Free The Stalk Club by Neil Cossins, Lloyd Williams

heard wailing in another part of the house.
    “How?  What happened?” Fogliani asked through his tears, incredulous,
his voice thick with emotion.  “Do…do you have any information on how he died Superintendent?”
    “We’re still looking into that Mr. Fogliani.”
    “Please, call me Michael,” he responded automatically.
    “Michael.  We do know that he was shot several times and
that it appears to be a homicide.”
    Fogliani wiped his eyes on his sleeves and tried to stem
the flow.
    “I want to assure you that we’re looking into this and
will leave no stone unturned to find out what happened.  We will keep you
informed at every step of the way.”
    “Good, and thank you.”  The tears started again.  “I’m
sorry for this.  It’s just that I lost my father about nine years ago and now
my uncle.  I thought we’d left all the grief in the past, yet here we are
again.”
    “I am sorry for your family’s loss Michael.”
    “Thank you Superintendent.”
    “I’ve assigned two Detectives to the case.  Their names
are Nelson and Robards and they are some of our best officers.  They are
investigating the crime scene as we speak and will no doubt want to speak with
you in the near future.  If you could make yourself available to them it would
be appreciated.”
    “Of course, of course.  I look forward to hearing from
them and will give them my full co-operation Superintendent.”
    The wailing from the other room increased in tempo and
gusto, momentarily distracting Michael Fogliani.
    “If there is nothing further gentlemen, I need to attend
to my mother and aunt.”
    “Yes of course Michael.  I will leave you with my card.
Please don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
    “Thank you.” 
    Crighton stood up to leave.  “Oh and one more thing, someone
will need to come down to the city morgue in Glebe to make a positive
identification of the body.  The detectives can organise a viewing for you.” 
    Fogliani nodded numbly at the thought.
     

Chapter
12
    Kylie
Faulkner ascended the stairs in the Redfern apartment block she had been
visiting on a regular basis for the previous few weeks.  There was no lift so
her already shapely calves got a workout on their way to the fourth floor.  Normally
she dressed down so as not to attract attention in a neighbourhood that was not
renowned for its safety, but because of the hour and the occasion, she decided
to take the risk and was wearing nothing but a woollen knee length coat and
high heels.  And anyway, at six o’clock Saturday morning there was no one about
to witness her mad dash from her car into the building and up the stairs.
    Her
knock on the apartment door was quickly answered by her recently acquired
boyfriend, Manuel Torres.  Despite the early hour, he was wearing a blue singlet
and shorts and was covered in sweat after just returning from an eight
kilometre circular run through the quiet streets.  He had barely slept the
previous night and needed the run to clear his mind.
    “Morning
baby,” she said, reaching up to kiss him and then stepping past him into the
apartment.  She noticed with concealed amusement that he had made an attempt to
tidy the small one bedroom apartment in preparation for her visit.  “I’ve got a
surprise for you.” 
    “Oh?” 
He closed the door behind her and smiled, already feeling the tension beginning
to ease from his tired limbs.  Her presence always calmed him. 
    “Yes,
you deserve it for what you’ve done,” she said, her eyes flashing with
excitement.  She let her coat fall to the ground revealing her nakedness. 
    “Now
come and do whatever you want to me.”  It took him the barest of moments to become
aroused and pull her into the bedroom.
    They
had met in a sports bar six weeks ago, just two weeks after his release from
prison.  Manuel had just begun to find his feet on the outside and had gone to
visit his friend Bruno Trulli at Pellegrinos.  After dinner and a