‘I’ve thought about it.’
‘Have you thought about why it was hidden at all?’
‘Of course. The serial numbers were on record.’
‘But you were willing to go for it straight away. How come? I’m asking just out of professional interest; I couldn’t care less whether you get the money or not. Finance companies are just corporate thieves as far as I’m concerned.’
He laughed. ‘Got a mortgage, have you? Well, that’s one of the reasons I went to the Tanners. They’ve got connections to launder the dough—sell it at a discount maybe. I’d still have come out with a lot if they hadn’t got greedy.’
‘What’s your move now?’
I caught his sidelong glance. ‘Look, Cliff, I said I owe you and I do, but that doesn’t mean I totally believe what you say about the money and finance companies, or that I totally trust you.’
I shrugged. ‘Believe what you like. All I’ve got is a mild professional interest in that stuff.’
He didn’t reply. We were in Mayfield close to the apartment building. I circled the block a couple of times.
Twizell was alert, checking everything. ‘I’ll answer one of your questions. It’s the time-lapse factor. The security company had the numbers but they’d replaced the money with cash of their own. They didn’t give a shit about the numbers. The guys that lifted it must’ve just waited a while to see how things broke. Didn’t look as if it’d been there very long. The money’d still have to be managed, but no one’s looking out for it.’
For the second time I realised he was smarter than people gave him credit for.
‘Except the ones who stole it and, as I say, word might be getting around.’
‘Negotiable,’ he said. ‘Looks all clear here. I’m going for the car.’
I gunned the motor and shot away.
‘Hey! My car!’
‘Didn’t you say you had to check in with the police?’
‘Yes. Next stop.’
‘No car, no check-in until you take me to Kristie.’
~ * ~
18
It felt good to be taking some decisive action instead of just reacting to things as they came up. Tight-lipped, I drove a couple of kilometres making turns at random. When I stopped I had no idea where we were. I turned to Twizell.
‘Time to stop pissing around, Jack. You put me in touch with Kristie or I drop you here and check you out of the motel. You can swing in the breeze with Hector and Clem and the guys who stole the money after you.’
He checked his watch. ‘I’m supposed to see my parole officer in half an hour and check in with the police straight after.’
You’ll make it if we have an agreement, otherwise I’ll keep you here and you’ll be fucked. Want to add the cops to the list?’
‘Okay, okay. As soon as you get me back to my car and I get through the appointments I’ll try to take you to her.’
‘No way. You’re without wheels until the moment I see her.’
‘Jesus, Hardy. I said I’d try.’
‘Try hard,’ I said. ‘Try very hard.’
~ * ~
I drove back into the city and waited in the soulless building that housed people in what Wakefield had called the custodial industry, while Twizell saw the parole officer. He was in and out very quickly.
‘Did he ask about your scratches?’ I said.
‘She. No, she hardly gave me the time of day. I don’t think she liked me.’
We walked two blocks to the police station and I sat on a bus stop seat outside while he went in. I reflected that I’d broken my undertaking to Kerry Watson to tell him if I ran into Hector Tanner, but the circumstances were against it. Tanner said he had places to go that nobody except him knew so there wasn’t much point in telling Watson about the encounter now. Next time, maybe.
It was late in the afternoon when Twizell came out of the police station.
‘How did it go?’
‘Bastards.’
That’s all he said. We walked back to the car. I sat with my hands on the steering wheel.
‘Well,’ I said. ‘It’s time to find Kristie.’
‘You’ve phoned her?’
‘Of course—landline and mobile. No answer. I went to her address. A neighbour said she hadn’t been seen since the balloon went up. Is there a friend she’d go to?’
‘She had a girlfriend named Michelle who lived in Broadmeadow.’
For the next couple of hours we drove around, visiting people Twizell named and trying various places like a gym, a dance studio and a florist where Twizell said Kristie had worked part-time. We came up empty.