Not Dead Yet

by Peter Menadue

CHAPTER 31

  Back in Sydney, Gary rented an apartment in Coogee with low ceilings, cramped rooms and out-of-date fixtures. The explosion that destroyed his previous apartment also ruined his furniture and most of his belongings. So he bought a new mattress and threw that on the bedroom floor. He'd buy some replacement furniture later.

  Now he had to corner Pringle and kill the bastard. That wouldn't be easy, because Pringle knew Gary was hunting him. So he spent a couple of days reviewing his options. Then he read a story in the Sydney Morning Herald that rocked him to his core.

  TOP COP ADMITS CORRUPTION

  One of the state's most experienced drug squad detectives has admitted to corruption and agreed to give evidence against other corrupt police officers.

  According to a police source, Detective Sergeant Pringle has admitted to the Police Integrity Unit that he used an informant to sell drugs.

  However, the PIU has agreed to give him immunity from prosecution in return for him giving evidence against at least half-a-dozen fellow officers.

  Detective Sergeant Pringle has been a policeman for more than 25 years and spent the last ten on the Narcotics Strikeforce. He has made numerous major arrests and received two citations for bravery.

  The police source said that Detective Sergeant Pringle has now been placed in the witness protection program…

  Gary read the story with a mixture of anger and despair. In one dazzling move, Pringle had escaped his clutches. From now on, Pringle wouldn't have to worry about Gary trying to kill him or prosecution for his crimes. Instead, he'd have all the forces of the law behind him. They would give him a new identity and new home. Then he could enjoy his ill-gotten gains in complete safety. What more could a crooked cop want? The bastard had cut the deal of the century. He must be laughing his head off.

  The Witness Protection Unit would obviously keep Pringle in Australia until he finished giving evidence against his colleagues. Then it would ship him off to a foreign destination: probably the United States or England.

  Somehow, Gary had to pierce the veil of secrecy that surrounded Pringle and complete his quest to kill the bastard. However, the Witness Protection Unit, which had a separate building and separate computer system, was a hard nut to crack. Nobody had ever tracked down someone under its protection.

  He would have to become the first.