Challis - 01 - Dragon Man (30 page)

But shes
dead,
boss.

Challis frowned. Dont you think
they want her killer caught? Poor sods, they hope someone may have seen her
getting picked up. The point is, both the photograph and the description that
they give for their daughter mention an expensive black leather backpack. I
wish wed known this before. Someone may have found the backpack near where the
body was found, for example, and either kept it quiet or not realised its
significance. Or maybe the killer still has it. We dont know.

He waved a leaflet at them. I
called on the Abbotts last night and obtained a few copies of these, so you can
see for yourselves what the backpack looks like. Meanwhile Scobie wants to add
something.

Scobie Sutton stood uncomfortably
and said, Before Christmas a gypsy woman came to me with some clairvoyant
mumbo jumbo about where Jane Gideons body could be found. Later I went to
question her in relation to a series of thefts. As you know from an earlier
briefing, I saw three men at her camp, and a couple of four-wheel drives. The
thing is, I also saw a leather backpack. Theyd all shot through when I went
back to arrest her on the theft charges, and I put out a description, but the
backpack makes it imperative that we find them. He sat down, red in the face.

Challis stood. I agree. They must
be found.

* * * *

As
Ellen Destry left the room and walked down the corridor to the stairs, Challis
caught up to her and murmured, Are you okay?

Fine, Hal.

You look ragged. Everything all
right at home?

He was someone you could confide in.
His own pain made him a reliable listener. She wanted to tell him how shed
taken the safe route in her personal life, putting her husband first; about the
ache she felt, driving into the car park and not seeing Rhys Hartnett at work
at the courthouse next door. But time would heal that, so they could all get
fucked, and all she said to Challis was, Boss, you look a bit ragged yourself.

I dont doubt it. Okay, I want your
help in the interview room. Ive sent Scobie back to the caravan park to see if
the backpacks still there and to follow up on those gypsies.

That backpacks a long shot, Hal. Ive
seen them around myself.

After this much times elapsed in a
murder inquiry, Challis said, everythings a long shot.

Danny Holsinger had been taken to an
interview room next to the holding cells. Boyd Jolic and Craig Oliver were also
in the building, in separate interview rooms. All three men had been arrested
and brought in separately. Challis pushed into the interview room, Ellen behind
him.

Danny was sitting at a small table.
A uniformed probationary constable had been standing guard on the door. She
moved back into position as Challis sat opposite Danny. Ellen moved around
until she was standing behind him. There was a smell of industrial cleaning
agents in the room, and a tide mark of grime at mop-head height around the base
of the glossy white walls.

Challis began by giving Danny an
official caution, then said, Danny, this is a preliminary interview. If all
goes well, well make a formal record of interview, with tape and video.

Why, whatve I done?

Lets seeaggravated burglary,
arson on a house, theft of a motor vehicle, arson of a motor vehicle, and
murder.

Danny swallowed. Murder?

Ellen put her hands on Dannys
shoulders and leaned her head close to the back of his neck. She breathed
shallowly. Danny didnt strike her as dirty by nature, but he had been emptying
recycle crates since 5 a.m. and been arrested before he could go home and
shower and change. Murder, Danny, thats right.

He tried to turn around to look at
her, but she kept sidestepping away. He faced Challis. You must be mad. I got
nabbed the other day for burglary. And before Christmas. Thats my style, not
murder. Whose murder?

Challis put an evidence bag
containing a Fosters Lager can on the table between them. Danny, we found your
prints all over this.

So?

Right where a Mitsubishi Pajero was
set alight in Chicory Kiln Road. The same vehicle was stolen earlier by two men
fleeing the scene of an aggravated burglary. Perhaps you can explain your
connection to the Pajero?

I never took it.

Who did? One of your mates? Boyd
Jolic? Craig Oliver?

Ellen sensed a wariness in Dannys
shoulders. She leaned close to his ear again. Theyre here, Danny. They sold
you out.

Bullshit.

Your mates have sold you out.

Nup, dont believe it. Sold me out
about what?

He sounded more certain than she
would have liked. She looked to Challis to continue.

So you didnt take the Pajero.
Fine. But you helped to burn it.

Nup.

You were there, Danny. Your prints
on this can of lager prove it.

Nup. I drive the recycle truck
along Chicory Kiln Road once a week. I mustve chucked the can out the window.

Your employers wont be pleased to
know that you drink on the job.

Danny tried to backpedal. Maybe I
took a bird up there the other night. Yeah, thats it.

Challis pushed a sheet of paper and
a pen across the desk. Name and address.

What?

Of this bird you took to Chicory
Kiln Road.

Cant remember. Must of been
someone I picked up in the pub. Yeah, thats it, I remember now.

Ellen said softly in his ear, Megan
Stokes wont be very pleased.

Danny jumped in his chair. How do
you know about her?

We know everything about you, Dan
old son.

You leave her out of this. Shell
bloody kill me.

Like you killed Clara Macris?

Who?

You know, Danny, its been in all
the papers and on the box. The woman murdered and burnt in Quarterhorse Lane.
In fact, two of our officers saw you there the next day. A killer going back to
the scene of the crime, thats what it looked like.

No!

The Pajero, Danny. Tell us about
it.

All right, all right. Me and me
mates were coming back from the pub, you know, a short cut, and we saw
something burning. We got closer and saw it was this four-wheel drive by the
side of the road.

You didnt try to extinguish the
fire?

What?

Put the fire out?

Didnt have nothing to put it out
with.

Boyd Jolic is a volunteer with the
Country Fire Authority, isnt he?

Yeah. So?

Why didnt he do something?

He was pretty pissed.

He liked watching it burn, didnt
he? Did it affect you the same way? Is that why you set fire to Clara Macriss
house after killing her?

I never. And I wouldnt know what
Joll was thinking.

Wouldnt you?

No.

You stole the mobile phone and
called Craig Oliver at the pub to come and collect you, isnt that right?

No. He was there with us when we
found it.

What vehicle were you in?

Er, Jolls ute.

Youre not certain?

Thats right, it was definitely
Jolls ute.

Was it you who threw the car phone
into the flames after you called Mr Oliver to collect you?

I told you, he was there all the
time.

Explain the cans, the bottles, the
cigarette packets we found at the scene, covered in your prints.

Danny uttered a bizarre,
high-pitched laugh. We had a bit of a party.

It gave you a particular thrill,
standing around, watching something burn?

Danny said sourly, Im not like
that.

What are you like, Dan? Ellen
said.

He twisted around to look at her. It
was unexpected, seeing a car burning. You know.

Did you see who lit the fire?

Didnt see no-one.

Did you light it, or did Boyd Jolic
light it?

I told you, we

Ellen leaned into his ear again and
said, What if I told you that we have a witness who saw a scrawny little
mannamely youand a larger mannamely Jolicdriving the Pajero a short time
after an aggravated burglary was committed at a horse stud near the racecourse.
This witness did something to piss you off and so you followed the witness to a
house in Quarterhorse Lane.

Shes lying.

Challis said quietly, Who said it
was a woman, Danny?

Er, I mean, Sergeant Destry did.

No I didnt.

Challis took over. You followed
this witness to a house in Quarterhorse Lane. Later you went back to this
house, broke in, killed the occupant, and set a fire to cover your tracks.

Because thats the sort of scum you
are, Danny, Ellen said. Someone accidentally causes you a minor upset in
traffic, and its such an insult to your feeble manhood that murder is the only
revenge.

No. I swear.

What did you hit Clara Macris with?

I never hit her.

Jolic did?

No. I dont know.

You mean, he went there alone to do
it?

I never killed nobody.

Funny, why should people say you
did?

Who?

Do you want your lawyer, Danny?

That cow. She puts me down all the
time.

So you agree to being further
questioned without legal representation?

Im not saying another word. I told
you all I know.

Challis pushed back in his chair. All
right, Danny, that will
be all for now.

I can go home?

You must be joking.

* * * *

Craig
Oliver gave them the same story.

That left Boyd Jolic, and when Ellen
Destry realised that Jolic had Marion Nunn in the interview room with him, she
took Challis aside. Boss, Im sorry I didnt mention this before, the Macris
business got in the way, but Nunn could be the brains behind the ag burgs weve
been having. She went on to tell him about Pam Murphy and the photographs.

Challis grinned when shed finished.
Even if theres nothing to it, knowing theres a suspicion is going to make
this interview all the more interesting.

They went in, turned on the tape,
cautioned Jolic, and started the questioning. The story Jolic gave them was
essentially the same as Danny Holsingers and Craig Olivers. Theyd been to
the pub, drinking until late. When they left, Jolic said, theyd driven along
Chicory Kiln Road to avoid being breathalysed. He grinned: Too late, you cant
arrest me now. Then they came upon the Pajero. It was already burning
fiercely. Such a sight in the middle of the night and the middle of nowhere,
naturally youre going to want to stop and watch it, down a few coldies by the
side of the road, smoke a few fags. Thats all, end of story.

Youre a CFA volunteer. Werent you
concerned thered be a bushfire?

Nah. Wasnt much of a blaze.

Enough for a passing motorist to
stop and extinguish it.

Jolic shrugged.

Why didnt you report the fire?

Mate, we were pissed as farts, I
got a record, whos going to believe we didnt do it?

Marion Nunn stirred. If you have no
further questions for my client, may I

No, said Challis, you may not. Mr
Jolic, earlier in the day you were seen driving the Pajero on Coolart Road.

Thats a lie.

As a result of an incident at an
intersection, you tailgated another car, following it all the way to an address
in Quarterhorse Lane.

Nope.

Later you went back to that same
address, attacked and killed the occupant, and set fire to the house.

Nope.

Inspector, really, I hope you can
substantiate these claims.

We have a description of the
vehicle, the driver and the passenger, and we have the licence plate.

Im entitled to know who your
witness is.

Wed like our witness to live long
enough to make it to trial, Mrs Nunn, so for the moment I dont intend to

I resent the implication of that
remark. I have never

Ellen cut her off. Get off on
lighting fires, do you, Boyd?

I really must protest. If you have
any solid evidence, then charge my client. If not, Im asking you to release
him.

We have a few more hours up our
sleeves before were obliged to do that, Challis said. Were about to search
Mr Jolics house. Would you care to be present?

Marion Nunn looked at Jolic. Challis
saw a curiously private expression pass across her face. She turned back and
said, That wont be necessary. I should like to be alone with my client, and I
insist on being present when and if hes questioned again.