lose him from Barrabine.’
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake. You two would get along just fine with your stupid one-liners and bad jokes!’
Justin laughed. ‘What’s he want to go to the stock squad for? Sounds like a l
ot of hard work and not a lot of fun. I got one of the blokes in my office here. Always out and about, coming home stinking and dusty!’
‘Wuss. He’s off the land. Father kicked him off the farm when he was younger. Never got the stock and agriculture side out of him. Wants to play copper and work with stock. Go figure.’ Spencer’s voice faded and Justin heard him yell out, ‘Yeah, I’m talking about you. Don’t get a big head.’
There was muffled reply to which Spencer answered, ‘Whatever rows your boat.’
‘Well, if it’s working for you both, that’s great. Sounds like you need to do some work, so I’d better let you go.’
‘Hey, Jussy, don’t be a stranger for too long, okay? It’s been fantastic to hear your voice.’
‘You too, TOB. You too. Stay safe.’
‘Stay safe.’
Spencer hung up the phone and jumped to his feet, rubbing his hands together. The phone call from Justin had reinvigorated him.
‘Come on, let’s go and put the Jeff Cane thing to bed,’ he said to Dave, who was leaning back in his chair, his feet on his desk, the same way Spencer had just been.
‘Who was your phone call from?’ he asked.
‘See, that’s the good thing about policing. When people you’ve worked with get shifted on, it means you’ve got contacts all over Australia.’ He picked up his wallet and shoved it in his pocket, then slapped Dave’s feet. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
‘I’ve only just sat down,’ he protested. ‘And got a coffee!’
‘And it’s just about to ding ten o’clock and we said we’d be at Strictly Agriculture on the dot.’
Dave sighed and put his coffee cup down. ‘You still haven’t told me who was on the phone.’
‘Bloke by the name of Justin Parker. He and I partnered together a few years back. Actually, a bloody long time ago now.’ They walked out towards the car park side by side, nodding to a couple of first class constables who were clocking on for their shift.
‘He’s got a John Doe in his morgue and was wanting to know if he might fit Jeff’s description.’ He paused as he unlocked the car. ‘Jeez, it was good to hear from him. You got anyone you worked with in Perth you’re still in contact with?’
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