Private Sydney (Private 12)

‘If she couldn’t work as a doctor, what was she doing at the practice?’

‘She’s in charge of the contract cleaners. It was either that or drive a taxi.’

Chapter 98

I GOT THE call from Johnny. He was at Balgowlah and had a strong lead this time. Sigrid Hall. A woman who was medically trained and knew her way around X-ray machines. And who worked nights cleaning at the Manly radiology practice.

While he was on the line, I searched for her business. All I could locate was a post office box for her contracting company along with a phone number. I dialled the landline but was sent straight to voicemail.

There was no one with the name Sigrid Hall listed in the White Pages. All the usual databases came up short.

Johnny mentioned an ex-husband with a used-car business.

‘That’s something. We can call them all if we have to, to find him.’

There were multiple entries with the surname Hall in that postcode area.

‘Bingo,’ I said aloud. ‘Hall’s Honda is on Military Road.’

Johnny wasn’t far and I told him I could be there in minutes. We pulled up at the same time and entered the office.

A friendly receptionist said Tony Hall was with a client. ‘We’ll wait, thanks,’ I said.

Johnny phoned Mary and told him where we were. She wanted to be kept in the loop the second he got an address for the radiologist-cum-cleaner.

A toned man in his thirties in a red polo shirt and black trousers greeted us.

‘I was told to ask for Tony,’ I said.

‘At your service,’ he grinned. ‘What are you after today? It’s a great time to buy. We do fantastic deals on trade-ins.’ He glanced at Johnny. ‘And can provide instant finance at competitive rates.’

The white toothy smile and spiel were well practised.

‘Actually, this is about your wife.’

‘Ex.’ The friendly persona instantly vanished. ‘Piss off,’ he said, storming back towards the show room. ‘Tell her the goddamn well is dry. I don’t care if she can’t make bail. She can rot in hell.’

Johnny followed. ‘We’re not here for money. A baby is missing and Sigrid could be at risk.’

‘Boo hoo,’ he mocked. ‘Let me guess. One of you screwed around with her; she got knocked up. You did the right thing and paid all her expenses. Well, wake up and smell the bullshit. She never was pregnant.’

A female staff member in heels, black dress and red scarf came through the sliding glass doors and asked if everything was all right. Her badge said ‘Marianne’.

‘This guy wants to know about Sigrid. He was just leaving.’ Tony turned to go inside. The employee rested her hand on his upper arm.

‘Isn’t it enough she almost bankrupted him?’ She threw her hands up. ‘You people are unbelievable. They are divorced and Tony isn’t legally responsible for her debts.’

I interrupted. ‘Sigrid could be in serious trouble. Right now. We need to find her before someone else gets killed.’

Marianne rolled her eyes. ‘You really bought into the whole drama, didn’t you? Poor little Sigrid? What about the people she’s hurt?’

‘We’re private investigators, working on a police investigation,’ Johnny tried.

‘Then why don’t you talk to your police colleague? I gave him Sigrid’s address to get rid of him.’

Someone else was after her. Before us. ‘Who else was here?’

She folded her arms. ‘The detec