CH 10
Faulkner showed up at the station a couple of hours later; Elle shows him how bad the dry rot is and also the condition of the porch.
"I wasn't aware of how bad the condition of the building is. Without those windows, it sure is hot inside. Now, from what I've seen, there's work that can be done on the inside."
"I agree, and if it was me…" Elle told him her ideas for any changes. Liking her ideas, he gave her the green light to get started on the renovations. Just as he was leaving, two cop cars pulled up. Elle shook her head at Alan as he got out of the car.
"Where the bloody hell have you been? Look at you! You better have a good excuse, Sargent McCubbin." Elle said, frowning.
"Ahhh, shut up, I already got an ear full from him," shoving his thumb toward Grant.
"Well, you'll be getting another ear full from Inspector Faulkner," Elle said before she walks inside. Grant followed them into the office and leaned against the filing cabinet
"Where did you find him?" Elle asked.
"At some farm just outside of town, he claims to be doing surveillance," Grant replied.
"He could have at least returned the radio calls; even VKC has been trying to call him. If there was an emergency, like a car accident, what were his chances of answering his radio? For surveillance, he has to get approval back up," she said, sitting down.
"That's right."
"He's been drinking, hasn't he," Elle said.
"He claims that he's got a cold."
"That's bull, its summer, not winter. He's trying to cover up his drinking with cough syrup. Look at his bloodshot eyes and the way he's walking."
"Yeah, I noticed."
"To change the subject; how did it go with the homeowners?"
"With the description that I was able to get from each of them, I might be able to find the person."
"Good luck."
Elle answers the phone; PJ was calling with some questions for her.
"Thanks, Elle."
"PJ, I've got Sargent Grant Towers here; you might be able to help him with a problem."
"Me? What's the problem?" Smiling, Elle passed the phone to Grant. "Senior Detective PJ Hashem from Mount Thomas, he might know who your suspect is."
"Thanks."
Elle went over to the doorway, and she heard Faulkner and Alan talking.
Turning to Elle, "is there something you need, Mrs Cole?" Faulkner asked.
"Sargent, do you know anyone in Widgery that owns a dirty brown truck or that has decals of trapping reptiles like snakes or birds?"
"Yeah, there's only one. The license tag is 'Taggerty'."
"Where does he live?" Elle asked.
"Couple miles out of town. Why do you ask?"
"Thank you, Sargent," heading back into the station without answering. Grant was just finishing with PJ, so he passed the phone to Elle. Elle gave PJ the information that she just found out about the truck.
"Thanks, Elle," and they ended the call.
"Is everything okay?" Grant asked.
"Don't know yet." Elle went back to the paperwork that she had been working on. A call came in over the radio sending Grant out to sort out the problem. Faulkner walked into the station causing Elle to lookup from her work.
"Inspector…" Elle greeted as Faulkner entered the station.
"I sent Sargent McCubbin home for him to sober up. Here are the keys to the patrol car," he said, placing them on the desk.
"Sounds good."
"Now, what about the questions Hasham was asking?"
"PJ wanted to know if there was anyone who might be dealing in snakes. A kid went into the station and told them what he had seen at a local diner. When he passed by, he noticed a dirty brown truck; several snakes and eggs were in the back. One was a diamond head python. PJ said that there were some experts at the station and the station investigating the poaching of snakes. They spoke to the boy, and he was able to point out one of the snakes and the eggs that he saw from a picture in a book. to a snake he saw and eggs from a book."
"Diamond heads here in Widgery? I didn't know that they were any here."
"They don't live in Victoria. They are from far north. it looks like the black market for the snakes and their eggs. And if this Reg guy is involved, knowing what the Sergeant is like, he would feel that he could get away with it. We don't know how long this has been going. A diamond head's worth thousands of dollars overseas on the black market."
"Detective Hasham thinks it's happening here?" the Inspector asked.
"It looks like it."
"Bloody hell. Got to wonder what else is going on here under the Sergeant's nose."
"Or maybe he just doesn't care. This station is a nightmare; just look at his files and reports."
"Huh, I'll let you get back to work," he grunted.
"Inspector, there is something you need to read before you go," picking up a typed letter, Elle passed it to him.
"What's this?"
"A statement from a girl named Jenny Trotter. She used to work here at the station. You will find it very interesting, I think."
He read the statement, shocked at what he was reading. "Bloody hell, leave this to me," Faulkner said as he left the station.
"Yes, sir."
The next day all the cops from Mount Thomas Station, with those from the Animals and Wildlife, showed up at Reg's farm with a search warrant. Searching the area, they found numerous snakes and their eggs. Reg was arrested and transported to Widgey Police station.
"Oi! Who's this?" Grant exclaimed when PJ entered the station.
"This is Reg Taggerty," PJ replied.
"Ahh, okay, you know where the interview room is."
"Yup, thanks." PJ escorted Reg into the room, left him there, closing the door behind him as he returned back to the office.
"So, did you find anything interesting at the farm?" Elle asked Nick.
"Yeah, lots of snakes and eggs," Nick said. "And the diamond head."
"Yup, that too," Wayne added.
"Well, that's good news."
"Elle, do we have any cold drinks?" Tom asked.
"In the fridge, Boss. Oh, Sargant Grant Tower, this is Sergeant Tom Croydon, Boss as we call him. Senor detective PJ Hasham, Senior Constable Nick Schultz, Constable Wayne Patterson and constable Maggie Doyle." They all shook hands
"Doyle… are you related to Pat Doyle?" Grant asked.
"Yeah, he's my dad. How did you know him?
"Worked with him a few times when I was in Melbourne. That was about eight years ago. I remember that he had a daughter Margret, and he called her Maggie. The little girl had long blonde hair and braces. You're not her by any chance? "
Maggie blushed. "Yes, that was me. Now I remember you, sir. You told dad to 'watch out for this one; she's going to be a heartbreaker and one hell of a cop one day'."
Grant laughed. "My gosh… Maggie Doyle. Have you broken any hearts?"
"Some and others have broken mine."
"How is your dad? I heard about Cathleen; sorry for your loss."
"Thanks. Dad's good; still living in Melbourne."
"Like father like daughter. Tom, watch out for this one; if she's anything like her dad…"
"Oh, I know what he's like. We were at the same station years ago," Tom said.
"Really? Maggie, what happened to your two brothers?" Grant asked.
"Joined up as well," Maggie answered, smiling.
"Following in the family footsteps, aye?"
"Yes, sir."
Elle had returned with the cold drinks, poured them into cups and pass them around.
"Well, let's see what we can get out of Mr Taggerty," PJ said when he finished his drink.
PJ, Tom, and Toni went to talk to Reg. A few minutes later, they come out of the interview room.
"That bad?" Elle asked.
"He's not telling us anything without his lawyer," Tom said.
Elle stood, and walked to the interview room, opened the door, and walked in.
"Elle, you can't go in there," PJ said just as she shut the door.
"PJ, let her try," Tom said.
"She can't be conducting interviews; she's not a copper," Toni said.
"I know that, but she's got a way of getting information out of people if it is important," PJ said.
"She's a great negotiator," Maggie said.
"Really?"
"Oh, Yes," Tom added.
"I give her five minutes," Nick said.
"I say three minutes," Wayne asked.
"This is not the time or place for this," Tom admonished.
"I say two minutes. The prize is that the losers pay for dinner and drinks tomorrow night for the winner and for Elle," Maggie said.
"You're on Doyle, four minutes," PJ said.
"Boss?"
"Alright, seven minutes." Grant looked shocked as they placed their bets.
The door opened, and Elle walked out, closing the door. Walking into the office, she looked at them all then asked, "Okay, who bet what and who won?"
Grant and the two from Animal and Wildlife just looked at her, stunned.
"You got the information?" Tom asked.
"I did. So who?…. Maggie? Judging by your big grin, you're the winner."
"Yup, I said two minutes. Now, these guys are going to pay for our dinner and drinks tomorrow night." Elle laughed.
"What about the information?" PJ asked.
"Mr Taggerty's is supposed to be meeting up with a courier named Jullian Henson in half an hour at the Mount Thomas, St Davids crossroads, where the rest area is, with the goods."
"How did you get the information out of him?" Toni asked. Elle smiled.
"I told him that one of his snakes got out and bit a kid and that the kid was rushed to hospital. He didn't believe me at first until I told him the kid's name. I asked him if he'd seen the kid hanging around in the past couple of days; he said he had. Then I asked if he noticed the bandage on his hand. That's the kid that was bitten. Now, if it was the black diamond that had gotten loose, he would have been dead within minutes of the bite. Victoria doesn't have the antidote for a diamond head. You would have been charged with murder. So, I said, be a good boy and tell me what I want to hear, and if you cooperate, the guys out in the office just might put in a good word. That's when he told me where and when he was meeting his contact to deliver the snakes, including the diamond head."
"That's great Elle, thanks for getting the information. You must be good at what you do."
"Years of practice."
"Okay, let's get started on where we're going to set up," Tom said. After going over the plan, they all left for the takedown.
Fifteen minutes later, Alan showed up at the station. "What's going on? I saw Reg with the Mount Thomas coppers."
"None of your concern Sargent," Elle said.
"Like hell it is!" then he started for the door.
"Sargent McCubbin, you stay out of it!"
"No way!"
Elle got up from her desk and went after him.
"Elle?" Grant called out.
"It's McCubbin; he's going to ruin the trap!" She chased McCubbin to his car and got there just as he got in and started the engine. Elle tried to remove the keys, but he was too quick. Throwing the car into reverse, he took off. Elle pulled her keys out of her pocket, ran to her car and got in to give chase.
"Contact Tom!" Elle called out as she was getting into her car. I'll try to stop him! He's been drinking!" She took off after Alan. Rushing back inside, Grant radioed Tom to give him the heads up. Then he locked the station and went after them.
When Tom and the others got word about Alan, they replied that he would be listening in on the radio.
Elle knew where the rest area they were waiting at is, and she floors the accelerator to catch up with Alan's car. She knew the best place to overtake him. Following behind him until she reached her spot, she sped up and passed him. Getting in front of Alan's car, she slowed down then spun her wagon so that it was sideways across the road just before St Thomas bridge.
Seeing her standing in the middle of the road, Alan slowed and stopped. He got out of his car just as Elle walked over to the passenger side, quickly got in, reached over, and removed the keys which she notice that there where the back up keys since the other keys are still at the station. Elle got on the radio to tell Tom what was happening as Allan started yelling at her.
"Boss, it's Elle. Sargent McCubbin's patrol car has been secured. You boys and girls can relax, and Grant just arrived."
"Thanks. Elle, where are you?"
"St Thomas bridge, we're four hundred meters from your target, Boss."
"We're are going to have a talk later."
"I'll be looking forward to it, and good luck."
Grant had pulled up near her and got out. Alan was having a go at Elle for breaking several road rules.
"Grant, breathalyze Sargent McCubbin; I guarantee he's over the limit."
Grant got the breathalyzer from the cruiser…"One point two," he said, showing Elle the reading.
"Wow, that's a very high number. If any anyone is in trouble, it's you, Sargent. I had to stop you from interfering with a bust. If you went charging in, you would have interfered and ruined everything," Elle said. Just then, they heard over the radio that the bust started, and they listen in. The bust was successful.
"I'll move the cars out of the way, Grant." Elle offered.
"Thanks, Elle."
After Elle had moved the cars to the side of the road, they saw the police cars, the truck and the van coming back from the takedown. Tom pulled over to the side of the road, and Elle walked over to him.
"What happened?"
"Sargent McCubbin's in a lot of trouble, Boss. He blew three times over the limit. Is there someone to drive his car back to the station?"
"I'll do it," Wayne offered.
"Thanks, Wayne."
"Alan can come with me back to Mount Thomas," Tom said.
"Alright, I'll head back to Widgery. Do you want me to contact Inspector Faulkner for you?"
"Thanks, that would be good. There's nothing much for you to do at Widgery, so you can return to Mount Thomas once you get everything packed up."
"Sure thing, Boss." She walked back over to Grant's Car.
"Sargent McCubbin, Boss wants you to go with him back to Mount Thomas. Inspector Falkner will be informed as to what happened today," Elle said. Alan grumbled as he got into Tom's car, and they left for Mount Thomas.
"What happens now?" Grant asked.
"I don't know, but it looks like the station is all yours until a replacement couple can be found," Elle said.
"You know, I like it here. I'll talk to my wife about moving here and taking over the station."
Elle smiled. "Really? She would have to help out around the office."
"Oh, I don't think that will be a problem; she'll just need to be shown what to do," Grant said.
"If you do move here, I can help get her settled and give her some tips on what needs to be done."
"That would be great."
"One thing, you definitely need to ask for a computer," Elle said.
Grant laughed. "I agree."
"I'll meet you back at the station."
"See ya there."
Fifteen minutes later, Elle was on the phone talking to Inspector Faulkner, telling him what had happened to Alan. Then she passed the phone to Grant while she packed her things. Grant finished the call with the Inspector and then helped her carry the boxes out to her car. Before she got into her car, they hugged goodbye. Waving, she set off for Mount Thomas.