The Twisted Knot by J.M. Peace Page B

him. He got beaten up a couple of times from memory. One time he even tried to make a complaint. But mostly he kept to himself and people started to forget him.’
    â€˜They’re remembering him now,’ Sammi observed. ‘It was like a proper lynch mob out of a movie. They might as well have had burning torches and nooses.’
    â€˜I’m surprised that Shane left you to deal with it. You should have called me,’ Bob said.
    â€˜I didn’t have the chance. It was lucky Kayleen had them all under control.’
    â€˜I would have liked to have seen who was there. We’ve got to keep an eye on them. Tempers start boiling over like that, someone’s going to get hurt.’
    â€˜Mel knew most of them,’ Sammi said.
    Mel nodded and rattled off a few names.
    â€˜Maybe we should let it go for a couple of days and see what happens,’ Sammi said. ‘Might be easiest if someone went out there with a rifle and popped him. Sounds like what he deserves.’ It was mostly a joke. ‘I reckon even if he was lined up for it, he’d get bugger all jail time, and be back out still young enough to do it all again.’ Her voice was starting to rise. ‘It stinks. Where’s the support for the victim?’
    â€˜We all felt sorry for Janey,’ Bob said. ‘I never had much to do with her till she was on the gear and it was too late.’ He shook his head. ‘I’ve got a lot of time for Kayleen though. She’s always reasonable and helpful. Despite everything.’
    â€˜I’d say it’s Wendy we’ve got to watch out for,’ Sammi said.
    â€˜Yeah. She’d have a bullet with Woodford’s name on it.’
    â€˜Can’t we go out and grab Woodford? Surely there’s enough to interview him at least?’ There had to be something they could do. Sammi couldn’t forget the look on Kayleen’s face as she described Janey’s decline.
    â€˜And say what? There’s a rumour around that you’ve been abusing some kid and would you like to tell us about that?’ Bob shook his head. ‘We need to talk to CIB or CPIU, see if they’ve got any tricks up their sleeves. But it’s not our job, Sammi. Pete’s bound to have heard the rumours by now. Probably someone’s even gone out and fronted him already. He might feel confident because he got off last time. Until we can identify the victim, all we can do is sit back and see how it unfolds.’
    *
    The senior sergeant slunk back in at 3.55 p.m., in time for the end of his shift. No one knew where he had been since the mob’s arrival at lunchtime. No one would usually dare to ask him. He was the boss, he didn’t answer to them. But Sammi had an axe to grind with him. Her anger had surfaced after the anxiety subsided, and it had been simmering most of the day. So when he reappeared just as quietly as he’d left, sidling in through the back door, Sammi could not hold her tongue.
    She stormed up to him. ‘I think you owe me an apology.’
    â€˜We’ll discuss this in my office, Sammi,’ he said in curt tones.
    She stomped to the back of the station with him and shut the door to his office behind them.
    â€˜That was out of order,’ she said in clipped tones. ‘Friggin’ mob at the front counter and you do a runner.’
    â€˜You’re a police officer. You were behind security glass. Don’t act like I fed you to the wolves,’ he replied.
    â€˜Did you see how many people were there before you left me with them? I’m surprised the glass held them.’
    â€˜Don’t blow it out of proportion. It was a few angry people,’ the boss said.
    â€˜You think I’m blowing it out of proportion? You’re the one who couldn’t even face them,’ Sammi said. She kept the volume of her voice in check. He was still her boss.
    Shane sighed heavily. He put his hands up to his face, then ran them