Judith hesitated. ‘Do you want me to delete it? I can.’
Katy thought about it. She shook her head. ‘No. It’s okay. Like you said, you’ll get it either way in a couple of days. This is only a shortcut. Just send me the LEAP number tomorrow, and promise me you’ll go easy.’
* * *
Judith walked away from the bar feeling conflicted. She didn’t feel bad about the fact that she was getting the list a little earlier than she might have otherwise, but she did feel bad that Katy was going home guilty. They’d been friends since they were babies, through the darkest of times, and Katy was one of the best people she knew. Maybe she shouldn’t call on her friend for the kind of help that would leave her feeling uncomfortable. On the other hand, Katy had never hesitated to call on Judith when she’d needed a rule bent to help out a kid who deserved a second chance. So... maybe their relationship worked exactly as it should. They took risks for each other, because of their friendship, and because they knew that sometimes that’s what was needed, because without those shortcuts and minor cheats, the system just didn’t work.
Judith decided to go back to the station. She stopped to buy a packet of mints and a bottle of water. She’d had three cocktails with Katy—three Yuzu Mules—and they packed a punch. Working after that much alcohol probably wasn’t a good idea, but she told herself that all she was going to do was sit at her desk and run the names that Katy had given her through the system. She’d take a few notes, and then bring whatever she managed to gather home, where she could go through the material at her leisure. And it was late. After eight o’clock. Most officers who were rostered on would be out on the streets, and the station would be quiet.
But when Judith reached the station, she saw Vanessa Walker standing outside. Vanessa was wearing a red pantsuit, red lipstick and her hair was perfectly groomed. She had a dog on the end of a lead. A little dachshund.
Judith hesitated. Vanessa hadn’t seen her yet. She could go around to the other entrance and avoid Vanessa completely. Something gave her pause. Maybe it was the Yuzu Mules.
‘Mrs Walker? Are you okay?’
Vanessa turned to see Judith. A flush warmed her cheeks.
‘Detective Lee. Hello. I wasn’t here to see you.’
‘That’s okay. Can I help you at all?’
‘I came to see Detective Jansen. But they won’t let me wait inside with Milo.’
‘Did you have an appointment? I think Detective Jansen left for the day.’
‘No... I should have made one. I suppose I wasn’t thinking.’
Judith came closer. She leaned down to pat the dog, who wagged his tail ecstatically.
‘He’s sweet,’ she said.
There was a moment of silence, of awkwardness. Vanessa surely couldn’t blame Judith for Walker’s death. He’d been murdered. Her supposed ‘harassment’ of him had had nothing to do with that. But grieving people weren’t always rational, and Vanessa Walker wasn’t just grieving. She must be under siege. Judith was surprised that she’d made it to the police station without a journalist in tow.
No one was willing to let the Robert Walker story go. If anything, it was growing legs. There’d been a new article inThe Agethat morning. Two more women had come forward and spoken anonymously. One of them had talked about Walker’s creepiness, his inappropriate comments and questions. The other said that he’d touched her, massaged her shoulders. So far it hadn’t got out that Walker’s death had been murder, but that too was coming.
Judith found it hard to have sympathy for Vanessa. Surely she must have seen signs that her husband was a predator? You couldn’t live with someone for that long, share a bed, share a life, and see nothing at all. And if she’d seen it, or seensomething, and deliberately closed her eyes to it? That to Judith was the most contemptible form of weakness. The pretending. The smoothing away, all in the interests of an easy life for yourself, and intentional blindness to everyone else who got hurt along the way.
Judith gave the dog one last pat, then stood up.
‘Good night,’ she said. Before she could leave, Vanessa spoke, her voice tight and constrained.
‘Milo went missing the day Robert died. He ended up at a shelter a few kilometres from our house. He’s microchipped, so they called me. I came here to tell Detective Jansen, just in case it’s helpful. I mean, I don’t know how it would be relevant, but maybe everything helps. Or not. I don’t know.’
‘I can tell him,’ Judith said.
‘Thank you,’ Vanessa said stiffly. ‘I’d appreciate that.’
Judith turned to go.
‘I’m sorry,’ Vanessa blurted out.
Judith turned back.
‘I’m very sorry. For what Lachy said to you that day. It was uncalled for. Of course you’re not responsible for Robert’s death. Even if he had... I mean...’ Vanessa’s flush deepened. ‘What I mean is, even if he had killed himself, which he didn’t, I know it wouldn’t have been your fault. It’s just, Lachy’s very confused. You know, someone sent me that video, and that weird letter. I really do believe... It’s very clear that Robert was being set up. And Robert told Lachy that you, that the police were out to get him. That you wouldn’t listen. So Lachy is confused about it all. But I’m sure you were just doing your job.’
‘Someone sent you a video?’ Judith asked.
‘You didn’t know?’
