Deadly Obsession Read online

  ‘That was Melissa. She’s just a nurse at the hospital, Lex. She can be a real bitch. I wasn’t with her.’

  As if she cared about that!

  ‘I need to know who she is, where she lives, the nature of your relationship with her,’ Lexie said, a little too abruptly.

  Zack puffed on his cigarette. She wondered if he was making a show of smoking to irritate her.

  ‘Can I ask why?’

  ‘I’ll tell you why once you’ve given me her details.’

  Zack’s sigh was audible.

  ‘Her name’s Melissa. Melissa McDermott. As I said, she’s a nurse at the Prince of Wales Hospital, that’s how I know her. She lives with another nurse at Randwick. That’s all I really know. Why?’

  ‘I’ll need her address.’

  ‘I don’t know her address.’

  ‘Can you get it for me, please? This is important.’

  ‘I suppose I can get it for you.’

  She heard Zack take another drag of his cigarette.

  ‘I’ll make some calls, though you’ll owe me one, you know? You might have to take me out to dinner. Isn’t that what you guys do to reward citizens for information?’

  That was not going to happen.

  ‘When did you last see Melissa McDermott?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘I saw her last night at the pub; at the Royal. She was wasted. ‘What’s going on, Lexie? Are you going to tell me why you’re asking all these questions? What has she done?’

  In the distance, Lexie saw that Brad had finished with the witnesses and was glancing around trying to find her. Stepping out of the cover of trees, she waved at him. He waved back to acknowledge he’d seen her.

  ‘What time did you leave the hotel last night, Zack?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘I left around 10.00 pm because I had to work at 7.00 am this morning. Why? What does it matter when I . . . ? Has something happened to her?’

  Lexie wanted to get his story before she told him the news. Zack might have been one of the last people to see her alive.

  ‘Did you go straight home?’

  Zack huffed.

  ‘Lexie, tell me—’

  ‘Just answer the question, Zack,’ Lexie demanded impatiently. Why did he always have to argue with her?

  ‘Yes, I went straight home. Alone.’ He emphasised the latter word. ‘I jumped in a cab out the front of the pub and was in bed by 10.30 pm.’

  Lexie took a deep breath and blew it out through her teeth.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Are you going to tell me now what this is all about?’

  She knew it was inevitable, but Lexie regretted having to deliver the news this way.

  ‘I wouldn’t normally tell you like this, over the phone, but . . . I’m sorry, Zack. Melissa McDermott was found dead at Clovelly Beach this morning.’

  The silence on the other end of the line was disconcerting. So was the breeze against her skin that contained the promise of rain. Lexie glanced up at the darkening sky and wondered how long the rain would hold off. For the sake of the crime scene, she hoped indefinitely.

  ‘Did you hear what I said, Zack? Are you all right?’

  ‘Yes, yes, Lexie. I heard. I’m just trying to take it all in. I can’t quite believe it. Are you sure it’s her?’

  ‘It’s the girl you were with at the pub, the girl with the bluebird tattoo. We will get a formal identification, of course, but I’m sure it is her.’

  ‘Holy shit.’

  Zack’s voice was unsteady.

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘We don’t know, but we are treating it as suspicious.’

  ‘Suspicious?’

  He let out a shocked gasp.

  ‘I just . . . Oh God, I feel sick.’

  Lexie was sure that during the twelve months Zack had been a paramedic he would have been exposed to many horrific images and events. He was probably already becoming accustomed to suffering and trauma. Learning to become detached – to distance himself – was inevitable, necessary for self-preservation.

  However, when unexpected tragedy happens to someone you know it is always shocking, appalling. It is an ugly jab from reality; a reminder that no one is immortal. There is no space to create emotional distance when death enters your own world.

  ‘As I said, Zack, I’m sorry to have to tell you like this but I needed to confirm Melissa’s identification.’

  ‘That’s okay, I understand,’ Zack replied. ‘What can I do to help?’

  ‘Can you get back to me with her address and her flatmate’s details? Please don’t mention this to anyone until we have notified those close to her. And make time to see me later today. I’m going to have to get a statement from you.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll speak to my boss to get some time off.’

  ‘Zack, did you know if Melissa was a drug user? Party drugs, prescription drugs?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put anything past her. She was a very wild girl. She was a big drinker, always wasted.’

  ‘Really? Anything else you can tell me that I might need to know about her, off the top of your head?’

  Zack hesitated. He was choosing his words and Lexie wondered why.

  ‘It is not nice to speak ill of the dead, so . . . No, I don’t really have anything else to say.’

  Then he continued, ‘She was just always a good time girl, if you know what I mean?’

  ‘Uh, okay . . . Thanks, Zack. I’ll call to make a time to meet with you later. Thanks for your help.’

  Lexie hung up.

  She looked over to Brad. He was waving her back to the crime scene. Lexie placed her phone in her pocket. She pulled her coat tighter around her as she walked back towards him.

  *

  Lexie drove along the streets of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs with Brad in the passenger seat in silence. Her mind was buzzing as she contemplated the hours that stretched ahead of her. There was so much to do, so much to think about. Still unable to quite believe that Brad was entrusting her with such a great responsibility, Lexie wanted to make sure she did everything right, ticked every box to ensure nothing and nobody could possibly slip through any gap in the investigation.

  Making a mental list, a step-by-step guide of what needed to be done, Lexie hadn’t realised she had been frowning until Brad spoke.

  ‘What’s wrong with your face? Does it hurt?’

  Snapped from her thoughts, Lexie gave him a sideways glance.

  ‘What? No, my face doesn’t hurt,’ she retorted.

  ‘Well, it’s killing me,’ Brad exclaimed with a loud laugh, thoroughly amused by his own stupid joke.

  ‘Have you looked in the mirror lately?’ Lexie shot back. ‘I have to look at you every day and you don’t hear me complaining.’

  Brad slapped his thick thigh and hollered so loudly she jumped.

  ‘Touché. I love it when you give me attitude.’

  ‘Only throwing it back at you . . . sergeant.’

  She drew out the last word.

  ‘Now, that’s what I like. A girl who knows her place and shows respect to her senior officers,’ Brad added sarcastically, rolling his eyes and scoffing the remains of a blueberry muffin. ‘Now, are you going to tell me how you discovered the identity of our body on the beach?’

  They were now reasonably certain their girl was Melissa McDermott – a positive ID would hopefully confirm that fact soon enough – but at the moment she was still a body without a personality, a family, or a previous life. Referring to her as such was a way of keeping a professional veneer, but Lexie knew that as the investigation into her death progressed and family and friends were interviewed, ‘the body’ would become a person. That was when it became difficult to compartmentalise emotions. It was a tricky balancing act to remain compassionate and objective without becoming immersed in the grief of loved ones.

  ‘I have my sources,’ Lexie teased.

  She knew Brad liked to know everything.

  They were en route to the dead girl�
��s apartment. Zack had rung Lexie back with the address and name of her flatmate, Vicky Bruce. Uniform officers had already delivered the bad news and Vicky was awaiting their arrival.

  ‘Come on, tell me. Who’s your informant?’

  Brad started bouncing up and down in the passenger seat like a little kid.

  ‘I’m going to keep asking until you tell me.’

  ‘Grrrr . . . you can be so annoying sometimes. I was going to tell you, anyway. I just wanted to see how long you could hold out before asking.’

  Lexie pretended to concentrate on turning a corner just to drag out the suspense.

  ‘Okay . . . my informant is Zack Rogers.’

  ‘Am I supposed to know who . . . hang on, Rogers? Is he any relation?’

  ‘Not anymore. He’s my ex-husband.’

  By the way Brad’s head whipped around to stare at her, it seemed he hadn’t expected that answer.

  ‘What? I didn’t know you had an ex-husband.’

  Lexie kept her eyes on the road.

  ‘It’s not something I advertise.’

  ‘Did Josh know?’

  Lexie stepped on the brake a little too forcefully as she stopped at an intersection.

  ‘Yes,’ she replied, stiffly.

  Brad, who had been jolted in his seat, was silent for a moment. Finally he asked, ‘I take it things are amicable?’

  Lexie nodded.

  ‘We speak when we have to. No point in holding a grudge.’

  Waiting for a break in the flow of traffic, out of the corner of her eye she noted Brad’s eyebrows shoot skywards.

  ‘That’s very mature of you both. So if you’re not into holding grudges does that mean you and Josh are okay?’

  ‘That’s different.’

  Brad, who was watching the traffic on the left, called out, ‘Clear this side.’

  Lexie waited for two cars on the right to pass, did a quick check of the left side and proceeded through the intersection.

  ‘Why is Josh different?’ Brad prompted.

  ‘I don’t want to talk about Josh Harrison right now,’ Lexie announced, firmly.

  Her heart felt heavy just saying his name.

  ‘I know you guys are great friends and I don’t want that to be an issue between us but . . . I’ve told you before, Josh is off limits.’

  Brad sighed, clearly frustrated with Lexie’s adamant refusal to talk about her ex-lover and former colleague. He had tried to broach this subject before – numerous times – and she always managed to cut him off before he could get started. Brad was not known for keeping his opinions to himself, and he had voiced his concern, many times, that her persistent evasion regarding discussing the ‘Josh subject’ was a definite sign Lexie was suppressing her feelings.

  And maybe Brad was right!

  Lexie was aware it was unhealthy to retain resentment or ill will, just as surely as she knew pathetic human emotions left you weak and vulnerable. But it still didn’t change the fact, did it? Everyone coped with a break-up in their own way; her way was to bury the hurt, keep it submerged and contained within, until she was ready to deal with it. If that time ever came.

  Don’t think about Josh.

  But it seemed Brad was going to make that impossible. He was not going to let it drop. Grunting in obvious frustration, he turned his bearish body towards her. Lexie focused on the road.

  ‘Okay, we won’t talk about Harrison, but just let me say one thing and I’ll let the subject drop. I’m saying this as a friend, friends of both of you. Just cut Josh some slack, Lex. He’s grieving. His world has fallen apart and I admit he’s not handling it well, but I know how he feels about you. Just give him some time. There, I said it, that’s it,’ Brad finished with a huff.

  ‘Okay, then let me say this; Josh Harrison can have all the time he likes,’ Lexie spat angrily. ‘He can have all of eternity for all I care. I did nothing but support and comfort him. I was there for him but he pushed me away, Brad. And, remember, he’s not the only person who has ever lost a sibling. I, for one, know exactly how that feels. Now, subject closed.’

  Lexie had become accustomed to talking about her brother’s death. She had even answered questions from tactless workmates wanting to know the details. Usually she could respond to these random interrogations with a practised emotional distance. But sometimes, like now, when she was caught off-guard, just thinking about her brother’s death hit deep.

  Tension hung heavily in the car for a long moment. Brad finally broke the silence.

  ‘Sorry, Lex, I shouldn’t have brought that up now. I didn’t mean to upset you about Josh, or your brother.’

  Lexie knew that even when Brad pushed too hard it was never malicious. He always had her best interests at heart.

  ‘I know. Let’s forget it.’

  ‘Okay, good,’ Brad sighed, happy again. ‘We have work to do, so let’s get back to it.’

  He pulled a Mars Bar from his shirt pocket and shed the wrapper.

  ‘I know what you’re going to say, but I didn’t have breakfast and I’m starving.’

  Lexie eyed him critically. Brad had given up smoking, again, and whenever that happened he ate continuously until he’d gained ten kilos. Then he would take up smoking again to lose the weight. It was a relentless merry-go-round that served as a constant source of amusement in the office.

  ‘Now, how does this ex-husband of yours know the deceased? And how did you know he knew her?’

  Lexie stopped at a red light.

  ‘Zack’s an ambo and he was with a group of other medical staff at the Royal Hotel the other week. I was having a drink with Dani. He came over and while we were talking this girl pushed past me and handed him a drink. She flashed me a dirty look and made a comment that Zack could do better; that I looked anorexic. Her hair was pulled up and as she turned and flounced away, I noticed the bluebird tattoo on her neck.’

  Brad pointed his finger at the street on her left.

  ‘Turn there. Wow, what did you do?’

  Lexie turned left.

  ‘Nothing; she stormed off into the crowd before the words even sank in. Then I had to restrain Dani, who wanted to hunt her down and kill her. I convinced her that wasn’t a good idea.’

  She laughed at the memory.

  ‘Zack apologised, said she was “a bitch”. I didn’t see her again after that. I’m assuming Zack told her to keep away. Dani kept searching for her all night. You know what she can be like.’

  Dani Wallace was a detective at Kings Cross, Lexie’s best friend and former work buddy. She was a lively, muscular little pocket rocket, fiercely protective and belligerent if provoked. It had taken a while to calm her down after the incident.

  Brad rubbed his large jaw.

  ‘Melissa was just jealous. I hope you didn’t take it personally. You’re not really that skinny,’ he said, seriously.

  ‘Are you telling me I’m fat?’

  ‘Man, we blokes can’t win.’ Brad sighed, shaking his head.

  ‘That’s right, and don’t you forget it,’ Lexie grinned, pulling up outside a greyish cement-rendered block of units at Randwick.

  They were buzzed into the complex without question. As Lexie climbed the stairs to the second floor, her heels clip-clopped against the cement and her senses were overwhelmed with the aroma of Chinese cooking. She glanced back at Brad, who licked his lips.

  ‘I know, it’s making me hungry,’ he smiled.

  ‘You’re always hungry,’ Lexie replied.

  Lexie mentally rehearsed what she would say, the questions she would ask, and as they drew closer to the unit she noticed a strange nervous feeling had taken up residence in her stomach. She wondered what her instincts were telling her.

  Highly intuitive, Lexie had a keen sense of awareness beyond her conscious understanding. It rarely let her down. However, the problem was she didn’t always listen to her ‘gut’, or heed its warnings. The occasions when she had gone against her better judgement were the times she had landed
herself in a whole pile of trouble.

  What are you telling me?

  They had reached unit 10 and Brad was puffing heavily as he raised his large hand to knock on the door. He stopped short, finding it was already ajar.

  Brad called out, ‘It’s the police here.’

  There was a whimper from inside and a barely audible, ‘Come in.’

  Lexie followed Brad into the flat. The living area was small and overcrowded with furniture, so it wasn’t until Brad moved to one side that she saw two women huddled on a chocolate-coloured lounge at the back of the room. Clutching an abundance of tissues in fisted hands, they wept quietly into each other’s shoulders. Lexie felt like an intruder. Brad cleared his throat. The women drew apart.

  Two faces slowly turned in their direction. Both had matching red-rimmed eyes. The difference was that one set of eyes belonged to a stranger, the other to someone Lexie knew but would rather forget.

  CHAPTER 4

  Why was life full of so many strange and cruel coincidences?

  Lexie struggled to keep her professional mask firmly in place. Why couldn’t history just stay where it was meant to be – in the bloody past?

  Hanging back, taking a moment to gather her composure, she slowly closed the door behind her and Brad.

  Brad spoke first.

  ‘I’m Brad Sommers, and this is Lexie Rogers. We’re from Bondi Junction detectives.’

  Both women stood at the same time.

  Lexie was relieved Brad was taking the lead right now. She was more than grateful for a few extra seconds to swallow her shock and get herself together. However, she sensed it wasn’t just force of habit that had Brad asserting his authority in this instance – especially considering she was supposedly running this investigation. No, Lexie guessed it was more a typical male reaction to two attractive damsels in such obvious distress.

  For a moment Lexie wondered how Josh would react in this situation before catching herself. Don’t think of Josh.

  ‘I’m Vicky Bruce,’ said the taller of the two women, brushing wisps of long brown hair out of her eyes. ‘I’m Melissa’s flatmate.’

  ‘I’m Sasha Hemming,’ said the smaller, more voluptuous woman. ‘We’re Melissa’s friends.’