Death Off Camera, page 21
‘What did he mean, Filo?’ Musudroka asked.
‘I asked him that. I suppose he could have sacked me on the spot for being so dumb.’
‘You’re young and innocent, Filo, not dumb at all,’ Singh said. ‘What happened next?’
‘He told me about the fund-raising scheme, as he called it. Then he invited me to help in the scheme on condition I talk about it to no one, not even Atish or other interns in the circle, as he called it. I call it a gang. I was frightened of him then; his voice was soft but very threatening. I promised immediately. After that, he was friendly again and told me what I should do.’
‘Which items did you steal, Filo?’ Horseman handed her the list of missing equipment.
She raised her eyebrows. ‘None, stealing is against God’s commandments and the law. I won’t steal. I just told Mr Tuvoli that I didn’t get the chance. But I kept my promise to say nothing about the gang, until now.’
‘Last Thursday you were walking on the beach with Nik Seth when Mili stepped on a stonefish. Why did you meet him there?’
Filo straightened in her chair and sipped at her tea. Her hand was steady. ‘We’d worked together that day in a studio and wanted a walk in the fresh air.’
‘Does Nik know about Tuvoli’s gang of thieves?’ Horseman asked.
‘I think so. He told me that some wrongs are better ignored if you put yourself in danger trying to right them. That’s rather vague, but I understood he was warning me about reporting Mr Tuvoli’s scheme. I could be wrong, maybe I shouldn’t have said that. I’d only found Atish stealing a few days before—I know, it was Saturday, the day before Ken’s accident.’
Singh smiled. ‘It sounds like you’re pretty close to Nik. Do you have a romantic attachment, perhaps?’
Filo looked down into her teacup. ‘No. I did like him a lot at first; it’s so exciting to work with a real cinematographer. Then Atish told me Nik was married, so I dropped those silly daydreams.’
‘What do you know about drugs on the set?’ Horseman asked.
Filo’s cup rattled when she put it back on the saucer. ‘Oh, nothing really. I have heard a few rumours.’
At Horseman’s nod, Musudroka asked, ‘Tell us about the rumours.’
‘Oh, well, just that drugs were about, and you could get them on set, despite Mr Duke’s zero tolerance policy.’
‘What drugs?’
‘Oh, well, I heard ecstasy mentioned.’
‘Has anyone offered you drugs?’
‘Not directly—that’s not how they do it. But when someone says drugs are around, I just assume they’re offering to supply me. I don’t know.’
‘Was Mr Tuvoli supplying drugs?’ Musudroka asked.
Filo’s eyes widened. ‘I never thought about that! Maybe it’s possible. I don’t know.’
‘Part of his fund raising for the college, perhaps. Who told you drugs were on the set?’
‘I can’t remember. Just in passing, probably in the canteen. I don’t take drugs. I feel no need to, and I haven’t got the money. And especially because Mum and Dad would kill me if I did.’
Horseman wondered how effective parental threats of murder were. Maybe they’d saved a lot of children’s lives. ‘Why did you decide to tell us about the thefts on set?’
‘I’m scared they’ll scapegoat me because I haven’t stolen anything. Mr Tuvoli won’t trust me. Things got too much so I went home yesterday and told my parents. They’re shocked about this but also sticklers for honesty. When Detective Musudroka called in this afternoon, they said God had sent him. They encouraged me to come here with him and tell the truth to the police.’
‘And we’re so grateful you did, Filo. Your parents will be proud of your bravery.’
Filo looked at Singh. ‘Vinaka, I’m glad I did, too. I don’t feel so troubled anymore. Should I go back to Champion tomorrow, though?’
Horseman smiled. ‘That’s up to you, Filo. Talk with your parents. If it’s any help, Mr Tuvoli won’t be on the set tomorrow.’
WEDNESDAY
45
The next morning, promptly at nine o’clock, Lui Tuvoli and his solicitor Warren Stone arrived at Suva Central police station.
Horseman had encountered Warren Stone several times but hardly knew him. The Stones were a prominent part-European Suva family who owned small businesses, but Warren was the first to qualify as a lawyer. Now in his mid-forties, he was overweight and jowly, but he’d been a strong rugby winger in his youth, even playing for Fiji for a season.
This morning, Stone was playing it cool, initiating handshakes, smiling, and flattering. Did this mean he knew his client was the underdog in this game? Or was his strategy more complex? They’d soon know.
As soon as the recorder started, Stone butted in. ‘Detective Inspector Horseman, my client, Mr Lui Tuvoli has prepared a Statutory Declaration about the matters you raised with him yesterday at the Fiji Institute of Technology. It may save time if I read it to you.’
‘Certainly. Do you have copies for us?’
‘Yes.’ Stone passed copies to the detectives. Horseman scanned the page then glanced at Tuvoli, whose mouth twitched in an effort to contain his amusement.
I, Lui Tuvoli, senior lecturer in the Film and Television School of Fiji Institute of Technology, do solemnly declare that:
In a self-help fundraising initiative, I coordinate the sale of surplus technical equipment which is the property of the Film and Television School. This equipment was acquired either by purchase or donation.
To achieve the best price, the equipment is often listed on Internet auction sites, such as eBay. When payment is deposited into a dedicated bank account, the items are posted to the purchaser.
Funds in the account are used to purchase new or second-hand equipment needed by the School.
I absolutely deny allegations that I engaged in any theft from the Champion film set.
I absolutely deny allegations that I knowingly received or sold items stolen from the Champion film set.
I absolutely deny allegations that I conspired with or instructed interns to steal items from the Champion film set.
I believe the above allegations have been made by the guilty parties to deflect the police investigation away from themselves.
The document was signed by Tuvoli and witnessed by Warren Stone.
Stone looked at Horseman, satisfied with his revelations. ‘I trust this statement clarifies your concerns about the alleged thefts from the Champion set.’
‘Vinaka, Mr Stone. I agree the statement is clear and succinct. However, I have questions for Mr Tuvoli. Here’s the list of items missing from the Champion location. I regret it will take some time to examine the content of the Film and Television department computers our IT experts seized yesterday. However, the internet auction site eBay has been cooperative. We have identified eleven of these missing items sold from an account owned by you over the past five weeks. Those are highlighted in pink.’
Tuvoli’s mouth tightened. ‘I’m the nominal account holder and signatory, in line with eBay requirements. However, the students mostly manage the trading. All part of their education. As I’ve declared, I know nothing about any items allegedly stolen from Champion.’
‘We found two stolen items in the Film and Television mail room, packaged ready to be picked up and posted. We unwrapped them in front of you yesterday. To support your claim to ignorance of this theft and trading, we need your fingerprints.’
Stone whispered to Tuvoli, who nodded his head. ‘This is a gross intrusion, but I’ll cooperate. I hardly have a choice, do I?’
‘Vinaka, Mr Tuvoli. One of the Champion interns—’
There was a knock and DC Kau put his head around the door. ‘Could I speak to you, sir?’ Kau looked so anxious that Horseman excused himself and got up straight away. He closed the door behind him.
‘What is it, Apo?’
‘Sir, Nurse Barbara rang. Desirée Lopez was found unconscious on the set. She’s on her way to hospital now.’
46
Horseman suspended the interview and left Musudroka and Kau to get Tuvoli’s fingerprints and take a detailed statement of his movements for the last twenty-four hours.
He tried to view Desi’s collapse positively, as the hammer that might crack the case, but he couldn’t. Of all the Champion players, he’d interacted with Desi the most. She was temperamental, beautiful, spiteful, intelligent, and vain. A pain in the backside for any detective, but intriguing. Alive. And he had failed her when she was in trouble. She called for help, and he assumed she was just seeking attention. How could he be so stupid to get distracted by Tuvoli’s contemptible racket? He’d chosen the easier option instead of pursuing Ken Johnson’s unknown killer. It was like taking his eye off the ball. An error that could be fatal.
Singh would feel just the same. Her silence as they ran up the stairs to the CID room told him that. But their feelings didn’t matter. They must find out more, plan, then act.
‘Singh, you ring Barbara Koroi. I’ll try to get Steve Duke.’
The anxious Champion director couldn’t tell him much. Desi didn’t show up at eight o’clock for the last challenge of the series. Mili reported Desi hadn’t been at breakfast in the canteen earlier. Duke sent a couple of production assistants to search. Within a few minutes, one of them spotted her sprawled just off the path through the trees and shrubs fringing the arena. Like Ken, Desi was unconscious but breathing. Duke ordered his own driver, Charlie, to take Desi and Barbara to Suva.
When he rang off, Horseman found Lili had brought in a tea tray, loaded with all the makings and a large packet of Paradise coconut biscuits.
‘Sorry, sir. I didn’t know what I should do,’ she said.
Horseman smiled at her. ‘You’ve done exactly the right thing, Lili. Please pour just three cups for now. You can open the biscuits too.’
Singh had been pacing around her desk while talking to Barbara Koroi on her mobile. She joined them at the table. A few strands of hair had broken loose from her French roll and there was a ballpoint smudge on her collar. This was as dishevelled as Singh ever got. ‘Desi’s just arrived, still unconscious. They’ll be doing tests. You go first, sir. I need this tea right now.’
Horseman lifted his eyebrows as she slumped onto a chair. It was unlike Singh to say she needed anything, let alone be so insistent. She propped her head on her folded hands as he reported what Duke had said. Lili sipped her tea, looking at Singh with a worried frown.
When he’d finished and picked up his cup, he said, ‘I’d like to hear your opinion, Detective Sergeant. Should we go out to Champion right away?’
Singh raised her head. More hair had escaped her bun and hung in front of her ears. She looked tired and vulnerable. ‘I’ll get myself some paracetamol. My head is throbbing.’
Lili jumped up and went to the first aid kit. ‘Here are two, Sarge. Swallow them both with some tea.’
Singh glanced at Lili and straightened up.
Horseman said, ‘Sergeant Singh, it’s fine for our probationer to learn that detectives react emotionally, you know. We’re all human. I’ve just been berating myself for failing Desi when she called for help. I didn’t drop everything and go back out to Champion. I had my sights on Tuvoli for the thefts and just wanted to nail him. That was emotional.’
‘Not really, sir. Tuvoli was the logical lead to pursue. The only lead, in fact,’ Singh said.
Horseman believed the blame was all his. ‘If Tuvoli hasn’t left Suva since yesterday afternoon—and that’s quite an if—he probably didn’t harm Desi, and that means he didn’t harm Ken. My theory that Tuvoli was a mastermind for the thefts, the drugs and Ken’s murder was just wishful thinking.’
‘Nonsense, it was a working hypothesis and a valid one to follow. We acknowledged Tuvoli’s limited access to Motu Island made him less likely to have killed Ken in person. He could have organised it, though.’ Horseman was grateful Singh seemed determined to defend him, but he’d led her and the others down a false trail.
She continued. ‘You’re both kind not to mention the elephant in the room, so I will. Desi called me for help on my mobile phone. I was the only detective she contacted. I should have responded.’
Horseman couldn’t let her beat herself up. ‘And you did, Singh, just as soon as you discovered her message. You called the number she rang from, with no result. We should have driven back out to the set, and as senior officer, I should have made that decision. Now, let’s plan for the rest of the day.’
Lili Waqa was looking from Horseman to Singh and back. ‘Speak up, DC Waqa.’ Horseman said.
Lili blushed. ‘I’m looking at two excellent detectives. You’re clever and you never give up. Desi’s moody and unreliable. Don’t you agree? Like the boy who cried “Wolf!” with all her accusations. You couldn’t have known her message was urgent, except in hindsight.’
‘Out of the mouths of babes come pearls of wisdom, isn’t that right?’
Musudroka hurried in. ‘Who are you calling a babe, sir? Not official language, is it? Sexist, even.’
Singh interrupted. ‘Shut up, Tani, this is not the time!’
‘Sorry, Sarge. Tuvoli’s processed. Kau’s taking his statement. What do you want me to do now?’ Musudroka asked.
‘Sit down, Tani and pour yourself some tea. Let’s go back a few days to before we focused on Tuvoli. Mind you, he’s still a suspect, but no longer top of the list. Who do we rate?’ Horseman asked.
Singh said, ‘The other finalists were always in our sights. All had motive and opportunity. Any could have set the tripline, too. But the drugs—that’s if MDMA really was a factor in Ken’s death. And then, only if Ken didn’t take the pills voluntarily.’
‘I agree. I wonder about Nikhil Seth, the cameraman. He accepted the fact of thefts from the set with no surprise—just shrugged them off as inevitable. I marked him as a possible accomplice for Tuvoli on set. There’s also Eroni Nemo, who pops up around trouble, like when the zip-line failed and when Mili trod on a stonefish at the beach. The problem with both is motive. Means and opportunity is harder, but they could have got to Motu at night if they’d wanted to.’
‘We just can’t know enough about anyone on this big crew, sir. It’s so easy for the killer to hide.’
‘Io, and laugh at us.’ Musudroka sounded resentful.
Horseman tried to be confident. ‘We’ll have the last laugh, don’t worry. Here’s what we’ll do. Lili, you’ll be on guard duty for Desi. Don’t allow anyone into her room except for hospital staff with official identification. Call Singh or me if anyone else comes along, Refer any requests for information to medical staff.’
‘Io, sir.’
‘Musudroka, get us two vehicles from the pool if you can. I’d better have a word with Ratini about arresting and charging Tuvoli in connection with the stealing racket. If I get the go-ahead, I’ll do that before we head out to Champion.’
The others nodded.
‘DS Singh, call Duke for an update and let him know we’ll be with him as soon as we can. We’ll need to interview Mili, Bobby and Duane if he’s still there. Nikhil and Eroni too.’
‘Sure, sir.’ Singh looked brighter already as she tucked her stray hair behind her ears.
Horseman shoved his chair back, then straightened his shoulders as he left to find Superintendent Ratini.
47
The south-easterly trade wind had already strengthened to a stiff breeze, whipping the sea into glittering white caps. If they had to go out to Motu Island this afternoon, the ride would be bumpy. They passed through Lami and picked up speed.
‘I’m surprised Superintendent Ratini approved Tuvoli’s arrest, sir,’ Musudroka shouted from the back seat. Singh pressed the button to close the windows and Horseman reached over from the passenger seat to turn on the air-con.
‘Our chief can be unpredictable, but he cares deeply about theft, possibly more than other crimes. He’s convinced by our evidence that Tuvoli’s the ringleader. and now the SOCO lab’s got his fingerprints, that evidence should be irrefutable by the end of today.’
‘And what if it isn’t, sir?’
‘What do you mean, Tani?’
‘What if Tuvoli’s been careful and his fingerprints don’t show up anywhere?’
‘Good question. The circumstantial evidence and Filo’s statement are pretty conclusive, but it would be good to have additional testimony from one of the other interns.’
‘Now we’ve arrested and charged him, one of them will surely see their game’s up,’ Singh said.
‘I hope so. His bail conditions prevent him going to FIT or communicating with any staff or students there. Even though we can’t enforce that, our media release will act as a warning or incentive to the students involved.’
‘When’s the release?’
‘Noon—in time for the afternoon radio, the TV news, and tomorrow’s papers. Now, let me check with the hospital again.’
Singh slowed down and Musudroka hung over the seat back, but Horseman didn’t give them much more than monosyllables until he rang off. ‘Desi’s still unconscious and they’re calling her state a coma now. Her symptoms resemble a drug overdose but there’s nothing definite from the instant screen kit. The lab’s working on her samples as top priority. I’m afraid all we can do is wait.’
Steve Duke strode forward to meet them as they pulled into the car park. Extra lines etched his lean face. ‘Thanks for coming so soon. Any more news?’
‘Probably not.’ Horseman repeated the information Desi’s doctor had given him.
‘No change in the last hour, then. You’d better come to my office.’
