KIMMY'S LIST

CHAPTER 20

Jax wedged the phone between his shoulder and ear while he continued to scribble notes. ‘OK. That’s great. I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me, Mrs Cartwright. Thank you. Bye.;

Jax dropped his phone into its cradle and finished his notes.

‘Six down…one to go,’ he proudly said to himself as he ran a finger down a list, stopping half way down. He lifted the handset and dialled a number.

A true investigator’s mind never turned off. It doesn’t conform to the routine of nine - to - five, returning the next morning. For cops like Jax, the mind never stopped.

It was relentless in continually analysing evidence, assessing people such as witnesses and suspects. It remained switched on considering likely directions to take a case, or ways to locate new evidence.

It was the curse of the investigator and the likely contributing cause of premature burnout of elite level investigators within the force. Only the passionate survived, and above all else, Jax was passionate.

During his sleeping hours last night, Jax’s overactive mind triggered a possible link between Kimberly Davis and her seven victims. Up until now, he had been unable to connect them in any way.

A connection to Kimberly was the glue he needed to bond his case together. Early this morning his overactive mind may have provided the link he so desperately searched for.

Since arriving at work this morning. Jax had spent the morning calling the spouse, or next of kin from each of Kimberly’s seven alleged victims, to ascertain where they did their banking. It was a possible lead that so far proved promising.

After completing six of his seven calls, his check list recorded that each of the six victims banked at the same bank where Kimberly used to work. He needed one more to complete his set and confirm the theory that kept him awake most of last night.

The ringing phone chirped in his ear. Jax drummed his fingers on the desk as his satisfied eyes passed over his rapidly filling check list. The phone answered.

‘Hello,’ a female voice answered.

Following the usual introductions, Jax continued. ‘Mrs Denver, I’m conducting some ongoing inquiries in relation to what happened to Malcolm and I was hoping you could assist me. Do you have a couple of minutes?’

‘Yes. I’ll see what I can do.’

‘I need to know which bank, or banks Malcolm banked with. This would include where his pay was deposited, what credit cards, debit cards he used, anything bank related.’

‘Oh, we have a number of accounts. We use two banks.’

‘Did Malcolm operate any accounts separate to you, or were all your accounts jointly held?’

‘No. We jointly held our accounts.’

A smile filled Jax’s face as he scribbled the information Mrs Denver provided for her husband’s bank. He was only interested in one of the banks she mentioned, the one that matched Kimberly’s former employer.

Jax thanked Mrs Denver and ended his call. He dropped the telephone handset into the cradle. As he reviewed his now completed list, a grin emerged out the side of his face. He liked what he saw. He now had the full set. Each victim was now connected to former Accounts Manager, Kimberly Davis via their bank of CHOICE…

Jax confidently strode into Kimberly’s former office to follow up on his latest information. He was met at reception by Kimberly’s former Manager, Lima Lee.

After connecting all seven victims through Kimberly’s bank, Jax contacted Lima to request further information in relation to these victims’ individual accounts.

The information he sought would hopefully provide conclusive evidence that Kimberly knew of each victim. This in turn would suggest the murders were targeted, rather than random. It would also go towards refuting her psychic medium reference.

Jax obtained the appropriate search warrant compelling Lima and her bank to cooperate with his inquiries and he set off for his prearranged meeting with Lima.

At the reception counter they shook hands and Lima escorted Jax to her office and closed the door. Jax presented the order to produce information, to Lima.

With the legal formalities out of the way, Lima was comfortable in assisting Jax. ‘What is it you specifically require from us, Detective?’

‘You mentioned on the phone when I called yesterday that when a staff member accessed a customer’s account, your banking system records the staff member’s ID, date and time of access…’

‘That’s correct. Like I mentioned on the phone, we use a key card swipe system to prevent unauthorized use of a staff member’s ID.’

‘Good. What I need you to do is access your records for each of these former customers…’ He indicated the list in front of himself.

‘And tell me if, and when, Kimberly Davis accessed any of these accounts.’

Lima accessed her computer. She typed something then swiped a card through a reader running across the top of keyboard. ‘OK. So what specifically do you require?’

Jax handed Lima the list. ‘All the information you need for each customer is on that list… Names, dates of birth, address etc. What I need is to find out if Kimberly accessed any of their accounts, prior to the dates recorded beside each name there.’

Lima checked the list then commenced tapping the keyboard. ‘Since the move to ATMS and online banking, we don’t have many requirements to access customers’ accounts, these days. Most transactions are managed by the customer via their online banking,’ Lima said as she continued to type.

That could be good and it could be bad for Jax. Only time would tell.

Lima stopped typing and read from her screen, ‘OK. I have just accessed the account owned by Jenny Cox. She’s the first name on your list there…’

Lima said. ‘There is no historical recorded access to this account by Kimberly Davis.’

Jax frowned. That can’t be. ‘Nothing at all?’ he said.

Lima shook her head. ‘NO. For the dates you have provided … in fact I went back a little further than that date there on the list, and … no, there is no access to this customer’s account by Kimberly.’

Jax wasn’t expecting that. He rubbed a contemplative hand across his mouth. ‘What about Kimberly’s work colleague… What’s her name?’ Jax asked himself. ‘Naomi… I can’t think of her surname.’

‘That would be, Naomi Slater.’

‘That’s her. What about her? Is she recorded as accessing that account?’

Lima tapped on the keys and studied her screen. ‘No. There has been no access to this account by Naomi either.’

Jax slumped back in his chair. He saw these inquiries heading in a different direction. ‘OK. Can you try the next one on the list.’ Jax lifted the list and read from it.

‘Ah, Libby Vassilliou.’ He replaced the list.

Lima tapped on her keyboard. She paused to study the records. She shook her head. ‘Neither Kimberly nor Naomi has accessed his customer’s account,’ Lima said.

‘Is there any other way Kimberly could’ve learned of these accounts…? Any way that would not record her staff ID?’

‘No. All access is recorded for security reasons. Under our strict privacy requirements, staff must have an operational reason for accessing customer accounts. This prevents sticky - nose employees randomly checking friends, or celebrities to see what bank balances and investments they have. So, no… even if she wrote a loan for these customers, it would be recorded.’

‘What if she approved a loan that was prepared by an employee reporting to her?’

‘Same, it would record her involvement. Plus, she would have to access the customer’s records to check their banking history and other things of interest in the account.’

Jax leaned his elbows on the desk. ‘Not off to a good a start are we…?’ He forced out a smile. ‘OK can you continue to check the others please?’

One-by-one Lima accessed the accounts of the people recorded on Kimberly’s list. And one-by-one she returned the same result. None of the remaining accounts had been accessed by Kimberly Davis or Naomi Slater. There wasn’t even any recurring consistency in the names of the staff members who had accessed each of the accounts of interest.

This outcome floored Jax. ‘So all these people ….’ He flicked a finger at the list in front of Lima. ‘These …these seven murder victims, all banked that employed Kimberly Davis, but she never accessed any of their accounts. So this is just one big misleading coincidence,’ Jax said. His recap was rhetorical. Lima didn’t respond.

Jax left the bank in complete contrast to how he entered. A slow shuffle replaced the earlier confident gait. Rounded shoulders replaced the earlier upright stature. Every few steps he shook a slow disbelieving head as he tried to come to terms with the disappointing outcome.

If he was a betting man he would’ve bet the house on Kimberly Being linked directly to each victim, via their bank account. Good thing he didn’t gamble.

Back in his office, Jax dropped his folder on the desk. He slumped back into his chair. The momentum caused it to recline. He locked disappointed fingers behind his head while he tried to rationalize the lack of success from the bank inquiries. He still needed that missing connection between victim and Kimberly.

The lure of fresh air and warm sun dragged Kimberly from the stuffy confines of the cottage, to the manicured garden area out front. She lounged on the lush lawn, leaning on an elbow. It was a pleasant retreat to be alone, compared to her cell.

She plucked some grass and launched it skyward. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the comfort of the warming sun. The breeze gently caressed her face. For a brief moment her mind transported her away from this place.

She was free. She visited Boyd. She laughed with Naomi on those fun coffee breaks. She visited her parents in Ballariot, spent time relaxing on the beach watching the waves roll in. Anything she enjoyed in her former life, she relived in her imagination.

Her reflections were however short lived. Coming down from the brief high was a stark contrast to her reality. It was mildly depressing.

Kimberly plucked some more grass and lobbed it skyward. She watched the blades separate and drift back to the ground. A heavy metal clunk resounded through the garden area. Kimberly’s focus shifted towards the sound. A female guard and a new remandee strolled down the path towards the cottage.

During the three months Kimberly had been held on remand at DOCS, all her cottage inmates, with the exception of Alicia, had been turned over. She wasn’t sad to see the back of those drug-affected women. Their moods and temperament were unpredictable as they battled with coming off their addictions.

Kimberly watched remandee number four stride her way to the cottage. Her initial visual assessment of the new arrival was not flattering.

This twenty - something year old woman had that stereo - typical druggie appearance, pallid complexion, underweight, unkempt bottle - blonde hair with heavy dark roots and a heavy covering of visible tattoos. An intimidating scowl filled her face.

She watched them until they disappeared into the cottage. A short time later Alicia emerged and made her way to Kimberly’s comfy corner of lawn. Kimberly sat up and dusted her hands while watching Alicia approach.

Alicia jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. ‘Did you see that one they just brought in…?’

Alicia said. ‘You should hear her language coming out of her. Eff and ‘C’ bombs fired off everywhere,’ she said. She lowered herself to sit cross - legged beside Kimberly.

Kimberly leaned back on her hands. ’Yeah, I did. I thought she looked a little rough. Druggie, ya reckon?’

Alicia scoffed. ’Hell, yeah…. Might have to watch that one. She’ll be a handful.’

The front door banged heavily when the female guard exited the cottage. Kimberly and Alicia watched her stroll along the path to the main building.

‘Hey, I meant to ask you….,’ Kimberly began.

‘How did you go? Have you got a date yet…?’

‘Yeah. I thought I told you…’ Alicia said. ’My trial is next week. Ah, next Thursday.’

‘Trial…? What’s about your committal?’

Alicia’s mouth inverted. She shook her head. ’No point. I’m guilty. I’ve elected to go straight to trial for a plea. I’m hoping that will work in my favour when it comes to sentencing.’

‘I hope so, Alicia…’

‘Assault and Battery is a very serious charge,’ Alicia said. She slowly shook her remorseful head.

‘My lawyer says I’ll definitely get time, it just depends on how much, after they take into account all this remand I’ve had.’

Kimberly dusted off her hands. ‘What do ya reckon…?’ she said deliberately changing the subject. ‘Must be close to lunch time?’

Alicia looked skyward. ‘Yep. The sun’s virtually straight up.’

‘Let’s do it…’ Kimberly pushed herself to her feet.

Alicia clambered to her feet and the girls returned inside to prepare their lunches.

Kimberly and Alicia stood side-by-side at the kitchen bench, idly chatting while they prepared their tomato and cheese sandwiches.

Neither noticed the recent arrival walk into the kitchen behind them. Kimberly squared off her sandwich then cut it in half. Her mouth salivated in anticipation of her tasty lunch.

Before she could lift her plate and move to the table, the recent arrival shouldered Kimberly aside and lifted one half of Kimberly’s sandwich. She took a bite then held it up to Kimberly. ‘Thanks, bitch,’ she said then moved over to the lounge area.

Kimberly’s mouth fell open as she watched this school yard style bully walk away from her. It was evident she was not new to incarceration.

Kimberly’s frozen expression flicked to Alicia, who now sat at the dining table watching on. Alicia slowly shook her head.

‘I’ll help you make another one, Kim…’

Alicia said. She pushed herself up from her chair.

Kimberly held up a hand. ‘It’s OK. I can do it. Thanks anyway.’ Kimberly glared at the sandwich thief, before preparing a new sandwich.