‘Then we have to move into damage control. From here on in we must maintain secrecy and let that publicity die.’
It would be a useless exercise. Harrigan left this unsaid.
‘Do we know why Falcon didn’t pursue Beck and du Plessis for murder four years ago?’ he asked instead. ‘There was enough evidence.’
‘I have no information on that,’ Grey said. ‘Our primary role in this is to arrest two individuals who have contravened British national security laws.’
‘Where does that leave du Plessis? If we apprehend him, is there any intention he be charged for the massacre we just saw on the net?’
‘Before anything, Falcon will want to interview him and determine what he does and doesn’t know. He may also need to be extradited. If his evidence in any way revealed knowledge of Falcon’s operations or its operatives, then that information would have to be prevented from entering the public domain. I understand he’s wanted for murder in South Africa. That may have to be sufficient retribution.’
‘There’s a question of how much access we’ll be allowed to any of these individuals once they are apprehended,’ the commissioner said. ‘If they’re to be returned to Britain for questioning almost immediately, when do we get to interview them?’
‘You will be given access in due time. But the individuals in question will need to be debriefed first and made to understand what they can and cannot say. Please be assured that we have the political authority of the federal and state governments behind us. It’s their intention we cooperate with the British secret service.’
‘How long will these debriefings take?’ the commissioner asked. ‘How will we be advised when these people are available to us?’
‘You will be informed at the right time. You have my word on that. Meanwhile, we’ll continue with the manhunt. Does that cover everything?’
‘Paul. Do you have any questions or comments?’
‘These two people have already been driven to act in extreme ways,’ Harrigan said. ‘I wouldn’t underestimate them, particularly now. You may not find them easy to track down, particularly Jonas.’
‘This is where you come in, Paul,’ the commissioner said. ‘I’m making the information you’ve collected so far available to ASIO. With your and your squad’s assistance, they will analyse it here. That process will begin first thing this morning.’
‘We’ll cooperate in every way.’
‘Thank you,’ Grey said. ‘I think that’s all for the time being. Our agents will be here soon. I understand your people are on their way in, those that aren’t here already. Good morning.’
‘Is Elena Calvo really your choice for the individual du Plessis is working for?’ the commissioner asked as soon as Grey had left the room.
‘The evidence is circumstantial. But she’s the one with the motive and the means.’
‘If that’s the brief you’re going to present to me, it will need to be based on something stronger than circumstantial evidence. Now, regarding this turn of events. Realistically, we have no choice, Paul. The Minister for Police made it very clear to me last night that we are to cooperate. I advised him we’ll do what’s asked of us.’
‘Commissioner, if I could say this. You didn’t advise me that this watching brief was in place. We might have been able to assist you with it.’
‘I advised no one,’ the commissioner said. ‘At that stage, I didn’t know who I could trust and that’s a fact. Given the events of this last week, I think that judgement has been well and truly borne out. But the situation has changed. There’s another matter I wanted to discuss with you. Are you happy in your present job?’
‘It’s challenging. I find it satisfying,’ Harrigan replied, taken by surprise.
‘Now that the special assistant commissioner is no longer with us, I intend to reorganise the executive ranks. I will be advertising several senior positions quite soon. My advice to you is that you apply for one. I can’t promise you a position, of course, but I can promise you your application will receive very careful consideration.’
‘Thank you, Commissioner. I’ll think very carefully about it.’
‘Good. Now, this morning’s liaison meeting between ASIO and your squad’s senior people-I want you to chair it. I’ve scheduled it to start at seven thirty. In the meantime, would you like to get some breakfast? Chloe’s arranged a buffet in the executive meeting room.’
‘Commissioner,’ Harrigan said, ‘the video that was on the net this morning. What action are we taking about it?’
The commissioner pushed his papers to the side irritably.
‘It’s not in our jurisdiction. Leave it to the International Criminal Court. Realistically, we have no power to act. You must know that.’
The executive meeting room had a view. If Harrigan’s application was successful, he would get an office like the one Marvin used to have, with a similar outlook. Better than the villagers he’d seen on the net this morning, whose only view was the dirt on the sides of their makeshift graves. He ate from Chloe’s generous buffet with a bitter taste in his mouth. If he applied for a senior executive position, where would that leave him with Grace? Nowhere, most likely. It would demand even more of his time. Life had snookered him by giving him what he most wanted while making it taste sour at the same time. His phone rang. He was relieved to have his thoughts broken.
‘Commander. It’s Elena Calvo. If you have the time, can you see me at my office in Australia Square right away? I’ve decided I do need your help. There are some matters I would like to discuss with you privately.’
Harrigan decided the job could spare him between now and seven thirty.
‘I don’t have much time, but I can be there.’
‘My bodyguard will meet you at the entrance to the car park.’
‘I’ll see you shortly.’
She was more frightened than he had realised. He went to his office where he put on his wire and checked his firearm. He didn’t ring Grace; he would do that later. Everything would happen later.
28
Grace’s mobile rang while she was finishing dressing. She wondered if it could be Harrigan. When she answered, it was Daniel Brinsmead.
‘Will you come and talk to me?’ he asked. ‘I’m sitting in a visitor’s parking spot outside your building in a white Toyota sedan. Will you come down?’
If her mind hadn’t been so troubled by what she’d just seen on the net, she would have said no.
‘Okay.’
She had no gun; Harrigan had taken care of that. Armed with only her mobile phone, she went downstairs. A white Toyota sedan was parked in the spot closest to the ramp. The driver’s door was open; Brinsmead was sitting in the passenger seat. Through the open door, she saw his burns, the shock of his scarring.
‘Will you get in?’ he said.
‘Are you armed?’
‘Me? No. What for? Look.’ He spread his arms as far as he could in the car, then opened the glove box. ‘Check wherever you want. I don’t have a gun.’
They sat beside each other in the car. Grace had already turned off her mobile. She wanted no interruptions, no questions from Harrigan about what she was doing.
‘What do you want?’ she asked.
‘I want to talk to you. Have you turned on your computer this morning?’ he asked.
‘Yes. I saw what you posted there. You did post that video, didn’t you? That’s how you got your scars. Those were the people who died when you didn’t. You know their names, and you repeat them every morning when you wake up and tell them you haven’t forgotten them.’
‘We introduced ourselves inside the school. I couldn’t speak the local language, but one of the villagers spoke a little English, the man who rode in the front with me. Before they all died in the flames. The ones who didn’t run outside and were shot.’
‘Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?’
‘I wanted to ask you if you’d drive me to Campbelltown and back. I won’t make the distance out there driving myself. I only just made it here.’