Josh had never actually met Max Croft in person. However, he’d scrutinised more than enough intelligence photos of the infamous bikie to be able to recognise him just about anywhere. It was after 9.00 am when they knocked on the door of his semi-detached home in Randwick, and Josh had to admit he was feeling a little apprehensive about delivering the bad news. Bikies were unpredictable and there was no telling what his reaction might be.
Max Croft opened the door with a groan. ‘What have I done this time?’The man had never seen either one of them before but, still, he picked them as cops instantly.
The first thing Josh noticed was his height. For some reason he’d imagined Croft would be taller. He came level with his one hundred and eighty-eight centimetres, but that was where their similarities ended.
Where Josh was lean, Croft was a solid wall of muscle. His neck was thick and sat on some of the biggest shoulders he’d ever seen. His dirty blond hair was pulled into the stereotypical bikie ponytail at the back. His face was lined but good-looking, in a rugged cowboy type of way. In comparison to Rex Donaldson, he was shorter but significantly fitter, and carrying less weight. Both men were menacing in their own right and it was easy to see how they had come to hold their positions within their respective clubs. No one in their right mind would elect to mess with either one of them.
‘I’m Detective Harrison and this is Detective Rogers.’
Croft’s eyes slid over Lexie with appreciation, then swayed back to Josh, raising his eyebrows as though impressed. ‘Nice partner you got there,’ Croft said, giving Josh a wink. ‘If I’d known you were coming I would have got dressed up.’
He looked down at his black Iron Maiden T-shirt and denim jeans.
Josh ignored the blatant attempt to get a rise from them. He needed to keep things calm.
‘We are part of the team investigating the murder of the Devil’s Guardian bikie, Bluey – Robert King. Unfortunately we are here to give – ’
‘I’ve been speaking to Detective Burgh. I told him yesterday that − ’
Croft stopped abruptly, his words hung in the air as his gaze darted between them. Their sombre expressions warned him they were here to deliver bad news.
‘What’s wrong? What’s happened?’
There was no malice, no aggression, just concern.
‘I’m afraid we have some bad news.’
Even before he said the words Josh felt a chill move up his spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck bristle. He really hoped Croft wouldn’t shoot the messenger.
‘Your daughter Sandy is in hospital. It appears she’s been badly bashed up. She was found this morning at Centennial Park. I’m very sorry, but she’s in a bad way.’
For a moment Max Croft stared at Josh without speaking. His eyes became glazed and unfocused. He blinked a few times. He had gone from fearsome to desolate in the space of a minute.
‘What happened? Is she going to . . . is she going to live?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Josh said, feeling he had to be honest and tell Croft all he knew. ‘I spoke to her doctor. She’s on a multiple organ machine that’s keeping her alive. Her kidneys were shutting down because of the injuries caused by her assault. That combined with her extensive drug use . . .’
His words trailed off, though his meaning was clear.
Josh thought back to the girl they’d seen lying in the bed in ICU. He’d never seen her before. Unlike Lexie, who had a personal connection and was clearly upset to see her in such a state, Josh had felt only the usual despondency of yet another young life wasted.
Croft shook his head and ran a hand over his face.
‘I’ve always dreaded this day. I somehow knew it would happen, eventually.’
Josh thought he was talking more to himself than to them. He shook his head sadly. ‘Sandy told me she was getting clean.’
‘Look, we’re not sure if drugs were involved. We’ll be conducting a full investigation, of course,’ Josh told him, not sure what else to say.
The bikie was taking the news incredibly calmly.
‘I’m sure you’re very shocked. We’re more than happy to take you to see her. It might be best if you don’t drive or ride at the moment.’
Croft stared at the ground and nodded absently.
‘I’m sorry to have to do this but I need to ask you some questions; to help us find out what happened to her.’
Josh hated having to probe a person under these circumstances. It sometimes appeared brutal and heartless to subject them to further pressure when they were already suffering, but it was necessary. And it was his job.
‘Can you tell me when you last saw Sandy?’
‘I saw her on Saturday. What’s today, Tuesday? I saw her three days ago. She cleans the clubhouse for me on Saturdays and I give her some money for it. She was living with me for a while and we were getting along good, then she moved in with a friend but she promised me she was staying off the gear. She looked clean on Saturday. Do you think it was a drug deal gone wrong?’
‘We really don’t know much at all at this stage. Do you know where she was staying? Who the friend was she was staying with?’
‘I didn’t ask and she didn’t tell me. She’s twenty-five. She can do what she likes. She always has.’
A hint of defensiveness crept into Croft’s voice.
‘Do you know if Sandy had a gun?’
Croft’s head snapped up from the point he was staring at on the ground.
‘What? Where would she get a gun?’
That was a loaded question, Josh thought. Bikies usually had an abundance of illegal weapons stashed somewhere.
‘It’s not an accusation,’ Josh clarified. ‘A gun was found in a bag near her. Do you know anything about it?’
Croft’s stance became hostile. His arms crossed his chest and his body became rigid.
‘No, I fucking don’t.’
Josh gave him a slight smile, trying to bring down some of the tension.
‘As I said, I am not assigning blame or looking to trip you up. A gun was found next to your daughter and I have to ask the questions.’
Croft seemed to ponder something for a moment. ‘Can you take me to see her now?’
Josh nodded his head. ‘Of course. Though can you assure me there will be no trouble? Rex Donaldson is in the same hospital recovering after a bike accident. This will not be an issue, will it?’
‘I couldn’t give a rat’s arse about Donaldson,’ Croft said, then mumbled under his breath, ‘Ironic.’
Josh gave Lexie a quick glance to see if she heard it. Her face told him she had.
‘What’s ironic?’ Josh prompted.
‘Sandy and I have had a very . . . temperamental relationship. Her mother died when she was young and I haven’t always handled things well. Since I found out that . . .’ He stammered and ran a shaky hand over his hair. ‘I mean, lately I’ve tried to make up for my mistakes of the past. I’ve been doing my best to get Sandy on the straight and narrow. She’s always been a handful but I’ve never known her to carry a gun.’
Josh waited for Croft to grab his wallet and keys. The guy was doing his best to hold it together but Josh could see the news had shaken him. Lexie followed his lead, waiting for Croft to lock his front door before making their way towards the car. As they walked along the footpath Josh said, ‘On a positive note, the doctor said that if she gets through the next twenty-four hours she may make a full recovery with the help of a donor kidney. Maybe someone in your family would be willing to donate one of theirs if they’re compatible?’
Max Croft stopped walking. He groaned and put his hands over his face.
‘I don’t believe it. Karma is coming back to bite me on the arse!’
Josh and Lexie halted, and turned to stare at the bikie.
Max sighed as if giving up. ‘I haven’t told anyone this yet, but I’ve just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. I’ve been given two years at the most.’ Max paused for a moment before continuing. ‘That’s why I’ve been trying to make it up to her. There’s no hope for me, but the least I can do is try to save Sandy. It will probably get me killed, but hey, I’m going to die anyway.’ He shrugged his shoulders indifferently. ‘If Sandy needs a kidney to save her, then it’s only fair her relatives are given the opportunity to give her one.’
For a minute Josh thought Croft was about to offer one of his kidneys. But he didn’t.
‘As I said, her mother is dead, she has no brothers or sisters and I . . . I’m not her real – her biological father.’
Josh noticed Lexie’s surprised expression which probably mirrored his own. However, Max’s revelation was not that unusual. Plenty of kids grew up in blended, broken families these days.
‘You don’t have to be related to donate a kidney,’ Lexie pointed out.
‘I know that but I’ve got cancer. I can’t donate anything, but that’s not the point. Her family should know . . .’ Max Croft’s voice trailed off and he dropped his gaze to the ground. ‘As I said, I’m not going to be here much longer. When I go Sandy will be all alone.’
‘Do you know the identity of Sandy’s real father? She may have relatives you don’t know about,’ Josh said, trying to be hopeful.
Max groaned. ‘I do. I ran off with Debbie, Sandy’s mother, when Sandy was about two. Looking back, it was the wrong thing to do, but we were in love. We knew Sandy’s father would try to find her, so we moved to Queensland for a while and I changed her last name to Croft – my name, and her first name became Sandra. She calls herself Sandy now, but Sandra is a shortened version of her real name, Alexandra.’
Croft’s eyes bounced between them, apparently waiting for a reaction of some sort.
‘Sandy doesn’t even know that her real name is Alexandra; Alexandra Donaldson.’
Josh’s jaw dropped as Max’s words sunk in.
Rex Donaldson is Sandy’s father. Holy hell!