We were still listening intently to the conversation between Erica, Jansen and O’Brien via the computer when my mobile rang. I looked at it with irritation, hoping whoever was on the other end would decide to hang up. No such luck. Skye looked at it too.

‘I’ll save the conversation for you,’ she told me and I nodded.

Sighing, I picked up the phone and headed out the door into the hallway.

‘Ally, it’s Helen,’ came my friend’s voice causing me to raise my eyebrows in surprise.

Helen very rarely called me on my mobile phone. If she wanted to get hold of me, she usually did it through Joan or left an message on my answering machine at home. If it was important, she would usually page me and get me to call back.

‘Well, this is a surprise,’ I greeted her cheerfully. ‘What’s the special occasion?’

There was silence on the other line of the end. I frowned.

‘Helen? You there?’

‘Ally, Janet’s disappeared.’

‘What do you mean she’s disappeared?’ I asked curiously, knowing she wasn’t one to speak in riddles.

‘I mean she’s disappeared. She was supposed to give us a report yesterday and when Frank tried to call her this morning on her mobile to ask her where she’d put it, someone turned the phone off in his ear,’ Helen rattled on.

‘You’re kidding,’ I breathed, leaning against the wall. ‘Any idea where she might be?’

‘No,’ Helen was starting to sound tired. ‘Crime scene found blood on the veranda and are taking it to the lab to have it analysed.’

I closed my eyes and pressed the bridge of my nose. This couldn’t be happening. Not to Janet.

‘Ally, we’re doing everything we can to find her. I just thought you should know about it.’

‘Um, yeah. Thanks. Keep me posted, okay?’

‘Yeah, I will,’ and with that, she hung up.

Sighing, I lay my head against the wall, staring at an invisible spot in the air. Presently, Skye came out in a hurry.

‘Ally, you gotta listen to this,’ she advised, sounding rather urgent.

I looked at her blankly, forced myself off the wall and followed her back into the room.

‘This had better be good. My day’s just taken a nosedive,’ I warned her and noticed her going slightly uncomfortable.

‘Well, I think it’s going to get even worse,’ she replied, sympathetically.

‘What are you talking about?’ I moaned, not really in the mood to play games.

Skye replayed the recording as I took a seat.

‘You better be careful,’ Jansen’s voice jumped out of the computer.

‘Why?’ Erica’s voice was curious.

‘The boss isn’t too happy with the way things are turning out,’ O’Brien informed her. ‘We’re on a very tight schedule.’

‘Yeah, you gotta understand we can’t help you out as much as we did in the past,’ Jasen supplied.

‘Why not? Has something happened?’

‘Lets just say we’ve caught a very big fish. Or depending on the way you look at it, a bait for very big fish.’

Both Jansen and O’Brien laughed at what seemed to be a private joke. I just sighed.

‘Skye, what has -’ I began but Skye shooshed me and instructed that I keep listening.

‘A fish?’ Erica sounded interested. ‘Anyone I know?’

‘Nah! Not unless you know a copper by the name of Janet Hatfield.’

‘The bastards!’ I exploded in anger, making Skye jump. ‘What the hell do they think they’re doing?!’

‘I think the operative word for us here is ‘why’,’ Skye supplied, having found her voice.

I stood up and began pacing impatiently. I had to tell Helen this and drew out my mobile phone. Helen answered after the second ring.

‘Mitchell,’ she greeted formally.

‘Jansen and O’Brien,’ I supplied shortly.

‘What?’

‘Not what, who. Troy Jansen and Fred O’Brien have got Janet,’ I breathed into the phone, trying to control my raising temper.

There was silence at the other end of the line and I was beginning to wonder if Helen had even registered my last statement. I was about to draw her attention back to the conversation at hand when her next statement startled me.

 ‘Bugger!’ she exclaimed so loudly that I was forced to pull the phone away from my ear to avoid bursting my eardrum.

‘Next time you wanna give me audio damage, warn me first,’ I complained once I had returned the phone to my ear. ‘What’s matter?’

‘I think I know why Janet was abducted,’ Helen informed me rather sheepishly. ‘It may be connected to a case Frank, Ken and I are conducting.’

‘What case might that be?’ I asked with narrowed eyes.

‘The death of a teenage girl in the Northern Bay area. ODed on E. Jansen and O’Brien were the last people to see her alive. They’ve been suspects for days but we haven’t been able to pin them with anything.’

There was a noticeable pause.

‘How did you know about Jansen and O’Brien anyway?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘Well, they did kidnap my sister, you know,’ I retorted testily.

‘Sorry. Look, we’ll go over there and nab them right now. Thanks, Ally.’

‘No!’ I exclaimed, causing Skye to look up.

‘What?’

‘Don’t nab them.’

I wasn’t about to have Erica’s cover blown by Helen and her task force. Even if it meant finding Janet.

‘What do you mean ‘don’t nab them’? This is Janet’s life we’re talking about here.’

‘Yeah, I know but ...’ I began, trying to think of a suitable explanation for my sudden outburst. ‘It’s slightly more complicated than that.’

‘Why? What’s going on?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘Jansen and O’Brien are just the icing on the cake. They are our only leads in the case I’ve taken on with Caleb and I’ve got one of my agents in a sting with them.’

‘What?!? You mean to tell me that this case is more important than your sister’s life?’ Helen challenged.

‘No, of course not!’ I defended. ‘But I’m not risking the life of my agent for Janet. I’d never be able to live with myself.’

‘Alright. Good point,’ Helen sighed, anger having suddenly resolved. ‘What do you intend to do?’

‘Well, I need to find out from Erica where-’

‘Erica?’

‘My stinger,’ I explained. ‘She’s ex-ASIO. Met up with Jansen and O’Brien in a previous mission apparently.’

I didn’t really feel like relating Erica’s employment history with the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation to Helen without her permission. I glanced at Skye who seemed to be scribbling on a piece of paper. While I was discussing the operation with Helen, Skye had plugged in some headphones into the computer hard drive so she wouldn’t interrupt me. Presently, she held up the paper.

‘Spider’s in,’ she had written.

I gave her the thumbs-up and smiled.

‘Look, just lay low for a while,’ I advised Helen. ‘I’ll try and find out where they’re holding Janet.’

Helen just sighed again.

‘Okay, but if we don’t hear anything from you in the next 24 hours, we’re bringing them in.’

 

NSW Police Headquarters, Parramatta, Sydney

The senior detectives of the Major Crime Unit were slowly closing in on Templar’s killer. Their number one suspect had been brought in for questioning but, while she was still bitter about her conviction, she was adamant that she hadn’t killed anyone. Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Hassett was somewhat concerned by Fiona’s detention. However, in light of what Helen had been through six years prior, she didn’t trust anyone to say anything. After all, any form of defence towards Fiona could be seen as a betrayal towards her fellow officers.

‘We’ve just been through Mike’s phone records,’ Detective Constable Kevin Morris interrupted her thoughts, making her jump. ‘And guess who the last number belonged to.’

‘I’m sure you’ll tell me anyway,’ Charlotte responded dryly.

There was a pause before Kevin mentioned a name Charlotte couldn’t ignore.

‘Helen Mitchell,’ he grinned, tossing the copy of Templar’s phone records in front of the inspector. ‘We rang the mobile number and she answered. A bit of a co-incidence, don’t you think?’

Charlotte just grunted. She didn’t trust herself to say anything. Instead, she eyed the phone on her desk, longing to pick it up and warn Helen. Kevin noticed her and nodded sagely.

‘Mmm, you know what that means, don’t you?’ he began then continued without waiting for a reply. ‘Fiona Mitchell probably rang her mum after popping Mike.’

Charlotte glared sharply at Kevin. She had to be extremely careful with her next words.

‘Unless you have solid forensic evidence to back up your theories, Kevin, don’t make assumptions,’ she warned.

‘Oh, come on!’ Kevin began to protest but Charlotte cut him short.

‘No, you come on. Right now, all you have is circumstantial evidence. None of which will actually stand up in court,’ she said. ‘Now, other than the fact that you think Fiona might have murdered Mike, do you have anything to charge her with?’

Kevin just stared at her wide-eyed.

‘You think she’s innocent? After everything that’s happened?’

‘Whether or not I think she’s innocent is beside the point, Constable,’ she reprimanded. ‘Unless you have something viable to charge her with, let her go. The last thing we need is for the case to be thrown out of court on a technicality.’

Kevin just shook his head and sighed.

 ‘You’re no fun anymore,’ he told her and left the office.

Charlotte watched Kevin go and let out the breath she had been holding.

 

Wallaby Bay

Erica admired the spacious house in awe. The polished floorboards created a hollow echoing sound as she followed Jansen and O’Brien towards the living room to meet Milosevic. As she past each room, she couldn’t help but notice how articulate Milosevic was. Each room was discreetly decorated with modern furniture and oriental rugs. Milosevic was sitting at a study desk and looked up to appraise the Spider as she entered the room with understandable suspicion.

‘Who’s this?’ was the first question he asked.

‘The Spider,’ Jansen introduced. ‘Don’t worry, boss. She’s good oil and has a shit load of goodies too. Show her, Spider.’

Erica made a point of smiling nervously. She then took out her bags of ecstasy table and heroin from her waist bag and lay them down on the coffee table in front of them. Milosevic didn’t say anything. Instead, he was debating if it was really a good idea to trust the two bouncers. The newcomer was unknown to the most of the group and - really, Jansen and O’Brien weren’t exactly the brightest pick of the crop. Still, she had a good stash of ecstasy tablets - amongst others - and a good knowledge of the streets. She had a strong muscular figure which Milosevic speculated might have been courtesy of military training.

‘I’m curious,’ he began. ‘What’s your real name?’

Erica smiled secretly. She had been expecting this question. After all, she had spent a life-time of training expecting the unexpected.

‘Charlotte Webb,’ she lied smoothly. ‘So you can understand why I prefer to use my nickname.’

There was a pause before Erica continued.

‘I hear you’re in the couriering business.’

Milosevic narrowed his eyes considerably. His reaction wasn’t surprising given that she was a newcomer with not real background information on her.

‘And for what purpose do you want to know this?’ he queried.

‘Well, lets just say that these are just samples.’ Erica explained. ‘I’ve got about 50 kilos of the stuff holed up somewhere needing to be shipped. I need someone reliable.’

Milosevic nodded in understanding then laced his fingers of both hands and placed them on the table before leaning back in his chair.

‘How much?’ he wanted to know but Erica was ready for it.

‘20 grand for every kilo,’ she responded. ‘I don’t have it on me for security reasons, for course.’

Milosevic thought about it for a moment before nodding in agreement. Twenty thousand dollars for every kilogram sounded like a fair deal. That amounted to a total of a million dollar. He held out his hand.

‘It’s a deal.’

Erica shook it with a smile and looked around at the rest of the group. Apart from Milosevic, Jansen and O’Brien, there were two other people - one middle aged male and another female in her mid-20s. The male was dress in a greyish business suit and had short brown hair. His upright frame and square shoulders indicated he was either someone in high authority or was extremely well-off. The female was one with extremely strong muscle definition. She wore an army green vest with matching camouflage fatigue pants as well as sturdy black boots. The determined look in her emerald green eyes reflected her level of self-confidence.

‘So, who are those two?’ she nodded at the pair.

‘That depends on who sent you,’ the man grunted.

‘I did. Does it make a difference?’ Erica replied casually.

As if I’m really gonna tell you Ally sent me, she thought silently. Not if I want to avoid having lead pumped into my head.

The woman looked suspiciously at Erica before coming up to her and holding out a hand which Erica shook.

‘Catherine Simmons, personal trainer,’ she introduced with a firm handshake.

Then, while still having Erica’s hand in her custody, she retrieved a knife from her army fatigues and pointed it straight at the right upper lobe of Erica’s lung. Erica’s pulse raced significantly but she managed to hide her anxiety, knowing that the agents were listening to every word that was being said. Pity they couldn’t see everything that was being done. She glanced down at the knife before looking straight into Simmons’s eyes.

‘Just a little warning that I don't like being betrayed,’ Simmons explained with a small smile.

With that, she re-pocketed the knife and went to sit on the couch. The well-suited man glanced around discreetly before deciding he might as well introduce himself too.

‘Gareth Claymont,’ he introduced with a challenging look in his eyes. ‘Federal police.’