She stood and left the kitchen. Cardilini heard her whispering, ‘John,’ and the opening and closing of a door. He sat staring at the chair Mrs Lockheed had vacated.

NINETEEN

Day 4

East Perth Police Department

3.30 p.m. Wednesday, 28th October 1965

‘What happened to you?’ Robinson asked as Cardilini dumped himself in a chair in the superintendent’s office.

Looking at Robinson, Cardilini knew he was possibly jeopardising Paul’s placement at the academy. But the eyes of Betty and Mrs Lockheed haunted him, forcing him on, Betty demanding he be the policeman she loved and trusted and his belief that the truth would ease the anguish and fear in Mrs Lockheed’s eyes. For his own redemption too, he could not give up; to accept defeat or accede to pressure was to guarantee he drink to his demise.

‘You look awful,’ Robinson said.

Cardilini watched Robinson’s expression turn to alarm and felt a small, encouraging voice say this was the only way to his and Paul’s renewal.

‘The Lockheed boy was expelled for accusing Edmund of abuse,’ Cardilini said evenly.

Robinson stared uncertainly at Cardilini.

‘You knew?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Of course.’

‘And . . .?’

‘It was dismissed as malicious rubbish.’

Cardilini was trying to dismiss the image of Mrs Lockheed’s anguished eyes, ‘Was it?’

‘Yes,’ Robinson said firmly, ‘Braun spoke to Edmund.’

‘How do you know all this?’

‘I happen to be on the school board,’ Robinson said, daring Cardilini to say anything.

Cardilini considered Robinson for a moment before asking, ‘When will the autopsy report come in?’

‘Probably already completed, check your pigeonhole occasionally. And a copy will go to the Coroner. What’re you expecting?’

‘Calibre of the bullet,’ Cardilini replied.

‘Either .308 or.303 I heard,’ Robinson replied.

‘They have a bunch of .303s at the school.’

‘So?’

‘McBride was convinced it was the type of entry .303s make,’ Cardilini said.

Robinson shrugged, ‘How would McBride know?

‘The war. I guess. I didn’t ask.’

Robinson shook his head and sighed.

Cardilini said, ‘Acorn could test the school rifles for recent firing.’

‘Do you think the roo-shooters are borrowing the school’s rifles?’ Robinson asked dumfounded.

‘Yeah, that’s what I think. What do you reckon? Am I onto something?’ Cardilini shot back.

‘I reckon I need a good reason to pull Acorn in on this.’

‘Could Acorn detect if a rifle had been fired?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Has anyone checked the rifles since the shooting?’ Robinson asked.

‘I don’t know. The principal and teachers didn’t know where the keys to the armoury were. Only a senior boy did.’

Robinson paused before snapping out, ‘You can’t give it up, can you?’

Cardilini glared at Robinson. ‘I didn’t know we had a choice.’

Robinson sighed, ‘And when this proves pointless will I get my report?’

‘Yes,’ and Cardilini nodded his assurance.

‘If I make this call I will also have to call and calm a lot of nervous people,’ Robinson warned, ‘Are you sure you aren’t just being bloody minded?’

‘I’m sure I’m not being bloody minded,’ Cardilini replied, hoping that to be the case.