Private Sydney (Private 12)

‘This couple,’ he asked. ‘Is there anything else you can tell me?’

I’d racked my brain all night for any more details about the pair.

‘Craig, give me something to work with.’

I stood up and faced him. ‘You know I want to find this child more than anyone else. My team worked through the night.’

Brett calmly rotated the cap in his hands. ‘Darlene’s contribution was invaluable. I’m trying to protect Private, but you know you aren’t the commissioner’s favourite. There’s going to be a backlash once the shock jocks call for mandatory homicide sentencing and senior heads on platters.’

He didn’t have to remind me. A breakthrough could not only save baby Zoe, but also our reputation.

‘Her face had minimal trauma,’ I explained. ‘Gut tells me someone wanted information from her. If they wanted to torture her, they were pretty amateur. Stabbing of the uterus was very specific.’

Brett remained focused on his cap. ‘The surrogacy motive is the best we have?’

‘Right now it’s all we have.’

‘Then I’ll get the taskforce to hone in on the surrogacy organisations. See if anyone admits to knowing this pair or meeting with them at some stage.’

He stood and I thanked him. Before he left I had one question.

‘What do you know about Eric and Eliza Moss?’

Chapter 41

BRETT COCKED HIS head. ‘Why would you ask?’

‘Eric Moss walked out of Contigo four days ago and no one’s heard from him since. The daughter suspects foul play.’

‘And you’re investigating him?’ Brett dropped his cap on the desk. ‘The Simpson murder is nothing compared to the Pandora’s box you’ll rip open with this one.’

The comment was not what I expected. What did the deputy commissioner of police know about Moss going missing? ‘How about I make you a decaf while you explain?’

We headed to the kitchenette. Brett had suffered heart palpitations and his doctor had recommended cutting back on caffeine. Greta, his wife, enforced it religiously in addition to a low-cholesterol, low-salt and organic diet.

‘Make it a latte and we’re on. I’ve got forty minutes before a briefing.’

I made the coffees while he stood against the bench, talking freely.

‘From memory, Eliza spent some time in the US, about three years ago. She and Jack Morgan had a thing for a while, I think, but it fizzled out.’

Brett knew Eric Moss and considered him a decent guy who connected well with people. ‘He could have talked the Middle East into peace.’ Committed to his business, he’d turned down jobs running a number of organisations for much better pay.

‘I had some dealings with him over police training with the retrieval squads. He was spot-on and had innovative ideas about improving our efficiency. From what I could tell, he was a golden boy for ministers, police and defence brass. Sending equipment overseas to help with disasters was great PR; kudos for the state and federal governments to get mileage from, especially at election time.’

He opened a white box and picked up a pastry left over from yesterday. Half went straight into his mouth.

I handed him the coffee.

‘Thanks,’ he managed, savouring his treat and picking up a chocolate croissant. ‘Greta –’

‘What happens in Private …’

‘You always could keep a secret,’ he said and took another large bite.

I asked if there was any hint of corruption at Contigo.

He stopped chewing. ‘Is that what you suspect?’