Private Sydney Read online

  ‘Can you tell how long it’s been on there?’

  ‘Again, I’ll need some time. Oh, and one more thing. If she didn’t actually load the software, it’s possible she doesn’t know it’s there. You have to know what to look for.’

  So Collette either knew her phone was a listening device or her phone had been deliberately targeted. Either way, I couldn’t afford to trust her from now on.

  I thanked Gideon. I had a plan as to how to deal with Collette. We all needed to meet in the conference room.

  Chapter 58

  BEFORE THE MEETING, I handed each staff member a written note asking them to hand over their phone. All would be explained in the conference room in five minutes. In the meantime, I put the mobiles in my office for Gideon to work on. If the eavesdroppers weren’t aware we’d found the software, we still had an advantage.

  Once we were all seated around the table, Gideon did precisely what I’d asked. He announced that the phones had been infected with malware. At the moment he had no idea for how long. The software ensured that private discussions were recorded by an unidentified third party. Not just phone conversations, but in-person chats, in addition to texts and voicemail messages. Anything previously thought private was now potentially in the public domain.

  Johnny and Darlene exchanged the briefest of looks but said nothing.

  Mary rocked back in her chair. ‘Hacks or pros?’

  Gideon shrugged. ‘The software’s readily available online, which means a broad net. How they react from here will tell us a lot more. If there are any other “incidents”.’

  Collette’s phone had been to every meeting and with her for every interaction with staff and clients. Like most twenty-somethings, the phone was permanently in her hands or within easy reach to check the latest message. I called it the fear of missing out that meant they were often engaged in social contact but experienced little meaningful interaction.

  ‘Has anyone let their phone out of sight, or had someone ask to make a call, no matter how innocuous they could have seemed?’

  I looked around the silent room. ‘When you exercise, do you leave it in a locker? When you shower does anyone else have access? I don’t care how close they are to you or how much you trust them.’

  Mary, Johnny and Darlene all denied the possibility.

  ‘Collette?’ I asked.

  She frowned. ‘I use mine for music in the bathroom, like when I’m getting ready or showering. And I have it strapped to my arm when I go walking.’

  ‘What about clients, visitors to the office? Maybe when you got them a coffee or tea.’

  ‘Always have it with me. Guess it’s a habit.’

  I suspected Collette was unaware of the software. Now was the perfect time to lie if she knew the spyware would be found on her phone and wanted to divert suspicion.

  I handed out brand-new burner replacements and asked if there was anything on anyone’s phones they didn’t want Gideon Mahler or me to see. No one responded.

  ‘From now on, we use these to communicate for work and with each other.’

  Collette remained silent but her eyes darted from me to Gideon.

  ‘Who do you think’s behind it? Is it anything to do with the Moss case?’ Mary queried.

  ‘We’re working on that,’ Gideon answered. ‘But we should have an answer later on.’

  I added, ‘Until further notice, everyone takes a phone, and make sure we have each other’s new numbers. Until this is sorted, I want everyone to stay in constant touch, and give me the names of anyone who makes contact with you – socially or for work. I guarantee we’re going to find out who’s behind this.’

  Chapter 59

  COLLETTE WAITED UNTIL the others had left.

  Her face had become flushed and blotches extended to her neck. She was rubbing an index finger over her thumbnail repeatedly.

  ‘How long do you think someone’s been spying on us?’

  I slid into the seat next to hers.

  ‘We don’t know yet, possibly a few days.’

  Her attention turned to rubbing her palms. ‘I don’t know if this is important, but I just sort of met someone.’

  ‘How recently?’

  ‘Couple of nights, but it feels like months. We just seemed to click.’

  It had to be the man I’d spotted her leave with. That could have been their first date.

  ‘Has he shown interest in your work?’

  ‘No but I met him here. In the office, the morning the door was broken.’

  The man I watched greet her that night wasn’t one of the repairers. ‘Was he with the glass company?’

  ‘No, he was headed to his office early when I arrived and stopped to see if I was OK. He works in the next block. We got talking and he said he didn’t normally ask someone out so fast, but he thought we had a –’

  ‘Connection?’ I doubted it was a coincidence. The timing of the computer virus, glass damage and ‘accidental’ meeting were too convenient. If the repairers didn’t plant the devices, accessing Collette and gaining her trust could have been the purpose of the smashed door. ‘Let me guess. You’re interested in the same things, he likes what you like, maybe even grew up near you?’

  The blotches on her neck reddened. ‘He’s from Tasmania. Devonport.’

  Collette’s family came from Launceston. Like anywhere, a link to childhoods was a strong one. It was an easy ‘in’ for a scammer to develop instant affinity with a target.

  ‘What else do you have in common?’

  ‘He learnt to drive on a VW.’

  Collette owned one.

  ‘And he listens to indie bands.’

  ‘Like the ones you have on your phone?’

  She swallowed hard. ‘Is that how they knew about the raid at Dural? Has he been using me to get to …’ Tears welled in her eyes.

  I suspected they’d been intimate but it wasn’t relevant. Whoever ‘he’ was could have accessed her phone when they were together or when she slept.

  ‘This is all my fault.’ She pushed the burner phone away. ‘I’m sorry I caused you all this trouble.’ Collette stood. ‘The keys to the office are in my bag. I’ll go get them.’

  I rose and pushed the chair back into its place. I would bet money that Collette would never make the same mistake again. ‘You’re not in trouble and you still have your job. In fact, you’re our best chance of catching this character and finding out who he’s working for.’

  She squinted, doubtful.

  ‘He doesn’t know we’re on to him. When are you due to see him again?’

  ‘Tonight. He is … I mean was … coming over for dinner.’

  ‘Everyone’s got to eat. Looks like you have a date to keep.’

  Chapter 60

  COLLETTE PASSED MARY on the way out.

  ‘Eric Moss’s personal pilot is headed to Contigo Valley later this afternoon.’ She raised her eyebrows.

  ‘Where’s he leaving from?’

  ‘Bankstown airport.’

  ‘Any chance you can get us on the flight?’

  ‘Hedge a bet?’

  I laughed. ‘Not when you’re on the job.’ If anyone could get us on the plane, Mary could. I was suddenly reminded how talented the team was. The office being bugged was a glitch. We still had work to do.

  First, I needed to talk to Eliza Moss in person, without her phone. Ambassador Roden had implied she was being watched.

  She agreed to meet in the foyer of her office building in twenty minutes.

  I was there in ten.

  A concierge sat behind a large marble desk answering queries from a constant stream of visitors. I watched from a black leather divan. The CIA would most likely have Eliza under surveillance. Once she arrived, from where I sat I could see who followed in the lifts and lingered even for a moment.

  Eliza eventually appeared, wheeling herself out. She was dressed in a short-sleeved silk blouse and navy skirt. A silver filigree locket sat on a short chain. Her face was drawn with
a touch of darkness under her eyes. She couldn’t have managed much sleep.

  The concierge looked up and called out to her. ‘Found your present.’ He held up a pack of gum. ‘Twenty-seven days today.’

  ‘You and your lungs are welcome,’ she called back before doing a half-circle to face me.

  I kept my eyes on everyone exiting the lifts.

  ‘Why the secrecy? Is Dad all right?’

  I explained about the visit by Roden’s crew and the fact that it was likely they were having her monitored and followed.

  ‘Who’d want to follow me? It’s pretty far-fetched, don’t you think?’

  ‘It isn’t when the CIA could be involved. Someone planted spyware on my employee’s phone and has been listening in to all conversations in the office. The break-in coincided with a virus on a computer as well.’

  ‘Why would the CIA care about Dad? He worked in safety and recovery, for Pete’s sake.’

  People in suits, jeans, even a cyclist in Lycra and bike helmet filed out of the lifts. No one seemed to look twice at Eliza.

  ‘He was obviously involved in defence contracts that were kept pretty quiet. Maybe he failed to deliver on time, or couldn’t complete a contract for some reason. The US government definitely wants him found.’

  She sat back in her chair.

  A woman hovered by the concierge desk, glancing at her watch more often than necessary. She pulled out her phone and checked something.

  ‘Well, why haven’t they found him yet? People can’t just hide from the CIA.’

  The woman with the phone knelt down and a toddler ran into her arms. They exited with a man pushing a stroller. For a moment the foyer was empty apart from us.

  ‘Not unless they have some kind of training in how to avoid being caught,’ I explained. ‘It isn’t just your father who has disappeared. So has almost all the evidence that he ever existed.’

  Chapter 61

  ELIZA LISTENED INTENTLY. I’d noticed a man sit and start flicking through a four-wheel drive magazine on an adjacent lounge.

  ‘Could Dad have been arrested by these people?’

  ‘Not yet. Otherwise they wouldn’t have come to me, or need to watch you. It makes sense; you’re his only family. He may try to pass something on to you, or send you a message.’ I looked directly into those intense green eyes. ‘Has he?’

  ‘No. I would have told you.’ She dragged a piece of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind one ear. ‘He would have warned me if something was wrong. That’s why I’m scared for him.’

  I instinctively reached out and took her hand. ‘Maybe it happened too fast.’ It occurred to me that Eric knew whatever he was involved in could endanger his daughter. Alternatively, he may have known she’d be under surveillance and was unable to get in touch safely. ‘I suspect he may have known a time would come when he had to disappear. He just didn’t know exactly when until last week.’

  ‘Thank you for helping.’ Eliza gently squeezed my fingers. ‘What happens if the ambassador’s people, or the CIA, or whoever, find my father? What will they do to him?’

  ‘Honestly, I don’t know. First I have to find out what they want from him.’

  The magazine reader got up and headed to the stairwell.

  ‘Can you think of anything he could have said, hinted at, or something he maybe gave you that at the time you thought wasn’t important?’

  She stared at her lap, concentrating for a few moments. ‘Nothing stands out. We talked about going fishing again soon, or maybe a cruise. What if he did give me a sign and I missed it?’

  ‘It’s OK,’ I assured her. ‘Something might come back to you. For now, I want you to use this when we talk or meet.’ I pulled out a spare burner phone. ‘I’m the only one who has this but I’ve programmed in my staff’s contacts as well as mine. Don’t hesitate to call. What you may think is trivial could be vital in finding him.’

  She put the phone by her side so it was hidden from view. ‘You mean before anyone else gets to him.’ Her voice wavered.

  ‘Your father may have ticked off some pretty important people. From what I know of him, he’s good at hiding. We have the advantage because we have you.’

  She squeezed my hand again. ‘I’ll go through what I have. Cards, gifts, photos, messages.’

  I felt a strange connection to this woman, one that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I put it down to her being a vulnerable client. Eliza Moss was no victim, but she could just be a target.

  I stood and checked the foyer one more time. Apart from occasional glances, no one seemed particularly interested in us. ‘I’ll come see you when I get back from interviewing the Contigo Valley pilot. Whatever your father is involved in is serious. You need to be careful.’

  Chapter 62

  IN THE LAB, Johnny and Darlene sat on adjacent stools. He circled three recent billings on Louise Simpson’s credit card, all for a radiology practice in Manly.

  ‘Unless you know someone at a particular practice, why would you drive for what would be an hour-and-a-half round trip, with two small kids, just to get an X-ray?’

  Darlene checked the billings. ‘My mum said her world shrank after kids. She stopped going to doctors, shops and hairdressers who weren’t near home or school.’

  ‘My point exactly. There are two other X-ray places within a five-minute drive.’

  Darlene flicked through a series of notes she’d taken. ‘The GP says Louise didn’t have any medical problems apart from reflux and sciatica after the second child that settled in a couple of months. No tests either, nothing except the kids’ vaccinations.’

  ‘Maybe she was a doctor shopper. It wouldn’t be unusual if she wanted sleeping tablets or painkillers and didn’t want her regular doctor to know. Maybe they ordered the X-rays.’

  ‘That’s easy to sort out then.’ Darlene winked. She clicked at the computer and then phoned Medicare, leaning across Johnny to read the credit card bill.

  ‘I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to ask about one of my Medicare bills. Since my husband died, and the insurance company hasn’t paid us, things are pretty tight for the kids and me.’

  She instantly had the operator’s attention.

  ‘I’m trying to go over my medical expenses, to see if we qualify for the safety net but I can’t remember all the tests I’ve had. I remember the last bill was for X-rays I had on the twentieth of last month. I paid $375.’ Her voice dropped away just a little. ‘My husband used to manage our finances.’

  Johnny watched as she read out Louise’s name, date of birth and Medicare number. It was enough to get the operator to answer her query. After a few nods and ‘uh-huhs’, during which she took copious notes, she finished the conversation. ‘Thank you for this. You’ve been very kind.’

  Johnny admired Darlene’s phone manner. She could charm a politician into giving away his dirtiest secrets.

  ‘Well,’ Darlene turned to Johnny, ‘Louise had three ultrasounds in a month, and six in the last three months. All of them were abdominal. She must have paid for some in cash if they’re not all on her credit cards.’

  ‘Don’t suppose she said which doctor ordered them?’

  ‘She did. The family GP – who has no record of them.’

  ‘And we know Louise wasn’t pregnant.’ Johnny flicked through his notes. ‘The Wallaces said they met the surrogate and paid a hefty deposit at Queenscliff. Which is …’

  ‘Adjacent to Manly,’ Darlene added. ‘Chances are, the woman posing as Louise Simpson lives nearby.’

  Chapter 63

  I PARKED AT Bankstown airport with Mary and entered the small grey building with the blue passenger terminal sign. It was smaller than that of many regional airports.

  Inside, the sole check-in counter was unattended. A couple near the exit was uninhibited about displaying affection. The septuagenarian would have been twice, possibly three times the woman’s age, with a wispy comb-over.

  A man dressed all in white entered from
the airfield side, greeted the couple and collected their luggage. They headed to a Cessna on the tarmac outside. The woman struggled up the stairs in her six-inch heels.

  ‘How long do you give it?’ Mary asked.

  ‘Not much longer than the trip,’ I guessed.

  ‘Hard to believe cynics like us are single,’ she said as a thin gentleman in his fifties approached us.

  ‘Ms Clarke?’ He reached out his hand, first to Mary then me. ‘Geoff Andren.’

  ‘This is my boss, Craig Gisto,’ Mary said. ‘Thanks for seeing us.’

  The pilot’s silver hair was cropped short, nothing out of place. A white epaulet shirt bearing the Contigo logo was immaculately pressed, as were the navy belted trousers. Attention to detail was something I respected, especially in people who controlled the cockpit of a plane.

  He escorted us through a security gate on to the tarmac. ‘Bankstown specialises in charters, cargo and flight training,’ he said, as if taking a tourist group for the hundredth time.

  A plane landed on a distant runway as we approached a hangar. Sitting outside was a scaled-down version of Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose.

  Mary stopped to admire it. ‘Is that a Grumman Goose B49?’

  Arms folded, Geoff paused and rocked on his heels. ‘Yep. She’s a beauty. Been here since it was built, in 1944.’

  As we walked on, Johnny rang and I excused myself to answer. He said that Collette had agreed to meet the new boyfriend at her home tonight, with Darlene and Johnny outside monitoring the situation. I told him to keep me informed and get Collette out at the first hint of trouble. He also said he had a lead about the Simpson imposter he’d follow up first.

  The pilot had become more animated.

  ‘The hangars on this side are all original. They housed bombers in World War Two. In fact, when General Macarthur visited, this was the airport used by the US Army Air Forces.’

  The enormity of the airport became apparent. It was amazing all this existed in the middle of suburbia. ‘Did civilians object to having a military target so close to their homes in wartime?’