Edwards spoke with extraordinary control, intensely and ferociously angry. The weight of his grief was balanced on the finest edge. Everyone waited, almost as if they weren’t breathing. Harrigan glanced at the commissioner who nodded.
‘Perhaps we should take this information down to the task force, Minister,’ Harrigan said in his detached voice. ‘Let them get started on it.’
‘I think that’s a very good idea. Yes, let’s go and meet the workers. Yesterday you wanted me to make a statement. I can do that now. Do you mind, gentlemen? Are we finished?’
‘Thank you for your time and information, Minister. It’s clearly very valuable.’ The commissioner spoke smoothly, rising from his seat and extending his hand. ‘We’ll be doing everything we can to solve this appalling crime. You have my word on that.’
‘Thank you, Commissioner. I’ll hold you to it.’
‘You have my word as well, Minister,’ Marvin said, also extending his hand. Edwards shook it with a sardonic smile but did not speak. Marvin didn’t miss a beat. ‘Let me show you downstairs. I can introduce you to the members of the task force.’
‘No, Marvin. I want to speak to you first,’ the commissioner said. ‘Paul can do the introductions if any need doing. Thank you.’
‘Before I go, Commissioner, I’d like to say that I was very impressed by the way Commander Harrigan and Inspector Gabriel handled the scene yesterday. I have confidence in them. I hope you see it that way as well.’
‘Thank you, Minister. I can assure you I will keep in mind everything you’ve said this morning,’ the commissioner replied, as always sphinx-like when receiving a compliment on behalf of someone else.
Walking out behind Edwards and Trevor, Harrigan hadn’t quite pulled the door shut when he heard the commissioner say, ‘Marvin. I want to discuss the way you handled yourself in that meeting. I expect better than that from my executive officers.’
The tone of voice didn’t bode well. Harrigan walked away quickly, any residual pleasure at seeing Marvin slapped down expunged by the strangeness of his behaviour. The commissioner’s pervasive paranoia might simmer close to the surface but Marvin was usually as cold-blooded as they came.
The complexities of this investigation were becoming hazardous. All Harrigan could do was protect himself and his people; anticipate what other people would feel, how they would act and, if need be, forestall them. He was a professional watcher, after all. What else was there for him to do with his life?
8
Outside in the corridor, Harrigan waited for the lift with Trevor and Edwards. Edwards’ adviser stood in the background, the invisible man.
‘Let me give you some free advice,’ Edwards said. ‘You should both watch your backs. Your special assistant commissioner has got it in for the two of you for some reason.’
Trevor looked like he didn’t want to reply to this.
‘If I could ask you a question myself, Minister,’ Harrigan said quickly.
‘Go ahead.’
‘I understand you know a Dr Elena Calvo.’
‘I do. I consider her a friend. I was talking to her on the phone only this morning. She made me feel almost human. Why do you want to know?’
‘An employee of hers, a Sam Jonas, was waiting outside at Pittwater when I left yesterday. She was asking after you. Apparently, Dr Calvo was concerned for your welfare when you failed to appear at a meeting.’
The elevator arrived and they stepped inside.
‘I don’t know that name,’ Edwards replied, frowning. ‘Did this person have a card?’
‘Yes, she did.’
‘Then she could easily be one of Elena’s security people. She’s a very security-conscious woman. I don’t think you need worry about that. We did have a meeting scheduled and I wasn’t there. Elena’s the CEO of a company I was instrumental in getting onshore here. A biotechnology corporation: Life Patent Strategies. Exactly the sort of thing we need in my opinion. What am I talking about? Of course, she mentioned you this morning. She saw you on TV last night. I told her I hoped to talk to you today. Apparently you’re on her list of investors.’
‘I requested some information. I haven’t made up my mind whether I intend to invest. It might look like a conflict of interest.’
‘Don’t be so scrupulous,’ Edwards replied. ‘You should invest, it’s a very fine company. I opened their facility at Campbelltown eight months ago myself. It’s an extraordinary building. At the time, it was one of the achievements of my career. If it burned down tomorrow, I don’t think I’d be able to care now.’
‘What kind of a woman is Dr Calvo?’ Harrigan asked after a pause.
They had left the elevator. Edwards stopped to collect his thoughts.
‘She’s remarkable. Very competent, very intelligent, very attractive. And very, very driven. She has immense energy. I could use some of that now.’
He looked exhausted, trying to draw out useful information from things that had ceased to have meaning for him. They were approaching the door to the incident room. Harrigan could hear the buzz.
‘I don’t think we need to go into the incident room, Minister,’ Trevor said. ‘There’s a conference room down here. You’ll be more comfortable there.’
‘What do you think I’m going to see in there that I won’t like?’ Edwards asked. ‘Why don’t I go and have a look?’
With his adviser behind him, he walked quickly inside the room. Harrigan and Trevor followed. The room was crowded. Telephones rang, paper was accumulating in ever-growing piles on everyone’s desk, there was a sense of hurried activity. Edwards and his adviser walked over to the room’s whiteboard. There, as Harrigan had known it would be, was pinned a large, full-colour photograph of the Pittwater murder scene. The room became silent, people watched.
‘Were you afraid of me seeing this?’ Edwards asked. ‘You forget, I’ve seen it in real life. It was the first thing that came into my mind when I woke up this morning. I’ll probably die seeing it, whether I want to or not. Let me tell you, it can’t do anything to me on paper. It’s time for me to talk to your people. Who have you got organised?’
‘I’ll take you over and introduce you to them, Minister,’ Trevor said. ‘Can we get you some coffee? Maybe something to eat?’
‘Thank you. My adviser too. We’ve both been working most of the night. Thank you for your time, Commander. I’m sure I’ll speak to you again.’
Edwards walked away with Trevor, his faithful adviser behind him. Not more than a few moments later, Marvin entered the room and came up to Harrigan.
‘Why did you bring the minister in here? Can’t you find him some better accommodation?’
‘He came in of his own accord. What are you doing here?’
The level of noise in the room had increased as the members of the task force returned to their work. Marvin’s arrival quietened them again. Harrigan could see people staring in surprise at the arrival of so many heavyweights in their space. It would fuel the gossip for days.
‘I’ve come down here to see how your people are spending my money. Why wouldn’t I want to know that?’
He turned and walked away quickly, going into Trevor’s office. Harrigan followed, angry at having to walk in Marvin’s footsteps. When he reached the office door, he saw Marvin flicking through the papers that covered Trevor’s desk.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘I’m your inspector’s senior officer. I can look through his desk if I want to. I’m paying for this and I want to be fully informed about what’s going on.’
Trevor appeared in the doorway, still carrying the dossier the minister had given him in the commissioner’s office. At the sight of Marvin, blood rushed into his cheeks.