Cold Cuts

by Calder Garret

  ‘Your sergeant doesn’t half make a racket,’ said Burke. She was right. O’Reilly’s snores could shake the brickwork.

  Arbor felt the touch of her arm as she drew closer, peering over his shoulder.

  ‘Yeah, I remember all the dogsbody work you have to do as a probie,’ she said. ‘Not really what you joined the force for, is it?’

  ‘No,’ said Arbor. It wasn’t something he could hide.

  ‘But I’m sure you’re doing a bit of investigation of your own on the sly. Like you did last time. Am I wrong?’

  This time, Arbor didn’t speak.

  ‘Fair enough,’ she said. ‘I can understand.’

  She pressed her hands on the counter. In one strong motion, she had lifted herself up and landed next to his files. The perfume came cheap and heavily charged.

  ‘So have you thought any more?’ she asked. ‘About my offer?’

  ‘Yeah, thanks,’ said Arbor. ‘But no thanks.’

  ‘That’s a shame,’ said Burke. Her hands were gliding slowly up and down her thighs. ‘You don’t know what you’re missing, Constable.’

  The phone rang, offering relief.

  It wasn’t his own. It was the station’s. He watched as O’Reilly spluttered into wakefulness. But the sergeant wouldn’t answer it. He would just let it ring, Arbor knew that from experience. He picked up the receiver.

  It was Amira.

  ‘Danny,’ she said. She sounded anxious.

  ‘Yeah, Amira. What is it?’

  ‘I hate to bother you, Danny,’ she said. ‘But it’s Mandy and Nathan. They’re having this … They’re having a right ding dong blue outside the shop.’

  ‘Bad?’

  ‘Yeah, bad enough. Nathan’s really losing it. It’s starting to draw a crowd.’

  ‘Shit. Yeah, rightio,’ said Arbor. ‘I’ll be down as quick as I can. What’s it all about?’

  ‘Money, as far as I can tell.’

  ‘And Nathan,’ said Arbor. ‘He hasn’t been drinking, has he?’

  ‘No. Not so’s I could tell.’

  ‘Good,’ Arbor continued. ‘Yeah, all right, then. I’ll see you in a minute.’

  He hung up.

  ‘Sarge,’ he said. ‘The Webbs are having a to-do outside the newsagency. I’d better check it out.’

  ‘Yeah, all right. Off you go,’ said O’Reilly.

  Arbor grabbed his cap and headed for the door.

  This might be difficult, he decided, as he took giant strides up Palm Street. It was the second time in four hours that his work and social lives had converged and, although he knew Mandy and Nathan well enough to consider them friends, his experience with Matt Todd had shown him how quickly friendships could turn sour.

  As he passed the co-op, he could hear the shouting. It was mostly Nathan, in a rage. Mandy was finding it difficult to answer him. When she did find her voice, it was shrill and tearful. Closer, Arbor could see a crowd of about a dozen watching from the road. Amira was standing just inside the newsagency doorway. Mandy was sitting on the kerb. Nathan was standing over her, like a tyrant.

  ‘Nathan. Nathan,’ said Arbor. ‘Settle down a bit. What’s the problem?’

  He didn’t get an answer, but for a moment he managed to calm things. Nathan walked away.

  ‘Tell him,’ he shouted back at Mandy. ‘Go on. Tell him.’

  Mandy started to cry again.

  ‘Do you know what she’s gone and done?’ said Nathan to Arbor. ‘She’s only … Fuck!’

  He said something more that Arbor couldn’t understand.

  ‘Mandy?’ said Arbor. ‘Do you want to tell me what this is all about?’

  No answer. She continued to cry. Arbor turned to Amira.

  ‘Amira,’ he said. ‘Do you know what’s going on?’

  ‘I think it has something to do with Mandy’s Lotto,’ said Amira. Her voice was shaking. ‘She tried to use her credit card but it was declined.’

  Nathan re-appeared. For a moment, he seemed to be calmer, but seeing Mandy ignited him once again.

  ‘We took out a new credit card,’ he said. ‘Ten grand. A couple of weeks ago. We were going to get some things for the house. But she’s only gone and gambled it. The whole fucking lot.’

  This time, his move towards Mandy was more threatening. Arbor pushed him back.

  ‘Amira,’ said Arbor. ‘Do you think you can take Mandy inside?’

  ‘Yeah, sure, Danny,’ said Amira.

  She helped Mandy to her feet and into the shop.

  ‘I’m not coming home!’ Nathan shouted. ‘You hear me? Never! You can keep the place to yourself. I’ll go and live with my brother. And you can pay back the card by yourself, as well!’

  Arbor pulled him to one side and gave the crowd a sign to disperse.

  ‘You can’t be like this, mate,’ he said.

  ‘Ah, fuck her,’ said Nathan. ‘She’s got me … She’s got me well and truly rooted.’

  ‘It can’t be that bad,’ said Arbor. ‘Things have a way of working themselves out, don’t they?’

  ‘You reckon?’

  ‘Come on,’ said Arbor. ‘Let me take you home.’

  ‘No, I told you,’ said Nathan. ‘I’m not going home. Ever. She can fuck herself.’

  ‘Then where do you want to go? You can’t stay here.’

  Nathan pulled out and checked his wallet. It was empty.

  ‘Lend me fifty bucks, will you, Danny?’ he said.

  Are you sure, Nathan? Arbor couldn’t help but wonder. But he didn’t say it. He pulled out the money and handed it over.

  ‘Just don’t go crazy, eh?’ he said. ‘Remember, we’ve got training.’

  ‘Yeah, sure,’ said Nathan. He retraced Arbor’s steps towards the corner and the Chatton Hotel.

  ‘Will you be okay, Mandy?’ said Arbor. ‘I’ll have another talk to him if you like.’

  They were in the back room of the newsagency. Amira offered Mandy a glass of water.

  ‘It’s okay, Danny,’ Mandy said. ‘He’ll calm down. Sean won’t put up with him for long, and he knows he won’t get fed otherwise. Did he go to the pub?’

  ‘Yeah. It looks like it,’ said Arbor. He felt a pang of guilt. By lending Nathan money, he had set himself squarely in the middle of their squabble.

  ‘He’s best left to himself,’ Mandy continued. ‘He’ll calm down soon enough. And that’s one good thing to come of me squandering all that money. I know his wallet’s empty.’

  On that subject, Arbor said no more.

  ‘I need to head back to the station,’ he said. ‘If I see him on my way, I’ll have a chat.’

  ‘Thanks, Danny.’

  Mandy wiped her face and took a drink.

  ‘And thanks, Amira,’ Arbor said.

  Amira smiled.

  He began his journey back along Palm Street. The street was empty again, save for a delivery truck outside the co-op. He waved to Karen Todd and got a cold shoulder in return. News does travel fast. He kept heading west, until he found himself outside the hotel. He entered.

  Nathan was in the public bar, sitting at the bar with his back to the door. He either hadn’t heard Arbor enter or had chosen to ignore him. Arbor stood in the doorway for a moment, considering. He’s best left to himself, Mandy had said. That seemed to make sense now. Nathan was quiet and relaxed and, to Arbor’s surprise, his choice of beverage was a Coke. Arbor’s fears appeared to be unfounded.

  He stepped out of the hotel again and headed for the station. Nathan, fingers crossed, would soon come around. He would buck up, make it to training and afterwards head home to patch things up with Mandy. Easy. If not, Arbor decided, he would drop into the hotel again himself and speak to him. It was a delicate business, he knew, and he needed to handle it carefully. It was just a bit more than run of the mill police work.

  ‘Hey.’

  ‘Hey.’

  It was Jenny. On his mobile.

  ‘Can you talk?’

  ‘Yeah. The detectives are out. O
’Reilly’s out the back somewhere. Having a shower, I think. In the middle of the day. Work that one out.’

  ‘I’ve got something to tell you,’ said Jenny.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Remember I mentioned the kids I tutor?’

  ‘Oh, God. You haven’t, have you?’

  ‘Give me some credit, Danny. I’ve been careful. I’ve only been talking to the parents. Mind you, there were times while the kids were in earshot. I just asked how well they knew Butch. And if they’d heard any stories about him. You know. Playing the gossip. Only once or twice, when I thought it was safe, did I ask the kids something. If they enjoyed their footy. Were they sad to lose their coach. That sort of thing.’

  ‘Uh-huh. And so what did you learn?’

  ‘I’m not sure. Gordie Dixon, Scott Bennett and a couple of others all play Nippers.’

  ‘Yeah, and how did they seem to you?’

  ‘I couldn’t tell. Scott Bennett. He really clammed up on me.’

  ‘Uh-huh. And what about the parents?’

  ‘I think they’ve all started to hear the goss going around. They’re all changing their opinions of Paterson. But they all played dumb. None of them admitted to ever knowing anything of what he was up to.’

  ‘Did anyone strike you as a potential killer?’

  ‘I don’t think it’s that easy, Danny.’

  ‘No, I suppose it’s not.’

  ‘So what are you going to do? Are you going to talk to them?’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘I don’t know. The Bennetts, for starters.’

  ‘I’m not sure. Do you think it’s worth it? I could end up shaking up a hornet’s nest.’

  ‘Well, you could just leave it,’ said Jenny. ‘Let the Ds handle it.’

  ‘No way,’ said Arbor. ‘I can’t do that. Not now.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘Yeah, all right then. I’ll drop in on the Bennetts after training … What’s he like? Mr Bennett? I know Gloria. She strikes me as okay. But I don’t know the old man.’

  ‘Brad? Oh, he’s all right. But just be careful what you say.’

  ‘Don’t worry. There’s no way I’ll go accusing them of anything. And I’ll try not to put the spotlight on the young bloke, either. But I just need to find out what the hell’s been going on. I mean, if Paterson’s still been up to no good after all these years, I need to know.’

  He hung up. This is going to be interesting, he thought. As he had discovered time and time again, community policing was not his strength.

  The reason for O’Reilly’s afternoon shower was not a secret for long. Not much later, the station door opened and Susie Crawford entered. She, too, looked like she had done some work on herself. Her greeting for O’Reilly was one that she might reserve for an old beau.

  Arbor could read the embarrassment on O’Reilly’s face as Susie hugged and kissed him. Clearly, the sergeant was not used to such public affection from a woman, especially not one with such a dubious reputation.

  ‘Thanks for coming in, Susie,’ said O’Reilly. ‘I hear you got a visit from young Arbor here.’

  ‘Yes, I did,’ said Susie, smiling directly at Arbor. ‘He was ever so polite. I asked him back … but he never came … As I told you, Constable. Anytime.’

  ‘Susie,’ said O’Reilly. ‘I know you’ll think it’s all a waste of time, but we have to cross all our t’s and dot our i’s. We need to ask you a few more questions about Peter. And Butch Paterson.’

  ‘Ask away,’ said Susie. ‘As I told your Constable, I’ve nothing to hide.’

  ‘Then why don’t you come out the back?’ said O’Reilly. ‘We’ll get a little more privacy there.’

  He led Susie towards the residence door. Burke followed them. The door closed. Arbor looked at Cole. The silence was deafening.

  ‘Have you had her yet?’ said Cole.

  ‘Who?’ asked Arbor.

  ‘Either.’

  ‘No,’ said Arbor.

  ‘Useless,’ said Cole, and he continued with his work.

  He put the Blue Tongues through a long, easy warm-up and then tried out a few basic drills. But he might as well have not bothered. It was as if every member of the team, while more than willing to give half-hearted attention to his directions, was completely unwilling to put them into practice. The players were, as a unit, lazy, shuffling and moaning.

  Arbor singled out the leadership group and drew them to one side. Perhaps he might pump a little strategy into them. But even here, he couldn’t have felt more unwelcome. Matt Todd stood with his arms folded. It seemed he had made it known that Arbor was in his bad books. And, for the rest of them, it seemed that one word from their captain meant a damn sight more a hundred from their coach.

  Arbor looked for Nathan. Nathan, at least, would be willing to share a few words. But Nathan was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Benjie Wood. Benjie, Arbor remembered, would be in Ashby until late. Never mind, he thought. Another time. Anyway, with the way the case was going, by tomorrow the man would no longer be a suspect.

  After just twenty minutes of watching slow bodies and dispirited movement, he was ready to call it a night. He had better things to do. He pulled Matt Todd away from the others.

  ‘Matt,’ he said. ‘I don’t think this is working.’

  ‘How do you mean?’ said Todd.

  ‘Them,’ said Arbor. ‘They’re like fucking zombies. And you. Hey, I know I might have pissed you off this morning, but I’ve got a job to do. Sometimes I’ve got to rattle a few cages.’

  Todd thought for a moment.

  ‘Yeah, sorry about that,’ he said. ‘I guess I was a bit hard on you.’

  ‘You guess?’ said Arbor. ‘Have you told them about it? Is that why they’re being such pricks?’

  Todd looked towards the players.

  ‘Them? No,’ he said. ‘No way. They’re always like this. Especially with new fish. And they fucking hate training.’

  Arbor took a breath.

  ‘Yeah, all right, then,’ he said. ‘Maybe I can hang around a bit longer, then. I’ll see if I can get them to warm up to me. But put the word out. I want them to pull up their socks.’

  ‘Yeah, right, coach,’ said Todd, joining the rest of the players. ‘I’ll do that. We’ll be flag favourites by the end of the session.’

  ‘That’s likely,’ shouted Arbor. ‘That’s about as likely as me joining in.’

  Despite Matt Todd’s promises, the training session finished as lethargically as it had begun. And it finished early. When Arbor called them in, rays from the setting sun were still forcing their way through the black clouds to the west. He climbed into the paddy wagon with a sense of reprieve, sure in the knowledge that he had only one more task to accomplish before calling it a day. And that task, he told himself, his visit to Brad and Gloria Bennett, would be friendly, informative and, hopefully, short.

  Jenny had made it clear to him. Not one of the parents she had visited had been prepared to admit knowledge of Paterson’s crimes. That, he figured, was impossible to believe. In fact, he found it impossible to believe that not one of them had been among Paterson’s victims themselves. Were they deliberately hiding their stories, he wondered. Even worse, were they willingly offering up their children to the beast? No. They couldn’t be. Wherever the truth lay, he couldn’t imagine that. But, still, he found it astounding that the butcher had worked his evil for so long and no one had blown the whistle.

  With just a little coaxing, he hoped, Brad and Gloria Bennett might help him find some answers. They might help him learn what was going on between Paterson and the current generation of Chatton Nippers.

  He pulled into the driveway and stopped behind the 4WD. A white painter’s van was parked on the lawn. He alighted and donned his cap. Best keep it professional, he thought. Give the couple the respect they deserve. He took the few steps to the front door and knocked.

  For some reason, he had expected Gloria to answer the door and invite him in with an enc
ouraging smile. As it was, it was Scott. The boy looked up from half Arbor’s height with an expression that drilled into Arbor’s soul and demanded explanation.

  ‘I’m Danny Arbor,’ Arbor said. ‘I’m a police officer. I’d like to see your mum and dad.’

  Of course you’re a police officer, he thought, as the boy disappeared inside. You’re wearing the uniform.

  It was Gloria this time. She came to the door with a sense of urgency and a beckoning wave.

  ‘Come on in, Danny,’ she said. ‘Don’t stand out there in the cold.’

  He followed her down the hallway, into a family room well heated by a potbelly stove. Brad Bennett sat in the chair closest to the fire, with a good view of the telly. Large in frame and carrying more than his fair share of body fat, he reminded Arbor of a grizzly roused from slumber.

  ‘Turn that off, Brad,’ said Gloria, and, without a murmur, he did. ‘Danny, this is my husband, Brad. Brad, Danny Arbor.’

  Brad barely rose, but the men shook hands.

  ‘Danny, would you like a cuppa?’ said Gloria.

  ‘No,’ said Arbor. ‘I won’t keep you long. I’m not stopping you eating or anything, am I?’

  ‘No,’ Gloria continued. ‘With Scott and the baby, we always eat early.’

  Okay, then, thought Arbor. Let’s get stuck in. He sat on the sofa between their chairs. Gloria and Brad waited, as if for pearls.

  ‘I suppose you’ve heard all about Butch Paterson,’ he said. ‘About his … And the kids?’

  ‘It seems as if everyone in town has by now,’ said Gloria. ‘They’re all talking about it. It’s hard to believe. That he was doing that. For so long. But what does it have to do with us?’

  ‘Nothing specifically,’ said Arbor. ‘At least, I don’t think so. I’ve just been asking around. Hoping to find out a few things. Neither of you had any idea, did you? Until the news broke. Of what Butch was up to?’

  ‘God, no,’ said Gloria. ‘I mean, why would we?’