knows I’m still getting memos from the PSC about that Razzo case that he was involved with last year.”
“Razzo case Sir?” said Robards. He recalled hearing various titbits of information about the case in the past but hoped that Crighton would enlighten him further.
“I think it was just before your time here, when he was still working with Detective Senior Sergeant Neale. I won’t go into the details but there were accusations made by the defendant that some rather important evidence had miraculously appeared during the search of his apartment. There was little doubt that Nelson and Neale got the right man, it was just a question of how they achieved that. Anyway, the point is that Nelson has good instincts for this sort of work and you’ll learn a lot from him. But on this occasion, on this case, I can’t afford to have Nelson making any mistakes along the way. If this Thoms character does have underworld links and this is some sort of precursor to a turf war then it has to be handled very carefully. And that’s where you come in Peter. We’ll let Nelson run this case the way he wants for the time being, but I want to be kept informed by you every step of the way. If I find out he’s starting to run a little too far or wide then I’ll need to yank his chain back in.”
Chapter 26
After briefing police prosecutors at the Parramatta Local Court, Nelson returned to Headquarters to prepare for his afternoon. The Sergeant who would act as the prosecution for bail hearing was pleased with the strength of Nelson’s evidence and told him that Craig Thoms was highly unlikely to be granted bail.
While Nelson waited for Bryce McKinlay to arrive at the Parramatta station at midday and for Robards to return from forensics in the city, he contacted Craig’s other friends and arranged for them to come to the station and provide statements during that afternoon. Grant McKinlay and Jennifer Nolan had already heard the news about the arrest and were eager to assist in any way they could.
Nelson sat at his desk and re-read the forensic reports on the victim, the murder scene and the gloves. He admitted to himself that the evidence seemed solid. He watched the video footage from the crime scene several times, looking for any evidence that might support Craig’s story that he had followed the real murderer to the scene. Although there were some vague shadows in the corner of the footage that appeared to move, he could see no other person on the tape. He made a quick phone call to the video tech who had reviewed the footage and asked him if there was any chance of enhancing the shadowed area. The video tech told him he would try but it was unlikely that any further definition could be drawn out of the video.
When Nelson was satisfied that he had a complete understanding and knowledge of the evidence on the case so far, he busied himself on his computer, meticulously making sure that the case file was completely up to date. Although he wasn’t particularly fond of the administrative side of casework he forced himself to keep on top of it as he knew it was an essential part of the case and would be referred to regularly in the future.
As opposed to some of the older Detectives in the squad, Nelson was highly computer literate and could type at over forty words per minute with few errors when the mood took him. He smiled as he glanced at his fifty-five year old colleague, Detective David Smith, at a nearby desk laboriously punching his keyboard one finger at a time. It was almost painful to watch.
At around midday, Nelson got a call from a Constable manning the reception area at the Parramatta Station informing him that he had visitors. Robards still hadn’t returned to the office so Nelson proceeded on his own. He decided to walk to the station so he could save the planet a few kilos of greenhouse gases. Every little bit helps. Ten minutes later he entered the front foyer of the brown, bunker-like building, his eyes quickly scanning the room for his visitors. He soon focussed his attention on a young couple sitting in the corner trying to look relaxed but showing outward signs of nervousness.
Nelson made his way over to them.
“Bryce McKinlay?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Detective Sergeant Nelson. And this is, Natalie?” he said indicating to the woman on Bryce’s left whose eyes met and held his. She nodded in agreement.
“Hi.” Bryce held out his hand which Nelson took and shook. Nelson noticed that the palms of Bryce’s meaty hands were sweaty and mentally reminded himself not to shake hands with him again.
“Look, if you don’t mind I’d like to speak with you separately. It’s standard procedure.” It was more than that, it was a golden rule of Detective work and ensured there would be no help and no corroboration for each of them once their interviews began. It was one thing to rehearse a set of convenient answers together in the comfort of a lounge room, but telling them to a Detective, alone in an police station interview room was another thing entirely. Divide and conquer.
“Would you mind waiting out here Natalie? This shouldn’t take too long.”
Without waiting for an answer, Nelson led Bryce to the reception desk, signed him in and whisked him away through the electronic security doors. He led him down a corridor to an interview room that he had booked out for the afternoon. Nelson had arranged for a female general duties Constable to be available to assist with the interviews and she was already waiting in the room when they arrived. They took their seats and Nelson placed his digital voice recorder between them. Bryce eyed it nervously. “You don’t mind do you?”
“No, of course not,” said Bryce, in a nervous voice. Nelson wondered if he had something to hide or if it was just an innocent reaction.
“This is not a formal interview and the recording is not for use as evidences, it’s just to help me stay on top of things.”
“Ok.”
Firstly let me say right now that I have no interest whatsoever in your stalking activities. I’m a Homicide Detective, so the only case that I’m going to be investigating here is the murder of Emilio Fogliani. However, I can’t promise you that some of my colleagues won’t want to speak to you about your stalking game at a later time.”
“Ok,” replied Bryce glumly. He hadn’t expected any favours and he wasn’t being given any. He was just focussed on trying to distance himself as far as possible from a murder charge. Anything beyond that, like keeping his job and not being charged with stalking, he considered would be a bonus.
“So let’s make a start. I want you to tell me all you know about Craig Thoms and your relationship with him and then I want you to tell me your version of events last Friday night. Try and remember as much detail as possible.”
Bryce took a few deep breaths and focussed his thoughts on what he was about to say. He started quietly, hesitantly, and told Nelson how he had met Craig when they were both employed at Carmichael’s security. They became good friends and as Craig had previously attested to, they eventually began taking some of the equipment out of the shop to field test it. Bryce made no attempt to hide or minimise his involvement in the stalking game, instead he freely admitted it. Others had joined the group over time and it became a regular event. Their stalking skills improved, as did their bravado and sophistication, and some of the stalks that Bryce briefly recounted to Nelson left him quietly staggered and wondering if anyone had ever followed him and learned some of his secrets.
Nelson questioned him closely about Craig Thoms and asked him what his habits were, who his other friends were and what he was like. Bryce gave little information of interest about Craig’s personal life and Nelson got the impression that Bryce was, if not trying to protect Craig, then at least trying to minimise the damage he was potentially causing him. Bryce said that to his knowledge, Craig didn’t have many other friends and he didn’t know much about his money situation and didn’t ask. Nelson thought about pushing him further but decided to remain with the friendly approach for the time being. He could apply more pressure to Bryce later if it was required.
“Now tell me about last Friday night,” said Nelson.
“What do you want to know?” Bryce replied, feeling more comfortable, and why not, he thought to himself, I have nothing to hide because I didn’t do anything.
“Just run me through the night as it played out, from your point of view. Leave nothing out, no matter how unimportant you think it is.”
Bryce began to recount everything that happened on that night, however he was fairly limited in what he could say about Craig’s stalk as he had left to follow his own mark before Craig did. When he finished his story, Nelson sat back in his chair tapping his pencil on his lips as he digested what he had been told. His gut instinct was telling him that Bryce was being truthful with him and yet he still asked him a number of leading questions in the hope of getting him to make a mistake or alter his story, however nothing changed. When he was satisfied that
