A Failure to Act, page 15
There was a look of contrition on his face as he and Parker shook hands.
"Inspector, firstly I'd like to apologise for last night. I was out of line and it won't happen again."
"Apology accepted. I'm guessing Blainey gave you a pretty rough time after we left."
McLean grimaced, "Yes, sir, but it was nothing to what Dad said when I told him!"
The tension eased as Parker, now joined by Edwards and Blackwell, burst into laughter. Parker quickly moved on. "We've worked with your old man, and that wouldn't have been pretty. Anyway what’ve you got for us, Luke?"
"I was going to wait until I had more before bringing this to the police, but Dad let it slip that he'd heard there was more to the explosion at Albert Park Lake, possibly an internal leak of some sort. In his defence, he knew I'd been privately investigating some people for a story. He said I should share the details with you now as I could always write the story later. It may be nothing, but it's all here."
From his shoulder bag Luke produced a laptop and bulging manila file. "Of course, none of this is legal but it may point you in some other directions."
Opening the laptop and spreading the documents out on the desk, Luke went on.
"As you know, when Dad retired he started a company specialising in intruder detection, surveillance equipment, alarms and so on. Most don't know he almost went broke a few years ago. He'd installed several floors of gear into a small corporation's financial investment headquarters. The company defaulted on payment then declared bankruptcy before Dad could get the lawyers involved. Then the building mysteriously burnt down, leaving Dad with a massive loss. He mortgaged himself to the hilt to get out of it."
Blackwell cut in, "Your old man ended up with the contract for the CPMU and the lakeside, or what was the lakeside, facility, didn't he?"
"Yes. The CPMU contract helped him get back in the black and it’s why he knew about the Albert Park issue.”
“I was a cadet journalist at the time,” he continued, “And was partnered with a reporter who covered the fire. A contact told him it looked like arson and he slipped us copies of the photos taken at the site."
Quickly putting his hands up to quell the inevitable question about how, "Ask no questions, tell no lies, OK? To continue, he saw nothing in the images but the minute I saw them I knew Dad had been screwed. There was no sign of any security hardware in the building but there should’ve been something left. They purchased gear with a high fire rating and that gear doesn’t just vanish. It was definitely in the place, as I spent my last semester at university, in between assignments, lectures and exams, helping Dad's guys do the install,."
"I made it my mission to look into it, eventually discovering the owner. After investigating several shell companies the trail led back to Amy Devain. By chance, Dad's company is in the building next door to Devain's headquarters. Once I knew she was to blame, and being a vengeful prick, I decided to monitor her. I concealed some of our development surveillance gear in a storage space. Our building is taller than and goes deeper into the block than hers, so from the top floor I have a perfect view of her penthouse."
Parker spoke after his speech, "Where’s this leading, Luke?"
Grabbing another file he laid out the contents, including many pictures of Devain’s visitors. "From my research, in these images there are several people of interest to your investigators. But this is the one I think will interest you most."
With that he threw a photo of Inspector Steve Jones into the middle of the table.
"Devain and Jones have continually stressed they were only competing together. They always strenuously denied any reports of a romance. But they’ve been meeting regularly for months for, let's just say, more than just race planning. Normally this wouldn't be anyone's business, but after the last couple of days, and with the other company Devain keeps – and not just for business – Dad suggested I should bring her to your attention."
The silence in the room told him it had been the right decision.
"Jones, like all her special visitors, uses the elevator entrance in her secure carpark. No-one sees them come or go except maybe a couple of extra cameras in that carpark that might happen to be live. Devain's company uses Dad's stuff in her building so, of course, we maintain it, and I may have replaced our usual technician on a maintenance callout one day. That's where Devain keeps her 'special cars', so they wanted the best gear. While I was there I may have added a couple more cameras, unknown to them. It's great kit! Solar powered, low power consumption and on a secure link to our servers, not hers."
Parker was silent a moment. "Luke, you know we can't use this as evidence, don't you?"
Luke smiled, "Yes, but nothing says it can't start people looking at other avenues of enquiry."
Parker smiled, "Your Dad trained you well, young lad."
Suddenly Parker rifled through his files, opening the one with the Millers Farm photos off his phone.
"Fuck! Fuck! I knew those treads looked familiar." He grabbed a phone and dialled a number before slamming down the receiver. "Does anyone have a mobile for the Transport guys? Their phones are not working."
"That entire building and half the surrounding area are down at the moment," Jacks chipped in. "Some idiot with a backhoe took out the power and telecommunications infrastructure nearby, so they're on backup batteries. There’s nothing at present – no mobile coverage, NBN or landlines as the outage took out a substation. When the cables shorted, it killed the surrounding telecom towers which were older units not yet converted to full battery backups and solar. For power they relied on the building they were on. The backhoe driver is lucky he didn't BBQ himself."
Maclean cut in, "By the way, Dad has some awesome point-to-point wireless or microwave network systems that are good for 5km. If it takes too long to get a network up I could lend you a couple. Let’s call it a peace offering."
"That would work, Paul," Jacks cut in. "Leave me your card, Luke."
Turning to Blackwell, Parker grabbed a photo from the file and handed it to him. "Greg, find out who with suitable rank is on duty. It needs to be someone who knows cars and whom we can trust implicitly. Get them to take this to Transport and check the development and testing files for tyres like these. If the IT system is still down they’re to say the request comes from this Task Force and they’re to use whatever resources are needed to identify this tread pattern."
Blackwell took the photo and made some calls.
Turning back to Luke Parker noticed he was staring at the shooter in the paused carpark footage.
"Something got your attention, Luke?"
"Maybe, Inspector. I can't bring it to mind at present. Maybe it's the graininess of the image. I know it's against the rules but could I get a copy of this footage? There’s something about that woman, but I just can't see it."
Parker looked at Jacks. "I think that might stretch the friendship a bit. Sam, but as he brought us all this information, do you have a workaround?"
Sam thought for a minute, "Yes, Dave. l'll trade Luke access to a single login to that video file, with ‘view only’ permissions, for a couple of those point-to-point networks. That way we control the access at all times."
"Good idea. Do it, please." Parker then turned to McLean. "Your eyes only and, if needed, your old man's. But if I find out you’ve taken a copy, and I'm sure you could, then what you experienced last night will pale into insignificance to what would happen. Do I make myself clear?"
"Point taken. I'll call you when I've checked my files, probably a bit later this afternoon. When I leave I'll get Dad to call Sam about the network gear."
"OK, give Sam your details and she'll arrange the login."
"Already done, Dave."
Luke's phone pinged with a text message. "That'll be the details now. You left a business card in your file folder."
Luke checked his phone, thanked Sam and headed out.
"Good job, Sam. OK, let's recap what we've just heard from McLean."
Parker picked up the files, and they all moved to the conference room.
****
Sam Jacks fired up the AV system, adding the links supplied by McLean, while Parker, Blackwell and Edwards found seats around the large polished pine table. They sat facing the screen at the other end of the room.
Parker had just opened a folder of information but his attention was taken by something outside in the hallway.
"Now that's interesting!"
Major Burns was talking to two Colonels. He'd borrowed a meeting room and was walking them out as Hooper walked up the hallway. The group stopped beside Hooper. There was a change in his demeanour – something that would only happen between military personnel. His posture eased as one officer shook his hand and a more relaxed conversation ensued. Parker noticed that both officers pointed towards Hooper's left side. The conversation ended as quickly as it had begun, and the officers exited. Burns rejoined Hooper before returning to the main office area.
"Sam,” Parker said, “Kill that display for a bit, and get Burns and Hooper in here please.
Sam called the two men in.
"There's more going on here than we're being told,” Parker said, “And I don't bloody like it!"
"Hooper,” he went on, “I just witnessed some familiarity between you and two senior military officers who outrank the Major. That was highly irregular. Your familiarity with them leads me to believe you are more than just an average Constable.
Hooper, tried to disarm the situation, " I don't know what you mean by that, sir."
"First,” Parker said, “A Colonel in the Australian army does not talk shop for five minutes with a Constable he just bumped into. Second, you obviously have a connection with the Major. This makes me wonder if your appearance at our crime scenes and working your way into this team are more than coincidence. Hooper, I want to know why you’re here and what your task is."
Hooper responded in a controlled voice with a steady and even volume. It was clear he knew how to address someone with a tone that did not menace but would make his point.
"Sir, I’m not working for or with anyone, nor have I been asked to observe, report or derail your investigation. I’ve tried to fit in and assist as best I could up to this point. My being involved is coincidental. Had staff resources not been so stretched after the CPMU attack I would never have gone to the wharf and never become associated with this task force."
Parker went to respond but Hooper continued before he had a chance.
"As my continued presence here is generating distrust and upsetting the team's unity, I will request immediate transfer back to my allotted station. Causing disruption was not my intention. I saw this as an opportunity to gain a great deal of knowledge from a group of senior officers in an environment I may never again encounter in my career."
It was a powerful speech and took Parker aback with both its directness and message. Hooper went to leave the room when Burns stood and motioned Hooper to sit. He complied without hesitation, only adding fuel to Parker's suspicions.
Burns turned and spoke to him. "It's time we set the record straight, Russ."
The room fell silent as Hooper and the rest of the room looked at the Major.
Edwards leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. "Well, this should be interesting!"
Burns continued, "If you were to look in Russ' personnel file you would see that it flagged him as ex-military. What it doesn't tell you is that after leaving school he entered the officer program at the Military Academy. After graduation he declined his first posting because he’d applied for the selection in the SAS. They gave him a short posting at the Academy to allow him to continue his preparation. Most of you would be aware the percentage of successful candidates is low, but he made it through."
There was now more interest in the room as Burns explained Hooper's career.
"Having done two consecutive combat tours overseas, he returned home with the rank of Lieutenant for additional ordinance training run by me."
"OK, so that's where you know the lad from," said Edwards, now getting it.
Burns chimed in, "Yeah nah – but I'll save that for later."
Hooper had a sly smile on his face and Sam Jacks, seeing it, gave him a playful elbow in the ribs.
"Where was I? Oh yeah, the training. They tasked his group to swim in from a submersible to a remote beach head then climb a steep shale slope and destroy a predetermined target. Escaping the way they came, they were to swim back out to the pickup point. The group made the beach and began the ascent when a section of shale let go, sending two men tumbling back down. Although trapped by the slip their mates got them out with nothing more than a sprained ankle. They cancelled the OP and a chopper was sent to pick up the team. As the chopper was coming in to land its rotor wash caused some unstable ground above the team's position to slip again.”
“Hooper and another man were assisting the injured member away from the hazard when two boulders broke loose from the land slip and rolled down the slope. The injured man, along with Hooper and his mate, had already cleared the major slip when the boulders collided mid-fall. One landed in the sand while the other hit a patch of rock, cannoning towards the three. Although they all tried to avoid it, it struck Russ on his left side. According to those who were there it sent him some 20 metres through the air onto the wet sand."
There was an audible gasp from the room.
"Russ spent six months in hospital and rehab with six smashed ribs and titanium plates repairing breaks in his left leg, both above and below the knee. After he got out of rehab he spent 12 months on desk duty, working on special projects with my team, as he rebuilt his body back to SAS standards."
Pausing, he pointed to Hooper and gave a thumbs-up.
"After that year he returned to his unit and passed all the recertification requirements to return to active service. Then one night he called me, concerned that even though he’d proven he was good to go, he didn’t feel confident returning to SAS duties. He didn’t want his body to fail him at a critical time and put his team in jeopardy. I tried to talk him out of it but he’d already decided. The SAS was his life. Regretfully, he took a medical discharge from the service. He remains on the Reserves list. His personnel file says ‘military service’, because what the SAS does and when he worked for me is classified. After leaving he still wanted to serve, so he joined the police force. And there you have it."
Parker broke the silence and spoke to Hooper first, "Well, Russ, you certainly are a mystery package. It does, however, explain those two guys at the warehouse last night and how you got access to the secure monitoring footage. Oh, and about that chat we were going to have, I think the Major has just about covered it,” turning to Burns, “Except for the part where you said there is more about how you know this character."
Burns smiled and laughed, "Just so happens that his mother's my kid sister. Russ always wanted to prove he could do it on his own and didn't want it made known. It’s what we were talking about when we bumped into each other at the wharf. The bugger wouldn't even take my calls at the Academy. He didn't want anyone thinking he had an advantage. In the same way, he didn’t want his military career to open doors that may have been less available to him as a normal police officer."
"What he didn’t know until today was that the training officer in charge of the Academy had somehow figured it out and called me. When I told him that Russ was doing it on his own and wanted no help, they made sure he really wanted it and tried to break him. After two months of relentless overburdening him with a huge workload, they figured he was the real deal and saw his potential."
"Jesus! That bloody two months of hell was all a test of character? Should’ve known I couldn't hide the family connection!" Hooper shook a mock fist at his uncle.
"Wouldn't want to cross that young lad too often, Major," Edwards interjected after Hooper's mock threat.
Hooper just shook his head, "Bugger that. I've seen his service record. I'll pass."
Edwards turned to Burns with a questioning look.
Burns, semi-serious, replied, "He's only seen part of it ..."
Parker shut the conversation down, "OK, story time's over. Back to work. Also, no-one is to expand on Hooper's background outside of here. It's his choice what he reveals, and that's the way it stays."
Then, addressing Hooper, he said, "Russ, straight up, from now on no more hidden histories!"
"You got it, boss." Hooper raised his right index and middle fingers to his temple in a casual but respectful salute.
Edwards stood up and stretched. "OK, let's take five for a coffee or whatever your poison of choice is and reconvene back here."
The group walked out, with several throwing casual jibes at Hooper and Burns. As Parker passed he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder to show were no hard feelings.
"By the way, has anyone heard from Dianne?" Parker asked as he dialled her number.
Chapter 18
Tell me for Christ's sake!
Parker had walked to the park to meet Dianne as arranged but was, as usual, running late. He hurried through the maze of paths that led to a park bench near the rotunda. He moved with a sense of urgency because Dianne had answered none of his calls or texts since they parted earlier. Dianne would not have responded while she was in the debriefing, but he’d checked and was told she’d left over an hour earlier. Not replying to him was out of character, but ignoring her grandfather simply would not happen.
He'd received a call from the Commissioner saying he couldn’t reach her, which had concerned him a bit. The drug bust the other night would’ve added more names to the already long list of criminals holding a grudge against her. He approached the bench, but there was only a couple sitting there with their Labrador that was trying to eat the young woman's ice cream. Parker looked around the area but there was no sign of Dianne. Approaching the couple on the bench he identified himself and asked if they recognised a picture of Dianne. Neither did, as they’d arrived only shortly before he had. Noticing that both had coffee he remembered the pop-up stand near the entrance. He thanked the pair for their help and walked back there to ask.
