48

‘Argghh, bloody hell.’ I tossed the cellphone back on the seat. ‘Useless bloody thing.’ I had broken the law and my personal rule of not using the phone while driving, but hell, if this didn’t define extenuating circumstances, I didn’t know what did. I had to get hold of Paul, and fast. No fucking signal.

I flicked my eyes up to the rear-view mirror again and licked my parched lips. I’d spent more time looking at what was behind me than at the road ahead, on the lookout for any sign of pursuit. I only hoped Cole had bought my bluff.

I’d have to go to the Mataura command centre now, damn it. That meant dealing with the Boss, or worse. I knew who I’d rather deal with. Paul at least would listen. I didn’t know if the others would even let me on the premises.

‘Where are you, Paul?’ I uttered. Wouldn’t that be right? The only cop in the area I actually trusted, and he chose now to have some R & R.

Despite my reservations, I felt hugely relieved to finally clap my eyes on the Mataura Elderly Citizens Centre and see that the lights were on. I pulled up into the vacant car park a little too quickly and cringed as the tyre and wheel rim hit the kerb. Sorry, Maggie. Then I couldn’t get myself into the building fast enough. In fact, I could have got down on my knees and kissed that hideous carpet. Even I had to admit I’d never been so bloody scared in all my life. How could I have been so reckless? If Cole had been of a murderous disposition I wouldn’t even be here right now.

I’d made some very poor judgement calls lately and I wasn’t about to stuff up again. I took a few moments to compose myself in the foyer, and then swung open the main doors to track down the Boss. God, please let him be there.

At first glance, I could only spot one officer on duty.

‘Sam, what are you doing here?’

Make that two. I looked around to my right and was pleased to see one of the Gore constables transferred over for the case. She was always a friendly face.

‘Mel, hi, I’m glad it’s you. I’ve got some information I need to get to the Boss right away. Can I see him?’

‘He’s not here. Got the rest of the day off after the funeral.’ My face must have dropped, because she put her hand on my shoulder. ‘You OK?’

After the rollercoaster ride that had been my day, my week, all I wanted was for something to be straightforward for a change. Was it so much to ask for the person I wanted to speak with to be there, have them listen, no fuss, no drama? Why did everything have to be so bloody difficult? My eyes filled with tears.

‘Sorry,’ I said, wiping them away. ‘It’s been a hard week.’

Mel smiled at the understatement, and she only knew the half of it.

‘Who’s in charge, then?’ I asked, although I already suspected the answer.

‘Detective Inspector Johns, the guy from Dunedin.’

‘I’d better see him, then.’ My dread told in my voice. Mel looked at me, then ushered me gently towards one of the corner rooms.

‘Do you want me to sit in?’ she asked.

‘It might be an idea.’

We reached the room and Mel gave me a moment to wipe a few more tears, pull at my clothes and take a big breath. I nodded at her, then she knocked at the door and we went in.

DI Johns’ eyes widened, then narrowed, when he saw me. A good gauge of the reception I would get, I was sure.

‘Constable Shephard would like a word, sir. Says she has some information you will be interested in.’

She walked straight to one of the chairs and sat down, so I did too. The DI frowned. I thought he was about to ask her to leave, so I tried to get straight to the point.

My voice caught in my throat. ‘I have some very important information regarding the Gaby Knowes case.’

I could tell by the way he changed his posture he’d decided to be an arsehole.

‘Do you really think I would want to listen to anything you have to say after the way you spoke to me this morning? You have been insubordinate and disrespectful. And I seem to be spending a lot of my time reminding you that you are under suspension and still a suspect in this case.’

‘I understand that, sir, and I’m sorry, but I’ve found out some information you need to know.’ I tried to sound subordinate and respectful.

‘I should have you thrown out of the building. In fact, by all rights, I should get the constable here to escort you across the road and put you under lock and key. I have half a mind to have you arrested for obstruction of justice and—’

I’d been trying to keep it together. It was pointless.

‘For Christ’s sake, get down off your bloody high horse and just listen to me,’ I exploded.

‘Don’t you bloody well speak to me like that. Get the hell out of my office before I have you thrown in jail.’

I jumped to my feet and started to storm out. Then I realised that at that moment I had to be heard above all else, no matter how much I hated the DI and wanted to rip his throat out. So I let out an ‘Arggghh’, turned back around, strode over and banged my fists on his desk.

He and Mel both jumped.

‘Now listen to me.’ I leaned over towards him as far as I could, fixed him in the eye and spat it out before he could interject again. ‘Let’s stop the stupid games and just shut up and listen. I know who killed Gabriella Knowes.’

There was an awkward silence as I glared at him and he glared straight back.

The deadlock was broken by an ‘Ahem’ from Mel.

‘OK, we’re listening,’ she said. ‘How about you sit back down, Constable, and tell us exactly what you know.’

I slowly sat down, and DI Johns leaned back into his seat.

‘Alright, then, who do you think killed Mrs Knowes?’ His voice was still full of condescension.

‘I think that Trevor Ray was behind the murder of Mrs Knowes.’

The DI laughed in my face. It took all of my self-control not to swear at him again.

‘No, don’t laugh. Come on, be fair, hear me out.’

So I told him everything. I told him that Gaby had been killed because she’d figured out, or Trev thought she’d figured out, that he had cattle infected with BSE on the farm. I told him of the burning carcasses and how it tied in with the recent spate of cattle rustling. I told him my theory on how an outbreak could have happened and how long it could have been going on. I told him my suspicions about Trev having the human equivalent of mad-cow disease, and lastly, I told him of my visit to the farm, who I’d seen there and my conversation with Cole.

When I’d finished, he sat there for a moment, taking it all in. At least he didn’t tell me I was mad. When he did speak, his attitude and his tone had utterly changed. It was serious and level.

‘You took a huge risk going back there. You shouldn’t have done that.’ He twirled a pencil on his desk.

‘I know, it was dangerous in hindsight, but I felt it was my responsibility to clear this all up. I had to sort it out.’ That, and he’d given me no choice, but I didn’t verbalise that thought.

Now I’d offered everything I knew, it felt like my plug had been pulled out. Events of the last week had taken their toll, and I felt brittle and flat.

‘If what you’re saying is true, then Mr Ray had Mrs Knowes murdered over a few head of cattle. That’s a bit of an overkill.’

‘God, yes,’ said Mel.

It was. I tried to imagine it from Trev’s perspective.

‘I suppose all he could focus on was his stock being slaughtered, losing money, losing his livelihood. He could see the potential ramifications locally and nationally, so got the vet involved – and the meat plant, transporters, the people who had a lot to lose – but on a hush-hush level. He had them all caught up in it. When he made the decision to have Gaby killed, he made them all accessories.’

‘They made themselves accessories if they didn’t come forward as soon as they knew.’ That was Mel.

‘Mad-cow disease. Shit. You do realise that if it’s confirmed, our export beef market is going to be obliterated, so the farmers are going to suffer, and the works, the town – hell, the whole country. Meat plants will close, jobs will be lost. It will be the end of some towns.’ The DI looked me in the eye. I knew exactly one of the towns he was alluding to. It was a scary thought, but not half as scary as the thought of how many people were exposed to the disease, how many could be infected. ‘That kind of thing could throw the nation into complete crisis.’

‘Trev must have known that too, which is why he tried to keep it a secret, even to the extent of killing an innocent woman,’ I said.

‘It doesn’t make sense, though. Something that big was always going to get out, and at some point, the authorities would have to get involved. It would be inevitable. And anyway, if he’d gone straight to the authorities, they could at least have had a chance to minimise the damage to the country and everyone concerned. Our world-class reputation and our clean, green image is going to be shot to hell. The foreign media are going to have a field day – young mother killed in back-country town to cover up conspiracy of silence over mad-cow disease. We’ll be seen as trying to hide it. He must have been insane to think killing her would hide it all, make it go away.’

He got that right.

‘Well, that’s the crucial point,’ I said. ‘In a way, he probably is insane. He may not even realise he’s got CJD and the awful effect it’s having on his brain and his mind, and he certainly isn’t making sane decisions.’

God only knew what else he had wrecked. I could never excuse him for what he’d done, but I was surprised to feel a twinge of pity for Trev.

‘So now what do we do?’ I asked.

‘I’ll be calling in reinforcements. We’ve got a fair few people to round up and question. We’ll start out at the Ray farm, see how many we can catch still there.’

I was pretty sure Cole would have gone back and told them what had happened. They would have cleared off by now.

The DI had thought of that. ‘We’ll send cars out to their residences as well, make sure no one gets by us.’ He’d stood up and was already reaching for the phone. ‘As for you, I want you to go home … No—’ He held his hand up as I started to protest. ‘Listen, you will go home, and then when I need you to come back and identify the people present at the farm I’ll send someone around to pick you up.’

I could see he would not be open to debate on the matter. He’d already moved on to the business of calling in officers.

Mel tapped me on the elbow and indicated towards the door, so I got up and followed her back out into the main hall.

‘Well done,’ she said, ‘though I don’t know that solving this case makes me any happier.’

‘No, it raises some pretty unappetising questions.’ I inclined my head back towards the room. ‘Are you sure he won’t let me tag along for the ride?’

Mel laughed. ‘I think he made it quite clear he wanted you out of the way. Go home, Sam. Someone will come pick you up when we need you.’ She patted me on the back and then headed back to the action.

Thought of home made me suddenly realise I hadn’t let Maggie know I was safe. I felt a pang of guilt: she’d be worried sick. I hopped into her car and called the home number on my cell. It went straight to answerphone. I flicked her a text message to tell her to put the kettle on, I was on my way.

All I wanted to do was get to the safety of my own home for a cuppa, some Toffee Pops and some Maggie therapy.