Private Oz (Private 7)

“Can you close in on her there?” Johnny asked.

Darlene played her fingers over the keyboard, slowed the film, zoomed in and adjusted the enhancer to sharpen the picture. She was straining the software to its limits.

Tugging the mouse gently, she moved the center of the image to see what it was the woman was placing on the copier. They both noticed she was wearing latex gloves. She plucked a sheet of paper from her bag. It was impossible to see what was on it.

Darlene let the film creep forward a few frames a second. The first copy began to emerge. She shifted perspective, closing in on the paper spewing from the copier. It appeared slowly. She moved in closer still. Darlene toggled the controls on the enhancer, prayed the software would hold up.

And there, in the plastic collection tray of the photocopy machine, lay a sheet of paper containing the image of four fifty-dollar bills.

“Wow!” Johnny exclaimed.

“We still don’t know who she is,” Darlene commented. “I’ll get this over to the police. They may know something we don’t.”

Chapter 96

JUSTINE WAS WITH me in the office when Pam Hewes called to suggest we meet.

“You look exhausted, Craig,” Justine said as I put the phone down.

I gave her a wan smile. “Felt fresher.”

“Can I help?”

I was about to say, “No, everything’s cool,” then changed my mind. I told her all the details of the Hewes’ case. She looked intrigued.

“Would Pam mind if I helped out? Would you mind?”

I cocked my head. “It’s my call … I run my own show. And, well, I’ve persuaded myself it would be good to have you along!”

Pam Hewes arranged to meet me at a small café close to the Opera House. Justine and I arrived early and sat admiring the view.

We didn’t notice her come in. She lowered herself into a chair beside me and gave Justine a quizzical look.

“Hi, Pam, this is my colleague from the LA office … Justine Smith.”

The women shook hands.

“What you drinking?” I asked.

“Double espresso, please.”

I leaned back and called over the waitress.

“So Craig’s filled you in on my husband’s antics, I imagine,” I heard Pam say to Justine.

“What’s been happening?” I asked.

“Geoff’s returned.”

“You don’t seem that relieved.”

She exhaled. “No, I am relieved, but I’m also suspicious.”

“Did he explain where he’d been?” Justine asked.

“Oh, in that way he has,” Pam sighed. “Claims a couple of his drinking buddies played a prank on him. I don’t believe that for a second.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Does sound a bit …”