Private Oz (Private 7)
“His latest scam is managing Loretto’s brothels.”
“Go on.”
“About a dozen of ’em around Sydney.”
“That’s interesting, but …”
“But, that’s not the whole story, buddy.” He relaxed a little, took a couple of steps toward me. “Hewes is a cocksucker, oversteppin’ the mark, like, big time. He’s either stupid or he has balls bigger than a gorilla’s.”
“Meaning?”
“Loretto’s No. 1 whorehouse is in Chester Street, Mosman, okay? Smart place. Gets a better class of customer! But what does the moron go and do? He only double-crosses the Johns!”
“How?”
Patrick took another step forward and leaned against the wall. “He’s set up cameras in the bedrooms, right? Records the goings-on. The girls are in on it. He pays them to keep quiet. Clients include bankers, lawyers, traders, a few judges, politicians … usual suspects!”
“So you think Geoff’s in serious trouble?”
“You could say that. I actually reckon right now he’s the main course for the fishes … at the bottom of Sydney Harbour. At least I hope he is!”
Chapter 56
SHE WATCHED THE woman walk across the parking lot behind the supermarket. A warm breeze swept innocently over Bellevue Hill.
The woman’s name was Yasmin Trent, five-nine, dressed in designer jeans and a singlet, nice, even tan, jeweled Rolex on her left wrist, bunch of jangling Tiffany on the right.
Julie O’Connor was standing a few yards from the back door of Yasmin’s Toyota LandCruiser, merging into the background. She could sense the fear in the neighborhood and reveled in the fact that it was all her doing. In a local shop she overheard women talking about the “serial killer”. It was thrilling but dangerous – she knew she would have to tackle this next kill differently.
Yasmin Trent touched the remote, the car bleeped and flashed. She pulled herself into the driver’s seat, shut the door. Julie jerked herself into the back.
Yasmin started to turn, screamed.
“Don’t move, bitch!” Julie hissed and Yasmin felt something hard and cold at the nape of her neck. She screamed again.
“Once more and I’ll slice your pretty head off … got it?”
Yasmin shut up.
She could see the figure in the back reflected in the mirror. It was a woman in a hoodie, bleached, crispy blonde hair protruding from under the fabric, no eyebrows.
“Drive,” Julie said quietly.
Yasmin had frozen.
“Okay,” Julie said a little louder. “I get you’re terrified. But you will turn the key. You will pull out the parking lot. And you will drive along the road or I’ll not only slice you up, I’ll come back for your kids.”
Julie felt Yasmin jerk and the engine fired up. The car pulled out of the parking space. Julie kept the eight-inch blade she was holding tight up against Yasmin’s slender, tanned nape.
“Good,” Julie hissed. “Very good.”
Chapter 57
“WHAT IS THIS all about?” Yasmin said. She had calmed down enough to speak coherently, but there was still a tremor to her voice that Julie found gratifying.
She didn’t reply. Just looked out the window at the shops lining New South Head Road flash past. They were driving along the main thoroughfare from the Eastern Suburbs toward the business district. Following Julie’s instructions, Yasmin pulled the LandCruiser off at the next junction, through a toll booth and onto the freeway, heading west.
“What is this about?” Yasmin repeated.