The traffic on New South Head Road was slow but at least it was moving. Jill checked the time on the dashboard. It was almost two and half kilometres to the Cross City Tunnel. Why was she driving all the way out to Parramatta? Whatever Scott Carver had to say to her, surely it could have been said in an email or over the phone.
Jill had first met Chief Inspector Carver at Bea and Harry’s son’s first birthday party around the time of the undercover assignment into art fraud. They’d been the only single people there — the other guests were all married with kids. She loved Bea like a sister but she was always trying to set Jill up with every eligible man she came across. If she liked them, she assumed Jill would too.
At the party, he’d introduced himself as Scott, Harry’s golfing partner. Bea had finally got it right. She’d saved the best for last. Scott was good-looking, well-educated and the fact he was far too good to be true should have rung warning bells. She shuddered when she remembered the embarrassment she’d felt shortly afterwards when she had gone with Rimis to a meeting at Police Headquarters. She had no idea the Scott she’d met at Bea’s party was Scott Carver, the Area Commander of North West Area Command.
Jill jumped at the sound of a horn from the car behind. The traffic light had turned green. Jill raised her hand in apology and put her foot on the accelerator.
After she’d broken up with Robbie she’d decided never to date cops… never, ever. The decision had left her chances of finding a partner slim. As for long-term relationships, she could count those on one hand. She remembered what Jenny Choi had said to her on her first day at Chatswood. Rule number one; don’t screw the crew. Rule number two; never let a man become indispensable. The last man that had come close to meaning anything to her was William Phillips, who was almost old enough to be her father. To complicate matters she’d met him on one of the worst days of his life — Jill had been the officer assigned to tell Phillips his mother was dead. There had been a time during their short relationship she’d thought it might work, but in the end he couldn’t handle the demands of her job.
When Jill arrived at Police Headquarters in Parramatta she was told Chief Inspector Carver was in a meeting. Jill settled back in the visitor chair and flicked through her emails. Ten minutes later she heard a phone ring.
‘Detective Brennan?’ Jill looked up.
‘Chief Inspector Carver, will see you now.’
Jill walked into Scott Carver’s plush office. He stood up and walked out from behind his desk. He was wearing a tailored suit; a crisp white shirt matched with a pale grey tie. ‘Sorry I kept you waiting, Jill. Come in.’ Carver closed the door and pulled a leather visitor chair out for her. Jill sat down and hoped he didn’t notice the deep breath she took before she crossed her legs. Wisps of her honey-blonde hair escaped her ponytail. She brushed them behind her ear. Scott Carver perched himself on the corner of his desk next to her.
Bea had never told her how old Scott Carver was; late thirties, early forties, she guessed. He had a few character lines around his eyes and grey hairs around his temples, which made him look distinguished in a sexy sort of way. As he talked, she detected the subtle scent of his woody aftershave, noticed the way his thigh muscles flexed through his trousers when he moved his leg. Jill tried to concentrate on what he was saying; aware of the effect he was having on her.
Talk turned to Bea and Harry and their son. When coffee was offered it was declined and then they got down to why she was in his office. They went over what Jill knew about Adam Lee and he told her their Intel suggested there was more to the attack than a case of assault but he wasn’t at liberty to disclose any details. He then went on to fill her in on the Asian Gang strike force. Officers from Chatswood, Hurstville, Strathfield and Cabramatta Local Area Commands were being recruited.
‘I want you to put all your other cases aside and concentrate on Adam Lee. I’ve already spoken to DI Rimis and we’ve agreed that you and Detective Choi would be the perfect pair from our region to work on this. I’m not sure how much you know, but Vincent Wan is the leader of the Red Cave Gang. He’s a Chinese-Malaysian national. Immigration is going to deport him if we ever find him. He’s a stand-over merchant and ICAC also have him and a few of his associates in their sights.’
‘Can I ask why you think Adam Lee is associated with the Red Cave Gang?’ Jill asked.
‘Recent Intel suggests Wan’s operation is based in Chatswood but we don’t know where exactly. There’s a lot of ground to cover and the local community isn’t exactly forthcoming.’
‘And, Adam Lee? What is it you want Jenny Choi and me to do?’
‘I want you to gain his trust. He might lead us to Vincent Wan.’ Carver straightened the creases on his trousers. ‘Jill, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about.’
Jill felt the chemistry between them, wondered if Scott Carver felt it too. ‘I know you have your doubts about Robbie Calloway’s death but…’
The look he gave her told her she was on dangerous ground.
Jill straightened her back. ‘I knew Robbie well and I’m still not convinced he took his own life.’ She thought she was here to talk about Adam Lee and Asian Gangs, not Robbie.
‘Surely with everything going on in his life it would be enough to convince you he committed suicide. It convinced me. So what have I missed?’
‘Fin. Robbie was devoted to his sister. I can’t imagine he’d leave her alone intentionally, and if he had taken his own life, at the very least he would have left Fin a note.’ Jill purposively didn’t mention that even that close bond had drifted in the few months before his death.
‘Any idea why he relocated to Rozelle just two weeks before his death?’ Carver asked.
‘No. Work seems the most likely though. I’m sure you’re aware of Robbie’s reputation for taking all of his cases seriously. His promotion to Senior Constable after he got a result with that sex offender in Palm Beach is proof of how committed he was to the job.’
Jill could see Scott Carver thinking. She wanted to convince him Robbie’s death was worthy of further investigation. She continued. ‘Maybe he found something he didn’t have time to share with the other members of his team. And if he had discovered something, whatever it was may have led him to Glover Street, and ultimately to his death.’
‘Come on Jill, that’s pure speculation. You’re aware he visited mental help sites?’
‘That could have been because he was trying to find help for his sister. She doesn’t seem well.’
‘She just lost her brother. Of course she’s not well.’
Jill ran her hands down her skirt. ‘Even if Robbie visited those sites because of his state of mind, it was a positive thing, don’t you think? It means he was looking for answers. And the lack of a suicide note, surely that’s an important factor.’
Scott’s eyebrows twitched in surprise. ‘Not everyone who commits suicide leaves a note. You know that as well as I do.’ Carver’s tone was light but Jill also detected a hint of impatience. It seemed like the ranks were closing in on her.
Why was everyone so eager to accept Robbie had taken his own life? Robbie Calloway was a long-serving officer. He deserved more. And why did she get the feeling that there was something more than polite interest behind Scott Carver’s questions?
‘Did you know Robbie well?’ she asked.
Scott shrugged. ‘He’s within my command.’ He cleared his throat. ‘We had a couple of beers on a few occasions.’ Scott stood and changed the topic. ‘What about his gun? I believe it’s missing and it looks like he took it home without proper authorisation the night before he died.’
Jill nodded. ‘That’s right. Someone saw him put it into his backpack.’ She knew what Scott was thinking, that Robbie had taken his gun home to use on himself.
Carver walked over to the window, turned around to face her. ‘Did you know he took out a life insurance policy last month?’
‘No, I didn’t.’ Jill tried to hide her surprise. It seemed like Scott Carver had been doing his own investigating.
Scott crossed the room. ‘Look, how about we go downstairs and grab a coffee?’
Jill stood up. He was close. He paused, eyes on her. She shuddered, imagining his hands on her. Another pause and she wondered if he was feeling as conflicted as she was. Wanting to kiss him, touch him, but too worried about the consequences. She was about to take a step back, snap to her senses when his hand touched her face, stroked her hair. In the end it was Scott who closed the distance and pressed his lips against hers. She kissed him back, caught up in the moment. But she had to break the spell. This was work, and he was an area commander, for God’s sake.
She gently pushed him away. ‘Don’t,’ she said. Her face reddened and desire welled up inside her. ‘This isn’t a good idea. In fact this is a terrible idea.’ She took a step back. ‘And besides, there’s no point.’
He searched her face. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You and me, it’s never going to work.’
‘Why? I thought it was working just fine.’ He raised his eyebrows, referring to the kiss.
‘It’s not that, it’s just —’
‘I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I met you at Harry and Bea’s. I was surprised you didn’t return my phone calls,’ Carver said.
‘I’m sorry. There was so much happening back then. The Taggart case threw me. It was…’ she gripped the top of the chair, ‘tough.’
‘And that’s why I called you again when I heard Taggart had tried to —’
‘Thanks. And I’m sorry I never called you back.’ She took a breath. ‘But it wasn’t just that. I don’t date cops.’
‘A wise policy. I can see the sense in not letting the people you work with see you naked.’ Scott’s tone was light but his eyes were saying something else all together.
‘I mean it, Scott. Look at us. What do you see?’
‘Two people strongly attracted to each other.’ His eyes met hers.
‘Apart from that.’ She crossed her arms. ‘You know what I see? Two over-worked cops.’
‘I’m not asking you to marry me, Jill. I just thought we could go out together, have a bit of fun.’
‘Even fun can be hard in the workplace,’ Jill said, slightly nauseated by the prospect that he might only be interested in a fling. What did she really know about him? Maybe he routinely slept with his female colleagues. ‘Besides, now is really not a good time.’
‘In our line of work is there ever a good time?’ Carver threw his shoulders back. ‘I apologise. I guess I misjudged the body language and what was going on here.’ Scott’s eyes were coolly disapproving as they met hers. ‘You know something? I don’t think it has anything to do with timing or being a cop. I think you use the fact you’re a cop to stop you from forming relationships.’
Jill’s cheeks turned a vibrant shade of red. She turned to leave but Scott seized her arm.
‘I know you’re upset over Calloway’s death because of your…history with him. Perhaps that’s why you’re seeing his death as something more sinister.’
The hide of him. Did he really think her judgement was clouded because she’d slept with Robbie? She was about to tell him to mind his own business, but thought better of it and bit her tongue. After all he was an area commander.
Carver sighed and let go of her. ‘We’ll probably never know what he was doing at Callan Park last Friday night. You can’t always expect an explanation for everything that happens in our business. Chances are he was out for a walk, saw the tower and…’ He trailed off. ‘Or maybe he went to Callan Park for one reason and one reason only: to kill himself.’