Josh watched Lurch place a tray of goodies from Mazie’s café on the table at the front of the briefing room. People fell on the fast food like a pack of ravenous hyenas. He gave them a minute to fill their hands with sausage rolls and pies before calling for everyone to take a seat.
Only minutes earlier he’d inhaled one of those very same meat pies, which now felt like a brick stuck to the base of his gut. He regretted gorging himself but he’d been so hungry. His body had been running on pure adrenaline for hours now and the last thing he needed was to collapse from hunger again. One moment of weakness in front of Lexie was bad enough – twice would be ridiculous.
Glancing around the room, Josh noted most staff members were present and getting settled. Sleeman, who sat directly behind Lexie, caught his eye. His bloated body was bent forward in his chair, leaving his face only centimetres from the back of Lexie’s neck, which he was studying with great interest.
Lexie caught Josh’s gaze and smiled slightly, then, with the flick of her hand, brushed her ponytail over her shoulder. The long mane of hair whipped Sleeman in the face and he jolted backwards rubbing his jaw angrily.
Now her smile widened, leaving Josh in no doubt she’d known exactly what Sleeman had been up to behind her back. The effect of that smile also caused his stomach to flip as it struck him how beautiful she was. How refreshingly unaffected and completely unaware of the effect she had on nearly every male around her – including him. Especially him!
He hated to admit it, even to himself, but he was finding it increasingly impossible to maintain a professional detachment. His feelings, and hormones, were seriously testing his resolve to stick to his number one rule: not to become physically or emotionally involved with a colleague. It could only lead to trouble.
Josh forced his wandering thoughts to focus. And when the room stilled, he cleared his throat and commenced the briefing.
On the table next to him was a bunch of profiles their analyst, Marty Wells, had assembled on each bikie from both gangs. They sat next to a list of persons of interest and witnesses who had been spoken to, and a list of those yet to be interviewed.
Josh started the briefing by giving a bullet-point rundown of the events that had taken place since the first briefing earlier that morning; the tasks carried out, the statements obtained so far, and the summary of results from the canvass.
‘Preliminary statements have been obtained from a number of gang members, all of whom have provided an alibi for their whereabouts at the time of the shooting. Maggot is still at large. His face will be on tonight’s news and he is circulated as wanted. Dorothy Magentagitt allowed Detectives Sleeman and Burgh to look through her house – Maggot was not there. There was no joy with the canvass conducted around the vicinity of the Magentagitt residence and where the car was located. A couple of residents have seen Maggot around the area, though not of late. Dorothy Magentagitt, of course, has no explanation as to why her car was parked where it was – she apparently thought it had been stolen.’
Josh rolled his eyes as he finished speaking.
‘But didn’t think to report it, I suppose,’ Lurch piped in.
‘Didn’t even realise it was gone – apparently,’ Grumpy shot back.
Glancing up from the list in his hand, Josh could see that everyone was exhausted. Some tried to stifle yawns and struggled to keep droopy eyes open. The sooner he got this over and done with the better, he thought, organising his thoughts.
‘Okay, I know you’re all tired so I’ll be as brief as I can. There have been no hits on the bikie data base in New South Wales for anyone called “Grub”. Everyone spoken to, in both gangs, has denied knowing anyone who goes by that name. The gang squad, and the telephone intercept unit, who are already monitoring a number of Assassins’ phone lines regarding an unrelated investigation, have been notified to listen out for code words or any conversations that mention the word “grub”.’
Josh fought the urge to yawn as he continued.
‘Donaldson seemed to recognise the name when I interviewed him but gave nothing away. No surprises there.’
The other detectives made muffled comments to each other.
Josh filled them in on the unidentified female with Donaldson, Bushell and O’Grady at the hospital, and that they suspected she was Sandy Croft. He passed the photographs around to see if anyone could identify her. He watched Burgh carefully, waiting for a spark of recognition. He showed none. Why would the devious bastard deny knowing her?
Burgh passed the photo on to the person beside him and looked up at Josh defiantly. He felt cold prickles of unease clamber up his neck.
‘The tip-off that there was going to be an “incident” at the Assassins’ clubhouse came through Crime Stoppers. Reverse call charge records traced the number to a mobile pre-paid, bought at a Cabramatta newsagency. It was registered in the name of Donald Duck. Need I say more?
‘So, as you can see, we still don’t have a lot to go on. There are no solid leads or suspects, apart from Maggot, to pursue at this stage so we have to keep chipping away. The only useful information, from what I’m told, that’s come about by talking to some of the Assassins, is that there’s been talk of an amalgamation, or more likely a take-over of the Devil’s Guardians club by the Assassins. They are the bigger, more powerful and more financial club, and they want to increase their influence by expanding their numbers. It seems some members are for the move and some against it. But reading between the lines, it sounds like Rex Donaldson – who would definitely be against an amalgamation – could be standing in the Assassins’ way.’
Josh took a deep breath.
‘I think Donaldson was the intended victim of the shooting rather than Robert King. A comment made in his interview leads me to believe he thinks this too. Therefore we may be looking at further violence.’
There was a collective murmur as the detectives glanced at one another.
‘We have asked the surveillance squad to put a follow on Donaldson’s movements but at this stage they are unable to assist us due to being understaffed.’
‘We helped them out,’ Batman grumbled.
‘I know, I know.’
Josh put his hand in the air to stop any further complaints. Rivalry and disharmony between the sections was always an issue.
‘Anyway, we’ve done all we can for today. Uniform is going to cover our phones and Cakes and Grumpy will be on call during the night.’
Josh glanced around the room.
‘Has anyone got anything further to add?’
The room was quiet. Josh looked over to Casey Blair, who’d come to stand next to him at the front of the room.
Josh moved aside, taking the seat Casey had just deserted. His legs hummed in gratitude as he sat down.
Casey Blair praised everyone’s efforts and reminded them all to write off their eaglei tasks, and complete car diaries and duty books before leaving.
‘I want you all to have a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day which will start with a briefing at 8 am. Make sure you’re here before then. See you all in the morning.’
As everyone started shuffling out of the room, Casey turned to Josh.
‘Can I see you in my office for a minute?’
Josh’s stomach clenched. The tone of her voice told him she was not happy. He knew instinctively that whatever he had done to warrant this private meeting can’t have been good.