Black Wattle Creek (Charlie Berlin #2)(56)
‘Believe me, Dr Jessop, the less time I have to spend in this place, the better.’
Berlin was actually a little disappointed. He was hoping for a coffee. There had been little point in going home after his visit to Callahan’s, since it was almost dawn. He’d slept in the car for a couple of hours, parked down near Moonee Valley racecourse, and had a pot of tea with his breakfast at a café on Puckle Street, but he could really do with a nice strong coffee to wake him right up.
‘A quick resolution would suit me just fine, so let’s get down to tin tacks. I’ve got other things I could be doing as well. It’s just that a copper friend of mine who inquired about that licence plate I asked you about got himself beaten to a pulp for reasons I can’t fathom. Not long after, my boss rings to tell me to keep my nose out of things that don’t concern me. Then one of your employees who wanted to have a chat supposedly hangs himself, and someone tries to burn my house down.’ He decided not to mention what he knew about the visit to Beryl at this stage . It was always smart to keep a little bit of information back for later.
‘My goodness, DS Berlin,’ Jessop said, ‘you have been in the wars.’
Berlin wondered if Jessop knew just how close he was to getting a broken nose. He let the moment of anger pass before he spoke again.
‘And as if that wasn’t enough, a couple of bastards from Special Branch made it a point to stop by and give me some grief about the people I’ve been associating with recently.’
‘Special Branch? Really?’ Jessop sat forward. He seemed genuinely puzzled. ‘I have no idea why they might be involved.’
Berlin was puzzled too. Perhaps Jessop was telling the truth about Special Branch. Berlin had noted the lack of recognition on Merv’s face when he mentioned Roberts’ name. You didn’t give a bloke a belting like the one Bob had suffered and easily forget your victim’s name. But Jessop’s statement raised another question.
‘And the rest of it?’ Berlin asked.
The rest of what?’
‘What exactly was it that the bastards from Special Branch were not involved in?’
Jessop shook his head The rest of it is something that is really none of your concern, DS Berlin.’
‘Any chance I can be the judge of that? You know, being a police officer and all that palaver.’
Jessop didn’t answer. He sat and stared at Berlin. Berlin stared back.
Jessop seemed to make up his mind. ‘Police officer or not, DS Berlin, you have inadvertently stumbled into something much bigger and more important than you will ever be able to understand and now it would be best for you to leave it alone.’
Though it was an admission that something was going on, Jessop’s answer wasn’t the response Berlin was looking for. And he calculated he could take about another thirty seconds of the doctor’s condescending tone. After that someone was going to get smacked. He slightly regretted handing that piece of water pipe back to Fred.
‘Best for who exactly, Dr Jessop?’
‘You can believe me when I say no laws are being broken here, DS Berlin, and as a consequence it is none of your affair. That should be the end of it.’
‘Who and what I believe is my business. And the arseholes who beat up my mate and tried to torch my bloody home made it my affair. Speaking of arseholes, I didn’t see your man Stansfield skulking around on my way in. He wasn’t recently on the losing end of a bout with a five-pound Australian terrier by any chance, was he?’
There was another long pause before Jessop answered. ‘Mr Stansfield is otherwise engaged this morning. And whoever may have done these things you allege was perhaps being a little overzealous. If these things did in fact occur then discipline may be warranted. But as I said, our work is vitally important and our people are totally dedicated to it.’
‘’’Our people” being the Ninetymen? “Our vital work” involving atomic radiation and bones taken secretly from the dead before burial without their relatives’ knowledge or consent?’
Berlin saw the slightest tightening at the corner of Jessop’s eyes. Thought you had me pegged, didn’t you? You smarmy bastard. Some colonial copper too dumb to add two and two.
‘Ninetymen and radiation and stolen bones, DS Berlin? You seem to have rather a vivid imagination.’
Berlin took the khaki disk from his pocket and dropped it on the desk blotter in front of Jessop. ‘Five quid says if you uncover that watch, Dr Jessop, we’ll find one of these underneath.’
Jessop picked up the disk and studied it before placing it carefully in the centre of the blotter. ‘I find it quite extraordinary how strong the impulse to gamble on almost anything is in this country.’ He unsnapped the leather cover and pulled it back. Berlin watched the sweep hand of the steel cased watch ticking off the seconds.
‘Five pounds, DS Berlin, I really should have taken that bet.’ Jessop glanced at the watch before snapping the cover back in place. And now, though it is perhaps a tad early for elevenses, I think I might have a cup of coffee.’ He picked up the telephone handset. ‘I really can’t imagine you have any reason for staying, so can I have Mr Johnston show you the way our?’
People were always stopping for elevenses in the Billy Bunter books Peter used to read before he discovered Biggles. It was a word that annoyed Berlin. What was wrong with saying morning tea, or better yet, smoko?