Grave catch, p.5
Grave Catch, page 5
‘Doesn’t matter. The trawler is as good as gone now. The latest catch was my last chance and it’s ruined.’
‘I’m sorry Reg. I know it’s rough. Maybe you can help us with our enquiries. If you are cleared of any wrongdoing, I think there might be a way for you to dig your way out of all this.’
She wasn’t sure. But with a good lawyer, the Queensland police might be required to compensate the skipper for his losses if he were exonerated.
‘Well, that would brighten my day. I can tell you Missy, I had nothing to do with that poor woman’s death and if my crew have been handling drugs, I’ll be the first to make sure they pay the price for it.’
‘How long has your engineer worked for you?’
The skipper frowned and swayed his head from side to side as though silently counting.
‘Stevo has been with me since he dropped out of school. At least ten years.’
‘Has he ever been in any trouble?’
‘The usual country kid stuff. Shootin, tootin and...’
Dawn waved her hand before he finished the well-known saying.
‘We get it.’ She stifled a chuckle.
Ryan didn’t bother trying.
They knew Steve Lowman didn’t have an official criminal record, and Sergeant Martin couldn’t recall ever giving him a warning, but local kids could do stupid stuff the police never heard about. Not officially anyway.
‘So to your knowledge, Steve Lowman has never been involved in the sale or smuggling of drugs?’
‘No. If I were a betting man,’ he rubbed his chin, ‘well, I kind of am. I don’t mind a flutter on the ponies from time to time...’
‘Reg.’ Dawn prompted.
‘Sorry. Yes. If I were to pick a member of my crew to be playing stupid games with drugs, it would be Glenn, not Stevo.’
Dawn replaced the loan statement into the manila folder and closed it.
‘Thanks for your time, Reg.’ She slipped one of her personal cards across the table. ‘If you think of anything else.’
‘When can I get my trawler back?’
Dawn wanted to say now, but knew that wasn’t the case. She also wanted to give him information about how he might seek compensation. Maybe enough to get him out of immediate trouble with his debt, but the last thing she wanted to do was be recorded doing it.
The police might need to compensate, but a detective certainly wasn’t supposed to suggest it.
She nodded for Ryan to end the recording and rose.
‘Let’s get you out of here first.’
She rounded the interview desk and waited for him to rise. Then escorted him into the hallway and closed the door behind her.
‘You didn’t hear this from me, but your vessel is likely to be locked up and under investigation for at least a week.’ She plucked the business card from Reg’s hand, pulled her pen from her pocket and scribbled a number on the back. ‘Call this guy and tell him what happened. He’ll sort it out for you.’
‘Sort it out?’
‘I told you. If you’re exonerated, and I think you will be shortly, then the police will likely need to compensate you for the lost catch, and possible losses while the trawler is with our forensic team. It won’t be a ton of money, but it might be enough to get you out of trouble.’
Dawn wanted to do more, but right now she needed to finish interviewing her suspects. And judging by Reg’s statement, Glenn needed to be last, not next in line.
Chapter 11
Dawn entered the interview room to the sound of Barry Melrose sobbing. Her chest tightened and her eyes stung as she tried to quell her own rising emotions.
She should have realised he was likely suffering from shock. Dragging a dead body from the water no longer fazed her like it should. Sure, it made her sad. Made her loathe what humanity was capable of for money, power or control. But not shocked.
‘Hey Barry. I’m very sorry to do this to you, but we need to go over things while they’re fresh in your mind.’
He lifted his head from his arms folded on the table, wiped his wet cheeks with the back of his hand, pulled his shoulders back and straightened in the plastic-moulded seat.
‘It’s okay.’ He wiped his wet hand on his dirty pants. ‘I’m just being a sissy.’
Dawn knew those weren’t his own words and wondered who in Barry’s life told him men shouldn’t cry.
‘No. You most definitely aren’t. A young woman has lost her life, and you were unfortunate to have to bear witness.’
Barry scratched behind his ear and focused on the worn white tabletop.
‘Did you know the woman?’
Barry’s body shook a moment before he gained control. Swallowing hard, he clasped his hands in his lap and finally met Dawn’s eyes.
‘I saw her at the Top Pub on the weekend.’
Dawn watched his knuckles whiten.
‘Did you speak with her?’
Another hard swallow.
‘Can I get some water?’
Dawn glanced at Ryan, who nodded, rose and opened the hallway door.
‘Detective Ryan is leaving the interview room.’ Dawn spoke for the recording, then jumped when her partner appeared back at her side with a crooked grin.
‘No, he isn’t. Reynolds was just outside the door with these.’
He passed a bottle of water to Barry, opened one for Dawn and then one for himself.
Dawn swallowed a mouthful and returned her attention to Barry as he drained half the bottle.
Dry mouth wasn’t unusual given the circumstances, but as Dawn studied the teary doe eyes across from her, she wondered how much of Barry’s thirst was nerves.
She and Ryan read his file before entering the room. He was thirty-two, not in his early twenties as Dawn guessed. Was it the shyness, his slim build or something about his manner leading her to underestimate his age?
She waited for him to put the lid back on the bottle before continuing.
‘Barry. Did you speak with the victim at the pub?’
He shook his head more vigorously than needed.
‘You’re not in any trouble,’ Ryan interrupted. ‘Nothing wrong with chatting up a pretty girl at the bar, mate.’
‘It wasn’t like that.’
Dawn waited for him to realise what he’d said. The wide-eyed expression took longer than she expected.
Not the sharpest tool in the shed it seemed.
‘What was it like, Barry?’
He unscrewed the bottle lid once more and drained the water. She wasn’t sure if it was to quench his thirst or stall so he could think.
‘She knew something about what Glenn was up to. Wanted to buy me a drink and have a chat.’
‘Did she buy you a drink?’ Dawn clarified.
Barry shook his head and ran his fingers through his short blond hair.
‘No way. Glenn isn’t exactly a mate, but he’s part of the crew. You don’t squeal on the crew. It’s a long swim home from out there.’
‘Did Glenn threaten you?’
Barry bit his bottom lip, then licked it.
‘I’d like a lawyer.’
‘You’re not under arrest.’
‘In that case, I’d like to go home, have a shower and try and forget today ever happened.’
Dawn studied his grim expression a moment.
‘Fair enough. Don’t leave town and if you think of anything about your talk with the victim, or your mate’s smuggling operation, let me know.’ She slid a card toward him.
He nodded as he pocketed it, slid his chair back and rose to leave.
Dawn glanced at Ryan, hoping he’d read her mind.
‘Barry. Detective Grave is right, mate. If you know something, you could be in danger even if you don’t talk to us. Telling us what you know could save your life.’
Barry stopped with his hand on the doorknob. He opened his mouth, then shook his head and left the interview room.
Dawn ended the recording, sat back in her seat and sighed.
‘He obviously knows more than he’s telling us.’
‘Definitely.’ Ryan slid his chair back. ‘What next?’
Dawn knew there were two more interviews to get through, but finding the PVC pipe with drugs, right after discovering the trawler stash couldn’t be a coincidence.
‘I’m not sure which one of these guys was dealing with the drugs, but they aren’t the brains. Those wads I found on the trawler were wrapped in brown packing tape. I couldn’t see a logo, or brand on them. But my guess is they could be part of the same shipment Mr Taylor discovered out at Quarantine Bay.’
Ryan nodded. ‘Only one way to find out.’
‘I’ll call Tammy. See if she can run a comparison test.’
‘You do that while I get the next idiot ready for interviewing.’
Chapter 12
Dawn slipped into her office alongside Sergeant Martin’s and closed the door. Normally, she didn’t bother with privacy, but the thought of Les Richardson being back in Cooktown rattled her more than she wanted to admit.
Cooktown was a remote regional town with a small population. The Endeavour River ran inland through town, past public wharves, shallow creeks and private homes and jetties. It was possible Les Richardson slipped back into town without being noticed.
His smuggling and trafficking operations were hidden behind a legitimate art business, so there were plenty of people he could call upon to keep him below the Australian Federal Police radar. Dawn lost a murder suspect to them when they thought the corrupt constable might be able to help them catch Richardson.
She wasn’t privy to the investigation, but it seemed the ploy failed.
Cooktown was an accessible gateway from remote Australia and Asia for almost every illegal activity, so cameras monitored the river. Even so, drugs and people smugglers managed to find a way in.
Dropping the PVC pipe full of drugs offshore was just one.
Dawn dialled Tammy’s mobile.
‘This is Gleeson.’
‘Hey Tammy. Glad I caught you.’
‘Dawn, I’m up to my eyeballs in stinky prawns processing the last of this boat.’
‘Yeah, sorry. Calling from the office. I know you won’t have much yet, but have you done a chemical analysis on the drugs we found in the trawler?’
‘The lab has. I’m still...’
‘Did you happen to find a brand or logo on them?’
‘Nothing I saw, which is weird. My guess is they were repackaged.’
It was what Dawn assumed when she saw them.
‘Can you get a comparison between the composition of those drugs and the ones found out at Quarantine Bay earlier?’
‘You’re in luck. AFP haven’t taken them yet. I’ll get onto it now.’
‘Thanks Tammy.’
‘Those were branded though.’
‘Yeah. I know.’
‘And you know whose brand was on them, right?’
Dawn could hear the tension in Tammy’s voice.
‘I know. We thought Richardson was gone for good, but when we broke up his native animal smuggling racket and took the Garcia brothers out of action, he could have decided he needed to handle things himself.’
‘He’s tried to kill you once already. Make sure Ryan watches your back.’
Dawn was fine with Richardson having a personal vendetta against her. Being in the crosshairs of criminals wasn’t new to her, but she didn’t live alone anymore. She was in a relationship for the first time in twenty years and her family were close. Too close.
‘If he comes after me, or anyone I care about, he’ll regret it.’
Tammy chuckled. ‘You got that right. I’ll be there with knobs on. Don’t get to use my duty weapon often, but I’ll make an exception for Richardson.’
‘Thanks Tammy. Gotta run. Still have two more interviews to get through.’
She didn’t mention Connie. As much as she trusted the forensic tech, revealing what the reporter knew about the victim’s investigation over the phone wasn’t wise.
‘Stay safe,’ Tammy offered as she ended the call.
Dawn replaced the handset on the desktop phone and glanced through her office glass wall to see Ryan sitting on the corner of Reynolds’ desk.
The constable threw her head back and laughed at her partner’s joke. Dawn’s stomach tightened as she recalled meeting the young officer with her light brown hair pulled back in a bun tight enough to distort her features.
Now, as she watched Reynolds’ loose ponytail swing and the smile lines reach her eyes, she was overwhelmed with relief. Losing yourself to climb the ladder in the police force wasn’t only a mistake for the officers who did it, it was a loss for the police, the community and the people whose lives they touched.
Dawn rolled her chair out, left her office and strode past Reynolds’ desk.
‘When you’re ready, Ryan.’ Her tone was deliberately dry.
Ryan jumped to his feet, gave a fake salute and rolled his eyes at Reynolds who did her best not to laugh out loud.
Dawn stifled her own laughter and led the way to the interview rooms.
Ryan drew up alongside as they reached the door.
‘Any update from Gleeson?’
‘Tammy is still finalising the boat search, but she’ll get us a drug comparison between the trawler and the ones Mr Taylor found. What I want to know is how these guys got a hold of the drugs and why they were in the same boat that happened to pull our victim out of the water.’
‘You and me both.’
Dawn held the doorhandle a moment, gathering her thoughts. She opened it to find Stevo resting back in his chair, legs stretched out, ankles crossed and tattooed arms folded across his chest.
His nickname didn’t suit him, and she wondered why his shipmates used it. Stevo was the type of name given to casual, friendly mates. Steve Lowman’s thin lips, fine features and tattooed biceps certainly didn’t ooze country charm.
‘Mr Lowman.’ She slid her chair out and shuffled it back into the table, aware once again, no lawyer was present.
The crew was only in for questioning, but they all knew drugs were discovered on board the trawler.
‘My name’s Steve.’
Dawn lifted an eyebrow.
‘Not Stevo?
He shook his head. Dawn nodded, still wondering who chose the nickname.
‘Do you know why you’re in here for questioning?’
Steve shrugged.
‘Kinda.’
Dawn glanced at the recording equipment to confirm it was running.
‘And you have chosen to waive counsel.’
He dropped his arms and sat upright. ‘Why would I need a lawyer? I’m just a bloody engineer.’
‘You know we found drugs. They were stashed under the boat’s engine, which is your domain, right?’
‘I’m just the mechanical engineer. I fix the engine and running gear, including the net booms and the skipper’s bloody radio if needed, but I don’t know anything about any drugs.’
Dawn pursed her lips in an I don’t think so expression, then turned to her partner. Ryan drummed his fingers on top of the manila folder and audibly sucked in a frustrated breath.
Steve’s eyes jumped from her to Ryan and fell on the folder. Her partner opened it wide to reveal a crime-scene photo of their victim. He shuffled it out of the way as though it was exposed accidentally, then presented the photo of the drugs found in the engine room.
Dawn studied Steve’s body language as her partner slid the photo toward him and spun it around.
‘So you never noticed the bright orange lifejackets shoved under the engine mounts?’ Ryan asked.
Steve’s hand waved over the photo. ‘They’ve been there for years.’ He flopped back into his chair. ‘I use them to stop the worn-out engine mounts vibrating the crap out of the hull.’
‘And you never noticed if they were moved? Or saw someone in the engine room who shouldn’t be there?’ Dawn slid the photo to the edge of the table.
Steve gravitated toward it. A crease formed on his brow, so deep Dawn struggled to read the expression. Was he worried or angry?
Dawn drew the photo back. Steve’s eyes followed it until Dawn spoke.
‘Steve. Have you ever met the deceased before?’
‘No.’
The answer was quick, but it wasn’t uncommon when people were nervous. Dawn nodded for Ryan to show Steve, Jasmine Reed’s licence photo.
Ryan packed the drug photo back in the folder and retrieved the licence photo. Dawn studied the dark-blonde woman’s features and noted the curve of her lip as Jasmine tried not to smile for the official picture. As it slid in front of Steve, Dawn asked.
‘You’re sure?’
His eyes never left Dawn’s.
‘I’m sure.’
Dawn let the silence linger a moment before sliding the photo back to Ryan and leaning toward Steve. ‘We believe the woman who was pulled from the water knew something about the drug smuggling operation.’
Steve’s top lip lifted. Dawn tried to decide if it was a suppressed snarl or a grimace. Whatever was running through Steve’s mind wasn’t making him happy.
‘I never met the woman. If there were drugs on board, they weren’t mine and I didn’t know anything about them.’
‘Okay. You don’t know about the drugs, or the woman, but...’ She scrolled through her phone and opened a photo of the drugs found out at Quarantine Bay. ‘Does this logo mean anything to you?’
Steve flopped back in his seat, crossed his arms and shook his head without glancing at the photo.
‘I’ve answered your questions. Unless I’m under arrest, I’d like to go home now.’
Chapter 13
Dawn’s phone buzzed in her pocket as the interview room door slammed closed. She checked the caller ID, then answered.
‘I hope you have some good news, Tammy.’
She watched her partner point toward the door and nodded, knowing he needed to escort Steve Lowman to the duty constable before he left the building.
‘Hello to you too. Just so happens I have.’
‘Get on with it then. It’s been a long day.’
Tammy scoffed. ‘You sound like Ryan. Anyone would think you were the only one up with the kookaburras this morning.’
