Free Challis - 01 - Dragon Man by Garry Disher Page A

December. Present in the room are the accused,
Daniel Holsinger, Detective Sergeant Ellen Destry, and myself, Constable Pam
Murphy. Now, Danny, this interview is being recorded. You say you waive your
right to have your lawyer present?

    Danny gave a whinnying laugh. Her?
She puts words in my mouth. Last time, she let me talk my way into a month in
jail.

    Sergeant Destry stirred. Danny, shes
not on our Christmas card list, but if she hadnt intervened that time youd
have got six months.

    Pam waited. The sergeant sat back
again, indicating with a nod that it was her arrest, she should run the
interview. Returning the nod, she said, Danny, lets start with the backpack.

    He bristled. Its mine.

    Its also Italian and worth a lot
of money.

    So?

    Sergeant Destry cut in, So Id have
thought a vinyl gym bag was more your style, and Pam wanted to shoot her.
Danny flushed, looked hurt and angry at the put-down, and now she would have to
work hard to bring him around again. After the arrest, as theyd waited for a
divisional van to collect them, shed developed a kind of rapport with him.
There was nothing vicious or bad about him, just a lack of grey matter.

    Danny was pouting. What would you
know, you bitch?

    Danny, thats enough, Pam said. Now,
a lovely bag like that, werent you worried youd get grease on it?

    Never been out of work since I left
school, Danny said, still angry. You think I cant afford to spend money on
nice things?

    Lets leave the bag. What were
most interested in is what you had inside the bag.

    My own gear.

    Hardly. Pam picked up a page from
a file. Items found in suspects backpack: one ladies wristwatch, Citizen;
one camera, Nikon; one Visa card in the name of Anne M. Francis; forty-five
dollars in cash; a Peninsula Library Service card, also in the name of Anne
Francis; amethyst earrings set in gold.

    My girlfriend.

    I dont think so, Danny. Mrs
Francis is seventy if shes a day.

    My grandmother.

    Cut it out, Danny, Pam said. I
caught you leaving the premises by way of a window. I checked with Mrs Francis
and shes never heard of you.

    Yeah, and I bet she never heard of
no backpack, neither, because its not hers.

    Danny, give yourself a break.

    So I done her place over, so what.

    Sergeant Destry said, Were you
alone in this, Danny?

    What do you mean?

    You hang out with Boyd Jolic, am I
right?

    Danny looked hunted. Sometimes.

    Do you burgle houses with him?

    Danny muttered, looking away, No.
Look, its hot in here. Gis a Pepsi?

    Pam glanced at Sergeant Destry, who
gave her a tired smile, said, Interview suspended while Sergeant Destry leaves
the room, and went out.

    Danny said, Look, miss, cant we do
something here?

    Like what?

    I know things arent looking real
good for me. What if I had something to give you?

    You offering me a bribe, Danny?

    Danny waved an arm. No, no, nothing
like that. Well, kind of. I mean, I hear things from time to time, might
interest you.

    Theres a lot going on, Danny.
Abductions, murder.

    Danny looked shocked. Hey, come on.
Dont know nothing about that.

    What, then? You hang out with
people who firebomb mailboxes, Danny? Or heavier people, the kind who pull
aggravated burglaries?

    Dont know nothing about no ag
burgs, Danny was muttering as Sergeant Destry entered the room.

    The sergeant went very sharp and
still. What ag burgs, Danny?

    Pam immediately turned the tape on
again, saying, Sergeant Destry re-enters the room. Interview continues, 2.45
p.m. Danny, if you have information about a crime, now is the time to share it
with us.

    Why does it have to be here?

    Regulations, Danny.

    The door opened and the woman who
entered the room was dressed for power. She wore a costly-looking dress, an
expensive haircut and plenty of gold on her neck, fingers and wrists. She was
about fifty, slim and hard and fast. Youve got no right to interview my
client in my absence. Danny, youre coming with me.

    Pam was happy to let Sergeant Destry
take charge. Marion, he waived