Asylum

by Amos, Gina

  When Jill arrived at Police Headquarters in Parramatta she was told Chief Inspector Carver was in a meeting. Jill settled back in the visitor chair and flicked through her emails. Ten minutes later she heard a phone ring.

  ‘Detective Brennan?’ Jill looked up.

  ‘Chief Inspector Carver, will see you now.’

  Jill walked into Scott Carver’s plush office. He stood up and walked out from behind his desk. He was wearing a tailored suit; a crisp white shirt matched with a pale grey tie. ‘Sorry I kept you waiting, Jill. Come in.’ Carver closed the door and pulled a leather visitor chair out for her. Jill sat down and hoped he didn’t notice the deep breath she took before she crossed her legs. Wisps of her honey-blonde hair escaped her ponytail. She brushed them behind her ear. Scott Carver perched himself on the corner of his desk next to her.

  Bea had never told her how old Scott Carver was; late thirties, early forties, she guessed. He had a few character lines around his eyes and grey hairs around his temples, which made him look distinguished in a sexy sort of way. As he talked, she detected the subtle scent of his woody aftershave, noticed the way his thigh muscles flexed through his trousers when he moved his leg. Jill tried to concentrate on what he was saying; aware of the effect he was having on her.

  Talk turned to Bea and Harry and their son. When coffee was offered it was declined and then they got down to why she was in his office. They went over what Jill knew about Adam Lee and he told her their Intel suggested there was more to the attack than a case of assault but he wasn’t at liberty to disclose any details. He then went on to fill her in on the Asian Gang strike force. Officers from Chatswood, Hurstville, Strathfield and Cabramatta Local Area Commands were being recruited.

  ‘I want you to put all your other cases aside and concentrate on Adam Lee. I’ve already spoken to DI Rimis and we’ve agreed that you and Detective Choi would be the perfect pair from our region to work on this. I’m not sure how much you know, but Vincent Wan is the leader of the Red Cave Gang. He’s a Chinese-Malaysian national. Immigration is going to deport him if we ever find him. He’s a stand-over merchant and ICAC also have him and a few of his associates in their sights.’

  ‘Can I ask why you think Adam Lee is associated with the Red Cave Gang?’ Jill asked.

  ‘Recent Intel suggests Wan’s operation is based in Chatswood but we don’t know where exactly. There’s a lot of ground to cover and the local community isn’t exactly forthcoming.’

  ‘And, Adam Lee? What is it you want Jenny Choi and me to do?’

  ‘I want you to gain his trust. He might lead us to Vincent Wan.’ Carver straightened the creases on his trousers. ‘Jill, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about.’

  Jill felt the chemistry between them, wondered if Scott Carver felt it too. ‘I know you have your doubts about Robbie Calloway’s death but…’

  The look he gave her told her she was on dangerous ground.

  Jill straightened her back. ‘I knew Robbie well and I’m still not convinced he took his own life.’ She thought she was here to talk about Adam Lee and Asian Gangs, not Robbie.

  ‘Surely with everything going on in his life it would be enough to convince you he committed suicide. It convinced me. So what have I missed?’

  ‘Fin. Robbie was devoted to his sister. I can’t imagine he’d leave her alone intentionally, and if he had taken his own life, at the very least he would have left Fin a note.’ Jill purposively didn’t mention that even that close bond had drifted in the few months before his death.

  ‘Any idea why he relocated to Rozelle just two weeks before his death?’ Carver asked.

  ‘No. Work seems the most likely though. I’m sure you’re aware of Robbie’s reputation for taking all of his cases seriously. His promotion to Senior Constable after he got a result with that sex offender in Palm Beach is proof of how committed he was to the job.’

  Jill could see Scott Carver thinking. She wanted to convince him Robbie’s death was worthy of further investigation. She continued. ‘Maybe he found something he didn’t have time to share with the other members of his team. And if he had discovered something, whatever it was may have led him to Glover Street, and ultimately to his death.’

  ‘Come on Jill, that’s pure speculation. You’re aware he visited mental help sites?’

  ‘That could have been because he was trying to find help for his sister. She doesn’t seem well.’

  ‘She just lost her brother. Of course she’s not well.’

  Jill ran her hands down her skirt. ‘Even if Robbie visited those sites because of his state of mind, it was a positive thing, don’t you think? It means he was looking for answers. And the lack of a suicide note, surely that’s an important factor.’

  Scott’s eyebrows twitched in surprise. ‘Not everyone who commits suicide leaves a note. You know that as well as I do.’ Carver’s tone was light but Jill also detected a hint of impatience. It seemed like the ranks were closing in on her.

  Why was everyone so eager to accept Robbie had taken his own life? Robbie Calloway was a long-serving officer. He deserved more. And why did she get the feeling that there was something more than polite interest behind Scott Carver’s questions?

  ‘Did you know Robbie well?’ she asked.

  Scott shrugged. ‘He’s within my command.’ He cleared his throat. ‘We had a couple of beers on a few occasions.’ Scott stood and changed the topic. ‘What about his gun? I believe it’s missing and it looks like he took it home without proper authorisation the night before he died.’

  Jill nodded. ‘That’s right. Someone saw him put it into his backpack.’ She knew what Scott was thinking, that Robbie had taken his gun home to use on himself.

  Carver walked over to the window, turned around to face her. ‘Did you know he took out a life insurance policy last month?’

  ‘No, I didn’t.’ Jill tried to hide her surprise. It seemed like Scott Carver had been doing his own investigating.

  Scott crossed the room. ‘Look, how about we go downstairs and grab a coffee?’

  Jill stood up. He was close. He paused, eyes on her. She shuddered, imagining his hands on her. Another pause and she wondered if he was feeling as conflicted as she was. Wanting to kiss him, touch him, but too worried about the consequences. She was about to take a step back, snap to her senses when his hand touched her face, stroked her hair. In the end it was Scott who closed the distance and pressed his lips against hers. She kissed him back, caught up in the moment. But she had to break the spell. This was work, and he was an area commander, for God’s sake.

  She gently pushed him away. ‘Don’t,’ she said. Her face reddened and desire welled up inside her. ‘This isn’t a good idea. In fact this is a terrible idea.’ She took a step back. ‘And besides, there’s no point.’

  He searched her face. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You and me, it’s never going to work.’

  ‘Why? I thought it was working just fine.’ He raised his eyebrows, referring to the kiss.

  ‘It’s not that, it’s just —’

  ‘I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I met you at Harry and Bea’s. I was surprised you didn’t return my phone calls,’ Carver said.

  ‘I’m sorry. There was so much happening back then. The Taggart case threw me. It was…’ she gripped the top of the chair, ‘tough.’

  ‘And that’s why I called you again when I heard Taggart had tried to —’

  ‘Thanks. And I’m sorry I never called you back.’ She took a breath. ‘But it wasn’t just that. I don’t date cops.’

  ‘A wise policy. I can see the sense in not letting the people you work with see you naked.’ Scott’s tone was light but his eyes were saying something else all together.

  ‘I mean it, Scott. Look at us. What do you see?’

  ‘Two people strongly attracted to each other.’ His eyes met hers.

  ‘Apart from that.’ She crossed her arms. ‘You know what I see? Two over-worked co
ps.’

  ‘I’m not asking you to marry me, Jill. I just thought we could go out together, have a bit of fun.’

  ‘Even fun can be hard in the workplace,’ Jill said, slightly nauseated by the prospect that he might only be interested in a fling. What did she really know about him? Maybe he routinely slept with his female colleagues. ‘Besides, now is really not a good time.’

  ‘In our line of work is there ever a good time?’ Carver threw his shoulders back. ‘I apologise. I guess I misjudged the body language and what was going on here.’ Scott’s eyes were coolly disapproving as they met hers. ‘You know something? I don’t think it has anything to do with timing or being a cop. I think you use the fact you’re a cop to stop you from forming relationships.’

  Jill’s cheeks turned a vibrant shade of red. She turned to leave but Scott seized her arm.

  ‘I know you’re upset over Calloway’s death because of your…history with him. Perhaps that’s why you’re seeing his death as something more sinister.’

  The hide of him. Did he really think her judgement was clouded because she’d slept with Robbie? She was about to tell him to mind his own business, but thought better of it and bit her tongue. After all he was an area commander.

  Carver sighed and let go of her. ‘We’ll probably never know what he was doing at Callan Park last Friday night. You can’t always expect an explanation for everything that happens in our business. Chances are he was out for a walk, saw the tower and…’ He trailed off. ‘Or maybe he went to Callan Park for one reason and one reason only: to kill himself.’

  TWENTY

  Jill didn’t drive straight back to the station after her meeting with Scott Carver; instead, she took the Ryde exit off the motorway to Lane Cove. If Scott Carver and Nick Rimis thought she’d walk away before she fully investigated Robbie’s death, they were both mistaken. There was one thing at least in Scott Carver’s favour. He hadn’t immediately written Robbie’s death off as suicide like everyone else. But just because he’d eventually accepted the suicide explanation didn’t mean Jill had to, and after this morning’s meeting she was more determined than ever to discover the truth behind Robbie’s death.

  After driving around in circles for almost ten minutes, Jill finally found a parking space in the Woolworths basement car park in Lane Cove. She locked the car and took the escalators up to Longueville Road.

  Her pace was hurried and she was aware of the clicking of her stiletto heels on the footpath. Hopefully she was racing towards answers. Moments later, she turned down a narrow arcade until she found herself outside Billy Veland’s shoe repair shop.

  She opened the door and walked inside. The shop was warm and stuffy. It smelt of leather and shoe polish. She pressed the bell on the counter and the man who came out from behind the black curtain was just as Jenny Choi had described. Jill flashed her ID at him. Billy Veland studied it for a moment then picked up a brown leather shoe and a polishing rag.

  ‘What can I do for you?’ he asked, not bothering to look up. ‘I’m here about Robbie Calloway. Did you know him?’

  Veland dipped the rag in the polish. ‘He’s the copper who jumped from the tower in Callan Park a couple of days ago, isn’t he? I read about him in the newspapers.’

  ‘Yes. But I mean did you know him personally?’

  ‘I know a lot of people, Detective.’

  ‘Don’t be smart with me.’ Jill put her hand on her hip. ‘I’m not interested in the fact that you lend money to desperate people. I’m not even going to ask about the high interest rates you charge or the legality of what you do. All I want to know is,’ she leaned across the counter to Veland, ‘did Robbie Calloway owe you money? And if he did, how much?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  Jill scowled. ‘What do you mean, nothing?’

  Veland put the shoe down on the counter and looked up at Jill. ‘Just as I said, Robbie didn’t owe me a cent. He repaid his debt.’

  Jill wrinkled her brow, surprised by the news. ‘Okay, so how much had he owed you?’

  ‘A ten with three zeros after it.’

  Jill didn’t react, but it was a lot of money on a cop’s salary. ‘You say he paid it back? When? How?’

  ‘Cash, the day he killed himself, actually. Came in here with a big smirk on his face, carrying a backpack filled with one hundred dollar notes.’

  ‘Where did he get the money?’

  The boot maker shrugged. ‘How the hell would I know? It’s none of my business. But he did say he wouldn’t need my services anymore. Said he was coming into some money.’

  Just then, the door opened and a customer walked in carrying a pair of tan boots. Veland looked at the customer, smiled. ‘Won’t be a moment.’ He looked back at Jill, raised his eyebrows. ‘Now, is there anything else I can help you with?’

  ‘Not right now, but I may be back with more questions.’

  Veland gave her a slimy smile before turning his full attention to his customer.

  Jill left the shop and adjusted her scarf. She’d hoped Robbie’s death had something to do with Veland, that he’d give her answers. But now she had more questions. She wondered where all this was leading. How did Robbie come up with the money to repay Veland? She was beginning to question how well she knew Robbie.

  Jill unlocked her car and slid into the driver’s seat. After she inserted the key in the ignition, she turned up the heat and considered the idea that Robbie was expecting to come into some money. She wondered what that meant and then she remembered — his grandmother had died a couple months back. Perhaps the estate was about to be settled and the money had come through.

  Jill released the hand brake and reversed out from the parking space. The wind was blowing a gale and thunderous clouds were moving in from the south. Jill drove out of the car park and made a fast turn into Longueville Road. She checked her side mirrors before she moved to the next lane. She sailed through the traffic lights and had just taken the exit ramp onto Pacific Highway when she slammed her foot on the brake. A truck had stalled two cars ahead of her. She’d been thinking about the inheritance money Robbie and Fin could expect from their grandmother’s estate and hadn’t been concentrating on the road ahead. She was too close to the car in front and she’d nearly rear-ended it. Brakes squealed and the car behind her sounded its horn, only just managing to stop.

  ‘Shit.’ Jill blew out a breath, knew she had to get her head in order…she’d nearly caused a pile-up.

  ‘The boss’s been looking for you,’ Luke Rawlings said when Jill passed him on the stairs on her way to the detectives’ room. ‘And he’s not in a good mood, something to do with that kid who was stabbed at the Interchange.’

  Jill walked along the corridor and stood on the threshold of Rimis’s office. She knocked on the open door. ‘You wanted to see me?’

  ‘Come in. Sit down. And close the door behind you.’ Before Rimis could ask how she had got on with Scott Carver, she told him she’d gone to see Billy Veland.

  ‘Veland? What the hell do you think you were doing talking to him?’

  ‘I wanted to find out if Robbie owed him money.’

  Rimis rubbed his neck. ‘Alright then, what did you find out?’

  ‘Veland told me Robbie repaid a ten thousand dollar loan the morning he died.’

  ‘Sounds like Robbie was getting things in order before he…’ Rimis’s voice trailed off.

  Jill hadn’t thought of that. Rimis was right. People did settle their affairs before suicide.

  ‘Look Jill, you have to know when to quit. There were no witnesses, no evidence, nobody was with Robbie the night he died as far as we know, which means the only person who can tell us what really happened in that tower is Robbie. The coroner’s office rang and his autopsy has been delayed. Even so, I don’t expect there will be anything in it to suggest his death was caused by another person.’ He leaned over his desk. ‘I know it’s hard, but you have to accept his death and move on.’

  Maybe she was wrong.

/>   Rimis continued. ‘I want all your attention focused on the Red Cave Gang. There’s a strong possibility Adam Lee or the Cheung family are linked to the gang. I want you to check with Rawlings on that hit and run…see if there’s a possibility they’re related. Not only will it make us look good for our quarterly figures but if the attack has anything to do with Vincent Wan, it’s a chance to get him off the streets.’

  TWENTY-ONE

  After Jill had left Rimis’s office she spent the rest of the day catching up on the paperwork that had accumulated in her pigeonhole. She was burying herself in routine, trying not to think too much about Robbie or about Rimis and how pissed off she was with him. He was a fine one to give her a lecture on knowing when to quit. Had he forgotten the part he played in the Taggart case? Rimis was the only person who’d believed Kevin Taggart was a serial killer and it hadn’t been for his perseverance, Taggart would be still walking the streets a free man.

  Jill looked at the time on her phone and started the shutdown process on her computer. Five more minutes and her shift would be over.

  She stood up and looked across the cubicle divider to Luke Rawlings’s workstation in time to catch him logging off from his Facebook page.

  ‘How’s, Lucy Fletcher, the girl who was run down in Smith Street?’ Jill asked.

  ‘The doctors don’t expect her to pull through.’ Luke straightened his shoulders and ran his hands through his thick hair. A habit born from vanity. Luke was the snappiest dresser in the office. More Armani than Kelly Country. When Jill looked into his eyes she saw no compassion for the girl.

  Luke had been in the graduating class ahead of her at the Academy and although they were both the same rank, it was clear he considered himself her senior. ‘Looks as if it was more than a hit and run. The girl had rope burns on her wrists and ankles and bruising to her face and head. A set of skid marks was found on the road next to where she was found. Accident investigators from AIS are over there now carrying out a tyre mark analysis.’