Challis - 05 - Blood Moon Read Free Page A

the hell are you?

    Challis told him coldly.

    Well, my name is Dirk Roe and for
your information my brother was almost beaten to death last night. Or this
morning.

    Challis glanced at Roes hands: they
were well kept and unmarked. He shifted his gaze to the mans face, which wore
the sour look of someone whod once been admired and was waiting for it to
happen again. Roe was no more than twenty-five, with a round, faintly stupid
schoolboy face, reinforced by spiky hair, black jeans, a pale yellow polo shirt
and running shoes, which were two fat slabs of vividly-coloured rubber. There
was a soul patch above his pudgy chin, rings in both ears.

    Challis stepped into the room,
saying, I can sympathise, Mr Roe, but I must ask you to leave. This is a crime
scene, and our crime scene officers havent processed it yet.

    But Lachie was bashed outside, on
his front lawn.

    His attacker might have been inside
the house before the assault.

    My brother doesnt know people like
that.

    People like what?

    Violent people. Criminals, Dirk
Roe said. He tucked the laptop under his arm and made to edge past Challis.

    Sir, Challis said, I must ask you
to leave the laptop behind.

    A flicker of something passed across
the young mans face. But Lachie might need it. He could be in hospital for
days.

    Challis shook his head. Impossible,
Im afraid. The computer could hold information that would help identify your
brothers attacker. He paused. Did you meddle with it in any way?

    Dirk Roe wouldnt meet his gaze. Me?
No. Why?

    Either way, the computer stays.

    I dont think you know who I am,
Roe said.

    Challis was immediately weary of
this game. So, who are you?

    Roe drew himself up. I manage Ollie
Hindmarshs electoral officeand you know what he thinks of the police.

    Ollie Hindmarsh was Leader of the
Opposition in the state parliament and his electoral office was a short
distance away, around the corner in High Street. Hindmarsh was a law-and-order
tyrant and his way of attacking the Government was to accuse the police force
of corruption, cronyism and being run by union thugs. Most cops loathed the
man.

    Challis smiled emptily. You manage
his electoral office?

    Yep.

    Meaning you answer the phone and
lick envelopes.

    Listen here, you. I

    Sir, I must ask you to wait
outside. Scobie?

    Sutton had been wearing an
expression of faint alarm, as if aware of undercurrents that he couldnt
identify. A man with a decent narrowness of range, he went to church regularly,
was loyal to his wife, and had almost no insights into human nature. He wasnt
a bad cop. He was dogged. But he wasnt quite a good cop, either. He shuffled
forward apologetically and, after a tussle, removed the computer from under Roes
arm and took him by the elbow. Sorry, Dirk.

    Challis frowned. Did the two men
know each other? He filed it away and they all walked downstairs, reaching the
living area just as the forensics officers appeared in their disposable
overalls and overshoes. Great, said one, a contaminated crime scene.

    Yeah, yeah, said Challis. Your
main area of focus is the lawn outside the front door.

    And the bloodied stone on the
pathway. What about inside?

    Dust for prints, check for blood
and fibres, the usual.

    Dirk Roe swayed and stumbled a
little, as though finally registering the fact that violence had been used
against his brother. Scobie escorted him outside, saying, Dont stay here
Dirk, head across to the hospital. Are you okay to drive?

    I think so.

    Why hadnt Roe gone straight to the
hospital? Challis wondered. He joined Sutton on the footpath and together they
watched Roe drive away in the black Astra. Challis said, Scobie, you and Pam
finish up here. Ill check on the victim. Briefing at noon.

    Boss.

    Challis paused. Andy Cree had
abandoned his station to chat with Pam Murphy, half a block away. He was a head
taller than Pam, languid and suave, and Challis heard her break into laughter.
Then she spotted him, flashed him an embarrassed smile, and turned