Private Sydney (Private 12)

I suspected we’d never get to the truth behind who Eric Moss really was but he’d officially been declared dead. Everything had happened so fast, even for a high-level cover-up. Perhaps Moss did go to the boat that night to get drunk. Whether it was suicide or an accident, the result was the same.

‘Maybe he was so tired from running and pretending to be someone he wasn’t.’

‘This can’t be happening.’ Eliza covered her mouth with her hands. ‘He can’t be gone.’

With that, her emotions erupted and she buried her face in my chest. I held her, and felt every ounce of her pain.

The doorbell rang and I ignored it. It rang again. Next thing, Mark Talbot was calling out from below.

I waved for him to come up and eased away from Eliza to answer the door.

‘This is an official visit, I’m afraid.’ He fidgeted on the spot. ‘You saw the press conference?’

‘Someone could have warned Eliza.’

Mark paused. ‘I had no say in that. I need to speak to her if she’s here.’ He lowered his voice. ‘How’s she doing?’

‘How do you think?’

Mark headed to the balcony. Eliza looked up, soulfully, as if hoping he had good news.

‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ my cousin began. ‘But there are some questions about the trust fund your father established on your behalf.’

‘Seriously, Mark, this can wait. Eliza didn’t even know about the trust.’

Her eyes didn’t leave his face.

‘Well, she needs to know the account has been frozen, as it may contain the profits from crime,’ he said to me. ‘I’m sorry, but Lang Gillies and some pretty high-flyers are rapidly trying to distance themselves from anything your father was involved in.’

‘You mean his alleged criminal activity.’ Eliza was curt.

Mark looked out towards the sea. ‘I met your father and believe he was a good man. If there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to let me know.’ He placed his card under the mug closest to Eliza.

Outside, I challenged him. ‘What the hell was all that about? What were you fishing for?’

‘Craig, you need to bury the guy and move on. It’s over.’

All my frustrations came to the boil and I shoved him against the wall.

‘What are you going to do now? Burn me with a curling wand?’ he snapped.

‘Cut the crap, Mark. This is a cover-up and you’re part of it.’

He raised both hands in surrender. ‘I’m telling you this as a favour. To you and Eliza. You’re in way over your head. This is bigger than any of us and some serious players are pulling the strings.’

I stood back. ‘Who exactly?’

‘All investigations into Moss’s activities are being dropped. He made idiots out of people who can’t afford to be embarrassed. Not when national security is such a vote-winner.’

‘Doesn’t anyone want to know how a guy with zero credentials or documentation got access to restricted military bases?’

Mark pushed back. ‘Think with your head, not your dick for a change. A contact in the Prime Minister’s office told me the US Secretary of State had Moss on speed dial. Do you hear what I’m saying? For your sake and Eliza’s you need to drop it. You had a win today finding Zoe Ruffalo. You’ll never get lucky with this. Trust me. Bury the guy and let it go.’

Chapter 107

ELIZA WAS FINALLY accepting the fact her father was no longer with her. She said he would want to be cremated and his ashes released over Contigo’s forest valley.

Thankfully, the grisly task of choosing a coffin was one she didn’t have to perform. She had just taken a call from Lang Gillies. He’d already made the arrangements, to ‘save her the pain at such a time’.