Читать книгу Choices - Jeff Edwards - Страница 10

Dan

As I left the pub I glanced at my watch and was totally surprised that it was still before midday. Everything that had happened had taken place so quickly that I half expected my watch to say that the day had gone.

So it was still morning when I walked through the main door at police headquarters and attempted to swipe my security pass to get inside to my office.

After four attempts I knew that the pass was not going to work, and I walked over to the reception desk. ‘I can’t get in,’ I told the girl as I showed her my card.

‘May I see it?’ she replied, holding out her hand.

I handed it over and she entered the pass’ number onto her computer. I noted that she didn’t make any attempt to return the pass to me. ‘Just a minute,’ she said with an uncertain smile, ‘I’ll make a call.’

‘Mr Daniel Travers is down here at reception,’ she said into the phone. ‘His pass won’t work.’ She looked up at me. ‘They’ll be down in a moment.’

I stood in the lobby watching people I had known for years passing through the gates and tried to look inconspicuous.

A short time later the commissioner’s personal assistant together with a young constable arrived to collect my pass and escort me through the security barrier.

I was then taken directly to the boss’ office where I was told to wait outside, and left under the constable’s watchful eye.

Five minutes later a woman arrived who I recognised as one of our union representatives. ‘Let’s go in,’ she said, ushering me inside without a word of explanation.

Seated beside the commissioner was his second-in-command with the PA in close proximity.

We had hardly been seated before the commissioner began. ‘Travers, did you or did you not use the police computer to access information other than for official police business? Before you answer that question I want you to bear in mind that the force does not give a rat’s arse about any of the bullshit that you gave the ICAC this morning. This is a straight out question to be answered “yes” or “no”. Now what’s your answer?’

I could see where the boss was coming from and I could sympathise with him. I had broken the rules, and no amount of lying would change that fact. No doubt they had plenty of evidence to back up any charge they would make against me.

‘Yes,’ I stated flatly.

The commissioner handed me a letter. ‘Daniel Travers you are hereby relieved of your duties for committing the offence of unauthorised use of a police computer. You will accompany my personal assistant and an officer to your office where you will remove any items of a personal nature. You will then be escorted off these premises, and your actions will be referred to the Office of Public Prosecutions for further investigations. Please sign a copy of your dismissal notice for our records.’

As I was doing so the commissioner said to me, ‘When he was on the force, Liam Ryan was a dodgy copper, and became an even dodgier private investigator when he left. Short cuts were always his forte. You were an idiot for getting caught up with him. I would have expected better of a good worker like you.’

‘I’m sorry sir.’

‘I’m sure you are, and I’m sure you’re going to be even sorrier.’