FUNDING BOOST FOR KIDS IN CRISISThe Hon Brooke Porter MP, Victorian Minister for Health, is pleased to announce a $2.5m funding package to boost the Back Outside program, a move that will improve juvenile offender access to post-release support services.'Much of this funding will go straight towards improving coalface services such as accommodation and employment,' Minister Porter said. 'Because Back Outside already has established relationships with primary welfare providers, we are able to cut down on the administration costs normally a.s.sociated with this type of funding package. And since many of these kids are homeless and extremely marginalised after a period of incarceration, these funds are a victory for both the offenders and the community.'

'Are you thinking what I'm thinking?' Ca.s.sie said, easing back on the sofa.

'Yeah, established relationships,' I said, staring blankly at the words on the screen. 'CARS get a lot of referrals from Back Outside. Dallas Boyd, for one.'

'And Sparks too,' Ca.s.sie added. 'Maybe even Justin Quinn. Who knows how many others.'

I tapped my leg, agitated, unsure what to make of it. 'Okay, what about Kirzek?'

'Nothing yet. Can't find any obvious connection, but he has to be in it somewhere. Jorgensen wouldn't cop an arrest just for the sake of it. They're helping each other.' She looked at me. 'I figure that's how they all met, through this program. I mean, we know Dallas Boyd did time for armed robbery. And remember Sparks said Boyd was always talking about making money, acting c.o.c.ky before he got out, as though he knew he was going to earn a whole pile of it?'

'Yeah, Dallas had a plan but kept it secret. Helping these guys make p.o.r.n and then blackmailing them was his plan. Obviously it backfired.'

My mind spun with how this information could help find Ella. Somehow Kirzek and Jorgensen knew each other and were in partnership, possibly with CARS somewhere in the picture, but none of this helped me now. Before I could suggest anything more, my phone rang. It was Kirzek.

'You have laptop, yes?'

'Yes,' I said, heart pumping.

'Very good. Do not lie, McCauley.'

'I'm not.'

'I have your wife, remember.'

I swallowed. 'Let's get on with it.'

'You have email?' he said. 'You can send email to wife, yes?'

'Send her an email? But what '

'What is problem?' Kirzek snapped. 'You have your own computer, yes?'

'Yes!'

'Then send email to wife. Do it now. Then we talk more. If not, I give her my favourite trick.'

He hung up, leaving me with an empty phone line. Ca.s.sie took the phone from me gently.

'He wants you to send an email somewhere?' she asked.

'Yeah, to Ella. I don't understand.'

'I do,' she said. 'He's at Ella's apartment, waiting by her computer. He's probably checked her emails and seen some from your hotmail account, so he knows he can communicate with you this way. Remember, this guy's a rock spider. They live live on the internet. He feels comfortable with computers.' on the internet. He feels comfortable with computers.'

'I don't want to lose her, Ca.s.s. I love her.'

'I know,' she said, squeezing my hand. 'Maybe we should try to set up a trace, either on the emails or phone calls. How long would that take?'

I shrugged, despondent. 'Too long. By the time they get it up and running he'll know we're stalling him. I can't risk it.'

She nodded in agreement, then shuffled closer to her laptop and opened Hotmail. I logged on to my account and she typed a message to Ella's email address: I'm here ... now what? I'm here ... now what?

Shortly after, an email arrived back: Look closely. U can see wife. Look closely. U can see wife.

'What the h.e.l.l does that mean?' I asked.

'Attachments,' Ca.s.sie explained, pointing at two orange icons beneath the address tabs. 'These are jpeg files. Photos.'

I leant closer, saw that the files were named simply 1 and 2. Fear surged through my body as Ca.s.sie opened the first one.

'Oh Jesus,' I gasped, staring at a picture of Ella bound and gagged on her bed, eyes wide with fear. By the bed was a television, the screen depicting a scene from the movie t.i.tanic t.i.tanic.

'It's a proof-of-life shot,' Ca.s.sie said, reaching for the remote control and turning her television on. She scrolled through the channels until t.i.tanic t.i.tanic came on. 'He's telling us she's still alive.' came on. 'He's telling us she's still alive.'

'What about the other photo?'

It was an almost exact copy of the previous picture, but this time Kirzek had positioned his knife on top of the television.

'That b.a.s.t.a.r.d,' I snarled. 'I'm gonna take that knife and gouge out his f.u.c.king heart.'

I paced the room and felt a surge of rage so pure and clear it scared me. In nearly twenty years as a cop, I'd never taken a human life, not even in self-defence. But in that moment I knew I'd have no problem killing Kirzek.

'He has to know you understand his message,' said Ca.s.sie, typing another email. Loud and clear. What now? Loud and clear. What now?

Almost immediately Kirzek responded: Take laptop to souvlaki bar on Lygon Street. Go alone, wait inside. Someone will come for laptop. Take laptop to souvlaki bar on Lygon Street. Go alone, wait inside. Someone will come for laptop.

What about Ella? Ca.s.sie typed. Ca.s.sie typed.

When laptop secure, wife go free, came the reply.

Ca.s.sie went to type a response but I stopped her. I wasn't happy with Kirzek's instructions. 'Tell him I want a straight swap,' I said. 'Out in the open.'

She nodded and typed: Bring Ella to the souvlaki store. We'll do a direct swap. Bring Ella to the souvlaki store. We'll do a direct swap.

Kirzek replied immediately: No. She stay here. When laptop secure, I set her free. Leave now. Twenty minutes. Remember, I see everything. No. She stay here. When laptop secure, I set her free. Leave now. Twenty minutes. Remember, I see everything.

I pictured Kirzek in Ella's bedroom, staring out the window towards Lygon Street, watching the souvlaki bar. It was an amateur and desperate plan but that didn't matter. Kirzek had us stumped. We'd seen what he'd done to Sparks and Justin Quinn. By comparison, Dallas Boyd got it easy.

'He won't hesitate to take her out if we screw him over,' I said tersely. 'I don't have a choice, Ca.s.s. I have to play ball. I have to get her back myself.'

31.

Ca.s.sIE REVERSE-PARKED behind a bus stop on Lygon Street. From there we had a clear view of the top floors of Ella's apartment building and the souvlaki bar further up. Even at this hour, the street was abuzz with people on the sidewalks and a steady stream of cars gliding back and forth along the road. behind a bus stop on Lygon Street. From there we had a clear view of the top floors of Ella's apartment building and the souvlaki bar further up. Even at this hour, the street was abuzz with people on the sidewalks and a steady stream of cars gliding back and forth along the road.

Through the park, I could see some of the lights on in Ella's apartment, but little else. At one point I thought I saw a silhouette in the window but wasn't sure.

'I don't like this,' Ca.s.sie said. 'I've got a bad feeling, big time. There's another building opposite Ella's. Maybe we could get SOG to put a sniper on him.'

'There's no time.' I checked my watch and realised I had about five minutes before I had to be in the souvlaki store. 'I have to move.'

'We could be playing right into his hands and doing everything he wants.'

'We are are doing what he wants,' I said. 'That's the doing what he wants,' I said. 'That's the point point. It's the safest way to stop him killing her.'

'But how do you know he ...' Her voice faltered and she looked away.

'How do I know he's not going to kill her anyway? Is that what you mean?' I grabbed her by the wrist and made her face me.

When she didn't answer I let go of her wrist and clenched my fists, forcing my anger and frustration into two hard b.a.l.l.s.

'Look, we made a decision and we're here now. So why don't you stop questioning me and just f.u.c.king help help me?' me?'

'I am am f.u.c.king helping, you b.l.o.o.d.y t.w.a.t. Jesus, all I'm saying is that something like this needs to be surgical, not emotional. No attachment. I mean, what if it all goes wrong? You'll never forgive yourself.' f.u.c.king helping, you b.l.o.o.d.y t.w.a.t. Jesus, all I'm saying is that something like this needs to be surgical, not emotional. No attachment. I mean, what if it all goes wrong? You'll never forgive yourself.'

'I don't want to think about that.'

'Well, you should.'

I slid out of the car and stood in the shadows of the bus stop, Ca.s.sie's reasoning clouding me like the smoke covering the city.

'All right,' I said, taking the laptop off the back seat. 'I'm not waiting any longer. Let's do it.'

She got out of the car and followed me into a nearby alley, carrying the knapsack with the two-way radio and mike I'd borrowed from the watch-house.

'Unb.u.t.ton your shirt,' she said, a little too loudly. 'Put this on.'

A couple strolling past heard her comment and looked into the alley. I stared back until they kept walking, then undid my shirt and tried to tape the mike lead to my chest. It was awkward because I hadn't shaved my chest hair but it would have to do. I clipped the transponder to my belt and Ca.s.sie ran the receiver lead up my back, leaving it disguised under my collar.

'Put it in your ear now in case there's someone in there watching you,' she said, straightening my shirt. 'I know we have to do this. I just wish there was another way.'

I switched on the transponder. 'Well, there isn't. So just keep watch, and remember he'll probably sneak out the back so be ready. I'll let you know when Kirzek rings me.'

She nodded, looking concerned.

'This is my show, Ca.s.s,' I said. 'You're not responsible for anything that happens. It's all me, okay?'

Finally she nodded, wished me luck and went back to the car. I walked out of the alley and crossed Lygon Street towards the souvlaki bar. Standing on the centre median strip, waiting to cross, I used the time to survey the interior of the store and its surrounds. A man with sweat stains under his arms and a white ap.r.o.n carved lamb off a rotisserie. About a dozen punters queued for souvlaki inside the store. Others lingered outside, eating, drinking, smoking. None looked familiar.

I crossed the street and entered the store. The smell of grilled lamb, garlic sauce and alcohol filled the hot air. I lingered in line for a moment, pretending to read the menu board while I scrutinised everyone in the store.

'No Kirzek,' I whispered into the chest mike.

'Received,' I heard Ca.s.sie reply. 'Nothing here either,' she added.

I sat at a bench by the window next to a couple of young bucks either winding up a long day on the p.i.s.s or about to start a Sunday-night bender. They paused for a second while I arranged the laptop at my feet, then continued their discussion about a new nightclub on Chapel Street. I watched the street outside intently, looking around methodically. Predatory.

'A couple just turned out of the apartment foyer,' Ca.s.sie said. A moment later she added, 'All clear. It's not him.'

I tapped my chest twice to indicate I'd heard her. Minutes pa.s.sed and nothing changed except the beating of my heart, which seemed so loud that I wondered if everyone in the shop could hear it. I checked my watch. Five past midnight. Where the h.e.l.l was he?

Suddenly my phone rang. I scooped up the laptop, stepped out onto the sidewalk. 'I'm here. What now?'

'Go back in shop,' Kirzek ordered. 'Put laptop back on bench.'

I scanned the restaurants and bars for a familiar face but found nothing. I looked up at the second-storey terraces above the shops but still nothing. There was movement behind the curtain in one of the motel rooms down the street, but that could have been anything.

'All right, I'm going back in the shop,' I said, knowing Ca.s.sie would receive the message. 'I'll put the laptop under the window bench. Then what?'

'Buy souvlaki.'

'What?'

'Buy souvlaki and do not turn around.'

'Okay. I'll buy a souvlaki, but then '

'Why do you repeat me?'

'Huh, I just wanted to make sure I had your instructions correct.'

'Don't f.u.c.k with me, Mr Rubens. I have your b.i.t.c.h wife, remember?'

'Okay, I'm in line. What now?'

'Nothing. Do not turn around. You stay in shop ten more minutes, then collect wife.'

The line went dead. I used the reflection in the gla.s.s of the bain-marie to watch the laptop. This was it. Rush point. When the queue cleared I stepped to the counter and ordered a lamb souvlaki.

'You want the king special?' the man asked.

'Huh?'

'The king special. Souvlaki with the lot.'

Suddenly Ca.s.sie's voice shrieked in my ear. 'Kirzek just scooped up the laptop. Red dress, blonde wig.'