Shattered by Gabrielle Lord Read Free Book Online Page A

mention it at our next precinct committee meeting. The sex workers liaison officer might be helpful. She’s cool and she’s on the street a lot.’
    ‘Social worker?’
    Naomi shook her head. ‘Uh-uh. We’ve been assigned a cop who liaises with us – takes complaints if anyone’s ripped off or bashed.’
    ‘What’s her name?’ Gemma asked, remembering that some time back Angie had acted in that position.
    ‘Constable Karen Lucky. Talk to her. She’s good value. A couple of ugly mugs put Gerda in hospital overnight a few weeks back. She gave good descriptions of them and their car and Karen picked them up and charged them the next day. They were sleeping it off in the same car in a No Stopping area.’ Naomi smiled. ‘Talk to Sandra Samuels too,’ she suggested, referring to the woman who ran the youth refuge.
    ‘I was going to,’ said Gemma – ‘I rang before I came here. No luck.’
    ‘Or better still,’ Naomi continued, ‘talk to Gerda. She knows even more about waifs and strays. Your little friend, the Ratbag? Gerda gave him floorspace in her tiny flat when he didn’t have anywhere to go.’
    Gemma remembered Hugo telling her about Gerda, the tall transsexual who’d let him stay at her place and who’d been saving for the op.
    ‘So why aren’t the cops out looking for the missing prefect?’ said Naomi, pulling her gloves off and taking the photograph inside, where she propped it up on the counter in her kitchen.
    ‘They’ve decided she’s not really a missing person. That she’s a runaway,’ Gemma replied, following Naomi inside. ‘She fits the profile of a high achiever who suddenly goes AWOL on the way to school.’ She studied the propped-up photograph of the fair girl again. ‘No boyfriend, no history of running away. Her friends have been grilled; her laptop’s been checked, according to the police – nothing there. She withdrew all the money from her savings account over the first few weeks of her absence. Looks like she’s decided to walk out of her pressured life.’
    ‘And onto the streets of Kings Cross,’ said Naomi. ‘Not a good start. Too many kids do that. Was the great doctor shafting her?’ She frowned and reached for the electric jug.
    ‘I’ve no idea about that,’ said Gemma. ‘But kids don’t leave home without a good reason. Could have simply been overload, carrying parental ambitions, I suppose.’
    ‘Want a coffee?’ Naomi asked.
    Gemma glanced at her watch. ‘Better go. Let me know if you hear anything about Maddison. And I’ll have a chat to Karen Lucky. Where does Gerda live?’
    Naomi found an old envelope and scribbled the address on the back of it for her. The two of them walked through the house and Naomi let Gemma out, putting a hand on her arm.
    ‘You okay?’ she frowned. ‘You look pale. And you’ve lost weight. Hope you’re not coming down with something.’
    ‘I already have come down with something, Naomi. It’s called a baby. I’m pregnant.’
    Naomi blinked. ‘Hey!’ she laughed. ‘That’s great!’
    ‘Is it?’ asked Gemma.
    Naomi roared with laughter. ‘When you know who the father is!’

 
Four
    Gemma waited on the corner just outside the café where Angie had suggested they meet, and it wasn’t long before she saw Angie climbing out of her car, swinging her briefcase out after her. Her friend hurried towards her, waving, her navy suit showing her slender figure to advantage. Although mostly focused on Gemma, Angie’s eyes darted around as she automatically reviewed the street and its occupants.
    ‘Gems, sorry you’ve had to wait. Just ducked out of working CPP for a politician’s family. I can’t do close personal protection and the job. Not right now. I’ve been seconded to the strike force investigating the Killara killings. How are you feeling today?’
    ‘Things seem to be staying down so far,’ said Gemma cautiously. ‘So which pollie’s family were you prepared to lay your life down for?’
    Angie