by Cenarth Fox
‘A jury won’t know her. They’ll study the evidence.’
Rose thought her head would explode. ‘This is insane. He changes his will to massively favour Jo Best who then murders him. It’s crazy.’
Rose looked depressed. Her career as Homicide boss would be forever blighted. Was it already over with or without Pierre’s death?
Billy pushed her boss. ‘Will you tell the team about the DNA?’
‘Not yet. I’ll speak to AC Crowley then I want everyone in the Incident Room in fifteen.’
The women looked at one another. Both respected and liked Jo Best. Both felt intense sadness DI Richelieu was clinging to life apparently, due to the criminal behaviour of one of their colleagues, the one both believed was the least likely to even think about such a thing. What a mess. Was it about to become a tragedy?
Callum Blunt was spending a lot of time in the Gents of late. He would check the cubicles before telling the person calling him it was okay to speak. As DI Rose contacted AC Crowley, DI Steele contacted his mate, DI Callum Blunt in Homicide.
‘You’re not going to believe it,’ sneered Steele.
‘What?’
‘Forensics nailed the bitch. I know a scientist who told me the latest. The Frog’s DNA is on her car, the one she used to run over the poor bastard.’
‘You’re kidding? Forensics got her?’
‘Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes has pulled her last stroke.’
‘Serves the bitch right.’
‘I bet Rose hasn’t told the squad. She’ll be shit scared to tell anyone. Fancy being head of Homicide when one of your team murders another. That’s her career down the pan as well.’
Blunt thought of an idea—a rare event. ‘I could save her the trouble and tell the squad, m’self.’ Steele laughed. He loved the suggestion.
‘Do it,’ he said and Blunt joined in on his mate’s laughter.
Chapter 33
VLADYSLAV “VLAD” DAVYDENKO alias James alias Mike was keen on his new life Down Under. He once lived in Melbourne, Florida and now Melbourne, Australia suited him very nicely, thank you.
Since the Florida drug lords self-combusted, Vlad slept a lot easier. The DEA lost interest in Vlad, and Victoria Police waved him goodbye. He was a free man, was Mike Grosvenor.
He patched up things with housemates, Colleen and Pam. His drug dealing was a distant memory although the cash from his handyman business was a pittance alongside his former cocaine “wages”.
But he wanted to be sure the threat from the US was dead and buried. He remembered two female cops, Billy and Jo, who arrested him over the homicide in North Melbourne. He trusted them. They would tell him the truth. But he didn’t fancy fronting the police station.
Dani dealt with them. She might know their full names, and, even if she didn’t, a visit to Ms Rubenesque might have side (and front and rear) benefits. If memory serves, she made a cracking cup of tea.
Clutching red roses, he knocked on Dani’s door. She was told he ran off to Perth to escape crazy debt collectors from Canada, and Vlad asked Colleen and Pam to maintain that tale.
‘Mike,’ she cried and gave him the greeting every sailor craves when home on shore leave. They got chummy and Vlad eased his way to the topic of the female cops who arrested him.
‘They told me you helped them catch a killer, a guy living right here in these flats,’ said Vlad.
‘You were lucky, darls. Who knows, they could’ve killed you.’
‘I need to tell the cops stuff about those Canadian debt collectors.’
‘You’re okay aren’t you?’ asked a worried Dani.
He boasted. ‘No problems, babe. But hey, you wouldn’t know how I can contact those cops by any chance?’
Dani went looking. ‘Both of them gave me a card. Not sure I kept them.’ She called. ‘No, here’s one of them.’
She returned and handed Mike a card which read Detective Senior Constable Joanna Best, Homicide.
He pocketed it. ‘You’re a star. Listen, how’s the flat sale going? It looks great.’
‘I got an agent in and he reckons I need to upgrade the bathroom.’
‘But you have. What about those new taps and tiles I put in?’
‘He said the bathroom can make or break the deal.’ She gave him a certain look. ‘I don’t suppose you could do a few more things for me, pretty please?’ She smiled. He liked the offer. ‘I can pay you double.’
So Dani got a new bathroom, and Vlad got his end away, and the name of a police officer he needed to question about his future safety.
Callum Blunt entered the Incident Room. With no active homicide to investigate, officers were busy checking old cases involving criminals who might have or did make threats against DI Richelieu. It was slow going. They needed inspiration and leadership from DI Rose, and good news from the hospital where their colleague clung to life. Nothing.
‘Hey guys,’ said Blunt, looking sad but feeling chipper. ‘The word doing the rounds is that Senior Constable Best is in a spot of bother.’
Everyone listened.
‘Meaning?’ asked DS Fletcher, demanding an answer.
Blunt shrugged. ‘Ask the DI.’
‘We’re asking you, sir,’ said Charlie Baldwin.
Blunt went all innocent. ‘Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just reporting what I heard.’
‘What did you hear?’ asked DI Rose leading Hughes into the room.
Blunt was sprung and backpedalled, fast. ‘Ah, it’s nothing, ma’am.’
‘No, go on, please. I’m sure we all want to hear your news.’
‘You know what gossip’s like, ma’am. It’s the old Chinese Whispers.’
Rose made it an order which sounded like a threat. ‘DI Blunt, tell me the gossip you heard.’
He was trapped and every detective stared at him. He tried to make it as official as possible.
‘I heard Forensics found some of DI Richelieu’s DNA on Senior Constable Best’s damaged car.’
People gasped, and murmurs of disbelief and animosity towards Blunt began humming. He’d been riding for a fall and DI Rose was in the mood to give anyone, and especially him, a bollocking. She let fly.
‘I would have thought, DI Blunt, an officer of your rank and experience would know spreading gossip can be dangerous, and especially for the one doing the spreading.’ What could Callum say? He wanted the floor to open up and swallow him. ‘If you have any solid information, I’ll thank you to inform your senior officer first.’ She looked at him with what could only be described as ball-busting intent. ‘Do I make myself clear, Inspector?’
It was not a multi-choice question, and Callum chose the only option. ‘Yes ma’am,’ he said in a soft voice.
Rose ramped up his humiliation by tilting her head towards him. ‘I’m sorry?’
He spoke louder. ‘Yes ma’am,’ and hated her more than Jo Best.
But it wasn’t over for Callum. ‘I won’t ask for the source of your information, Inspector, but if he or she’s the best you’ve got, I’d be asking your snout for a refund.’
Oh dear. The current boss of Homicide dumped a bucket on her predecessor. Blunt glowered as Rose addressed the others.
‘I regret to say there’s no change in DI Richelieu’s condition which remains critical. If the case moves from attempt murder to murder, we will not be involved in the investigation. Now, questions?’
‘What do we do with these former cases, ma’am?’ asked Fletcher.
‘Thanks Justin, we do nothing for the moment. We’re waiting to hear from Traffic and Forensics on DI Richelieu’s case. Anyone else?’
‘What’s the latest with Jo Best, ma’am?’ asked Billy Hughes wanting detectives to hear from the boss rather than the likes of Callum Blunt.
Rose hesitated. ‘There’s a lot of gossip about Detective Senior Constable Best. I’m not sure what, if any of it, is true. There are some who reckon she’s involved in the DI Richelieu attack.’ A buzz began and Rose raised a hand
. ‘I prefer to take the word of a colleague, and until I’m convinced otherwise, Jo Best is a trusted member of this squad. Now, as you’ve been here for days, which feels more like years, I suggest you all piss off for a very long lunch.’
They did although DI Blunt ate alone.
Driving Gabrielle Strange’s bulky 4-speed manual Humber Super Snipe forced Jo to think more about steering than her current predicament. She decided to return the car via Mont Albert. She needed to respond to little Harry Carr’s invitation to the birthday bash for Rags. Popping into the Carr residence would allow her to accept the party invitation in person. Being a working day, Dr Jack Carr would most likely be at work tending to the sick.
She turned the corner, concentrating on her driving, still unaware of the two women continuing to tail her, although now in two different cars. As Jo approached the Carr house, she spotted Jack’s mother Peg in the street pushing her granddaughter Grace, sitting in a wheelchair.
Jo pulled over, switched off and lowered her window. It was tricky. She called. ‘Hello Peg. Hello Grace.’
The wheelchair stopped. The females knew the voice but not the car. ‘It’s Detective Jo,’ said Peg and Grace smiled and waved.
Jo hopped out and crossed the road. ‘Hello Jo,’ said Peg and then nearly died. Her granddaughter pushed herself up and out of the wheelchair and walked across the nature strip to greet the detective.
Both women were stunned and more so when Grace opened her arms and embraced the startled cop. Peg was in tears and moved to the others making it a group hug.
The adults looked at one another. Peg whispered. ‘I’ll have to start calling you Jesus.’
Jo helped Grace back into her wheelchair and the trio made their way inside with Grace talking slowly but non-stop. Peg spoke surreptitiously whenever she could. ‘She’s never got out by herself and never walked like that. The boys will be over the moon.’
The females chatted and laughed making Jo feel better. She explained she was in the area and dropped in to accept Harry’s invitation. She left with Grace bubbling and Peg hiding her tears.
En route to North Fitzroy, she rang Dr Strange who was unable to take the call because, at the time, her hands were caressing a cadaver. Her new associate, Dr Petr Laudi, answered her phone. He relayed Jo’s message although Jo could hear Gabrielle shouting.
‘You keep the old girl. Bring her round tonight.’ Jo thanked her via Rowdy. ‘And don’t forget the drugs.’ Rowdy gulped. He didn’t know they came from Belgium via cocoa beans from Ghana.
DI Elly Rose remembered her first visit to AC Crowley’s office. He pushed for her to become the new head of Homicide. He trusted her. He still did but as of now the times were difficult. He and she were in unchartered waters with Jo Best a suspect in a serious crime.
‘Come in, Inspector,’ said Crowley. Rose worried as he would usually call her Elly. ‘Anything new from the hospital?’ Rose shook her head. ‘Or Traffic and Forensics?’
‘Only what I told you, sir.’
‘How did the DNA result come through so quickly?’
‘It’s not through yet. The blood was useless but there’s hope of a result with the hair. I thought someone from here might have pushed it, sir.’
Neither knew that the scientist, Alastair Dean, was the driving force behind the rapid DNA examination. He once lost his heart to Jo Best but, having been rejected by the detective, turned nasty. He still harboured a grudge and hell hath no fury like a scientist stiffed. When Alastair discovered there was new material involving Senior Constable Best, he bent over backwards to investigate and gave a “preliminary” report to Traffic. If nothing else, he wanted to start a rumour. If the DNA evidence failed, a damaged reputation was almost as good. Alastair had contacted a former Homicide detective, one DI Steele, with the inside goss. Ah yes, it takes all sorts.
Crowley let Rose’s comments pass. ‘I spoke with the Commissioner and, like me, he’s keen for the matter to be tackled by the book.’
‘Of course, sir.’
‘Professional Standards got the file this morning, and I reckon the seriousness of the crime will mean they handball it straight to IBAC.’
Rose expelled air. ‘Shit,’ she said under her breath. ‘So what should I do? Solving a potential homicide within Homicide is new to me.’
‘To all of us, Inspector,’ said the AC.
‘What will happen to Jo Best?’
‘She’ll be suspended on full pay until she’s committed for trial.’
‘If she’s committed, sir,’ Rose corrected him.
He nodded. ‘I still can’t believe she’s involved. And is it true Richelieu left her a small fortune?’
Rose felt a lump grow large in her throat. ‘It’s a big small fortune.’
‘Well I’d tell her to stay well away from Homicide, and her colleagues, and wait till she hears from, God only knows.’ He stood and looked out his window. ‘I cannot imagine what her grandfather will think of all this.’ He turned back to her. ‘You knew Robbo Robertson?’
‘He was my DCI when I first joined Homicide.’
‘Of course.’ He struggled to speak. ‘What a bloody, bloody mess.’
Jo parked the Humber in her spot at the back of her block of flats. It only just made it between the lines. She double-checked the locks and walked to her front door. Sitting on her step was Detective Sergeant Deborah “Billy” Hughes. Jo stopped.
‘Oh no, you’ve come to arrest me,’ said Jo believing those words.
‘My bum is frozen. Can we go inside? And what are you driving? Is that the Strange vehicle?’
Inside they sat with Jo dreading the conversation. Billy let fly. ‘I’m doing DI Rose’s dirty work. Knowing how you ignore orders, she politely requests you stay away from Homicide and your colleagues.’
‘Including you?’
Billy ignored the smart alec question. ‘Somebody wants you off the Force, Jo, probably wants you dead. Not surprising given the number of cases you’ve cracked. You’re the victim of a well-planned sting.’
‘I’m glad someone believes me.’
‘Shut up and listen. There is DNA evidence at Forensics which supposedly links your car to DI Richelieu’s body.’ Jo swallowed. ‘There’s more. You know about Pierre’s new will, well not only has the DI bequeathed you his palatial apartment, he’s thrown in his share portfolio and a solid chunk of cash.’ Jo felt she was being punched. ‘The hit and run is now a major incident. Professional Standards are examining the file and may pass it to IBAC.’
Billy saw horror on Jo’s face. The new facts were devastating.
‘This has to be a joke,’ she managed to say.
‘We’re pretty sure you’ll be suspended on full pay which will continue even if you’re arrested and charged, and at least up until you’re committed for trial, if it goes that far.’
Billy couldn’t see Jo’s mind and stomach. Both were in turmoil.
‘I’d contact the Association as soon as. I’ve already told them about the situation and they’re expecting your call.’
Jo felt new tears. DS Hughes didn’t mince her words but did all she could to support her struggling colleague.
‘So, Senior, that’s the latest. Put your head down. Give Homicide and your mates a wide berth. Be ready if heavies come knocking, and stay strong.’ She paused and looked at Jo who returned her gaze. ‘We, I want you and DI Richelieu to walk away intact. Copy that, Missy?’
Jo couldn’t speak although the tears she shed spoke volumes.
That night she returned the Humber Super Snipe to the pathetic pathologist. Jo revealed the latest about Pierre and his new will.
‘In a way,’ said Gabrielle, ‘you’ll want the poor old bugger to die. You’ll be as rich as Croesus.’
Jo argued. ‘I thought your creed was “first do no harm”.’
‘Be practical, woman. Happy and rich wallops happy and poor.’
‘So tell me, please, Doctor Strange …’
‘Sounding
a bit formal aren’t we?’
‘What are Pierre’s chances—medically speaking?’
Strange stopped joking. She shrugged. ‘Spleen removed, multiple fractures, induced coma, almost certainly other issues we don’t know about; he’s starting from a long way back.’
She paused wondering if her frank assessment was causing her friend undue suffering.
‘Please continue,’ said Jo.
‘And if he does survive, he’ll be on sick leave for a long time. He may never work as a detective again, and as for his sex life, well, how shall I put this?’
‘Don’t.’
Another pause. Strange tried to guess Jo’s thinking then worried. ‘You’re not planning on doing a Jane Eyre are you? You’re a lawyer and detective. Trust me, nursing’s not your bag, old girl.’
Jo wondered if, in her life, good news was banned. She stood to leave. ‘Thanks for the car, Madam Pathologist. You’re a saint.’
Gabrielle roared with laughter. ‘Me? A saint? Now piss off and get your head down.’
The detective jogged home, all 1.9 kilometres.
Chapter 34
NOTHING MAJOR HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. The injured DI remained critical. Nobody knocked on Jo’s door. Colleagues rang and she worried. By speaking to them was she disobeying her boss? She found it difficult to sleep—again.
The weekend dawned and with it the day of the party for Rags. Jo killed time shopping at the Queen Victoria market. She spent an age looking for a doggie birthday present. Any savvy dog owner would have suggested a stick from the local park. Just tie a ribbon on it.
Walking from the station, her phone rang. ‘Hello Michael,’ she said.
‘How is the law-abiding super cop?’ he asked trying to put a brave face on a rotten situation.
‘I’ve been better. Have you any news?’
‘Some,’ he said which Jo knew meant a lot. ‘Are you still car-free?’
‘I am and likely to remain so.’