Leaving the hospital, Lexie and Josh headed straight to Rowdy’s place.
‘Let’s hope Sandy’s boyfriend’s home,’ Josh said.
The next priority was to speak to him about Sandy, gauge his reaction to the news of her condition and see what he knew about the gun in her bag.
When they arrived the house was as silent as a tomb. Rowdy’s bike was parked directly out front, so Josh guessed he was probably in there. But after knocking continually for five minutes they gave up and headed back to the car.
‘He’s going to keep avoiding us,’ Josh grumbled. ‘We might have to put in a search warrant application. Now there’s firearms involved we should have enough to get one.’
Lexie agreed as she pulled away from the kerb.
‘Perhaps news about Sandy has already reached him and he’s raced to the hospital?’
Josh shook his head.
‘His bike’s out the front. Unless someone picked him up? I might ring one of the guys still at the hospital. Tell them to keep a look out and nab him if he shows.’
‘Imagine if Rowdy decides he’s going to keep a bedside vigil beside Sandy, together with Max Croft. Wouldn’t the shit hit the fan then?’
Josh nodded. ‘So, did you get anything out of Kate?’
‘What do you think? She was just playing with me. She is seriously the biggest bitch . . . I felt like smacking her in the mouth,’ Lexie said vehemently. ‘And that’s not like me at all. I’m not usually violent.’
Josh laughed. ‘I don’t know about that. You were pretty vicious last night. I’ve got the scratch marks on my back to prove it.’
Lexie took one hand off the wheel and slapped him on the leg.
‘See,’ he laughed, grabbing her hand and bringing it up to his lips. ‘So aggressive.’
Lexie snatched her hand away and shook her head. ‘Not at work, Harrison.’
Josh’s stomach had been rumbling for what seemed like hours and he couldn’t ignore the gnawing emptiness any longer. He hadn’t eaten since earlier at the hospital when, out of pure desperation, he’d devoured a packet of chips from the machine dispenser in the emergency waiting room. It wasn’t much of a breakfast but it had done the job for the short term. It was now way past lunch time and his reserves were running very low.
‘Can you duck into Maize’s and get me a caesar roll?’ He handed Lexie a twenty dollar note. ‘Get yourself something, my shout; you paid for dinner last night, or should I say this morning?’ They exchanged an intimate look. ‘I’ll update the boss.’
Minutes later he was sitting opposite Casey Blair.
‘Do you think we have enough for a search warrant on Rowdy’s place?’
Casey looked thoughtful. ‘We have no solid evidence to link Sandy Croft to Bill O’Grady other than the surveillance footage at the hospital, which is sketchy at best.’
‘Lexie has identified Sandy on prior knowledge of the girl. Doesn’t that link her? And we now have two guns unaccounted for.’
Casey shrugged. ‘Put an application together. Make sure you mention our intelligence suggests there may be more firearms on the premises. That might get us through the door with the magistrate.’
Lexie entered the office. ‘Hi Boss,’ she smiled, as she took the only other seat on the far side of Josh.
Space was tight and as she slipped by, her legs brushed his knees. His stomach flipped. It was amazing, just the slightest, fleeting contact sent tingles around his body.
Casey commented, ‘You’ve had an interesting morning?’
Lexie nodded. ‘Never a dull moment.’
‘I’m hoping to get some results, or at least information, on the firearms found near Rex’s accident and in Sandy Croft’s bag very soon. I’ve spoken to crash investigation and nothing out of the ordinary was found where Donaldson’s accident occurred. Not much has come out of the crime scene at the park either. Forensics are of the opinion that it’s not a secondary, that she was assaulted there and then was rolled into a shallow grave nearby.’ She paused. ‘It just keeps getting better, doesn’t it?’
‘It does,’ Josh sighed, glancing through the blinds covering the glass wall. He could see his desk and the chicken caesar wrap awaiting him. ‘Yet we’re no closer to finding the killer than we were days ago.’
‘So where to now? What were you thinking of doing next, Harrison?’ Casey asked.
‘Firstly, we need to get a search warrant for Rowdy’s place. Then I suppose we have to start talking to everyone again. See who has an alibi for around the time Rex’s accident occurred. Since Maggot had an alibi and was in custody at the time of Rex’s accident, we can’t go back to him. Narrowing down when Sandy was assaulted could be harder. Her father – I mean stepfather – hasn’t seen her since Saturday and Rowdy, Donaldson and Bushell won’t even admit they know her. I don’t expect that just because it’s come out she’s Rex’s daughter they’ll all of a sudden start talking.’
Josh shook his head in frustration.
‘Have we got a strike force name yet?’ Lexie asked.
‘As a matter of fact, yes,’ the boss answered. ‘Strike Force Snow-Shoe.’
Josh and Lexie let out a simultaneous laugh.
‘Where do they get these names?’ Lexie asked.
‘The database, supposedly. It must have a sense of humour.’ Casey shrugged. ‘Have you spoken to the ambulance officers who took Sandy to hospital?’
At the hospital Josh had checked the records and noted the paramedics’ details, but as yet hadn’t had a chance to call them. He checked his notes.
‘Sandy was brought in about 6.30 am. I’m about to give the ambos a call to arrange a time for a statement.’
Lexie took out her own notepad and started jotting down points. ‘I’ll take care of that, Josh.’
He nodded. ‘Okay. I’ll update the computer.’
Casey rubbed her eyes underneath her glasses. Lexie thought how tired she was looking; how tired they all were.
‘I have to start the situation report to the commissioner,’ Casey said. ‘We need to establish ASAP if this assault is linked to the murder of the bikie.’
Josh stifled a yawn. They had so much to do.
All heads turned towards the doorway as Sue knocked loudly on the glass.
‘Sorry for the interruption but I have an urgent message for Lexie.’
She moved into the tiny space, leant across Josh and handed Lexie a piece of paper.
Josh automatically pushed back in his chair as Sue bent over him. The action was unnecessary and he found her blatant attempt to catch his attention irritating. Josh watched Lexie’s face crease with concern as she read the note.
‘Can you do without me for half an hour, forty minutes? I know this is bad timing but the mother of my best friend, Dani, just passed away. She’s got no other family. I have to go to her.’ Lexie looked from Josh to the boss. ‘Is that okay? I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be silly, of course you have to go,’ Casey said, waving her hand in the air. ‘The work will still be here when you get back. Go go go. Just don’t be too long.’
‘Thanks, I won’t.’ Lexie got up and squeezed past Josh once more. He watched her rush to her desk, grab her bag and then she was gone in an instant. When Josh glanced back at Casey, she was smiling knowingly.
‘I’m sure you can survive without her for a short time, Josh.’
As long as it’s only for a short time!