Lexie sat in yet another briefing feeling tired and restless. Her body was exhausted but her brain, unfortunately, wouldn’t stop. In fact, there was so much happening inside her head she was finding it impossible to allocate each individual thought, problem and question the attention required to get even remotely close to reaching a solution. Each time she pondered one issue another matter would pop up and send her confused brain into a tailspin. It was almost as if her concerns were duelling each other, all vying for first place at the forefront of her mind. It was enough to give anyone a headache.
Earlier, Lexie had furtively found the call charge records and scanned the list of numbers being monitored with regard to the investigation. Then she’d compared them to the number displayed with her disturbing text message. Of course there was no match. And although the outcome was not unexpected, it was still disappointing. It gave her no lead or clue as to who might have sent it.
What the hell did ‘Loose lips sink ships’ mean anyway? How did that adage relate to her? What did someone think she knew? Her thoughts kept circling back to Amitt Vincent. The problem was she couldn’t very well request call charge records for the number without supplying a reason. And if she gave the reason she would be off the case, possibly out of this office. Maybe she was over-analysing. It could be just a stupid prank by someone with a pre-paid phone. Perhaps the message had been sent to her number by mistake?
Aware her brain was conspiring to produce excuses to spare her more worry, she returned her attention to the briefing, where her mind was meant to be focused. Because of their workload, Josh hadn’t had the time to examine and evaluate all the information and intelligence gathered so far, so their boss was delivering this briefing and getting each team of detectives to take turns in giving their updates.
Josh sat in the front row with his back to her, assisting Casey Blair by handing her documentation from time to time. Lexie did her best to keep her gaze away from him.
Casey began. ‘Since we haven’t found the murder weapon, ballistics can’t tell us much more other than that the bullets recovered are from a Glock 23, which we already knew. The cigarette butt evidence is inconclusive; however, Kate Bushell smokes that brand so we can assume it probably belongs to her – so much for not smoking during pregnancy. The mould of the shoe-print came out pretty well – even though it’s circumstantial evidence, it may come in handy later when we get a solid suspect.’
Casey referred to notes on the table next to her, running through the list of Assassins who had already been interviewed and those yet to be.
‘Everyone spoken to so far has a substantiated alibi for the night of the shooting. Isn’t that amazing?’ She paused and a quiet collective snort went around the room. ‘Lurch and Batman are following up a few lines of inquiry that have come out of the canvass.’
‘There have been no new hits on the nickname “Grub”, and everyone asked, of course, has no knowledge of anyone who goes by that name.’ She threw her hands out in the air. ‘So that’s helpful.’
Another cynical chuckle went around the room.
‘ Magentagitt – Maggot – is still at large. He’s not accessed his bank account or used his phone. As a matter of fact, none of the bikies are using their phones. All’s quiet over the airwaves. Not surprising, as they would be fully aware we are monitoring their phones. The state technical investigation branch is also looking at attempting to install listening devices at Bill O’Grady’s place. Problem is we need an empty house to do that. Sandy Croft, the girl we think jumped out of O’Grady’s window, is still at large. As far as we know she hasn’t done anything wrong but I want you all to look at these pictures.’
Casey indicated the hazy CCTV photos stuck on the whiteboard next to her.
‘If you see her, grab her and bring her in.’
Casey glanced at Josh. ‘I think that’s about it for now. Do you want to add anything, Josh?’
Josh stood and faced the room with his hands clasped in front of him. Lexie felt those rotten butterflies once more as his eyes seemed to search her out. Sue sitting next to her must have noticed and nudged her arm.
‘Has he made a move on you yet?’ Sue whispered close to her ear.
‘What?’
‘Just a friendly warning from someone who knows only too well what he’s like; be careful.’
The butterflies disappeared. Lexie felt her stomach tighten. She gave Sue a sideways glance. Sue winked knowingly then turned her attention back to Josh.
Sue and Josh? The thought sickened her.
Josh was speaking. ‘Detectives Burgh and Sleeman, you’ve been dealing with most of the Assassins. Could you touch base with Max Croft and find out what he knows about his daughter’s whereabouts? Refrain from telling him our interest in her has anything to do with this investigation. That might make him nervous, possibly make him protect her. Make something up. Tell him we need to speak to her regarding something unrelated.’
Sleeman snorted. ‘He’s not stupid. He’ll know what we’re on about.’
Lexie noticed Josh’s jaw clench, his only sign of agitation.
‘Just do your best. As for everyone else, carry on with your tasks and don’t forget to write them off on eaglei. We just need to keep plugging away, so keep up the good work.’
Once the briefing was over Lexie overcame the urge to ask Sue the question burning inside her; what had happened between her and Josh? And though a strange heaviness had taken up residence in her gut, she forced herself to push it from her mind. Maybe Sue was doing her a favour by warning her off. Josh was acting as though their kiss last night hadn’t even happened. Perhaps it was a normal occurrence for him to get close and personal with his partners? If so, how stupid of her to consider just for a second that the kiss, which had taken her breath away, was anything other than ordinary to him.
Just because you felt it doesn’t mean he did.
She could not allow herself to feel. She needed to maintain her distance, stay focused on the task at hand. If she wanted to be a respected member of this team it was not productive to become emotionally or physically attached to her partner, she told herself.
—
Josh stood at the sink pouring boiling water into his mug.
Batman stood beside him making his own cup of coffee.
‘You lucky bastard,’ he said. Then, as if remembering to show a little respect to his senior officer, added, ‘I mean, you lucky Detective Sergeant.’
Josh liked Batman. He was a good guy. A bit cheeky at times but that was all part of his charm.
‘What are you on about?’ He took a sip of his coffee and singed his lips. ‘Shit.’
Batman cackled. ‘I wish my partner looked like yours. Lurch just doesn’t do it for me, I’m afraid. You did well with Sommers breaking his arm.’
He nudged Josh with his elbow, causing his coffee to spill onto the bench top.
‘Oops, sorry.’
Josh groaned and grabbed for a tea towel.
‘Though I don’t think your girlfriend, Sue, is too happy about you working with Lexie. She can’t compete and I think she might be a bit jealous.’
Batman tossed him a lopsided grin.
Josh rolled his eyes.
‘Firstly, Sue is not my girlfriend; never has been, never will be. And I’m not happy about Brad breaking his arm at all. You should keep your mind on the job, not on my partner.’
‘I sense a hint of possession there, Sarge.’
Batman laughed as Josh whacked him in the arm.
‘Hey, I’m just joking with you.’
Josh watched his boyish face turn serious.
‘Actually, can I talk to you about something?’
Batman glanced around the room that was now empty except for the two of them.
‘Sure, what’s up?’
Batman hesitated for a moment as though considering whether to continue.
‘Um, I dropped into Dorothy Magentagitt’s house the other day, just off my own bat, you know? I thought I might get lucky. Find something others had missed.’
Batman was staring at him intensely, as if trying to convey a silent message.
‘Maggot’s mother answered the door but she said she wouldn’t talk to anyone other than Sleeman or Burgh. I haven’t said anything but I found that a bit strange.’
Josh’s internal radar lit up but he didn’t let on.
‘It might be just because they’ve been the ones dealing with her. I’ll check it out. Don’t you worry about it, okay?’
Batman shrugged. ‘If you say so, but if you ask me I wouldn’t trust – ’
Josh cut him off, not liking where the conversation was heading. ‘Leave it to me, Batman. I’ll deal with it.’
The young guy nodded. Josh’s respect for him notched up a level. He was smart, intuitive, and clearly a good judge of character, but knew when to keep his mouth shut. However, his comments left Josh with a heavy feeling in the pit of his gut.