Sinister Intent Read online

  You let it happen, now you have to figure out what you’re going to do about it.

  The clunk of metal brought him back to the present. The detective had unlocked his cage door and was pushing it open. He unlocked Kate’s cell as well and they were suddenly free.

  ‘It’s about fucking time!’ Kate complained, waddling to the counter. She picked up her property lying on the bench top. ‘Hope you haven’t stolen anything; It had all better be here,’ she grumbled, examining the clear plastic folder that contained her belongings: one watch, one necklace and a packet of smokes.

  ‘I’m sure you’ll both find all your property is there,’ Detective Harrison stated, handing Rex a pile of papers. ‘The court attendance papers tell you everything you need to know; your charges, your bail conditions and your court date, which is in three weeks.’ He pointed to the date on the paper. ‘Make sure you turn up or a warrant will be issued for your arrest. We know where you live,’ he added, with a hint of sarcasm.

  Rex studied the charge sheets. Being the occupier of the premises he’d been charged with supplying an illegal substance – 6.3 grams, to be exact, of white powdery substance. It had been explained that as it held a much higher sentence than a possess charge, he could possibly be facing gaol time.

  Rex could not, would not, go to gaol.

  He’d also been charged with malicious damage – for the destruction of the video camera – and they’d all been charged with the usual: assaulting police and resisting arrest.

  Rex grunted. ‘I didn’t assault anyone. You sprayed us with that poison, for God’s sake.’

  Detective Harrison’s eyes held his for a long moment. ‘You put a policewoman in hospital and injured the rest of us. Don’t you consider that assault?’

  Shit. Police protected their own. He knew he wouldn’t get off assaulting a female cop lightly.

  Rex dropped his head and read the charge sheets again. ‘Rex Donaldson did assault Detective Senior Constable Alexandra Rogers, a police officer in the execution of her duty . . .’

  Rex’s heart rate gathered speed. Alexandra.

  It was the only name that could tear him apart at the seams; cause him to want to curl up and cry like a baby. It was his daughter’s name. She’d been named after the grandmother of his ex-girlfriend, Debbie, and he’d loved it. They’d shortened it to Ally. He got a mental image of little Ally, aged two, blonde curly hair and big blue eyes, playing in the park. It had been the last time he’d seen her. The next time Rex had come home they were gone. Debbie had left, taking their daughter and their belongings. She left no note and no trace.

  Fucking bitch!

  Rex felt the familiar tug of anger and despair. A huge elastic band was squeezing his heart. It never ceased to amaze him that even after all this time the mere thought of his child’s name felt like a spear plunged into his soul.

  ‘Is everything clear?’ the detective asked. ‘Do you want to ask any questions about anything, your bail conditions, your court date?’

  Rex shook his head and looked him over with hard, glacial eyes. Harrison stared back, meeting his gaze with an undeniable steely confidence.

  Kate pulled on his arm impatiently. ‘Come on. Let’s get the fuck out of here before they charge us for fucking breathing or some shit.’

  Rex sighed, looking directly at the cop. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt that girl . . . I don’t hit women. She just got in the way. Can you tell that policewoman I’m sorry?’

  Kate shot Rex a malicious glare. ‘Are you fucking serious? Don’t apologise.’

  ‘Tell the magistrate you’re sorry. He’s the one you need to impress, not me.’ Harrison’s gaze remained on Rex. ‘Now you’d better go. Your mates are waiting for you outside.’

  Kate grunted, grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the station.

  CHAPTER 6

  The wind whips at her face as darkness closes in around her. A stream of warm liquid trickles down her neck as the knife slices her skin. She feels nothing. Her entire body is numb. Her mind seems disconnected from this moment. Her lungs refuse to work and a wave of dizziness alerts her to the fact she is lingering on the edge of consciousness.

  From far away her brother’s persistent voice roars in her ear. It is enough to jolt her out of her stupor and send a new surge of adrenaline pumping through her body.

  Trick him . . .

  She forces herself to become flaccid. Her head flops forward, her body slackens and goes limp, collapsing against his arms.

  Lulled into a false sense of security, her assailant loosens his hold, but doesn’t let go. It’s enough for her to breathe. It’s all she needs.

  Suddenly, she throws her head back with as much force as she can muster. Her own pain doesn’t even register as she hears the sickening crunch of bone smashing cartilage, instantly followed by a strangled cry of agony. Then she is free.

  Gulping air, she jerks around to face her attacker. Her hand flies to her holster, grips the butt of her gun, and draws her weapon.

  With only a distant street light and the glow from a silvery moon to light up the darkness, her gaze scans the shadows for her target. She sees him.

  Heart pounding wildly, she points her gun and yells at him to stay back.

  There is a sudden flash of movement.

  Holding her breath she squeezes the trigger, once, twice, three times . . .

  —

  Lexie let out a bloodcurdling scream.

  ‘Wake up, wake up. Lexie . . . you’re having a nightmare.’

  Someone was shaking her, she was crying, trembling. Terrified eyes flew open. A blurred face hovered only centimetres in front of her. Her heart almost stopped.

  Lexie bolted upright, let out a groan and promptly fell back onto something soft. Her head throbbed. Her body ached. Where was she? Blinking frantically, she tried to focus.

  ‘Lexie, you’re okay.’ She felt a reassuring arm on her shoulder. ‘You’re at my place. You’re going to be fine.’

  Panicked, she stared at the figure beside her and waited for her vision to clear. ‘Dani?’ She felt instant relief at the sound of her friend’s voice. ‘Where am I? What happened?’

  Dani sighed. ‘Oh boy. The doctor was right. You definitely have a slight concussion. This is the third time we’ve been through this.’

  ‘Doctor?’

  ‘Yeah, doctor, who was spectacular, might I add. You were out to it; missed the whole thing.’

  Lexie could see her clearly now. Dani was crouched on the floor next to the lounge she was resting on.

  ‘We’ve spent all day in the casualty department of the Prince of Wales Hospital. You seriously don’t remember, do you?’

  Lexie was fully awake now. The mention of hospital sent a shiver of panic straight to her stomach. She stared out through the dark window in front of her. Where had the day gone? Trying to keep her voice calm, she said, ‘Tell me what happened. Again. Please!’

  ‘Your boss called me – my name was on the station’s records as your next of kin,’ Dani said, giving Lexie a questioning stare. ‘Why am I down as your emergency contact, Lexie, instead of your parents?’

  ‘Oh, I meant to tell you. I didn’t want Mum and Dad contacted if something trivial happened to me.’

  There was no way Lexie could deal with the lectures, her mother’s crying, pleading for her to leave the police force.

  ‘They don’t need the stress after what happened last time . . . and after what happened to Lincoln . . . they don’t handle things very well any more. Sorry, I should have told you.’

  Dani shrugged, patting her hand.

  ‘It doesn’t matter. The main thing is that you’re all right. Your boss told me you’d been hurt at a search warrant this morning; that you’d collapsed and been taken by ambulance to casualty. I left work and stayed with you at the hospital. You slept for most of the day, only waking to ask the same question – what happened? – over and over again. The doctor who examined you said you were fine to be released but becau
se of the concussion suggested that you not be left alone. I have a spare room so you’re staying with me for a few days. No arguments!’

  Dani Wallace was Lexie’s former workmate and best friend. A true friend! On the same day Lexie had won her detective position at Bondi Junction police station, Dani had won her own position at their home station of Kings Cross. Dani was like a human dynamo; one hundred and sixty-five centimetres of lively muscle with a deep husky voice that men found incredibly sexy. She had tanned olive skin, uncontrollable black curly hair and dark almond eyes that appeared sweet and innocent – yet were anything but.

  Fiercely independent, Lexie would normally argue, insist she would be fine by herself. However tonight she didn’t want to be alone and was grateful for the security of Dani’s company.

  ‘You performed a search warrant at a bikie clubhouse,’ Dani prompted.

  Lexie’s mind suddenly clicked into gear. Like a slide show, a sequence of tiny pictures filled her mind: Kate Bushell launching through the air, screaming, kicking and punching, then the commotion, fighting and yelling; Rex Donaldson charging her into the shed. The impact whipping the wind out of her and jolting pain down her spine as her head hit corrugated iron. She’d felt weird . . . And then, nothing.

  Lexie closed her eyes and groaned out loud. ‘This is all I need. I certainly know how to make an impression as the new girl, don’t I?’

  She would be the talk of the office. The new detective who, after just two weeks had been injured, yet again, in the line of duty. They’d joke she was a liability. What was wrong with her?

  ‘Don’t worry about what anyone thinks. The main thing is that you’re okay.’ Dani continued to pat her hand. ‘How do you feel?’

  ‘Like I’ve been thrown in the wash and hung out to dry.’

  ‘Do you want to talk? You know you’re not supposed to bottle up. Suppressing is bad for your health. I’m sure getting smashed around by another bikie must have scared the hell out of you. How about I get you a glass of wine?’

  Dani’s hand flew to her forehead. ‘Oh no, you’re not supposed to drink for twenty-four hours.’ Dani got to her feet. ‘I know, I’ll get you a cup of tea and then you can tell me what happened. It will help you process everything.’

  Lexie rolled her eyes. ‘I’m glad all my counselling did you some good.’

  She sat up slowly. When the room didn’t spin she got to her feet with all the alacrity of an eighty-year-old. Dani was watching her thoughtfully.

  ‘No seriously, I’m fine,’ Lexie lied. ‘Can I have a shower?

  ‘Of course you can. Treat this place like your own. While you’re in the shower I’ll make you some cheese on toast. Are you hungry?’

  Lexie realised she was hungry. He stomach felt like it was rubbing on her backbone. Well, not quite, but it was definitely hollow. She’d only had time for a boiled egg on her way out the door this morning so she would be grateful for anything to fill the empty hole.

  ‘That would be great, Dani.’

  ‘There’s a clean towel next to your bag on the spare bed.’

  Lexie was confused.

  Dani laughed at her furrowed eyebrows. ‘You don’t remember going to your place and picking up some clean clothes?’

  Lexie shook her head and headed towards the bathroom. Her head ached and she felt ridiculously exhausted but her balance was fine. Normally her memory was good. It felt weird to keep forgetting things.

  After a hot shower Lexie stood naked in front of the bathroom mirror examining her wounds and assessing the damage. A shadow of a graze was streaked across one of her cheekbones. Her lips were swollen and cracked. Scratches were smeared across the skin of her arms and her legs were already decorated with patches of blue and purple, which she knew would look much worse in the morning. But overall, she didn’t look too bad – considering.

  With her hair resembling a messy palm tree piled high on her head, the scar on the side of her neck was clearly visible. Lexie turned sideways, examining the jagged line running along her hairline, just behind her left ear. She traced the distended skin, hating the feel of the scar tissue underneath her fingertips yet still strangely drawn to its texture.

  Today’s encounter was bringing it all back. And fighting her memory was useless. It only intensified and added strength to her nightmares. She didn’t want to remember but felt powerless to stop her wandering thoughts. What wouldn’t she do to forget?

  Thanks Lincoln. Lexie smiled at herself in the mirror. The thought of her brother sent a wave of wistfulness through her. A thousand more pleasant memories spun in her head – playing on a sandy beach, wrestling in the yard, splashing in their pool.

  Lexie had seen plenty of dead people. Not just their corpses, but their spirits as well. Ghosts were everywhere. They lingered to walk with the living. And she had no doubt that her brother was never far from her side. She was certain it was his voice that had spurred her on, encouraged her to fight. He’d saved her life that night. Not that she’d ever tell anyone that, of course. They’d think she was totally mad. Ghosts can’t save the living. Can they?

  After scoffing the cheesy toast and downing a glass of ice cold water, Lexie bid Dani goodnight, kindly refusing her facetious offer to tuck her in. When she finally hit the mattress her body melted into it with appreciation. Forcing her eyes shut she willed herself to sleep, wanting to escape into the darkness, the nothingness. She only wished that sleep would bring with it some sort of amnesia, so that in the morning she wouldn’t have to remember.

  Nothing can hurt you now, you’re safe. She repeated the words over and over again, hoping desperately that, just for tonight, her nightmares would stay away.

  CHAPTER 7

  FRIDAY

  The roaring in his ears started the moment Rex opened his front door and saw the man standing on his porch. Hiding his surprise, he took a deep breath and swallowed his fury. Self-righteous and arrogant, the man stood casually leaning against the door frame, an evil grin spread across his ugly face.

  Rex felt his hackles rise. ‘What can I do for you?’

  Keep it pleasant.

  The man didn’t respond. Instead he licked his lips, dropped the grin, and fixed Rex with a stare.

  Was he trying to intimidate him? Rex tried to tame the primal urge to leap forward and rip his throat out with his teeth. ‘What do you want?’

  The man sighed loudly. ‘I just wanted to come by and offer you my commiserations; heard you got raided the other day. That was most unfortunate. Must have really pissed you off.’

  Rex didn’t bother asking how the slime ball had heard the news of their raid. He knew how it worked.

  ‘The sad thing is, Rex, it could have been avoided.’ The man shrugged as he continued, ‘But that’s what happens when you mess with the wrong people.’ He studied his nails in a show of condescending nonchalance. ‘I guess it’s called payback.’

  Rex felt his heart take off at a gallop. Anger vibrated so deep inside it felt like his temper was being repressed only by his skin.

  Guess there was no doubt who planted the drugs now!

  He could kill this pompous bastard with a punch if he wanted to. The thought gave him a childish thrill and kept his fury under control.

  ‘I don’t respond to intimidation or meaningless threats,’ Rex shot back.

  ‘Meaningless threats?’ The man narrowed his eyes and suddenly all superficial pleasantries were dropped. His entire aspect became menacing.

  ‘No. You’ve got it all wrong. I’m just telling you how it is. You fucked with the wrong person and I’d say you’ve gotten off pretty lightly, considering what you did.’

  It was the remarkably calm way the words left his mouth, like a malevolent whisper, so cold, calculated and controlled that convinced Rex this man was capable of anything. He felt an involuntary chill run down his spine.

  ‘What? What the fuck are you talking about? I’ve done nothing except stand up to a dirty grub like you.’

  What was wrong
with him? Why was he letting this piece of shit get to him? He was the sergeant-at-arms of the Devil’s Guardians. He was a force to be reckoned with and he’d be damned if he was going to continue to be threatened or bullied by this little weasel.

  Stay cool. The last thing he wanted or needed was trouble. The media were giving bikie gangs a lashing of late and they certainly didn’t need any more negative publicity. But what was he supposed to do? Stand here and cop it up the arse like a big pussy?

  ‘I think you should leave while you still can,’ Rex stated in a guttural voice, folding his arms across his wide chest.

  ‘You’re in no position to threaten anyone.’ The man moved forward. ‘Why don’t we go inside and discuss your options?’

  Rex blocked the doorway with his massive frame. ‘I’ve made it clear that our . . . association is over. You need to leave.’

  ‘Why? What are you going to do? Call the police? I think not.’

  Rex went to shut the door but the man stopped it with his hand. Rex could have slammed it shut, breaking his wrist, snapping it in half. Overpowering him would be simple, but he had to be careful. There was no need to make matters worse. He swallowed his anger and loathing, determined to keep the situation under his control. He was only too aware of what this parasite was capable of.

  ‘I’ll leave when I’m good and ready,’ the man continued.

  Rex fought the urge to grab the shitbag by the nose and smear his face across the cement porch. Who the fuck did he think he was?

  The man’s eyes narrowed to slits. Imitating Rex’s stance, he folded his arms tightly across his chest and fixed Rex with an impenetrable stare.

  ‘How’s your little girlfriend going? She’s a beauty.’

  He let out a sinister chuckle.

  ‘I just love pregnant women, don’t you?’ He licked his lips and grinned. ‘They’re so ripe, so fuckable.’

  Before he could stop himself, Rex’s hands shot out and clamped around the man’s windpipe, taking him off guard and trapping the scream in his throat.

  ‘You come near me or my family and I will kill you. Do you understand that, you piece of shit?’ Rex raged.