The Gathering. Carl Read
the nation’s pride and joy. Botanical gardens were established around the fringes of the forest with all the amenities families would require to enjoy a blissful day’s outing.
The paths through the gardens lead to the entrance of Redwood Avenue, which meanders its way throughout the entire forest. It was the only public entrance and it was here Detective Laura sat waiting patiently for Joe to arrive. There were always people walking about so Joe figured he should be safe. He had been watching for ten minutes now. He knew she hadn’t come alone although he couldn’t see anyone else.
“I have a lad standing in the bushes watching you, Detective,” a voice rasped in Laura’s earplug.
“Acknowledged,” Laura replied quietly.
Joe started walking slowly towards the entrance of Redwood Avenue trying to look natural.
“Movement coming your way, Detective; he’s started walking. I have him in my sights. Just give me the word and he’s down.”
“When he arrives, do nothing without my say so,” Laura affirmed.
“Affirmative,” responded the voice in her ear.
Laura observed Joe walking towards her pretending to look at the flora. His body language didn’t suit the profile of a tough gang member and he looked too young to be involved in acts of brutality. As Joe walked past her she spoke.
“I promised you I would come alone and I have, so why don’t you sit and we can talk?”
Joe nearly tripped over. “How’d ya know it was me?”
“I’m a trained officer, Joe.”
“Look, like I said, I didn’t have nothin’ ta do with them ladies. I tried ta stop ’em takin’ the first one and got beat up bad, real bad, so I stayed out of it from then on. I tried ta take care of them afterwards like, but I couldn’t do nothin’ about the pain they was in. I can give ya all the jobs we done and tell ya who the stuff went ta. I can even give ya the location of all the safe houses. But I want protection.”
“Joe,” Laura said earnestly, “if I give you my word that nothing will happen to you, would you accompany me to the station so we can record everything you say for the court? I promise you won’t be charged if you turn witness for the prosecution.”
Joe was feeling conflicting emotions. He had never had time for cops after the dealings the gang’d had with them. But this dame seemed different; still he wasn’t giving anything away just yet.
“Is that the protection program I was askin’ about?”
“Yes, that’s the one,” Laura responded.
Joe always went by his gut and his gut was telling him to trust her. He didn’t know how to find out if she was lying, so he asked. “How do I know you’ll keep ya word?”
“I’m alone now, aren’t I?”
“Nar, ya got someone watchin’. I just can’t see ’em. I might sound dumb ’cause I don’t speak right, but I saw the thing in ya ear and ya’ll have a mike hidden some place.”
“You’re right, Joe; that was for my own protection. I didn’t know if you were serious or not. I meet some pretty violent people in my job. They say one thing and do another.”
“Yeah, I get it. I just want ta get out and I don’t want ta go ta jail for somethin’ I couldn’t help.” Laura thought he looked pale and tired.
“There has to be trust somewhere sometime, Joe.”
“Okay. You’re not lyin’, are ya?”
“No, Joe, I’m not lying. Come on, my car is over by the gate.”
Arriving at the police station, they were about to enter when Joe leaned forward opening the door.
“Ladies first.”
Laura nodded and walked through. She was a good judge of character and Joe didn’t fit the picture of a criminal. They walked down a corridor around a corner and into a small room with a table and two chairs. The back wall had a mirror on it. Joe was a little uncomfortable and started to feel trapped. Laura, sensing his discomfort, tried to put him at ease.
“Have a seat, Joe. Would you like something to eat or drink?”
“Ya kiddin’,” Joe responded, surprised. “You’d really do that for me?”
“Yes, of course. Now, what would you like?”
“Could I have some water, please?” he asked. “I’m real thirsty.”
“That mirror on the wall is two-way.” Laura half smiled at him. “Thought you should know.” She left the room to get the water and report to her captain.
“Hi Cap, I got him in the interrogation room.”
“Good work.” The captain looked pleased. “What are you going to charge him with?”
“Nothing. He’s turning State’s evidence,” Laura replied.
“He’d better be co-operative or I’ll shove him in the slammer so quick his head will spin. I hate turncoats, but if it gets us the rest of those bastards it’s worth it,” grumbled the captain.
“Look Cap, I know what I’m doing,” persisted Laura. “I’m not a rookie. I want the whole thing videoed while I’m with him, all right?”
Laura walked back into the room carrying a tray with two glasses, a jug of water and some sandwiches. Joe immediately got to his feet, took the tray from her and placed it on the table. He poured two glasses of water and waited for Laura to sit.
“Thank you, Joe. That was kind of you.”
“Ya welcome. What do we do now, Detective?”
“My name is Laura. Joe, tell me how you came to be part of the gang.”
“I ain’t talked about that ta anyone before. It goes back a long way. Are ya sure ya want all that borin’ stuff?”
“Yes, but first I would like your full name, address and age.”
“Me name is Joe Moseley. I don’t have a permanent address ’cause of the gang and I think I’m twenty-two.” His name triggered alarm bells in Laura’s head, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.
“Would ya mind if I walk around when I talk?” Joe said, suddenly feeling uneasy. “It helps the words come out easier.”
“Of course you can,” Laura said kindly, watching the emotions cross Joe’s face.
Joe started pacing around the room; suddenly he stopped and looked at her.
“I never told nobody this before,” he said, fidgeting. “But I’m trustin’ ya, okay?”
“I won’t say a word, Joe. I’ll just listen,” she quietly responded.
Joe ran his hands through his hair and over his face. “When I was a kid there was this gang war and peoples was bein’ attacked. These blokes broke into our place, me Mum and Dad hid me in a cupboard. Then them blokes started hurtin’ me Mum, tryin’ to get me Dad to tell ’em somethin’ he didn’t know,” Joe explained while walking around the room. “Then this big bloke comes in.” Joe’s voice went quiet. “I’ll never forget his face. He had short curly black hair and only one ear.” Joe turned to look at Laura. “He hurt me Mum real bad.” His voice was full of pain. “Then them bastards beat up on me Dad somethin’ fierce. They was all laughin’ when they left.” Joe was silent for a moment. Shaking his head he continued. “After they was gone I crawled out of the cupboard to me Mum and Dad and tried to get them to talk to me and look at me, but their eyes was lookin’ at nothin’,” Joe said, with tears running down his cheeks. “They was dead!” His voice was full of hurt.
Laura waited for him to continue. This wasn’t what