9.15 am Friday
Police Headquarters, Darwin
‘Dead? How can he be dead?’
Kane stopped chewing his gum and clenched his jaw. He stared at the policeman across the other side of the large desk. The room was bare, a couple of filing cabinets were against the side wall, and the desk in front of them was clear. Apart from the low hum of the air-conditioning pushing out frigid air, the room was silent. Ellie shivered beside him and he reached across and put his arm around her shoulders.
When they’d driven along the waterfront from the motel, they’d seen the blocked-off street and the police vehicles. But they’d not suspected the connection between the crime scene and the reason for their visit to the police station. Not until they were informed that Panos Sordina’s body had been found beside the boat ramp by a couple of early morning joggers.
‘We’re trying to get in touch with Mrs Sordina. Do you know where we can find her?’
The colour drained from Kane’s face. Ellie squeezed his hand tightly and answered for him. ‘His mother died last night. In the hospital.’
‘I’m sorry to hear of your loss.’ But the detective’s voice was formal and he continued without a pause. ‘So, Mr McLaren. According to Mr Sordina’s phone records, you had been trying to call him for most of the night. One call registered as being answered. Did you actually speak to him?’
Kane nodded. ‘Yes. I did.’
‘What time was that?’
‘I’m not sure. It had to be well after midnight. My mother had just passed away. I wasn’t taking much notice of the time.’
Ellie squeezed his fingers again and he rubbed his thumb absently across her skin.
‘Mr Sordina’s phone registered a forty-second call from you at twelve minutes past one. Just before two o’clock, we have CCTV footage of you standing outside the door of the building where his office is located.’
‘That’s correct.’
‘A strange time to organise a meeting?’
‘We had agreed to meet on McMinn Street. He didn’t turn up so I went looking for him.’ Kane kept his voice steady. ‘He wouldn’t answer his phone all night. Christ, man, I had to tell him his wife was dead.’
‘Again, I’m very sorry to hear of your mother’s death, Mr McLaren.’
Kane nodded tersely.
‘So when was the last time you saw Mr Sordina?’
‘I’ve only met him on a handful of occasions. I haven’t seen him for at least two years but I had a big problem with the way he treated my mother, and I was going to speak to him about it. For all I know he fell in the harbour and drowned on his way to meeting me.’ Kane shook his head. ‘Christ knows, he sounded drunk enough on the phone.’
Detective Sergeant Garrett steepled his fingers on the desk in front of him. ‘Actually it’s interesting that you mention the harbour. That’s where he was. In the harbour before the tide washed him in.’ He stopped speaking and held Kane’s gaze for a full minute. Kane clenched his jaw. ‘However, he didn’t drown, Mr McLaren. The initial observation by the forensic pathologist indicates that Mr Sordina’s throat was cut. Your stepfather’s death was no accident. This is a murder investigation.’
‘A murder?’
Ellie’s fingers tensed in Kane’s hand as she expelled a soft gasp. Kane glanced at her; her face was white.
‘I have my mother’s funeral to organise and then I have to get back to work. If you want me, you have my number.’ He turned to Ellie and held out his hand. Relief filled him when she took it. ‘I know nothing more than I’ve told you.’
‘Thank you, Mr McLaren.’ Garrett nodded at Ellie before turning back to Kane. ‘Once again, I’m sorry to hear of your mother’s death. It’s been a very difficult night for you and I do appreciate you coming in.’
‘You can find me at Makowa Lodge in Kakadu. I have a job to go back to.’
Kane strode from the building. Ellie’s hand was still in his and she kept up the pace he set. They stepped out into the street and the noise of the morning traffic was a welcome distraction to the jumble of his thoughts. Kane stopped and looked down at her.
‘Bloody hell. What’s going on?’
‘Are you okay? I know you didn’t get on with Panos, but it’s still a shock.’
Kane shook his head. ‘It might sound hard, but Panos’ death has had no impact on me at all. I’m just grateful that Mum was gone and she didn’t have to deal with it.’
Ellie slipped her arms around his waist and leaned into his chest. Kane dropped his chin to rest on the top of her head and took comfort in her warmth. They stood silently for a moment outside the office block as the busy crowd pushed past them.
‘I’m going to have to leave for Makowa soon. Will you be okay?’ Ellie lifted her head and Kane stared into her clear, blue eyes. He wondered if she knew how much her support had helped him through those early hours this morning.
‘Kane. Stop looking at me like that.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like you’re wondering if I believe you. Don’t even go there. That man was so rude asking you those questions.’ Her hands tightened on his back. ‘You should put in a complaint.’
Kane shook his head with a rueful laugh. ‘He was only doing his job. I understand where he’s coming from. The timing sucks but he has to find out what’s going on.’ He put his hands on Ellie’s shoulders. ‘And the reality is that Panos was murdered. It was no drunken accident. When it hits the news, it’s going to be big.’
‘Kane?’ The tremble in Ellie’s voice sent a surge of protective warmth spiralling through him. He’d failed before and he wasn’t going to fail again. The thought of sending her back to the lodge alone bothered him. He suspected – no, he knew – that Sordina’s death was not a random killing. It was somehow tied up with what was happening at the farm. His mother had said enough to make him certain of that.
Ellie’s next words echoed his thoughts. ‘It’s too much of a coincidence, isn’t it? The fracking. Bill’s accident. Panos’ death.’ Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at him. ‘There’s someone behind all this. What are they trying to achieve?’
‘I don’t know, Ellie.’ He rubbed his thumb gently along her full bottom lip. ‘But I’m going to find out.’
‘Should we go back and tell that detective what we suspect?’ Ellie stood on her toes and brushed her lips across his. Her hair brushed against his face and he was filled with need. Kane wasn’t used to that feeling and a warning rippled through him as he held her.
What the hell are you doing? He was leaving himself too open. Slowly he dropped his hands and the expression on his face must have mirrored his thoughts.
‘Not yet.’
Ellie lowered her gaze and stepped away. ‘You’d better take me back to the motel, so I can collect my car.’ She glanced down at her watch. ‘I’ll be cutting it fine as it is.’
‘I’m only going to do the essentials with the funeral home. I’ll get back as soon as I can. I want you to be very careful. Make sure you’re not alone at all. Stay around the rest of the staff till I get back. Don’t even go to your apartment. Okay?’ Kane tilted her chin up with his fingers. He couldn’t help himself. He leaned down and took her lips with his in a brief kiss. ‘Drive carefully. Okay?’
‘I will.’ Ellie held his gaze, her blue eyes steady.
Full of trust. The cold feeling began at the base of Kane’s neck as Ellie’s eyes changed to the dark brown of Hawk’s. He took a deep breath and pushed away the growing panic before it could take hold of him.