Deadly Trust Read online

  Jay smiled back and wheeled his patient into a corner.

  The doctor looked at Toni, Jay and then to the back of the head of the patient. She then addressed Jay. ‘Did you get the wrong ward?’

  Before Jay could answer, Toni said, ‘Just visiting.’

  Dr Singh let her gaze linger on Jay for a moment before turning her attention to Toni. She gave a fake smile and said, ‘I don’t believe my question was directed to you, but as you answer for the good medic here, nurse, perhaps you could fill me in on who you were visiting in my ward.’

  Toni didn’t miss a beat. ‘Sure, doctor, my patient happens to be an uncle of one of your patients. We were on our way to the Prince Charles Hospital when he asked if we could stop in to see his niece. Apparently, she was recently involved in a serious bus accident and required extensive surgery. My patient has fallen asleep so now we are on our way. I hope that’s okay, doctor.’

  The few flights they needed to descend seemed to be taking an eternity, and so did the response from Dr Singh. As a tiny bell sounded and the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, the doctor said, ‘Well, I hope it went well. Have a safe journey to Prince Charles.’ She looked over at Jay. ‘I trust I’ll be seeing you again next time you drop in.’

  Jay smiled and started backing out the door.

  As they walked to the exit Toni whispered, ‘Seems you have a way with women.’

  Jay ignored the comment and followed her to the waiting ambulance. Nobody appeared to be giving them any undue attention. Just the odd glance towards the patient and a few admiring looks directed at Toni. He saw one middle-aged man receive a swipe to the back of his head by an irate woman. Probably the man’s wife – a little upset at her husband ogling Toni. Despite the circumstances, Jay couldn’t help but suppress a laugh.

  They made it to the ambulance, rolled out the trolley, lifted the patient on, and then placed the trolley in the rear of the vehicle. Toni jumped in the back.

  ‘What’s the story?’ Jay asked, indicating towards the front of the ambulance.

  Toni took up a seat beside the unconscious patient, looked around as if she was checking some medical equipment, then turned to Jay. ‘You’re driving. I’m monitoring this one. Just head to the highway. We’re going south. No need for sirens.’ She grabbed the patient’s wrist and checked her watch.

  Jay reached for the rear door. ‘We’re talking on the way. The moment I think you’re bullshitting me, I’m hitting the brakes as hard as I can. I’ll be sure to bounce you and your patient around like pinballs.’

  A wry smile without looking up from her watch. ‘I’ll keep that in mind.’

  Jay shut the doors and took a glance around. Again, surprised that nobody paid him any attention. He had the slight sense of something being not quite right. Then he reminded himself about patterns of normality, or normalcy as some called it. He could never figure out which was right. Whatever it was called, it referred to the same thing: someone notices something until it became a normal practice. Just like an ambulance turning up to an emergency zone of a hospital. Just like an ambulance taking a patient away from a hospital. Just like never noticing an ambulance officer.

  He walked around to the driver’s side of the vehicle, hopped in, pulled across his seatbelt and reached for the keys in the ignition. Before he could turn the keys, the passenger door flung open. An angry looking man alighted, closed the door, and pointed a pistol toward Jay. He had unmistakeable eyes.

  Through clenched teeth, Detective Peterson said, ‘Turn the key and drive. We have some catching up to do.’

  THIRTY-TWO

  Before he started the ignition of the ambulance, Jay asked Peterson, ‘Am I really that predictable? I come and visit an injured little girl to find at least three people who are trying to track me down.’

  Peterson swung the pistol towards Toni.

  Jay continued. ‘The unconscious guy tried to kill me, I think. The nurse saved me, I think, and I have no idea what you are up to, Peterson. Last time I saw you, you had jumped off a bridge after failing to produce the backup for a very complex operation. Just as well I’d arranged my own backup. It’s a trust thing. So before I drive this ambulance into the unknown, how about some answers from you two?’ Jay looked at the pistol, and then to Toni.

  Toni didn’t appear surprised or threatened by Peterson or the pistol pointed at her. She said, ‘So, you’re the AWOL Detective. Must have screwed up somewhere if neither the good guys nor the bad guys want you working for them.’

  Peterson clenched his jaw. ‘And you’re the mouthy, pretend army cop who’s caused all this trouble.’

  Jay interjected before Toni could reply. ‘Okay, kids. Sounds like you two are the perfect match. What say you stop waving the gun around, Peterson? We don’t want to alarm anyone. Let’s keep moving. We’ll chitchat on the way.’

  ‘Good idea,’ said Toni.

  Jay started the ambulance and Peterson reluctantly lowered the pistol. He set it on his lap and remained turned in the seat. Brown eye on Toni, blue eye on Jay.

  Negotiating an ambulance through the city of Brisbane seemed relatively easy. Even through the late afternoon traffic. Sure, business suits in big cars were a pain in the arse and a few tried, unsuccessfully, to cut in front of the ambulance. Each time one of the suits attempted to cut Jay off, he hit the siren. More to embarrass the other driver than to get through the traffic. Generally, even without the siren, most people gave way for the ambulance and the trip was relatively pain-free. Maybe not altogether pain-free for the assailant in the back of the ambulance, though. Although Jay had no idea what was in the needle that Toni had stuck in his neck. Jay lifted his hand to his own neck and gave it a rub, imagining the liquid from the needle digging in and flowing through his bloodstream. He gave a shudder as he cleared the city centre and hit the highway for the Gold Coast.

  Peterson’s blue eye felt like it was boring a hole in Jay’s cheek. He glanced at the detective and said, ‘Right, why don’t you go first?’

  ‘Why don’t you bring me up to speed with your little escapades first?’

  Jay sighed. ‘Fine.’

  Peterson remained quiet while Jay recounted his recent exploits.

  Jay looked in the rear-view mirror. ‘Gonna tell us where we’re going soon?’

  Toni looked up and took a moment before saying, ‘Coomera. An industrial estate. I’ll let you know the turn-off when we’re near.’

  ‘Patient still out?’

  ‘Yes. Whatever he had in that needle was serious stuff.’

  Jay rubbed at his neck again. ‘Okay, you’re up to speed, detective. What’s your story?’

  ‘Well ... clearly, my backup on the bridge didn’t arrive. I was set up.’ He paused and waited until Jay glanced across before saying, ‘You’re not going to ask by who?’

  ‘I’m sure you’ll get around to it.’

  ‘I will.’ Peterson looked back at Toni. ‘Her first, though.’

  Jay again looked in the rear-view mirror. ‘Go ahead.’

  Toni considered the request, bit her lip, looked from Peterson to Jay and then said, ‘Fine. I’m guessing you know I’m not who I made out to be?’

  ‘It may be better if you just tell the story without asking us questions,’ Jay said. ‘Makes it more interesting that way. Don’t want to be giving away what we know about you first now, do we?’

  She gave a slow nod and said, ‘My real name’s not important, it’s just not Toni.’

  ‘What? Where is she?’ Peterson asked.

  ‘Let her finish, detective. Save your questions until the end,’ Jay said.

  ‘Right,’ Toni said. ‘Toni Griffin is currently doing a tour of duty in the Middle East. If you had spoken with her commanding officer, he would have told you that. Which means Mark Simpson is not my cousin.’

  Jay noticed Peterson gripping his pistol.

  Toni continued. ‘I work for a group of businessmen who have a global reach. We do what governments aren’t prepared
to do or simply won’t do. You could say that we keep an eye on things all over the world, especially governments. When they step over the line, we jump in and fix their mess.’

  Toni waited for a question.

  Jay looked across to Peterson and shook his head. ‘Go on,’ he said to Toni.

  ‘This anthrax thing was on our radar. My mission was to eliminate the scientist, and locate and destroy the anthrax. The only way I could do it was through you and your interrogator comrades. We received credible information that the scientist had arranged for the kidnapping of your three friends. Like the bad guys, I couldn’t locate you either. I planted the stories about the deaths in the newspapers to flush you out. I adopted the Toni Griffin persona and made contact with the Major for a straight swap. Basically you were bait to get to the scientist.’

  ‘Nice to know,’ Jay said.

  ‘It wasn’t personal.’

  ‘Sure. Never took it that way.’

  ‘Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.’

  Jay chose not to get in a tit-for-tat – not yet. ‘Go on.’

  ‘Anyway, they made a move to kidnap you when you went to get your licence renewed and, fortunately, were unsuccessful. Then I made contact with you. Things were on schedule until you threw a spanner in the works by jumping off the bridge with the Major.’

  ‘You jumped first.’

  ‘I had to adapt the plan or my cover would have been blown. Remember, my mission was to get the scientist. Only way to find him was through the Major. I pretended to kill your friends in the interrogation room. By the way, nice work with asking me a question when I left the room. Checking my hearing?’

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘That’s what I figured. But I convinced the Major, which was my goal. And, despite not appearing to like your interrogation methods, I enjoyed watching the cold room technique and the flight or fight theory you mentioned. Mind if I use them in the future?’

  ‘Help yourself. Technique’s not patented and the theory is just a theory.’

  ‘Thanks. So we were back on track, on our way to getting the scientist, and all was good until this boofhead turned up again at the army depot.’

  Jay checked the mirror. Toni was looking at the hospital assailant.

  She continued. ‘After disabling my guard, I was ready to move to take out the scientist. When shots rang out, I knew who it was instantly. I headed for the bush and got out of there pronto.’

  ‘Who is he?’ Jay asked.

  ‘I thought no questions until she’s finished,’ Peterson said. ‘Yet you’ve been talking all the way through the story.’

  ‘Guess I’m just anxious to find out who’s been trying to kill me.’

  ‘Tell me, Jay,’ Toni said. ‘After you somehow managed to escape, yet again, which government officials debriefed you?’

  ‘What makes you ask that?’

  ‘Nice. Question with a question. The rumours are true. You’re good.’

  ‘Well ... I did win a bet that you would go back to the car for the pistol when we were at the bridge.’

  ‘That was a bit of fun for you. I knew it wasn’t loaded. Didn’t plan on shooting anyone at that stage. No harm, no foul.’

  ‘You’d make a good actress.’

  ‘I was one once.’

  ‘Can we just get on with it?’ Peterson interjected.

  ‘Of course, detective.’ The comment was laced with sarcasm from Toni. She continued. ‘So, how do I know you were debriefed? I told you, Jay. My employers have a global reach. That includes high-ranking sources. I know about the meeting at the NSIS facility.’

  ‘Then you know who was there. Your question is redundant.’

  ‘Fair call. One of the men at the meeting was a CIA agent. Came back from the conference in England with your father. Am I right?’

  ‘You’re telling the story.’

  ‘Right. Representatives from the military and policing services at a meeting chaired by your father, who is the head of our country’s secret intelligence service. A meeting that turned nasty when the Chief of Army accused you of making up stories. You later snapped his hand after a disagreement of sorts.’

  ‘Finger. Your source was exaggerating.’

  ‘I’ll make a note for the database.’

  ‘Did your source mention I was out of the investigation?’

  ‘Yes. But I need you back in. Your skills are too valuable to waste.’

  ‘Sorry to disappoint, but I’m dropping you off and heading home.’

  ‘Maybe, maybe not. Want to know who our unconscious friend is?’

  ‘I do,’ Peterson said.

  ‘I’m sure you do,’ Toni responded. ‘What about you, Jay?’

  Jay took a moment to think things through. He hadn’t bought the story about Toni working for some secret global company. Not until she mentioned the meeting and the CIA agent. That would mean her source was at the meeting. Even though the CIA agent was only identified to him by his father, Jay had no doubt the others would have been able to guess who he was working for. So someone at the meeting was feeding her information. And probably indirectly, as they wouldn’t have made the mistake about the Chief of Army’s snapped hand instead of finger if they were delivering the information to Toni directly.

  All he really wanted to do was rest and forget about the last few days. But he had an obligation to at least inform his father of the developments. He stared ahead as another one of the famous Gold Coast theme parks flashed by. What to do? He checked the rear-view mirror again. Toni had the slightest hint of a smile. Her eyes bore into him.

  Jay gave a silent curse and asked, ‘Who is he?’

  ‘Hired assassin.’

  With a shake of his head Jay said, ‘I’ll start calling you Captain Obvious if you keep up those comments. Hired by who?’

  ‘Your CIA friend, of course.’

  THIRTY-THREE

  Jay gave a wry smile. ‘So the Major and the scientist tried to have me kidnapped when I went to get my licence. That failed, and the CIA tried to bump me off by pushing me in front of a bus. That also failed. Then you help the Major capture me and let the scientist suck out some of my blood while waiting for the right moment to kill him. The assassin here, hired by the CIA, kills the scientist before you get the chance. You disappear and then suddenly reappear, with information that a well-placed source has given you, right about the same time as this killer here tries to do me in again. Except this time he’s not trying to kill me. Otherwise, that same dose you gave him would have seen him on his way to an early grave. Stop me any time you think I’m recalling it any different to what you’ve said.’

  ‘I’m listening,’ Toni said.

  ‘Good, because there are some inconsistencies I’d like to go over.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘When did the meeting occur with my father and the policing chiefs, where I spoke with the CIA and broke the wrist of the Army Chief?’

  ‘Finger, as you’ve already corrected. The meeting occurred at the NSIS farmhouse after you escaped from the army depot.’

  ‘Then, before I apparently met the CIA representatives, how would they know I was at the army depot for their assassin to turn up and kill a couple of people? Nobody knew I was there except you. Nobody who’s alive, anyway.’

  ‘It’s the CIA. I doubt they were tracking you. They most likely had a fix on the scientist and took him and the Major out. Us being there was probably a coincidence for them.’

  ‘You seriously want me to buy that?’

  ‘Yes, makes sense.’

  She had an out again. Jay let it go for now. ‘Let’s go back to the start at the licensing centre. Those boys were definitely military, but a cut above the other mob that were used by the Major.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘So how did they know I was going to be there?’

  ‘You tell me. There’s a good assumption they were working for the Major. Maybe he sent in his best men first.’

  ‘Doesn’t explain how th
ey knew I would be there.’

  ‘Maybe I can answer that,’ Peterson said.

  ‘About time you brought something to the party, detective,’ Toni said.

  ‘Sarcastic little tongue you got there, whatever your name is. He might believe your story, but I’m a detective. No way you belong to some secret society.’

  ‘Were a detective,’ she said. ‘AWOL at the moment, right?’

  ‘Knock it off, you two. We’ll get back to those other inconsistencies,’ Jay said to Toni. He glanced at Peterson. ‘What have you got?’

  Peterson scowled and said, ‘I was set up for the bridge job. No doubt about it.’

  ‘By who?’ Jay asked.

  ‘What happened to no questions until the end?’

  ‘You ramble. Stop sulking and get on with it.’

  The scowl deepened. ‘I went directly through my commissioner for the backup at the bridge. I only told him. He approved it and said a team of undercovers would be waiting for me down the road from the bridge at the Woody Point Jetty. They were going to be there, waiting to be briefed an hour before the operation was to commence. When I got there, the Major and his clan were waiting.’

  ‘So, the NSW Police Commissioner is now one of the bad guys?’ Jay asked.

  ‘Absolutely.’

  Jay didn’t believe the theory. ‘Did it ever occur to you, Detective, that perhaps the Commissioner would not actually organise operational support personally?’

  ‘Of course.’ The response was terse. ‘I’ve had plenty of time to check things out. I still have friends on the force. He set me up. He set you up through that police officer who pulled you over to check your licence.’

  ‘Senior Constable Underwood? I buy that he set me up. Hey, I could even imagine him killing the second soldier after my attempted kidnapping. But working for the Commissioner? Stretching things a little, don’t you think?’

  ‘No. I did think that at first. Then, unlike you, who relies solely on interrogation, I did some investigating into the background of the Commissioner.’

  Jay let the interrogation remark pass and allowed Peterson to continue. ‘And?’