Chapter 44

ON THE WAYback to the station, stopped at the traffic lights at Elizabeth Street, three patrol cars zipped through the red signal in front of us, sirens blaring. An ambulance was hot on their tail. They were heading toward Martin Place at an incredible speed. I’d been trying to get Chris Murray on the phone, but he wouldn’t answer. Finally I took Tox’s phone and dialed, hoping Murray wouldn’t recognize the number.

“Chris Murray.”

“Murray, you asshole,” I said, “you’ve been ignoring my calls!”

“I don’t have time for your calls,” he snapped back.

We yelled into the phone at the same time: “I’ve found the yachties!”

We were both panting with excitement, struggling through the confusion.

“What?” Chris said.

“I’ve—found—the missing couple,” I stammered. “Well, I know who knows where they are. I’m tailing a suspect, a prostitute named Hope Stallwood, in my drowning case. I think Hope and my victim, Claudia Burrows, were working together to steal your couple’s boat. Claudia ended up as excess baggage, maybe got dumped when the scam was over. Probably your yachties, too.”

“Well, I’m hoping you’re wrong about that,” Murray said. “Because a young Caucasian female has just tried to access the couple’s bank account in Martin Place. And they tell me that whoever she is, she wasn’t alone.”

“Jesus Christ! That must be her!”

“I’m on my way right now,” Murray said.

“I’ll see you there.” I grabbed Tox just as we set off across the lights. “Turn the car around,” I told him. “Head back toward Martin Place.”