‘Bernie’s a midget.’
‘Rodney’s tall, but it’s irrelevant because he has an alibi. It must have been Webb.’
‘But didn’t Webb only come into the picture once Rodney and Bernie decided to sue?’
‘I think Bernie and Rodney were planning to murder Maureen. Bernie had a strong motive. I think Webb found out. For some reason, Bernie didn’t go through with it. Maybe he did chicken out. Not chickened out of talking to her, like he’s saying, but out of killing her. So Webb steps in and does the deed. He matches the neighbour’s description of the guy who left the scene.’
‘Explain the car, then. Bernie’s right. It’s a pretty strange coincidence that Webb knew where it was parked.’
‘Not if he overheard Rodney speaking to Bernie, which is likely. He works with Rodney.’
‘Reasonable doubt there though. It’s still all circumstantial.’
‘Right. So the cops need some actual hard-core stuff. Webb’s the only one with the motive to frame Bernie because although he murdered Maureen, he can make it look like Bernie did. Bernie’s right. As if the cops would believe he was in the car park when Maureen was killed but that he’s actually innocent.’
‘We can only get Webb if Bernie is completely upfront with us. But he’ll never admit that he planned on killing Maureen.’
‘He might, if he thinks he can’t get into trouble for planning a murder but not carrying it out.’
She crossed her arms over her chest, mulling over what I’d said. ‘Done. Leave that bit to me,’ she said.
‘Okay. Can I . . . I know you’re going to flip, but can you follow my lead on this?’
‘Sure,’ she said without any hesitation, and we walked back to the cell.
What did I tell you? Miracle.
Bernie shot up out of his seat when he saw us. ‘What’s going on?!’ he shouted. ‘You’re making me nervous.’
‘Sit down,’ I said, enjoying the power trip.
He eased himself slowly back into his chair.
‘Bernie, the lies are over,’ I started. ‘Here’s what we know and can prove. You and Rodney were in on the lawsuit together and the whole thing was a big sham to get a compensation payout from Maureen’s death. You were then going to split it between you.’
Bernie looked terrified. His eyes were wide open, staring at me.
‘We know that Webb was blackmailing you. That he wanted a cut of the payout. We know you agreed to give him a cut if he recanted his statement and scared Claudia into shutting up.’ I could see beads of sweat forming on Bernie’s forehead.
‘We also have solid evidence of a plot between you and Rodney to kill Maureen. You basically set out to create the circumstances for your case against Jenkins. Pretty smart, for a guy like you.’
Bernie was gobsmacked. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. ‘That’s not true . . .’
‘Don’t bother denying it,’ I said. ‘Casey has some information for you though. If you cooperate, you probably won’t be locked up.’
‘That’s right,’ Casey stepped in. ‘You might have intended to kill Maureen but you didn’t. Your conscience prevailed. I plan to tell the police all about it and convince them not to press charges. That’s if you help them get Webb. I might then be able enter a plea bargain with the prosecutor in relation to the numerous fraud charges you face.’
Bernie remained silent, his eyes fixed on the ground.
‘Well?’ she said, cocking her head to the side. ‘Is it a deal?’
‘How do I know you’re not bluffing?’ he asked.
I grabbed the folder of emails Annie had given us. I found the one I wanted and read it aloud, Bernie’s mouth hanging wider with every word.
‘I spoke to Legal Aid. The Compensation to Victims Act is the way to go. I’ll find a lawyer who’ll suck up the story. If you play your part right, admit the negligence from the start, we can settle quickly and split the dough.’
Bernie was ours now. And he knew it.
‘I’m just curious,’ I said. ‘You planned to kill Maureen but didn’t. Then she ended up being murdered anyway. Who did you think did it, if Rodney had an alibi? Did you ever suspect Webb?’
‘Never. I didn’t even know him. The first I heard of him was when Casey told me about his statement. And then when he started blackmailing me and Rodney we figured it was because of the case, never about our plan to kill her. No-one could have known about that. Not even Annie knew. No-one but Rodney knew I was in the car park that day.’
‘Well Webb must have figured it out,’ I said. ‘But that doesn’t explain how you two Einsteins explained Maureen’s murder?’
He slumped further down in his chair. ‘We thought . . . we honestly thought it was our good luck.’
I was horrified. ‘Good luck?’
Casey gave Bernie a disgusted look.
‘I didn’t mean it that way,’ he shot back defensively. ‘She had left work alone with a bag of money. And sure enough the money was gone. We thought somebody really had killed her for the money. Just made us realise how legit the case would be after all . . .’
‘You’re a sickening excuse for a human being,’ Casey snapped.
‘So what next?’ Bernie asked quietly.
‘We go into the interview and you explain all this to the police,’ Casey said.
‘It’s over, Bernie,’ I said, probably a little too cheerfully.
His face kind of collapsed. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
I wasn’t allowed into the police interview. Not that I thought I would be. Still, I was pretty annoyed. It would have been nice to see the cops getting stuck into Bernie. I would have paid to see that.
So I went home, dying to know what was happening. I had to wait for Casey to call. I just hoped she wouldn’t forget.
‘I bet you he gets charged with her murder,’ Amit said to me. I’d called him on the way home. ‘Like the cops are going to go hunting for Webb when they have so much evidence against Bernie. Get real, man.’
Jacinta, who I called after I spoke to Amit, offered another point of view. ‘They’ll need a statement from that Bad Samaritan at the flats. What if she denies what she told you?’
That was a problem. When we finished talking I called Casey, but her phone was switched off. So I sent her a text message:
Remember I told you about the woman I spoke to @ the flats next door 2 the car park? The 1 who heard the screams & saw the tall guy running away from the scene? She told me if I told the police she’d deny. Tell the cops. They need 2 play it right with her 2 get her 2 speak.
Casey called me at three that afternoon. By then I was home, watching Entertainment Tonight with Nadine and Mary.
Bernie had copped a zillion fraud charges and a conspiracy-to-kill charge. Rodney Marks was being arrested as we spoke.
I couldn’t restrain myself. I yelled out in excitement. Nadine, who was sitting next to me on the couch, hit me hard on the arm for giving her a scare.
‘How’d he take it?’ I asked.
‘As you’d expect,’ Casey said in a smug tone. ‘You’ll be very proud to know that he specifically cursed you.’
‘I’m flattered! And what about Webb?’
‘I’m getting to that. I spoke to the police and gave them the entire file of emails. All the evidence implicating Webb, too. Do you have the witnesses’ details in the file? The woman at the flats, the noodle shop guy?’
‘Yep. It’s all in the file. Did you get my text? That woman from the flat might take back what she told me.’
‘Yes I got your text. I advised the police. You can relax. They are experts in extracting information even from the most unwilling witnesses.’
‘You mean they’d get physical?’
‘No, Noah,’ she said in a know-it-all voice. ‘People skills.’
Oh boy. So many possible comeback lines. So much self-control needed.
Casey continued. ‘I advised Bernie that the sentencing judge would be likely to take into account
any assistance Bernie gave to the police. Therefore, he’s consented to participate in a controlled operation with the police to try and get a confession out of Webb.’
It was too good to be true. Wait until I told the guys at school. Actually, stuff the guys. Imagine what the girls would say!
‘The police have obtained the necessary warrants for the listening devices.’
‘Wow! Listening devices?’
‘As I predicted, Bernie’s bail application failed. The police will coach him on how to deal with Webb.’
‘What’s the plan?’
‘I’m not privy to that information at the moment. However, given your involvement in the case and the fact . . .’ She paused for a moment. ‘Given the fact that you know the case better than anyone, I have suggested to the police that you come on board.’
Her words practically winded me. Wow!
When I hung up the phone I jumped up and down on the couch and let out a loud whoop.
‘I swear to GOD, Noah,’ Nadine yelled, ‘your nerdiness is killing me. You’re not supposed to enjoy working at the law firm. Keep it up and you are seriously going to damage your school cred.’
I looked her in the eye. ‘For your information I’m going to be part of a police sting operation. The way I see it, my school cred’s only going to get even better.’
I left her stunned and speechless, a rare state for Nadine.
Bernie was to meet Webb at a park near Bernie’s house. Bernie was fitted with a listening device. Casey and I were in one of the police cars parked in a nearby street. Constable Thompson was with us, explaining how the equipment worked. Bernie had tested the microphone. The sound quality was excellent. Now we were waiting for Webb to arrive.
I sensed Constable Thompson’s irritation at having to deal with a high school kid on a case like this. I had to hand it to him though, he patiently answered my trillion questions (How far do you have to be to pick up voices on the mic? When does a dead body start to smell? Have you caught any criminals with the aid of Google Earth?).
I was just asking Constable Thompson if the cops get pissed off by the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit when we heard Bernie whisper into the microphone: ‘He’s coming.’
We braced ourselves.
‘I thought you’d be in jail,’ I heard Webb say. ‘Wasn’t the bloodied shoe good enough for them?’ He laughed.
‘Circumstantial,’ Bernie said, as he’d rehearsed. ‘Luckily for me I’d reported me car stolen the day Maureen was killed. The cops must have figured a guilty man wouldn’t do that, would he?’
It sounded like Webb grunted. ‘Well, at least you’ve finally come to your senses,’ Webb said. ‘It’s about time.’
‘Yeah I guess,’ Bernie said, sounding too nervous. ‘Being investigated for murder is probably as good a reason as any to make a person change their mind.’
Smooth. Keep going, you stinking rat.
‘But I’m not totally off the hook,’ Bernie continued. ‘They’re still digging for info on me.’
‘Where’s the money?’ Webb demanded.
‘Here.’
They didn’t speak. I assumed Bernie had handed Webb the bag containing Webb’s cut: just over two hundred and forty thousand dollars.
‘You little ripper,’ Webb cried. His mood had obviously changed. ‘So it worked out well for you, after all. You get your money and you’re a free man. No more nagging wife.’
‘It couldn’t have worked out better.’ Bernie still sounded slightly jittery, not at all his usual arrogant self. I only hoped Webb wasn’t picking up on it. At least Bernie was sticking fairly closely to the script. The police had come up with dozens of questions Webb might ask and prepped Bernie on what to say and what to leave out. I’d even thrown in a couple of suggestions.
‘It would be perfect if I could shake the cops off me back completely,’ he continued. ‘Do you reckon you could be me alibi, you know, if the time came?’
‘And why would I agree to that?’ Webb scoffed. ‘I’ve got my money now. Nobody knows a thing about me. I’m just the guy Maureen worked with who happened to get performance anxiety on the witness stand.’
I was nervous.
‘Let’s put it another way,’ Bernie said. ‘If I go down, I’ll take you and Rodney with me. I don’t want that to happen. What I want is to never see either of you again. I want to move to Bali or Thailand where I can enjoy me money and forget about the pair of you. And I’m guessing you’ve got a similar plan?’
‘Yeah. I’m getting out of here.’
‘So be me alibi. I’m telling you straight. If I go down, I’ll take you both with me. If you’re me alibi, it will all go away. The cops will get off me back and we’ll never see each other again.’
There was a long pause. ‘Okay,’ Webb said. ‘I’ll say you were in the shop talking through your marriage problems with me.’ He let out a bitter laugh.
‘That’s perfect. That way we both get an alibi.’
‘Well fine,’ Webb said. ‘Not that I need one.’
‘Actually, mate, you do. You and I both know I didn’t kill Maureen, as much as I wanted to. I chickened out in the end. You did me a massive favour.’
‘Come on, give us a bite . . .’ Constable Thompson whispered.
I held my breath. Casey and I exchanged nervous glances. He had to take the bait if this was going to work.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Relax. Nobody suspects you. This way we both have an alibi. We walk away with all our cash and we never have to see each other again. They’ll always think the guy who stole me car did Maureen, and they’ll chase a phantom. If it wasn’t for you, this wouldn’t be happening. I didn’t have the balls. You did and I’m bloody grateful.’
‘You weren’t so grateful when you got paid out,’ Webb snapped. ‘We had a deal.’
‘Yeah, I know. I can’t pretend I’m not greedy. But I’m also not stupid. I’m acting out of self-interest now. I pay you, I keep you happy, we both stay out of jail.’
Webb grunted again.
‘Can I ask you a question?’
‘What now?’
‘How did you know I was planning on killing her?’
Webb was silent for a few moments.
‘I heard Rodney on the phone with you a week beforehand,’
Webb said eventually. ‘He was explaining that he’d have me doing a stocktake and get Maureen to transport the money so it would look like a robbery. Then I heard him telling you what time she’d be coming out. He was going on about how rich you guys would be if you pulled it off.’
‘The idiot. I told him not to talk to me on the phone when he was at the shop.’
‘Yeah, well, he is an idiot. I was suspicious. I stayed back late that night and looked through all his work emails. I couldn’t find anything. So I opened his files and found an article he’d saved about a case in the UK. It was about a guy who got attacked at work and ended up getting killed. His wife sued and got over a million. I put two and two together.’
‘That day . . . when did you realise I wasn’t going to do it?’
There was a long pause. My heart skipped a beat. ‘Come on, Webb . . .’ I prayed silently.
‘I saw you standing like chicken shit in that doorway.’
‘I lost the balls to do it.’
His regret actually sounded genuine and I hated him for it.
‘I panicked,’ Webb said. ‘I knew you were blowing your chance. I grabbed a mask from out back – one of the ones we use when we’re cleaning up the store room. I ran out to High Street and jumped the wall back into the car park. There was no-one around. It’s real quiet out the back there.’
‘I can’t believe this,’ Casey said in a strangled whisper.
‘Did she say anything when she saw you?’ Bernie asked.
Webb laughed. ‘Yeah. Pretty ironic actually. She said, “Is that you, Bernie?” ’
‘What did you say back?’ r />
‘Nothing. There were some rocks and rubbish near the bins. I grabbed the largest rock I could find and hit her over the head with it.’
Constable Thompson gave the signal on his walkie-talkie and the cops rushed in on them.
Casey and I stared at each other in horror for a few seconds.
‘It’s over,’ she whispered.
‘Justice prevails,’ I said, remembering the headline after judgment was handed down. Same headline, different ending.
It was my last day at Saleh & Co. My aunt had organised a going-away cake for me: double chocolate mud. We were in the boardroom munching on chips and fancy smelly cheese. She opened up the champagne bottles and handed me a soft drink.
Jacinta was sitting on the edge of the boardroom table, her feet propped up on a chair, laughing and joking with Branko. She’d kill me if she knew I had the hots for her. She’d think it showed a lack of respect for her intellect or something psycho like that. But I had to admit (only to myself of course) that I was pretty sad about finishing up here, as wacky as that sounded considering how much I hated the place in the beginning. It obviously wasn’t because of the photocopying jobs, John’s frequent ‘dude’ usage, Casey’s vibrant personality or even Aunt Nirvine’s caffeine addiction, which kept me doing constant coffee runs. It was because I’d be saying goodbye to Jacinta. I’d go back to school to face the ball-breaking HSC, and Jacinta would start uni, breaking guys’ hearts, maintaining her fantastic figure as she did the swimming team proud. I had no doubt she’d forget all about me.
Okay, okay, I was getting carried away with myself.
Aunt Nirvine stood up.
‘I just wanted to say, both as the principal of this firm and as Noah’s aunt, that I am so proud of Noah. Although I have taken issue with some of his methods—’ I smiled pretending to be modest – and John and Branko laughed ‘—Noah has shown courage in the face of other people’s cynicism and dismissal of his opinions. He is highly intelligent and has demonstrated a strong sense of justice. And because of his contribution, Bernie White, Rodney Marks and Harold Webb will be locked up for a long time.’