Under Cover Of Dark

by Juanita Kees

  ‘Well, aren’t you just a bundle of joy today. I’m guessing there’s still no word from Lily?’

  ‘Ten hours, Harold. Ten lousy, fucking hours. They could be anywhere by now. How can I be sure Albero hasn’t tracked them down already?’

  ‘Because the arsehole only left his office to go home a couple of hours ago.’

  ‘Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have people to do his dirty work. Like my ex brother-in-law or the thugs he employed.’

  Harold smirked as he smoothed out the warrant for Albero’s arrest. ‘They arrived in Kalgoorlie at 10:20 p.m. on the Indian Pacific.’

  ‘What?’

  Harold shrugged, nonchalant. ‘Lily and Luke. They arrived by train in Kalgoorlie a little over half an hour ago.’

  ‘How the fuck do you know that?’ Mark stood, shooting out a hand to grab his mug before it spilt cold coffee all over his paperwork. ‘Weren’t you the one who told me not to start a missing persons search?’

  ‘Yes, because you need to concentrate on getting this case wrapped up. While you were wallowing in self-pity and red tape, I did a little digging. The car was at the South Perth train station, right? That line goes to Sydney. The ticket office recalls asking for a delay in departure so two latecomers could board — with one-way tickets. The conductor on the Indian Pacific remembers a pretty blonde and her son getting off the train in Kal. He wondered why when their tickets were booked all the way to Sydney. Apparently, she’s wearing that same lost look as you are. All they had with them was hand luggage according to the conductor.’

  Mark sank into his chair, relief flooding through him. Thank God. They were safe. For now, at least. ‘Problem is, if you found them that easily, Albero could too. We need to move on this fast.’

  ‘I’ll let the local cops know.’

  ‘Have I told you lately you’re not such a dickhead after all, Harold? Better not get too soft or you’ll be watching those chick flicks with Jeannie and Olive before you know it.’

  Harold snorted. ‘Too late. They hide the remote and I’m forced to.’

  Mark smiled a little. ‘There are so many things I could say to that but right now all I want to do is slap the chains on Nic Albero. Preferably around his grungy neck so I can hang him from the shower head in prison like the fly bait he is. Let’s visit Mr Albero and show him his room for the night.’

  ‘Now you’re talking my language! No more of this soppy crap. Next thing I know you’ll be hopping on a plane to Kalgoorlie with a bunch of roses and a proposal.’

  ‘Bullshit. And don’t tell me you never gave Jeannie flowers.’ Mark snatched up his keys. ‘Let’s go.’

  Silence stretched between them as they drove. All Mark wanted was for it to be over. When they pulled up outside Albero’s house ten minutes later, he was determined it would be. Lily and Luke would be free then, free to live their new life. Would Lily decide to stay away from Perth? Start afresh on the east coast, or somewhere else? He forced down the ache of emptiness that settled around his heart. It had to be her choice.

  With a shrug, he squared his shoulders, patted the pocket bulging with the envelope containing the warrant and took a deep breath. He let it out on a sigh. ‘Ready when you are, partner.’

  They got out of the car and made their way up to Albero’s front door. The path lit up like a cricket pitch at a night game as motion sensor security lights snapped on.

  Harold whistled. ‘Anyone would think our big bad lawyer is scared of the dark.’

  ‘More like what will come out of the shadows to bite his arse. I think you need one of those fountains in your front yard.’ Mark pointed to the centre of the circular driveway.

  ‘Fuck off! Bloody naked ladies, seriously? And is that a giant…no, surely not!’ Harold shook his head at the hedge clipped in a long, fat rounded sculpture with a bulbous shape at the top of it. ‘A dick for dick — figures. He has some seriously shitty taste, this bloke.’

  Mark chuckled as he pressed the doorbell, ringing it until Albero whipped the door open. He waved the warrant under Albero’s nose. ‘I’m sure you’re familiar with this?’ He made to push past Albero, who blocked his way in.

  ‘What the fuck? Do you know what fucking time it is? You can’t force your way into my house! Who the fuck do you think you are? This is fucking harassment!’ Anger reddened his face, the cords of his neck rigid with fury.

  ‘Nice PJs,’ said Harold, pointing to Albero’s silk robe. ‘Who dresses you? Your mother?’

  Mark showed him the warrant again. ‘We have a few questions to ask you.’

  ‘I have nothing to tell you.’

  ‘Really?’ Taking his time, Mark opened the envelope and pulled out two pieces of paper. ‘You see, Albero, I have something here I think might interest you.’

  ‘I’m not interested in anything you have to show me, Detective. Get off my property.’

  ‘Or what? We have a warrant that says we can be here. If I was you, I’d pay attention,’ Harold interjected.

  ‘Well, you’re not me, arsehole. I don’t know what you think you have on me, but I’ll find a loophole and I’ll drag your sorry arses through the courts until they strip you of everything you’ve worked for.’

  ‘You know when you sneer like that you look like an ugly pitbull? Slobber like one too.’ Harold flicked at the sleeve of his shirt.

  ‘Shall we sit and talk about this like real men?’ Mark said affably, as Albero’s glance fell on the government logo on the paper he held. ‘You’ll want to see this.’

  ‘Who is it, Babe?’ Albero’s secretary appeared in the doorway, rumpled and wearing a robe matching his.

  ‘No-one. Go to bed, Bitch.’

  Harold raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s your sexy talk? I can see it really turns them on,’ he said as the girl’s eyes teared up and she walked away with a sniff.

  ‘Get on with it and get out. I’m tired.’

  ‘I bet you are,’ Harold said, earning himself another derogatory look.

  Mark smiled. ‘Tell me, Nic, had you ever met Tiny Watts before he started running drugs for you and Serena Snow?’

  ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. Like you, Detective Johnson, I’m an officer of the law.’ He ignored Harold’s snort of disgust. ‘I’ve told you I only know Tiny Watts through Luke Bennetti. He and Luke were mates.’

  ‘You might want to invite us in, Nicky my boy,’ said Harold. ‘You’re going to need a chair.’

  ‘I don’t let pigs in my house. They make a mess of the place.’

  ‘I bet they do with all the shit you’re hiding.’ Harold leaned against the wall next to the front door, a foot on the curved step.

  ‘I’ve got nothing to hide.’

  Mark unfolded the paper in his hand and studied it. ‘Well, that’s interesting. Are you sure about that? Do you have any children, Nic?’

  Albero smirked. ‘No. I managed to avoid that trap.’ Harold and Mark looked at each other with a grin that made Albero shuffle his feet. ‘What’s your point?’

  ‘Well, you see, we have evidence that points to you and Bennetti being at the convention centre around the time Tiny Watts disappeared. We have a witness who saw you in the park near the toilets where he was murdered.’ Mark studied the nervous flicker of Albero’s eyes, the twitch of the muscle in his face.

  ‘Bullshit. I’ve already told you I didn’t know the kid.’

  ‘But you did know he was a foster child?’

  ‘What has that got to do with anything? The kid was a loser, a drug addict, a fucking troublemaker!’ Albero leaned a shoulder against the doorframe, his lips drawn in a smug smile. ‘You’re wasting your time, Detective, and taxpayer dollars.’

  Mark’s hands itched to punch the arrogance from his puffy face. He stroked a hand over the paper instead, a far more powerful weapon. ‘I disagree, Nic. You see, according to this little piece of paper…’ He placed it against the wall and smoothed it down, ‘…you murdered your own son.’

  White-faced and s
weating, Albero held out his hand for the paper. Mark handed it over without a word. Expressions chased across the lawyer’s face as he took in dates, places and the names on Tiny Watts’s birth certificate. ‘Jesus…’

  ‘Now that’s not exactly what I’d call you,’ said Mark.

  * * *

  Kalgoorlie, the city of gold. Lily scanned the rows of heritage buildings, taking in the dull, aging facades and the dry and dusty land on which they stood. If the streets were truly lined with gold here, why didn’t she feel lucky? Something in her bones — a nagging feeling — had her hesitating, wondering if this was far enough away. A nice town but not nearly remote enough, too busy, Lily thought.

  The train had stopped for fuel and to stock up on supplies, leaving them twenty minutes to stretch their legs. It was tempting not to board the train again but Broken Hill looked far more promising. Lily’s heart lifted a little only to plunge again as she thought of Luke and how with every long kilometre of their journey, he’d retreated more.

  Bugger it. She was tired of running from Gino’s ghost. Kalgoorlie it was. Anyone looking for them would think they’d gone all the way to Sydney. Neither she nor Luke could take much more.

  ‘We’re not getting back on the train, Luke.’

  ‘What?’

  She’d had time to think but still found no comfort in doing the right thing and going to the local police to explain their situation and tell them about Luke’s bail conditions. Sure, the cops would contact Mark, let him know they were okay and where they were. No, it wouldn’t work. They could end up being extradited back to Perth. The longer she left it, the worse the consequences could be for Luke. She missed TJ, her garden, even her little cabin…and Mark. Good memories best let go. At least until Albero no longer posed a threat. If justice served. So far it hadn’t.

  Luke had retreated into the sullen boy he’d been before Gino’s death. It hurt. She was losing him…again. Guilt flooded through her once more. What a mess she’d made of her son’s life. No wonder he hadn’t spoken more than two words to her since leaving Perth. Tears stung her eyes as pain constricted her throat. Here they were, in the middle of nowhere, on their way to who-knew-where with an uncertain future keeping pace behind them.

  ‘What’s the point? We can’t keep running forever. I’m sorry, Luke,’ she whispered, cringing as he pulled his hoodie up over his head and turned away from her.

  Behind them the train whistle blew and the brakes screamed as they released, letting the wheels turn freely. Vaguely she heard a scuffle, a shout from the conductor but she paid no attention. Her eyes were on Luke. She stared at his thin shoulders hunched away from her against the harsh light of the station platform, and felt the wall of silence grow. Their hopes, their dreams and their future happiness slammed into that wall and shattered, the shards piercing her heart. Perhaps they were better off dead.

  Chapter 14

  The last time he’d stepped into interview room one, he’d seen an angel. Now all Mark saw was the devil, and at one o’clock in the morning, his patience had run out. Nic Albero hadn’t come quietly and he showed no signs of talking. If Mark wanted to bring Lily home — and oh God, he wanted to — he had to get a full confession out of Albero. All he needed was something concrete — anything — that pointed to Serena Snow and he’d have them both.

  Tonight was surely the longest night of his life. What was Lily doing? Were they okay? They were safe for now and that’s all that mattered to him, all he could afford to think of until this was over. Now all Mark wanted was to wrap up this case and put the boxes back in the archives. The best way to keep Lily and Luke safe and give them back their freedom, was to put his time and skills to the best use he could.

  ‘Tell me about the Golden Diva.’

  ‘Fuck you.’

  Mark put a restraining hand on Harold’s arm as he pushed back his chair, ready to grab Albero around the neck. As much as he wanted to strangle the arrogant bastard himself, he didn’t want to give Albero any room to wriggle out of the corner they’d put him in.

  ‘Answer the question. If you’re looking to plea bargain, it will count in your favour,’ Mark reminded him.

  ‘Don’t tell me the law. I don’t have to answer your question. I know my rights.’

  Mark sighed. His long night looked like it was going to get even longer. ‘I have enough on your petty crimes to throw your sorry arse in prison until your preliminary hearing at least. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be.’

  ‘Fine, I’ll make it personal instead. Your ex brother-in-law, Paul Price, sold us shares to buy himself out of the debt he owed.’

  ‘Who’s we?’ Mark’s fingers hurt from clenching them in a fist, holding the punch he’d love to deliver to Albero’s chin. For his sister, for his niece, even for Luke. But most of all, for Lily.

  ‘Myself, Gino and Serena Snow.’

  ‘How do you know Serena Snow?’

  ‘Not that it’s any of your business but we met years ago, had a thing going for a while. What’s this got to do with anything anyway? Are you charging me for having a relationship?’ Albero reclined in the chair and linked his hands across his fat belly.

  ‘Did you know she was pregnant?’

  ‘That bitch opened her legs for anything with a dick. Yes, I knew. I told her to have an abortion. I would have paid for it even though there was no proof the bastard was mine. That birth certificate you have is a lie.’ He smoothed the silk of his robe. ‘You pricks could have let me put pants on.’

  ‘Why did you murder Tiny Watts?’ Mark leaned forward on his elbows and held Albero’s gaze.

  Albero took a while to respond and Mark wondered what was going through his mind. ‘You have nothing, Detective. Now you’re reaching.’

  ‘Do you think she knew Tiny Watts was her son?’

  Albero stared at him, his eyes cold, the muscle in his cheek twitching. ‘There was no child.’

  Mark pulled out a copy of the maternity hospital records they’d subpoenaed after finding Tiny’s stash. ‘This says there was.’ He handed the paper to Albero. ‘The blood type is the same as yours and I bet if we did DNA tests it would come up with a match. You murdered your son. He died an excruciating death by your hand with your drugs. That makes you a monster.’

  Albero shrugged but said nothing. Pasty white replaced the ruddiness on his puffy cheeks, the smug look and self-assurance wearing off. The cracks had started to show.

  ‘How did Tiny end up a runner for her?’

  Albero remained silent. Harold stood to walk the length of the room and back as they waited for a response. When their suspect leaned forward on the table but still stayed tight-lipped, he stopped pacing and said, ‘You know, Nic, I’ve a mind to send you to maximum security until we can book that prelim. It wouldn’t be too hard to arrange.’ He strolled around the table to stand behind Albero. ‘The prison guards will talk, the inmates will listen and by dinner time, you’ll be someone’s bitch.’

  ‘Fuck you.’

  Harold chuckled. ‘No, fuck you. Because when your cellmate is done with you, he’ll pass you around for the others to play with and — from what I hear — they don’t much like your kind in there. The clean-up crew will be scraping what’s left of you from the walls and floor of the showers.’

  Mark leaned back in his chair. ‘You know all about that, don’t you? How many of those little meetings have you arranged on visits to your clients?’ He drew gallows and a noose on his notepad. ‘My guess is there are a few people in there looking for payback. The morgue has seen a few of your mates on the slab recently. I wonder if your number will be up next?’ With a few strokes of the pen, he drew a stickman with his head through the noose. ‘Game over.’

  ‘I want a lawyer.’

  ‘You are a lawyer. Do yourself a favour and run your own defence. Everyone else out there in the legal world would be happy to see you rot in prison.’

  ‘Then I want solitary confinement until the trial.’

  Mark r
aised his eyebrows. ‘Afraid they’ll rip you a new arsehole? I’m not sure you’re in a position to bargain yet. Give me something to work with.’

  ‘Serena hung out at the train stations, watched for the troublemakers, the homeless kids — kids who weren’t likely to be missed if anything happened to them.’ Albero wiped his mouth and stubbly chin with the flat of his hand.

  ‘Irony is an ugly mistress,’ Mark said. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘You’re lying. Who else is involved?’

  ‘What do I get in exchange?’

  Albero’s smirk stretched Mark’s self-control as he gripped the pen in his hand. Mark narrowed his eyes. ‘Tell me where Serena Snow is and we’ll talk.’

  Albero leaned back in the interview chair, his eyes emotionless. ‘Worried about the lovely Liliana, Detective? That cold bitch and her snivelling boy deserve everything coming their way.’

  ‘Answer the question, you dickhead,’ Harold intervened. ‘Your own bedroom in the lock up isn’t looking like a deal right now.’

  Mark studied Albero’s face as he leaned towards him over the table between them. The man’s features were set like stone. Not so much as a muscle twitched as he stared at his cuffed hands, his lips pulled tight. ‘Why did you threaten to kill Lily and Luke?’ Mark asked.

  Albero’s lips stretched. ‘Serena wanted them gone after Luke shot Gino.’

  ‘So you would murder another child and an innocent woman to appease her?’ Mark shook his head. ‘What about Scott Devin?’

  Albero played with the chain between his cuffed hands and snorted. ‘What about him? He was simply another chess piece in the game, a sucker who fell for what Serena offered, another way to get rid of dirty cash.’

  ‘He’s not as much of a sucker as you think. He saw through her game pretty quickly. Greed breeds mistakes, Nic. Deadly mistakes. How does it feel knowing you’re just another pawn in a woman’s game of power?’ Mark pushed his chair back and stood. ‘You’re nothing but Serena Snow’s lap dog. You stood by and watched while your partner physically abused his wife and child, deliberately put them in danger. You dealt drugs to children, knowing it would destroy their lives. Then you held down your own son and delivered a dose you knew would kill him. How does that make you feel?’