over by the gate.”
Arriving at the police station, they were about to enter when Joe leaned forward opening the door.
“Ladies first.”
Laura nodded and walked through. She was a good judge of character and Joe didn’t fit the picture of a criminal. They walked down a corridor around a corner and into a small room with a table and two chairs. The back wall had a mirror on it. Joe was a little uncomfortable and started to feel trapped. Laura, sensing his discomfort, tried to put him at ease.
“Have a seat, Joe. Would you like something to eat or drink?”
“Ya kiddin’,” Joe responded, surprised. “You’d really do that for me?”
“Yes, of course. Now, what would you like?”
“Could I have some water, please?” he asked. “I’m real thirsty.”
“That mirror on the wall is two-way.” Laura half smiled at him. “Thought you should know.” She left the room to get the water and report to her captain.
“Hi Cap, I got him in the interrogation room.”
“Good work.” The captain looked pleased. “What are you going to charge him with?”
“Nothing. He’s turning State’s evidence,” Laura replied.
“He’d better be co-operative or I’ll shove him in the slammer so quick his head will spin. I hate turncoats, but if it gets us the rest of those bastards it’s worth it,” grumbled the captain.
“Look Cap, I know what I’m doing,” persisted Laura. “I’m not a rookie. I want the whole thing videoed while I’m with him, all right?”
Laura walked back into the room carrying a tray with two glasses, a jug of water and some sandwiches. Joe immediately got to his feet, took the tray from her and placed it on the table. He poured two glasses of water and waited for Laura to sit.
“Thank you, Joe. That was kind of you.”
“Ya welcome. What do we do now, Detective?”
“My name is Laura. Joe, tell me how you came to be part of the gang.”
“I ain’t talked about that ta anyone before. It goes back a long way. Are ya sure ya want all that borin’ stuff?”
“Yes, but first I would like your full name, address and age.”
“Me name is Joe Moseley. I don’t have a permanent address ’cause of the gang and I think I’m twenty-two.” His name triggered alarm bells in Laura’s head, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.
“Would ya mind if I walk around when I talk?” Joe said, suddenly feeling uneasy. “It helps the words come out easier.”
“Of course you can,” Laura said kindly, watching the emotions cross Joe’s face.
Joe started pacing around the room; suddenly he stopped and looked at her.
“I never told nobody this before,” he said, fidgeting. “But I’m trustin’ ya, okay?”
“I won’t say a word, Joe. I’ll just listen,” she quietly responded.
Joe ran his hands through his hair and over his face. “When I was a kid there was this gang war and peoples was bein’ attacked. These blokes broke into our place, me Mum and Dad hid me in a cupboard. Then them blokes started hurtin’ me Mum, tryin’ to get me Dad to tell ’em somethin’ he didn’t know,” Joe explained while walking around the room. “Then this big bloke comes in.” Joe’s voice went quiet. “I’ll never forget his face. He had short curly black hair and only one ear.” Joe turned to look at Laura. “He hurt me Mum real bad.” His voice was full of pain. “Then them bastards beat up on me Dad somethin’ fierce. They was all laughin’ when they left.” Joe was silent for a moment. Shaking his head he continued. “After they was gone I crawled out of the cupboard to me Mum and Dad and tried to get them to talk to me and look at me, but their eyes was lookin’ at nothin’,” Joe said, with tears running down his cheeks. “They was dead!” His voice was full of hurt.
Laura waited for him to continue. This wasn’t what she had been expecting. Realising he was crying, Joe wiped his face with his hands and continued.
“Andy was me best mate and after all the blokes had gone he came in ta see if I was all right. I wasn’t. We heard police sirens so I grabbed me stuff and then Andy and me split. I’ve been with him ever since.”
Silence filled the room as Joe finished his story. Laura stood and walked around the table to where Joe was standing.
“Come on,” she said, looking at him sympathetically. “I think you could do with some fresh air.”
Laura took Joe to the café across from the police station, bought him a coffee, and let him sit gathering his thoughts for a while.
“When we return, would you mind if one of my staff took the information about the gang? There is something I need to check on. I won’t be gone long.”
“Yeah,” Joe listlessly replied. They walked back to the station and Laura introduced Joe to another officer.
“This is Peter. He’ll take your statement until I return.”
Laura smiled at Joe and watched him walk back into the room. She headed to the captain’s office, knocked and entered.
“I’m one step ahead of you, Detective. I did some checking and have verified his story. He’s the Moseley kid all right. Everyone thought he was dead. His family was caught in the middle of the gang wars. The one he described who assaulted his parents was the leader of one of the toughest gangs around. If you crossed him, you died, that simple. Shit, the poor bastard. I thought I was tough until I heard that story. How did he stay sane?”
“I don’t know, Cap,” Laura answered thoughtfully. “You’re not still thinking of putting him in the slammer, are you?”
“No, I’m interested in what he has to say about the gang’s activities. You recovered enough to go back in?”
Laura nodded. “As Joe would say, yeah.”
She quietly walked into the interview room and listened for a while before she spoke. “How are you holding out, Joe?”
“Not great. I hadn’t spoke about that day until now. It’s better out than in, I guess.”
“Peter treating you well?” she asked.
“Yeah, but he’s not as easy on the eyes as you.”
“Oh, you are the charmer,” Laura said, smiling.
“Laura, um, I was wonderin’ if I’m allowed ta know how the lady from the other night is? I’m real sorry for being such a coward and not helping her.”
“She’s not good, Joe, but I believe she will recover.”
“Tell her the next time
