Challis - 05 - Blood Moon Read Online Free PDF Page B

machine. This was the morning ritual in CIU: he made the coffee,
the others took turns to provide pastries from the bakery in High Streetunless
it was Scobies turn, in which case he brought scones, cupcakes or muffins
baked by his wife. Challis preferred the pastries.

    When the coffee was ready he loaded
the coffee pot, four mugs and a jug of microwaved milk onto a tray and carried
them to the briefing room, where the others were already waiting, Ellen
arranging almond croissants on a plate in the centre. She knew what he liked.

    Challis always stood during briefing
sessions. It allowed him to move between whiteboards with a pointer during
complex cases, or otherwise simply prop up a wall while everyone tossed around
ideas. This morning there was only one matter of any urgency, the attack on
Lachlan Roe.

    Ive just been to the hospital, he
said. Roe is still unconscious. It was a pretty frenzied attack, we could be
looking at brain damage. And it didnt help that he was lying in the open all
night.

    Ellen licked icing sugar from her
fingers. Forensics?

    Plenty of blood, mostly from Roe
presumably. A possible mucus smear on his elbow that might be from his
attacker. We wont know until the DNA results come in. There might also be some
fibre evidence from his clothing.

    He turned to the others. Scobie?
Pam? Any witnesses?

    Sutton stirred in his seat. He
looked tense. No CCTV, sorry.

    Murph?

    Pam Murphy was new to CIU, persuaded
to make the switch from uniformed work by Ellen Destry, whod noticed her
aptitude for detection. She was thirty, with the taut, neatly put together look
of an athlete, her hair short and layered. Like Ellen, she was dressed
unremarkably. She swallowed some coffee and checked her notebook.

    We managed to question most of the
neighbours before they left for work. The woman who found the victim said she
heard shouting last night, around midnight. She didnt do anything about it
because she assumed it was the schoolies from the tents across the road. Theyve
been partying hard every night since Friday. Another witness saw a young man in
a hoodie running away from the area late last night. Didnt see his face. We
still need to follow up on a couple of shift workers whod already left this
morning.

    No one saw anything earlier in the
evening? Someone hanging around, an unfamiliar car on the street?

    Scobie threw his hands up. Its
Schoolies Week. The joints full of strangers and strange cars.

    Challis uncoiled from the wall,
nodding philosophically. If the attack was random, he said, pulling out a
chair and helping himself to a croissant, and theres no DNA evidence, no
witnesses, were stuck. But Lachlan Roe might have pissed someone off, so lets
look closer at him. Standard victimology: where he works, who his associates
are, finances, hobbies, interests, last known movements, the usual drill. In
particular, the brother and the school.

    He paused, looking hard at Sutton. Scobie,
this morning you gave Dirk Roe permission to collect personal items for the
victim?

    Scobie wouldnt look at him. Correct.

    How did Dirk know that his brother
had been attacked?

    Scobie coughed, shifted about in his
seat. I phoned him.

    You know these men?

    Yes.

    How?

    Sutton looked hunted and tried to
find a place for his hands. My wife.. .through the church.

    You thought youd do the right
thing, said Challis flatly.

    Yes.

    Scobie, the brother could be our
assailant.

    Sutton swallowed. I doubt it. They
were close.

    Perhaps you should recuse yourself,
Challis said.

    In fact, that was the last thing he
wanted, if only because he couldnt afford to lose the manpower. But he needed
to know that Scobie Sutton wouldnt try second-guessing any aspect of the
investigation.

    Im fine, boss. Honest.

    Even so, I dont want you talking
to Dirkor his brother, if and when he regains consciousness. Finish the
doorknock, okay?

    Boss.

    Ellen, if you could check out the
school angle?

    Will do.

    Challis turned again to Pam Murphy.