Read Online Challis - 03 - Snapshot by Garry Disher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Garry Disher
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police, australia, Police Procedural, Large Type Books, Melbourne Region (Vic.), Destry; Ellen (Fictitious Character), Challis; Hal (Fictitious Character)
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understand, Challis said. He
glanced at Ellen, and by unspoken agreement they edged towards the door. The
superintendent followed them into the hallway. Youre going?
Challis nodded. Im not sure that
Georgia can help us any further at the moment. We may need to show her
photographs of cars later, and mugshots.
McQuarrie waved a hand as if to say,
Of course, of course.
And well need to speak to your
son.
McQuarrie looked at the floor, then
up at Challis. My son is devastated by this.
I can imagine.
I know youre just doing your job.
Im a policeman myself, remember? I know you have to eliminate him from your
inquiries. But go gently, all right? Hes exhausted, in shock, hes just lost
his wife. His daughter has just lost her mother.
Challis nodded, waiting for
McQuarrie to wind down.
And he couldnt have shot Janine.
He was in Sydney.
Sooner or later, Challis thought, hell
make the necessary leap: Did my son hire someone to shoot Janine?
I understand.
Should be plenty of witnesses, too.
He was guest speaker at a seminar. McQuarrie gave a ragged sigh. Look, Hal,
whatever resources you need, theyre yours. Extra manpower, overtime, anything
at all. But for Gods sake keep the media out of this.
Well have to tell them something.
Its an unholy alliance, sometimes,
police and press. But this is my son and his wife and daughter were talking
about, so no quiet words in the ear of that girlfriend of yours.
Challis flushed angrily. Ellen saved
him. Sir, before we go, could you tell us a bit about your daughter-in-law?
McQuarrie glanced at his watch,
looked back over his shoulder to the sitting room and sounds of grief and
bewilderment. Cant it wait?
Just some basic background, sir, to
get us started.
Oh very well, come with me.
He led them to a study, a cluttered,
cheerless room at the rear of the house. There were framed diplomas and
graduation photographs on the walls, golfclubs in one corner, a shelf of
trophies, a ship in a bottle, very few books, golfing clothes tossed over a
sombre leather armchair, computer, printer and fax machine on a leather-inlaid wooden
desk. It seemed to Challis that McQuarrie had staked out this space as his own
and his wife could go to hell.
Another cup of tea? McQuarrie
said, not meaning it.
Were fine, thank you, sir, Ellen
said, glancing at Challis to see if hed regained equilibrium.
Well, what do you need to know?
Challis saw Ellen take out her
notebook and move unobtrusively to one side. Hed ask, shed record. Well
start with her personality, sir. What was she like?
Lovely girl. Good family.
Shes a psychologist?
Hashadher own clinic, in Mount
Eliza, McQuarrie said. A very bright girl.
Weve begun interviewing her staff
and colleagues.
Of course.
Did she see clients at the clinic,
or travel to see them?
Both, I suppose. I dont really
know.
And today?
McQuarrie was impatient. It was a
curriculum day at Georgias school, which is another way of saying that her
teachers gave themselves a day off, and when Janine couldnt arrange childcare
she had no option but to take Georgia with her.
Was Janine going to the clinic
afterwards, or visiting other clients?
Hal, for Gods sake, this is basic
police work. Talk to her secretary, check her calendar.
Sir. Challis thought for a moment
about his next question. There was no easy way to ask it. Would you say that
Robert and Janine were happily married?
The super said, through compressed,
bloodless lips, See? Thats the kind of innuendo the media love. That Janine
had a lover and so Robert shot her. Or that Robert had a lover and wanted
Janine out of the way.
We need to examine all scenarios,
Challis said, hating the word but it was a useful one and by now deeply
ingrained in the police lexicon.
To hell with that. I hope youre
not going to ask my son that same question.
Challis tilted his chin a little. Im
afraid Ill have to, sir.
And you know it, too, was the unspoken part of his reply.
McQuarrie
glanced at Ellen, and by unspoken agreement they edged towards the door. The
superintendent followed them into the hallway. Youre going?
Challis nodded. Im not sure that
Georgia can help us any further at the moment. We may need to show her
photographs of cars later, and mugshots.
McQuarrie waved a hand as if to say,
Of course, of course.
And well need to speak to your
son.
McQuarrie looked at the floor, then
up at Challis. My son is devastated by this.
I can imagine.
I know youre just doing your job.
Im a policeman myself, remember? I know you have to eliminate him from your
inquiries. But go gently, all right? Hes exhausted, in shock, hes just lost
his wife. His daughter has just lost her mother.
Challis nodded, waiting for
McQuarrie to wind down.
And he couldnt have shot Janine.
He was in Sydney.
Sooner or later, Challis thought, hell
make the necessary leap: Did my son hire someone to shoot Janine?
I understand.
Should be plenty of witnesses, too.
He was guest speaker at a seminar. McQuarrie gave a ragged sigh. Look, Hal,
whatever resources you need, theyre yours. Extra manpower, overtime, anything
at all. But for Gods sake keep the media out of this.
Well have to tell them something.
Its an unholy alliance, sometimes,
police and press. But this is my son and his wife and daughter were talking
about, so no quiet words in the ear of that girlfriend of yours.
Challis flushed angrily. Ellen saved
him. Sir, before we go, could you tell us a bit about your daughter-in-law?
McQuarrie glanced at his watch,
looked back over his shoulder to the sitting room and sounds of grief and
bewilderment. Cant it wait?
Just some basic background, sir, to
get us started.
Oh very well, come with me.
He led them to a study, a cluttered,
cheerless room at the rear of the house. There were framed diplomas and
graduation photographs on the walls, golfclubs in one corner, a shelf of
trophies, a ship in a bottle, very few books, golfing clothes tossed over a
sombre leather armchair, computer, printer and fax machine on a leather-inlaid wooden
desk. It seemed to Challis that McQuarrie had staked out this space as his own
and his wife could go to hell.
Another cup of tea? McQuarrie
said, not meaning it.
Were fine, thank you, sir, Ellen
said, glancing at Challis to see if hed regained equilibrium.
Well, what do you need to know?
Challis saw Ellen take out her
notebook and move unobtrusively to one side. Hed ask, shed record. Well
start with her personality, sir. What was she like?
Lovely girl. Good family.
Shes a psychologist?
Hashadher own clinic, in Mount
Eliza, McQuarrie said. A very bright girl.
Weve begun interviewing her staff
and colleagues.
Of course.
Did she see clients at the clinic,
or travel to see them?
Both, I suppose. I dont really
know.
And today?
McQuarrie was impatient. It was a
curriculum day at Georgias school, which is another way of saying that her
teachers gave themselves a day off, and when Janine couldnt arrange childcare
she had no option but to take Georgia with her.
Was Janine going to the clinic
afterwards, or visiting other clients?
Hal, for Gods sake, this is basic
police work. Talk to her secretary, check her calendar.
Sir. Challis thought for a moment
about his next question. There was no easy way to ask it. Would you say that
Robert and Janine were happily married?
The super said, through compressed,
bloodless lips, See? Thats the kind of innuendo the media love. That Janine
had a lover and so Robert shot her. Or that Robert had a lover and wanted
Janine out of the way.
We need to examine all scenarios,
Challis said, hating the word but it was a useful one and by now deeply
ingrained in the police lexicon.
To hell with that. I hope youre
not going to ask my son that same question.
Challis tilted his chin a little. Im
afraid Ill have to, sir.
And you know it, too, was the unspoken part of his reply.
McQuarrie
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