Wasted Lives, a Detective Mike Bridger novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

footage
only shows the view point of that camera", Grant said, pointing to
the camera above them. "I'm guessing when it flickers; it should
show footage from that camera above the counter. It's obviously not
working so we lose some of the action".
    "Well it's
still good evidence, bag it and we will get the Techs to take a
look, see if they can get anything more", Bridger said.
    "That's pretty
cold and calculating don't you think", Gillian said, "He didn't
even blink, not even a warning before shooting that man in the
back. He was just protecting his daughter and his livelihood".
    Bridger looked
at Gillian, "In some ways the actions of the victim actually
motivated the outcome", he said, "The man used force which left the
aggressor no choice but to retaliate with force".
    Gillian and
Grant both looked at Bridger disbelievingly.
    "Everyone is
motivated by different things", he continued, "It's not as simple
as good versus evil, there are any number of reasons for someone to
be on either side of that coin. I think it was Friedrich Nietzsche
who said; 'The good man is not the opposite of the evil man, rather
he is just a different expression of the same basic impulses that
find more direct expression in the evil man'".
    "You don't
really believe that do you Mike?" Gillian said in disbelief, "I can
see exactly where this poor man was coming from, and he is nothing
like those animals on the other side of the gun".
    "That means
absolutely nothing to me", Grant said, looking at Bridger with a
sober expression, "But it sounds pretty deep for you".
    "I'm not sure
I've actually figured out exactly what it means yet either, but
I've had a lot of time to sit and read lately," Bridger said,
shrugging his shoulders. He was wondering himself why he thought to
use that little piece of information.
    The radio on Gillian's belt crackled into life. ‘Any unit available to attend Unity Park in
Mornington, possible stolen Subaru abandoned in the car
park’ . The Police Dispatcher's voice was
tinny through the small speaker.
    Bridger's ears prickled, it was too much of a
coincidence. "I'll take that." He motioned
to Gillian to respond to the radio call. "Grant you stay here with
Gill and finish the scene. Ring Becky back and get her down to the
hospital to take over from Steve. I'll get the other's to meet me
at the park". Grant was a good operator and had the
scene under control and Detective Becky
Wright was more than capable of handling the hospital side of
things on her own. Bridger left the shop
and jogged over to his car, cell phone to his ear. It could not be
this easy.
     
    Once he
left the North East Valley the southbound one way system swept
Bridger through the central city quickly. There was not a lot of
traffic as the city and its roads settled down for the night. It
was less than eight minutes later when he parked his car in the
windswept car park of the Unity Park lookout. Brian Johnson and
John Mouller had already arrived and were standing with a uniformed
officer he did not know. The wind was buffeting them
around.
    Brian
was a senior Detective and one of his most trusted colleagues. His
calm, unflappable approach to the job had helped keep him in check
on numerous occasions. John Mouller was a good officer when he
wanted to be, which seemed to change from day to day. He always put
that down to John's current relationship status, which also changed
from day to day. As he got closer to the group, he got a surprise
to see that Jo Williamson was also there.
    "Hi
Brian, John… Hi Jo?” Bridger said, looking back at
Brian.
    Brian just
shrugged his shoulders, "No one said she should go back to uniform
after the Watson case, so we just let her hang around", he said,
smiling at Jo as he spoke.
    Jo did not
flinch "I've just been helping out until you got back Sergeant,
I've cleared it with my new boss, and Brian said it was okay", she
looked at Brian for confirmation. Brian nodded.
    Jo Williamson
had joined the team very soon after