Buck heard bottles clink as he opened the door to Chase Investigations. He found Dan and Molly at their desks, Mike coming from the kitchenette with cold beers in his hands. He lifted one to Buck.
‘Krombacher?’ he inquired.
‘Sounds poncy.’ Buck took it and peered closely. ‘German?’
‘We like to be cultured,’ Dan grinned.
Molly took a pre-mixed gin and tonic from Mike. ‘So what’s news in the thriving metropolis of downtown Ellerslie, Buck?’
‘Mrs MacGregor’s had a third case of dog-fouling and I may need to call in reinforcements. More to the point, what’s up with you guys? So you cracked it wide open?’
Dan shrugged modestly. ‘We do what we can.’ He had earlier filled his friend in to a degree, and finished the job now.
‘So Callum’s missus was running meth for the White Knights?’ Buck said. He sipped his beer. ‘And she used to be on the scene in Kings Cross too?’
‘Yep, right at the tail end when Stacey blew the whistle. Karen was one of the new girls that the gang used when they re-opened. Of course, Tracy’s name was mud and they all knew who she was,’ Dan said. ‘Years later Karen happens to come across her in Auckland, because she’s dating her father-in-law. Stacey didn’t know her so never put two and two together.’
‘Lucky,’ Buck commented.
‘She was still involved with the scene, and when the gang moved over here she hooked up again, making some cash on the side.’
‘And old Callum was just a bit-player?’
‘Yep. Just an idiot who was too weak to say no to anything. Thought he was a big shot but he wasn’t. He realises now-I think that’s why he’s talking. It sounds like Karen’s been getting some action on the side, too. Karen made all the calls. And the security guy, Shane, got his job at the factory through Callum via Karen. He was one of the heavies.’
‘Six degrees of separation,’ Buck said. The Krombacher was cold and good.
Dan nodded agreement.
‘He was one of the ones who chased us and smashed up my car,’ Mike growled from his desk. ‘Dan recognised him at the office.’
Dan shrugged modestly. ‘It was nothing, really. Just good detective work.’
Mike snorted. Dan ignored him. Molly and Buck grinned at each other.
‘So how’d you find all this out?’ Buck asked. ‘I know the Organised Crime guys busted the bar today, Wild Bill’s.’
‘Luckily, Callum was pretty stupid,’ Molly replied. ‘He used his work phone all the time for things he probably shouldn’t have. It was full of undeleted texts.’
Buck shook his head. ‘Oopsie,’ he said. ‘So everyone lives happily ever after?’
Dan glanced sideways at Mike. ‘Pretty much. Stacey and Liam do, anyway. The wedding’s still on. Callum and Karen are currently between jobs and likely to get locked up once Organised Crime do their thing.’
‘Good job.’
‘And in the meantime,’ Dan said, throwing a grin to Mike, ‘we both need to go car shopping, don’t we mate?’
‘Huh,’ Mike grunted, ‘I thought you were going to get another Vee Dub like Molly’s? Matching his and hers?’
Dan frowned. ‘Not very masculine,’ he said.
Mike grinned. ‘Perfect for you, then…’