Wyatt - 04 - Cross Kill Read Online Free PDF Page B

Wyatt
that Rossiter knew hit banks, armoured cars, not the cash reserves of other
crims.

    I mean, theyre ripe for a
takeover. The flash boys are sniffing around, seeing what they can pick up, but
not you, Wyatt.

    Thats my business.

    Rossiter regarded him for a while. This
wouldnt be personal?

    Information, Ross, thats all I
want at this stage.

    Youll need a darn sight more than
information.

    Let me take care of that.

    Wyatt waited, letting the old crim
get used to the idea. Someone passed by the side window. He stiffened, looked
at Rossiter sharply.

    Leannes going, Rossiter said, a
grin on his staved-in face. Back in a tick.

    He went out the front door. Wyatt
went to the window, saw Rossiter and Eileen kiss and hug Leanne and the children goodbye. No one else was around. Wyatt returned
to the armchair as Rossiter came back into the room.

    Information, Ross.

    Rossiter shrugged. Ill tell you
what I can.

    I checked the Mesic place out
yesterday

    Rossiter grinned. Wog heaven?

    Wyatt made a cutting motion with his
hand. He was not good at this kind of conversation. I need to know about the
people living there.

    You heard the old man died?

    Ive been on the move, Wyatt said.
I dont know anything.

    Old Karl died a couple of weeks
ago, leaving Leo, the youngest boy . . .

    Solid? About thirty? Moustache like
a cop?

    Thats him.

    Who else?

    His wife, Stella.

    Tell me about her.

    Smart, but bottom drawer, if you
know what I mean. Leo brought her back from a Gold Coast holiday one time.
Cluey though, smarter than Leo.

    I saw an older bloke, skinny, long
hair, flashy dresser.

    That wouldve been Victor, the old
mans favourite. Hes been handling things in the States. They reckon there you
can pay some kid a hundred bucks to hot-wire a Mustang and drive it straight to
the wharf and onto a container ship. Convert it to right-hand drive here and
sell it for twenty grand.

    Wyatt didnt care about any of that.
Anyone else?

    Thats all I know of.

    There were footsteps, then another
shape passed the side window. Wyatt heard noises in the carport. A powerful
motor was run viciously at full throttle for a few seconds, allowed to subside,
punished again. Rossiter shrugged. Hell quit in a minute.

    They waited. A short time later
Niall went around to the back of the house again. Wyatt said, So whos the
brains of the show?

    Well, there you go, mate. The
Mesics have never been that big or that smart, just lucky. Somehow or other
they managed to end up with a fair old slice of the stolen car racket, plus
some small-scale pushing interstate. The word is, now the old mans dead theyre
losing their grip. Mates of mine seem to think Stella and Leo could run the
firm okay, only Victors got other ideas.

    Meaning?

    Meaning Victors got big plans for
them. Stolen cars? Forget it. Ive heard he intends to convert everything to
cash so he can be the front man for some funny money coming in from the States
to run the clubs and casinos, caper like that.

    This was all speculation. Wyatt was
more interested in the here and now. Tell me about the day-to-day side of
things.

    The money side of things?

    Wyatt nodded.

    Simple. Cash comes in every day
from all their chop-shops, spare parts outlets, car dealerships.

    All legitimate businesses?

    With two sets of books, one for the
tax man, the other for the black stuff.

    What happens to the cash?

    Once a week, on a Friday, everyone
gets paid and the rest gets laundered.

    Wyatt liked that. The strictly cash
heists had been drying up for him. It seemed no one used cash anymore. So I
need to hit on a Thursday night.

    Better make it soon, or it could
all be gone, Rossiter said. Thursday week should give you time to set it up.
I wish you luck.

    Wyatt didnt believe in luck, good
or bad. He believed in people who had skills and nerve. He wandered to the
window again, mentally putting a team together.

    Behind him Rossiter said, Anything
else you want to know?

    You ever hear from Frank Jardine?

    He