Area Commander Scott Carver’s office was spacious and well-appointed, as one would expect of a high-ranking officer. Behind his desk was a bookcase of technical and procedural manuals. On his desk were a lap top computer and a few open files. Rimis and Jill had been in his office for less than fifteen minutes when they stood to leave.
‘Could I have a word, Sir?’ Jill asked. She looked at Rimis. ‘In private?’
‘I’ll be waiting in the car,’ Rimis said, before he closed the door behind him.
‘You can dispense with the Sir business now. Rimis has gone.’
Jill sat down again. ‘I had no idea you were an area commander when I met you at Bea and Harry’s. And I didn’t recognise your voice either when I spoke to you on the phone. Some detective I’m going to make.’
Scott Carver laughed and sat back in his chair. ‘If it’s any consolation, I didn’t recognise your voice either.’
‘This is embarrassing.’ Jill tucked a stray hair behind her ear. ‘Bea should have told me who you were. And if you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing at Bea and Harry’s anyway? It didn’t seem like your scene, you know, babies and everything.’
‘I didn’t want to miss the chance to meet you. Bea and Harry told me we had a lot in common. I didn’t realise how much, until today.’
‘I was at an unfair advantage then,’ she smiled and crossed her legs. ‘You’re probably wondering what I want to talk to you about.’
This was awkward. What was she doing here? The way he was looking at her now, she sensed he felt sorry for her. She was grateful when he put her out of her misery.
‘If I was a betting man, I’d say it had something to do with Dorin Chisca and your father.’ Scott Carver moved around from behind his desk and sat down next to her. ‘What do you want to know? I’ve already told you I wasn’t with your father when he was shot.’
Jill leant forward. ‘Chisca claims he wasn’t there that night at Lakemba, and I know there’s no evidence to suggest he was. But I’ve got a feeling he knows who shot my father and why.’
‘I can’t tell you much more than you already know. You must have read the reports.’
‘Yeah, I read them. It’s just I want to find some answers but I don’t know what questions I should be asking.’
‘Look, I’m sorry, I can’t tell you what you want to hear. There was no evidence that Chisca had anything to do with Mickey’s death.’
Jill nodded.
‘Did you know him well? My father, I mean.’
‘Mickey was a good officer. Just keep that in mind if you speak to Chisca, or anyone else. Don’t be too quick to believe what people might want to tell you.’ Carver stood up, smiled. ‘Jill, I was wondering. Tyrone Maitland is having an exhibition at the Harvey Street Gallery this weekend. We could have lunch afterwards if...’
‘Sorry, Scott, but I’ve got this rule that I don’t date cops. And, I’ve got my Bull Ring coming up. I need to stay focused. There’s a lot happening in my life right now.’ Jill held out her hand to him to shake it, and he took it gently and rubbed her wrist with his thumb. She realised she had got nowhere apart from being asked out on a date. Another dead end.
Jill walked out of Parramatta Police HQ and headed towards the car park. The worst of the day’s heat was trapped beneath the footpath. It was always a few degrees warmer out west and her shirt was sticking to her back like an army of sucking leeches. She grabbed a small pot of lip-gloss from her bag, smoothed the greasy mix over her lips and tasted strawberries. What she would do for a cool drink and a swim right now.
By the time she got back to the car, perspiration was running down her neck. Rimis was sitting in the passenger seat, listening to the radio. The engine was running and the air con was on.
‘So what was all that about?’ Rimis asked.
‘Just wanted to talk to him about Dad.’
On the drive back to the city she felt cool enough to be able to think clearly about what had just happened. Scott Carver, Harry’s friend, not a gynaecologist, a Police Commander. Shit. She was definitely going to kill Bea now.