Lexie had just completed processing the charges against Sasha when her phone rang. It was Lurch.
‘Hey, Lex, got some good news. We’ve just found Melissa McDermott’s handbag in Sasha’s wardrobe. There are pictures of Rod Bream everywhere; all over the walls of her flat and especially in her bedroom. Some are blown up to poster size. It’s freaky. And it looks like he isn’t aware he was being photographed. She was stalking him.’
Three teams of detectives were carrying out a search on Sasha Hemming’s flat in the hope of getting some solid evidence to link her to all three dead women. This was great news.
‘Wow, well done,’ Lexie commended. ‘Is there anything there to . . . ?’
‘I was getting to that,’ Lurch interrupted excitedly. ‘We’ve also found a newspaper clipping of the reported death of Rachel West in the local Wagga Wagga paper. There are photographss of Jenna Harrison leaving her home – clearly taken without her knowledge – and there are also some photographss of you and your friend Dani.
Lexie felt her stomach clench. She was beginning to realise the full extent of Sasha’s madness and the potential danger she had posed to Dani and herself. She took a deep breath, tried to slow her racing heart.
‘That’s great evidence, Lurch. Very scary . . . but great for our brief against her.’
Lurch continued.
‘Her medicine cabinet has a supply of prescription medication to rival a chemist shop. We’ve also got the prescription pad with Bream’s name on it. We’re finishing up here now, so I’ll see you soon.’
Lexie had no sooner hung up from Lurch than her phone rang again. She checked her caller ID. Rex.
‘Congratulations, detective, for a job well done. Hear it got a little hairy there for a while. How’s your partner doing?’
Josh had just called and told her Brad was responding well to the Narcan.
‘He’ll be fine.’
‘At least it wasn’t your skinny little arse getting the brunt of it this time, hey?’
‘Shut up. Not funny.’
Rex laughed.
‘Thanks again for your help on this job; I really appreciate it,’ Lexie said.
‘Ahhh, no worries. Any time, you know that.’
He hesitated, appeared lost for words.
Lexie knew instinctively that there was more to this call than a concern for her welfare or his need to issue congratulations. She sighed, knowing she would have to draw it out of him. For some reason, Rex hated to ask for anything. It had something to do with his big bad masculine image, she guessed.
‘Was there anything else, Rex?’
‘Well, actually there is . . . You’re a trained undercover operative, aren’t you, Lexie?’
It was a statement more than a question.
‘You know I am.’
She could pretty much predict his next words. Rex had done her a favour by allowing Ugly Phil to assist in setting up Sasha. It was only fair that Lexie return the favour.
‘I hate to ask because I know you’re busy and all that but . . . can you help me out, Lexie?’
She laughed. For a man who had the gift of the gab, he could be so awkward sometimes.
‘For you, Rex – always.’