Closing Time

by Brenda Chapman

  “Christ.”

  “Officer Clark Harrison used to work with me out of the Nipigon detachment. He’s lead on the case now, working out of the Soo, although his headquarters is in North Bay. They have a staff shortage and asked if I’d back him up.”

  “Not that it matters to me, but were you involved with him outside of work?”

  “No.” She thought about telling him that she’d dated Clark’s brother, but couldn’t see the point. Jordan’s name hadn’t even come up. “I have to see this through, Gundersund. I keep thinking about the girl. Her parents won’t be able to get over this without answers.”

  “I know. You do what you need to do, and I’ll manage with Dawn. Have you got any leads?”

  “The suspect list is long and wide open at the moment.” She nuzzled her face into the curve of his neck just below his chin. “You smell so good. Like spicy summer heat.”

  He laughed. “More like sweat from a day driving.”

  She moved her lips higher and kissed lightly across his cheek and the top of his nose. She pulled her head back and looked into his eyes. “How’s everyone back home? Rouleau?”

  “He’s at loose ends. Rumour is Marci is taking an overseas assignment and asked him to go with her.”

  Kala felt a familiar drop in her stomach. Nobody ever stuck around forever. “When will they be leaving?”

  “Marci’s departure is any day. Rouleau hasn’t said when he plans to follow or even if he’s going. The team is waiting on tenterhooks for his decision.” He cupped her face in his hand and searched her eyes as if trying to see inside her mind. He rubbed his knuckles up her cheek and ran his fingers through her hair. “Are you ready for bed, Officer Stonechild?” he asked softly.

  “Only if you are planning to share it with me.”

  He smiled. “Then I’d say you’re ready for bed.”

  Gundersund and Dawn left at first light. Kala walked back through the woods to the cabin after seeing them off with Taiku at her side, his tail down, letting her know that he wasn’t happy to be losing the rest of his family. “I know, boy,” she said, bending over to give him a scratch behind his ear. “I’m going to miss them, too.”

  Clark arrived as she was finishing a second glass of orange juice in the main lodge. He seemed preoccupied when he joined her at the table with a full mug of coffee. Blood had dried on his chin where he’d cut himself shaving and exhaustion lines radiated outward from his eyes. He looked around the room and back at her. “Dawn still sleeping?”

  “No. My partner arrived last night and took her to see her mother, who’s in the hospital near Montreal.”

  He gave her a weak grin. “And you stayed to help me with this case. I appreciate that.”

  “I won’t say I wasn’t tempted to go with them. It’s not in me to give up on a murder case, though.”

  “Fortunate for me.”

  “Single-mindedness is not, however, the best quality for maintaining healthy personal relationships.”

  “I think people worth having in your life understand.”

  “It’s my turn to say ‘fortunate for me.’”

  Clark blew on his coffee before taking a sip. “So, the two Hydro guys first up?”

  “No, they’re working in the area and will come for their interviews at eleven. Faraday should be here within fifteen minutes.”

  “Great. The research crew sent me this last evening.” He slid his phone over to her and drummed his fingers on the table while she read.

  She raised her eyes. “Interesting. Warrant?”

  “In the works.”

  She pushed the phone back toward him. “Our first decent lead, so that’s something.” She studied him. “You seem on edge today. Everything okay at home?”

  “About-to-become-a-new-father jitters, I guess. Valerie’s having those pre-contractions, but tells me we’ve got days to go before labour starts for real. I’m the one having trouble sleeping. Can’t believe how nonchalant she is about the whole birthing thing.” He picked up the coffee mug again. “I’m also frustrated by this case. Worried Faraday won’t pan out.”

  “Women have been having babies a long time, Harrison. Valerie’s got this. As for the case, don’t lose heart. We’re laying the groundwork. If it’s not Faraday, he’ll be one more crossed off.” Kala knew this was the hardest time in any investigation — the initial hope for a quick solution was over and the grunt work looked to be leading nowhere. Now was the time to dig deeper and to start organizing the puzzle pieces.

  “You always did like the hunt.”

  “I won’t deny it, although my real satisfaction comes in saving more people from becoming victims … and getting justice for the dead.”

  “Aaand you always were more patient than me.”

  “You could take a lesson or two from your wife.”

  “So she keeps telling me.”

  Thomas Faraday arrived ten minutes late, carrying his Nikon camera with one hand while the other held a metal tripod. A black bag filled with lenses and attachments was slung over his shoulder. “I had to leave my morning vigil but here I am as promised,” he said. He set everything down on a table near the door and pivoted to face them. “Let me fetch a cup of delectable brew from the kitchen and I’ll return anon.”

  Kala didn’t dare meet Clark’s eyes. He muttered, “Patience, patience,” under his breath.

  Faraday returned and sat across from them, leaning back in the chair and crossing his legs. He rested the coffee mug on his knee. He was wearing hunter-green Bermuda shorts and a black T-shirt under a burgundy wool cardigan, and tan dock shoes with leather laces. His white hair had flopped across one eye and he pushed the stray lock back into place with a fluid motion. “Query away,” he said, his ice-blue stare going from Kala to Clark and back again.

  Clark took a moment to pull his eyes away from Faraday. He checked his notes and cleared his throat. “I understand you owned a photography business on King West in Toronto until five years ago.”

  Faraday hesitated a fraction of a second before responding but spoke in the same jovial voice he’d used so far. “A most successful enterprise. I was a fixture on the street and snapped the portraits of the important theatre thespians and literary intelligentsia. Anybody who was anybody.”

  Clark kept his tone mildly inquisitive. “Can you tell us why you left such a thriving business? You weren’t quite retirement age.”

  “Ah, I needed a change. Wildlife photography was a creative new challenge that I’d taken to like a duck to water.” His generous smile included them both. “My subjects now have no vanity or feel the need to strike poses. Most refreshing, I assure you.”

  “Our researchers uncovered information about the closing of your studio.”

  “Oh? Do tell.” Faraday’s voice was still amiable, but his expression had darkened.

  “You were forced to retire, or charges were going to be laid.”

  “Pish! Allegations only. Nothing was ever proven.”

  “Doesn’t mean you weren’t taking pornographic photos of children.”

  Faraday waved a hand in the air. “Hearsay.”

  “Do you deny that you were taking pornographic pictures of underage youth?”

  “There’s nothing to deny. I was never charged.”

  Kala could see that Faraday was feigning indignation. He was nervous underneath the bravado. She motioned to Clark under the table where Faraday couldn’t see and Clark remained silent. “Did you take any photos of Rachel?” she asked.

  His brilliant-blue eyes blinked. “She might have wandered into the frame in a few. Nothing illegal, I assure you.”

  “Then you won’t mind if our team goes through your camera and computer.”

  “I’m afraid I would. Those are private.”

  Clark said, “I asked for a warrant last night. One of the officers from the Soo is on his way to pick up your equipment.”

  “This is an outrage. I’m being railroaded.”

  “If you’re innocent
you have nothing to fear.”

  “I’ve heard that malarkey before.” He stood and pushed back the chair. “I’ll be taking my leave.”

  “Sit down,” said Clark without raising his voice. “We’re not done.”

  Faraday sputtered, reminding Kala of a kettle on the verge of boiling, but he slowly lowered himself back into the chair.

  “Did you spend time alone with Rachel?” she asked.

  “We occasionally enjoyed each other’s company when she was between shifts.”

  “Did you have sex with her?”

  “Absolutely not. No. Never.” He shook his mane of white hair. “Photographs are not foreplay, Officer. This is what those outside the art world do not understand. One can appreciate beauty without needing to possess it and appreciate the innocence of a child without the desire to corrupt one.”

  The front door opened, and two uniformed officers stepped into the restaurant. The taller one carried a warrant that he handed to Clark.

  “They’re going to collect your equipment and will look through your photographs,” Clark said to Faraday. He pointed to Faraday’s camera. “We’ll start with that. Then we’ll make a trip together to your cabin to sort through the rest of your artwork.”

  Kala wasn’t needed for the search and used the break to take Taiku for a walk. They set off through the woods on a path that took them along the waterfront and around the bend to a cove surrounded by cliffs of stone capped by thick forest that blocked the sun. Kala scrambled across boulders strewn by a glacier thousands of years earlier until she came to a flat grey rock that overlooked the stretch of sand beach. Taiku took his time reaching her, following smells in the woods before stepping gingerly across the rocks. The wind was calm in the bay and the waves were gentle swells that lapped the edge of the shore. The water reflected green and gold with water lilies bobbing splotches of white next to moss-covered logs that lay half submerged near shore. The growl of a motorboat drew her eyes outward from the bay toward the open water. A couple of men with fishing rods were heading somewhere in a hurry. Seagulls swooped and screeched overhead on their relentless forage for food.

  I could load my canoe on the truck when this is over and disappear farther north. The idea sent a shiver of excitement through her. Dawn was in good hands with Gundersund and they could survive a few months without her. Take a respite from caring for anybody and let her body decide the future. She’d buy a tent and some supplies and a warmer coat. Get an extra big bag of dog food for Taiku. It’d been a long time since they were alone sleeping under the stars, miles from a town. The ache in her to get away was growing into something unbearable. This restlessness, the craving to be free of entanglements and others’ expectations — she didn’t understand herself. She knew Gundersund sensed her disquiet. She couldn’t find the words to explain this need inside her, the changes she could not stop or ignore much longer, no matter the questioning in his eyes.

  Taiku jumped to his feet and growled deep in his throat. He was staring, laser-focused, back the way they’d come, and Kala twisted around to follow the direction of his eyes. She thought she saw a flash of blue disappearing into the trees. She stood and called out as Taiku started across the rocks, his progress slow and careful. He leapt off the last boulder and bounded toward the edge of the wood ahead of her where he sniffed the path’s entrance, looking back at her and waiting for a command. “Stay,” she said, and checked the ground for signs that someone had been there watching her. The earth was trampled but she couldn’t tell if the footprints were new. None were distinct in any case. She jogged down the path with Taiku leading the way, but if someone had been there watching them from behind the cover of the trees, they’d made their escape. She slowed to a walk and caught her breath, the thought of a killer hiding out in this isolated community a troubling possibility that made her thankful to have Dawn safely out of harm’s way.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Clark met her on the path between her cabin and the main lodge. “Just coming to get you. We’ve found two somewhat provocative images of Rachel in a bikini on the beach in Faraday’s stockpile, so the team will be going through the rest of the photos back at the station. I’ll be taking Faraday with us to the station as well for further questioning. Are you comfortable handling the last two interviews with the Hydro guys or should we postpone?”

  “I think it best that they’re interviewed now. I’ll drive into Searchmont this evening to send my notes to you.”

  “Good enough.” He looked relieved. “Hopefully we’ll be wrapping this up soon and you can get on with your life.”

  “And you can start getting ready for that baby.”

  She continued into the restaurant and didn’t wait long before she heard a truck pull into the parking lot. Ian Kruger joined her; he was wearing a bright-orange shirt with yellow stripes running vertically up either side and tan work pants. He’d recently trimmed his beard and cut his hair, which was combed straight back from his forehead. Even more handsome now that he was groomed. He sat down sideways in the chair across from her and stretched out his long legs. “Blaine’s gone to get some painkillers for his head and will be here soon.”

  “Another migraine?”

  “Same one he’s had all week.”

  “That’s awful. Does he get them often?”

  “Sometimes, but nothing like this one. Well, since …” Ian paused and dropped his eyes, appearing to realize the timing of Blaine’s headache coincided with Rachel’s murder. He frowned. “So, what did you want to ask me?”

  “Tell me about your interactions with Rachel.”

  “Not much to tell. She served me some meals and we chatted about the area. Blaine and I work long hours, on the road early, so we usually eat supper quickly and get to bed at a decent hour.”

  “The night she died …”

  “We left before she finished her shift, but she told me she had a ride coming. Sometimes Blaine or I drove her home if the weather was bad. We have two vehicles, but park the boom truck when we’re not out in the bush. We’d throw her bike in the back of the pickup and it’s a short jaunt up the road. I blame myself for not checking back that night.”

  “Did you and Blaine go directly to your cabin?”

  “We did, but I went out again to fish at the end of the dock before it got dark. Blaine stayed in the cabin. I believe he was reading — and before you ask, I didn’t see Rachel after we left her at the restaurant. I don’t know how long she waited for her ride.”

  “Okay.” Kala could see that he’d come prepared to distance himself from Rachel. She wasn’t sure yet if this meant anything more than he was telling the truth. “Did you ever see Rachel with Thomas Faraday?” she asked.

  “No. We weren’t around during the day, though. We even work Saturdays.”

  “I understand that you and Blaine are spending less time together when you’re done work.”

  Ian stared at her. He shook his head. “Nothing much escapes the gossip mill, I see. We’ve been together a lot this summer and agreed we needed more alone time. No biggie.”

  “You didn’t have a falling out?”

  “No, nothing like that.”

  The front screen door opened and Blaine entered; he was wearing dark sunglasses and looked a little rough around the edges.

  Kala smiled at Ian. “How’re the wedding plans coming?”

  “Who …?”

  “Blaine told me at breakfast the other morning.”

  “I’m letting her handle the arrangements. The date is set for December.” He put both hands on the table and started pushing himself to his feet. “If that’s all?”

  “Thanks.” She got up with him and followed him over to where Blaine was standing.

  “I’ll meet you at the truck,” Ian said as he passed Blaine on his way outside. He let the screen door slam behind him and Blaine winced at the noise.

  Kala wasn’t seeing any friendliness between the two men. “Sorry to hear about your head,” she said.

/>   Blaine ran a shaky hand across his forehead. “Yeah. I’m about ready to cut it off.”

  “We’ve already spoken once about Rachel,” she said. “I only have a few questions. Can you confirm where you were after you left the restaurant with Ian the last evening she worked here?”

  “She served us. Ian asked her if she needed a ride home, but she said her dad was coming for her. After supper we went back to the cabin. Ian took his fishing gear down to the dock and I stayed in to read the paper. I fell asleep and didn’t hear Blaine come in, but he was in bed when I woke up on the couch around midnight.”

  “Okay. Tell me, had you ever seen Rachel with Thomas Faraday outside the restaurant?”

  “Faraday? No, not that I recall. Why?”

  She didn’t answer. “How much longer will you be on this job?”

  “A couple of days.”

  “Well, that’s it for now. Hope you feel better.”

  “You and me both.”

  She watched through the screen door as he walked toward the parking lot, then left the lodge and took the path back to her cabin. It was a few moments before she remembered that Dawn wouldn’t be there to greet her. Dawn and Gundersund should be nearing Sudbury by now, probably pulling off the highway for lunch in a diner. Gundersund had said he might stop at a motel near Ottawa for the night. Better to have Dawn rested when she visited her mom.

  They don’t need me with them.

  Kala broke out of the protected coolness of the woods and into the lemony August sunshine. The air was warmer than in the morning, when a crisp wind had held the promise of an early fall. Tufted cumulus clouds drifted across the pewter-coloured sky, one blocking the sun on its way past so that the earth was bathed in shadow. She waited for the shadow to pass and tilted her face heavenward to bask in the sun’s warmth for a moment. This would be a perfect afternoon to be out on the water. She’d planned to take Dawn farther south to Lake Superior to explore the shoreline, but that adventure would need to wait for another visit.