Cold Cuts

by Calder Garret

  ‘Why? What’s happened?’

  ‘I hope you didn’t see them there, but Burke and I, we were up at Butch Paterson’s. I found an old knapsack full of knickers and shit. And photos. There must have been fifty of them.’

  ‘Hell.’

  ‘Yeah, hell’s right.’

  ‘Was there …?’ Jenny was careful to ask. ‘Was there anyone we know?’

  Arbor thought carefully before answering.

  ‘I don’t know yet,’ he said. ‘There might have been. There was a whole stack of them.’

  ‘Who? Who was it, Danny?’

  ‘I’ve a feeling it was Benjie Wood.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ said Jenny. ‘The poor soul. Do they know?’

  ‘No,’ said Arbor. ‘I haven’t told them. And I’m not going to. Not yet anyway. I’ll try and speak to Benjie first.’

  ‘That sounds like a good idea.’

  ‘In the meantime,’ said Arbor, ‘we’re chasing up Snippy Lawrence again. He’s always the first cab off the rank, isn’t he?’

  Jenny laughed.

  ‘I’ll catch you later then,’ she said.

  ‘Sure,’ said Arbor.

  Jenny crossed the road to her car. Arbor opened the door and entered what was, for Chatton, One Police Plaza.

  Snippy Lawrence and his crew were at their usual trade, telling jokes and drinking beer. They were, as usual, sitting on the front porch. They were, as usual, a silent menace to the rest of Carter Street.

  Arbor followed the detectives up the path and waited. He was there, he knew, for the heavy lifting. He made eye contact with youngest of the Blair brothers. They had had words once. It all seemed such a long time ago.

  ‘Howdy, officers,’ said Lawrence with a laugh. ‘How’s things?’

  ‘We’re fine, Mr Lawrence,’ said Burke. ‘And how are you?’

  ‘Oh, I’m fine,’ said Snippy. ‘Can’t complain. Can I interest you in a drop of my home brew?’

  ‘We won’t keep you long,’ Burke continued. ‘We just need to ask you a few more questions.’

  ‘Fire away,’ said Snippy. ‘I’m not hiding nothing. Am I, fellas?’

  He grabbed his crotch.

  ‘Unless you want to see if I’m carrying.’

  His mates laughed, as if on cue.

  ‘No, thanks, Snippy,’ said Burke, without a blink. ‘I doubt you’ve got much down there that would interest me. So tell me. Have you ever played footy?’

  ‘Yeah, once or twice. A long time ago. Poker’s more my game, though.’

  ‘Did you ever play kids’ footy? For the, what’s their name, the Nippers?’

  ‘No, not me,’ Snippy said. ‘I just couldn’t be bothered. It was too much effort. And the smokes. They did me in. They affected my breathing.’

  ‘As a ten-year-old?’

  Snippy Lawrence gave a look.

  ‘I was an early developer,’ he said.

  ‘What about the rest of you?’ said Burke.

  Her lead was going nowhere.

  ‘Not us,’ said the oldest Blair. ‘We were too busy on the property to worry about shit like that.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ said Burke.

  She stood there, for so long that Arbor grew uncomfortable.

  ‘Is that all?’ said Snippy.

  ‘Yeah, that’s all,’ said Burke. She turned back towards the car. Arbor followed. He could hear Snippy and his mates laughing. Pricks, he thought. It was clear they were laughing at Burke. Arbor could see her seething. And for once, perhaps for the first time, he had some feeling for her.

  He hadn’t been on the job very long, but he could see a pattern emerging. In both the Salim Rashid inquiry at Christmas and now in the Butch Paterson investigation, he had chosen to hide important evidence from his superiors. At Christmas, he had hidden a witness, Amira, for close on a week. Now he was hiding the identity of a potential suspect. In neither case was it a smart move.

  But in both cases he could see no other course of action. He had had no desire to offer up Amira as a sacrificial lamb to the city wolves. Nor did he want to turn them loose on Benjie Wood, especially based on just one old photo.

  He had it settled in his mind. He had been through it a dozen times. He would skirt around the edges of Benjie’s life, talk to Nathan, talk to Matt Todd, and learn all he could before approaching Benjie directly. And he would do that in such a way that Benjie suspected nothing.

  He pulled up behind Nathan’s Hyundai and alighted. Nathan, he hoped, was at home. He needed a sounding board, far away from the station, far away from Jenny and as far away from the Blue Tongues as possible. Of course, Nathan wore the colours of the Blue Tongues, but, while he played for them, it appeared he did not socialise with them. He seemed the ideal person to talk to.

  Nathan came to the door in a shuffle and out of darkness.

  ‘Hey, mate. Come in,’ he said.

  He held open the screen door. Arbor entered.

  ‘Is Mandy home?’

  ‘No,’ said Nathan. He let the screen door slam. ‘She went out first thing. I haven’t seen her since. Fancy a cuppa?’

  ‘Yeah, thanks,’ said Arbor, greeting Chopps with a scratch. He sat at the table and watched Nathan pour.

  ‘I wanted to ask you,’ he said. ‘How well do you know the rest of the team? Specifically, how well do you know Benjie Wood?’

  ‘Not that well,’ said Nathan. ‘I’ve got to know them a bit since I started playing for the Blue Tongues. But growing up? … Not really. We moved in different circles. Even at school. Why do you ask?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Arbor. ‘I’m just trying to sort a few things out. And Benjie?’

  ‘Nah,’ said Nathan. ‘As I said, I’ve never had much to do with them.’

  ‘Fair enough.’

  Arbor gratefully accepted his cup.

  ‘Are they a part of your investigation?’ asked Nathan, sitting.

  ‘Yeah, they might be,’ said Arbor. ‘Ah, who the fuck knows?’

  They laughed.

  ‘What about you?’ Arbor said. ‘You look like you’re letting things slide. You’re not on the grog again, are you?’

  ‘No, not on the grog,’ said Nathan. ‘I just … No, never mind. You’re not my counsellor.’

  ‘I can listen.’

  ‘No. Thanks all the same, Danny, but I … Training tomorrow night?’

  ‘Yeah, training tomorrow night. See you there?’

  ‘Yeah, I’ll be there. How’s your cuppa?’

  ‘Hot.’

  ‘So how was your day, babe?’ she said. ‘I forgot to ask.’

  ‘Absolute shit,’ said Arbor. ‘As I said when you came into the station, we found that bag of stuff at Paterson’s. Pretty sick stuff.’

  ‘And you found a photo of Benjie?’

  ‘Yeah, amongst many. It looked like him, I mean. He was only nine or ten, but I don’t reckon he’s changed much. Do you know what I mean?’

  ‘What are you going to do with it?’

  ‘I’m not sure. I don’t want to say anything to the Ds. Not yet anyway. Not while I’m not sure. I don’t want to see them charging in. Sure as hell, if I’m wrong, it’ll all backfire and I’ll carry the can for it. And I’m certain I’d be blacklisted from the footy club. I’ve hit a brick wall with them already. What do you know about Benjie?’

  ‘Not much, considering I’ve known him all his life. He’s a local, obviously. Married. A couple of kids.’

  ‘How old? The kids?’

  ‘No, not old enough, if that’s what you’re thinking. They’re just toddlers.’

  ‘Fair enough.’

  ‘Are you thinking of talking to him?’

  ‘Yeah, I’m thinking about it. But as I say, I’d better be bloody careful, eh? I’ll say it’s about footy. Keep it light. See if I can sense anything.’

  ‘Yeah, smart thinking,’ said Jenny. ‘Benjie packs a bit of a punch. And he’s got a hell of a temper, too.’

  ‘Yeah, thanks for the warning, Jen,’
said Arbor. ‘I think.’

  TUESDAY

  ‘Bully.’

  Jenny had pushed him away from the bathroom mirror. He looked over her shoulder to ruffle his still wet hair and pull at his fringe.

  ‘You bet I’m a bully,’ she said. ‘I just want you to know that, for as long as you’re here, I’m the boss.’

  ‘I reckoned that much already,’ said Arbor.

  He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed.

  ‘Listen, I was thinking,’ he continued. ‘If Amira doesn’t mind, I might drop in and see Benjie on the way in. What do you reckon? It might give me a chance to, you know, feel him out, maybe see what sort of a vibe I get from him.’

  ‘Yeah, but don’t go jumping the gun, Danny,’ said Jenny. ‘Remember, just because he’s in a photo doesn’t mean shit. And it might not even be him.’

  ‘Yeah, I know,’ said Arbor. ‘I’ll tread softly.’

  ‘You’re sure you don’t want to mention this to the Ds?’ said Jenny.

  ‘No, said Arbor. ‘The truth is, I’m not sure they’ll thank me for it. And, besides, I reckon they’ve got their hands full with Snippy and Susie. I’m fairly sure that by working the Blue Tongues angle, I’ll be doing us all a favour.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ said Jenny.

  She turned and looked him in the eye.

  ‘Just don’t overdo it, babe,’ she said. ‘Don’t go getting yourself in trouble.’

  ‘I won’t.’

  She took his hand and led him into the kitchen.

  ‘Have you thought any more about the kids playing now?’ she said. ‘As you said, over the past few years there must be a stack of them. It sounds like you haven’t considered any of their parents yet.’

  ‘I’d like to,’ said Arbor. ‘But I just haven’t the time. I’m stretched pretty thin as it is. And I’m not sure I know too many of them.’

  ‘I might be able to help you there,’ said Jenny.

  ‘Yeah, and how’s that?’ said Arbor.

  ‘As we said. Quite a few of the kids I tutor play. I could—’

  ‘Oh, Christ, Jen,’ said Arbor. ‘Watch it. If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking. It’s you who could end up in a whole heap of trouble.’

  ‘Who, little old me?’ said Jenny.

  ‘Yes, you. You’re not actually serious, are you?’ said Arbor.

  ‘Of course I am.’

  ‘Well, look, if you do,’ said Arbor, ‘just be bloody careful.’

  ‘Don’t worry, babe,’ said Jenny. ‘I won’t go over the top. I’ll just ask a few questions. Play the gossip. I’ll be fine.’

  ‘As I said,’ said Arbor. ‘Be careful. Be bloody careful.’

  He headed for the door.

  ‘Are you ready yet, Amira?’ he called.

  ‘Yeah, in a minute,’ came her reply.

  That minute was just long enough. He backtracked.

  ‘Think of me sometime,’ said Jenny.

  ‘After a pash like that,’ laughed Arbor, ‘I’ll think of you all day.’

  He asked Amira to wait in the wagon while he paid Benjie Wood a quick visit. He offered several raps on the door and waited patiently until it opened. He recognised the woman as someone he had seen at the barbie.

  ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Danny Arbor.’

  ‘Are you after Benjie?’ the woman said. ‘You’ve just missed him. He’s off to Ashby for the day.’

  Damn it, Arbor thought.

  ‘When will he be home?’ he asked.

  ‘Not until late,’ she said. ‘Will I tell him you called?’

  ‘Yeah, you can do,’ said Arbor. ‘Tell him it’s footy business. Tell him I’ll catch him soon. Thanks.’

  He headed back to the paddy wagon. There was still a chance he could catch Matt Todd before he left for work.

  ‘One more stop, okay, Amira?’ he said.

  ‘Yeah, that’s cool, Danny,’ said Amira. She was conversing on her phone.

  The squabbles of a family at breakfast were pouring from the Todd house. Karen answered the door. She had a bowl of muesli in her hand and two children at her feet.

  ‘Hey, Danny,’ she said. ‘Come on in.’

  Toddy was at the table, eating, but with his laptop open.

  ‘Hey, Danny,’ he said. ‘Have you ever tried running your own business? It’s a pain in the arse. What can I do for you?’

  The children were annoying their father now. Arbor decided to wait.

  ‘No worries, Danny,’ said Toddy. ‘Karen will be taking them to school in a minute. Won’t you, love?’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Karen, dumping her bowl in the sink. ‘In fact, I’m doing it right now. Come on, you two. Move.’

  In an instant, the room was silent and the air was still.

  ‘So?’ said Toddy.

  ‘So,’ said Arbor. ‘Listen, I don’t know what you’ve heard. Word seems to get about in Chatton whether we like it or not. One of the detectives and I were searching Butch’s place yesterday. We came upon a pile of photographs. Of kids. I’m sure you know the sort. There were forty or fifty of them. Going back thirty years or more. Now, I know you and the other blokes flat out denied any knowledge of it the other day, but it seems to me … Most of the kids looked like they might be Nippers. I can’t see how you could be a Nipper, or even be associated with football in this town for as long as you have, without knowing something.’

  Arbor had watched Todd’s face change with every word.

  ‘Are you accusing me of something?’ Todd said.

  ‘No,’ said Arbor. ‘No, Matt. I’m telling you. I’m totally in the dark with this thing. But, as I said, I’m sure you must know something. You must have heard stories, Toddy. More than you’re letting on. I can’t believe Butch Paterson had his way with maybe forty or fifty kids, over all that time, and nobody knows shit.’

  Matt Todd rose and made for the sink. He dumped his bowl in with the other dishes and glared out the window. He had crossed a line, Arbor thought, but he wasn’t sure how. He had released something, and there was no putting it back.

  ‘Toddy?’ he said.

  ‘Look, I know it’s your job and everything, Danny,’ said Todd. ‘And I know you mean well. But that bastard’s death was something coming for a bloody long time. And I can tell you now. I swear to you. I had nothing to do with it. I’d like to shake hands with the bloke who did, but then so would a lot of folks in town. Is that what you wanted to hear?’

  It wasn’t. Not precisely, anyway. It led Arbor even more into the mire. But he wasn’t about to bother Todd any further.

  ‘Yeah, all right, then,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you at training.’

  ‘Yeah, see you at training,’ said Todd. But there was distance in his voice, a kind of sadness. And there was more. Who knew, thought Arbor, that a bond of mateship could be so easily broken.

  Arbor waited with Amira until the glazier’s truck had pulled up and the men had begun their work. He could see the relief in Amira’s eyes.

  ‘Are you opening today?’ he asked.

  ‘You bet,’ said Amira. ‘I can’t wait. I mean, it’s been great out at Jenny’s, but it’ll be good to get busy again. Do you know what I mean?’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Arbor. ‘I’ve a fair idea. And she said she’d pick you up? When you close?’

  ‘Yes, she did.’

  Arbor headed for the wagon, then stopped.

  ‘Say, Amira,’ he said. ‘You wouldn’t happen to have Nobby Rodgers’ number on that phone of yours, would you?’

  ‘Yeah, I think so,’ she said. ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Send it to me, will you?’ said Arbor. ‘I want to call him.’

  He had decided, based on O’Reilly’s advice, to offer Warren Simpson an easy out. He climbed into the wagon and called Nobby’s number.

  ‘Yep?’

  ‘Hey, Nobby. It’s Danny Arbor. Constable Arbor.’

  ‘Ah, yeah,’ said Nobby. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘Not bad,’ said Arbor. ‘How’s your c
ar, Nobby? Are you getting it fixed?’

  ‘No, not yet,’ said Rodgers. ‘All up I’m going to have to spend about eight grand on the thing.’

  ‘That sucks,’ said Arbor. ‘As I said to you. Drop in and see me sometime. I might be able to point you in the right direction. But whatever you do, keep away from Snippy Lawrence. Do you hear me?’

  ‘Yeah, I hear you.’

  ‘Anyway,’ said Arbor. ‘The reason I rang. Did you hear I nabbed Warren Simpson? I caught him and a couple of mates tagging the Rashid house the other night.’

  ‘No, I hadn’t heard,’ said Nobby.

  ‘The thing is,’ said Arbor. ‘I haven’t charged Warren yet. But I might have to if I don’t get some names from him. Of course, as you can imagine, he’s none too keen to spill on his mates. So I was wondering—’

  ‘What, you want me to dob?’ said Nobby.

  ‘No, nothing like that, Nobby,’ said Arbor. ‘I just thought that if Warren doesn’t want to be seen spilling his guts to me, he might not mind passing the names on through you. On the quiet, if you get me. Tell him, if he does, that’ll be the end of it. And tell him, I might even turn a blind eye next time I see him coming down Norman’s Hill.’

  ‘Yeah, all right,’ said Nobby. ‘I guess I can. But it still sounds a bit suss, though.’

  ‘Have a think about it,’ said Arbor. ‘No pressure. If I don’t hear from you, that’s cool, too.’

  ‘Yeah, okay,’ said the boy.

  ‘Oh, and Nobby,’ said Arbor. ‘There was something else I wanted to ask. Did Butch Paterson ever—’

  ‘Ever what?’

  ‘You told me one time that you played footy once. As a Nipper. Did you ever have hassles with him? You know, something a bit …?’

  There was a pause.

  ‘Who said that?’

  ‘No one. I’m just asking around.’

  ‘Yeah, well, ask someone else.’

  The boy hung up.

  Another name in the hat, thought Arbor. That was just what he needed.

  Burke had sent Cole on an errand and O’Reilly was asleep at his desk. For the moment, at least, Arbor was stuck with his paperwork. For once, it came as a relief, a chance for him to tune out. It came as an opportunity to think about Matt Todd and Benjie Wood and about mending some fences.