Chapter Twenty-Three;
Craig

After leaving Hayleigh Bolt to stew in a cell for a while, Stevie and Millie joined DS Turner and Max as they loitered outside the interview room, waiting for Bolt's lawyer to finish a 'private conversation with the client'. Stuart growled at his watch. "I reckon he's making us wait as long as possible on purpose."

"It wouldn't be the first time. Probably another ploy. He's been one step ahead the whole day." Stevie replied, raising her eyebrows.

Stuart growled. "One step? He's been 65."

"How'd the Sahara search go?"

"Oh yeah, I left something for you in custody. The boat's ownership papers were in the wheelhouse. Guess who owns it."

"Hayleigh." Stevie shook her head with a frown.

"Ding ding ding, we have a winner." He clapped his hands together causing DS Carter, who'd been staring at the roof with a frown and pout up until that stage, to look down at Stuart.

"How's Fletcher?" Max asked, directing his question at Stevie.

"Not great, he thinks he blew the whole thing by taking Brecht on his own."

"Yeah, well, so he should." Max said coldly, returning his gaze to a point just above their heads.

"I think he feels bad enough himself sarge, is there really any need to rub it in?" Millie spoke up, as usual disgusted by Max's lack of tact regarding the situation. She felt bad for Will; he thought he'd be alright on his own. He hadn't known about the driver. Anyway, who was Max to judge? It wasn't as if the cocky DS had never walked himself into a bad situation because he'd got opportunistic. "He made a mistake. He's only human."

Max lowered his eyes slowly to her, his frown deepening. Stuart and Stevie shared a look, returning their attention to the pair with interest. But before Max could reply, the interview room door opened and Bolt's lawyer stood there watching them. "Sergeants? My client is ready to tell you what he can." Max snapped his glare away from Millie and turned it on the lawyer as the suit walked back into the room.

"Good luck." Stevie smiled as they headed in. Stuart shot her a pair of raised eyebrows then shut the door on them. Stevie looked at Millie. "Come on PC with a death wish," Millie grinned. "Let's get a tea. Hayleigh can see how the other half live for a little longer."

*

Having spent the first five minutes of the interview dealing with cold smiles and 'no comment's from Bolt regarding the drugs, Stuart decided a different approach was needed if they had any chance of breaking the law-savvy crim. "We have phone records showing that you have been in contact with your niece recently." Bolt nodded. "Is there any reason for that?" He asked, having not let on exactly where the drugs allegation had come from earlier.

"She's my niece. Her father is an idiot. I guess she was just looking for a respectable father figure."

"So, as her 'respectable father figure'," Stuart commented, trying hard to keep the venom from his voice. "Did she ever mention money problems?" Bolt nodded. "And what was your advice?"

"I offered her money, but she's a proud young lady DS Turner."

"She didn't mention any easy ways to get money herself? Ask you any advice?"

"Like what DS Turner?" Bolt grinned. "Like how to sell drugs?" He leant back in his chair, watching the sergeants with a cold smile. "I don't do drugs sergeants. I don't do illegal trafficking either. Now," he glanced at his lawyer who was listening intently, prepared to break in lest Bolt say too much. "I don't pretend to be a pillar of the community officers, but I haven't done anything wrong." Max shot Bolt a disbelieving glare. "I've never done anything wrong." Bolt continued with a cheeky smile.

"If you've never done anything wrong Mr. Bolt, why are there allegations of assault hanging over you?"

"Is this relevant to the case sergeant? Because if it isn't I would like the question withdrawn." Bolt grinned as the lawyer looked at him. "You don't have to answer that Mr. Bolt."

"It's okay, I'll answer it." His eyes danced between Max and Stuart, finally stopping on Stuart. "My wife is in charge of the girls Detective Sergeant. You know, girls sticking together and all that."

Stuart leant forward. "You want to take your wife down with you? Because if you're saying she's in on all of this, that's what you'll be doing." He slapped a file down in front of Craig and flicked it open, revealing a mugshot of the redheaded woman they'd met earlier. "Hayleigh Bolt, née Spark, has a rap sheet a mile long."

Craig snorted with a soft smile. "That's my girl."

Max smacked the file. "Was she involved?"

"She? Not involved? Ha! She might appear innocent as pie but nothing like." The two detectives didn't even look like they believed him so he continued. "Look, I let my wife do what she wants with the girls. They're her girls. She told me to take them on a pleasure cruise this afternoon." He grinned. "Maybe because she knew you were sniffing around."

"Your wife is in charge of the girls?" Max clarified.

"That's what I said isn't it?" Bolt sneered, thinking he'd got one up on them.

Max just glanced at Stuart, but before he could say anything Bolt's lawyer spoke up. "If it would be possible to take a break. I have an important call to make at five."

Stuart nodded. "Yeah, I think we can organize that." Max leant back at Stuart spoke into the tape, smiling at Bolt the whole time. "Interview suspended at 16.43." Max flicked the tape to a stop. The lawyer stood, almost hurrying them to the door, just to ensure they didn't say anything to his client without him there. Max stood and took Bolt by the cuff, leading him past the lawyer and out into the hall. Stuart stood slowly and followed with just a hint of a smile.

*

Stuart met Stevie and Millie in the hall outside the interview rooms as Max led Bolt back to the cells. "You done already?" Stevie asked.

"Anything but. The lawyer has asked for a break, to take an important phone call. You starting your interview with Hayleigh soon?"

Stevie nodded, taking the folder Stuart held out to her, Hayleigh's rap sheet. "Yeah, why, what have you got for us?"

Stuart smiled. "Oh you'll like this one ladies. It's the world's best sell-out." Then the three of them started back to custody, listening to what Stuart had to say about Craig Bolt selling out his wife. And the Constables smiled. Bolt had just given them the perfect ammunition.