‘There’s no need for you to be here,’ he said. ‘This is under control.’
Harrigan looked at Chloe. She got to her feet and walked out of the room. Harrigan was still carrying the small photograph Freeman had given Grace on Bondi beach. The second Chloe was gone, he took it out of his wallet and pushed it under Marvin’s nose. Marvin looked but didn’t touch it. His face went blank. Harrigan spoke softly.
‘How’s your boy? Is he still this photogenic? Want me to show this to the commissioner now and to hell with the consequences?’ There was silence. ‘You’re inviting me in. When I’m in there, mate, you will back off.’
‘Put that picture away first,’ Marvin replied in an oddly detached tone.
Harrigan did. Marvin opened the door. Harrigan brushed past him and walked in first.
‘Commander Harrigan wants to join us. I agreed it was the best course of action,’ Marvin called after him.
‘Why? What does he have to say that I need to hear?’ The commissioner’s voice was sharp and loud with anger. ‘I want to know why within days of Senator Edwards telling me we have corrupt police on my watch, there’s a security breach of this order. Is your inspector trustworthy? Is any member of his team trustworthy? The answer appears to be no.’
‘Commissioner, would you listen to me?’ Trevor was barely controlling himself. ‘I’m not responsible for the loss of that contract. I will vouch that no member of my team is responsible. We have no knowledge of how it was stolen. You shouldn’t be accusing us like this. We should be starting an inquiry.’
‘Quiet!’ the commissioner roared.
There was silence. Harrigan could feel Marvin breathing down his neck. The commissioner sat down.
‘As Marvin has said to me on more than one occasion, even if your word is reliable, it’s unlikely to carry any weight in the media. The nature of your private life would ensure that.’
‘What did you say?’
‘Marvin?’
‘I’m only speaking realistically.’ Marvin’s voice was smooth, the way it usually was. ‘I’ve heard it said repeatedly that Inspector Gabriel’s personal lifestyle has the potential to embarrass the image of the service. Not because anyone here necessarily disapproves of who he lives with, but because of how it will be perceived by the general public. If there are compromised officers in this service who were linked to Cassatt, and if that fact comes out in the media, then the press will focus on the weakest link we have, and in this case that means Inspector Gabriel. We may think we don’t have an issue to be concerned with, but the media won’t agree with us. Talkback radio certainly won’t. As regrettable as it is, the general prejudice is still against him. We’ll be slaughtered in the court of public opinion.’
‘I don’t believe this,’ Trevor said, almost softly. ‘I just don’t believe it. It’s crap.’
‘Unfortunately it’s not,’ the commissioner said angrily. ‘Whatever you choose to say, there are still many people in the general public who view your lifestyle with aversion and may question why we put you in charge of an investigation of this significance, particularly if it proves to be compromised. There will be the suggestion that you were susceptible to blackmail.’
‘Commissioner, that’s garbage.’
‘It’s a matter of perception. We cannot afford the perception,’ the commissioner as good as yelled. ‘I don’t intend to be hounded out of this job by shock jocks.’
Harrigan could almost admire Marvin’s strategy. There was no better way to sool the commissioner onto someone than by appealing to that all too easily aroused paranoia. He moved forward.
‘There are two things I want to say, Commissioner. While we’re standing here gasbagging, the investigation is at a standstill and my son could be dead or dying somewhere.’
‘Putting that search in place was Inspector Gabriel’s responsibility,’ Marvin countered.
‘He can’t do it while he’s here, can he?’ Harrigan snapped, not bothering to hide his anger. ‘Commissioner, you’re just about to put your head in the noose. Do you really want to do that?’
‘I am in control here!’
‘The public won’t think so once you go through with this. Neither will our political masters. You’re about to remove a team of people the minister has expressed confidence in. When he finds out you’ve sacked the whole team, he’ll want to know why. Whatever we tell him, he’ll raise all hell and he won’t be shy about going to the media. He’ll talk about his dead son and there’ll be a huge response. Then you’ll have to face explaining why you did this. What are you going to tell our own minister in the state government? You sacked the whole team because the New South Wales Police Service doesn’t have a secure evidence room? How do you think that will play in the media? What if we have another security breach? Who do we blame then? Do we replace the next group of people? People will say we’re running around like chickens with their heads cut off. They’ll laugh at you.’
The commissioner was rocked by this. His face was a mixture of fury and fear. They waited for him to speak. He rubbed his mouth.
‘The minister could do that,’ he said bitterly. ‘He could raise all hell. It could seem that we’re out of control.’ Suddenly he snapped at Marvin. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t think of these ramifications. That’s what you’re supposed to do. Why did this have to happen? This whole thing is a can of worms.’
‘Commissioner, we need the continuity.’ Harrigan pressed on, hiding desperation. ‘It’s the best way to keep this whole incident under control.’
‘But if it wasn’t a member of the team, who was it? Who else had access?’ the commissioner asked furiously.
‘If you want to start at the top, what about Marvin here. You have access, don’t you, Marvin?’
Marvin laughed sourly. ‘I had nothing to do with this.’
‘Don’t you want to play fair, mate? Isn’t everyone under suspicion? Why shouldn’t that include you? Maybe while we’re here, we should be asking questions about the special assistant commissioner’s competence. I direct Trevor to put a guard on my son. Marvin rescinds the order without notice and look at the result! Does that look like good policing? How many extra resources do we have to expend now because of his actions?’
Marvin jerked backwards, his face red. ‘That’s a complete distortion-’
‘Could we have quiet, please?’ the commissioner ordered. ‘The commander has made his point. Inspector Gabriel and his team will remain in control of the investigation for the time being. I will instigate an Internal Affairs investigation. Everyone on the team will cooperate with them.’
‘There’s no need, Commissioner,’ Marvin said. ‘I can liaise with IA for you.’
‘No, Marvin. I want to control this directly. This meeting is finished.’
Trevor interrupted them. ‘Since you’ve all been talking about me, am I allowed to say something?’
In the silence, the commissioner signalled for him to go ahead. Harrigan held his breath.
‘I’ve been a copper for twenty-one years. I’ve received commendations and a bravery medal. You will not find one single fact about me anywhere that could embarrass anyone or that’s remotely bent.’
The commissioner stared at him, his thoughts unreadable.
‘I’ve already said we are maintaining arrangements as they are,’ he replied, apparently unmoved. ‘Now everyone can get back to work.’
Trevor walked out of the office immediately.
‘Commissioner,’ Marvin said, ‘if I could just have a word in private.’
‘I don’t have time now, Marvin. Why don’t you make an appointment with Chloe? Before you go, Paul. I hope you left a few marks of your own on that other man’s face.’
‘I did my best, Commissioner.’
‘You can also tell me why you think this kidnapping has happened.’
‘It’s either a matter of revenge because of what happened at Yaralla, or this individual wants to put pressure on the investigation in some way.’
‘We don’t know, in other words,’ the Commissioner said.