Private Sydney (Private 12)

As I left a message, Mary reacted. The Wallaces had seen me at the office, but didn’t know her. She drove the Jeep up to the gate, lurching the gears as she came to a halt. She slid out and lifted the bonnet before kicking the car.

The helicopter drew closer.

Mary held up her phone in full view of the surveillance camera, as if looking for reception. The chopper remained on course as Mary buzzed the gate.

I watched, out of sight, ready to sprint at the first sign of trouble.

The front door opened and a male figure appeared in a T-shirt and shorts. The cocky walk was impossible to miss. It was Alexandrus Wallace aka Gus Finch.

He moved towards the electric gates and exchanged words with Mary. He had one hand in his pocket the whole time. He reached for something on the side and I tensed. Mary’s body language remained relaxed but I knew she was alert.

The gates opened and Wallace casually strolled through. He stopped within arm’s reach of her as he saw the helicopter closing in.

Chapter 47

THE WAIT WAS excruciating. I felt completely useless as Mary pointed to somewhere in the distance. Wallace shielded his eyes from the sun and nodded. I guessed Mary had invented a reason the helicopter might be flying by. Whatever she said worked. He was now peering over her engine.

The chopper buzzed closer. Mary moved swiftly and deftly, pinning him against the vehicle with his legs kicked wide apart and arms dragged behind him.

I dialled Brett’s number again. This time, within seconds, police cars swarmed the address without sirens. If the wife was inside with Zoe, she could still be unaware of the ambush.

Tactical Response officers in full kit readied their weapons. The scene was about to explode.

The officer in charge spoke into his cheek mike. I had done training with Terry McMahon. He was outcome-focused and fiercely protective of his team. The odds of getting Zoe out just improved.

I sprinted towards Wallace as an armed officer tried to block my way. I produced ID and explained the man in custody was Alexandrus Wallace, the murder and kidnapping suspect. Terry gave instructions to allow me through.

Wallace was struggling against the cable ties Mary had applied.

‘Thank God, you have to help me,’ he pleaded. ‘I came out to help and this crazy bitch attacked me.’

‘Clarkey, nice work.’ McMahon stood, legs wide, arms folded, smiling at her.

Wallace’s head flicked from me to the special forces officer. ‘You know each other?’

I stepped in front of him. ‘Mary works with me. Where the hell is Zoe Ruffalo?’

Dust and wind picked up along with the noise from the helicopter. It dropped its nose and seemed to pause before accelerating rapidly down to roof level and making a low pass.

Terry McMahon gave orders into his mike. His manner was calm, but his message uncompromising. ‘Get that chopper out of here. Now! Shoot it down if you have to.’

An officer waved it away. A weapon pointed in its direction seemed to deter the pilot from making another pass.

‘You people are crazy.’ Wallace pleaded with Terry. ‘I swear to God, I just came out to help someone who had broken down.’

‘No,’ I said, ‘you played me with lies about a surrogate. All you wanted to do was kill her. Was the baby a bonus, or was she the target all along?’

‘You are insane!’ he shouted. ‘I haven’t done anything wrong. I want this woman charged with assault.’

‘Who do you know this man to be?’ McMahon asked me.

‘Gus Finch,’ I said. ‘He presented to my office and I had no reason to doubt him.’

Mary handed over the wallet she’d removed from his back pocket.

Terry McMahon leant in. ‘Right now you’re under citizen’s arrest and I haven’t confirmed your identity. For all I know you could have stolen this wallet.’

‘That’s BS and you know it.’ He raised his head and called out, ‘I have rights. I want a lawyer. Can all of you hear me? I want a lawyer.’