by R E Swirsky
CHAPTER 31
Monday 07:25 Near Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
“Eat up, Michael,” Richard said.
Michael grunted and pulled his chair closer to the table. “I am so tired,” he said and picked up a slice of cold toast, ripping one bite from the corner. “Why do I have to get up so early today?”
Michael’s sudden slide over the weekend worried Richard. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as he thought. He ignored Michael’s question. “Did you sleep well?”
Michael barely glanced up and continued to chew. “What do you think?”
That would be a no. “I’m sorry about Lucy,” he offered.
Michael shrugged and dropped his eyes to his plate. The eggs were already cold, but Michael chopped at them with his fork and shovelled them into his mouth, scraping the plate. Fork on plate was the only sound in the kitchen.
“Things will get better today,” Michelle offered. “I know they will.”
Few words were exchanged as Michael continued to eat.
“Coffee, Michael?” Michelle asked.
Michael nodded and wiped his mouth on his napkin.
The breakfast dishes lay scattered about the table, one setting untouched, as Tawnie remained upstairs asleep. Michelle placed Michael’s steaming cup in front of him, sat down, and sipped at her own coffee. “I’ll be heading down to the office in a few minutes to see what I can find out about Johnny.”
“About this Johnny,” Richard said. “Do you really think you’ll be able to uncover much of anything?”
“I’m going to start with David Dodd, our sports reporter. He covers college and university sports across town. If there’s anything to be found about this guy in sports, David will be able to find it.”
“That sounds good,” Richard replied. “We really need to find this guy. We need a face.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” She turned to Michael. “Maybe he lied about his name but not about playing basketball. If I can get a photo of the basketball team, do you think you’d be able to recognize him?”
Michael huffed. “I only saw his shoes on Friday, and the only time I saw him before that was once back in May. I might be able recognize him—I don’t know.”
“It’s worth a try,” Michelle said. “I’ll see if David can get me some photos of the team. What else?”
Richard sighed heavily. Something else had been bothering him since yesterday evening.
“What time were you supposed to catch your flight yesterday, Michael?”
“Just after three. Why?”
“And who was picking you up at the other end? Anyone?”
Michael shifted in his seat. His eyes drifted off and he frowned slightly. “Lucy’s dad, but.…” He turned and looked up at his father.
Richard nodded at him. “Doesn’t it seem strange that he never tried to call you? It’s Monday, two days since she fell.”
Michael uncrossed his arms and sat up straight. “I called him yesterday.”
“You called him?” Michael had not mentioned that before.
“Yeah, Dad, I called him before you got home. I mean, I tried to call him, but I only had his office number, and no one was there on a Sunday.”
“Did you leave a message?”
“No. I was hiding under her bed, remember, and had no idea what happened to her. What exactly was I supposed to say?” He looked sad and lowered his eyes.
“He paid for both of your tickets, Michael. He was certainly expecting both of you to arrive.”
“I know, but.…” He shrugged.
“You were the closest person in his daughter’s life these past few weeks,” Richard said. “It seems strange that he never even tried to call you.”
“Maybe he didn’t have my number.”
Michelle’s hand went to her mouth and her eyes widened with concern. “Your dad’s right, Michael. You’re going to have to call him again,” she said. “And soon.”
Richard didn’t understand the urgency. “Why soon?”
Michelle released a nervous laugh before she spoke. “Why? To explain, of course. This man’s daughter just died falling off a mountain while she was supposed to be preparing to catch a plane home with your son.”
Michael’s faced dropped in angst with the thought of having to make the call.
“He’s definitely going to want to ask Michael some questions, like why was she hiking alone, and where was Michael at the time,” she added.
“But I don’t know what happened,” Michael stammered.
“Maybe not,” Richard replied. “But he bought you a ticket. I’m pretty sure he and his wife were looking forward to meeting the new guy who was taking his daughter hiking for ten days.”
Michael heaved a heavy sigh.
“And then he’ll ask, if you weren’t with her when she fell, where exactly were you?” Michelle added.
“But I told you what happened!” Michael shouted. “Those men grabbed her.”
Richard agreed with Michelle. “If it was me, I’d want to know precisely where you were on Saturday morning and what you were doing.”
“I already told you where I was.”
Richard wanted to respond but refrained. Michael still hadn’t told them exactly where he was. Not in full, anyways. And his call to Jordan last night went directly to voicemail.
“We know what you told us, but Lucy’s dad doesn’t know where you were.”
“You really want me to call him?” Michael asked. “What would I say to him? Do I tell him about those men?”
“The police said it was a hiking accident. If you tell him your version, he’ll likely go straight to the police and suggest you had something to do with her death.”
“But it’s the truth!”
Richard raised his hands at Michael, pressing him to calm down. “I know it is, Michael. We believe you.”
“Then should I call him or not?”
Richard repeated what he had said earlier. “No one has called looking for you. Not Lucy’s parents, not the police, no one. I do think that’s a bit strange.”
“That’s because everyone thinks her death was just an accident.”
Richard rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Yeah.” But something definitely didn’t seem right. She fell Saturday and was positively identified sometime Sunday morning at the latest. He looked up at the clock above the fridge. Another full day had passed. “As soon as his office opens I think you should call him.”
“And say what?” Michael asked.
“I’m not sure yet. But you do need to call him. And you need to be very careful what you say.”
“So what am I supposed to say?”
Richard’s worry ran deep. “Just avoid saying anything from your version of events of what happened Friday night. Let’s find out what he knows.”