Chapters (61)
- Cover
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Acknowledgements
- About the author
‘I was taking a piss,’ Cardilini said indignant.
‘Bloody hell. That’s all we need.’
‘Nothing happened.’
‘You piss with your dick in your hand, I suppose? How do you think that’s going to sound?’
‘I know who’s at the bottom of this,’ Cardilini said.
‘You are, Cardilini. Right at the bottom.’
‘I’ll go to the school.’
‘Remember, you’re suspended. On Monday, drop by and see Braun and come in to the station on Tuesday. And don’t go to a toilet at St Nicholas College for Christ’s sake. That’s an order.’ A sharp click resounded in Cardilini’s ear.
Thirty-Six
THIRTY-SIX
Day 17
East Perth Police Department
9.00 a.m. Tuesday, 10th November 1965
‘So, how did it go?’ Superintendent Robinson asked, standing over Cardilini at his desk.
The other detectives at their desks, eager for any interruption from paperwork, expectantly turned their eyes to Cardilini.
‘I went to your bloody school and ate bloody humble pie. What else could I do?’
Robinson lowered his voice, ‘Nothing has improved so far.’ Raising his voice he turned to the other detectives, ‘This is not a sideshow, get on with your work.’
‘We’re interested, boss. It could happen to any of us.’
‘Bloody well better not, that’s why you’re supposed to work in pairs.’
Robinson indicated for Cardilini to follow him and turned to the corridor. Cardilini, with a shrug to his colleagues, followed him from the room.
Robinson was seated when Cardilini entered his office. ‘It seems you weren’t very convincing.’
‘My bet is you’ll get a call. They just want me to sweat a bit.’
‘Let’s hope so. Something else, the commissioner has been contacted by the coroner, Mark Hammer, have you met him?’
‘No.’
‘You sure about that?’
‘Yes. Positive.’
‘How would he know your name?’
‘Why not? He’s seen plenty of reports from me.’
‘Yep. Okay. Have you spoken to him concerning anything at St Nicholas?’
‘Never met him. Never spoke to him about anything. Check with Spry, he did the report on St Nicholas,’ Cardilini said.
‘Yes. Hammer agrees with Spry’s finding.’
‘That’s good.’
Robinson, looking embarrassed, said, ‘The commissioner doesn’t want you talking to anyone, anytime, without running it past me first.’
‘How’s that going to work?’
‘We’ll find out, won’t we?’
‘How long for?’
‘Until we’re out of the woods with this St Nicholas business. Now go home, Cardilini, and stay home until you get a call from me.’
As Cardilini stood Robinson reluctantly said, ‘And the commissioner mentioned he’s getting flack regarding Paul’s appointment to next year’s cadet intake.’
‘What are you saying?’ Cardilini turned cold.
‘The commissioner thought you should know. Just in case.’
‘Paul could lose his position?’
‘No one’s saying that,’ Robinson pointed towards the door, ‘now get out of here.’