Private Sydney (Private 12)

I RANG JOHNNY and explained why we wouldn’t be back. He filled me in on the ultrasound billings from the Manly radiology practice. I agreed there was a good chance Louise Simpson’s impersonator had access to the facility or someone on staff. He assured me Collette was in good hands. They planned to see if the boyfriend tampered with her new phone, then track who he was working for. We should know then who had been bugging our offices.

Next I texted Eliza to let her know I wouldn’t be back until the morning. I found myself looking forward to seeing her. I knew it had little to do with her disability. She was intelligent,

resilient, high-achieving but down to earth with no pretences. I liked her quirky sense of humour. In my world of obscenely wealthy men, trophy wives, celebrities, models, pop and movie stars, she was intriguing.

I knew she was a client but it didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy each other’s company while it lasted. The thing that bothered me most was the feeling that the news about her father was unlikely to be good. The pilot’s concerns echoed mine. If he was dead, chances were the body would never be found. Especially if he were somewhere remote on Contigo’s base or the parkland surrounding it.

Mary searched internet maps and discovered the containers were approximately five kilometres directly south-west of our location. Most of the terrain we had seen from the plane was manageable. She collected dark overalls, night-vision goggles, water and other essential supplies.

Geoff Andren was right. The cabins were equipped for any bush expedition.

We dressed and waited until dark to head out. Mary had gone for a light jog around the perimeter and noticed a guard who looked military. His walk and build suggested he was in charge. It wasn’t unusual to have one professional and others to make up the numbers. Arnie was polite but hardly a threat if he challenged someone. He hadn’t even checked our IDs. Without that attention to detail, the chances were we could leave the main compound without being seen.

Chapter 74

OUTSIDE COLLETTE’S HOME, Johnny and Darlene sat in his black V8 Commodore. Collette had asked to have the place to herself tonight, so her flatmates were headed to the movies. On cue, the pair wandered out the front door and drove off in a compact Mazda.

The target, who Collette knew as Callum Byrne, arrived early, carrying wine, flowers and a large gift bag.

‘Our boy’s a player,’ Darlene declared. ‘It isn’t only information he’s after. In my book that makes him a prostitute.’ She raised her can of Diet cola. ‘Here’s to locating his pimp.’

Johnny made a mental note to hide the chocolates he’d bought for Darlene from the convenience store. He had ducked off for snacks while Darlene planted listening devices in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen area in the hope Callum would give something away. It was more, though, for Collette’s safety. First hint of a problem, they would enter the house and get her out.

Right now, the couple were in the kitchen. Callum was asking if she’d had any ‘brushes with fame’ in her work. She turned the question on him. ‘You first.’

He started by telling her he’d met a few famous people. Jon Bon Jovi in New York once, Katy Perry down at Bondi, and taken a selfie with Russell Crowe when up near Byron Bay.

Collette gushed that Callum was more handsome than the actor.

He responded by wanting to know all about the famous people she’d met in her job.

Collette said she’d signed a confidentiality agreement when she joined the agency and couldn’t possibly tell, but there were some major celebrities – she emphasised the words – who came to them for help.

‘She’s doing well,’ Darlene said. ‘Knowing how nervous she is, you can’t pick it in her voice.’

Johnny hoped so. He opened a bag of crisps and offered some to Darlene, who declined.

As the sun set, they heard a pop and both went for their car doors.

Collette giggled. ‘The cork almost hit the glass cabinet.’

Johnny and Darlene relaxed, knowing Collette was commentating for their benefit.

‘That bottle’s been opened pretty fast,’ Johnny said. ‘Maybe he thinks if she’s drunk, she’ll talk more or not notice him checking her phone.’

‘I sent you a song today but it didn’t go through,’ Callum said as glasses clinked.

‘My phone battery died,’ Collette replied. ‘Was thinking of getting it checked ’cause it’s been running down really quickly.’

‘No need for that – I can check on it. Why don’t you heat up the butter chicken? I’m starving.’

Darlene grabbed a crisp from the pack. ‘Didn’t take him long. He’s definitely the one who put the software on it.’

But Johnny’s attention had turned to a dark Ford sedan that was pulling up a block down the road. No one left the vehicle. When a car turned into the street, its lights silhouetted two large figures inside.

He and Darlene slunk down, out of view. ‘What do you think they’re doing?’ she asked.

‘Not sure. Three of them makes serious muscle. Things just got a lot more complicated,’ Johnny said.