Fallen Angel Read online

  Mike stayed silent. This was getting interesting. Evans took a wheezy breath before continuing.

  ‘Mr Vance, you forget I’ve been around the block more than once, and I’ve seen this trick before; scare the suspect into saying something by making him think you have a huge case against him. Hell’s bells man, I’ve even played a variation of it myself before.’ He chuckled slowly. ‘It’s a good play, I grant you that.’ Any trace of humour disappeared, and he leaned forward, locking eyes with Vance. ‘But it doesn’t wash with me. All it tells me is that you have nothing, and are grasping at straws.’

  Vance started to speak, but was silenced by a raised index finger from Evans.

  ‘If you have any real questions for my client,’ he said, ‘we will be happy to answer them. At the end of the day, all we want is for justice to be done. But if not, I think we’re done here.’

  Evans sat back and folded his hands across his ample stomach.

  Mike suppressed a smile. He made eye contact with Gardner. She was no longer smirking. Vance was silent a long moment, before sitting back and spreading his hands. ‘We will end the interview there,’ he said, a tremor audible in his voice. ‘Thank you for your time. You’re free to go.’

  Mike pushed his chair back, seeing Gardner hit the Stop button on the DVD machine.

  ‘Come on Mike,’ Evans said, heaving himself up. ‘Let’s go.’

  They were heading for the door when Vance spoke.

  ‘I suggest you don’t make any travel plans,’ he said.

  Mike paused with his hand on the door latch. He waited with his back to Vance.

  ‘Make the most of your freedom,’ Vance said. The sneer in his voice was obvious. ‘It’s only temporary.’

  Mike gave a derisive snort and opened the door. The air in the corridor outside smelled like sweaty men, but it was cool and refreshing.

  He held the door for Evans, seeing Gardner start towards him as the lawyer exited the room. Mike let the door go before she was within reach it, and he heard her curse as it banged closed.

  He smiled to himself. Sometimes, he figured, a juvenile victory was a victory nonetheless.

  Chapter 19

  Liam Flynn had arrived at the office just as Molly got back from Mutual Insurance.

  She’d popped along to see Julie, the highly-strung branch manager, with the good news that she and Dan were in the clear. It had appeased Julie about five percent, the main issue for her being that Mike was still a crazed murderer on the run.

  She was a tough sell at the best of times and it was Molly’s job to schmooze her – both the men in the office lacking the patience required – but today had been beyond even her capabilities.

  The sight of Flynn waiting on the doorstep was not the perfect end to such a meeting. She plastered on a smile anyway and let him in behind her.

  ‘I’m sorry to barge in like this, Molly,’ he said, ‘I truly am. I just need an update on how you’re getting on with finding Sarah’s killer.’ He stopped just inside the door, looking around awkwardly as if he was unsure what to do. ‘I’m sorry.’ His eyes were pleading. ‘I just need to know.’

  Molly felt a wave of sympathy crash inside her and mentally chastised herself for being put out at his unexpected arrival. The man’s daughter had been brutally murdered; of course he would be reaching out for any answer he could.

  ‘Could I make you a coffee?’ she asked, giving him a comforting smile. ‘Or a nice cuppa?’

  He rubbed a hand over his face. His eyes were red-rimmed and he looked drawn. ‘Please. Coffee, I mean. I’m sorry.’

  Molly busied herself with the coffee machine while he ambled about, checking out the wall decorations in the office; a Parisian cityscape print by Molly’s desk, Police photos and decorations by Dan’s, Army photos and decorations by Mike’s.

  She brought two cups out to the low coffee table and took a seat, letting Flynn take the sofa. He busied himself adding sugar and stirring. Molly took a sip of her honey and ginger tea. It was too hot just yet.

  ‘So,’ Flynn said finally. ‘How’s the investigation going?’

  ‘It’s only the early stages yet, but we’re confident that we’ll get to the bottom of it,’ Molly said. ‘The Police aren’t being too co-operative, as you can probably understand, so it might be a bit of a slog.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound promising,’ Flynn said. He watched her over the rim of his mug.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Molly assured him. ‘Dan worked on a lot of homicides when he was a detective, so he knows what he’s doing. And the good thing is, we don’t have the same restrictions that the Police have, which can make it easier for us.’

  ‘Okay.’ He put his mug down. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t mean to question you. I’ve just…never, you know…’

  ‘It’s okay.’ Molly’s smile was warm. ‘I totally understand…well, as best I can, not having been in your situation before. I can’t begin to think how this is for you.’

  Flynn’s eyes were downcast and he took a heavy breath. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I never thought I’d be in this situation, either.’

  They were silent for a minute, each taking a drink to regroup.

  ‘So,’ Flynn said, ‘do you have any theories, you know, who might be responsible? Any ideas who did this?’

  Molly put her cup down. ‘At the moment we’re in the process of gathering as much evidence as we can. Once we have all the facts, they will lead us in the right direction. It’s always dangerous to try and make the facts fit a theory.’

  ‘Too true.’ Flynn’s head bobbed in agreement. He took a sip. ‘So it’s too early for any suspects or anything like that?’

  ‘Unfortunately, yes.’ Molly warmed her hands round the cup. ‘As soon as we know anything, we’ll let you know. It could be a few days though, so please don’t get your hopes up too soon.’ She eased the sting of the message with a warm smile. ‘But don’t worry, we’re on it.’

  Flynn managed a half-smile of his own. ‘I trust you. And please let me know as soon as you have anything; I know my daughter, Molly, and I can help...maybe, explain any clues you might have, or answer any questions.’ His eyes were dark and deep when he looked at her. ‘I just want to be involved. I need to know.’

  ‘We will definitely call you, don’t worry.’

  Flynn drained his mug, put it down, and stood. ‘I better get going, anyway. Thanks for the cuppa.’

  ‘No problem.’ Molly showed him to the door, they nodded and smiled at each other, and she closed the door. As soon as he’d gone she realised she’d forgotten to remind about paying his deposit. Another job for tomorrow.

  His cologne hung in the air, but it did little to hide the scent of stress and fear.

  ***

  ‘Nice that you splashed out for my homecoming,’ Mike said, wiping his mouth on a paper napkin.

  ‘Figured you needed some feeding up.’ I opened up my own bag. I rammed a handful of kumara fries into my mouth and munched while I unwrapped my chicken and bacon monster.

  Mike was on a double-beef job, sounding like a prairie lion on an antelope. I didn’t dare look in case he took a swipe.

  We were sitting in the car park outside Burger Fuel in Manukau, watching the world go by on Great South Road. A police car had gone screaming past a minute ago, and I noticed Mike jump when he heard the siren. The car was steaming up.

  ‘Mate, you need a shower.’ I took a long swallow of chocolate shake.

  Mike grunted and ripped a chunk off his antelope. I could almost hear David Attenborough’s voice in the background.

  ‘So.’ My voice was muffled by a mouthful of burger. ‘What do they reckon they’ve they got on you?’

  Evans had rushed off to the North Shore court straight after Mike had been released, leaving Mike to brief me. He wasn’t too chatty at the best of times.

  Mike chewed and swallowed. ‘Reckon some neighbour heard me threaten her the night before. Said I’d crack her one.’ He wiped his mouth again. ‘Which is c
rap.’

  ‘Of course.’ I felt a dollop of sauce drip onto my shirt. Great; I’d been doing so well. ‘Who’s the witness?’

  He shook his head. ‘Wouldn’t say.’

  That was expected, but unhelpful. I had an idea of how to get round that though.

  ‘And that’s it?’

  ‘Uh-huh.’ Mike finished his burger and reached for the kumara fries. We were sharing them, but it was obvious I’d had my share. I went back to my burger instead.

  Mike finished the chips and drained his shake. I was half way through my burger when he eyed it up.

  ‘You want all that?’ he said.

  ‘You did eat this morning, didn’t you? You got worms or something?’

  ‘Is that a yes?’

  I took another bite and held the remaining burger out of his reach. ‘Tell me the rest,’ I mumbled.

  He grunted his disapproval of my non-sharing, but proceeded to fill me in on his morning with the detectives. It gave me time to finish my lunch, and by the time I’d done so, I had a fair idea of what the cops had, which was close to nothing.

  Aside from stick in the mud.

  ‘So what’s the go with the witness then?’ I wondered aloud.

  ‘They’re wrong.’

  ‘I know that, but I’m wondering how and why.’

  Mike frowned. ‘Well, the how is that they’re wrong. The why is because they got it wrong.’

  It was my turn to frown. ‘Say what?’

  ‘They said it was in my apartment. That’s not true. It was in Sarah’s place.’

  ‘What’re you saying?’ I felt my guts drop, and in that moment, a spear of doubt jabbed me.

  ‘That conversation was in Sarah’s apartment.’ Mike nodded to himself. ‘It’s been bugging me. I remember the conversation, but the details they said were wrong, so it kinda threw me.’

  I realised I was staring at him, and forced myself to blink.

  ‘Maybe you should tell me exactly what you’re talking about,’ I said.

  ‘I was at her place. We were talking about softball, because she was going to join a social team and wanted me to play as well. I said no, I wasn’t interested.’

  That made sense. Mike didn’t do social; sports were contests to be won.

  ‘She was teasing me, reckoned I was chicken because I was no good at it.’ He made a scoffing sound and gave me incredulous. ‘As if. I mean, c’mon.’

  ‘You know it.’

  ‘So I said that I didn’t play nice, even if it was with her. I said that if she was the pitcher and just needed one out to win the game, and everything was riding on it, I’d still smash her out of the park.’

  He shrugged his shoulders, finished.

  ‘And that was it?’

  ‘That was it.’

  ‘And that was inside her apartment?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Doors and windows closed, nobody else there?’

  He nodded.

  ‘TV on?’

  He thought for a second. ‘Yep. One of those cooking competitions. Sarah had been following it. It was like nine o’clock or something.’

  I wiped my hands on a napkin, thinking. I took a draught of chocolate shake. The ice cream was melting and it was going all creamy and syrupy.

  I had a tingling in my veins. Things were starting to fall into place.

  Mike was looking at me expectantly. ‘And?’ he said. ‘You gunna share?’

  I dug my phone out. ‘I need to make a call.’

  ***

  ‘So you just let him walk out of there?’ Kennedy’s tone was disbelieving.

  Vance frowned. He didn’t like being questioned, and he didn’t like Kennedy. If he hadn’t needed to refresh on mainstream policing he would never have had to work with the man.

  ‘We had nothing to lock him up on,’ he said, his tone more defensive than he would have liked. ‘You knew that before we went in.’

  ‘Come on Karl, you’ve been around long enough. I would’ve expected more than that from you.’

  Vance felt his hackles rise. The man couldn’t even look him in the eye, sitting there behind his desk with his paisley tie over a cream coloured shirt. Probably wore novelty socks too. Vance felt his teeth grinding together, and he hankered for a durry.

  ‘All we’ve got on him is the word of that neighbour,’ he said, ‘and the guy’s a flake. I’d love to hang a murder on this guy but we need to be smart about it.’ He gave a cocky smirk. ‘Leave it with me, Hugh; I’ll get it sorted.’

  He saw the panic in Kennedy’s face. ‘What d’you mean, “Get it sorted”? What does that mean?’

  Vance’s smirk got wider. ‘The less you know, the better. Just leave it to me.’

  ‘Karl…’

  ‘Look, Hugh, we need to understand our roles here. I’m operational, you’re administrative, right? You just leave the down and dirty stuff to me, okay? It keeps you safer that way.’

  With that he turned and left. He knew the DI would be fretting, but he also knew the guy didn’t have the guts to challenge him.

  Regardless of what he told Kennedy, it burned him that Manning had walked away. It was time to make that right.

  Chapter 20

  It was mid-afternoon by the time we got things set up.

  I’d dropped Mike at our place so he could shower and put his feet up while I was busy. I suspected he would be pacing like a caged animal rather than resting, but there was nothing I could do about that. He had to crash at some stage.

  Patrick had torn himself away from another job to come and sweep our office again, which gave me an opportunity to catch up on a few other tasks while he geeked about. Molly was so efficient that I sometimes wondered whether anyone would actually notice if I didn’t turn up.

  There were invoices to double-check, some file updates to be done, and a quote to prepare for a lawyer. Molly had sent a bunch of invoices, paid some bills and chased a client for an overdue account; it was the second chaser for that guy, and I had the feeling I’d have to pay him a visit. Three strikes and you’re out.

  There were a couple of new jobs that needed some attention, both being company fraud matters. One was a sales manager who appeared to be stealing product and selling it on the side, the other a medical centre that was haemorrhaging money somehow. Both easy jobs, the normal day to day stuff of a small private agency.

  I raced through them while Patrick did his thing, checking and returning stuff to Molly, updating my files on the database, and whipping off a quote to the lawyer; he was a semi-regular who always tried to screw us, so as usual I overestimated, knowing he’d grind it back to an acceptable medium.

  I was just finishing when Patrick stopped, stood and stretched. His back cracked loudly and his pale gut poked out from beneath the frayed edge of his Holden Racing T-shirt. I saw Molly suppress a grin.

  ‘Want the good news or the bad news, squire?’ Patrick said. He wiped his brow with a podgy hand.

  ‘Let’s go with the good,’ I said, ‘I’ve had enough bad recently.’

  ‘The good news I found no new devices. Want me to go do your house again too?’

  I shook my head. ‘Not at this stage. What’s the bad then?’

  ‘The bad news is my rates went up since my last job for you. Ten bucks an hour more.’

  I scowled. ‘That was yesterday.’

  He shrugged. ‘That’s business, bro.’

  ‘I can see why you hide away doing techo stuff, Patrick,’ I said. ‘Your interpersonal skills suck.’

  He grinned. ‘But you can’t do what I do, Danno, so you need me regardless.’

  I harrumphed. It was the best response I could think of. Of course he was right, damn it.

  ‘Since you’re such a valued asset,’ I said, ‘I’ve got another job for you.’

  ‘When?’ He checked his watch.

  ‘Now.’

  ‘I got an appointment I need to get to.’

  ‘Cancel it.’

  ‘I can’t.’ He gave a sel
f-conscious glance in Molly’s direction. ‘It’s…you know…’

  I gave him a blank look. ‘No, I don’t know.’

  He jerked a thumb in Molly’s direction, shielding the movement behind his ample torso. I could see him going red. ‘It’s, ahh…medical.’ He pointed towards his waistband, or maybe lower. ‘You know…’

  ‘You’re getting the snip?’

  He went redder. ‘No…it’s a special doctor…’

  Molly was giving me a disapproving look across the office, but I was loving every minute of it.

  ‘You’re going to the podiatrist?’

  He scowled at me for a second before realising I’d thrown him a bone. ‘Ahh, yeah…the podiatrist. I’m getting my arches looked at.’

  I grinned. ‘How about you go get your arches sorted out then, and come do this straight after.’

  ‘Is it important?’

  ‘Which podiatrist is it?’ I asked pointedly.

  He flushed again. ‘Okay, straight after.’

  ‘At yesterday’s rate, of course.’

  He started to protest but I cut him off with a slicing motion across my throat. ‘Zip it. This is an ongoing job, so don’t try and stiff me. Remember, I know things.’ I gave him a single raised eyebrow. He got the message and nodded reluctantly.

  ‘I’ll call you when I’ve finished at the…um, the ahh…’

  ‘Podiatrist.’

  ‘Yeah, the podiatrist.’ He grabbed his bag and made for the door as fast as his hairy little legs would carry him. He paused at the door, nodding awkwardly to Molly and muttering a farewell before breaking for freedom.

  Molly swivelled round and folded her arms. She gave me the full disapproving look of a headmistress.

  ‘Really?’ she said.

  ‘Oh, he loves it.’ I grinned. ‘He does, he loves it.’

  Molly checked the clock on the wall and stood. ‘Better get going,’ she said.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  She was gathering her phone and handbag but stopped, turned, and arched an eyebrow. ‘With you.’