Six

Day 2

St Nicholas College

11.30 a.m. Monday, 26th October 1965

On Cardilini’s instructions Salt didn’t park in the car park but on the lawn under some shade.

‘Get your notebook out and look like you’re taking notes.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And stay behind me,’ Cardilini said as they walked towards the administration block. A tall, thin, elderly man exited the building and shuffled away from them in the shade of the cloisters. The lawns were immaculate, obviously. Obviously well-watered and growing like mad. A nightmare for the gardener, Cardilini thought.

The buildings on the raised riverbank stood marshalled like soldiers on parade, bastions against the ignorance of their urban setting.

The principal’s offices were spacious and emanated scholarly endeavour. Paintings of past principals looked down disapprovingly at Cardilini. He bristled at the seeming opulence. Sham, he thought. Even the secretary’s desk was twice the size of his own, and it was a solid dark wood, without the grey-steel drawers that screeched like a cat every time they opened.

‘I’m Detective Sergeant Cardilini. Principal Braun’s expecting me.’

The principal’s secretary, Miss Reynolds, looked up, surprised for a moment, then gave herself a little nod as if just remembering. She viewed Cardilini from over the top of her spectacles, a sharp little bird.

‘Dr Braun’s busy, but I will let him know you’re here.’

‘That’s very efficient of you,’ Cardilini said with a wink to Salt that Cardilini was keen for her to see.

Miss Reynolds eyed Cardilini again, Cardilini bestowed a smile. Miss Reynolds departed.

‘You’d think she was the bloody Queen of Sheba and Braun was the king. We’ll see how long that stands up.’ Cardilini craned over Miss Reynolds’s desk, ‘Thought she might be sitting on a nest of thistles.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘They think they’re better than the rest of us.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘If you’ve got nothing useful to say, Salt, shut up.’

On her return Miss Reynolds said primly, ‘Dr Braun is busy but understands you’ve a duty to perform and will see you straight away.’

‘That’s big of him. Take notes, Salt, “Miss Reynolds, secretary.” You got that?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘He’s keen to get his first prosecution,’ Cardilini told Miss Reynolds as he walked into the principal’s office.

The principal sat at his desk, a pile of documents to his right. Braun took the top document, skimmed through it, and then placed it to his left. He completed several more while Cardilini and Salt stood watching. Cardilini turned to Salt and mouthed ‘wanker’. The principal raised his head midway through a document.

‘You must be Cardilini?’

‘Detective Sergeant Cardilini. This is Constable Salt. And you must be Joe Braun.’

‘Dr Joseph Braun.’

‘Okay, we all seem to be present. Shall we stop calling each other names and get to business?’ Cardilini said as he sat in the chair opposite the principal.

The principal, taken aback, gestured Salt to the other chair.

‘He likes standing,’ Cardilini said. ‘Now about this murdered teacher.’

‘Murdered?’ The principal reacted as if slapped.

‘Take notes here, Salt,’ Cardilini directed.

‘No, no, no. It was a stray shot from across the river,’ the principal stammered.

‘No, no, no. It was a marksman’s shot from less than two hundred yards,’ Cardilini replied emphatically.

The principal’s phone rang. He hurriedly picked it up and said he was busy.

‘Detective Sergeant Cardilini, I am not sure where you’re getting your information from, but this matter’s been cleared away and I was told you were simply coming here to finalise the report.’

‘Let me see the notes on the case, Salt.’ Cardilini put out his hand while he stared fixedly at the principal. Salt placed his notebook in Cardilini’s hand. Cardilini flipped pages of the notebook back and forth. The principal’s phone rang again.

‘No,’ the principal shouted into the mouthpiece immediately on picking up the phone, ‘Miss Reynolds, no.’

‘Bull ants,’ Cardilini mouthed to Salt.

‘Now …’ the principal started.

‘Now, Dr Braun,’ Cardilini handed the notebook back to Salt and gave the principal an exaggerated wink. ‘I am sure you understand that if an ironclad report is to be made, correct procedure must be followed?’

The principal’s brow furrowed and he turned his questioning gaze to Salt, who studied his notebook.

‘Shall we?’ Cardilini stood and gestured towards the door. ‘I thought we should start in the room where the body was found.’

The principal after some hesitation stood, ‘Are you sure this is the right thing to do?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘If …’ the principal hesitated ‘… if you would wait in Miss Reynolds’ office, my deputy, Dr Robson, shall attend to you. He discovered poor Captain Edmund. There are some important calls I must make, you understand.’ Then he added with renewed confidence, ‘Please see yourself out.’

Cardilini raised his eyebrows at Salt and they left the principal’s office.

Miss Reynolds’ cheeks were flushed as she sat rigidly at her desk. Cardilini leant against it, lit a cigarette and offered the packet to Salt who declined. Finally, the telephone on Miss Reynolds’ desk rang. Picking it up, she listened a moment then uttered a sharp, ‘Yes,’ and hung up.

‘Dr Robson, the deputy principal, will see you outside,’ she said briskly and gestured towards the door.

‘Charming,’ Cardilini said with another wink as they left. ‘You’re taking real notes,’ Cardilini stated to Salt while they stood outside.

‘Yes, sir,’ Salt replied as Cardilini shrugged his shoulders.

A middle-aged man wearing a threadbare grey suit hanging from bony, stooped shoulders approached reluctantly. His ashen face hung like his suit.

‘Cardilini?’

‘Yes. Robson?’

‘Yes. I’m to show you Captain Edmund’s room.’

‘Show away,’ Cardilini gestured. Robson stood for a moment dart­ing his eyes between Cardilini and Salt, then turned resignedly and shambled back the way he had come. Cardilini and Salt followed.

‘Why did you call him captain?’ Cardilini asked.

‘He was captain of the cadet corps.’

‘You have a cadet corps?’ Cardilini asked with a disdainful grimace to Salt.

‘Of course.’

‘Of course,’ Cardilini mouthed to Salt.

Looking from the doorway, the Captain’s second-level room was furnished with a single bed against the wall on the left, and on the right a roll-top desk and chair, two timber filing cabinets and a wardrobe. Cardilini tried the desk drawers, they held fast.

‘Where are the keys for this?’ He asked Robson. Robson pointed to a filing cabinet drawer.

Cardilini opened the top drawer and pulled out a bunch of keys, he tried several before one opened the roll-top. Cardilini ex­amined the desk and drawers.

‘A tidy gentleman.’

‘He was,’ Robson affirmed.

Cardilini turned to the filing cabinets and went through each one carefully before ordering Salt to take notes of the contents. ‘Did you see the body?’ he asked Robson.

‘Yes.’

‘Show me where it was.’

Robson hesitated before pointing to the floor.

‘You lie down exactly where you saw Edmund lying,’ Cardilini ordered.

Robson reluctantly sat on the floor. He shuffled for a moment and lay back with his arms and legs akimbo.

‘Draw a picture, Salt,’ Cardilini directed, as he walked to the sash window directly in front of where Robson lay. He pushed the window up and looked down into the quadrangle for some time.

‘Finished, Salt?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Good. Go back to your notes on the filing cabinets. Please stand, Dr Robson.’

Robson stood. He made no attempt to dust his suit. Instead, he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small tin, from which he selected a partially smoked cigarette. Cardilini watched this and offered Robson a light before lighting a cigarette himself. He went back to the window and then turned to face the room. He looked towards the ceiling above the rear wall then shifted his gaze to above the doorframe.

Cardilini strolled forward and said over his shoulder. ‘There would have been a lot of blood.’

‘There was,’ Robson said with a quick glance to Salt.

‘You saw?’

‘Yes.’

‘Not a pretty sight,’ Cardilini said unconcerned as he examined the floorboards. He then ran the point of a pencil along the gaps between the boards.

‘You could say that,’ Robson replied heatedly.

‘When was the place cleaned?’ Cardilini asked, examining his pencil.

‘Once the body was removed, I understand.’

‘Who did the cleaning?’

‘Our cleaning staff. They have been given the rest of the day off. They found it quite traumatic.’

‘Yep. There are specialist companies that do that sort of thing.’

‘The staff felt they could be more respectful of Captain Edmund’s passing.’

‘Very loyal of them,’ Cardilini conceded.

‘A bullet wasn’t found. If that’s what you’re seeking,’ Robson said as he tipped the ash from his cigarette into the tin. Cardilini observed the action with distaste.

‘That’s right,’ Cardilini replied.

‘A very thorough search has been made already.’

‘Oh yes, very thorough,’ Cardilini said exaggeratedly. ‘Friendly, were you, with Edmund?’

‘Captain Edmund was a colleague. A man very loyal to the school.’

‘A bit of a catch-cry, loyalty, is it?’ Cardilini examined the wall above the doorway.

‘It’s very important to any institution. Just like the police, I suspect,’ Robson replied archly.

Cardilini shrugged. ‘How tall was Edmund?’ he asked.

‘Not a tall man.’ Robson replied, eyeing Cardilini coolly.

‘Shorter than you?’

‘Yes.’

‘How much shorter?’

Robson held out his hand at eye level.

‘Finished, Salt?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Good. Make yourself that tall, Salt’ Cardilini directed, ‘and walk over to the window.’

Salt went to Robson’s hand and bent at the knees until he reached the right height. Then he shuffled to the window and stood looking out. Cardilini stepped beside him and placed the index finger of his right hand on Salt’s forehead and the index finger of his left hand on the rear of Salt’s skull. He stood behind Salt and viewed down the angle his fingers created. Then he turned his attention into the room and returned to the spot above the door. He pulled the desk chair over and examined the same space with his eyes and fingertips. Satisfied, he replaced the chair and began inspecting the floor.

‘Sir?’ Salt asked; his knees had begun to shake.

‘Yeah. Okay,’ Cardilini replied. Salt straighten his legs as Cardilini opened the door and got down on his hands and knees. ‘A lot of blood?’

‘Yes.’

‘You all walked in it?’ Cardilini asked.

‘No.’ Robson replied emphatically.

‘Someone did,’ Cardilini said.

Robson looked at the floor curiously. ‘No. The pool was intact.’

‘You actually saw that when you first discovered the body?’

‘I’m sorry to say, yes, I noted it.’

Cardilini stood and inched along the corridor to the left, ‘Where were the skull fragments?’ he asked without looking up from his examination of the carpet in the corridor.

‘I didn’t see any, thank goodness. And I didn’t look. The body was gone when I returned with the cleaners.’

‘What time did you first enter the room?’

‘Just before six. Captain Edmund always rose punctually at five thirty.’

‘Why did you come to the room?’

‘The boys were mustered for rowing training and waiting in the quadrangle. I sent them ahead and came up here to fetch Edmund,’ Robson answered.

‘You at school that time every morning?’ Cardilini asked, shifting his view of the carpet to catch more light on the spot he was inspecting.

‘Dr Braun and I share the early starts.’

‘Did the cleaners exit this way?’ Cardilini indicated to the left of the passageway.

‘Yes.’

‘One of the cleaners had blood on them,’ Cardilini said.

‘I doubt that.’

‘Who else was about at six o’clock?’

‘Before six, just the rowers,’ Robson answered

‘Did one of the boys come up this way to rouse Edmund?’ Cardilini asked.

‘And discover the body and not say anything?’ Robson queried mockingly.

‘Perhaps, so they could souvenir the bullet.’

‘No!’ Robson stated firmly.

‘You seem sure.’

‘I’m very sure. There isn’t a boy in the school who didn’t respect Captain Edmund.’

‘Were the rowers barefoot?’ Cardilini asked.

‘No. In shoes. It’s quite a hike to the boat shed.’

At this point Cardilini had Salt hold the fire-escape door open while he examined the stairs.

‘There’s blood on these steps,’ Cardilini said, and straightened his back. Robson and Salt craned forward to see.

‘It could have been splatter from the cleaners’ buckets,’ Robson suggested.

‘Did Superintendent Robinson or Deputy Commissioner Warren come out this way?’

‘I believe the superintendent drew the deputy commissioner this way. I was at the other end of the corridor to stop entry.’

‘Okay.’ Cardilini said. He walked down the fire-escape. Glancing out to the oval, he recognised a familiar array of nets. ‘Hockey?’

‘Yes.’ Robson said craning to see what Cardilini was doing.

At the bottom of the fire-escape Cardilini had got down on his haunches and was examining the bitumen. Robson and Salt started down the fire-escape. ‘Don’t step off,’ Cardilini commanded, and the two stood one behind the other on the lower rungs.

‘Which way did the cleaners go?’ Cardilini asked.

Robson pointed to the left. Cardilini started to the right, walking slowly, surveying the bitumen. He then stopped and looked out onto the hockey field.

‘Someone did pick up that bullet,’ he finally said.

‘Yes. I believe that was the previous consensus,’ Robson glanced dismissively to Salt.

‘Not very respectful, would you say?’ Cardilini asked, starting down the limestone stairs.

‘I think it’s your officers or ambulance crew that missed it. It could still be …’ Robson was reluctant to finish.

‘In the body?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Yes,’ Robson replied.

Cardilini shrugged.

‘Finding it isn’t worth traumatising the whole school,’ Robson declared.

‘Really? Who decides that?’

‘A responsible adult,’ Robson replied firmly.

‘A crime scene has been disturbed and no one is worried. Is that what I’m hearing?’ He started on the base of the wall at the other side of the stairs.

‘You only lost a bullet, Detective Sergeant Cardilini. The whole school has lost a dedicated teacher and colleague.’

‘Did you come across this in the academy, Salt?’ Cardilini asked.

‘No, sir.’

‘Just starting out,’ Cardilini said, indicating Salt to Robson.

‘I’m aware,’ Robson replied dryly.

‘We might go for a stroll down to that row of gum trees on the other side of the quadrangle,’ Cardilini said climbing the limestone stairs.

‘I will need to check with the principal,’ Robson said.

‘No, you won’t. This is a police investigation.’

Cardilini walked from the shade of the rear of the building around to the front, which faced the quadrangle. He stood in the shade of the cloister, reluctantly looking out onto the lawn and the row of gum trees on the opposite side. It was midday and the heat seemed to have a pulse and will of its own. The diagonal paths were paved with limestone, hard and hot. A few passing students, dressed in grey shorts and grey shirts with a gold and black school tie, stared openly at the three men.

‘What time is lunch?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Twelve thirty.’

‘Who sent the cleaners home?’

‘The principal can answer your questions.’

‘Bullshit. Everyone answers my questions,’ Cardilini glared at Robson. Robson looked nonplussed.

‘We don’t swear at St Nicholas College. It’s considered coarse.’

‘And what do you consider a criminal record for withholding information?’

‘You don’t pay my salary, Detective Cardilini,’ Robson replied coolly.

Cardilini regarded Robson for a moment, smiled, and then grimaced as he stepped out into the sun to cross the quadrangle. Robson and Salt quickly followed.

‘We don’t need you anymore, Robson,’ Cardilini dismissed the deputy without turning.

‘I’ve been instructed to stay with you,’ Robson said. Cardilini didn’t respond and headed directly across the lawn to the line of gum trees he’d viewed from Edmund’s room.

‘We are required to walk on the paths as an example to the boys,’ Robson said as he stepped right to one of the diagonal paths. Cardilini ignored him. Salt stuck by Cardilini’s side.

Robson quickened his pace getting ahead of Cardilini and picked up a sheet of paper by one of the gum trees. ‘Litter,’ he uttered sharply. Cardilini went to the tree where Robson had retrieved the paper. He stood beside the tree trunk and looked up at the window he had left open, then started to examine the tree and the surrounding grass before he began a slow descent of the embankment to the bordering limestone wall.

Clicking heels alerted Robson and Salt to Miss Reynolds’s arrival. She called from the path. ‘There is a telephone call for Detective Cardilini.’ She paused for a moment and stared at Robson until he nodded his understanding.

‘Detective Cardilini, there is a telephone call for you,’ Robson said. Cardilini ignored him, his attention focused on the limestone wall.

‘What’s down behind this wall? Cardilini asked.

‘There is a call for you,’ Robson repeated.

‘Tell them to call back. What’s down here?’

Robson turned to Miss Reynolds who stood staring. ‘It’s his superior,’ she called.

‘It’s your superior,’ Robson relayed to Cardilini.

‘Salt, jump up on the wall and draw a picture of what you see. Then, stand at that tree, where Robson picked up the paper, and let no one near it. You got that?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Let’s go,’ Cardilini said and started across the lawns. Robson and Miss Reynolds zigzagged at pace along the paths.

‘Where’s the telephone?’

‘The principal’s office,’ a breathless Miss Reynolds called.

Cardilini ignored Principal Braun when he walked into his office. He sat in the chair he had previously occupied and pulled the phone towards him. ‘Cardilini,’ he stated. He sat and listened eyeing Braun who keenly moved documents from one side of his desk to the other.

‘Yes. Yep. Yes, sir. Yep. Yep. No. No,’ Cardilini said at intervals before he finished with, ‘Would I do it any other way, sir?’ and hung up. ‘How about that?’ he mused, ‘Somehow, he knew exactly what I was doing?’ and feigning amazement he asked, ‘How could you account for that?’

‘Detective Sergeant Cardilini,’ Braun pushed a document aside patiently and leant back in his chair. ‘I’m aware you’ve had a bad experience with your son’s progress through education. However, that was not with our school.’

Cardilini sat back, eyebrows raised, a slight smile on his face. Braun continued.

‘St Nicholas College has an impeccable reputation that is guarded rigorously by alumi, present students, parents and staff. A reputation hard won over decades, a reputation that will outlast all our current students and me. You could almost say it’s an unwritten motto “Our school before all else”. You can see it fiercely displayed when the boys play sport or when the teachers seek accolades for our boys.’ Braun paused to determine if his oration was having the desired effect. Cardilini still sat with a slight smile on his face, so Braun continued with confidence. ‘This is not your fault. I’m not blaming you. Your immediate superior, Inspector Bishop, simply failed to instruct you correctly. I believe you’re aware that your superintendent and the deputy commissioner are old boys of St Nicholas, so you can see the serious attention this tragic accident has received.’

The sudden clamour of svoices as students broke for lunch caused the principal to stop his discourse, stand and close a window, before again seating himself comfortably and continuing his ovation.

Cardilini observed him and reflected on the similarity between this principal and the one that had eventually expelled Paul. He imagined them, along with several of his ambitious colleagues, running around with a high-stepping gait holding their hands firmly over their backsides.

‘Cardilini,’ Braun repeated.

Cardilini blinked several times. ‘Yes?’