Fall of Night, page 15
“A few of my associates have noted that there’ve been some… inquiries.”
“Into what?”
“Into me, oddly enough.”
“Look, I don’t know anything about that. And I’m certain Audrika would never—”
“Stop.”
Vasur’s mouth snapped shut like a trap. He wanted this conversation over, wanted this man out of his shop. Mr. Farrel’s gaze—hard and unflinching—never left his face.
“I am telling you,” Mr. Farrel said, “so that you know that I know. I’m telling you that I am highly protective—of my privacy. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. And I would appreciate it if you’d make sure that your wife, as well meaning as she is, is aware of that.”
Vasur swallowed with a dry throat. “I—I understand.”
The expression on Mr. Farrel’s face rippled like a light switch, calm replacing his anger. “I knew you would. That’s why I came to you, Vasur. Not to Audrika.” He winked. “I didn’t want to upset her. Not when I’m certain she means well.” He stepped back from the till. “Do we have an understanding?”
Vasur nodded.
“Good. I’m glad.” And with that the investigator walked away, giving a cheery wave as he headed out the door.
***
“I didn’t tell the police anything,” Shawna gasped. “I swear, I never—”
Bryce’s fingers tightened “Then WHY are the police snooping around Cardston now!”
“I don’t know. Maybe they’re just—”
“Who did you TALK to?!” He shook her the way a dog might shake a rabbit. “WHO?”
“Bryce, stop!” she cried, teeth chattering. “I—I don’t—” Shawna gasped as he shoved her away. Bryce’s hands were in fists, his stance wide. She’d seen him break horses, and it struck her that this was the same pose he took. “P—please,” she gasped. “I swear, I didn’t talk to anyone. I haven’t talked to the police since the day they came by the ranch.”
“One of the Thompson boys who live in town called me up, said that the police was going ‘round and askin’ people if anyone’d seen us on Saturday.”
Tears rolled down Shawna’s cheeks. “So…?”
“You KNOW I can’t have the police snooping into things!” Bryce stepped forward and she flinched. “You’re damned lucky one of the people who got asked was a friend o’ mine.”
“But the police have no idea you—”
“And that’s how it’s gonna stay!”
Before she could answer, Bryce strode back to his truck and drove away.
***
Hunter stared at Lou, his face caught in an expression of shock.
“Brendan,” he repeated. “As in Brendan Miles who works the front of your store?”
Sitting here in his bright kitchen, the claim made no more sense than if Young Brendan had walked in the house with a gun and demanded all his money.
“That’s the one,” Lou said. “I didn’t want to cause him any trouble, but I clearly had to do something.” She pulled out a chair and sat down. “I feel awful, but given the last couple years…” Her words faded off, the ghosts of friends alive between them.
“Well, then. That is a problem.” Hunter sat down next to Louise. “Why you didn’t just ask him about it? He’s your employee, after all.”
“I tried to, Hunter. I did. But he took off on me before I left.” She shook her head. “This all happened before noon. Brendan wasn’t even supposed to be off until five. Left me to run the garage alone.”
“You could’ve called,” Hunter said. “I’d have swung by and covered for a few—”
A voice interrupted from the kitchen doorway.
“Looks like you just caused a whole mess lot more trouble for that Miles’ boy.”
Both Louise and Hunter turned to find Levi hobbling forward in short, halting steps.
“Trouble?” Lou said.
“That’s right. Trouble.”
Hunter’s chest ached to see Levi’s slow progress to the table. The man had always seemed inexplicably young despite his advanced age. No longer. In the days since Levi had come to Waterton, Hunter had seen the change. Winter would be hard for his friend, and Hunter hoped he’d be able to convince him to stay, even after the cast was off.
“Waterton’s been full of trouble the last few years,” Levi said as he reached the table and sat shakily down. “And it always seems to circle back to people meddling in our business.”
“I had to tell the police,” Lou said. “There was no other choice about it.”
The old man shot her a dark look. “There’s always a choice.”
“A girl was killed, Levi. If Brendan was involved—”
“He weren’t involved.”
“But he might know something. It certainly seemed like he did.”
Levi rolled his eyes and turned to stare at the dogs, asleep by the back door. An uneasy silence filled the kitchen.
Hunter cleared his throat, then spoke to Lou.
“You did what you thought you should do. You were worried for Brendan. That’s all. You know, I’d probably have done the exact same thing, if he’d been working in the coffee shop and had taken off on me.”
“There’s something else,” Lou said.
“What?”
“They’ve been asking Rich about the case. Jordan and Sadie came by a couple days ago.”
Hunter patted her hand. “I’m certain this will all blow over. They’re just asking him to get information. They’re talking to the rest of the locals too. Besides, Rich wasn’t even in Canada when that girl was killed.”
“He, uh…” Lou opened her mouth, closed it again. Tears glittered along her lashes. Hunter’s eyes widened. The fear that he’d first felt when she’d said the name “Brendan Miles” rushed to fill his chest.
“Oh, Lordy,” he said. “Rich was around when the girl was killed?”
Lou nodded, wiping tears away with the back of her hand.
“Christ, Lou. Not good.”
“It gets worse,” she said, her throat bobbing. “He was in Lethbridge and Calgary. Easy driving distance from the park.” She let out a teary gasp. “God! You should have seen how Sadie looked at Rich when she talked to him. She practically accused him right then and there.”
“Was he charged?”
“Not yet but…” The first tears rolled down her cheeks. “But I feel it coming.”
Hunter swallowed down the question of how she knew that. For as long as he’d known Louise Newman, she’ d had feelings, intuitions of things to come. Like how she’d often call the moment he reached for the phone or how she sensed the things he was thinking. This was one of the things about Louise he didn’t want to know.
“So if he wasn’t home with you,” Levi said, “and he weren’t back in the States where he was supposed to be, why was Evans skulking around Waterton?” One of the dogs whined in his sleep and Levi paused before adding: “I ain’t no police officer, but that sounds mighty strange to me.”
“It’s not strange at all,” Lou said. “He just wanted to surprise me.”
“Surprise?” Levi snorted. “Shoulda brought ya flowers. They’re less trouble.”
Louise swore under her breath.
“Relax, hon,” Hunter said. “If you just let things settle down, I’m sure—”
“No!” She stood and the chair squealed across the floor. The dogs in the corners woke in a rush, skittering nails sliding across the linoleum as they jumped to alertness. “I can’t relax! And I can’t just let things settle down. Rich is here in Waterton because of me. He stayed because of me. And now I’ve got to help him.”
She stomped to the door, grabbing her coat from the hook and sliding on one arm.
“You ever figure out who your prowler was?” Levi asked.
Louise paused with her arm halfway up the sleeve. She turned back to eye him warily. “What do you mean: my prowler?”
“That guy that was hanging around Whispering Aspens looking in the windows,” Levi said. “You ever figure out who that was?”
Lou shot Hunter a concerned look. “I told you that in confidence, Hunter.”
“I was worried about you,” Hunter said. “Levi and me, we live here in town too. If there’s someone hanging ’round, causing trouble, then we’ve all got to deal with it.”
“Does everyone at the coffee meetings know too?”
Hunter studiously avoided her gaze. Levi chuckled.
With a swear, Lou shoved her other arm through the second sleeve.
“I can’t tell you two anything,” she said. “You’re worse than a sewing circle.”
Levi hooted happily, drawing the attention of Duke, the youngest of Hunter’s dogs.
“It’s not funny,” she snapped.
“I find it mighty humorous myself,” Levi said. He scratched behind the dog’s ears with his good hand. “You been tryin’ to keep secrets in the town you grew up in. You should know it’ll all come out in the end.”
“Levi…” she warned.
“Oh, Lou, you know he’s just teasing,” Hunter said. “People in town want to help. That’s the truth.”
Lou put her hand on the door handle and three dogs bounded to her side, barking.
“Just ask me if I want the help next time. Alright?”
And with that she headed into the night, slamming the door behind her.
Hunter turned and frowned. “You shouldn’t needle her, Levi.”
“Oh, she gives as good as she takes.”
“True enough…” Hunter stared at the closed door. “Brendan Miles in a panic,” he mused. “Wonder what that was about?”
Levi shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care.” And he went back to petting the dog at his side.
***
When Audrika arrived to relieve Vasur from his shift, her husband’s stern expression was still firmly in place.
“What’s up with you today, Vasur?” she said. “You look like you’re about to blow a gasket.”
“You should stay away from that man.”
Her feet slowed. “What man?”
“Mr. Tom Farrel. He came in here today. He wasn’t happy.”
Audrika tipped her head. “No? Why not, dear?”
“He was angry at you.”
Laughter, bright and happy bubbled from Audrika’s chest.
Vasur grabbed her wrist. “I’m not kidding! He was here. He warned me!”
Audrika jerked her hand back. “I think you must be overreacting. What could Mr. Farrel possibly say about me?”
“That you’re digging into things about him that he doesn’t like.”
“I’m not doing anything!”
“Don’t lie to me. He knows, Audrika. You can’t go putting your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“I haven’t done a thing.”
Vasur glared.
“Honestly,” she laughed. “I haven’t!”
“Au-dri-ka…”
Audrika flipped a raven’s wing of hair over her shoulder, grinning.
“Oh, pish,” she said. “You’re just jealous my sweetheart.”
“No, my love, I’m not.” He frowned. “That man is dangerous.”
***
The warrant was on its way.
Sadie’s knee bounced nervously, hands tight around a half-full cup of coffee, as she waited at the Miles’ kitchen table. Arnette and Murray puttered around—washing dishes—apparently at ease under Jordan’s newfound rapport. Brendan, it seemed, now wanted to make a statement.
“You can ask for a lawyer if you want,” Jordan repeated. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Brendan. We can wait.”
“But I honestly didn’t do anything.” The young man gave him a pleading look. “I just want to make things straight. Do the right thing.”
Now you do, Sadie thought.
The walkie-talkie on her belt buzzed and she stood, heading out of the kitchen to the foyer, four sets of eyes watching her.
“Constable Black Plume here,” she said.
“Sadie, it’s Liz. I’ve got that warrant for you. Brian headed over with it a few minutes ago.”
“Then what’s taking so long?”
“I don’t know. He said he was going directly there. But maybe he—”
“Get hold of him! There’s only so long we can ask them to wait.”
“Alright then. I’ll check.” The walkie-talkie crackled and Sadie drummed her fingers on her pantleg. In the kitchen, Jordan and Brendan spoke in low voices. There was another crackle and Liz’s voice returned. “Not sure what’s up. Brian’s not answering now. He should be there by—” The sound of a doorbell interrupted. “—now.”
Arnette Miles, her face peaked and angry, brushed past Sadie on her way to the door.
“Hold on a sec’, Liz,” Sadie said.
The door swung open to reveal Brian, paper in hand.
“Mrs. Miles,” he said, “are Constables Black Plume and Wyatt here?”
“They are.”
“Can I see them?”
“Don’t think I can stop you.” Arnette swung the door wide. Her gaze caught on Sadie’s and fury—sharp and hot—passed between them. “Come on inside,” she grumbled. “Everyone else is.”
Sadie pressed the relay button. “Hey, Liz. Brian’s here now. I’ve got to go.” She snapped the walkie-talkie back into her belt, and headed to the door, taking the warrant from Brian’s hand.
“Sorry for the delay,” he said. “There was a herd of bighorn on the road by the school. Wouldn’t move. Had to go around the other way.”
“No worries.” Sadie gave a small nod. “Thanks.”
“You guys need anything else?”
“If you don’t mind securing a perimetre around the cabin, Jordan and I can check inside to check the interior.”
“You got it.” He nodded. “I’ll grab the tape and start securing the scene.”
“Thanks, Brian.”
She turned to find Murray and Brendan waiting. Waterton might be small. Things might work on a different schedule than a big city, but in a pinch, she could still get things done where murder was concerned.
“Mr. Miles, Mrs. Miles, I have a warrant,” she said. “It gives Constable Wyatt and myself the legal right to search your properties. I’d like to start with the cabin being rented by Miss Gabrielle Rice.”
***
Audrika waited until Vasur had left the shop before the coy smile slid from her face. She rubbed her sweaty palms along the side of her track suit and walked to the front of the store, flipping the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’. She leaned against the plate glass, her gaze moving from one end of Main Street to the other, heart pounding. Tom Farrel knew she’d searched his files. But how?!
Certain no one was on the street, Audrika retreated behind the till and picked up the phone, dialing her sister-in-law by memory.
“Hello?”
“Mirran,” Audrika interrupted. “It’s Audrika. I need to talk. It’s important.”
“What’s wrong, dear? You sound—”
Audrika’s voice dropped, though there was no one to hear. “Someone noticed the information search you did for me.”
There was a long pause before her sister-in-law replied.
“What do you mean by ‘noticed’?”
“The investigator, Tom Farrel, came into the store today. He scared Vasur.”
“Scared him? How?”
“No idea. But he said something. And he knew that I’d looked into his background. He might know about you locating those old Borderline accounts.” Her voice sharpened. “Who did you tell?!”
“I didn’t tell anyone! I just ran through the information through our online system.”
“You didn’t happen to use my name while you did it?!”
“I…” Mirran’s breath whistled through the phone. “Well, yes, I did, Audrika.”
“Why?!”
“I had to!”
“Why couldn’t you use your own name?”
“Because I’m not one of the leaseholders listed in those Borderline files. Only people whose name appears on leases or documentation can access any data for shareholders or—”
“But Mr. Farrel knows someone was searching for information on him. He told Vasur it was me!”
“I—I don’t know how he could know that. The system is secure. It shouldn’t be possible to—”
“Shouldn’t be, but it is!”
“Are you certain he knows we were looking into his background?”
“Would I be talking to you otherwise?” Audrika snapped.
“You’re right. Shall I delete the information for you? Scrub the file?”
Audrika cringed. There was so much information there and she’d only begun to uncover it. The bank accounts were what she wanted, but they were the hardest to get into. She needed time to go through all the data, to find the clues that would give her access.
“Audrika?” Mirran said. “Are you still there?”
“I am.”
“What do you want me to do? I can pull it up now. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll have deleted all the inquiries into—”
“Wait!” she cried.
“For what, dear?”
Audrika’s fingers tightened around the phone. “Let me drive into Pincher. You print off what you have then you can delete the information. I’ll go through it by hand later.”
“Even the accounts information?”
“Especially that! There’s money there, right?”
Mirran’s voice dropped. “Well, yes. Quite a bit. I told you that.”
“I want it.”
“But you’ll need to show you’ve got signing rights for the Borderline corporation to access those funds, Audrika. Get me identification of one of the shareholders and I should be able to—”
