David Birch

David Birch, known as Davo, is a police officer and former colleague of Ted Conkaffey whose brief appearances mark the collapse of their friendship. He first participates in questioning Ted after the accusation against him, then rejects Ted’s later attempt to seek his help, turning familiarity into a measure of Ted’s isolation.

Identity and Role

Birch is identified by the alias Davo and, when Ted reaches him by phone, the title Inspector David Birch. The two have a shared history: Ted recognizes Birch’s old habit of sniffing before speaking and remembers it from their earlier days. The text establishes them as friends as well as police colleagues, so Birch’s response carries the weight of a personal rupture, not merely a professional refusal.

The Interrogation

After Claire Bingley’s case brings suspicion onto Ted, Birch joins Morris and Frankie in questioning him at the police station. Their involvement is described as a conflict of interest: they are Ted’s friends, but they are also upset by the situation and begin the interrogation themselves. After a couple of hours, the questioning is handed over to homicide detectives as the possible charges include attempted murder. Ted’s account of that day marks a sudden reversal in his standing at the station, from colleague to enemy; Birch is among the friends implicated in that transition.

The Call About Jake

Later, while in Queensland, Ted tries to contact Birch for help with an investigation concerning Jake Scully. Before making the call, Ted hesitates for roughly half an hour, repeatedly trying and failing to dial. Birch answers under his formal title, but at first does not acknowledge Ted. When Ted identifies himself and begins to explain that he needs help, Birch reacts with anger and ends the call before hearing him out. The familiar voice and remembered habit make the refusal especially stark: Ted approaches an old friend, but the conversation offers no return to their former intimacy.

Narrative Significance

Birch’s appearances are few, but they define one of the costs of Ted’s unresolved legal position. The Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges against Ted midway through the trial, citing insufficient evidence to proceed, but Ted was never acquitted; he remained uncertain whether the case might be revived. Against that unsettled background, Birch’s hostility suggests that the formal withdrawal has not restored Ted’s former relationships or the trust he once had among colleagues. Birch is not shown reconsidering his response or offering assistance, leaving the broken connection unresolved.