Something to hide, p.16
Something to Hide, page 16
They sat together in silence, the sun warming their faces.
‘When will you be back?’
‘For the funeral. There’ll be coppers from all over the place coming. It’ll be massive. All coppers’ funerals are.’
‘Yeah.’
Bob gave him a sideways glance. ‘You never said how you got on with Mel.’
‘It really doesn’t matter.’ Dave paused. ‘But not good.’
‘Hmm.’
Dave watched him raise his eyebrows and decide whether to say something. He chose not to.
‘Well, I’d better get on, son. I want you to do everything we discussed on the way here. Start by requesting the statements for the stock agent and Kendal. We should be able to work forward from there.’ He stood up. ‘I’m on the end of the phone if you need me,’ he said, putting out his hand. Dave shook it and nodded. ‘Cheers, Bob. And thanks.’ His phone dinged with a message. Opening the flip phone, he read the text. ‘Major Crash has finished going through the car,’ he said.
Bob frowned. ‘That’s quick.’
‘Maybe there was nothing to find.’
‘You don’t believe that and neither do I. There’s always something.’
‘Anyway, they’re asking if I want to collect his personal effects to take to Kathy.’ The weight of loss touched his shoulders again and they slumped a little.
‘You’re going to have a tough time in the next week or so,’ Bob said. ‘But you’ll get through.’
‘Guess I’d better go and sort that, hadn’t I?’
‘I’ve organised for you to have the use of a station vehicle. If you like, I’ll drop you off so you can pick it up, then you can get on with what you need to do.’
Dave smiled for what felt like the first time in a long time. ‘That was one thing Spencer always used to say: “You need to have a plan.” And that sounds like one.’
Chapter 21
‘Car’s out the back,’ Tez said quietly. ‘It’s been pretty bashed up. They reckon it rolled four or five times.’
‘Fuck,’ Dave muttered. Thoughts of tearing metal and screams ripping from Spencer as the car flipped again and again and again came into his mind. He knew what would have happened, because he’d seen vehicle accidents before. He had to push it away.
‘He was thrown from the vehicle but not far enough. It landed on top of him. The bloke who found him said all he could see were legs sticking out from under the bonnet.’
‘No chance, then?’
‘None at all.’
Dave shook his head. What he really wanted to do was cover his ears and not listen, not have the images in his mind. But he couldn’t do that. As a cop he was trained to see and hear and know, regardless of the victim or the suspect. He had to put his feelings aside and keep going.
‘Right-oh, I’ll head out and have a look. His effects are out there too?’
Tez nodded.
They walked to the door together and looked out into the compound.
The car was on a trailer, the front bonnet, windscreen and roof caved in. The spotlights were shattered and the antenna snapped.
From where they stood, the rear of the car looked untouched. Tez clapped his friend on the shoulder and left him alone with the vehicle.
Silently, Dave pulled open the door and walked out, still staring at the smashed vehicle. He circled it, coming to a standstill in front of the driver’s door. Without touching anything he leaned forward and peered in, his heart giving an extra hard thud as he spotted the pen Spencer always carried in his top pocket on the dashboard.
Snapping on a pair of gloves, he prised the back door open.
Glass covered every crevice of the interior. The front seat was pushed back into the safe on the floor. The roof was touching the top of the passenger’s seat.
He looked closely among the debris, checking for blood, but didn’t see any.
Brushing the glass from the top of the safe, he checked the lock: open. Carefully he raised the lid and looked inside.
There was a plastic bag that looked empty, but as Dave moved forward a flash of colour caught his eye and he froze.
‘Shit,’ he whispered and lifted the bag from the safe.
Inside was a piece of indicator and a cut cable tie.
Dave stared at the black plastic for few long moments, then shook himself out of his thoughts and quickly searched the rest of the vehicle. He found the camera—an older style that still used film—under the passenger’s seat, and a quick check showed that Spencer had taken fifteen photos of the possible twenty-four.
Gently, he placed the two items on the ground and went back to look for more.
He wasn’t able to open the passenger’s front door, so he leaned through the gap in the seats and tried to reef the glovebox open. It wouldn’t move, so he banged it a couple of times with his fist before it fell open with a clunk.
Discarding Panadol, loose coins and the service manual, he rifled through the loose papers. Nothing of interest—a doctor’s appointment card and the vehicle registration. Dave looked at the roof and then opened the drop down glovebox above the driver’s seat. The leather wallet that Spencer carried in the back pocket of his shorts fell out, and all Dave could do was stare at it.
What hit home to him the most was the sheer mundane normality of it. All of Spencer’s everyday possessions—his wallet, his watch, his pen, his notebook—were all still here in the present. People who were alive could see and feel them, they were tangible.
But Spencer wasn’t here anymore. They were never going to see his smiling face or hear his voice again. Everything had changed in one moment in time.
‘This is fucked,’ Dave said to the trashed car. ‘Fucked.’
He picked up the wallet and opened it. In the clear plastic pocket was a photo of Kathy and Spencer frocked up at a dance night. His credit cards were behind the photo, and there was one hundred dollars in cash.
Not a robbery.
Nor did Dave believe it was an accident.
Spencer’s death had something to do with Bulldust, he was sure of it. Had he run Spencer off the road? If he had, there would be paint from the other vehicle and he hadn’t seen anything like that.
Dave was about to shut the door when from under the felt pocket inside the safe he noticed the corner of something sticking out. Reaching in, Dave opened the pocket to reveal Spencer’s notebook. Flicking it open, he stared at the familiar writing before turning to the last page.
He noted the date was the day that Spencer’s death had been reported, then GPS coordinates. Then, a list:
Indicator light found approx. five metres from embankment.
Cut cable ties found approx. eight metres from embankment and three from indicator light.
No other physical evidence.
Cable ties would match the marks found on Victor Richardson’s wrists.
Bulldust/Scotty?
Link between victim and POIs?
Search area to 30m from where indicator light was found.
No drag marks, broken branches; motorbike did not hit hard.
Victim bike did not veer over the edge in an accident. Victim was pushed. Injuries of rider confirm.
Did rider come across something he shouldn’t have?
Camp—BD and Scotty? Other?
Dave re-read Spencer’s notes, adrenalin beginning to run through him.
Spencer suspected that Bulldust and Scotty had something to do with this, which meant they could be camped close to where this accident happened.
Dave had been right all along. They wouldn’t be anywhere but in the bush.
Looking at the camera, he knew he had to get the film developed ASAP. He should also let Major Crime and Crash know, but he wasn’t going to just yet. He had his own investigation to do.
Pocketing the notebook and tucking the camera and evidence into his backpack, he walked out of the station and down the main street to the chemist.
‘Could you get these done in an hour?’ he asked.
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Thanks.’
Walking out, his mind whirling, it took everything in his power not to get in a car and head out to the Great Central Road. The two brothers were so close, Dave could feel it now.
If only Spencer hadn’t died, they could have solved this case together, he was sure. One last case for old times’ sake.
Not to be.
Dave found a park bench under a large tree and took out his phone. Dialling Bob, he watched a couple of cars drive lazily down the street. In the distance, he could hear the constant hum of the mine.
The noise had been hard to get used to when he’d first moved to Barrabine. Always there, in the background. Mel had complained about it a lot, but it had only taken a short time before he no longer noticed it.
‘Hello?’ Bob’s voice crackled down the line.
‘You’ll never believe what I found in the gun safe in Spencer’s car.’
‘His gun?’
‘That would’ve been obvious. No, a cut cable tie in an evidence bag.’
Bob was silent and Dave could hear the car’s engine as he drove towards Perth.
‘And in his notebook were some comments about where he found it and the search path he’d taken.’
‘Are you jumping to conclusions?’
‘Only the same ones he did. Spencer had written their names in the notes. Bulldust and Scotty, and then he wondered what the link to the rider was.’
‘Circumstantial.’
‘Yeah, Judge. That’s what he would’ve said too. But he was worried enough to make a note about them.’
‘Hmm.’
‘I found his camera in the car, too, so I’m having the photos developed. Wouldn’t surprise me if there’s something we can use in them. He would’ve taken photos of where he’d found the cable ties and piece of indicator light as well.’
‘Does the indicator light look like something off a bike?’ Bob asked.
‘Hard to tell. It’s only a piece, not the whole shield.’
‘What else was there?’
‘Nothing. He said in the notes that there weren’t any broken branches and so on. That the bike must’ve landed relatively softly.’
‘So, it might not even be the place of the accident.’
‘I’m going to head out and have a look a bit later. I’ll just see what’s in these photos first.’ Something niggled at the back of Dave’s mind. ‘What did you say about his gun before?’
‘What? Oh, I thought you might have found his gun in the safe.’
Dave thought a moment, then his heart rate picked up. ‘It wasn’t there. I didn’t see it anywhere in the car.’
‘No doubt Major Crash will have secured it in the station.’
‘I’ll call you back.’
Dave jogged back to the station and went to find Tez.
The station had a quiet, shocked feel as he entered. The normal laughter and chatter weren’t there, and when he found Tez, he was staring aimlessly at his desk.
‘Tez, mate, did the guys who got the car secure Spencer’s gun?’
Tez looked up. ‘What?’
Dave repeated the question.
‘Don’t know. Why?’
‘I’ve just been through the safe and it’s not there.’
Tez blinked a couple of times as if to focus. ‘I guess they did. I’ll check the register.’
He picked up the phone. ‘Yeah, Bucko, Tez here, mate. Did you find a Glock in Brown’s car when you recovered it?’
Pause.
‘Yeah.’
Pause.
‘Right. Okay. Nah, nah, was just checking. Thanks. I’ll get back in touch if there’s a problem.’ Tez hung up and looked at Dave, shaking his head.
‘No, there wasn’t a gun in the vehicle.’
‘So, where’s his service weapon, then? I can’t believe they overlooked it!’
‘Maybe he didn’t take it with him. Would he have had it locked up at home?’
‘Even if it was, surely someone would’ve gone and got it?’
‘I don’t know. This isn’t my call, Dave.’
‘No, I understand, I just …’ He raised his hand in a wave which indicated his thanks. ‘Look, it’s all good. Thanks for checking for me.’
Dave walked out and headed straight to the chemist, his mind racing. Sure, Spencer’s service revolver could be in the safe back at Spencer’s house, but Dave doubted it. Spencer never went too far without the Glock.
Guns are a bit like toilet paper, he’d always said. Always good to have on you, just in case.
Outside the chemist, Dave quickly opened the packet and looked carefully at each photograph. There were three of the piece of indicator in situ, the same of the cable tie and four of the bush around the scene.
He flipped to the last two: Spencer had photographed the evidence bag in the gun safe and also his notes.
That was odd. Why would he have taken a photo of his notes? Another record, Dave suddenly realised. He’d not known Spencer to do that in the whole time he’d worked with him.
Dave went back to the evidence-bag photo and held it closer.
That’s when he saw it. The plastic bag was on top of the Glock. He could tell because the handle was sticking out from underneath. The Glock that had vanished.
Chapter 22
‘Spencer was murdered.’
Bob let the silence extend for a few moments. ‘You’ve got proof?’
‘No, but—’
‘Son, you and I both think that’s a possibility, but it’s a fairly serious accusation to throw around without anything to back it up. Major Crash are still investigating and so far they haven’t raised any red flags. What’s got you all burred up?’
‘His gun. I’ve got a photo showing the Glock was with him when he took the photos of the evidence. It’s sitting in the gun safe underneath the evidence bag. And now it’s nowhere to be found. No way Spencer would’ve let his gun be taken from him if he was alive. So, where is it?’
‘You’re still thinking Scotty and Bulldust are behind this?’
‘That’s my gut feeling. I don’t know how he came across them, or what happened but, yeah, I’m sure that’s where it’s at.’
Silence.
‘You know, son, this could be something as simple as a roo jumping out in front of his car and him overreacting.’
‘Yeah,’ Dave agreed, ‘it could be. But what if it isn’t and we haven’t done anything about it? I’m not going to let my mate down if there’s more to this than what we’re seeing on the surface. Surely you can see there’re some problems with the scene?’
‘I’m not disagreeing with you.’ Bob paused and Dave heard road noise down the line. ‘What do you want to do?’ Bob finally asked.
‘I want to talk to Lemming. Tell him what I’ve found. They need to know that it’s possible Bulldust and Scotty are in the area.’
‘You’ll have to tell Major Crash, too. And they’re not going to be happy with you implying their investigation isn’t up to scratch.’
‘How no one has thought about his gun and its whereabouts is beyond me.’ He stopped. ‘Still, I wouldn’t have thought about it either, unless you’d mentioned it.’
‘Making sure that gun was secure is protocol; someone fucked up,’ Bob said. ‘Now, Lemming isn’t going to be thrilled to hear from you.’
‘Too bad. Once I’ve talked to them, I’m going out to the scene.’
‘Now steady on there, son. I’m not sure that’s a good idea. It seems to me we’ve got two accidents and one death of people who went out on the Great Central Road by themselves. Richardson didn’t die but he’s not exactly in good shape. If you believe in old wives’ tales, then bad things come in threes. Let’s not make you number three.’
‘We can’t leave this, Bob.’
‘I agree. Maybe let me ring Lemming. I’ll get back to you when I’ve spoken with him.’
Dave fidgeted.
‘Mate, I mean it. I don’t want you out there by yourself. Just give me an hour, okay?’
‘I don’t like it.’
‘I know, but it will be better this way.’
Dave was poring over the photos when his phone rang.
‘Burrows.’
‘Dave, it’s Shannon. Shannon Wood. From Perth.’
Dave’s eyebrows shot up as an image of the young pathologist came into his mind. He hadn’t seen or heard from Shannon for a couple of years.
‘It’s great to hear from you. How are things?’ His curiosity was piqued.
‘Good. How about you? I hear you made it to the stock squad.’
‘I did. Earlier this year. How did you hear that?’
She laughed. ‘I always keep my ear to the ground.’
There was a pause as Dave remembered how she’d asked him for a drink as she’d left Barrabine, forgetting he was married. She’d been embarrassed and there hadn’t been a lot of conversation since. He’d always thought they both knew there could have been something between them if he were free.
‘Are you going okay? Still in pathology?’
‘Yeah, I am. Actually …’ She paused and Dave heard her adjusting the phone. ‘Actually, Dave, that’s why I’m calling.’
‘Okay …’ He drew the word out, wondering what he was about to hear.
‘I know you and Spencer Brown were really good friends as well as partners, which is why I’m breaking protocol and calling you.’ She stopped and Dave waited. ‘I think he was dead before the crash.’
Dave blew out a breath and rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Why?’
‘He took a blow to the base of his head; I don’t think it was caused by the impact, because there’s no bruising anywhere else. Also, around his other injuries, his legs, where the car crushed him, there isn’t any bleeding, which would indicate his heart stopped beating before they occurred.’
‘No bruising?’
‘No.’
‘What about from the seatbelt? Surely—’
‘No, Dave, there’s no lineal bruising across the chest either. That could be because he wasn’t wearing one, but the rest of the body isn’t showing forensic evidence that he was alive when the crash happened. You know, it’s funny because the sort of injuries he sustained in the crash would have made sure he died quickly, which could have stopped the bleeding and the bruising from forming. But the blow to the base of the skull? That would have killed him instantly, and I’m sure it wasn’t sustained in the accident.’
