Man at the Window by Robert Jeffreys

Author:Robert Jeffreys
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, detective, crime, murder, police, Perth, Australia, 1960s, Western Australia, death, investigation, secrets, justice, Australian fiction
ISBN: 9781760683375
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Australia
Published: 2018-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-nine

Day 10

Williams

6.50 a.m. Tuesday, 3rd November 1965

A fragile blue sky prepared for the hard heat of day.

Cardilini allowed two and a half hours to drive a distance of 100 miles to the south-west town of Williams. His plan was to stop at the Halfway House for breakfast, although food had lost its appeal since he had stopped drinking.

The police report that the state coroner received in 1963 stated that Colin Sheppard had died of accidental gunfire while carrying a rifle. The coroner, according to Colleen, had left an open finding. Senior Constable Saunders who completed the report was still stationed at Williams and expected Cardilini early morning. Mid-morning he would drive 15 miles to the Sheppard wheat and sheep farm to meet Mr and Mrs Sheppard.

Cardilini drove through the corridor of pine trees in the hills above Armadale. On a Christmas holiday to Albany, four years ago, he’d driven the same road. A bustling, busy, talkative trip. Every fibre in him ached for that moment, ached for Betty laughing beside him. Tears blurred the road ahead. He wiped them away harshly with the sleeve of his shirt. It was hard to believe he was once that man.

***

The town of Williams gathered its buildings on the left of the South Western Highway, mainly stock agents and farm machinery suppliers. An occasional residential bungalow with a broad corrugated iron roof sat behind the commercial strip. At 9.35 a.m. Cardilini pulled his car into a parking space directly outside the police station. His shirt stuck to his back and two hours with the windows down had left him feeling windblown.

The flyscreen door squeaked, announcing his entrance, and a uniformed officer looked up from his desk.

‘Cardilini. Can’t understand why you bothered to come. I rang East Perth this morning, spoke to Bishop, he doesn’t know what the hell you’re doing.’

‘Did you speak to Superintendent Robinson?’

‘No.’

‘He could tell you what I’m doing.’ Being a bloody nuisance, thought Cardilini. The officer relented at this and stuck out his hand.

‘Saunders.’

‘Good to meet you, Senior Constable.’

‘So, what do you want? You read my report?’

‘I just want to ask a few questions.’

‘No harm, I guess. Cup of tea?’

***

Cardilini and Saunders sat on the back verandah amid the sharp, pungent smell of gum trees. Stick-like trees with dry, peeling bark flourished in the yard.

‘Even though the scheme water is through, few people water their yards,’ Saunders said looking out at a dead patch of lawn.

‘I’ve been tidying my front yard,’ Cardilini said. ‘I hadn’t done anything for twelve months.’

‘I remember the funeral being posted. Sorry about your loss.’

‘Thanks.’

They sat in silence. Past the yard, taller gums could be seen tracking the meandering Williams River.

‘Much water in the river?’ Cardilini asked.

‘No.’

‘Didn’t think so.’

‘So?’ Saunders asked rolling a cigarette. ‘Your questions?’

‘In the report you said the Sheppard boy probably tripped while carrying a loaded rifle.’

‘That’s right.’

‘Is that what you think?’ Cardilini turned to check Saunders’s response.

‘There wasn’t any other possible reason.’ Saunders exhaled a stream of smoke into the oppressive air.

Cardilini watched Saunders for a moment before asking, ‘How did you imagine it happened?’

‘I don’t know.

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