Read Online Bad Seed by Alan Carter - Free Book Online Page A

acrimonious and one-sided he reckoned; the last time he saw Emily – just all this crying and shit; and finally his comments on the Facebook page – another smirk. Cato presented Zac and the lawyer with another printout just to remind them it was all on record.
    â€˜Not a nice thing to say about somebody who’s just been murdered. Why did you do it, Isaac?’
    â€˜Joke. Didn’t mean anything.’
    â€˜That’s your idea of funny?’
    A shrug. ‘So you don’t like my sense of humour. No law against it.’
    Mrs Harvey smiled. Her son was holding his own. The lawyer looked like he’d found a nasty piece of gristle in a favourite pie.
    â€˜Were you aware that she was pregnant?’
    â€˜Nah. Any idea whose it is?’
    â€˜We’ll be seeking a DNA sample from you to try and answer that question.’
    â€˜Not without permission, you won’t.’ Mum sniffed.
    Cato turned to the lawyer. ‘Your client has admitted leaving those abusive and threatening comments on the Facebook page. In factthere
are
laws against that for which I am willing here and now to arrest him. At that point he can be required, by force if necessary, to provide a DNA sample. Alternatively he can continue to cooperate and assist us in our investigation into this dreadful crime. Would you like some time to consult further?’
    â€˜Don’t bother,’ said Zac. ‘I get it.’

    Andy Crouch had put on a suit and tie, shaved, and brought some kind of order to his wispy white hair. He still had the look of a coffin-dodger though, his skull almost visible through his semi-transparent skin. He managed not to meet Hutchens’ steady gaze. So what’s he got in that fucking diary of his? thought Hutchens.
    â€˜Can you state your name and occupation, please?’
    â€˜Andrew Martin Crouch, police officer, retired.’
    They went through his CV, how long he’d served, in what capacities, any awards and commendations: establishing his authority, credentials, and utter trustworthiness. Crouchie had been in Kalgoorlie when Hutchens took the posting in Mundaring. What the hell would he know?
    Burke QC was so excited he seemed to be standing on tippy-toes. ‘You were a close friend and colleague of Detective Inspector Michael Hutchens, were you not?’
    â€˜In some ways I considered myself his mentor. I took him under my wing. We worked very well together, particularly in the Armed Robbery Squad.’ Burke QC checked the dates and confirmed them with Crouch. ‘And then that squad was disbanded and you transferred to Kalgoorlie while Mr Hutchens went to Mundaring. Correct?’
    â€˜Correct.’
    â€˜Why was the squad disbanded?’
    â€˜Restructuring, happens all the time. Some of the top brass go off to do a management course one weekend at a country retreat and they come back and change the names of everything and move a few people around.’
    A chuckle of recognition went around the room like a politeMexican wave. Burke QC allowed himself a smile to show he was human after all. ‘But the Armed Robbery Squad had been together a long time, getting results, knocking heads. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?’
    â€˜That’s a question for higher powers than me, mate.’
    Burke’s smile faltered. This was harder work than he’d imagined. He didn’t know Crouchie. Crouchie was his own man, would say what he wanted when he wanted, and have his bit of fun in the meantime. Hutchens sympathised with the QC on this one, he just wanted the tedious old fucker to get to the point.
    â€˜Do you know of any other reason, apart from internal management processes, why the Armed Robbery Squad was disbanded?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Crouch, enjoying a leisurely sip of water.
    Burke took a big impatient breath. ‘Then please do tell us.’
    â€˜Okay.’ And he did. He told the inquiry all about the wheeling and dealing