Sharp Turn - Marianne Delacourt [40]
‘Riley, though . . .’ Tozzi trailed off.
‘What?’
‘Let’s just say he’s on the tough side of ruthless.’
Mr Rotten Egg, Sulphur Aura, Arsehole Riley. ‘Do you think he’d do anything to make sure his kid won?’
I asked.
‘I don’t doubt it. In fact, I could almost guarantee it.’
It fitted but it seemed a bit obvious.
‘What about Bolo’s team?’ I asked. ‘Do you know much about them? His rider? Mechanic?’
Tozzi shook his head. ‘Not really. I mean, I hear that Lu Red’s fast. Bolo found him racing country-circuit speedway in Victoria. Had a talent for speed but had never ridden a bike before. Bolo brought him back here and taught him how to ride a four-stroke. He owes Bolo a lot. So Bolo says, anyway.’
‘Have you ever met Red’s girlfriend?’
‘You’re testing me now. I meet a lot of people.’ He screwed up his face. ‘Maybe once or twice. Great legs. Slim. That’s about all I remember.’
Great legs. I switched lanes in irritation, causing an eruption of horn-tooting.
‘Bolo’s never mentioned her to you?’
‘What are you getting at, Tara?’
‘Nothing. Just fitting pieces together.’
Glancing in my rear-view mirror, I caught a glimpse of a dark car behind me. It was identical to the one I’d thought was following me the other night.
‘Hold tight,’ I said, toeing the accelerator.
Tozzi was smart enough to grab for the ceiling grip before I swerved off the highway towards the beach.
The road was deserted, so I floored it all the way to Port Beach before doubling back to the highway and turning right onto the Freo bridge. Neither of us spoke until I’d found a park on the west side of the CBD near the old warehouses.
‘You going to tell me what that was about?’ asked Tozzi, when I turned the engine off.
I thought about lying, but he probably needed to know.
‘I had an off-the-record visit from the local cops warning me to stay away from Viaspa,’ I told him, and rolled my eyes. ‘Like I needed that! Anyway, then I hear that Sammy Barbaro turned up doing a dead puffer fish impersonation under the Freo wharves. Minus his eyes. It’s made me a bit nervous. I’ve seen the same car behind me a couple of times.’
Tozzi gave a low whistle. ‘I hadn’t heard about Barbaro. You think Viaspa did it?’
I shrugged and unbelted. ‘Dunno. But Sammy knew a lot of stuff that could connect him to the mining scam.
The only other person that knows about it is me.’ And Tozzi. But he didn’t need me to say that aloud.
‘You should’ve gone to the police at the time.’
‘No.’
‘You still could.’
‘I told you. I don’t want to spend the next twenty years in some witness-protection program. I’d rather take my chances my way.’
Tozzi sighed. ‘I feel responsible for this.’
‘Then you shouldn’t,’ I said firmly. ‘I make my own choices.’
‘And we all know where that gets you.’
‘Well, I chose not to sleep with you,’ I said tartly. ‘That was smart.’
He laughed. ‘You did. But if you wear that dress for much longer . . .’
My hand crept to my neck. ‘What’s wrong with my dress?’
‘Have you looked in the mirror?’
‘I didn’t have time,’ I said. ‘And Cass is staying with me. It would have been weird.’
‘Cass?’
‘Remember the kid from the Bunkas? The one I gave my handbag to?’
‘Vividly,’ he said. ‘How could I forget someone whose boyfriend threw bottles at my car?’
‘Not your car. At the train. Or the train track at least.’
‘At least.’
‘Well, anyway, she’s staying with me.’
‘Why?’
‘Her mum threw her out of home. She’s got bruises around her neck – I think her mum tried to choke her. That’s actually the other reason I wanted to catch up with you.’
He leaned back against the headrest and stared through the windscreen as if bracing himself. ‘Yes?’
I swallowed. ‘I was hoping you might be able to find her a job.’
‘A job? Are you crazy?’
‘No. Just a bit left field,’ I said sarcastically, grabbing my wrap and getting out of the car.
I walked quickly towards High Street. Nick caught