“There’s no obvious motive. There’s...”
“Hey, look. That we have a murder as gory as this one is bad enough. That Christie is involved is unbelievable. But as you quite rightly say, he was caught at the scene of the crime. All you have to do is bring together the evidence that we need. Just wrap it up thoroughly and wrap it up quickly. It’s not our job to investigate murders, but in this case we make the exception. We don’t get outsiders involved in our business.
“I want you to take charge of this. Keep it contained. I do not want the media involved. Not even a whiff of it. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“And I don’t want to be fielding the Victorian Police because they’ve found out about it.”
“That may be easier said than done.”
“Try. Make sure your team understands all of this. I’ll talk with Forensic.”
Lefroy turned his back on Barron and looked out the window. Without turning he said, “You keep me informed on a regular basis. Me and only me. I’ll talk with the boss and let him know what’s happening.”
Barron nodded. Lefroy turned back to face him.
“Make sure this is done by the book. No loose ends. The boss’ll go through it very thoroughly. You know what he’s like.” Barron nodded. “If it’s done properly we can complete the investigation, make the submissions and convince the Internal team - and then close the file.”
Barron was thinking ahead. This was an unusual case and he knew that Lefroy was taking a chance that it could all be resolved by having the boss create an Internal Investigation Enquiry. There was, he realised, a pretty good chance of that happening. The alternative - resolution in a much more public arena, could be very damaging to the Force. With absolutely nothing to gain by it. He hoped Lefroy could swing it. It would be simpler all round.
“Okay.”
“Thanks, David. I know I can count on you. Coffee?”
“Thanks.” Barron suddenly realised how hungry he was. He’d been at the crime scene all night, making sure that nothing was missed and he hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday. Barron followed his superior into the small room off Lefroy’s office that held an urn, a fridge, and other basics. He watched as Lefroy spooned coffee into the empty cups and then added the water.
“There’s milk in the fridge. Sugar’s there.”
Barron put more sugar in the coffee than he needed and walked back into Lefroy’s office.
“What’s first?” Lefroy asked, sipping at the hot drink and looking at Barron over the rim of the cup.
“A number of things. We’ll follow up on the Deacon woman. Establish positive ID. We’ll have to rely on Forensic, but we should be able to supplement their evidence with some empirical stuff. Confirm the link with Christie. Do the best we can at re-creating their time together over the past six months or so. I don’t think Christie knew her for long. That shouldn’t be difficult. Christie also has a sister and I think they were pretty close.”
“Avoid that if you can.”
“I will.” He took a drink and appreciated the feel of the hot liquid as it went down his throat. He decided he’d go and have a big breakfast when he left here. “And because there’s a link - albeit distant now - with Doyle, I’ll go and see Doyle’s wife again.”
“Doyle? That could be tricky.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry, I’ll work it out.”
“Does she still not accept that he committed suicide?”
“I don’t know. I know I should have gone and seen her, but I haven’t, for a long while. Maybe she’s had some time to think it over. After all ...”
“I know. Go carefully, that’s all,” Lefroy offered.
“I will.” Another drink. “My guess is that Christie and the woman had some falling out. I don’t think its complex.”
“And the sexual thing?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well you said he mutilated the Deacon woman. Blasted her groin away. That’s not normal.”
“I know Christie - obviously - but I don’t know him that well. Maybe the woman was playing around and it was Christie’s way of making a point. You know as well as I do that all sorts of things can throw people over the edge. Can make ordinary people into barbarians. And this wouldn’t be the first woman to drive a man to murder. Even her own.”
“True.”
“And while this is going on, hopefully the MO can make some progress with Christie.”
“That could be a deciding factor.”
“In what way?”
“It’s hard to know which way the Internal could jump. They may think there’s not enough of a case if Christie still can’t remember at the time we go to court. They may want his confession to make it a watertight case.”
“That may not be possible.”
“I know. That’s why the other evidence has to be perfect. The priors, Dave, the priors. Important in every case, but if this amnesia thing lingers on, they’ll be even more invaluable.”
“Okay.” Barron downed the last of the coffee. “I’ll keep you posted,” he said.
“Thanks.”
Lefroy walked over to his desk and Barron knew that their meeting was over. He headed for the door.
“Oh, Dave.”
“Yes?”
“Get some sleep. You look terrible.”
Barron nodded and left. He went into the toilets and filled one of the sinks with cold water and then he pushed his face into it and held it there. He dried himself with a bunch of paper towels and raked his hands through his short hair. He looked at his watch. Almost eleven.
He reminded himself that he was hungry and he took the lift to the ground floor and left the building.
The rain had stopped, and the pavements and streets were drying, small pools of water here and there. There was still the hiss of tyres as the cars drove past. The people on the street were prepared for more rain and the skies promised more was to come. A light breeze shifted around him as he walked.
He’d ring Fay at work, apologise for missing their date last night and see if he could set up another. Not tonight. Maybe the night after.
How was this investigation going to pan out? How long was it going to take him? He turned off the pavement and into the shop.
“G’day,
