Vendetta, page 7
‘I haven’t even laid eyes on him. How do I know he’s fine?’
Finn hoped Lexi knew what she was doing.
‘Well, I’m going to be honest with you, Lexi,’ Breen said, expression darkening.
The other guys suddenly sat straighter and glanced at Breen as though waiting for an instruction. Finn tried not to visibly tense, wondered if he had any chance against all of them. He only had a chair to work with. If he got in a couple of good swings and managed to stop anyone else from coming through the door, they might last the required minute or two until help arrived. But he wasn’t confident.
‘You bargained for Desmond like cops would over a hostage. And not knowing you, I gathered some of my boys together here tonight and decided I’d kill you both just to be safe.’
Finn’s fingers closed over the sides of the chair as he put some extra weight in the balls of his feet.
‘But now I discover we have a bit of a shared history. The good sort, right? So maybe you are legit and I find myself reconsidering.’ He stared into space and took a long drink of his beer before his gaze snapped back. ‘How about this. I’ve got a job I need doing. From what Dawny told us, you two should be perfect for it. You do it, I’ll give Dawny back her Desmond. Then we’re square.’
Finn’s grip relaxed on the chair.
‘You want us to work for you for free?’ Lexi asked in disgust.
‘And I won’t kill you. For old times’ sake. That’s fair, isn’t it?’
She considered him with a pissed-off scowl. ‘I’ll let you know when I know what the job is.’
Breen laughed, shook his head. ‘Evan Blake. Heard of him?’
‘Nup,’ Lexi said.
Yeah, Finn thought. Just this morning. Interesting.
Breen caught the gleam of recognition on Finn’s face and said, ‘You have.’
‘Disgraced councillor, right?’ he asked. ‘The guy misappropriated a couple of mill in government funds, took bribes to push through illegal business deals.’
Breen’s forehead creased as he shook his head at Finn. ‘Big words. Big, cop-type words. See, this one I can believe,’ he said, nodding at Lexi. ‘You, I just …’ He shook his head again.
Finn realised his mistake and changed tack. ‘Because I use big words? Because I sound smart? Being dumb tends to get you killed.’
‘He thinks you’re dumb?’ Breen asked Lexi, who was staring, mouth agape.
‘He’ll pay for that later,’ she promised, sounding a bit too genuinely angry. ‘Look, does he scream “hired killer” to you?’
‘No, that’s my point.’
‘And mine. We don’t get caught. Where are we going to find Evan?’
Breen kept his eyes on Finn’s for several more seconds before answering. ‘He owns a trendy little wine bar and boutique accommodation in Erina. Tends to spend a lot of his time there. He likes women.’ Another long look at Lexi, a smirk. ‘A lot. There’s a safe somewhere in his office suite. Don’t leave without whatever files are in it.’
Finn opened his mouth to agree but Lexi cut in over him.
‘That’s a hell of an ask for “square”,’ she told Breen, ‘so once it’s done, you throw some more work our way. We’re not cheap, but we’re better than everyone else.’
Breen nodded thoughtfully. ‘Perhaps. Sooner you get this done, the better. Tomorrow night is cheap drinks night. Cheap drinks, cheap chicks. He’ll be there.’ He got to his feet and gestured for Woolly to let them out. ‘This could be the start of some very mutually beneficial business. Prove me right.’
CHAPTER NINE
Wednesday, March 23
Cass sat in the meeting room surrounded by the homicide and organised crime teams, listening to the next instalment of the Brought to you by Lexi drama.
Brighton was seated across from Finn, and it hadn’t escaped her notice that the woman had been shooting him covert looks on and off since she’d come in. It was annoying. It hadn’t escaped Lexi’s attention either, but if the slight tilt of her mouth was anything to go by, she seemed to find it amusing. Finn, as far as Cass could tell, was oblivious.
‘Why would Breen want Blake dead?’ Rachael asked the room.
‘And what’s in that safe?’ McCabe added.
‘We should have tried to squeeze him for more details,’ Finn said.
‘Oh, save me from that!’ Lexi muttered, suddenly a lot less amused.
‘Sorry?’
‘So you should be! Disgraced councillor. Misappropriated government funds …’ Lexi’s voice imitated Finn’s. ‘Oh yes, how did you guess? I’m a cop!’
‘How would you like me to speak? We can’t all fit in with deadbeats with the ease you can.’
Cass bit hard on her lips against the grin as Lexi’s eyebrows hit her hairline at the insult.
‘Maybe it’s better you don’t speak at all. And just try calling me stupid again.’
He sighed. ‘It was dumb, and I didn’t—’
‘Oh, so much better.’
Linc’s snorting laugh made them both turn to him with a unified, ‘What?’
Linc’s face immediately straightened and he threw his hands up in peace.
‘So,’ Rachael said, regarding them like a mother would squabbling children, ‘well done both of you on how you handled that. Breen was never going to turn Desmond over and there was nothing more that could have been done on that front, but, Lexi, it was smart to suggest you’re open to working with him again. That could prove useful depending on how the investigation progresses. First we need to deal with Evan Blake. McCabe?’
‘Yep.’ He drummed his fingers on the table. ‘Right. Let me catch you up. Blake owns several legitimate businesses but we believe he makes his real money as, yes, a middleman for organised crime. He puts clients in touch with illegal services, deals with logistics and keeps clients as hands-off as possible.’
‘Contracting killers,’ Finn said.
‘Among other things, yes, we believe so. If Chaos Reigns is after him, they must think he’s either muscling in on one or more areas of their business or he’s taken a job that’s in some way threatening to the gang or someone within it.’
‘Unless they’re doing a job for someone else,’ Brighton suggested.
He pointed at her. ‘Also possible.’
‘Do we have any idea what might be in a safe he keeps on his business premises?’ Finn asked.
‘No, but perhaps a client or contractor list, a record of hits … all of the above?’
‘So we get a warrant,’ Brighton said.
‘We don’t have enough on him,’ McCabe said.
‘And if you go in there with a regular warrant demanding access to the safe, Breen’s going to know we played him,’ Finn said. ‘They’re likely to take it out on Desmond.’
‘Not to be unsympathetic,’ Brighton said, ‘but this is one criminal we’re talking about as opposed to a lot of lives we could potentially save by getting Blake and his contracted killers off the streets.’
‘No life is expendable,’ Rachael reminded her coolly. ‘And we need Desmond for our homicide case.’
McCabe’s phone pinged. ‘Hold that thought, everyone.’ He read the message on his phone. ‘One of the phones located at the scene of the explosion that killed Thomas and Roberts contained proof the two men were dealing with Blake. There are multiple messages to and fro. I’ll have to have one of my team do some cross-referencing, but it looks like jobs to me.’
‘May I?’ Rachael took the phone and scanned the screen, scrolled. ‘They’re talking about an Ourimbah address here … that’s Lexi’s. That was definitely a job.’
‘These are the guys the Hamills hired to blow up my house?’ Lexi asked.
Rachael passed her the phone. ‘And now we know they got the contract through Blake.’
Lexi scanned the screen and handed it back.
‘So now we have enough for a warrant,’ Brighton said. ‘We just can’t use it without risking your witness.’
‘What if …’ Rachael stared thoughtfully at the far wall for a moment. ‘I could ask Ed to petition the Supreme Court for a covert warrant. There’s got to be a good chance of swinging one on this.’
‘That would suit us both,’ McCabe agreed.
‘Remind me?’ Lexi asked Rachael.
‘A covert warrant lets us impersonate anyone we like to gain entry to the premises and allows us to conduct our search without Blake’s knowledge.’
‘Meaning you could use your existing cover to get inside Blake’s unit,’ McCabe said. ‘No one watching on needs to know the police were ever there.’
‘Hold on,’ Lexi said. ‘I said what I said last night to get us out of there alive, not so we could walk right back in. Breen was one step away from killing us. I might not have studied up on undercover 101, but I’m pretty sure we can’t be playing the bad guys one minute, then running back to the police station the next. How do you know he didn’t have us followed? Dawny gave them our names. I had news stories written about me over the Spider case. These people aren’t stupid. We already took a huge chance trying to get Desmond back. Besides, Breen wants Blake dead. Won’t Blake just cooperate?’
‘No, you don’t know this guy,’ Brighton said. ‘Blake is as dirty as it gets. Has a rap sheet as long as your arm and hates the cops. He has no idea who you are. None. And there’s so much that could be gained. If you can get Blake and the contents of his safe out quietly, we could have him in custody, Desmond safe and a case building against Breen by this time tomorrow night—and you won’t help?’
‘If Breen finds out Blake’s not dead and we go back in there, Desmond’s anything but safe and neither are we.’
‘So you stage the flat to look like a murder scene before you leave,’ Brighton said, ‘and you tell Breen you hid the body.’
Lexi took her time thinking about that. ‘Let me get this straight. You want me to lure Blake into his unit, arrest him, convince him to open his safe, keep him under control and quiet while I stage a murder scene, then sneak him out of the unit very much alive under the noses of Breen’s men, who are already suspicious and will no doubt be watching like hawks. Then I get to put myself right back in the same situation I barely got out of yesterday and hope that, this time, Breen keeps his word. Is there anything I’ve missed?’
‘I’d be there to help,’ Finn said.
Cass watched with interest. Lexi generally didn’t let anyone get to her, but she wasn’t herself today. The case had to be weighing on her, too, and as Brighton had only just stopped short of calling her a coward, Cass could understand the pissed-off expression and long-winded retort.
Lexi took a phone from her bag and slid it across the table. ‘Why don’t we take a look at this first, see what we find.’
Brighton caught it. ‘What am I looking at?’
‘I cloned Skink’s phone.’
‘When did you manage that?’ Finn asked in astonishment.
‘I wasn’t playing with his crotch for fun. I had to slip my phone over his so it would work.’
McCabe laughed. ‘Who can we get on that?’
‘Neutron and I will sort it,’ Lexi said.
‘And the rest?’ Brighton asked.
‘No pressure,’ Rachael said to Lexi.
‘I’m in,’ Finn said, earning an approving smile and a ‘Thanks, Finn,’ from Brighton.
Oh, could you be more obvious? Cass’s gaze accidentally hit Lexi’s and she saw her own thoughts mirrored there. The silent communication was almost amiable. A first for them.
Lexi stood abruptly and said, ‘I need to think about it.’ She walked out.
‘What’s wrong with her?’ Linc asked. ‘She’s always up for this stuff.’
‘It is a big ask,’ Rachael said with a pointed look at Brighton. ‘She’s still recovering from the last case.’
Linc inclined his head in acknowledgement. ‘You think she’s lost her nerve?’
‘She held it together pretty damn well last night,’ Finn said. ‘But she was as nervous as I’ve ever seen her going in.’
‘She’s still injured, still grieving a friend, still hasn’t been cleared for general duties and here we are, throwing her straight back in the deep end of a joint homicide–organised crime investigation with ties to a past I’m sensing she’d rather forget,’ Rachael said.
How much weight did Rachael’s last point hold with Lexi? Cass wondered. Was Lexi as scarred from that time as she was? Lexi didn’t even remember Cass, but Cass remembered Lexi. She remembered every detail of the people, that club, those events; they were as vivid in her mind today as they’d been when they happened. Lexi couldn’t want her past dredged up any more than Cass did.
Unfortunately, Cass’s time on the Cronin case with the Raptor Squad was a matter of public record. If she didn’t divulge at least the bare facts, Rachael would no doubt find out during the course of the investigation and wonder why.
‘Honestly, I think Lexi’s right to want to stay out of it,’ she told them. ‘Are you aware Breen used to be vice president of Combat Crew?’
‘How do you know that?’ Finn asked.
‘I came across the club on my first case in the Raptor Squad more than a decade ago. If Lexi’s previously been involved with them, she wouldn’t have to be scared to want to stay out of Breen’s way, she’d just have to be relatively smart.’
‘You’re sticking up for Lexi?’ Linc asked in mock shock.
‘I’m voicing an opinion based on my experience with Breen and the previous MC.’
‘We can’t plan anything until we know that covert warrant’s approved anyway,’ Rachael said. ‘Let her think it over. I’ll talk to Ed.’ She got to her feet. ‘Excuse me.’
‘We’ll get out of your way,’ McCabe said. ‘Let us know when you have an answer.’
McCabe and his team filed out after Rachael, but Brighton hesitated in the doorway.
‘Is everything all right, Olivia?’ Finn asked.
‘Yes, of course. I had a couple of questions jump out at me this morning after looking over the events of last night. If you have any time today, could I run through them with you?’
‘I’m not sure what else I can tell you, but sure. When?’
‘Ah … how about now?’ she asked hopefully, tossing her hair prettily over one shoulder.
He checked his watch. ‘I can do that.’
‘Great, do you mind if we talk over some morning tea? I skipped breakfast.’
Finn got to his feet and collected his things. ‘Lead the way.’
‘Coffee date already,’ Cass muttered. ‘The woman moves fast.’
‘What are you worried about?’ Linc said. ‘You’re not interested in him.’
‘She’s a bit … full on.’
‘And a lot attractive. Go, Finn.’
Cass couldn’t help but laugh. ‘I’m surprised you haven’t pounced on the new detective.’
‘I’m waiting for Lexi to figure out we’re meant to be together.’
She blinked at him in surprise. ‘You think Lexi … really?’
His grin was a mile wide. ‘All the ladies get there eventually.’
‘God help us if you ever develop an ego.’
Linc’s banter kept the smile on her face as they settled down at their desks to work. There were hundreds of missing persons reports to go through in the hope their victim could be identified, and she wanted to do some digging into Breen. All she remembered was a mean, shifty-eyed bull terrier of a man, with thick-set musculature and a menacing, unhinged presence. She’d been lucky enough to only cross paths with him once, after her superiors in the Raptor Squad had interviewed him.
That had been her first day in the squad and her introduction to Gordon, the leader of the team, and his best mate and partner, Wallis. They’d had two other detective constables working with them, and she’d been the most junior member. The only female.
Gordon and Wallis had come out of the interview room that day and shaken hands with the man who had scared her from across the room as she’d been waiting to introduce herself. Then again, Gordon had been a living legend and his arrest record had been unmatched. She would have expected no less from the man than complete confidence in the face of any foe. She’d been in awe, ridiculously excited to be—albeit temporarily—working with him. So when, at the end of that first day, he’d invited her to get to know the other members over what they called their Humpday Drinks, she’d accepted.
The bar had been an obvious cop hangout, and she’d recognised a few faces as she’d entered through its oak and stained-glass doors. It had been busy, loud, and it had taken her several moments to work her way to the far end of the room to find Gordon outside in the beer garden. He’d been sitting on the top of a picnic table, jacket off, no tie, top buttons undone and sleeves rolled up. He’d had a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Wallis was seated on the bench chair on one side, two other men she guessed were the rest of her team on the other.
When Gordon spotted her, he’d waved her over.
‘Cassidy! You’ve met Wallis, this is Penham and Duke. Gentlemen, Lisa’s going to be on the team while Mike’s on leave. She’s gonna help us bring down Cronin,’ he added with a smirk.
She opened her mouth to say hello, was beaten to it by Penham’s snuffled laugh into his beer.
‘They really gave us a chick?’ Duke asked Gordon. ‘I thought you were taking the piss!’
‘Nice to meet you, Cassidy,’ Penham said, though his tone was suggestive rather than friendly. ‘Is it true?’
An uncomfortable sensation settled in her stomach. ‘Is what true?’
‘Are you one of them les-bi-ans?’
Shock had her stumbling over her words. ‘Wh-where did you hear that?’
‘Well, are you or not?’ Penham pressed.
They were all watching her expectantly. She wanted to shrink back, hide, run away. Why were they treating her like this? ‘My private life doesn’t have anything to do with my position here,’ she finally managed.
Penham lifted his beer hand and pointed his finger at Wallis. ‘That’s a yes!’
‘In the hand!’ Wallis wriggled his fingers at Duke, who reluctantly slapped a twenty dollar note into them.
