Lust, Greed and Murder

LUST

GREED

AND

MURDER

© Copyright Dan Malone

Australia 2017

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Lust, Greed and Murder

The right of Dan Malone to be identified as the

author of this work has been asserted by him.

ISBN: 978-0-6481647-1-5

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This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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CHAPTER ONE

After two successful years filling country postings, Detective Senior Constable Vergil John Rankin had been transferred to the State Police Headquarters. Rankin was now married with two children. Born in 1935 and close to thirty years of age, Rankin had become portly, but he was still fit. He was dark haired, with slightly protruding blue eyes.

He analysed the people he was now working with three detective constables, young and well-educated all fast-tracked though the ranks. Rankin had climbed up the promotion ladder the old way since joining the force at eighteen. What did these young men know, and could he rely on them as colleagues, he wondered.

Detective Sergeant Berger headed the division of the CIB where Rankin had been transferred. Berger was impressed by Rankin, and the way he put things together. He had soon proved his worth exposing a car repair racket and quickly solving a series of robberies at late night shops.

Rankin knew Berger was a racist and had believed in the white Australia policy. He thought Berger was a dinosaur, outdated, and confused by the way the police force and the country was changing. Rankin respected him as a detective, but not his views. But he had to admit, that Berger`s team worked well together.

After six months in Berger`s team, Rankin received a message from Berger to get the team together. Rankin knew he was being tested, as this was the first case that he would lead. Information had been received that auto thieves were targeting late model, middle of the range vehicles. Rankin and his team interviewed the owners of the stolen cars and established that most were having their first service after purchase.

At the team`s first meeting they discussed their findings. After hearing the reports, Rankin said, 'There is a pattern forming here. All vehicles had low mileage and had recently been serviced. They were stolen from business car parks, shopping centres, and off the street if left there overnight by their owners. The auto thieves are selective. It looks to me like they had information from somewhere about the vehicle's locality.'

Further investigations showed that they were all serviced by the same dealer's workshop. Rankin went to the dealer, showed his badge to the person behind the counter at reception, and was soon in the owner manager’s office.

The manager was neatly suited, and well-groomed. He asked abruptly, ‘What can I do for you, Detective?’

Rankin said, ‘What is your procedure here when new vehicles are in for service?’

The manager said, 'What possible business is that of yours?`

‘There have been a number of low mileage cars stolen in our area and all were serviced here,' Rankin said.

The manager spluttered. ‘What are you implying?’

‘That someone in your organisation could be leaking information to the thieves.'

His face glowing red with anger, the manager stood up, towering over Rankin. ‘That is a libel, untrue, and very vexing. We have operated for over twenty years here and have a hard earned reputation for honesty.’

Rankin stayed calm and replied, ‘Which you would not like to sully. I’m here to help you, not to embarrass you. Now settle down and help me. What is the standard procedure when a vehicle comes in for service?'

The manager said, ‘The client rings us and books the vehicle in, stating their name and the service required. The details are recorded and given to the workshop manager. He then files them on a clipboard in the workshop on the day their service is required. The workshop manager then checks that the service was completed correctly and fills in the vehicle's logbook. The vehicle is parked in our car park. The client then settles with us, is given the keys, and drives off.'

Rankin said, ‘The workshop manager has access to all vehicle details. How long had he been with you?’

The manager replied, ‘Since we started the business. He is my brother.’

Rankin nodded thoughtfully. ‘I need a list of all people employed here and their hours worked – including all casual mechanics. And I need their time sheets for the last three months.’

The manager said, ‘That will take time. I don't have time now. I will have to do it after hours.’

Rankin gave him his card. ‘I will send a courier to pick it up when you have it together. ’

The manager frowned. ‘Not a police car. Your visit will already have tongues wagging,' he snapped.

Rankin shrugged. ‘Just tell them there was a hit-and-run on the freeway and the police thought you might be able to help them as you know cars, and it was on the freeway you use. Advise your office of that and tell them that calls from Rodger Hastings have to be put straight through to you. Say it's Club business.'

The manager and Rankin shook hands and Rankin left the building. He reported to Berger what he had done and what he hoped to achieve.

When Berger grunted and said, ‘Put all staff on it’, Rankin knew that the boss was taking him seriously.

Two days later the manager rang him and said the parcel for Rodger Hastings was available for collection. Rankin had it thirty minutes later, having sent a young detective in his private car to collect it. All employees working there were listed in the files the manager had sent. Rankin photocopied all timesheets. As he handed the pages to his three young detectives, he said, 'Note all the mechanics working the week before the cars were stolen, except the apprentices, and compare the list with their stolen car reports. One name stood out. A casual mechanic, who only worked part time, and was always there the week before cars were stolen. His name on the time sheets was Burns H and his phone number was listed.

Rankin went to Berger and said, ‘l want this bloke's phone records for the last two months.'

Berger shook his head. ‘That would be a Commonwealth Police job.'

Rankin grinned. ‘I am sure you could get them.'

Berger grunted and went to the Superintendent’s office. When he returned, he said, ‘You will have them Friday.’

Rankin said, ‘That gives us two days to find out about Burns. We have his address now, but don’t want to spook him.’

Friday, the Superintendent gave Berger the phone call details and he handed them to Rankin. Rankin was surprised that Berger was not interfering in the investigation. Burns had a small motor cycle repair shop and evidently worked as a mechanic when things were slack. He owned a big Harley motorcycle, but was not a member of any club. Rankin went through the phone numbers. There was always a call to an unlisted number after any week he worked at the service centre. Rankin went to Berger and said he needed the owner of the unlisted number.

Berger grunted and went to the superintendent’s office. When he came back he said, ‘Rankin you are going to bring the Commonwealth Police down on us.’ But he was smiling. He was happy with the investigation Rankin was running.

Next day, he came to Rankin’s desk and said, ‘You might have won the jackpot. He put a name and the phone number down and said, ‘We have wanted this bastard for years, but could never nail him. Abe Greenburg. He has a big shop in the CBD – drapery and fashions, but it’s just a front. This must be big if he is mixed up in it. Here’s his phone records, see what they give you.’

Rankin made three copies and he and the young detectives combed through them. There were always two calls after Burns had rung him. Rankin rang each number. One had an answering service that stated his name, his unavailability to come to the phone, and a message, telling callers to leave a number for him to call back. Rankin noted the name, John Wilson, and then rang the other phone.

A voice answered and quoted the number rang. Rankin said, ‘Channel 9 here. We are conducting a survey about what programs you watch.'

‘Sport, mainly,’ said the voice, ’on any channel it’s on.’

Rankin replied, 'We are setting a panel to get the opinion of viewers. Would you be interested in being on it?’

'When?’ said the voice.

'We will give you plenty of notice Mr …'

The voice said, ‘Evans, Rex Evans.'

Rankin gave his colleagues the thumbs-up signal and wrote down the name. 'Thank you, Mr Evans,‘ he said, smiling.

The young detectives were listening intently and appeared to be in awe of Rankin. They scanned the phone book and found addresses for both persons.

Rankin said, ‘Go to the addresses, and find out what their day-job is, if any. Do not approach them. But if there’s any mail in their letterboxes, check the name on it.'

Berger watched this performance. He shook his head and signalled Rankin to the Superintendent‘s office.

Williams, the Superintendent, said, ‘Berger believes that you have handled this investigation well, but the hard work starts now. CIB will take it from here and put a watch on Wilson and Evans. If they are the car thieves, they will follow them to where the stolen cars are stored. The must have a holding yard somewhere in the city. The stolen vehicles are not reported immediately and so we would not have an alert out on them. They would probably be transported from the site by a large enclosed truck to their final destination, which I believe is probably Sydney. After identifying the truck, we will advise Sydney police, and let them handle it. We can arrest the blokes involved here anytime.'

Williams said, ‘Superintendent Johnson, in the northern city where you once worked, told me you had real ability, but could be a loose cannon at times. Johnson and I did our training together.'

Rankin smiled and turned to Berger. ‘Thanks for the opportunity to run this inquiry.’

Berger grunted and said, ‘Why bark and round up the sheep when you have a dog to do it.’

Williams said, ‘We have not got Greenburg.’

Rankin replied, 'Sir, we can link him to the car thieves and Burns.'

Berger shook his head ruefully. ‘His shyster barrister would put up reasonable answers to why the phone calls were made.'

‘What are his weakness, women, alcohol, gambling?' Rankin asked.

Williams said, ‘Races horses. He is a known punter, member of all local race clubs, and on the committee of one of them. He is a faithless husband and womaniser, but has his wife on his arm at their children’s speech