Munro Family: The Investigator Part 15

An icy wind snaked through the opening of Riley's jacket and slithered across his neck. Goose b.u.mps broke out on his skin and he pulled his coat tighter around him. The day was closing in. Night came early to Watervale this time of year. Or maybe it was the thought of well-entrenched corruption permeating a Police Service he'd pledged to honor that had him feeling cold to the bone.

Whatever it was, it was time to make his escape. He needed to sort through the tumble-dryer chaos of his thoughts and approach them with a calm and logical eye. Better still, he needed someone else to a.n.a.lyze them. Someone removed from the situation and the beautiful girl with the touching air of vulnerability who'd come home and stirred up a hornet's nest.

Bidding Cannington a hasty farewell, Riley half walked, half jogged down the steep incline to where he'd left his vehicle. The thin mountain air seemed almost devoid of oxygen and he was grateful when he reached the comfort of his car. He climbed in and started the engine and turned up the heat before reversing out of Cannington's driveway.

Questions came at him from every direction and he shook his head in confusion, knowing he didn't have the answers. He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles showed white in an effort to stem their trembling.

It was a delayed reaction to the shock he'd received up on the mountain. Breathing deeply, he tried to calm his racing heart.

The phone in his pocket vibrated. He tugged it out, ready to silence the call, but then saw it was Clayton. It was odd how his twin seemed to know when he needed to talk. He pressed the talk b.u.t.ton and answered, striving for normal.

"Clayton, how's it going?"

"What's wrong, Riles? You sound kind of weird."

Riley sighed. So much for normal. "You're right, I've had a s.h.i.t of a day."

"Tell me about it. It's so d.a.m.ned cold down here it would freeze the b.a.l.l.s off a bra.s.s monkey."

Riley nodded in silent commiseration. Clayton lived in Canberra, the nation's capital. Hundreds of miles south of Watervale, the temperature in winter was more often below zero. The snowfields were an hour away.

"You're right," he agreed. I have nothing to complain about up here."

"So, what's wrong? It can't just be the weather."

"Hang on a minute." Riley put his foot on the brake and flicked on his indicator, easing the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road. He'd been in Watervale three months and they still hadn't managed to fit his squad car with a hands-free phone kit. It wouldn't do his standing in the community any good to be caught talking on the phone, especially while negotiating the tight bends between Cannington's farm and the station.

He pulled on the park brake and left the ignition running, pumping up the heat before he turned his attention back to their conversation.

"Actually, Clay, I'm glad you called. I've just been told the former LAC and his successor are up to their necks in shady dealings. My head's spinning. I'm feeling sideswiped."

A low whistle sounded in his ear. "Wow, you sure know how to give your day a lift."

"Yeah, you can say that again. Question is, what am I going to do about it?"

Clayton sighed into the phone. Riley let the silence stretch between them. It was a comfortable silence, one that didn't need to be filled with words.

A few moments later, Clayton spoke. "How reliable is your information? Has it come from someone you can trust?"

"That's the problem. I don't know. It just happens the source of the allegations is also in love with the old boss' wife and my informant didn't go to any trouble to hide the fact he's unhappy about the way she's been treated."

"I thought you were working on a missing person's case?"

"Yeah, I was. Still am. See, it gets better. The woman involved in the love triangle is the same one no one's heard from for the last month or so. How's that for giving my day a lift?"

Clayton chuckled. "You always did like a challenge, Riles. I'm sure you'll work it out."

"Gee, thanks, mate. I knew I could rely on you."

"No problem, big brother. I'm sure a man of your esteemed years will know what to do."

Riley choked. "Yeah right, like you can talk. I'm only the older by about two minutes."

"Three minutes and forty-five seconds, I think Mom said. Every minute counts, Riles. We both know that."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever."

"So, what are you going to do?"

Riley tapped a finger to his lips, trying to sort out his scattered thoughts. "I don't know," he finally admitted. "I'm consumed by this missing person's case. I feel like I'm on overload. And now, to be tossed into what looks like a messy IA investigation-Christ, it's the last thing I need, especially after what happened in Sydney."

Riley clamped his mouth shut, but it was too late.

"What do you mean, after what happened in Sydney?"

"Um...yeah, forget about it, okay. It's nothing."

"You've never told me why you transferred to Watervale. Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

The care and concern in his twin's voice clutched at Riley's heart. For three months, he'd carried the burden alone. It would be good to share it. He prayed Clayton would understand.

"I took offence at what I considered systemic corruption within the ranks of my former command. When I raised my opinions with some of my colleagues, I was told to look the other way. The next day, the LAC told me I'd been transferred to Watervale."

"f.u.c.k! You're kidding!"

The outrage in Clayton's voice went a long way to calming Riley's anxiety.

"Nope."

"Now it makes sense. I couldn't for the life of me work out why you'd give up a promising career in the DEA, headquartered in Sydney, for a job in a one-horse town in the boondocks. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Riley sighed. "I didn't know what to say. I was ashamed. I'd run away with my tail between my legs and hadn't even offered a whimper of protest. I should have gone to IA. I should have gone to the Police Integrity Commission-something. Instead, I scurried off to the bush to hide. And they-they continue to get away with it."

"Jesus. You sure know how to complicate your life."

Riley thought of Kate and how much he liked her. "You don't know the half of it."

It was Clayton's turn to sigh. "I wish I knew what to say to you, Riles. I'm as outraged about it as you and I hate like h.e.l.l thinking they might get away with it, but to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I would have done anything different. You were put in an unconscionable position: your career over your conscience. It couldn't have been easy."

"You have that right, bro. It's been keeping me sleepless since it happened. I keep going over and over the options in my head and every way I look at it, I always come out feeling I made the wrong decision."

"Don't beat yourself up about it, Riles. You're always able to make contact with IA, even this far down the track. I'm sure you won't be the first officer they've interviewed who has sat on something like this."

"Thanks, Clay. I appreciate your support. And you're right. It's never too late to do the right thing." Riley thought about Watson and Hannaford. A fierce surge of determination pumped through his veins. The debacle in Sydney wouldn't be the only thing he'd set right.

"Do what you have to do, Riley. You know I'll be here for you."

"Thanks, bro. It means a lot. How are Ellie and the kids?" he asked, referring to Clayton's family.

"They're fine. Mitch.e.l.l turned one a couple of months back and babbles incessantly. Olivia spends most of the time on her iPad. I'm lucky I have Ellie to talk to."

Riley smiled a little wistfully. He wondered what it would be like to come home to someone you loved at the end of a long working day. An image of Kate filled his mind. The thought of the greeting he'd give her made him feel warm all over. Then he remembered how things actually were between them and forced all the cozy images from his mind.

Promising to keep in touch and thanking his brother once again for his support, Riley ended the call and pulled back onto the road.

Night had settled in around him. The shadows had melded together and were now indistinguishable against the tall stands of pine that stood back from the road.

He turned on his fog lights and used the wipers to swipe at the mist that had coated the windscreen. He still wasn't used to how quickly dark consumed the valley. It was like a switch had been flicked.

Mindful of kangaroos and the damage they could do, he eased his vehicle through the darkness, scanning the road ahead of him for animals. His mind continued to churn on the day's discoveries. Kate. Darryl. Hannaford...

The idea that even more senior police officers could be involved in corruption started a slow, cold burn of anger deep in his gut. It was selfish, dishonest men like these and the ones in his squad in Sydney, who forever tarnished the names of the thousands of loyal, honorable officers who served the State with truth and integrity.

It was bulls.h.i.t and it wasn't right that a bunch of unscrupulous officers got away with it. Well, not this time. He wouldn't make the same mistake again.

CHAPTER 15.

The lights of Watervale appeared below him and Riley sighed. It had been a long day and satisfactory answers had been few and far between. He headed for the office but looked forward to clocking off and heading home for a long hot shower, followed by a cold beer in front of the television.

Back at the station, he checked his email for messages. The third one was from Kate. She'd phoned a couple of hours ago.

Please call.

Two words typed by the office girl. No return number, but Kate knew he already had her cell. Fatigue weighted his shoulders. It was after seven. He didn't know if he had the energy to be clear headed enough to talk with her that evening. He read the words on the screen again.

Please call.

He sighed and pushed the pile of paperwork to one side of his desk and picked up the phone, refusing to acknowledge the way his pulse had picked up its pace. He dialed the first three numbers from memory and then hesitated.

Please call.

It sounded so like her. Short and to the point, but it also sounded lonely.

Knowing he shouldn't do anything this evening, but unable to stop himself, he replaced the receiver and pushed back his chair. Striding across the near-deserted squad room, he grabbed his coat from his locker and shrugged it on. Moments later, he headed for the stairwell.

Kate stared at her still-silent phone and willed it to ring. Where was the detective? And why hadn't he called? After finding the courage to call the police station, she'd been crushed with disappointment when the girl who'd answered told her Riley wasn't in.

Out on a job, apparently. Kate had tried his cell, but was told by the disembodied computer voice that it was either switched off or out of a cell phone service area.

She looked away and her gaze fell on her mother's laptop. She still hadn't scrounged up the courage to switch it on. The Toshiba sat where she'd left it on the counter, next to the television.

Her belly grumbled and she remembered she still hadn't eaten. After her run-in with Darryl, the last thing she'd felt like was food. She pulled open the door of the bar fridge and stared at the uninspiring contents: a couple of green apples and half a ham and cheese sandwich left over from lunch. The miniature bottles of liquor sat untouched in the door compartment.

Her stomach growled again and she sighed. She was going to have to go out foraging for something decent to eat. There was nothing else for it.

She collected her woolen cloak from the battered closet near the bathroom and pulled it on. She picked up her handbag and threw her phone inside. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror opposite the bed, she sighed and tossed the bag onto the table and began to riffle through it.

Her fingers finally closed around a tube of soft-pink lip gloss. Leaning toward the mirror, she swiped it over her mouth. Her skin still looked far too pale, but it would have to do. She wasn't in the mood for any more sprucing.

She found her room key beside the laptop. Her fingers trembled slightly as they hovered over the computer's shiny surface. Scrunching up her eyes, she promised herself she'd look at it after she'd eaten. She needed the time to fill her stomach with hot food and strong courage.

Tossing the key into her handbag, she removed the chain on the door and released the deadlock.

Pulling the door open, she gasped.

CHAPTER 16.

"Oh, my G.o.d!" Kate exclaimed. "I didn't hear you pull up. You scared me."

Riley lowered his fist and dropped it to his side, almost as surprised as she was. "I was about to knock."

She had a hand flattened against her chest. A pulse fluttered in the side of her neck. Her face was pale, except for her lips which sparkled in the overhead light with some kind of shiny, pink lipstick.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He stepped back to give her some room and to allow his heart rate a chance to steady itself. His gaze swept over the golden sheen of her hair, pulled back in its customary tightly leashed bun. A few strands had mutinied and curled around her ears.

She smelled of cinnamon and crushed frangipani and warm, soft woman. He'd never been so acutely aware of her.

Boy, was he in trouble. He hid his feelings with a well-practised smile. "On your way out?"

She nodded.

"Dinner?"

"Yes." She gave a half-shrug. "I'm all out of supplies."

His gaze caught on the soft, peach-colored blouse that peeked out from her open coat, complementing another pair of woolen slacks, these ones black. Long boots of the same color encased her feet, their chunky, three-inch heels elevating her to just below his shoulder.

His gaze traveled upward again and landed on her lips. They were parted. She licked them nervously. Blood flowed to his groin. He tried counting by twos to change the direction of his thoughts and cleared his throat.

"I haven't eaten, either. Would you like to share a table at The Bullet? We could give it another go, if you like?"

She frowned and shook her head. Her mouth opened. He could tell she was going to turn him down. He sent her another smile, one even his mother found hard to resist.

"Please? It'll be my treat."