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 told you I was on a train,’ Williamson said.
Cardilini caught and held Williamson’s eyes as he said, ‘I think Doney and Sheppard picked you up in South Australia, drove through to Perth. All in plenty of time for you to make the shot that killed Edmund on the night of the twenty-fifth of October.’
Williamson sighed and asked, ‘What’re you drinking?’
‘Bitters.’
‘Let me buy you a real drink.’
‘No, you’d be doing me a favour not to offer. I have a drinking problem,’ Cardilini said.
‘Don’t we all? Can’t get enough of the stuff.’
‘I’m right, aren’t I? That’s how you did it. I’m sure I could find a witness to say they didn’t see you after Adelaide.’
‘I’m sure you could find plenty. I was asleep in my cabin with the door locked,’ Williamson said.
Cardilini shook his head.
‘You’ve got a one-track mind, Cardilini. However, I’m happy to be your target.’ Williamson smiled as he looked over Cardilini’s shoulder. ‘Hey, lads, what the hell are you doing here?’ Williamson walked away from Cardilini.
Cardilini turned and saw Carmody and Burnside being pushed and punched playfully by Williamson. Cardilini finished his drink and started to the door.
‘Cardilini,’ Williamson flung his arm over his shoulder. ‘You protect your family, you protect your mates, you protect those who can’t protect themselves. Isn’t that what you did in the war?’
Cardilini looked back past Williamson to Carmody and Burnside. ‘Don’t visit your war on those boys.’
‘I won’t need to, the dates for conscription are about to be announced, either one or both could be in Vietnam in twelve months. What about your boy?’
‘He missed out.’
Williamson nodded and walked back to Carmody and Burnside.
In the car Cardilini confirmed to himself the Royal Corp Australian Infantry badge he’d seen on Doney’s sideboard was identical to the one on Williamson’s hat.
Fifty-Seven
FIFTY-SEVEN
Midday Cardilini was at home when he received a phone call from Robinson.
‘Braun has been in touch with the deputy commissioner and it seems Mossop has had a change of heart,’ Robinson said.
‘Fancy that.’
‘Yes, he’d got some wild notion in his head to save the school. Obviously, seriously misguided and very harmful.’
‘What’s going to happen to him?’ Cardilini asked.
‘Yet to be decided. Thought I might have a chat to you about it.’
‘He’s come clean. No harm done.’
‘The deputy commissioner is severely embarrassed,’ Robinson said.
‘Poor chap.’
‘He should have stuck by you. He’s quite apologetic.’
‘Okay.’
‘You could kick up a fuss.’
‘Am I off suspension? Is Paul’s spot still happening?’ Cardilini asked.
‘Paul’s spot was never in jeopardy and you’re off suspension.’
‘Good to hear. Is that it?’ Cardilini sighed deeply.