‘We have prison records to confirm that Dave and Dougal Stewart were one and the same person.’
‘That’s the first time I’ve heard Dougal,’ Pinto said.
‘You stated that you had both been cheating,’ Isaac said.
‘I told you that before.’
‘Did you not realise that they would have records of what was being transported?’
‘There’s always some cheating, especially with drugs, so we assumed they’d not be concerned with a short shipment.’
‘But they were?’
‘Yes. They found us at the pub.’
‘What happened?’
‘Two men we’ve seen when we delivered the merchandise came into the pub. They were friendly. Dave bought them each a pint.’
‘After that?’
‘We stayed there drinking with them. They bought some drinks; we bought some. After a few hours, we left the pub. As we were about to get into Dave’s car, he had an old four-wheel drive, they grabbed us.’
‘I thought Dave was a strong man.’
‘They coshed him over the back of the head and bundled him and me into the back of Dave’s vehicle. We had our hands behind our backs, tied with cable ties. They also had cable ties around our ankles. We’re there trussed up like turkeys. I’m freaking out until one of the two men turned around and smashed me over the head with a cosh. I’m out for the count, and I don’t remember any more until we arrive at this warehouse.’
‘And then what?’ Isaac asked.
‘There’s Dave to one side of me. They have him strung up, his hands tied by a piece of rope hanging down from the ceiling.’
‘And you?’
‘I’m tied to a metal beam. They’ve made sure that my feet are barely touching the ground. I’m in terrible pain. There’s a man in the corner. He’s hidden from view.’
‘Did he speak?’
‘Oh, yes. He spoke.’
Katrina Hatcher looked apprehensive, almost as if she knew what Pinto was going to say. Isaac could see the colour draining out of her face.
‘What did he say, the man in the corner?’ Isaac asked.
‘“You know what happens to those who steal from us.”’
‘What did you say?’
‘I said I was innocent. Dave tried to blame me.’
‘They didn’t believe you?’
‘Of course not. We were guilty, we knew that. All I could think of was to protect myself. Trust me, I regretted my miserable life at that point. I could see our two previous drinking friends were anxious for some action. Dave was protesting his innocence repeatedly. One of the two heavies smashed his fist into Dave’s ribs. I swear I could hear them breaking. One of the heavies comes over to me. “Are you innocent?” he asked.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I confessed, told them where we had hidden the stolen drugs. I begged them for my life.’
‘They let you go?’
‘No. They left me tied to the beam.’
‘And Dave?’
‘One of the heavies shot him in the head. I wet myself. The two heavies laughed. After that, they cut Dave down and went at him with a chainsaw. There was blood everywhere.’
Katrina Hatcher excused herself from the room; she was holding a handkerchief over her mouth. Isaac halted the interview for thirty minutes until everyone had revived after Pinto’s graphic description of Dougal Stewart’s murder.
***
It was evident to Isaac they were dealing with some very nasty people. He assumed that if they killed with such brutality, they would have no aversion to killing a police officer. He warned his team to be careful. Wendy had found out the last known address of Dougal Stewart. Isaac asked her to wait for Larry, another hour at least.
The interview with Pinto resumed, his lawyer still looking the worse for wear.
‘You’ve mentioned a warehouse,’ Isaac said. Pinto sat glumly, the initial cockiness long gone.
‘I didn’t see where it was on the way there; they had coshed me. I was out for the count.’
‘But you took the body or what was left of Stewart from there.’
‘Yes.’
‘So you know where it is.’
‘Do you want me dead?’ Pinto asked.
‘You know that your best hope of survival lies with us,’ Isaac said, although he did not believe it. Whoever was behind the crime syndicate ruled by fear, not idle threats. Out on the street, Pinto was a dead man. Inside the secure walls of a prison, he was dead as well.
Isaac knew that he had to solve a murder and break a crime syndicate which, on the face of it, was extensive, well funded, and well hidden.
Pinto discussed the situation with his lawyer. She advised a frank and open disclosure of all that he knew. Pinto did not agree, although he had no better solution. He still hoped for his future; realised that it might not last for very long.
‘The warehouse was in Ladbroke Grove,’ Pinto said.
‘Address?’ Larry asked.
‘Canal Way. You can’t miss it. It’s the only place there.’
Isaac halted the interview and left the room. ‘Canal Way, Ladbroke Grove,’ he said on the phone to Wendy. ‘Make sure you take sufficient uniforms. Be prepared for a lot of blood, and ensure the place is secure before entering.’
‘Is that where Dougal Stewart died?’ Wendy asked. She had been sitting in the office waiting for instructions.
‘It is according to Pinto. Once secured, get Gordon Windsor and his CSE team down there, and don’t let anyone destroy the evidence with their flat feet.’
Wendy did not need instructions on what to do, although she could judge that Isaac was pumped with success. After the warehouse had been checked, there was Stewart’s flat to visit.
Isaac returned to the interview room. ‘Is that where they gave you the car with Stewart in the boot?’ he asked Pinto.
Pinto was aware that once the police were swarming over the scene of his former drinking pal’s dismemberment, there would be no way that
