Chapter 21

The crime scene was active even when Cliff arrived: the detectives had the investigation well under control; the forensics officer was collecting blood samples; a photographer was taking pictures of the scene. A police tape partitioned off the back of the building with a sign stating "No entry unless authorised". As he had entered, a detective had asked him who he was, and he�d shown his identification.

"My name�s Cliff Harrison of Homicide and the I.C.A.C. What�s been done here so far?" The younger detective seemed quite surprised by the brass that had turned up. It took a moment for him to answer this greying well-dressed man.

"We�ve only just arrived. Detective Christine Wallace from Kings Cross Police station is in charge. We�ve only been here ten minutes. The bloodstains in the loungeroom suggest that the murder could certainly have taken place here. Come inside."

Cliff followed the detective into the house and along the dimly lit hallway. After a couple of metres they turned right into the lounge. Blood was everywhere. Forensics was going over the place with a black light. An assistant looked like he was collecting traces of semen.

They approached the forensic officer. Cliff Harrison, this is Roger Davis. They shook hands.

"What have we so far? Cliff asked.

"We have a lot of blood. A spray of blood here", Roger said as he motioned, "and there suggest arteries being severed. This certainly was a brutal killing. I�ve found traces of pubic hair, and semen, hinting at sexual activity of some sort. It will take a couple of hours to go through the place. I�m going to have some fingerprints taken, and a thorough swab of the house. There�s a mountain of evidence here. If this is the murder scene, we would have enough to put the killer away I�m sure. "

"At approximately what time would you say the murder was committed?

"I can�t be accurate. I haven�t got a body to measure the temperature or signs of decay. Yet this blood seems to indicate, by it�s oxidation and taking into account the humidity of the past couple of days, that it�s about thirty eight to forty two hours old."

"That fits with the China Town murder doesn�t it?"

"Certainly could." Roger looked up in surprise. "Do you thi...? "

"I know!"

"Oh," Roger sighed, then turned back to his work.

Cliff walked out to the kitchen. A pile of unwashed dishes looked more than sufficient to obtain the necessary fingerprints, for evidence. A large knife with the remnants of a milky substance on the blade caught his attention. Without picking it up he looked closely at it. On the base of the blade, in the cracks, he could see what looked like blood. He quickly put the knife in a bag and marked it as evidence.

He was returning from a search of the bathroom when he heard a commotion at the front door. He walked through the kitchen and had just turned into the hall when he saw a policeman ordering everyone out of the house. He was throwing his authority around right and left, even the forensic specialist was confused as to what to do.

Cliff approached the boisterous Policeman and, just as he did, he saw Christine in tow. " Who are you?" the Policeman asked him.

"I�m special officer Cliff Harrison of the I.C.A.C. "

"Well I don�t really give a hoot where you come from. I don�t care what your title is. Get out of here, like I�ve told you"

Cliff could see the anger of the man facing him. He could see the fear in Christine�s eyes, and he asked. " Who died and made you Lord of the universe! And who do you think you are? Barging in on an official investigation and ordering everyone out of the building." As he said this, he put his face to within inches of the other policeman�s face.

"I�m Chief Dickens, from Kings Cross Police station. I�m in charge of this investigation. Now get out of here and do it now! "

Cliff could see the two detectives moving closer. They were tense and were packing up, ready to go. Roger looked at him awaiting his reply. He didn�t have to wait long.

"Perhaps I�ll put it simply for you Chief. I�m Special Investigator Cliff Harrison. My title and rank places me in a position to override your jurisdiction in this case. My loyalties are towards all Australian citizens, and this is my purpose for being here on this particular crime scene.". He could see the Chief�s face growing red with anger. In certain places it looked as if it was going to burst. "It�s primarily to investigate corruption in the police force. Your outburst today, in front of these witnesses, tells me certain things. Your loyalties may be resting somewhere else. Now stay here for a second and I�ll get back to you."

Addressing Christine, Cliff continued "With the evidence that has recently come to light, could you please inform these witnesses here, as to the standing of the murder suspect in this case."

Christine swallowed. " He�s only a suspect at this stage, but he is a Supreme Court Judge."

Cliff knew that he didn�t have to say any more. He knew where the Chief�s loyalties lay and now the witnesses present had suspicions. "Chief, you�re formally under investigation." He motioned for a Detective to assist the Chief away from the crime scene. "Could you please take the chief into Head Office. See that he remains there until I arrive. Once you get there, tell the head of my department whatever you feel is necessary. He�ll look after you. I expect all the witnesses present to make an official statement of the Chief�s outburst and the goings on here, as you saw them. You may also have to appear at a tribunal hearing to testify. You�re excused Chief."

The detective felt strange taking his own Chief to his car. The Chief was silent and sat in the passenger seat fuming. The detective started the car and commenced to drive out of the Cross, and out of the Chief�s jurisdiction. A silence had fallen on the crime scene. The Chief had made a tactical blunder.

Christine looked at Cliff, with worry in her eyes. "You see now why I told you to get down here immediately? "

"Sure can!" Cliff put his arm around her. He was extremely proud of her. He had been one of her lecturers in university and they had become close friends throughout the years. Many a time Christine had rung him and they had been together on a case quite a few times.

Cliff too, was a Christian, of similar mind to Christine. He believed in the written law. Not the unwritten type that infects the police force. He understood the day to day pressures a cop had to face. But he believed in one rule for everybody and not one for the public and one for the force. People like Cliff and Christine had to work harder for each promotion, that was a consequence of their uncompromising integrity, but they also were thrilled to be clean each day as they retired to bed.

Every policeman administers the law differently, according to his convictions. Some saw crime as crime, some saw it black, and some saw certain crimes as grey. Each policeman however had a toll taken on his family life. Things weren�t great for a lot of those who put their life on the line everyday. Some felt they earn special immunity, as recompense for the tough job they did administering the law. Yet Christine and Cliff were different. They served God, not man, and made all their decisions accordingly.

Christine stood there just holding onto Cliff. Her Chief had practically drawn the battle lines this morning. She wondered whether she could stand the heat. Her emotions were beginning to engulf her. To stand up for the law, and prosecute a mere citizen was okay. But to go against one of your own put her in a position that, although morally right, was ethically wrong in most copper�s eyes.

"I don�t know if I can handle this case." Christine said in a low voice into his shoulder.

Cliff rubbed her on the back like a father, and the friend he was. "Of course you can. You�re one of the best. You�re a professional."

"Yes, but to go against a Judge, and a Chief who has been good to me. I mean the kid�s dead. It won�t bring him back. "

Cliff pulled her head from his shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Where do your number one loyalties lie?

"To administer the law, she answered sullenly. She was under enormous strain. Cliff stroked her hair.

"Well! Today is the day I�ve been waiting for all these years, Christine. I�ve seen you put your career in front of what God may have wanted on a few occasions, for any number of reasons. I�ve seen you crying in desperation for the Kids of the Cross. I�ve seen you angry with the establishment for keeping them here. You�ve complained. But you have never risked your career to stand up for what is right. Today, my girl, is the day of decision.

From the evidence I�ve seen here, we have a case. You can assist me with all of your efforts, or you can turn away. If you turn away and we don�t nail the perpetrator of this crime, it may well happen again. Christine, do you know what I�m alluding too?"

"Yes, I know. I�ll do what�s right. I may as well go down fighting for what is right."

"Do you think you will go down in flames Christine?"

"No. Not if we do this right." Christine replied smiling.

"Okay then. Well let�s get back to business. We�ll leave the other detective and Roger here to continue to investigate. I�ll call in a couple of police to guard the scene here. We�ve already had one person try to interfere, I wouldn�t put it past them to try something else." He took Christine�s hand and led her to his car. " Let�s have a coffee and discuss this further.

*******

Dave and Mike were at the building site again. The work was coming along fine. The guys chatted As Tony worked he looked around. It made him happy to be able to help. He felt needed. He didn�t realise his life was seriously in jeopardy.

*******

Cyril/Michael received a phone call in his office. A thug had failed to get Tony out of the way. He was furious. He ordered that he be found. " I don�t care about the expense. Just get it done. He wasn�t feeling very well. He knew the case was touch and go. As he sat there, he looked at the evidence. His house was swarming with cops. But there was nothing connecting him to the house except testimony. All but one witness was gone.

He racked his brain. Then the thought hit him. The video tape. He rang the chief on his mobile. A voice on the other end spoke." Special Investigator Rogers. "

"Can I speak to Chief Dickens? "

"I�m afraid not. The chief is in custody. He isn�t receiving calls. Can I take a message and have him return your call." After he said it the line went dead.

Cyril slammed the phone down. His patience was wearing thin. How was he to get his hands on the videotape? He thought for a moment and then dialled another number. He waited and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Kings Cross Police station. Constable Jenkins speaking. "

Cyril put on a friendly, happy tone. " Hi Jenkins, this is Supreme Judge Michael Turner speaking. I wonder if you could do me a favour?"

"I�ll try," the officer said." He wasn�t aware of who the Judge was. He was new to the station.

"I�m involved with the case of the China Town murder. We have some new evidence that�s come to hand. It�s on videotape. I have just got off the phone from Chief Dickens. He hasn�t got a chance to put his hands on it for He asked me to give you a call and have you courier it over. Could you do that for me please?"

"Certainly can Sir." The conversation and request overawed the young officer, fresh from the academy. To do a favour for a Judge, to help solve the China Town murder would be a buzz to tell his girlfriend. " Where is the tape? "

Cyril had to think fast. He wasn�t expecting this question. Surely if the Chief had told him he should know, so he answered quickly by instinct. "Oh how silly of me. I was so excited to hear of a major breakthrough I hesitated to ask him. I naturally presumed that you fine officers in there, would all know."

Not wanting to appear inefficient, Jenkins replied. "Okay, where shall I send it?"

"Could you send it to my home address. You can appreciate its very sensitive material. Make sure you are discreet. None of the officers there know. Please keep that confidence for us?"

"Sure can! " Jenkins replied. What�s the address?"

Cyril gave him the address and hung up.

The young constable searched for the tape. Within a couple of minutes Jenkins was pushing the eject button on the video recorder. The tape came out and he sat in the Chief�s chair for a moment. The soft leather chair enveloped him and he swung around momentarily to look out of the window. Outside he could see Christine and another man approaching the front door of the station. He was shocked back into reality and put the tape in a large yellow envelope he had brought with him. He carefully sealed it and put a couple of staples in it to be sure. He began to write the address on it.

"Jenkins! "

He turned to see Christine. Instead of the bright, cheery face that normally greeted him every day he saw a strained one. " What are you doing in here, and what�s that in your hands?"

Jenkins knew he was probably in trouble for sitting in the Chief�s chair. He knew that being in the Chief�s office without his consent was a no no also. With that in mind he answered with respect, however he was happy with the good news that he had for them. " I�m sorry. I�m up here to get this videotape.... "

Christine cut him off, not in an angry manner, yet assertively all the same. "Who told you about that tape, and who were you sending it to."

Jenkins relaxed. A smile came to his face. " I received a call from Supreme Court Judge Michael Turner. He said the Chief had a tape of evidence for the murder. He said the Chief was held up in a meeting at the moment, and could I send him the video to his home address." As he replied the colour drained from Christine�s face. Seeing this, Jenkins became worried again " I hope that�s all right "

"No it isn�t really. In future, if someone asks for such an important request, always run it past a superior."

Christine thought of stopping right there in her explanation, however she decided she might as well make a new friend. "You actually have been contacted by the number one murder suspect. The judge. The tape you have in your hand could have ruined everything if you�d sent it." Now it was time for Jenkins to lose the colour from his face. Nervously he handed the tape over.

"Come into my office." Both men followed her through the large open office which was littered with on duty police officers and support staff, past the noise, until they were led into her own office. She closed the door. Taking another blank video from a case next to the camera and putting it in, she then positioned Jenkins in a seat and joined him, having first of all made a call outside. " Jenny, yes it�s Christine. Can you be a darling and get us three coffee�s from that cafe across the road. Something sweet too. Thanks "

Christine stood up, turned the video recorder on and took a note of the time and date. She introduced the people in the room, outlined the case and the reason for the Statement, and then proceeded.

"Constable Jenkins please state your full name and position."

Jenkins looked into the camera and began. "My name is Thomas Jeffrey Jenkins. I�m a constable stationed at Kings Cross Police Station. I�ve only been here one week. Prior to that I was in Canberra at the National Police Training facility.

"Can you tell me in relation to the case we�re talking about, how you were involved today?" Christine smiled at him, trying to put him at ease, yet she could see he was obviously nervous. She couldn�t blame him.

"Approximately fifteen minutes ago I received a telephone call from a man who identified himself as Supreme Court Judge Michael Turner."

"How exactly did the conversation start? More detail please."

"I answered the phone, �Kings Cross Police Station Constable Jenkins speaking�. The caller said. "Hi Jenkins, this is Supreme Court Judge Michael Turner, I wonder if you could do me a favour."

"And," Christine urged, how did you answer?"

"I said I�d try. I mean it�s not every day someone that important asks for a favour."

"Sure." Christine answered, seeing it from the lad�s perspective. "And then what did he say? "

"He said he was involved in the China Town murder case. He said he�d just talked to chief on the phone. The chief couldn�t put his hands on videotape that had evidence on it. And could I courier it out to his home address."

Christine smiled. Sure she was angry at almost losing the tape, yet happy the Judge�s plans had been foiled. "So was that the end of the conversation? "

"No, I asked him where the tape was supposed to be ". He said he didn�t know. He hadn�t thought to ask the Chief. He said that he knew we were fine officers and assumed we�d know were to find it. He then asked if I could be discreet about the tape. It was sensitive material. He gave me his address. I told him I�d find it and courier it. I had just found it and was wrapping it when you found me.

"Thank you Thomas, Christine said. She got up and turned the video camera off. Just as she did the coffee arrived and the three of them tasted their drinks. "I haven�t seen you much around the station Thomas, are you enjoying it so far?"

"Well it�s certainly becoming interesting," he said, attempting to smile. She glanced at Cliff. He seemed understandably tense, as was everyone. This was a major case.

"Thank you for your co-operation. Let this be a lesson to you Thomas. Now if you will excuse us, we have some work to get on with. Thomas stood up holding his coffee, asked if he could have a donut, and left the room with relief. As he closed the door Cliff asked Christine " What do you make of that little episode?"

"I think we have a Supreme Court Judge who�s a little worried. First he orders the Chief to stop the investigation, and then he tries to get his hands on the evidence. I wonder what other evidence he�s tried to remove."

"Let�s find out. Let�s follow up on this one first I don�t think the chief would be able to accept or make calls at the moment."

Cliff picked up the phone and dialled his office. "Yes, it�s Cliff, tell me, has the Chief of Kings Cross police station made any calls since he�s been with you? Thanks, yes I�ll wait."

He glanced over at Christine and held his hand to the mouthpiece. " They�re checking. He waited, looked around Christine�s office and took another sip of coffee. "You keep this office very neat and tidy. You always were organised, weren�t you! "

"Yes, I try." Christine said biting into a fresh cream bun. A little icing sugar stuck to her nose, and she wiped it off. Do you like the Scripture verse Nathaniel gave me? "

"I do. It is a very nice verse. Very applicable to this case don�t you think?" he read the verse out loud "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." See God�s in control. We just have to work together and let him bring things to light for us."

He saw Christine smile; it had been good for her to hear the scripture�s promise at this time. He took his hand off the mouthpiece. "Yes, Right. And you�re the officer who took the call. Yes, thanks." He hung up the phone and said. "It seems that the Judge has been telling some untruths. The Chief hasn�t made a call since leaving us at the crime scene, and certainly not from the office. Apparently, whilst he was being held in an interview, his mobile phone rang. The caller asked for the Chief, obviously knowing it wasn�t the Chief who answered. They told him the chief was in custody. The call abruptly ended.

Caller was told the chief was in custody. The phone was hung up.

When the caller was told he was in conference and could they get him to return the call, the caller hung up. I�d bet if we did a trace on that call it would lead to the Judge�s phone.

Now let�s look at other evidence. The child that was raped this morning. Have we done a medical on him to remove any sperm traces?"

"I�m not sure." Christine answered. She dialled her partner�s mobile phone. "Yes Mark. Can you tell me what happened to Colin? Yes. Right. Where are you now? Yeah, Okay, I�m in my office. See you shortly". She hung up the phone and looked at Cliff. He�s in the Royal Alexander hospital.

Cliff picked up the phone rang telephone directories waited and took down the number and dialled the hospital.

"Yes. Can I be put through to emergency?" He waited. Yes Can I find out the current status of a youth named Colin admitted in the last couple of hours due to an epileptic fit? He waited again. "Yes I�m special investigator Cliff Harrison of The Independent Commission Against Corruption. Yes that�s right. Colin." He paused. He took a bite of his cream donut, and as he swallowed coughed and spluttered. He swallowed and screamed into the phone. "What! I don�t believe it. Who attended him? I will repeat myself only once," he said in a stern tone. "Who was the doctor who attended him? Okay. Now put me through!" Cliff covered the mouthpiece and filled Christine in. "Colin�s dead! "

"This is Cliff Harrison. I�m a senior officer in the I.C.A.C. I�m sure you�ve heard of us. Now what was the cause of death? Don�t give me that garbage! Right. I�m coming over there!" He slammed the phone down, and looked at Christine in frustration.

"He isn�t at liberty to give out that information over the phone. This is getting bigger then we can handle. We need evidence to issue warrants. Especially to land a big fish like Michael. But already our evidence is being tampered with." He picked up the phone again.

"Yes this is senior officer Cliff Harrison. Can I speak to the minister please? Yes, I�ll hold. Tell him it�s a matter of national consequences. Yes, I�ll wait."

The minister in charge of Protective Services came on the line. "You disturbed a very important meeting," he said to Cliff.

"I�m sorry Bryce. I have a major problem here mate. I need resources and I need them fast."

"Hold on. What�s this about?"

"Let�s just say a paedophile. A Supreme Court judge is the suspect in the China Town

Murder. I have arrested the Chief of Kings Cross police station. I have two witnesses dead. One a victim of rape today, conveniently passes away in hospital. Another shot himself. This things moving fast, efficiently and ruthlessly for the other side. I need�

"Wait a sec, I�ve got my detective telling me something, Can you wait a few minutes." He returned to the phone. "We�ve just rung Parramatta Youth Correctional Centre. Another two kids who could identify the Judge, and place him as living or being in the house of the murder scene, accidentally fell to their deaths a couple of hours ago. We�ve broken into a network of very powerful men, who could be some of the biggest abusers of power in our state. Can you see why I called you from your meeting?"

"How many men do you want in your task force?" Bryce asked.

"At least ten." Cliff answered.

"Any special criteria?"

"Ten men that you know beyond doubt are absolutely honest. Any man that has had the courage to put a fellow cop in jail, or higher. Only men beyond doubt. I have a couple where I am; yet I�d prefer strangers. I have one good reliable detective with me. Christine is already at my side. I need three others here by tomorrow morning. Can you do it?"

"Yes, I can do it. We may have to pull them from all around Australia you know?"

"I know. But we�re talking about powerful figures here. People in high positions. Policemen, Judges, Jail authorities, leading Surgeons, the list looks as if it will go on. Can you obtain approval from Special Services for surveillance, logistics experts, physicians, forensics and so on? We�ll need professional protection for other witnesses. We�ve seen them kill already. Any one who can give evidence is in danger. Any one who is investigating is in danger. Any one who knows anything that could pin down the network is in danger. The total number of the group and the money expended will have to have no limits."

"Sure thing. Let me get onto it. What�s your number?"

Cliff told him his contact number, thanked him for his help and hung up the phone.