He again imagined the car that was needed to kill him. He saw its light approaching, speeding at him. He would stand and step into its path, he felt the motion go through him. He imagined the headlight strike slowly buckling him. That’s when it kills you, if it’s fast enough. The kangaroos his father had hit had bounced and rolled and tried to stand. That was no good. They had to say his death was instantaneous. He swore to himself, it would be a speeding car. Busted would be worse, questions would shower on him. Dead he could smile, because no questions would get to him.

SIX

Day 2

St Nicholas College

11.30 a.m. Monday, 26th October 1965

On Cardilini’s instructions Salt didn’t park in the car park but on the lawn under some shade.

‘Get your notebook out and look like you’re taking notes.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And stay behind me,’ Cardilini said as they walked towards the administration block. A tall, thin, elderly man exited the building and shuffled away from them in the shade of the cloisters. The lawns were immaculate, obviously. Obviously well-watered and growing like mad. A nightmare for the gardener, Cardilini thought.

The buildings on the raised riverbank stood marshalled like soldiers on parade, bastions against the ignorance of their urban setting.

The principal’s offices were spacious and emanated scholarly endeavour. Paintings of past principals looked down disapprovingly at Cardilini. He bristled at the seeming opulence. Sham, he thought. Even the secretary’s desk was twice the size of his own, and it was a solid dark wood, without the grey-steel drawers that screeched like a cat every time they opened.

‘I’m Detective Sergeant Cardilini. Principal Braun’s expecting me.’

The principal’s secretary, Miss Reynolds, looked up, surprised for a moment, then gave herself a little nod as if just remembering. She viewed Cardilini from over the top of her spectacles, a sharp little bird.

‘Dr Braun’s busy, but I will let him know you’re here.’

‘That’s very efficient of you,’ Cardilini said with a wink to Salt that Cardilini was keen for her to see.

Miss Reynolds eyed Cardilini again, Cardilini bestowed a smile. Miss Reynolds departed.

‘You’d think she was the bloody Queen of Sheba and Braun was the king. We’ll see how long that stands up.’ Cardilini craned over Miss Reynolds’s desk, ‘Thought she might be sitting on a nest of thistles.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘They think they’re better than the rest of us.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘If you’ve got nothing useful to say, Salt, shut up.’

On her return Miss Reynolds said primly, ‘Dr Braun is busy but understands you’ve a duty to perform and will see you straight away.’

‘That’s big of him. Take notes, Salt, “Miss Reynolds, secretary.” You got that?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘He’s keen to get his first prosecution,’ Cardilini told Miss Reynolds as he walked into the principal’s office.

The principal sat at his desk, a pile of documents to his right. Braun took the top document, skimmed through it, and then placed it to his left. He completed several more while Cardilini and Salt stood watching. Cardilini turned to Salt and mouthed ‘wanker’. The principal raised his head midway through a document.