Chapter
SIXTY- SIX

On Sunday evening, in their various locations Drummond, Teresa, Aleisha and Pescaro, watched the seven o’clock news on ABC television. Introducing the lead story, anchorman James Richardson said, ‘In a remarkable day that has shaken the government and many highly respected Melbourne companies, there is mounting evidence of huge environmental damage caused by the dumping of toxic materials. It has been alleged that Aldrittson Waste Disposals dumped poisonous chemicals and fluids in at least four states for more than twenty-five years as part of an illegal multi-million dollar black industry. It is also alleged these activities were concealed inside their legitimate waste business. They have even been accused of trying to legalise their scam. Managing Director, Jack Aldrittson, recently died of a heart attack. His son, disgraced former politician Ben Aldrittson, presented Premier Meadows with an elaborate proposal for handling toxic waste just three months ago. Had the scheme been approved, it is alleged that Aldrittson’s would not only have continued their previous illicit activities under government sanction but also gained huge profits. This afternoon Premier Meadows refused to comment on the matter and Mr Aldrittson could not be located. In an exclusive interview to the ABC this evening, Professor Cameron Blake of RMIT said that in mid-July Premier Meadows asked him to examine a proposal for the destruction of toxic waste. Professor Blake said he wanted to set the record straight because he was concerned that people would misconstrue his, and RMIT’s, involvement in the Aldrittson scandal. He said he attended a meeting with the Premier and then Minister for Trade and Industry, Ben Aldrittson, on July 14. The Premier was seeking a second opinion on a waste destruction scheme. Professor Blake said that in his opinion it was a brilliant and important innovation and he did not know then that Aldrittson’s had allegedly been dumping black waste. ‘It would be a great pity,’ he said, ‘if the waste concept I examined was scuttled for legal or political reasons. What I saw was innovative, comprehensive, well regulated and intended to be very legal.’

It is believed that Victoria Police are investigating these allegations in conjunction with police and Environmental and Health authorities from New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

In other breaking news, Victoria Police announced it has smashed a highly organised paedophile ring involving at least a dozen men. It is alleged that members of the group filmed themselves in pornographic acts with children as young as four and no older than twelve years. Investigations also uncovered a substantial and highly active internet sales and distribution network run by the group within Australia and several overseas countries. It is believed that members of the group were confirmed from several home videos found among the personal effects of deceased politician, Lance Baker. In a clockwork operation across Melbourne suburbs today, twelve men were arrested on charges of pornography and sexual misconduct with minors. All have since been bailed after suppression orders were placed on their identities. The ABC has lodged an application with the Supreme Court of Victoria to contest the order which is listed for hearing on Friday, August 26. Even though the men cannot be named, the ABC has learned that among them is a Judge of the County Court, two senior police, several prominent public servants and executives from some of Melbourne’s most prestigious companies. The investigation was commenced several months ago after a cache of pornographic images showing children at different locations around Melbourne was found in a Collins Street office building. The ABC understands that nothing among those images identified members of the group. While police kept their investigation low key, matters accelerated when the Baker videos came to light.

Neither the Premier nor Attorney General was available for comment about these events.

Mr Baker’s widow could not be contacted and members of her family said she is overseas with her children.

In a separate matter today, the Assistant Commissioner for Crime, Mr David Tavistock, and the Assistant Commissioner for Ethical Standards, Mr Si Nguyen, announced that fifteen police were suspended from duty over serious corruption allegations. Two of the fifteen are believed to be attached to the Ethical Standards Department. Five of the fifteen were, late this afternoon, charged at a special sittings of the Magistrates’ Court at Melbourne and remanded in custody after bail was refused. Offences alleging bribery, theft, assault, the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs, possession of unregistered firearms and conspiracy were brought against the men. The remaining ten officers have been suspended from duty and their passports seized. The Assistant Commissioners said while their investigations remained ongoing, they were satisfied that for the moment, they had intercepted and interrupted a deeply embedded group of corrupt police engaged in broad scale criminal activity.

Unlike the paedophile story, we can bring you the names and locations of the fifteen police officers who include …’

Pescaro’s aged malt whiskey suddenly tasted like vinegar. Every one of the fifteen names was a key source. None had been missed. When earlier he had considered the possibility of a major leak in the Family he had been somewhat sceptical – he was wrong. That all fifteen snouts were identified at the same time suggested a highly placed informer. This, on top of Franse and Gibaldi, was incredibly bad news.

He turned the television off to think. After mentally reviewing the qualities of his capos he was as certain as he could be that the informer was none of them. The deaths of Franse and Gibaldi had had an electrifying effect on the Family, particularly his capos. None would be so foolish to attack him now. Apart from that, he had spoken to Ed Masseria about a formal handover. He wouldn’t be Don for much longer.

He sat reflecting quietly. Gradually, there came a triangulation. At first he thought it preposterous, but the more he reflected, the less it became so.

He knew of Tavistock’s secret enquiry but not the extent to which Ethical Standards was involved. They had kept that really tight. Over the past few days he had picked up murmurs from the OPP. These too had involved Tavistock and centred upon a dispute in that office involving a high powered informant. His last piece of information had come from a police source only yesterday – no human remains had been found in Teresa’s ruined house.

These discrete pieces of information together with Zimmer’s story today led him to the impossible conclusion that Teresa was the informer. She had turned and dobbed him in. Ice cold rage swept through him. After everything he had done for her. The loss of his police spies was catastrophic and there was no time to cultivate new ones. He would have to confirm his suspicion by other means. He picked up the telephone, totally pissed off that he had to ring the State Attorney General at home. For all the Judas coin that bastard had received HE should have called HIM days, if not weeks ago.