On paper, she looked pretty good. But paper was two-dimensional. Easily crumpled. Easily discarded.
Not like her mistakes.
She hooked the next left so abruptly that Lucy shot her a startled look. Within minutes, they were driving down Young Avenue. Elise took her time driving down the pretty street. It allowed her to admire the stately architecture—and to postpone the phone call she knew she’d have to make once they turned the corner and pulled into Cathy’s driveway.
“This is nice,” Lucy breathed, staring out the window. “Is this where we’re staying?”
“We’re around the corner. Right opposite Point Pleasant Park.” The park was situated on the tip of the Halifax Peninsula. On the east side, to their left, lay the Halifax Harbour. Halifax’s vibrant waterfront skirted the harbor, anchored with office towers and hotels on the far end and container piers at the other. On the park’s west side, the long finger of saltwater known as the Northwest Arm edged some of the most sought-after real estate in the city. Her ex-husband lived in one of those neighborhoods, about a ten-minute walk to the west of Cathy’s house.
Elise drove toward a large stone archway with a wrought-iron gate that declared the end of Young Avenue and its intersection with Point Pleasant Drive. Beyond the stone archway, Elise could see the park. One hundred and eighty-five acres of pine trees, old forts and walking trails. Tomorrow morning Elise would get up early and walk the trails. Long dormant anticipation uncurled. She could just imagine the cool mystery of the early morning, the long expanse of quiet ocean disappearing into the horizon, the soft crush of pine-needle-strewn paths underfoot.
“It’s not far from Dad’s house, is it?” Lucy asked.
Elise searched for Nick’s face in the rearview mirror. All she got was his profile. The closer they were to their destination, the more remote he became.
Hang on, Nicky. Just one phone call and you’re home free.
“No, it’s not.”
Elise slowed at the stop sign by the intersection. Lucy shrieked with delight. “Nick, look at the fountain!”
Elise laughed. A large fountain marked a footpath into Point Pleasant Park. It frothed in the sunshine, a two-foot-high mound of bubbles. Someone had put shampoo in the water.
“Mum, can we jump in?” Lucy asked. She reached for her seat belt.
“In a minute.” Elise turned left. “Cathy’s house is just down the hill. After we dump our bags, you guys can check out the fountain.” While I call your father. It would give her some privacy. She didn’t want the kids to hear this conversation.
Cathy’s house was located in a recessed lot on Point Pleasant Drive, facing the park. It had been built on an incline that dropped off steeply in the back. Hedges outlined the side and rear boundaries of the property, much taller than when Elise had last seen them.
Cathy probably let them grow to block the sight of the container pier.
Elise pulled into the driveway. Dark green exterior. Check. White shutters. Check. Large wraparound porch. Check. All with the slightly shabby look of an academic who was too preoccupied with cerebral matters to pay attention to peeling paint. Probably hadn’t made her too popular in this neighborhood.
Late afternoon sun beat down on the car. Elise turned off the engine, suddenly desperate to get some fresh air.
She flung open the door and stood. Too quickly. Black spots swarmed in front of her eyes. She leaned against the door and breathed in deeply. The air carried a tangy breeze. The spots slowly dissipated.
“Mum, are you okay?” Lucy asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. I just need to catch my breath.” She was glad she’d have a few weeks to recuperate. She’d go to a bookstore tomorrow and stock up on books, newspapers, magazines. She could hardly wait.
She just needed to get that damn phone call over with.
Then she could start her holiday.
Chapter 3
Friday, 5:52 p.m.
Kate was at the intersection between Young Avenue and the park when an SUV with dark-tinted windows and Ontario plates turned into a driveway across the road. Kate hadn’t really been paying attention, but she found herself slowing to a half jog, studying the woman who’d gotten out of the car.
Afterward, she wondered what it was about the woman that caught her attention. She was stunningly attractive—wavy blond hair that curved in layers to her shoulders, broad cheekbones and long legs. The type of woman most women would look at again. Either with admiration or, more likely, envy.
But it wasn’t her looks that caught Kate’s eye. It was the way the woman staggered against her car.
Was she going to pass out?
She looked as if she needed help. And Kate wasn’t sure if there was anyone to help her. Her license plates indicated she was from out of town. Something about the woman’s disheveled state screamed road trip.
Kate tugged at Alaska’s leash. “Come on.” She stepped off the curb, heading toward the SUV, then stopped as the passenger door of the car swung open and a preteen version of the blond woman sprang out.
“Mum, are you okay?” Kate heard her ask.
The blond woman straightened, pushing a hand through her mane of hair. She lifted her face to the breeze. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said. “I just need to catch my breath.”
She did look better. Kate stepped back onto the sidewalk, bending down to tighten her shoelace, keeping an eye on the scene across the street.
The air seemed to revive the woman, because she leaned into her car and pulled out her purse. She’s not going to pass out, Kate thought. She stood, ready to move on, but Alaska slowed to sniff a tree.
“Oh, look, Mum, there’s a husky!” the girl exclaimed, and rushed down the driveway toward Kate. Her mother shot an alarmed look at the large dog.
“Luce, make sure you check with the owner first!”
The girl threw a disgusted look at her mother. “I know, I was going to.” She crossed the road, stopping in front of Kate, her blue eyes a shade darker than Alaska’s. “Can I pat your dog?”
“Sure,” Kate said. “His name is Alaska.”
The girl let Alaska sniff her hand, then ran her palm over his neck. “He’s so soft,” she breathed.
“Yeah, his fur is nice, isn’t it?” Kate said. Alaska allowed the girl to pat him for a minute, then shifted away from her, pulling his leash.
The girl stood back. “Thanks.” She crossed the road, then gave a little wave over her shoulder.
“Have a nice night,” Kate said. She broke into a jog, running down the hill toward the harbor, the shadowy pine trees to her right. She wondered if her quad muscle had cooled down too much and if she should stop to stretch it.
Regular physio had helped with the muscle strength in her quad, but she was still working on reconditioning the leg.
Eager not to lose momentum, Kate focused on her stride, the swing of her arms, her breathing. The irony of her final words to the girl and her mother only hit her the next morning, when she ran past the house again.
They had not had a nice night.
INDEFENSIBLE is now available on Amazon
The Kate Lange Thriller Series
“Do yourself a favor and jump in the middle of these amazing books. You won’t be able to put them down until the final page.”
— Fresh Fiction
DAMAGED
Book 1
(2nd edition, April 2016)
INDEFENSIBLE
Book 2
(2nd edition, April 2016)
TATTOOED
Book 3
(2nd edition, April 2016)
EXPLOITED
Book 4
(November 2016)
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[Kate Lange 01.0] Damaged Page 39