Private Sydney (Private 12)

‘Not yet. Otherwise they wouldn’t have come to me, or need to watch you. It makes sense; you’re his only family. He may try to pass something on to you, or send you a message.’ I looked directly into those intense green eyes. ‘Has he?’

‘No. I would have told you.’ She dragged a piece of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind one ear. ‘He would have warned me if something was wrong. That’s why I’m scared for him.’

I instinctively reached out and took her hand. ‘Maybe it happened too fast.’ It occurred to me that Eric knew whatever he was involved in could endanger his daughter. Alternatively, he may have known she’d be under surveillance and was unable to get in touch safely. ‘I suspect he may have known a time would come when he had to disappear. He just didn’t know exactly when until last week.’

‘Thank you for helping.’ Eliza gently squeezed my fingers. ‘What happens if the ambassador’s people, or the CIA, or whoever, find my father? What will they do to him?’

‘Honestly, I don’t know. First I have to find out what they want from him.’

The magazine reader got up and headed to the stairwell.

‘Can you think of anything he could have said, hinted at, or something he maybe gave you that at the time you thought wasn’t important?’

She stared at her lap, concentrating for a few moments. ‘Nothing stands out. We talked about going fishing again soon, or maybe a cruise. What if he did give me a sign and I missed it?’

‘It’s OK,’ I assured her. ‘Something might come back to you. For now, I want you to use this when we talk or meet.’ I pulled out a spare burner phone. ‘I’m the only one who has this but I’ve programmed in my staff’s contacts as well as mine. Don’t hesitate to call. What you may think is trivial could be vital in finding him.’

She put the phone by her side so it was hidden from view. ‘You mean before anyone else gets to him.’ Her voice wavered.

‘Your father may have ticked off some pretty important people. From what I know of him, he’s good at hiding. We have the advantage because we have you.’

She squeezed my hand again. ‘I’ll go through what I have. Cards, gifts, photos, messages.’

I felt a strange connection to this woman, one that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I put it down to her being a vulnerable client. Eliza Moss was no victim, but she could just be a target.

I stood and checked the foyer one more time. Apart from occasional glances, no one seemed particularly interested in us. ‘I’ll come see you when I get back from interviewing the Contigo Valley pilot. Whatever your father is involved in is serious. You need to be careful.’

Chapter 62

IN THE LAB, Johnny and Darlene sat on adjacent stools. He circled three recent billings on Louise Simpson’s credit card, all for a radiology practice in Manly.

‘Unless you know someone at a particular practice, why would you drive for what would be an hour-and-a-half round trip, with two small kids, just to get an X-ray?’

Darlene checked the billings. ‘My mum said her world shrank after kids. She stopped going to doctors, shops and hairdressers who weren’t near home or school.’

‘My point exactly. There are two other X-ray places within a five-minute drive.’

Darlene flicked through a series of notes she’d taken. ‘The GP says Louise didn’t have any medical problems apart from reflux and sciatica after the second child that settled in a couple of months. No tests either, nothing except the kids’ vaccinations.’

‘Maybe she was a doctor shopper. It wouldn’t be unusual if she wanted sleeping tablets or painkillers and didn’t want her regular doctor to know. Maybe they ordered the X-rays.’

‘That’s easy to sort out then.’ Darlene winked. She clicked at the computer and then phoned Medicare, leaning across Johnny to read the credit card bill.

‘I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to ask about one of my Medicare bills. Since my husband died, and the insurance company hasn’t paid us, things are pretty tight for the kids and me.’

She instantly had the operator’s attention.

‘I’m trying to go over my medical expenses, to see if we qualify for the safety net but I can’t remember all the tests I’ve had. I remember the last bill was for X-rays I had on the twentieth of last month. I paid $375.’ Her voice dropped away just a little. ‘My husband used to manage our finances.’

Johnny watched as she read out Louise’s name, date of birth and Medicare number. It was enough to get the operator to answer her query. After a few nods and ‘uh-huhs’, during which she took copious notes, she finished the conversation. ‘Thank you for this. You’ve been very kind.’

Johnny admired Darlene’s phone manner. She could charm a politician into giving away his dirtiest secrets.

‘Well,’ Darlene turned to Johnny, ‘Louise had three ultrasounds in a month, and six in the last three months. All of them were abdominal. She must have paid for some in cash if they’re not all on her credit cards.’

‘Don’t suppose she said which doctor ordered them?’

‘She did. The family GP – who has no record of them.’