Private Sydney (Private 12)

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; McMahon leant in closer. ‘We’ll be storming your house any minute. Our priority is getting the child out alive.’ He held the microphone, turned his head to the side and spoke into it. ‘Get into positions and wait for my command.’

As armed officers entered the property and spread out, I gave Wallace another chance.

‘Tell us where your wife’s got the baby. Once they go inside, if there’s any resistance, they’ll shoot.’

Chapter 48

‘YOU’RE CRAZY. WE don’t have a child. That’s the reason we went to you. To find out about Louise Simpson.’

‘You just admitted that in front of witnesses,’ I said.

Mary and I babysat Wallace while Terry rang the home number. A few seconds later, he hung up.

‘She answered. She’s inside.’

‘God Almighty.’ Wallace tried to free himself from the binds. ‘You’ve got it wrong. We don’t have a baby. I’m trying to tell you. I swear that part was true.’

‘Then why did you lie to us?’ Mary kept one hand on his shoulder.

‘Friends we met on the surrogate site told us to. To protect ourselves.’ Wallace looked like he was about to cry. Gone was the arrogance. ‘Please don’t hurt Jen. She didn’t do anything wrong.’

‘Why would you need to lie if you were going through with an altruistic surrogacy?’ Mary quizzed.

He lowered his head. ‘It was always about money. To start with, Louise wanted twenty-five thousand. Up front.’

‘Did she say she wanted more?’ Mary demanded. ‘Is that why you hit her?’

‘What? No! It was always twenty-five now, twenty-five after delivery. We met her and everything was fine.’

‘So what made you beat her? She change her mind? Is that why you rammed a knife into her?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t hit or stab anyone. Jennifer and I met Louise yesterday afternoon. At Queenscliff Beach. We worked out the arrangements and left. We’ve even got a medical appointment booked for next week.’

‘Louise isn’t going to make that one,’ I said. ‘But you already knew that.’

‘I swear to God. Louise Simpson is fine.’

Mary went to the Jeep and pulled out two crime scene photos. She slapped them on the engine in front of Wallace. ‘Do these jog your memory?’

He looked at them and turned his head away. ‘Why are you doing this?’

‘Look closer. Ring any bells?’

‘Please,’ he begged. ‘What does any of this have to do with us?’

‘Louise Simpson is dead.’ I jabbed at the photos. ‘Because of you. Then you took Zoe Ruffalo, an innocent baby.’

‘Wait. Is that what you think?’ He pleaded with both of us. ‘You’ve got it all wrong. I’ve never seen that woman before. I don’t know who she is, but she definitely isn’t Louise Simpson.’

Chapter 49

THE TACTICAL RESPONSE team entered the house simultaneously through the front and back doors. Four more squad cars pulled up. Mark Talbot climbed out and headed towards us, as Terry McMahon checked in with his team.

The woman had surrendered and was in custody. No shots had been fired.

I pulled Mark aside.