The Stalk Club (17 page)

“Hi
Pasha,” he said putting on his best smile for her.  “I’ve come to brief the Super
on the Fogliani case.”

“Is
he expecting you?” she questioned, her dark eyes narrowing at him.  Robards
could see Crighton working away at his desk only five metres away, probably
within earshot of the conversation, but ignoring it. 

“Yes,
sort of.” 

“Alright,”
said Pasha suspiciously.  “Let me check if he’s available.” 

Robards
waited impatiently outside the office as Pasha spoke in hushed tones to Crighton. 
He briefly wondered if she and Crighton had ever got it on, but pushed the
disturbing thought aside.  Moments later Pasha returned and granted Robards
permission to enter.

“Good
morning Detective Senior,”  Crighton said, without looking up as he continued
to worriedly examine the latest budget report that showed the Homicide Squad was
currently running at a three percent overspend for the financial year.  Travel
costs would have to be trimmed again.

“Good
Morning Sir.”

“Where’s
Detective Nelson?”

“He’s
briefing the prosecutors.  He asked me to provide you with an update.” 

Crighton
smiled briefly.  If he read anything else into Nelson’s non-appearance he
didn’t let on.  He knew he wasn’t particularly well liked and that Nelson in
particular avoided him where he could, but he didn’t lose sleep over it as he
had bigger things to worry about.

“Good. 
There’s something that I’ve been meaning to talk to you about, but that can
wait for now.  Tell me how your case is progressing.  I was pleased to hear
that you have a suspect in custody already.”

“Thank
you sir.”

Robards
filled Crighton in on the case, updating him from the point where he was last
briefed.  He briefly recounted how Craig Thoms had been identified from the
evidence found at the crime scene and how he had then been arrested.  He told
Crighton about the stalking group of friends and how Craig had, not-surprisingly
claimed to have had nothing to do with the murder. 

“Doesn’t
sound like you’ll be getting a confession then,” stated Crighton.

“Not
yet at least.”

“So
what are your next steps Detective?”

Robards
repeated what Nelson had told him almost verbatim.  He also passed on Nelson’s
request
– albeit in slightly less colourful language - that no further media releases
be made until they had a chance to further shore up the case.  Crighton sat
back in his chair, processing the information.  Although he had limited first
hand experience in undertaking case work he understood it well enough when it
was explained to him.

“Firstly,
you can tell Detective Sergeant Nelson that I will decide how and when we deal
with the media and not him,” said Crighton with a hint of steel in his voice.

“Yes
Sir,” replied Robards, kicking himself for having been stupid enough to raise Nelson’s
ridiculous request in the first place.

“Secondly,
is there any evidence that this Thoms character is linked to any gangs or that
this murder is gang related?”

“Not
yet sir.  We’re still looking at his background though.”  Robards noted that Crighton
seemed to exhibit a moment of disappointment.

“Well
make sure you fully explore that angle.  If this murder was gang related I want
to know about it.  The Foglianis may claim to be clean but they’ve got a long
history with crime in this city. 

“Yes
Sir.”

“And
if this does turn out to be the start of another Sydney underworld war then
this becomes an even more important case and I want the Homicide Squad to be on
top of it even though the Gangs Squad didn’t think it worth their while.”

Robards
wasn’t sure if he fully understood but nodded emphatically.  “And if it’s not
gang related?”

“Then
so be it.”

“Of
course Sir.”

“What
does Nelson think about Thoms?”

Robards
thought carefully on the words he was about to use.  He had already annoyed Crighton
once and wanted to avoid an encore performance. 

“Well,
he doesn’t seem completely certain that we’ve got the right guy yet.”

“Why
not?  The evidence seems strong enough.”

“It
is.  I guess he just wants to be sure.”

Crighton
got up and stood before his window, gazing at the Blue Mountains that rose up
steadily out of the haze in the distance. 

“And
what’s your take on this case, Detective Senior?”

“I
think he’s guilty and that it was probably a robbery or a drug deal,” replied
Robards firmly.  “I think our case will only get stronger.”

Crighton
turned and looked at him as if sizing him up for a suit.

“You’ve
shown a lot of promise in your career thus far Detective and I’m sure that if you
continue to perform well, you will no doubt gain further promotions in the
service.”

“Thank
you Sir,” replied Robards, inwardly thrilled by the comment but wondering where
the change in subject was leading.

“There’s
something I’d like you to do for me.  Call it a favour if you will.”

“Sir?”

“I’d
like you to keep me personally up to date on this case.”

“Of
course Sir.  Nelson and I will keep you abreast of every development.” Robards
replied innocently, even though he was sensed where Crighton was going.

“No,
Detective you’re not quite catching my meaning.  I want to know how the case is
progressing and I also want to know what Nelson is working on so I can be
assured that this case is on track.  This would just be between you and me.”

“I
see.  But, if I may ask the question, why did you put Nelson on this case in
the first place if you have concerns about the way he operates?”

Crighton
smiled.  “Because Detective Senior, if I had to get someone to investigate my own
murder then it would probably be him.  I have every confidence that he’ll get
to the bottom of this case, but Nelson likes to do things his own way and
sometimes his methods are, shall we say, unorthodox,” he said raising an
eyebrow.  “Lord knows I’m still getting memos from the PSC about that Razzo
case that he was involved with last year.”

“Razzo
case Sir?”  said Robards.  He recalled hearing various titbits of information
about the case in the past but hoped that Crighton would enlighten him further.

“I
think it was just before your time here, when he was still working with Detective
Senior Sergeant Neale.  I won’t go into the details but there were accusations made
by the defendant that some rather important evidence had miraculously appeared
during the search of his apartment.  There was little doubt that Nelson and Neale
got the right man, it was just a question of how they achieved that.  Anyway,
the point is that Nelson has good instincts for this sort of work and you’ll
learn a lot from him.  But on this occasion, on this case, I can’t afford to
have Nelson making any mistakes along the way.  If this Thoms character does
have underworld links and this is some sort of precursor to a turf war then it
has to be handled very carefully.  And that’s where you come in Peter.  We’ll
let Nelson run this case the way he wants for the time being, but I want to be
kept informed by you every step of the way.  If I find out he’s starting to run
a little too far or wide then I’ll need to yank his chain back in.”

After
briefing police prosecutors at the Parramatta Local Court, Nelson returned to Headquarters
to prepare for his afternoon.  The Sergeant who would act as the prosecution
for bail hearing was pleased with the strength of Nelson’s evidence and told him
that Craig Thoms was highly unlikely to be granted bail.

While
Nelson waited for Bryce McKinlay to arrive at the Parramatta station at midday
and for Robards to return from forensics in the city, he contacted Craig’s
other friends and arranged for them to come to the station and provide
statements during that afternoon.  Grant McKinlay and Jennifer Nolan had already
heard the news about the arrest and were eager to assist in any way they could. 

Nelson
sat at his desk and re-read the forensic reports on the victim, the
murder scene and the gloves.  He admitted to himself that the evidence seemed
solid.  He watched the video footage from the crime scene several times,
looking for any evidence that might support Craig’s story that he had followed
the real murderer to the scene.  Although there were some vague shadows in the
corner of the footage that appeared to move, he could see no other person on
the tape.  He made a quick phone call to the video tech who had reviewed the
footage and asked him if there was any chance of enhancing the shadowed area. 
The video tech told him he would try but it was unlikely that any further
definition could be drawn out of the video.

When
Nelson was satisfied that he had a complete understanding and knowledge of the
evidence on the case so far, he busied himself on his computer, meticulously
making sure that the case file was completely up to date.  Although he wasn’t particularly
fond of the administrative side of casework he forced himself to keep on top of
it as he knew it was an essential part of the case and would be referred to
regularly in the future.

As
opposed to some of the older Detectives in the squad, Nelson was highly
computer literate and could type at over forty words per minute with few errors
when the mood took him.  He smiled as he glanced at his fifty-five year
old colleague, Detective David Smith, at a nearby desk laboriously punching his
keyboard one finger at a time.  It was almost painful to watch. 

At
around midday, Nelson got a call from a Constable manning the reception area at
the Parramatta Station informing him that he had visitors.  Robards still hadn’t
returned to the office so Nelson proceeded on his own.  He decided to walk to
the station so he could save the planet a few kilos of greenhouse gases.  Every
little bit helps.  Ten minutes later he entered the front foyer of the brown,
bunker-like building, his eyes quickly scanning the room for his
visitors.  He soon focussed his attention on a young couple sitting in the
corner trying to look relaxed but showing outward signs of nervousness.

Nelson
made his way over to them.

“Bryce
McKinlay?”

“Yes.”

“I’m
Detective Sergeant Nelson.  And this is, Natalie?” he said indicating to the
woman on Bryce’s left whose eyes met and held his.  She nodded in agreement.

“Hi.” 
Bryce held out his hand which Nelson took and shook.  Nelson noticed that the
palms of Bryce’s meaty hands were sweaty and mentally reminded himself not to
shake hands with him again. 

“Look,
if you don’t mind I’d like to speak with you separately.  It’s standard
procedure.” It was more than that, it was a golden rule of Detective work and ensured
there would be no help and no corroboration for each of them once their
interviews began.  It was one thing to rehearse a set of convenient answers
together in the comfort of a lounge room, but telling them to a Detective,
alone in an police station interview room was another thing entirely.  Divide
and conquer.   

“Would
you mind waiting out here Natalie?  This shouldn’t take too long.”

Without
waiting for an answer, Nelson led Bryce to the reception desk, signed him in
and whisked him away through the electronic security doors.  He led him down a
corridor to an interview room that he had booked out for the afternoon.  Nelson
had arranged for a female general duties Constable to be available to assist
with the interviews and she was already waiting in the room when they arrived. 
They took their seats and Nelson placed his digital voice recorder between them. 
Bryce eyed it nervously.  “You don’t mind do you?” 

“No,
of course not,” said Bryce, in a nervous voice.  Nelson wondered if he had
something to hide or if it was just an innocent reaction.  

“This
is not a formal interview and the recording is not for use as evidences, it’s
just to help me stay on top of things.”

“Ok.”

Firstly
let me say right now that I have no interest whatsoever in your stalking
activities.  I’m a Homicide Detective, so the only case that I’m going to be
investigating here is the murder of Emilio Fogliani.  However, I can’t promise
you that some of my colleagues won’t want to speak to you about your stalking
game at a later time.”

“Ok,”
replied Bryce glumly.  He hadn’t expected any favours and he wasn’t being given
any.  He was just focussed on trying to distance himself as far as possible
from a murder charge.  Anything beyond that, like keeping his job and not being
charged with stalking, he considered would be a bonus.

“So
let’s make a start.  I want you to tell me all you know about Craig Thoms and
your relationship with him and then I want you to tell me your version of
events last Friday night.  Try and remember as much detail as possible.”

Bryce
took a few deep breaths and focussed his thoughts on what he was about to say. 
He started quietly, hesitantly, and told Nelson how he had met Craig when they
were both employed at Carmichael’s security.  They became good friends and as
Craig had previously attested to, they eventually began taking some of the
equipment out of the shop to field test it.  Bryce made no attempt to hide or
minimise his involvement in the stalking game, instead he freely admitted it. 
Others had joined the group over time and it became a regular event.  Their stalking
skills improved, as did their bravado and sophistication, and some of the
stalks that Bryce briefly recounted to Nelson left him quietly staggered and
wondering if anyone had ever followed him and learned some of his secrets.