Roll With It (25 page)

It wasn’t Jake.

And it wasn’t Stig or his mate.

He was pretty sure who it was.

Flipper appeared beside him, hands on hips, not looking remotely cold in his suit.

‘You know him?’

‘I think so. If I can see his face, I’ll be sure.’

‘That might be difficult.’

‘Because forensics can’t roll it over yet?’

‘Because we don’t think he has a face. Back of the head. Executed. Unofficial, of course.’

‘Of course. Easy to confuse that cause of death with a heart attack.’ Laver turned to Flipper. ‘Did you find any ID?’

‘Yep.’

‘Licence?’

‘Yep.’

‘Then what do you need me for?’

‘Good to be sure.’ Flipper shrugged.

‘Name of Thirsk?’

‘Bingo. As in the same bloke you mentioned recently? See, I have been listening. Part of your Super Case for the Ages.’

‘The sarcasm isn’t helping,’ Laver said. ‘But yeah, it looks the right size and shape to be him. Drives – drove a silver Honda.’

Flipper looked interested. ‘Really?’

‘I’ve got the rego written down somewhere.’

Flipper looked even more interested. ‘Okay, that is good. I’ll let them know.’ He clapped Laver on the shoulder. ‘Who knew you could still be useful? Try not to shoot him, just in case he’s not dead yet.’

‘I’ll do my best.’

Dolfin wandered off, talked to some colleagues. Came back to where Laver was standing, still staring at the corpse.

‘He doesn’t have to be dead,’ Laver said.

‘What does that mean?’

Laver looked at his mate. ‘Flipper, I know who did this. And I’ve been trying to tell you and every other bastard for days that this was going to happen.’

‘You have absolutely no doubt in your mind who the killer is.’

‘Killers. No.’

‘You woke up less than an hour ago, took one look at the body and solved the case. Eat your heart out, Poirot.’

‘Mate, you know what I’ve been telling you and you got me here for a reason. You already ID’d the corpse. I’ve seen him following this kid, Jake. I’ve seen these two perps following Jake and Thirsk. And then Thirsk turns up dead. That alone isn’t worth pulling them in for a yarn?’

Dolfin looked at him, made up his mind, then sighed. ‘Okay. We need to talk to them.’

‘I even know where they live,’ Laver said. ‘The biggest problem, they aren’t the kind of guys to welcome being pulled in.’

‘We’re not going to Rambo our way into some house on the basis of wanting to ask some questions.’

‘Your call. It’s only just dawn. Maybe we can catch them in the sack, guard down.’

The bullet struck Stig just above the heart, probably catching
a lung. The impact swung him around, left arm flying as his face creased into a silent scream of agony. His legs held briefly but then the second bullet caught him flush in the stomach. A look of confusion joined the pain on his face as his knees buckled and he landed on them, as though praying, holding what was left of his stomach. Then slid sideways to the rug over the timber floorboards, eyes open and staring in death.

Louie, sitting up in bed, her perfect breasts visible above the sheet, applauded.

Stig, naked, rolled onto his stomach and did five push-ups, hoping Louie could appreciate his shoulders working, before rising to his feet and returning to the bed.

‘Man, you’re in even better shape than before,’ Louie said. ‘Being in Perth has agreed with you.’

‘Gotta keep fit, babe. And I’m not alone; you look amazing. You still swimming?’

‘And yoga,’ she said, feeling his lips, gentle against her nipple.

‘You’re every bit as hot as I remember you.’ He slid under the sheet, his mouth nuzzling the neat shave of her pubic hair. ‘From head to toe.’

‘Enough,’ she said, pushing his head away. ‘I’m sore. You’re killing me.’

‘It’s been a while,’ he said, emerging. ‘And I’d forgotten how good we are together.’

‘You’d forgotten?’ she asked indignantly. He sat up in bed and she snuggled into him, fitting neatly under his left arm, his hand cupping her left breast.

‘No, I hadn’t forgotten. That was a total lie.’

He’d been waiting for her at her front gate when she’d gotten back, sweaty and smelly from koala duty. Emerging from the darkness and briefly scaring her half to death.

‘How long have you been waiting here?’ she’d asked.

‘About an hour,’ he’d said. ‘I wanted to see you. To check you were okay.’

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

‘No reason. Never know who might be visiting you these days, you know. Anyway, seeing you the other day in the café was too brief.’

‘It was certainly unexpected,’ she’d said, arms crossed. Thinking she should tell him she saw his idiot mate tonight, and the cop from the café. But not wanting to get into it.

Stig saying, ‘You going to invite me in?’

Louie appraising him. As handsome as ever, even with a few more years on his face. Eyes very wide. Nowhere near as scary, now he didn’t have his thug with him, and looking strangely vulnerable; a little ragged, in ways he hadn’t before. Not exactly appearing to be the sharp, heartless opportunist she’d painted him as in her mind after his disappearance and all the questions from her workmates and her boss. It had been a couple of months before they’d relaxed and realised she honestly wasn’t in touch with him, wasn’t in on it, didn’t know a thing about the money. By which time she’d joined them in hating him, and had rewritten history so that Stig was always a heartless, self-serving prick who’d used her as well as the shop.

But now he was here, and that image didn’t suit the man standing in front of her. Looking like he was in need of a hug, which she knew she would be very unwise to offer. And yet. His body lean and muscled, the T-shirt tight in all the right ways, and he was dark in the gloom, more tanned than she remembered. Despite herself, she felt the old strong stirrings. What was it about this guy, despite his many and appalling failings?

Maybe it was his smell. She sniffed and then said, ‘Can I smell pot? Are you stoned?’

‘A bit,’ Stig admitted. ‘I hit it hard earlier tonight.’

‘Did you bring some with you?’

‘A bit.’

‘Okay, one drink, if you roll me a joint,’ she’d said, opening the door to the terrace house. ‘But first I need a shower.’

‘Sure,’ he’d said. And had let the water run for a full minute before he joined her.

Now it was the next morning and she was asking him, ‘So where did you learn to die?’

‘It was part of the acting classes I took when I first got there. We workshopped dying, and fake fights, and stage kisses and having babies. It was hilarious; even us men had to go through labour. I was looking around, thinking, surely they’re taking the piss?’

Louie’s voice coming from where she was nestled against his chest, ‘You were pretty serious about acting then?’

‘I had ideas,’ Stig admitted. ‘Had visions of going to Sydney or the Gold Coast, trying to land roles in blockbusters being shot at Fox Studios or Movie World. But it didn’t happen, apart from this one film where I was a stunt pisser.’

She raised her head to look at him. ‘A what?’

And he told her the story and they laughed.

She smelled fantastic. Stig could feel himself getting hard. They’d only done it four times. He hoped she was up for at least one more time. But first there was something he wanted to know.

‘So babe,’ he said. ‘Who was that guy you were with in the café?’

Louie groaned and moved away from him, sliding to the other side of the bed, pulling the sheet with a fist to ensure it covered her. ‘Jesus Stig, what is it with you guys and Jake?’

‘Jake,’ he noted.

‘Yes, his name is Jake and he’s nobody. Just leave him alone.’

‘I was only asking who he was.’

‘And sending your gorilla down to heavy me about him at the store.’

‘Wildie visited you at the store?’ Stig looked genuinely surprised.

‘Like you weren’t behind it,’ she scowled. ‘I don’t want him anywhere near me, Stig, I mean it. There’s a screw loose or something.’

‘He’s serving a purpose right now.’

‘If that’s the case, I hate to think of what you’re involved in these days.’

Stig smiled. ‘Baby, you’re getting it all wrong. I’m not “into” anything. He’s just a travelling partner, that’s all.’

Lou thinking he’d want to act better than that to make it through the gate at Fox Studios.

‘So, this Jake,’ he said.

Louie shook her head. ‘Look, he’s a fucking guy who wants to be an environmentalist, all right? We’re talking about putting stickers on some products. That’s it. I barely know him. It’s a Friends of the Planet campaign. End of story. Happy?’

‘What products?’

‘At a supermarket where he works.’

‘He works in a supermarket, huh?’

‘Yes. That’s the point. We’re going to attempt an environmental campaign in his supermarket.’

‘Has he asked anything about me?’

Louie gave him a look. ‘Why would he ask about you? He doesn’t even know you.’

‘Saw me the other day though. He must have said something after.’

‘He was scared. Like me, he was probably wondering why you were hanging out with the Missing Link. You happy now? Yes, he wanted to know who you were. I said you were my ex-boyfriend. He looked rightly shocked. I felt the same way.’

Stig reached an arm, all muscle, across the bed to her face and stroked her cheek. ‘But not now, Louie.’

‘Keep asking about my friends and, trust me, it will be right back there.’

‘So he’s a friend now.’

‘Fuck, Stig. I’m going to have a shower.’

He reached for her arm as she started to move. Missed it.

‘Louie, one more time. It’s still early.’

‘Are you on Viagra?’ She turned and looked at him in disbelief. ‘There’s a box of tissues. Why don’t you take care of it yourself?’

She headed for the bathroom, Stig enjoying her in all her naked glory until she disappeared.

***

In the end, Flipper caved and rang ‘Spider’ Funnal. He and three other SOG guys drove to the address and beat Laver and Flipper there. You had to hand it to the Soggies; when they decided to act, they didn’t muck around. Or they had run out of decent DVDs at the dawn end of the overnight shift and were bored enough to mobilise fast.

They all parked two houses down from the Thornbury house and the Soggies positioned themselves, Spider and another guy flanking the front of the house, shotguns ready, the other two silently disappearing into nearby yards. Flipper and Laver waiting until Spider received confirmation via his earpiece that they were in place at the back door.

Spider giving Flipper the signal. Dolfin hammering the front door.

‘Police. Open up.’

Silence.

‘This is Detective Senior Sergeant Dolfin of the Victoria Police. Please open the door immediately.’

Dolfin pounding the door one more time before the Soggies kicked it in, the lock falling away under the heavy-tread boot as though it was paper.

Inside, the house was not only empty – it was deserted. They were gone.

Laver annoyed, but still with a lead. The Soggies tagging along as Dolfin made contact with the head of Friends of the Planet. Asking the woman, Rachel, if she had a home address for a female employee. Rachel giving Dolfin some attitude, beginning a rant about the police state, until Flipper explained that the employee, who he believed was named Lou, might be in considerable danger. Rachel finally offering up an address.

And then they were on the road, two carloads of cops heading to Fitzroy. Laver telling Dolfin and Funnal that Lou might be able to give them some clues about the perps’ other contacts.

Walking up to the house at the exact moment that, shit, one of the guys they’re looking for walks out the front door of her house.

Laver saying, ‘It’s the guy. The one in charge.’

Dolfin, dubious, saying, ’That’s him?’

‘One of them, yeah.’

Dolfin stepping in front of Laver to say, ‘Excuse me, sir. Police. Stay where you are and keep your hands where we can see them.’

The Soggies not even out of their car yet.

But the guy seeing them and their gear over Dolfin’s shoulder and not moving a muscle, instead saying, ‘What‘s this about, officer?’

‘My name is Detective Senior Sergeant Dolfin. We’d like you to accompany us to the St Kilda Road Police Headquarters to answer some questions.’

‘About what?’

‘I’m not at liberty to say until we get there.’

Stig making himself breathe, just like he was taught in the acting classes. Slowly in, chest expanding; relaxing his muscles as the breath came back out. Willing himself to be cool, to find out what they had, if anything.

Saying, ‘I think you have me confused with somebody else.’

The detective saying, ‘We can find out if that’s the case once you come with us.’

‘I don’t think so.’

The cop standing next to the one talking, in casual street clothes, looking sort of familiar, shaking his head and saying, ‘This is bullshit. Let’s just cuff the prick and drag him out of here.’

His partner saying, ‘Steady. Sir, I’d ask you again to come with us voluntarily.’

Dolfin watching the guy slowly raise his arms now, Dolfin feeling the Soggies mobilising behind him, but the guy only putting his hands on his head, biceps flexing under his T-shirt sleeves. The man smiling faintly.