Private down under, p.21
Private Down Under,
p.21
“Isn’t it amazing though?” I said. “The killer takes it out on other women. She didn’t try to kill the person who caused all the trouble in the first place, Dr. Granger.”
“Seen it before. O’Connor displaced the blame. That’s why I said earlier it was exaggerated by the place she worked in. Deep down, repressed for years, she was envious of the women she saw each day in Bellevue Hill. Being messed up by Granger pushed her over the edge.”
“We’ll probably never know what the original spark could have been.”
“Actually, we do. That girl of yours, Darlene, is shit hot. She found out Julie was traumatized in childhood. There was a file on her at St. Joseph’s Psychiatric Hospital. Julie spent some time there almost ten years ago – she’d been living on the streets, raped, mugged. According to the reports, she claimed her mother had tortured her as a child. The authorities tried to check the story but the woman, Sheila O’Connor, had moved abroad.”
“So she was seeking some twisted revenge?”
“I guess.”
I took a deep breath and gazed across to the window. “And Cameron Granger got away with it.”
“Well, not altogether. He lost his wife.”
I nodded, sighed heavily.
“And,” Mark went on, “one of my sergeants – Howard Tindle … a good kid – he sniffed a rat.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“The hospital Granger works in closed ranks, protected the bastard. They covered up his malpractice with O’Connor. They assumed she was too naive and too dumb to do anything about it. And, in a way, she was. But the truth will come out now. Granger’s finished.”
“Good,” I said with genuine feeling.
Chapter 141
IN A WAY, history was repeating itself.
It was the day after I was released from hospital. I was in my car taking Justine to the airport, driving along the same road I’d traveled three years ago. There was a beautiful woman beside me, but no child in the back. And I was a very different person.
The airport was packed. Justine checked in and I walked with her to the Departure Zone, the scanners and security guys just a few feet away.
“It’s been eventful,” I said.
“Can’t deny that, Craig.”
“You’ve been a great help. If ever you feel like a break from the LA office …”
“I might seriously consider that.”
“Wish Jack my best, yeah?”
“I will.”
She walked through passport control. I watched her turn and wave and I thought … “Jack Morgan, you are one lucky guy.”
Chapter 142
I WALKED INTO the conference room at Private HQ and the team applauded me. Hadn’t expected that.
I surveyed the gathering – Johnny, Mary, Darlene and Colette – the core of my life and my work.
“Thanks,” I said rather weakly. “Not sure why I deserve it …”
“I think we all deserve a pat on the back, actually,” Johnny said.
“It’s been one hell of a first week!” I replied. “So, how have things wound up?”
“Geoff Hewes was buried yesterday afternoon,” Mary began. “Pam Hewes is back home with her kids. I called in to see if there was anything … Of course it’ll take her months to recover fully.”
I nodded. “And what about Graham Parker?”
“Seventeen stitches and a very rock ’n’ roll scar. Micky’s fine. Spent a night in hospital after his party, but no permanent harm done. He’s rehearsing for a big tour. Out of gratitude, he’s helping Parker settle his gambling debts. Katia is being deported.”
“But what about the song you told me about? The one describing his own death. Why did he even write that?”
Johnny shrugged. “I think it was purely an artistic gesture. He felt helpless, controlled by ‘the suits’. He’s a sensitive guy, but that sensitivity had slipped into paranoia. His phenomenal drug intake couldn’t have helped!”
“And what about Hemi?”
“He’s up and running … well waddling.”
We all laughed.
“He’s mighty pissed though … as you would imagine!” Johnny added.
“I heard you bumped into Al Loretto’s boy, Jerry.”
“Yeah, I did. He was helpful in making me realize what a mess Parker had gotten himself into.”
“And you’ve heard nothing from his dad?”
“The cameras have gone again from the brothels, apparently. Loretto got his way in the end, of course.”
“And I reckon if the bouncer hadn’t got to Geoff Hewes first,” Mary commented, “Loretto wouldn’t have given him another chance.”
“They were lining up for the guy!”
“Word got out about the lovely Ken Boston,” Darlene commented. “He’s resigned.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What about the Ho family, Mary?”
“Dai was under observation in hospital. He was severely traumatized. His father has booked him in for plastic surgery. The police here are liaising with the Hong Kong authorities. They’re after the big boss, Fong Sum, but I’m pretty sure they’re wasting their time.”
“Untouchable?”
“For the moment. Ho is just relieved his son was saved. He now wants to have the case of his wife’s murder reopened. He’s convinced twelve years ago a bent cop was in the pocket of the Sydney Triads and buried evidence. He’s sure the Triads killed Jiao. He wants to prove it and to identify those involved.”
“Good luck to him!” I said leaning back in my chair. “Well, sounds like we’ve had a few positive results. Not bad for our first week!”
“And why shouldn’t we have?” Darlene asked.
I smiled. “Yeah, you’re right. Why shouldn’t we have?”
“Oh, there are these, though,” Johnny added and pushed a small pile of papers toward me across the conference table.
I glanced at the top one. The words: “Roads and Maritime Services” printed in the top right corner … speeding tickets.
I lifted my eyes and saw the entire team grinning at me.
“Looks like I might have to call in a favor,” I laughed.
JAMES
PATTERSON
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Published by Century, 2013
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Copyright © James Patterson, 2012
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This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
First published in Australia in 2012 by Century Australia
First published in Great Britain in 2013 by
Century
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James Patterson, Private Down Under
