Cardilini looked around to the group. ‘Do any of the boys at St Nicholas know you’re doing this?’

‘You mean, Carmody? No. Word of mouth only to the people here. We know the spot you’re in,’ Sheppard assured Cardilini.

Cardilini turned to Father O’Reilly. ‘Surely the father has divided loyalties?’

‘Myself and Doney had a chat to him about our boys’ deaths,’ Sheppard said, ‘and he agrees with us now.’ Father O’Reilly nodded. ‘But we still have a few people to convince,’ Sheppard finished.

‘Braun?’

‘Yeah, Braun, but he’s not the power house.’

‘Who?’

‘The school board, an ex-judge, your bosses and a cohort of old boys.’

Cardilini turned from face to face. ‘Do they control Braun?’ he asked.

‘They employ him,’ Sheppard answered.

‘Robinson and I’m sure Deputy Commissioner Warren know the punishment of boys standing with a rifle above their heads,’ Cardilini said.

‘We all do. Edmund’s additions are what we need to convince them of. Now,’ Sheppard asked, ‘you’re the copper, what do we have to do to get your bosses sitting up and paying attention?’

‘The coroner suspects your two boys’ deaths to be suicide also,’ Cardilini said.

‘News to me. What about you, Doney?’ Sheppard asked.

‘News to me,’ Doney stated.

‘You could start with that, but leave my name out of it,’ Cardilini said.

‘Okay. We will. What else?’ Sheppard asked.

‘Get Braun to tell you the names of the boys who have complained about Edmund and speak to them,’ Cardilini said.

‘Thought of that. Braun wouldn’t do that unless the board, the old boys, told him too. What else?’

‘Can I get a cup of tea?’

‘Not yet.’

‘Get Robinson, Warren and whoever is in the power house to listen to John Lockheed. He convinced his mother,’ Cardilini said with a look to Mrs Lockheed.

‘Not his father,’ Mrs Lockheed said.

‘I know Robinson, he’s no fool. He’ll know the truth when he sees it,’ Cardilini stated.

‘Anything else?’ Sheppard asked.

‘Carmody would know the other boys who complained,’ Cardilini said.

‘We’re not going to deal with him.’

‘Why not?’

‘We don’t understand what he’s trying to do,’ Sheppard answered.

‘Siding with Braun. If you ask me,’ Doney said.

‘He thinks he’s protecting the identity of whoever shot Edmund. Isn’t that so, Mrs Lockheed?’ Cardilini asked.

She turned aside.

Sheppard asked. ‘Have you got anything else to persuade Robinson and Warren?’

‘Convince the officers who made the initial reports on your boys’ deaths to tell Robinson and Warren what they really believe,’ Cardilini said.

‘What do they really believe?’

‘I think you know.’

‘Why didn’t they write that then?’