Deadly Obsession Page 7

  Their boss, Casey Blair, was standing by the row of windows on the eastern side of the room, staring out to sea. Lexie approached and tapped her gently on the shoulder.

  ‘Oh, thank goodness, you made it,’ Casey said, with a sigh. Flicking her fringe out of her eyes, she gave Lexie a gentle smile. ‘I was just getting myself prepared to take your place, but I’m glad you’re here. I’m not as up to speed as you are on all the facts.’

  Casey was thirty-five years of age, which was considered relatively young to be in command of a detectives’ office. She was of average height with a slim build, shoulder-length brown hair that hung straight around her pleasant face that was completely devoid of makeup. She wore her usual attire: a pantsuit. Today’s ensemble was burgundy slacks and a matching blazer over a black shirt. Her shoes were also black with no heel. Her demeanour was friendly and kind but her gentle exterior housed a keen intellect and steely reserve. Casey Blair was no pen-pushing puppet. She was approachable and loyal, which was why everyone loved her.

  ‘Sorry, we have been flat chat,’ Lexie apologised.

  ‘Take a deep breath. The floor’s yours when you’re ready.’

  Lexie nodded, taking a moment to stare out the window to get her head clear. On a summer’s day the view from this spot was spectacular. However, today’s angry weather conditions had the windows shivering in their frames as the wind howled around the building. The ocean was a mess of foam-capped waves and the rain that had been threatening all day had just begun to beat heavily against the glass.

  At least you are in here and not out there, she thought, grateful for the sake of the crime scene that the rain had held off this long. Taking centre stage, Lexie cast her eyes over her audience, which comprised the entire Bondi Junction detectives’ office. There were also present two homicide detectives she had met previously, and Marty Wells, their analyst.

  Lexie’s pride at being a part of this impressive group of people overcame her nervousness as she watched her colleagues laugh and joke with each other. Cops had lots of coping mechanisms to help them handle the seriousness and sometimes depressing aspects of the job and humour, even black humour, was one of them.

  Six months ago this scene would have been different. The office had been thrown into complete turmoil after her shooting. How could it not be? Two detectives they had worked with for years had been killed while attempting to murder Lexie. Every day police put their faith, their lives, in the hands of their colleagues. When that trust is broken within the police community it has a devastating effect on all concerned. It had taken a long time for things to settle down, but eventually the traumatic events of the past brought everyone closer. It now seemed unlikely anything could break the bond of camaraderie they had established.

  Batman, the cute, boyish detective who was comfortably slouched back in his chair in the front row, caught her gaze. He gave her a flirtatious wink.

  Lexie flashed him the briefest of smiles.

  Like most police stations, nearly everyone went by nicknames acquired in many different ways. It could be a derivative of their real name, or based on their looks, traits or actions. Batman had acquired his because he carried every gadget known to man around with him: a torch, knife, extra key for handcuffs, rope and coat hanger, just in case they were needed to save the day.

  To the right of Batman was his partner, Lurch, who stretched to two metres in height and was built like a string bean. To his left was Cakes, an older female detective who was round and spongy. Her partner, Grumpy, sat behind and fully lived up to his name.

  Fester, their newest office member, whose personality Lexie was sure had been surgically removed at birth, was completely bald at the ripe old age of twenty-five. Patch had a grey spot in his otherwise dark hair. Ossie’s last name was Osborne, so that was a given, and the new girl, Grace, was referred to as Amazing, after the song.

  Brad was suddenly beside her.

  ‘Are you ready?’

  Lexie nodded.

  Since this was the first time she had run a briefing, Brad had assured her he would stay nearby, a solid supportive presence beside her.

  Okay, this is your time to shine.

  Taking on a confident demeanour she didn’t completely feel, Lexie prayed her voice would not betray her inner panic.

  ‘Good afternoon, everyone,’ she greeted the small gathering.

  The detectives’ heads nodded and a series of mumbled replies were returned.

  Lexie glanced over at the homicide detectives, Adam and Angelo, although she couldn’t remember which one was which, and thanked them for their attendance.

  The older, more experienced-looking man nodded his response while the younger, junior partner, who was all arms and legs and wore an expression of innocent eagerness, beamed a smile.

  During one of the many phone updates to the boss today, Lexie had been informed that she and Brad would be leading the investigation, with the assistance of the homicide squad, who would oversee and lend advice if necessary. Lexie was grateful for their reassuring presence and more than happy to accept their expertise and advice, but she was relieved they had not taken over the job. At this stage it was still her baby.

  ‘This is the first official briefing of Strike Force Thimble, the investigation into the death of English nurse Melissa McDermott.’

  Lexie watched as her colleagues readied their pens to take notes.

  ‘We’ve just had a positive identification of the body and the authorities in England are in the process of notifying the relatives. As you all know by now, our victim has been working at the Prince of Wales Hospital for the past six months. She was found around 6.30 am this morning by walkers. Her body was lying on the northern side of the grassed area behind the inlet of Clovelly Beach.’

  She paused as Brad handed out a series of photographs that had been prepared for the briefing.

  ‘The deceased was fully clothed. There is no obvious trauma to her body.’

  As she spoke, Lexie pictured the crime scene in her head.

  ‘Debris from the surrounding area such as twigs, grass and dirt suggests she may have been rolled or possibly pushed down the embankment behind where she was found.’

  She went on to explain how easy it would be to drive to the end of Park Avenue, the street at the top of the embankment, and roll a body from a car.

  ‘What’s strange is that her body appeared positioned perfectly, as though asleep. She was also clutching a red rose in her hands that had not incurred any damage, which you would expect if she had been rolled down the hill. The rose had to have been placed in her hands after the event.’

  Lexie paused to check the sea of faces. They were all staring back at her intently.

  This is going well . . . keep it up.

  ‘There was no identification or phone found on the deceased, although we have managed to positively identify and track her last movements by talking to Vicky Bruce, the victim’s flatmate, and another nursing friend, Sasha Hemming.’

  Lexie spoke the name without any visible distress, but her fists clenched of their own accord.

  ‘They were with her last night and informed us she had been drinking heavily.’

  Lexie explained Melissa McDermott’s last known movements.

  ‘Vicky and Sasha gave us a list of the victim’s friends, associates and sexual partners over the last six months since she’d been in the country.’

  ‘She’s been a busy girl,’ Brad said, under his breath. The detectives around him sniggered.

  ‘When the pub closed, Melissa accompanied the licensee, Matt Talbott up to his residence on top of the premises, where she had consensual sexual intercourse with him. This is where it gets interesting.’

  Lexie paused to make sure everyone was paying attention. They were. You could have heard a pin drop. Mention anything about sex to a bunch of coppers and you had their undivided attention.

  ‘Matt Talbott freely admitted to having consensual sex with the victim; however, he has a friend, G
us Riley, staying with him to whom we are yet to speak. Apparently, he, too, had sex with our victim that night.’

  Lexie watched the assortment of expressions cross her workmates’ faces.

  ‘At this stage, Matt, the licensee is not a suspect. We viewed CCTV footage of outside the premises and the deceased can be clearly seen leaving the hotel at 3.16 am. She appears to fall through a front doorway onto the pavement. She eventually gets unsteadily to her feet and stumbles off in the direction of The Spot at Randwick. Then she disappears and is not picked up by any other cameras.

  ‘When the forensic pathologist arrived and examined the body, he found an empty packet of OxyContin tablets in her pocket, along with an injection site at the base of the right side of her neck. From the position of the site it is unlikely she injected herself with any substance, so we are looking at the possibility of a hot-shot.’

  Lexie glanced again at her notes and took another deep breath. Keep it up, you’re killing it.

  ‘Cakes has spoken to drug squad detectives who informed her there hasn’t been a reported increase in overdoses or date rape reportings of late. Batman, Lurch, did you get anything from the canvass around the Royal Hotel or the crime scene?’

  Batman shook his head.

  ‘The majority of occupants were not at home; they were probably at work. The people we did manage to speak to didn’t hear or see anything unusual. We are going back to both areas to re-canvass later on.’

  Brad suggested they check if any houses or shops in close proximity to the pub and crime scene had CCTV fitted.

  Lexie nodded.

  ‘The Boss will make a statement to the media once we know the victim’s family has been contacted.’

  Lexie glanced around the room.

  ‘Has anyone else got anything?’

  The new girl, Amazing Grace, raised her hand.

  ‘Constable Dean in uniform took a call from an elderly woman who lives nearby. She apparently looked out her window and saw a man with messy blond hair, tall and slim, around thirty, looking at something on the ground. It wasn’t until later when she saw all the commotion that it registered that she might have seen something significant and she called the police. She wouldn’t give her name, though.’

  ‘Thanks, Grace,’ Lexie said. ‘Can you follow that up? See if you can find out where the call came from and note it on the case log.’

  Grace nodded and scribbled down notes.

  ‘Anyone else?’

  The room was quiet.

  ‘Okay; now for taskings.’

  Lexie assigned the team members their jobs and concluded the briefing.

  Batman was the first to approach her, patting her on the back and shooting her a killer smile.

  ‘You looked so sexy up there giving out orders, Lex. There’s something about a woman with authority, you know?’

  Lexie rolled her eyes. As soon as Josh had left the office three months ago to take up his new position in the drug squad at State Crime, Batman’s subtle flirting had started. Then, when Josh and Lexie had broken up a month ago, Batman had upped the ante.

  It was not as if she wasn’t flattered. Her playful colleague was good-looking, funny, a good investigator and a nice guy. But he also had a reputation as a ‘ladies’ man’, and the last thing Lexie needed was to become involved with another playboy detective – especially one who worked in her office. No way was she going there again.

  ‘So, what do you say; can we catch a drink later, after work?’ Batman suggested hopefully.

  It was becoming a bit of a joke between them. At least once a week Batman asked her out. Each time Lexie invented a different excuse as to why she was unavailable. Today she didn’t have to think too hard to find a convenient explanation.

  ‘I don’t think I’m going to have time, Batman,’ she replied with gentle sarcasm. ‘We are kind of working on a murder investigation here. I’ve got paperwork to do, situation reports to type, investigation logs to initiate and update, not to mention all the other people we have to speak to. And you’re going to be pretty busy yourself. So put any ideas of getting on the drink out of your mind and go do some work.’ He laughed out loud and poked her in the ribs.

  ‘I just love a dominating woman.’

  ‘Piss off, Batman,’ Brad said, coming up beside them. ‘And quit the flirting, will you? It’s making me sick.’

  ‘Just mucking around, sarge,’ Batman mumbled, before slinking off. He knew better than to upset Sergeant Brad Sommers.

  Lexie smiled at Brad.

  ‘Thanks for that, Dad.’

  ‘No worries; just protecting Josh’s property by keeping the wolves at bay.’

  Lexie’s jaw dropped and her hands flew to her hips.

  ‘I’m not anyone’s property and Josh and I . . .’

  She stopped her outburst when she saw Brad laughing.

  ‘You bite every time, don’t you? Now, get the car keys. What time are we meeting that ex-husband of yours?’

  CHAPTER 9

  BALI, THURSDAY, 21 JUNE 2012

  Josh Harrison was drunk. Not just a little bit drunk, but mind-numbingly smashed. And he hoped to stay that way for a very long time. If he could remain totally obliterated, completely anaesthetised, unable to feel anything but exist in a state of alcohol-induced euphoria for the rest of his life, he would die a happy man.

  Since his sister’s death, all-consuming grief had attached itself to Josh and he was unable to shake free from its ferocious hold. Being in a semi-constant state of inebriation dulled the senses, helping him forget that his sense of culpability was almost as potent as his sense of loss.

  That was, until he began to sober up. Then, in the short space of time before he reached for another drink, Josh prayed for some sort of amnesia to help him forget why he had run away; why he was all alone in this motel room in Bali.

  There was a moan beside him alerting Josh to the fact he was actually not alone.

  He opened his eyes. His head pounded. Everything was blurred. Slowly, a face, only centimetres from his, came into focus. Josh’s heart jumped into his mouth.

  Shit.

  Josh pulled back and stared at the woman beside him.

  The last thing Josh remembered was talking to a small redhead in Bar Obsession and now, here she was. He had a moment of confusion. Clearly he must have brought her back here. But he couldn’t even recall leaving the last bar where he’d been drinking, let alone getting back to his room. He had lost a whole chunk of the night, which was scary and ironic . . .

  Ironic indeed! Now Josh wanted to remember things, he was unable. He couldn’t even recall the redhead’s name.

  ‘Finally, you’re awake,’ the girl purred.

  Inching forward, she ran her hand through his dark hair and began nibbling on his neck.

  ‘I was beginning to wonder if you were in a coma.’

  Outside Josh knew that the day’s heat and humidity would be stifling compared to the air-conditioned comfort in the room. Yet for some reason he was hot and flustered. He felt smothered by the presence of this stranger in his private space, the little Balinese oasis that had become his retreat from the world for the past four weeks.

  ‘Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are amazing? They are the most piercing green I’ve ever seen.’

  Yes, Lexie has.

  ‘And those dimples . . . Wow!’

  Josh pushed the girl away gently and took her in at a glance. In the dim light filtering through the wooden blinds, he could see she had discarded the bedsheet. She was now lying on her side, elbow bent and head resting in the palm of her hand, watching him. She was completely naked.

  Holy shit!

  Being male, and human, he couldn’t prevent his eyes from reviewing the sight before him. Her face was pleasant enough, although she wore too much makeup, which was now smudged in dark shadows around her eyes. Her long red hair was messy. Her legs were short, but good, although he much preferred legs like Lexie’s – long and lean. Her stomach and
hips were not as taut either and her breasts didn’t even come close. But to be fair, the girl wasn’t unattractive, the problem was, she just wasn’t Lexie.

  You don’t deserve Lexie.

  The girl moved closer. Curling one leg over his, she began rubbing her calf up and down the length of his thigh. It was only then that Josh realised he was also completely naked. How the hell had that happened?

  She seemed to read his mind.

  ‘We were just starting to get into it when you passed out,’ she told him, with an amused smirk. ‘You’d had a fair bit to drink, so I thought I’d let you sleep it off for a while.’

  Josh was mortified. Not only had he brought this stranger home with him, he had obviously intended to have sex with her. Then he had passed out on her. And she was still here? He wished he could blink and be anywhere else right now.

  ‘I’m so sorry. I have to be honest. Last night is a bit of a blur. A lot of a blur actually.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’d had a few as well, but I wasn’t as wasted as you.’

  He picked up her Australian accent.

  ‘Where are you from?’

  The girl laughed.

  ‘We went through this last night. I’m from Perth. You heard my accent and started talking to me. You’re a cop from Sydney, here on holidays like me.’

  She laughed again softly.

  ‘You can arrest me anytime, by the way.’

  ‘I’m sorry I ruined your night by passing out. That’s really embarrassing,’ Josh apologised, wishing she would just leave. He felt like shit and wanted to forget – not that he clearly remembered – last night had ever happened. But it seemed she was in no hurry to go anywhere.

  She rubbed her hand through the wispy hair on his muscular chest, then, leaning towards him, trailed kisses along his shoulder.

  ‘You’ll just have to make it up to me, then, won’t you,’ she whispered. ‘You’re so strong; so hard.’

  Josh grabbed her hand as it began to move lower, below his navel, before she discovered not all of him was hard. What was wrong with him? An attractive girl was naked in his bed, more than willing and able to ravish him, and he was not aroused in the slightest.