by Garry Disher
True, but maybe our shooters never been printed. Maybe he wore gloves the whole time. And wed expect to find Nathans prints.
They absorbed that. They had half an ear to the phones in the room. It was like waiting for a watched pot to boil. In fact, they were standing to file out of the room when the call came. Challis motioned for them to sit, then replaced the receiver and grinned at them. Weve got our one print, he said. Apparently our man checked his appearance in the mirror attached to the sun visor. He paused. Trevor Vyner, done time for assault and armed robbery. And, he said, hes ex-Navy.
They all seemed easier in their chairs now.
* * * *
61
By late afternoon they had an address for Vyner, search warrants and an arrest warrant. Four Armed Response officers would go in first. Challis supposed they were necessary, but they made him nervous. The country had almost zero gun ownership, so what did they do from one day to the next but train and fantasise? Over-trained and under-experienced, they had nothing to model their behaviour on but American movies. He watched their swagger in the foyer of Vyners building, young, trigger-happy men dressed in the latest street combat gear. They knew who Challis was: the cuckold whose wife set him up to be murdered by a fellow cop. They knew who Ellen was: the copthe female copwhod let herself get shot. Well, that wasnt going to happen to them, their gum-chewing jaws seemed to be saying.
Challis was almost glad that Vyners flat was empty. Hed asked for a watch on the place while the warrants were being sworn, and nobody had been spotted going in or out, but that hadnt meant Vyner wasnt there, prepared to shoot it out to the death. He stepped through the splintered doorframemanagement had made a key available, but that wasnt the Armed Response teams styleand quickly prowled through the four spare, unloved Ikea rooms. He guessed that Vyner carried the habits of teenage detention, Navy life and prison with him, and had little room or need for possessions.
You can go now, he said, tired of edging around big men who were armed to the teeth.
What if he comes back?
Post two officers in the corridor and two in the foyer, Challis said.
They filed out, their uniforms and equipment creaking and clinking. Challis stood at the window and looked out over the acres of new apartment buildings that had reclaimed some of the old factory districts beside the river. Hed lost touch with the city. Hed walked along Southbank with Ellen just now and wondered who the people were, eating in the outdoor cafes, walking along the river path and watching the jugglers. He guessed there was a lot of disposable income around nowadays. You didnt see it in Waterloo.
Hal, said Ellen, coming up beside him. The setting sun was warm through the glass, bringing on a drowsy kind of desire in him, and he almost put his arm around her.
Find something?
These, Ellen said.
She showed him a couple of notebooks. Challis flipped through them, stopping at key phrases here and there. Some kind of anti-government, fundamentalist, Aryan survivalist nutcase? he surmised.
Ellen grinned. Can you be more specific?
Doesnt make him any less dangerous.
No.
Here you are, said a voice.
They turned. McQuarrie stood there, brisk, overcoated, slapping fine leather gloves against one palm. Off to a Rotary dinner, guessed Challis sourly.
Sir.
I understand youve identified the man who shot Janine?
Yes, sir, said Ellen, stepping forward as if to forestall criticisms the man might want to make. She began to lay it out for him, Vyners past and the possible importance of the Navy connection, but he was soon nodding impatiently and finally cut her off. I expect this means my son is now in the clear.
It was issued as a challenge, not a question. Ellen looked to Challis for guidance, but Challis felt a surge of anger, which went unrecognised by McQuarrie, who went on, You were way off beam there, Hal, admit it. Wasted man-hours, unnecessary
The anger built in Challis, the product of weeks of frustration and grief. It was hot and blinding. He had to blink. He said tightly, No ones in the clear, least of all your son. He was, and is, a logical suspect.
Logical? You dislike my son. Theres no logic involved.
Ellen coughed. Ill continue searching, she said, and slipped out of the room. The men ignored her. They were facing off rigidly.
What have you got against Robert? Is it that hes successful at what he does?
Challis felt goaded. He fought it. Identify and eliminate, he said. Thats what we do. You know that.
McQuarrie flushed. He curled his lip. The politics of envy, Hal. My son explained it to me. Its insidious, spread by people like Tessa Kane, but I have to say I didnt expect that you would ascribe to
Too late he realised that hed gone too far. No offence, he said, taking a step back.
Challis advanced on him, stabbed a forefinger against the mans softly padded breastbone. She was a better person than you or your son will ever be.
Take it easy.
I will not take it easy. Youve interfered in this case every step of the way. Im sick of it. Back off.
All right, all right, youve made your point.
Theyd gone well past admitting to a difference in rank, but theyd also talked out their fury. Their chests heaving, they stared at each other. They swallowed. Finally McQuarrie nodded curtly, left, and Challis stood for a while, willing himself to be fully calm again. Then Ellen was there, comfortingly close. Pissing contest over? she said, nudging him.
He laughed, and it was a great release. Lets bring Lowry in again.
* * * *
It was late, dark and cold in Waterloo. They were ex-Navy, Ray, just like you, Challis said, his voice clipped, in a little interview room along the corridor from Kellocks office.
Ellen took that as her cue to remove photographs from the file in front of her and slide them across the table. Nathan Gent and Trevor Vyner.
Never heard of them. Never met them, Lowry said.
At one stage, all three of you were serving at the Navy base in Townsville.
So? Its a huge base.
On duty, off duty, you had plenty of opportunities to meet them.
Lowrys legal aid lawyer, who looked about eighteen, gained sufficient nerve to say, My client has answered your question, Sergeant Destry.
Ellen ignored him. She tapped the photos. They murdered Janine McQuarrie. Gent was the driver, Vyner the shooter. Then Vyner shot Gent, fearing he was a loose cannon, and later still he shot Tessa Kane. She looked up. You had a beef with both women, Ray.
Lowrys lawyer said, Unless you have hard evidence that my client knew these men, or conspired with them to kill anyone, then I suggest you let him go.
Trevor Vyner, Challis said. Ex-Navy, served two terms for fraud and burglary in New South Wales in 2003.
So?
Some Browning pistols went missing from the Navy armoury. The armourer was your mate. Did Vyner get those pistols direct from him or did you broker the deal?
My client doesnt know anything about missing guns or these murders, the lawyer said. He left the Navy some time ago and is now a respected businessman.
Challis said nothing but simply stared at Lowry. They had Vyners print on the car and hed sent a pair of Vyners walking shoes to the lab, hoping the traces of vegetable matter in the treads would link Vyner to the shallow grave in Myers Reserve. But proving that Lowry had hired Vyner was not going to be so easy. There were no e-mails or phone records to link the three men to each other. Then again, Lowry had a shop full of mobile phones.
Thats when a uniformed sergeant entered the little room and motioned Challis to join him in the corridor. Sorry, Hal, but weve got a woman at the front desk who claims her husband ordered the McQuarrie and Kane murders.
* * * *
62
Is he still at the detention centre? Challis asked.
Lottie Mead shook her head. Probably at home, she said. Charlies generally home by six.
Does
he know youre here?
No! And you mustnt tell him, not until hes locked up!
They were in the victim suite because the interview rooms were being used and they couldnt question a potential witness amid the files and wall displays of the incident room. Challis was leaning against the wall in his habitual pose, Ellen was perched on the edge of a straightbacked chair, and Lottie Mead sat jittery and scowling at one end of the rooms ugly sofa.
Ellen reached out and touched the other womans knee reassuringly. Youre safe here, Mrs Mead.
Lottie Mead, wearing jeans, boots and an expensive costly-looking jacket, stared glumly at her feet, then up. Challis studied her, recalling the civic function at which shed given nothing away but allowed Charlie to do all the talking. She had narrow features, tightly compressed, as if shed never revealed many emotions and was unused to it now. You dont know what hes like. You got shot because of him, she said, and made as if to touch Ellen.
Challis watched and listened. Lotties South African accent was strong: shes Afrikaner South African, he guessed, not English, poorly educated, unconfident around powerful people. She looked demoralised, and he wondered if Charlie Mead had kept her subjugated. Yet she must have found a spark of courage and will, enough to seek help from Janine McQuarriewho typically had given her poor advice and false courage.
Why didnt you contact us sooner? Another woman died.
I was scared.
Scared, Challis said flatly.
Hal, Ellen said warningly.
Really scared, Lottie Mead said, looking at the floor again. I thought hed find out and kill me. Her cheeks were damp when she raised her head. But at the same time, hes so arrogant he believes Im too scared to cross him.
Challiss mind was racing, imagining this womans life with Mead, a man who ruled her thoughts and actions. Tell us again about Janine McQuarrie. Your names not on her client list.
I used my maiden name. Charlotte Strydom.
Challis looked. The name was there. He found the case notes and leafed through them. You started seeing her only a few weeks ago.
Yes.
The notes were typically cryptic and dashed off: abbreviations, simple words and phrases followed by question marks, virtually unreadable handwriting. What sort of counselling were you seeking from her?
My marriage was unhappy.
As he often did with interview subjects, Challis let scoffing and doubt rule his features. He waited. Lottie Mead said, Charlies being sent to manage a prison in Canada. I want to stay here.
Challis continued to stare at her, wondering where this was going. Lottie Mead shifted about on the sofa. I was scared.
Scared of how hed react if you said you didnt want to go with him?
Meads wife looked astounded that Challis could be so naive. Scared hed kill me.
Kill you, said Challis disbelievingly. It wouldnt be the first time that someone had used a major investigation to make false accusations against a spouse.
You dont know what hes like! He has to get his own way. He hates to be crossed. It was bad enough that I was seeing Janine, but telling him I wouldnt be going to Canada with him, well, hes not the kind of man to take it lying down. She paused. Hed make it look like an accident.
Challis and Ellen exchanged doubtful glances. So you saw Janine McQuarrie for advice. Did you tell her of your specific fears concerning your husband?
Some.
Some. Did she tell you to leave him?
Yes.
Challis watched Lottie Mead for a moment. The next question was obvious: Did Mrs McQuarrie then confront your husband?
Yes.
Did you ask her to?
God no! That would be a death wish.
Challis nodded. Janine had acted true to form. But would a reasonable man respond by hiring a hitman to kill her? Would an treasonable man, for that matter? So far, all that he and Ellen had was another situation similar to Raymond Lowrys, and there were bound to be still others.
So you think he killed Janine because youd gone to her and shed confronted him?
Yes.
Did he say or do anything to you?
He hit me.
Is that all?
He told me to stop seeing Janine.
And did you?
Lottie Mead sneered a little. She was an unappealing woman. You dont know my husband. Of course I did, and she was dead a few days later.
Did he tell you he was going to have her killed?
He didnt have to. He didnt care what I thought or knew. He knows Im scared of him.
Yet you had the courage to see Janine, and now youve come to us.
Lottie Mead shrugged. Ellen leaned into the gap between them. We need more, Mrs Mead. Youre not making a strong case. She paused. Forgive me for asking this, but have you and your husband been attending sex parties?
Lottie Mead straightened in shock, which became outrage. How dare you. Certainly not.
Janine McQuarrie and Tessa Kane were murdered by the same manyou say under orders from your husband. The only thing we can find that links both women is the sex-party scene.
No, absolutely not, said Lottie Mead, shaking her head violently. Charlie had them shot, but not because of that!
What, then? said Challis. Spit it out, for Gods sake.
Lottie flushed. She examined her bony hands sulkily. They both knew things she muttered or Charlie thought they did. She looked up. Dont you see? I went to Janine to talk about my feelings, Charlie thought I went to her to talk about facts. Thats why he killed her. And Tessa Kane.
What facts?
Lottie Mead was absorbed with her hands again. Doesnt matter.
I think it does, said Ellen harshly. We will talk to your husband eventuallywell have tobut weve also talked to other husbands just like him, whod been challenged by Mrs McQuarrie. What makes your husband so special?
Lottie Mead remained stubbornly uncommunicative, and Challis, watching her closely, realised that she was more calculating than bewildered or afraid, as though she had things to hide. The murder of Tessa Kane suddenly made sense. He remembered her file on the Meadsthere had been many gaps and question marks. Had she uncovered information that shed not yet recorded?
Tessa Kane was writing a story on you and your husband, he said. Is there something youre not telling us?
Lottie Mead was glumly mute. They waited, watching her. The little bar fridge switched on and whirred softly. The room seemed cloying suddenly. It happened a long time ago, in South Africa.
They gazed at her without expression. The apartheid era, she said eventually.
And?
Me and Charlie worked for the government.
She explained haltingly. It was a story of the interrogation, torture and summary execution of black leaders, for which her husband had displayed a certain proficiency. Hed almost been outed during the hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but friends had covered up for him. It was a long time ago, everyones changed now, but he didnt want it made public
What was your role back then?
I was in a different department, said Lottie Mead, not meeting their gaze.
Did you tell Janine McQuarrie about your husbands past?
I cant remember.
Challis was tiring of her evasions. Did you tell Tessa Kane?
No, I wouldnt let her in the door.
Did Ms Kane challenge your husband?
She might have done. He doesnt tell me anything, Lottie said. She paused. Are you going to arrest him?
Well talk to him, said Challis cautiously.
Hell get away with it, he always does.
We know the identities of the killers. Do the names Trevor Vyner and Nathan Gent mean anything to you?
Ive never heard of them, but Charlie was in charge of a prison before this. He would have met all types, including killers for hire.
We can check, Challis said. He passed her photographs of Vyner and Gent. You might not know the names, but do you know the faces?
&
nbsp; She froze over Vyners photograph. He was at the house this afternoon, looking for Charlie! Her eyes danced, excited and alarmed. He looked angry.
What did you tell him?
Lottie Mead put her hand to her mouth, appalled with herself. I told him to come back at six!
* * * *
