CHAPTER 2

EXCERPT FROM GARY TURNER’S EULOGY AT THE FUNERAL OF SALLY McINDOE, 18 NOVEMBER 2017

At funerals, everyone says nice things about the person, even if they were a complete prick. But enough about my Uncle Peter. Today you’re going to hear about what an amazing person Sal was. And you might think, ‘That’s a bit “funeral enhanced”. She can’t have been that good.’ Well, she was that. She really was.

From the moment she walked into Kincumber High in Year 8, we all wanted to hang out with Sal, to be friends with her, to sit next to her on the bus and at lunch. As we got older, it turned out that some of us wanted to be more than friends with her.

I was lucky enough to be her friend, and sometimes even to sit next to her on the bus, although there was always heavy competition for that. Sal was funny, smart, kind, all of that. She also had this magnetic charisma. Not in a demonstrative, ‘look at me’ way. Unlike some of us – that is, me – she never chased attention or popularity. She just seemed to exude this inner confidence and friendliness that immediately put everyone at ease. When you were hanging out with her it always felt like you were at the very centre of things, even if you were just wandering around Bullford Point trying to work out how to scrounge up enough money to but some mixed lollies from Sue’s shop.

Sal had this incredible ability to get people enthused. Once she told me she had started knitting and that it was fun. Before you knew it, I was over at her place after school, knitting a beanie. Of course hers looked amazing, whilst mine would only have fitted a head that was rhombus shaped.

In Year 10, six of us formed a band called From Afar. Why? Because Sal thought it would be fun and, as always, we were pulled along in her wake. Only Sal could have made it happen. She wrote amazing, beautiful songs that I was so lucky to sing with her onstage. She was a bit pitchy, to be honest. I’m joking. If anyone was pitchy, it was me. She had a wonderful voice.

After school we moved to Sydney to see if our little Bullford Point band could make it in the big smoke and, because of Sal’s drive and talent, slowly things started to happen.

Then Sal left. Vanished. None of us knew why. We still don’t. We don’t know why she left so abruptly or how far our band could have gone if she hadn’t. We didn’t even know where she had gone. All we knew was that we missed her. After she left, it was like the lights had dimmed.

If any of the rest of us had left, the band could have easily continued, but without Sal it was unthinkable. We all knew we couldn’t continue without her …

Excuse me …

What we know now is that Sal went to live in the Blue Mountains. Then in an almost unfathomable piece of bad luck, she became the third victim of the Blue Mountains Strangler.

I still miss her.

EXCERPT FROM SEBASTIAN BAXTER’S EULOGY AT THE FUNERAL OF SALLY McINDOE, 18 NOVEMBER 2017

Gary said it all really, so … yeah, Sal was … amazing. Yeah … Sorry … she was … we all … You could talk to her about anything. I talked to her every day about … everything. We all miss … I miss … sorry, I … sorry.

——

EMAIL FROM EMILY GRIFFITH TO VIV GRIFFITH, 15 MAY 2024

Dear Viv,

Thank you for all your visits and for the muffins. They’re delicious, or so the nurses tell me. They were very impressed when I told them you baked them yourself. Unfortunately, my appetite isn’t what it was.

I meant to talk to you about my will when you were here, but it seems easier to write because I’m not sure how you will take it. As you know, the cancer is spreading and it’s a matter of time now. I’m coming to terms with it and hope you are too.

Pretty much all I have is the house. I know the normal thing would be to divide it equally between you and Joe, but I hope you understand Joe needs it more. When he gets out he’ll be broke, and it won’t be easy for him to get a job with his history.

I worry about him, of course, always have, much more than about you. You have that wonderful career as a lawyer, your own house, and I just feel that I should be helping him more. Not because I love him more, but because he needs it more. I want to make it as easy as possible for Joe to leave Sydney and its temptations, come back here, have somewhere nice to live, and lead a good, simple life, like you.

So – deep breath – I’m leaving him two-thirds of the house and you one-third.

I know what you’re thinking. What if he gets back on the drugs, and sells the house to get money for them? I’m putting a condition in my will that he can only inherit if he completes the rehabilitation program within the next 12 months. If he doesn’t, the whole house goes to you.

Assuming he does inherit, I know it puts you in a bad position if you want to get your money out, because he’ll have a controlling interest. I’m sorry, but this is the best I could come up with. I know things have been strained between you and him the last few years and I know that’s his fault, not yours. But if he stays off drugs, he’ll be our Joe again.

You have a right to feel aggrieved, but please Viv, swallow it and accept this. You have been a great son, and a great older brother to Joe, even when he made it very hard for you. I know you’ll be all right because you’re so sensible, and I so hope that sometime soon you meet someone special and enjoy the wonderful experience of having a family.

Love,

Mum

PS Joe of course won’t have made a will, so if anything happens to him (which is unfortunately something we’ve got used to thinking about) you will be his next of kin and inherit his share.

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO EMILY GRIFFITH, 15 MAY 2024

Hi Mum,

Not sure what to say. Been a while since I’ve been to church but I remember that story about the prodigal son and the fatted calf. Never seemed quite fair to me.

Viv

EXCERPTS FROM PROBATION AND PAROLE REPORT OF JOE GRIFFITH, 17 FEBRUARY 2024

OFFENCE: Break and Enter, Forge Prescription, Steal from Person, Possess Prohibited Drug (heroin)

CRIMINAL RECORD: The defendant has two previous offences for Break and Enter, one for Forge Prescription and two for Possess Prohibited Drug (heroin).

HISTORY: The defendant grew up in Bullford Point on the Central Coast of NSW with an older brother. He was an average student and a talented musician who played guitar in a band in Sydney after leaving school.

He says he started using drugs seven years ago, soon after the disappearance and subsequent death of his ex-girlfriend, Sally McIndoe, who was the third victim of the Blue Mountains Strangler. He has been using drugs, especially heroin, since. All his criminality is drug related.

The defendant has been in prison for five weeks, bail refused, and has now been accepted into a six-month residential program at a rehabilitation facility, The Healing House.

RECOMMENDATION: Cautious optimism. The defendant is an intelligent young man. It is difficult to tell whether he is genuinely enthusiastic about dealing with his addiction and turning his life around, or is just saying that to get out of jail. Given the benefits that can flow to both the individual and society from successful rehabilitation, I cautiously recommend the Court grant the defendant bail to attend The Healing House. He is aware that if he leaves before he completes the program, he would be in breach of bail and likely receive a significant custodial sentence.

——

New South Wales Police: FACT SHEET

Offender: Karen KEMP

Address: 3/18 Mort St, Surry Hills

Nationality: Australian

D.O.B: 31 January 1993

Occupation: Bar worker

Offences: Larceny × 3

Arresting Officer: Constable Shelly Hackett, Bondi

Court: Waverley Local Court

ANTECEDENTS

The accused resides with two flatmates in Surry Hills and has three previous convictions, one for assault and two for larceny for similar thefts from Bondi Beach.

FULL FACTS

On Saturday 14 April 2024, police attended Bondi Beach in response to a call. It was a hot day and the beach was crowded. A lifesaver had observed the accused come out of the water, sit amongst some towels and clothes and extract two phones from the clothes. He indicated she was frequently looking around and observing people coming out of the water. The woman then moved away, carrying the two phones hidden in a towel she took. The lifesaver followed her and observed her sit amongst another pile of clothes and extract another mobile phone and a set of AirPods. The lifesaver called police and followed the accused, who returned to her own clothes, got dressed and walked toward the bus stop.

Police attended and arrested the woman, who denied the offence. Three phones and a set of AirPods were found on her person, and were later identified by their owners. The accused has two prior convictions for exactly the same offence.

LETTER FROM KAREN KEMP TO NAOMI TRAN, 28 JULY 2024

Hi Nom

See! I said I’d write you a proper old-fashioned letter. Only took me a month.

Forget technology. I’m back to nature. Bushwalking, pen on paper and no more than 4 hours screen time a day.

Bullford Point is awesome! You drive over the hill and WOW! A headland with the town and bay on one side, beach on the other and national park in between. You honestly feel the weight lift off your shoulders. Can’t believe it’s only an hour and a half drive from Sydney and I’ve only just discovered it.

There’s one road in, one road out. On the bay side, there’re about a dozen streets with houses on big bushy blocks, most with views of the bay and plenty backing onto the national park. There’s old single-storey fibros and newer, bigger places. Big trees everywhere and bush turkeys wander about like they own the joint. Caught one on our kitchen bench the other day trying to get an apple.

Prime possie is waterfront obviously, Bayside Avenue, about 30 houses, most with private jetties. At the end of it is a small beach where dogs run and kids jump off the public jetty, which pisses off anyone fishing. A ferry comes over from Palm Beach a few times a day, so come visit!

Behind that little beach is an old-style town square and community hall where they have weddings and trash and treasure, plus my new place of employment, the corner shop and take away. The big shops in Woy Woy or Kincumber are 20 mins away. (In the car. A day and a half to walk. Without wheels, you’re fucked.)

Tom’s place is three streets up the hill. Decent balcony looking over the water and backs onto the national park. No fence, and a bush track leads up to the ridge. Walking along the ridge, you look left and see the bay, right and see the beach and ocean. Beautiful.

Things with Tom are great. He’s gorgeous and totally devoted to me. I know I’ve only known him 2 months but it feels like our Fiji holiday romance is becoming something solid. Not only is he hot, he’s also a good, simple, content man, happy being the local plumber. I’m none of those things (except hot!!), but maybe we balance each other. I know you thought I was stupid blowing all that dough on a holiday, but I needed something to cheer me up after getting arrested for the phones at Bondi (lucky they didn’t catch me for all the other times I did it!), and what a good investment it was. Got me a good man.

On the down side, they’re not a young crowd here, but there’s some our age. Mainly those who never left, or did but found the big city too scary and came scampering back. It’s great for kids, not that I’m planning that hellscape. Everyone goes to the local bowling club on Friday night. Met some locals. Decent nice people, a bit dull, but that’s fine after all those double-dealing Sydney pricks.

I think it’s really good for me to be away from Sydney and get my head right, with someone who’s stable. I walk through the bush every day, and I want to start painting again.

I just need to get the court shit sorted out. I know everyone says ‘get it over and done with fast’, but I think my decision to delay it for 6 months by pleading not guilty was smart. I’ll plead guilty on the day (got no choice, they got me cold) and my lawyer can spin all that, ‘moved up the coast, in a solid relationship, changed woman, sorted herself out’ stuff to the judge. Even so, I’m nervous. I’ve made a shitload from the phones, but this is the third time I’ve been caught, and they won’t give me another bond. But I’ve got an idea to get the cops onside.

Gotta go, much love

Kaz

——

HOSPITAL ACCIDENT REPORT

Date: 24 August 2024

Time: 5.50 a.m.

Name: Claire Ellis

Age: 26

Preliminary Diagnosis: Patient admitted via ambulance to Emergency after car accident. External abrasions, hematoma and compound leg fracture of distal femur. Patient confused with post-traumatic amnesia.

EXTRACTS FROM NOTEBOOK OF SENIOR CONSTABLE TRISH GALLAGHER, 24 AUGUST 2024

Interview with Constable Sebastian Baxter, 26, Police Officer at Bullford Point station. He stated that around 7.30 p.m. on Friday 23 August 2024 he attended Bullford Point Bowling Club to meet friends. He met Claire Ellis, a high school teacher, who he did not previously know. He had had ‘one or two beers’ and she had ‘two or three’ gin and tonics. Around 10.30 p.m. they made a spontaneous decision to drive to her parents’ empty house at Avoca. They stayed there till approximately 4.30 a.m., then drove back. Constable Baxter stated his intention was to drop Claire Ellis at her home in Ettalong, and then return to his home in Bullford Point.

Constable Baxter was driving a VW Golf south along Empire Bay Drive at approx. 5.00 a.m. with his lights on high beam, except when approaching other vehicles. Driving conditions dry and good. The road is a secondary main road, good condition, some bends, one lane each way with occasional overtaking lanes.

South of Kincumber in a forested area, he saw headlights approaching, he thinks of a truck. The vehicle was veering from side to side of the road. When the two vehicles were close, the truck swerved toward him. To avoid an accident he swerved left and braked. His vehicle went off the road, down a steep bank, and rolled. When it stopped, upside down, he accessed his phone and called triple 0. It appears the truck did not stop.

Forensics found tyre marks consistent with heavy braking of a VW Golf, heading to the side of the road. Constable Baxter’s blood was analysed and returned a legal alcohol result of 0.02.

He had bruising and cuts, and was discharged from hospital the next day.

•••

Interview with Claire Ellis in her hospital bed. She has a badly broken leg, and cuts and bruising, including to her head. She recalls being at the bowling club, but that’s all. Dr Khoury indicates memory loss after this type of accident is common, and that she might recall more over time. Dr Khoury indicates there is ‘a very good chance her leg will make a full recovery and she will be able to run again, but it will take a few months of rehab’.

•••

CONCLUSION – If the truck driver can be located, there is sufficient evidence to charge him or her with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. Enquiries are ongoing to locate the truck and driver, but the only description is ‘a truck’.

——

The Healing House

Certificate of Completion and Discharge

Joe Griffith

CONGRATULATIONS, JOE!

You did it! You bounced back from every setback, and worked on understanding and improving yourself every day. We are proud of you. Keep up the good work. Don’t get back into old habits, and get in touch any time you want support.

Diana Vickers, Manager, Inpatient Programs, The Healing House

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EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO SEB BAXTER, BARB YOUNG, DEV KERALA, GARY TURNER, 25 AUGUST 2024

Hi Everyone,

As you know, Joe is returning to live in my parents’ place. I’m hoping that having completed a full rehabilitation program, he will stay off drugs, but unfortunately the statistics are clear: most who have been addicted to hard drugs for some years relapse.

I hope you will support Joe and I am asking two things:

Thanks,

Viv

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ANONYMOUS LETTER LEFT AT JOE GRIFFITH’S FRONT DOOR, ON OR AROUND 30 AUGUST 2024

YOU ARSEHOLE JUNKIE. WE DON’T WANT YOU HERE. YOU’VE DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

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LETTER FROM BARB YOUNG TO DENNIS YOUNG, 4 SEPTEMBER 2024

Dear Dennis,

Strange to be writing a letter to you after all this time, but probably easier than talking in some ways.

I understand you wanting to divide things up and move on, I suppose. I mean, I don’t, but I accept it. Can I just ask that we leave it a few weeks? You must have had a long time to think about leaving. You probably planned it all out in your organised way. For me, it’s still a bit of a shock. I still wake up and think, ‘Where is he?’

I’m not going to be obstructionist, but let’s just give it a month and see where we are then. Is that okay?

Are you missing Bullford Point? I know you’re just fifteen minutes away, but I expect you haven’t been here much the last two months. You might think nothing has changed. How wrong you’d be. Sue’s shop ran out of Vegemite, the Davidsons pruned their hedge and I bought a new hammer! And that was just last week!

And we have two new residents, one who you know and one who you don’t. There, you’re intrigued now, aren’t you? Slightly?

Joe is back. All those years in Sydney doing goodness knows what – drugs, break-ins, jail and the rest, causing so much worry to his poor mother. It might have contributed to her early death. Can worry cause lung cancer? I expect smoking was the main cause, but it might have made it worse.

He did six months in rehabilitation, and he’s living in Emily’s house, which is now his and Viv’s, although mainly Joe’s apparently. I saw him at the shops and he said he wants to ‘start again’. He looks healthy, but with a huskier voice and tattoos. I don’t even like those tribal ones, but his are a mess. Words, pictures and symbols crossing over each other on his arms, even the back of his hands. Looks like he did them himself. In the dark.

Sue’s not happy about his return, of course. Still blames Joe for ‘making’ Leanne take drugs, which I understand, but it’s very hard to make anyone do anything. Joe was, no doubt, a bad influence on Leanne, but surely she decided for herself. The poor girl is still in Sydney in that life, so of course Sue feels angry when she sees Joe cleaned up.

It does make you wonder. Joe was a lovely boy. Clever, energetic, difficult at times, as Emily told me more than once, but full of spirit. He was brought up the right way, as far as I can tell. It’s such a shame what happened, but he’s got himself into a position where he has a second chance. I want to try to help, so I’ve offered him work. Only part-time, I don’t have enough for a full-time helper, but with some jobs I could use an extra pair of hands.

I know what you’re thinking. That I remember Joe as an innocent kid, but since then he’s broken into people’s homes and all that – is he really a good person to work with? Well, I won’t put up with him being unreliable. If he is, I’ll show him the door of whoever’s house we’re working in. And I won’t let him near money. I’ll give him a chance, then it’s up to him.

The other new resident is Tom Malone’s new girlfriend, Karen. Good for Tom, he’s a nice fellow. Not the sharpest nail, but he has a good heart.

I’ve seen Karen a few times at the shop and jetty and she seems very Sydney. What do they call that hair that’s dark at the top and light at the bottom? Not that you’d know. A couple of tattoos herself (although a higher grade than Joe’s), and it might be the first nose ring to have made its home in Bullford Point. They seem very happy, by which I mean all over each other, but of course that will fade sooner or later, and then they’ll find out what else there is. As we did. Until you changed your mind.

The other news is that Devina Kerala wants to build apartments and shops at the jetty. Sounds awful, but apparently she’s already got options on two houses on Bayview Drive. Joe’s house is apparently the vital one, because it’s next to the jetty, so I suspect Dev will be batting her very long eyelashes at him in the very near future. Sue is furious and leading a campaign to stop it.

Anyway, there seem to be a lot less chores to do now that you’re gone, which means more spare time. By the way, did you finish watching Broadchurch? We were up to season two episode three when you left. I tried to keep going, but I think it lost its way a little and I gave up. Besides, it wasn’t the same.

Bye for now,

Barb

——

LETTER FROM KAREN KEMP TO NAOMI TRAN, 13 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hey Nom,

Still here. Another quiet day. I’m only working at the shop a couple of times a week, so I have A LOT of free time. Quiet is a good thing, right? Except for the birds squawking all the time, which was nice at first but is now fucking irritating.

Everyone is friendly enough, but it’s obvious I’m different. They look me up and down, all judgey, especially when I wear something low cut and a bit of makeup, just cos I don’t dress dowdy like them. It’s not exactly fashion central here, unless you’re a fan of T-shirts with band names from last century.

Tom is a nice guy, but is that enough? Our Fiji sex fest has morphed into, ‘Hi honey, how was your day unblocking people’s toilets? I’ve made chops.’ All he wants is to live here and be a plumber his whole life. His idea of a big adventure is drinking Carlton instead of VB. I’m sure he wants me to start pumping out babies, but he’s too scared to ask.

He gets uncomfortable when I talk about moving somewhere new, or seeing the world, and we’ve had a couple of arguments about stupid shit. I say arguments, but he doesn’t fire up at all. You know what I’m like, I say what’s on my mind. When I do he just looks hurt and sulks, which is soooo sexy, NOT. Stand up for yourself! Nothing makes you lose the horn for a tough tradie quicker than whining.

The other night I was saying we should go to Sydney for the weekend – stay in a nice hotel, get the spark back, you know – and he goes, ‘I don’t really like big cities.’ Fuck’s sake. Why do men change? Hot AF and sweet when you meet them, then they get weak, pathetic and needy. Be much easier if I liked girls like you do!

A month ago I was head over heels, now I’m going for walks after dinner to get away from him. I mean, Justin was a dick, and I’m glad I dumped him, but at least going out with a dude in a crime gang was exciting.

Okay, here we go, secrets time. There’s another guy I’ve been seeing. Joe. He comes into the shop, and I’ve bumped into him walking round the bay. He just came out of rehab, so that’s more interesting than fixing dunnies.

One day we saw each other, walked around a bit, ended up outside his place (waterfront!!), he asked me in for a cuppa, and BOOM! The sex is amazing. Always is with affairs cos you know you’re doing something wrong. But if it gets out, this place is so small and gossipy I’ll instantly become ‘that slut’.

Anyway, it’s time to break up with Tom and move on. It was fun, but now it’s over. Usual story. But I don’t want to go back to Sydney. Maybe up the coast? Byron? I rushed into this, and I can rush right out again. I might just wait until the sex with Joe starts to taper (it already has with Tom, in case you hadn’t guessed) and I get court out of the way.

Speaking of good news, I’m talking to a big wheel at the cops next week about some info I have that might get them to go easy on me. Turns out my relationship with Justin wasn’t a complete waste of time after all.

Luv ya babe,

Kaz

——

EMAIL FROM GARY TURNER TO VIV GRIFFITH, JOE GRIFFITH, SEB BAXTER, DEV KERALA, 16 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Guys, just letting you know my new game show debuts tomorrow night at 5.30 p.m. I know you’re all crossing your fingers for me. I’m confident it’s a winner and hope you enjoy! I know we were all going to be stars together all those years ago with our band, and whenever I’m on TV I think of that experience and how I’m carrying the torch for all our dreams!

Here’s a SMH article from today, in case you missed it. Got another radio interview in five mins. Hectic! Missing the quiet life already!

Gary

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD TV REVIEW, 15 SEPTEMBER 2024

‘It’s good to be back on the telly,’ says twenty-eight-year-old comedian Gary Turner as he sits, relaxed in T-shirt, sunglasses and chinos looking out over the water, on the balcony of his Central Coast home, the exact location of which I have sworn not to reveal.

Gary, who sprang to fame via comedy panel show Time To Shine, is excited about his return to television as host of Channel Nine’s new game show Which Duck? When I ask him to explain it, his enthusiasm is infectious.

‘There’s ten ducks in a pen wearing jewellery. Necklaces, mainly, not rings obviously because ducks don’t have fingers, but, here’s the twist, only some of the jewellery is real. Contestants have to pick a duck they think has real jewellery, then get the jewellery from that duck in thirty seconds. They get to keep what they get. It’s an absolute riot.’

I gently enquire about duck welfare. ‘The RSPCA are all over it. They’ve approved it and there’s an animal welfare officer on set. Here’s the other twist. Every week it’s a different animal. Dogs, horses, goats.’

‘Crocodiles?’ I ask.

‘Saving them for the final,’ he retorts, before quickly adding, ‘that’s a joke. You’ll make it clear that’s a joke?’

I assure him I will, then ask why, if there are lots of different animals, the show is called Which Duck?

‘It just grabs you. “Which Duck?!” See? It’s just a funny name. It tested great. And the ducks are great. They seem to really get TV. We’ll probably use them the most.’

Gary tells me he developed the show with a production company. ‘It’s high stakes, but I’m confident.’

He says he used his recent time out of the media spotlight for reflection and personal growth. ‘I got out of Sydney, moved back here where I grew up, and it’s been wonderful to reconnect with my roots, and nature. Bushwalking, the beach, going out on the boat. Plus I’m still close enough to Sydney to do comedy shows there. It’s perfect!’

——

EMAIL FROM DOM LOOM, FACE ACHE PRODUCTIONS TO GARY TURNER, 16 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Gary,

Great to hear you spruiking the show. We’re all really excited about it. Just one small point. You mentioned you developed the show with us, or at least that’s what the story said. Perhaps the journalist misunderstood or misquoted you? Anyway, it’s definitely no biggie, but as I’m sure you recall we came to you with the idea. Of course your experience and influence have been invaluable, but perhaps next time you could make it clear that it’s a copyrighted concept of Face Ache Productions? Thanks, buddy. Looking forward to the next record on Friday.

Dom

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EMAIL FROM DEV KERALA TO JOE GRIFFITH, 16 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Joe,

Sooo great to talk today and to hear you’re potentially interested in selling. I hope the fact that we’re old friends will make it easier for you, as you know the person turning your house into a block of tasteful apartments is someone you can trust.

Understand you need some thinking time, but we do want to move forward soon. As you know, we have secured options to the two houses to your left as you look into the bay, so either way we will be proceeding.

We’re really excited about this development, which is why we’re prepared to pay you a price well above market value. As discussed, we will demolish nos 24 and 26 Bayside Ave, and hopefully your place too, and then build an apartment and retail hub adjoining the town square, jetty and beach.

If you decide not to sell, 24 and 26 sit to your north, which means the development (proposed at three stories) would unfortunately affect your light, and again unfortunately possibly the resale value of your home. Construction will take around 18 months and you would experience some noise in that period. But you don’t have to worry about any of that if you sell to us!

Joe, please get back to me soon, and hopefully we can do a great deal for everyone and help revitalise Bullford Point, the place we all love so much. See below extract of our submission to council.

Dev xx

EXTRACT FROM SUBMISSION TO CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL FROM INSPIRE PROPERTY, 3 AUGUST 2024

Bullford Point is often described as ‘sleepy’. That sounds nice to some, but is ‘sleepy’ a sustainable economic strategy? Bullford Point has the opportunity to become one of the shining jewels in the Central Coast Local Government area, with a thriving, robust economy, driven by tourism.

By slightly increasing density at the epicentre of Bullford Point, our proposed apartment and retail hub, adjacent to the currently under-used town square, jetty and beach, will provide a focal point for visitors and locals. The building of 12 tasteful, upmarket waterfront apartments, plus a selection of carefully curated, sophisticated retail outlets – for example, an artisan baker, juicery, homewares emporium and hair stylist – will give tourists and locals a reason to flock to the town centre.

That increased activity will create employment, slow the post-school talent drain to Sydney, and stimulate opportunities for more businesses. The currently wasted potential of the sleepy town square will be brought to life, and Bullford Point will become a vibrant, energetic community, attractive to old and young.

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EXTRACT FROM SUBMISSION TO CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL FROM SUE HITCHCOCK, 23 AUGUST 2024

This proposal is an abomination that will destroy Bullford Point. Your duty as our representatives is to stop it!!! I run the Bullford Point Store, so you would expect me to benefit from this ‘increased activity’, but I, and the majority of residents, DON’T WANT IT! We like our sleepy, quiet town just as it is, thank you very much. Bullford Point is the Central Coast’s best kept secret and we want to keep it that way!! And, we are very curious to know how this monstrosity has managed to get ‘provisional council approval’ so fast!!!!!?????

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TEXTS BETWEEN TOM MALONE AND KAREN KEMP, 17 SEPTEMBER 2024

1.13 p.m.

TOM: Hey, finished a job early, and postponed another till tomorrow so I can come home and see you. You finished work at 12, yes? Afternoon delight? xx

1.27 p.m.

TOM: You about Kaz?

1.40 p.m.

KAREN: Sorry, was out of range. Bushwalking. Home in a couple of hours

TEXTS BETWEEN KAREN KEMP AND JOE GRIFFITH, 17 SEPTEMBER 2024

1.40 p.m.

KAREN: Hey Joe, just near your place. Want a cuppa?

1.41 p.m.

JOE: Is that what you call it?

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GARY TURNER RETWEET OF TV REVIEW, WITH COMMENT, 17 SEPTEMBER 2024

‘Thank you, milady!’ 🙇

‘TELEVISION WATCH’ BY JASMIN FLAYGER, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 17 SEPTEMBER 2024

This column wishes to apologise for the many times it has maligned the decisions of television executives. I now see that they are far smarter than me. I would never have greenlit LEGO Masters (adults play with kids toys), MasterChef (people cook) or I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! (people who used to be famous lie in bed moaning and occasionally get tortured), but all of them succeeded.

The new Channel Nine show Which Duck? is the weirdest pitch of them all. How did they commission a show about people trying to remove jewellery from animals? It sounds ridiculous. I was absolutely sure it would fail, but Which Duck? is already coming second in its timeslot, and is entertaining and even compelling. Gary Turner is hilariously charming, simultaneously treating the ridiculous premise of the show as important and sending it up, making one wonder why he has been in the television wilderness for the last few years. The show works, it’s rating its bum off, and I should resign.

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EXTRACT FROM CENTRAL COAST CYCLING CLUB NEWSLETTER, 18 SEPTEMBER 2024

Another great race on the weekend, around the 48-kilometre Brisbane Water circuit, and yet another comfortable win for new member Sam Delaney, making it three in a row for the cheery wunderkind. Is he a machine or what?! He modestly put his streak down to beginner’s luck, but I reckon we might have to drug test him! Although why he’d risk it for a $2 plastic trophy I’m not sure! Just jokes, Sam. Well done.

Second again was club champ Viv Griffith, who now faces quite the challenge to retain the title he has held for the last five years. Don’t write Viv off, though. Unlike the rest of us, he never wastes any of his race energy on talking, joking, smiling or eye contact. Laser focus! We luv ya, Viv.

See you next week for the 50-kilometre Gosford to The Entrance and back!

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TEXTS BETWEEN TOM MALONE AND JOE GRIFFITH, 21 SEPTEMBER 2024, 2.34 p.m.

TOM: I know about you and Karen you prick. Thought we were mates

JOE: No idea why you thought that

TOM: We went to school together

JOE: I was two years above you. How many times you visit me in jail?

TOM: I only heard about it when you were about to get out

JOE: That probably means we’re not mates then

TOM: Still a low act. Where is she?

JOE: No idea

TOM: I know she was at your place last night, and I haven’t seen her since

JOE: How do you know that? You spying on her?

TOM: Just know

JOE: She left my place about 9 p.m. Haven’t heard from her since

——

CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER DUTY BOOK ENTRY, RECORD OF CONVERSATION WITH TOM MALONE, 18 HOLT DRIVE, BULLFORD POINT, 21 SEPTEMBER 2024

Tom Malone came in to report his girlfriend, Karen, missing. Said he’d last seen her the previous evening when they had dinner, then about 6.45 p.m. she went for a walk, saying she wanted some ‘self time’. He said she had been doing that a bit recently.

He went out to a regular Thursday evening tennis game and afterwards to a pub and ended up staying at a friend’s place in Ettalong because he was over the limit. He got up at 6 a.m., drove home, noticed she wasn’t there, then went to work. During the morning he called and texted her. No reply.

He returned home in the afternoon. No sign of her. Went to the shop where Sue said Karen had not come in for work.

I asked him to go home and check if she had taken any belongings. He said, ‘She wouldn’t have just left like that.’ He said I should ask Joe Griffith where she was. I asked why. He said, ‘Just a feeling.’

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TEXTS BETWEEN JOE GRIFFITH AND ANDY JOHNSON, 21 SEPTEMBER 2024

ANDY: So?

JOE: G’day mate

ANDY: None of that shit. You owe

JOE: I’m good for it

ANDY: Great. I’ll come now. Where are ya? Three grand

JOE: Whoa! 1800

ANDY: We kindly put your debt on hold when you were inside, then AGAIN when you went to rehab. Interest

JOE: I need some time

ANDY: You’ve had 7 months!

JOE: Jail laundry pays three bucks an hour. Need to get it together. I’ve got a job

ANDY: 2 weeks. Interest means 3200 by then. If you don’t come good … I’m not going to threaten you over text, but you know the drill yeah?

——

CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER DUTY BOOK ENTRY, PHONE CALL WITH TOM MALONE, 21 SEPTEMBER 2024

Tom rang and said Karen’s bag and most of her clothes were gone. I asked how they had been getting on. He said the last couple of weeks had been ‘tricky’. I asked if she had talked about leaving. He said, ‘Nothing serious.’ I asked if while he was out at tennis, she may have taken her bag and got a bus, Uber or taxi to the train station. He said she had left ‘her favourite dress’. On further questioning, he admitted he wasn’t sure it was her favourite, but ‘I bought it for her and she said she liked it’. I asked him if it was possible she might have left without telling him. He said, ‘No way. And she really liked the dress.’

Tom said he believed Karen was having an affair with Joe, so I should ‘ask that prick where she is’. I advised him not to do anything silly. I said I couldn’t launch a missing persons investigation until twenty-four hours had passed, and even then, we needed to have genuine fears for the safety of the person, and at this stage it seemed most likely that Karen had just decided to leave.

He said, ‘That’s fucking fucked.’

I told him that I would make further informal enquiries. He said he thought he had the phone number of one of her friends in Sydney and would send it to me.

CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER DUTY BOOK ENTRY, CONVERSATION WITH JOE GRIFFITH, 22 SEPTEMBER 2024

Called Joe, and asked about his relationship with Karen. He was initially reluctant to disclose but I mentioned Tom had reported her missing. He said he had been ‘seeing’ Karen, and wasn’t surprised she had left. ‘She talked about leaving him. She was bored shitless. Well, except when she was with me.’

In the circumstances there are clearly not grounds for opening a missing persons investigation.

——

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO JOE GRIFFITH, 22 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Joe,

Can you confirm when my rent is coming. We co-own the house, not in exactly the proportions I had anticipated, but nonetheless. Can you set up a direct bank transfer for the first of each month?

Mum’s will made it clear your two-thirds of the house gives you a controlling interest in decisions, so whilst Dev’s offer to buy the house affects me, you get to decide. I hope we can discuss and agree on a course of action.

I think we should sell for the following reasons:

Viv

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO VIV GRIFFITH, 23 SEPTEMBER 2024

Probably sell. Let you know soonish.

——

EMAIL FROM BARB YOUNG TO VIV GRIFFITH, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Viv,

Just letting you know that Joe has been going very well. He helped me for three days this week, clearing gutters, gardening, cutting bamboo and digging out the roots, fixing windows and painting. He was on time, worked hard and, importantly, when we had a drink at the jetty afterwards, didn’t even glance sideways at my beer as he sipped his lemonade. Good signs!

I’m sure he felt a bit of pride when I handed him his pay, even if it was just a piece of paper with the amount written on it. I was going to give him cash, so he could see a tangible result of his labour, but remembered what you said and did a bank transfer.

Best,

Barb

——

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO GARY TURNER, VIV GRIFFITH, DEV KERALA, SEB BAXTER, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi guys, thanks for your support since I got back. I know I’ve said it before, but this time I’m going to sort myself out!

With my history I’m not going to walk into a job as involving and rewarding as the ones you guys have worked hard to get, but I’ll get there eventually, and am looking into studying part-time. Meanwhile, I’ll keep working for Barb, but she only needs me part-time, and I want to keep busy. At rehab they always said, ‘Find hobbies you’re interested in. Don’t have lots of unstructured time. When you’re not interested in anything else, your addiction gets interested in you.’

I’ve thought about playing music again, and I might, but there’s another project I’m really excited about. Here goes. I’m doing a true crime podcast about Sal and her murder, and the killer they never caught.

I hope it will be a therapeutic way for me, and perhaps all of us, to work through the pain of her death. In rehab they make you delve into why you take drugs, and the shock of her murder was definitely something that pushed me closer to making bad decisions. They also tell you not to hide from the feelings that unpleasant events caused, and I’ve certainly been guilty of that.

Anyway, the podcast will be a creative outlet for me. Plus, I might catch the bastard. I’ll be asking you all to do an interview with me about Sal, and what happened. Seven years on, I hope it’s not too painful for you. It might even be nice to reminisce about those crazy days when we were all in a band, trying to take over the world. I’ll treat all interviews sensitively and can stay off any topics you don’t want to revisit.

Thanks in advance,

Joe

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO JOE GRIFFITH CC GARY TURNER, DEV KERALA, SEB BAXTER, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

Joe,

We want to help you, but I think this is a bad idea for the following reasons:

Maybe you could learn French instead?

Viv

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO VIV GRIFFITH CC GARY TURNER, LEANNE HITCHCOCK, DEV KERALA, SEB BAXTER, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

Understand your concerns. I’ll be fine. Back then, I was an accident waiting to happen, but now I understand why I went off the rails, and how I can stay on the straight and narrow. The podcast will help. I want to know what happened. It infuriates me that someone killed Sal, and two other women. Just because the cops didn’t solve it doesn’t mean I can’t. I know firsthand how hopeless cops can be. I did heaps of stuff they didn’t catch me for.

True crime podcasts are popular, and lots of unsolved murders have been solved by podcasters. I’ve listened to a few and I reckon I can do it. You need a microphone and a bit more equipment, but it’s not too expensive and pretty technically simple. Gary is a media slut expert, so he can help me.

At rehab they said you need to take out the things that hurt you and hold them up to the light, not hide them away. Hiding painful things away causes people to ‘act out’ with drugs, alcohol, violence, anger etc.

Joe

EMAIL FROM GARY TURNER TO JOE GRIFFITH CC VIV GRIFFITH, DEV KERALA, SEB BAXTER, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

Seems like your mind’s made up and we all know how hard it is to get you to change it. I’m happy to help. I know a bit about putting a narrative together, so can listen and give you feedback. And Viv can give you legal advice so you don’t defame anyone!

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO GARY TURNER, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

Why are you encouraging him? It’s a terrible idea.

EMAIL FROM GARY TURNER TO VIV GRIFFITH, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

He’s decided. You know how stubborn he is. The more anyone tells him not to do it, the more he’ll want to do it. Don’t worry, he’ll probably realise it’s harder than he thought and lose interest after a week and start those French lessons.

——

EMAIL FROM SUE HITCHCOCK TO VIV GRIFFITH, 25 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Viv,

I’m leading the campaign to stop the terrible development at the jetty. The original plans were bad enough, but imagine my horror when I discovered they want to add your dear parents’ house. Shops and a giant apartment block next to the jetty will destroy our peaceful paradise, and once they’ve got one through, the floodgates will open, and our sleepy home will become the Gold Coast.

As you know, Joe and I aren’t on good terms, so I’d prefer not to discuss this directly with him, but I can’t believe you and he would sell to these vandals, so please tell me you won’t. Let’s keep Bullford Point the special place that it is.

Sue

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO SUE HITCHCOCK, 25 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Sue,

Understand your concerns, but Joe has the controlling interest in the house. He is the decision maker, and I understand why someone offering to buy the house for more than it is worth is appealing. He has a high-value asset, but little income. If he wants to sell, there’s not much I can do about it.

Viv

——

EMAIL FROM DEV KERALA TO SUE HITCHCOCK, 26 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Sue,

It’s such a shame that you and I, who both love Bullford Point and are part of the community, are on opposite sides regarding Inspire Property’s proposed development. It would be lovely to sit down with you and try to work out a win-win. After all, we both want the same thing – what’s best for Bullford Point.

Would it help if we could guarantee that none of the shops in our retail hub would, in any way, be in competition with yours? If we did that, our modelling indicates the extra trade would give you a 30 to 35 per cent increase in turnover!

We are also looking for someone who can take on an ambassadorial role and be the link between us and the community. A trusted voice who can explain the benefits to residents. You would be amazing! It’s a paid role. Shall we talk?

Dev

EMAIL FROM SUE HITCHCOCK TO DEV KERALA, 26 SEPTEMBER 2024

How dare you try to bribe me! Stop trying to destroy our community, which you are NOT part of. You live in Ettalong, nearly 15 minutes’ drive away.

——

EMAIL FROM DEV KERALA TO GARY TURNER, 27 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Gary,

Great to catch up at the club and congrats on the new show!! It’s amazing. So fun. I loved it!! I always knew you’d make it. Sooo much talent!

As mentioned, there is a great opportunity for investors in our development at Bullford Point. We have two houses near the jetty, and are just waiting on the third owner – Joe – to commit. I’m confident he will, and then away we go.

Because you’re such a dear friend, I wanted to give you the opportunity to invest before we open it up more widely. Moneywise, it’s as close to a sure thing as you can get. Our conservative estimate is that you’ll make a shitload!

I’ve attached a prospectus with all the deets.

Dev xx

EMAIL FROM GARY TURNER TO DEV KERALA, 27 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Dev,

Thanks for the kind words and for thinking of me. As it happens, my new TV show is paying rather generously and I am looking for investment opportunities, especially those that return a shitload. Definitely interested. Give me a call.

Gary

——

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO VIV GRIFFITH, 28 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Viv,

I’ve decided to sell. It’s a great offer and I’m broke. What’s the point of living in a million-dollar house if you’re eating baked beans? I’ve got plans. Businesses I want to start. No one is going to take a punt on me given my background, so I need the money.

Joe

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO JOE GRIFFITH, 28 SEPTEMBER 2024

Joe,

Good decision. Will it be dangerous for you to have a couple of million dollars, though? I can set up a trust for you to provide some checks and balances on your spending.

Viv

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO VIV GRIFFITH, 28 SEPTEMBER 2024

How would that work? You decide how much pocket money I get every week? No thanks.

——

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO DEV KERALA, 29 SEPTEMBER 2024

Hi Dev,

Yes, I’m happy to sell at that price.

Joe

EMAIL FROM DEV KERALA TO JOE GRIFFITH, 29 SEPTEMBER 2024

Joe, that’s wonderful!!! Brilliant. A very smart decision. This will be fantastic. I’ll get the paperwork prepared and away we go!!!

Dev

——

TEXT FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO ANDY JOHNSON, 29 SEPTEMBER 2024

JOE: All sorted. Will have money soon

——

JOE GRIFFITH, CATCHING THE STRANGLER PODCAST, INTRODUCTION TRANSCRIPT

Hi, I’m Joe Griffith, and welcome to Catching The Strangler. Seven years ago my friend Sal McIndoe was murdered, the third and final victim of a killer dubbed the Blue Mountains Strangler. The victims, it seems, were randomly picked. The only thing connecting them is that they were women living in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. The Strangler was never caught. This podcast will re-examine the case, the police investigation, search for new information and, I hope, uncover the identity of the Blue Mountains Strangler.

One of the unusual things about the Blue Mountains Strangler is that they struck three times in just eight days, and then stopped. Usually killers like that keep going. Did their impulse to kill subside? Were they able to control it? Did they fear the police closing in and move elsewhere? Did they continue to kill, but hide their tracks better by varying their method? Did they die? Suicide, a heart attack, a car accident?

And what of the victims? Who were they? An eighty-six-year-old woman living alone, a forty-seven-year-old woman with terminal cancer, and my great friend Sal, just twenty, a university student and talented musician.

——

TEXTS BETWEEN JOE GRIFFITH AND FORMER DETECTIVE JOHN MAYNE, 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

JOE: Thanks for agreeing to see me tomorrow. Should be in Katoomba about 11

JOHN: Goodo

——

TEXTS BETWEEN JOE GRIFFITH AND LEANNE HITCHCOCK, 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

JOE: Hey Leanne, long time. You’ve probably heard I’m back in Bullford Point, living in Mum and Dad’s house. Are you coming up to visit your mum anytime soon? Can I interview you for a podcast I’m doing about Sal? Ideally face to face

LEANNE: Okay. Be good to see you, talk about old times. I can get the train up but can you pay expenses plus a bit more? Say $100?

JOE: Understand it’s time out of your busy schedule but I’m pretty skint at the moment. I’d offer to come down to Sydney but better for me to stay away at the moment. Return train ticket is $16 and I’m sure your mum will pick you up from the station. How about $50?

LEANNE: Okay, sure Joe

——

EXTRACT FROM DIARY OF LEANNE HITCHCOCK, 1 OCTOBER 2024

On the train heading home to do an interview for Joe’s podcast. At least that’s what he said. Maybe he just wants to see me!

Apparently he’s done rehab and it’s sticking. Good on him, I spose, but I feel kind of jealous, and also pissed off. Why does he get to escape, parachuted into that beautiful house where we had so much fun as kids, while I’m still stuck in the mud, on the same fucking merry-go-round? Working to buy the drugs and booze I need to forget about the work. How’s that fair?

Maybe when I see him I’ll pull out a bag of coke and see how different he really is. Anyone can say ‘never again’ when you haven’t got any.

Wish I could meet someone who’d make me forget about Joe, but I never do. Just losers who have to pay for sex. Even when they want to get chatty and get a crush on you, it’s all bullshit. They’re just lonely. And if you meet someone decent outside work, how long can you avoid, ‘So, what do you do?’ You can lie for a while, but not forever, and none of them like the truth.

But here I am running back to the prick who got me into sex work. ‘Easy money,’ he said. It was for him! Prick. But when he texted me, like an idiot, I instantly got excited. I tried to make myself wait ten minutes before I replied and couldn’t even make five. Pathetic. At least I got some money out of him.

Last time I saw him was maybe a year ago at a party. He was with some bitch. He was polite and distant to me for about two minutes before he made an excuse to get away. The love of my life, who fucked me over and dumped me. Twice! Dumb old me.

Typical he’s doing a podcast about Sal. Still obsessed with her. Everyone was. Fuck knows why.

But I wonder … am I stupid to hope that when we talk about old times, we might recapture the ease and fun we had together before it all got messed up? Maybe he might even say, ‘Look, I’ve landed well here, and it’s partly my fault that you’re where you are. Come and stay here with me, and we’ll stay clean together.’

Is it mad to imagine that? That he’ll be a supportive friend and help me get clean and back on my feet? That things might build from there, that our familiarity, in-jokes and shorthand could return, and he’ll be kinder than before, and I will too, and then one night we’ll be drinking tea – herbal cos we’re all in on the clean-living shit – and he’ll take the cup from my hand and put it down and take my hand and it’ll all start again, but better this time, and it’ll last. Is that mad to hope for?

——

TEXTS BETWEEN GARY TURNER AND LEANNE HITCHCOCK, 1 OCTOBER 2024

GARY: Hey Leanne, long time. Heard you were on your way up. I’m in Woy Woy today so happy to give you a lift to Bullford Point. When do you arrive? BTW, have you caught my new show, ‘Which Duck?’ 5.30 weekdays Ch 9?

LEANNE: Thanks Gary. 3 p.m. I think. Haven’t seen show yet but I will

——

TEXTS BETWEEN BARB YOUNG AND JOE GRIFFITH, 3 OCTOBER 2024

BARB: Joe are you at home? Do you know why all those police are heading up the hill?

JOE: Apparently someone found something in the bush

BARB: Trees?

JOE: Body

BARB: Human?

JOE: Don’t think cops would come rushing for a dead wombat

BARB: Lost bushwalker?

JOE: Pretty hard to get lost twenty metres from the path. Even for a tourist

——

CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER NOTEBOOK ENTRY, 3 OCTOBER 2024

Received call from Belinda Alldice from the ridge track. Said she was walking her dog off leash along track (illegal) when dog raced down the far side of the hill. She followed and found dog inspecting a dead body.

I attended, met her on path and she led me over the ridge down to a short gully and pointed out the body. Female, decomposed, and clear that animals, insects, birds etc had eaten. Shirt and jeans, and two sandals.

There was vomit near body, which Belinda confirmed was hers.

I radioed for forensic support, and secured scene with tape.

——

EMAIL FROM CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, HOMICIDE, 4 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Dan,

Just wanted to suggest you do a match with Karen Kemp. She is not officially a missing person, but disappeared from Bullford Point three weeks ago.

Seb

——

EMAIL FROM DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS TO PATHOLOGIST DR BEA CLEMENT, 4 OCTOBER 2024

Bea, what have we got? Layman’s terms please. Last report I got from your offsider contained the word ‘choledocholi’.

EMAIL FROM DR BEA CLEMENT TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, 4 OCTOBER 2024

Aren’t detectives supposed to be the smart ones? I’ve attached my report but here’s the dumbed down version. Human female, hair both natural brown and dyed blond, i.e. ombré. Following your tip-off, teeth were successfully matched via dental records with Karen Kemp. It’s her. Well done, Columbo.

Bones most likely there approx. 2 weeks.

Cause of death – broken neck.

Million-dollar question – did she break it accidentally by tripping or falling, or did someone do it for her? Accidental death is unlikely, but not impossible. If she tripped, fell and hit the ground in exactly the wrong way it could happen, but you’d be extremely unlucky. And – not my department, but still – why would she leave the track? Can’t rule out accidental death, but if I were you I’d open a file.

Non-technical enough? I’ve done my job. Time to do yours, Hercule.

Bea

——

EMAIL FROM DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS TO CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER, 5 OCTOBER 2024

Please forward all information and documents you have regarding Karen Kemp.

EMAIL FROM CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, 5 OCTOBER 2024

So the body is hers?

EMAIL FROM DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS TO CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER, 5 OCTOBER 2024

We don’t share investigative details. Please forward immediately.

EMAIL FROM CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, 5 OCTOBER 2024

I’m not the Daily Telegraph. I’m the cop who told you it might be her. Is it?

EMAIL FROM DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS TO CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER, 5 OCTOBER 2024

We manage the flow of information in our investigations, not you. Just forward the documents.

——

TEXT FROM DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS TO SUPERINTENDENT JACK MULVANEY, 7 OCTOBER 2024

Sir, last person to see Karen Kemp alive was Joe Griffith, who according to her boyfriend Tom Malone was having an affair with her. Griffith has a significant criminal record, got out of jail recently, and is a former (he claims) heroin addict. Only other suspect is the boyfriend, but he has a strong alibi. Can we apply for a warrant to seize Griffith’s phone and computer?

TEXT FROM SUPERINTENDENT JACK MULVANEY TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, 7 OCTOBER 2024

Yes. Copy contents and return them to him within 24 hours, and we’ll track his calls and emails. You know what they’re like. Can’t stop thinking about what they did, sometimes they talk about it, sometimes they type about it. And search his house, obviously

——

EXTRACT FROM DIARY OF LEANNE HITCHCOCK, 8 OCTOBER 2024

The fucking, fucking, fucking prick. I go to Joe’s house for the podcast interview, he was all polite and formal, asked me the bare minimum of ‘how you been?’ questions, deadbatting all my attempts to start a convo. Even so, me, idiot me, is still all smiles and giggles, setting myself up to get shot down.

He had set us up in the lounge room with microphones and headphones, we start and of course it was all about Sal. God I’m a pathetic idiot. Somehow I had it into my mind that it was going to be about us, that he was going to apologise and then … But no, of course, even seven years after she died, he’s still obsessed by Sal.

He says, ‘I guess you must have felt a bit angry at Sal after I started seeing her,’ like he was trying to set me up as a suspect! Like he wanted me to say, ‘Yeah, I really hated her. I felt like strangling her.’ Fucking prick.

For once I took the high road. ‘No, Joe. I was angry at you. Not even angry. Just hurt.’

On and on he went, all these questions about what Sal did, whether she was happy or sad, even what she was fucking wearing!

He’d done his research, though. Somehow he’d found out something I’d kept secret all these years. Kind of awkward.

Eventually it ended. I was pissed off, but even so, I knew the cops had been hounding him about that woman who got killed in the bush, WHO HE’D BEEN FUCKING!!!!! and I very nicely asked him how he was going with it all.

‘It’s nothing. It’ll blow over,’ he said. That was it. Walls up. Giving nothing. I’d forgotten how he could close off like that. Lovey dovey when he wants something, then cold as.

I left and felt like shit. He’s got no interest in me. I couldn’t face going to Mum’s so I went up into the bush and off the track, found this big rock and sat on it and bawled my eyes out, wondering, as I’ve done so often, what the fuck happens next. As usual I have no idea and it scares the shit out of me.

Then I came back down and asked Mum for a lift to Woy Woy. Told her I had to go to the chemist but she could tell what I really wanted and refused. So I’ve just ordered an Uber.

Fucking Joe.

——

RECORD OF INTERVIEW BETWEEN DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS AND JOE GRIFFITH, 11 OCTOBER 2024

SIMMONDS: Joe, for the record, state your name and address.

JOE: You came to my house, so you know my address. (SIGHS) Joe Griffith, 28 Bayview Avenue, Bullford Point.

SIMMONDS: Occupation?

JOE: Part-time handyman.

SIMMONDS: Joe, I’m investigating the death of Karen …

JOE: I know, you said that.

SIMMONDS: Can you describe the relationship between you and Karen before she disappeared?

JOE: We were friends.

SIMMONDS: What sort of friends?

JOE: We’d had a couple of encounters.

SIMMONDS: For the record, do you mean romantic encounters?

JOE: Not really. No flowers were exchanged. Sexual.

SIMMONDS: You say ‘a couple’ of encounters. How many?

JOE: Times we met up, or had sex? Cos, not boasting, but the second number is a fair bit bigger than the first.

SIMMONDS: How many times had you met up?

JOE: Five, I think.

SIMMONDS: For how long?

JOE: Again, I don’t want to boast but …

SIMMONDS: I mean, over how many weeks?

JOE: Oh. About three.

SIMMONDS: Where?

JOE: You really want to know that?

SIMMONDS: (SIGHS)

JOE: At my house.

SIMMONDS: When did you last see Karen? Was it the day she disappeared?

JOE: Yep. She came to my place in the evening, sevenish, left about nine.

SIMMONDS: And in that time what did you do?

JOE: Really? (PAUSE) We chatted, had sex, had a cup of tea.

SIMMONDS: How would you describe her demeanour while she was at your house?

JOE: Umm, enthusiastic. She was an enthusiastic participant in all activities, including drinking tea.

SIMMONDS: Okay, I mean, when you were talking to her – let’s focus on the talking – did she seem happy? Anxious? Distracted?

JOE: She seemed fine.

SIMMONDS: Did she discuss anything she was worried about?

JOE: No.

SIMMONDS: Did she say anything about Tom?

JOE: Nothing good.

SIMMONDS: Did she seem concerned about him? Did she mention any violence?

JOE: The opposite really.

SIMMONDS: How do you mean?

JOE: She called him a pussy. Like, she thought he was a wimp, that she had all the power in the relationship. He was devoted to her, but she wasn’t that keen.

SIMMONDS: Did she mention leaving him?

JOE: Yes.

SIMMONDS: Had she made a plan to leave him?

JOE: Not that I knew of. It was more an intention.

SIMMONDS: You liked her a fair bit. Yes?

JOE: You answering questions as well as asking them now?

SIMMONDS: Did you like her a fair bit?

JOE: I liked her, sure. She was nice. But it was mainly … physical. I didn’t really mind what happened.

SIMMONDS: You sure about that?

JOE: Yep.

SIMMONDS: The day before she disappeared and, we believe, was murdered, do you agree you had this text exchange:

You: Can you come over this evening?

Karen: Might be tricky. Tom about.

You: You sure you want to stay in that relationship?

Karen: No!

You: Well then?

Karen: Give me time.

You: Want to see you now.

JOE: Yeah, something like that.

SIMMONDS: Do you agree that gives a different context to your relationship than, ‘I didn’t really mind what happened’?

JOE: I didn’t mind what happened long term. Those texts indicate my state of mind at the time, which I would describe as ‘horny’. It had been a while since I had a partner, but I wasn’t in love or anything.

SIMMONDS: But you did want her to leave Tom?

JOE: Not so we could set up house together. Just so we wouldn’t have to sneak round behind his back. No one likes having an affair with someone else’s missus.

SIMMONDS: When she left your house that evening, did she say where she was going?

JOE: No. I assumed back to Tom’s.

SIMMONDS: You are aware that no one saw her leave your house, and no one saw her alive after you saw her?

JOE: What about Tom?

SIMMONDS: He was out playing tennis, and stayed the night at a friend’s. Solid alibi. Did she leave your house on foot?

JOE: Yep.

SIMMONDS: What did you do after she left?

JOE: Nothing. Watched TV.

SIMMONDS: What was on TV?

JOE: Dunno. It’s weeks ago.

SIMMONDS: How tall are you?

JOE: Umm, about one hundred and eighty-six centimetres, I think.

SIMMONDS: Would you agree you are of solid, muscular build, not overweight?

JOE: This a chat up? (PAUSE) Spose, yeah.

SIMMONDS: Do you agree that Karen was about one hundred and sixty centimetres?

JOE: Maybe, yeah.

SIMMONDS: And slim?

JOE: Sure.

SIMMONDS: You understand her bones were found one hundred and seventy metres from your place?

JOE: And from about fifty other houses. I didn’t …

SIMMONDS: I’m just asking if you agree that’s the case.

JOE: Oddly enough, I haven’t got a tape measure out to work out the exact distance, so I don’t know.

SIMMONDS: Did you kill Karen and then carry her body into the national park and dump it?

JOE: Fuck me. No!

——

EMAIL FROM CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, 12 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Dan,

Hope the investigation is progressing well. If there is any local information you need, let me know. I grew up here, and know most people, so if I can assist with any background about location, suspects, witnesses etc.

Seb

EMAIL FROM CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, 14 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Dan,

Just checking you got the email I sent. Here to help if you need anything.

Seb

EMAIL FROM BARB YOUNG TO VIV GRIFFITH, 15 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Viv,

I just wanted to let you know I’m worried about Joe. You probably know he is concerned the police think he killed Karen, which I think is ridiculous. He is still working, but is much quieter, and seems pensive and anxious. The pressure he is under would, I imagine, increase the chances of a relapse. He has not missed work, or acted unusually, so I don’t think he has done anything silly yet, but we should all give him what support we can. Hopefully the police will realise he is innocent and find the real culprit soon.

Best,

Barb

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO BARB YOUNG, 15 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Barb

Yes agree on all points.

Viv

——

CALL FROM CONSTABLE SEB BAXTER TO DETECTIVE DAN SIMMONDS, 15 OCTOBER 2024

SIMMONDS: Yep?

BAXTER: Oh, hi, it’s Constable Seb Baxter here from Bullford Point.

SIMMONDS: Yep?

BAXTER: I just ah, well, I had some thoughts on the murder you guys are investigating here. (PAUSE) Of Karen Kemp.

SIMMONDS: Yep?

BAXTER: I sent you a few emails.

SIMMONDS: Yep.

BAXTER: Am I correct that Joe is your main suspect?

SIMMONDS: I can’t say, especially as you live in the area. You understand. Don’t want people getting tipped off.

BAXTER: I wouldn’t tip anyone off. I’m a police officer.

SIMMONDS: (LAUGHS) Righto then, good for you.

BAXTER: I know the area and the people, so I thought maybe I could help.

SIMMONDS: I’ll be in touch if we need anything.

BAXTER: It’s just … I don’t think Joe did it. He’s previously been addicted to drugs and committed property offences, but never any violence. We grew up together and there was never any whisper of him being violent with girlfriends, or anyone. He’d only met Karen a few weeks ago, and almost all domestic murders happen in longer relationships, right? Usually with a pattern of gradually escalating violence. Not as a one-off after three weeks.

SIMMONDS: Fuck me. That it?

BAXTER: Also, with most of these types of murders, the killer’s been drinking. Since rehab, there’s no evidence Joe has relapsed on drugs or had alcohol. I’ve seen him at the pub twice, both times on soft drinks. I know it’s none of my business, but I presume the scenario you’re running with is that they quarrelled, he lost his temper and there was violence that led to her death.

SIMMONDS: You’re totally correct.

BAXTER: Right. So …

SIMMONDS: About the first bit.

BAXTER: Huh?

SIMMONDS: The bit about it being none of your business. So you know Joe pretty well, hey?

BAXTER: Yeah.

SIMMONDS: He’s your friend.

BAXTER: Not really friend.

SIMMONDS: Really? You said you grew up together. Sounds like a friend. Also sounds like you’re trying to influence my investigation. Steer it away from your friend.

BAXTER: No, no, not at all.

SIMMONDS: He’s your friend so you don’t believe he could have killed someone. Fair enough. Happens all the time. But to ring me to try to push me off him. That’s not fucking on, son.

BAXTER: I’m just trying to give you extra info.

SIMMONDS: If someone tells you they killed Karen, then you can fucking call me. That’s new information. But telling us that we have misinterpreted the facts that we have? Your job’s to pull pricks over when their brake lights aren’t working. We do this every fucking day, so excuse me if we’re not going to take direction from someone who spends their life looking for Volvos doing 68 in a 60 zone.

BAXTER: I’m just …

SIMMONDS: If you want to be a detective, take the fucking exam. Till then, fuck off.

——

TEXTS BETWEEN JOE GRIFFITH AND ANDY JOHNSON, 16 OCTOBER 2024

ANDY: Need that money, prick

JOE: Will have the money in a couple of days

ANDY: Heard that before

JOE: Will text when I have it

——

EMAIL FROM DEV KERALA TO JOE GRIFFITH, 17 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Joe,

Just wanted to reach out and see how you’re travelling. Sorry to hear about your friend dying, and it’s so terrible that the police are hassling you. If you need a shoulder to lean on, I’m just a text away.

Feel terrible asking at this time, but can I bring a contract over to you to sign, so it’s all sorted? It’s not the proper, final contract to sell the house. You’d need a lawyer to look at that one. This is just a very simple, straightforward binding option, so we know we can buy the property from you at that very high, above market value, price we offered. How’s tomorrow? When’s a good time?

Dev xx

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO DEV KERALA, 17 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Dev,

Sorry, but I’ve decided not to sell. I’m starting to feel settled here and think it’s probably best for me to stay. Good luck with it all, and tell the builders to keep the noise down.

Joe

EMAIL FROM DEV KERALA TO JOE GRIFFITH, 17 OCTOBER 2024

Hi Joe,

Can we meet to discuss? We may be able to sweeten your offer, and even arrange some attractive alternative accommodation. Perhaps you’d like to purchase one of the apartments? You could do that and still have a handy sum left over. When can I pop over?

Dev

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO DEV KERALA, 17 OCTOBER 2024

Dev, I’ve made up my mind. No point meeting. Good luck with it. Joe

FIVE MISSED CALLS FROM DEV KERALA TO JOE GRIFFITH, 17 OCTOBER 2024

——

EMAIL FROM JOE GRIFFITH TO VIV GRIFFITH, 17 OCTOBER 2024

I’ve decided not to sell. I want to stay. Pretty sure the value of the property will keep going up.

EMAIL FROM VIV GRIFFITH TO JOE GRIFFITH, 17 OCTOBER 2024

Joe, you can’t keep yo-yoing with big financial decisions that affect other people. First you tell me I can rely on getting $1,000,000, now you tell me it’s not happening.

——

TEXTS BETWEEN DEV KERALA AND VIV GRIFFITH, 17 OCTOBER 2024

DEV: Do you know Joe’s changed his mind about selling?!

VIV: Yes. I’m not happy about it

DEV: He told me he was selling and we have gone ahead on that basis. Can you persuade him to change his mind?

VIV: I’ve been trying to change his mind since he was 4 years old without success so I very much doubt it