by J M Dolan
Sam asked her to stay and Jamee had been sorely tempted. Cuddled under the comforter they’d sleepily drifted in languid, satiated satisfaction. It was the epitome of the most romantic evening of her life.
Were they lovers? Sam had been clear he wasn’t interested in a one-night stand. Could it be more?
For her part, she thought it was too soon. In her experience, love and romance hadn’t been a fairy tale experience. Honestly, whose relationship was? She still had a lot to sort out in that regard. Some things might never be sorted out. She’d always figured Abi as the one who couldn’t settle. Abi was the Blair sister, who’d gone through nice men — decent men like crazy, and then was wonderstruck by the bad boy type.
Abi’s, Jeff was a “wanna be” badass. Which Jamee translated into shallow and self-centered. Everyone except Abi had suspected Jeff wouldn’t stick. You could nail down a bad boy, thought Jamee, but you sure as hell couldn’t change one.
Well, it wasn’t like her luck had been much better. Irresponsible men flocked to her like honey, but she just couldn’t attract a good guy. That was until now, maybe Sam would be different. He seemed to qualify, but the jury was still out on whether she could. Trust was a big word.
But, in the meantime, Sam was one serious attraction. Nevertheless, trust him…that was another matter altogether. Yeah, she was a conflicted female with a card deck of emotions to sort out.
Jamee spent a moment to speculate woman may have been created first. Then along came man to serve as an annoyance and reminder that life wasn’t perfect. Who said the Creator didn’t have a sense of humour?
Her cell phone jarred the silence. So much for sleeping in.
“Hello”
“So, how was the date?” Franie’s voice cut into the cobwebs.
“Awesomely terrific.” She sounded croaky and cleared her throat.
“Are you alone or sharing a bed?” Franie spoke in a conspirator’s whisper.
“Of course, I’m alone. What do you take me for — loose? I share this house with women and children, remember?”
“Well there are ways of getting around that,” said Franie, not backing down easily.
“Where did he take you?” Franie was unmercifully insistence.
“The garden roof top of his condo for a romantic dinner but that’s it. I’m not giving you details.”
“Not even what you ate?”
“Ok it was chicken with all the trimmings, wine, liqueur with dessert and a hot tub dip somewhere in there,” Jamee huffed out the words. “Nice chat, talk to you soon.”
“Oh boy, you must be smitten.”
Jamee could hear the smug giggle. “Good bye, Franie.”
“No, wait.” Franie got serious. “Remember I told you about Marge from work. Nice lady but lately following me around like a puppy dog.”
“Yup, I remember.”
“I saw her last night over in Motel Village.”
“So”
“Well, it was late, it’s not near work and is a good distance from where she lives.”
“You were there,” reminded Jamee.
“True, but she was lurking in the shadows.”
“Maybe she was waiting for someone.”
“Yeah, but in that area, at that time of the night – it would be a john or a dealer. Maybe your paranoia is rubbing off on me,” said Franie, “but it seemed out of place. What do you think?”
“I think you should trust your well-honed instincts,” advised Jamee, “and let me get some sleep.”
“Sweet dreams,” said Franie and hung up.
Jamee gave the pillow a couple good pumps and settled back with the covers under her chin.
She closed her eyelids on a soft sigh. The jarring ringtone had them flying back open. She grabbed the phone, annoyed. This time, she’d set it to mute, but paused in recognition of the number running across the screen. She saw at a glance it was from Abi. A small shiver of concern when through her. Abi had gone in with the homecare nurse for her regular appointment.
“What’s up?” asked Jamee.
“I’m good, but just got a phone call,” said Abi. “I think it may have been Odessa. At least, she said it was Odessa.”
“Thank God. Is she okay?”
“Seriously, Jamee,” Abi’s tone said she was definitely worried. “I want you to be exceedingly careful.”
“Always am. What did she say?” Jamee could scarcely breathe for the tension in her chest.
“Her voice was very quiet,” Abi replied, “and it was hard to hear, especially with her accent. She said she’d tried to call me at home in Calgary and was frantic to get in touch with us — mentioned a note left in my mailbox. She’d finally found my cell number somewhere and tried it.”
“Did she say — where she was at?”
“I asked, but she wouldn’t tell me. She just wanted to leave a message for you to meet her. She said she was in trouble and didn’t want the police involved. She was crying and sobbing, saying she was afraid someone was after her.” Abi’s voice broke. “Sorry, it was awful.”
“Good Lord, what’s that girl gotten herself into?”
“I pressed her for details, Jamee. I swear I did, but all she would give me was a place and time to meet. She asked for your cell number then hung up while I was in mid-sentence,” concluded Abi.
“No sweat, I’m sure you did your best. I’ll get a hold of Sam and Thomas. We’ll keep it low key. Give me the location details and try not to worry.”
***
Across town, Sam was having breakfast with Avery. The diner was famous for its food and star sightings and they’d been pleased, that for a change, the line-up was only out to the sidewalk.
Both opted for the Canadian Classic as it came piled with home-cured bacon, sausage and eggs and a stack of pancakes. Sam was stirring his coffee. Unnecessary, since he drank it black. The oddity was picked up by Avery.
“What’s got you into a foul mood, Craig?” enquired Thomas. “I thought you had a date with Jamee last night.”
“I did,” replied Sam. He quit stirring and set the spoon down.
“Well then, you should be whistling a happy tune,” needled Thomas.
“Suffice to say, it was amazing, but no sleep over,” confided Sam. “I’m committed, but I feel like she’s playing me.” Sam’s exasperation was evident in the grim look on his face.
Thomas sipped his coffee. The waitress arrived with stacked platters which she placed in front of each man.
Thomas picked up the conversation. “I’ve seen the chemistry between you two. You’re on the right track. Here’s some advice mate, every man needs to recognize when to let the woman make the decisions, and then again, when not to. If the decision is related to sweeping her off her feet — feet sweeping is up to the man, but shopping, let her decide.”
“I thought I had it covered,” Sam confessed. “Best date ever she said, but still left early.”
“Give her time,” advised Thomas. He picked up his knife and fork, preparing to dive into the hearty meal.
“I will,” Sam said. “It’s just this hot-cold response is frustrating and I’m puzzled. I guess it’s not any easier for a woman to make a commitment than it is for a man. Still, I sense there’s a reason she’s holding back on the emotion.”
“Talk to Abi,” suggested Thomas. “Sisters can be a wealth of information. I could do it for you — you know as your wing man and all. Could use an excuse to call and drop by, if you get my drift.”
“Tread careful there, Tommy. Very vulnerable, if you get my drift.”
“That goes without saying,” Avery agreed. “I’m just looking for a chance to help, if I can. They’re a great family.”
Sam nodded. “Anything new in the case?”
“You changed the subject.” Thomas was quick to pick up the hint. “But, yes. New news is part of the reason for breakfast,” Thomas replied. “Dunbar got back some of the additional DNA results we requested. Ukrainian investigators provided us with
a DNA sample for Odessa Koval. Ukrainian police approached her parents for some personal items. Needless to say, the family is a wreck.
“Apparently, they’d been concerned about the whole agency thing right from the start – too much secrecy on Odessa’s part. They said she’d been behaving very erratically prior to her departure to Canada. One minute, she was excited, and the next gloomy and withdrawn. The parents put it down to impending homesickness. She seemed happy and eager when speaking with either Abi or Jamee, but otherwise nervous. They thought she’d formed a bond with Abi and was excited about meeting the children. Odessa told her parents she was half in love with the family already.
“On that front, based on her actions, they believed her intentions were legitimate. Otherwise, she had taken to staying away from home for days. She told them the agency had her doing additional training for her post, but they remained suspicious. The parents confirmed their daughter was highly educated and fully experienced for the job and questioned what kind of supplementary training would be required.”
“Which points to our theory she was mixed up in something serious,” said Sam. He chewed thoughtfully.
“Hard road for the parents,” said Avery, “that line between when to genuinely take action, and when to let your child experience independence.”
“What about Inspector Volkov? Did they ask the father about his acquaintance with the man? Volkov was pretty pointed about his importance of knowing the family,” reminded Sam.
“That part of the news is bad,” said Thomas. “Odessa’s father said he’d never heard of the man. The family is middle-class poor, and definitely not of any importance to the government, or to the police for that matter. It’s information, I’m sad to say that certainly supports our human trafficking theories. Things are not looking good for Odessa’s involvement in all this.
The men spent the next several minutes devoted to the meal. It was mutually understood conversation could wait. Case in point, when the waitress reappeared with refills from a fresh pot of coffee, the chewing failed to cease. She moved off to the next booth after a polite affirmative nod from both men.
***
“Hot damn, I wish I could eat like that every morning,” said Sam. He took a satisfying slurp of his hot, freshly-refilled coffee and made a habitual glance towards the door. He was just in time to see Jamee striding towards them. She was dressed in a lambskin leather bomber jacket. The cream coloured wool interior poked out under a deep purple and cerulean blue tartan scarf. Skinny jeans and knee-high, low-heeled leather boots with knitted cuffs kept the look clean and sexy. Damn, she looked good.
“Hey Babe,” Sam’s deep baritone was warm and inviting. His eyes mirrored the pleasure he felt at her surprise visit. “How did you find…”
“Nancy, the wonder woman, has your routine down pat.” Jamee grinned. “Traditional breakfast — best place in town. You guys were easy.”
“Yep, we’re out of the chicken coop,” confessed Sam. “Can’t pull anything over on that lady, and here I thought Avery and my indulgent top-secret breakfasts were hush-hush.”
He scooted over in an effort to prevent Thomas from getting Jamee to sit beside him. The sultry scent of her wove a spell inside his head. She scooched in, and Sam casually raised his arm to lay it along the back of the booth seat. It was intended to signal he considered them a couple.
“Avery was just filling me in on developments in the investigation,” said Sam. “Have you had breakfast?”
“I breathe; I’m hungry, so yes I have. Go on Thomas, I’m all ears.”
“Happy to report some baby steps forward. Dunbar had the Odessa Koval DNA sample matched against all other DNA samples we’ve collected. The pieces are starting to add up.”
“Good stuff?” asked Jamee.
“Oh, it’s interesting, alright,” said Thomas. “Odessa’s DNA was taken from a hair brush provided by her parents and we’ve matched it to one of the blood samples on the mail box hinge, and also, to the blood on the strappy hooker shoes at the parkade.”
“They were definitely not hikers,” said Jamee. “Odessa must have needed to get rid of them in order to cover some ground. Veronika Kaminski was missing her shoes. It seems reasonable to assume Odessa traded spikes for flats.”
“Things are coming together,” agreed Thomas. “Odessa’s DNA also matched skin and blood from underneath Kaminski’s fingernails. It appears Veronika scratched Odessa and the scratches were fresh. She was definitely there when Kaminski fell. If there was an assailant in a struggle with Veronika, it’s feasible that person was Odessa.”
“I have something to add that might be the linchpin” said Jamee.
“Break in the case?” defined Sam.
“Just maybe,” confirmed Jamee. “Odessa called Abi at the farm. She wanted me to meet with her in an hour. She says she’s afraid someone’s after her, and she doesn’t want the police involved.
“Whoa there,” said Sam.
Jamee held up her hand in concurrence, a kind of “don’t short change me” signal. “Of course, we’re going to give Dunbar a call, but let’s not scare her off. Abi said Odessa was very evasive, definitely hiding something. She gave her my cell phone number, but couldn’t get hers.”
Jamee’s cell rang. She dug it out and glanced at caller ID.
“Speak of the devil. This might be her.”
Jamee answered and listened intently for several seconds, then broke the connection.
“Eat up men, we gotta go. If you wanna tag along, she’s call’n in the cavalry.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The men left money on the table to cover the meal and a generous tip. The day was wintry and a north wind blew as they hustled out to the vehicles. Jamee left the Mustang in its parking spot and jumped into Avery’s government issue black Escalade. The Escalade gave them more room and some measure of off-road ability. Jamee left it to Sam to ride shotgun.
Odessa wanted to meet in Fish Creek Provincial Park. The park was located in the southern part of Calgary at the end of Bow Bottom Trail. It should be pretty straight forward, but one never knew. Odessa sounded pretty stressed, and the terrain in the park could be rough, plenty of trails and not a lot of road.
Fish Creek stretched nineteen kilometers from east to west. Regardless of the fact it was surrounded by a city of over one million people the park, particularly at this time of year, was relatively isolated.
Odessa had chosen Votiers Flats. Good choice, because the area was open year-round and could be accessed via Calgary’s transit system. Jamee was supposed to meet her at an on-site picnic table and fire pit area.
The traffic proved gnarly despite the early morning hour. One minute they were crawling, the next speeding through the streets. Jamee wasn’t sure how long it would take Odessa to arrive at the agreed upon spot, but they didn’t want to keep her waiting. The woman was obviously spooked. No point in being the cavalry, if they arrived late.
Jamee’s cell phone chirped. One glance at the display told her it was Odessa’s burner phone.
“Odessa, it’s Jamee, I’m enroute,” she said calmly.
Sam’s head swivelled in her direction eyebrows raised in question.
Jamee pursed her lips. He nodded in understanding and catching Thomas’s quick glance, Sam put a finger to his lips. There was no point in letting Odessa discover Jamee had company, especially when she’d demanded no police.
“I have you on hands free,” said Jamee. “We can talk while I drive. Tell me what happened. I’ve been trying to find you since your flight landed. Abi and I have been very worried. Are you safe?”
Odessa’s voice was shaky. Her tone subdued. “No, I don’t think so. Help me,” she pleaded. “Bad men want me, and one from the old country will be tracking me.”
“What men” asked Jamee? “Odessa, please explain.”
“Oh Jamee, I am so sorry.” A small sob escaped her. “I wanted most in the world to join Abi and the children. I wanted to be able to help yo
ur sister and be a part of Adaira, Alana and little Angus’s lives. I would have loved them all.”
The line went silent and Jamee wondered if she’d lost connection. She waited, patiently until Odessa picked up the thread of speech. She was crying softly.
“Jamee, I did something very bad, but it was the only way. The only way they would let me come.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get it sorted out. But, you need to tell me everything. Who are you talking about?”
“It was Veronika. She said, she could help me get out of Ukraine. She introduced me to people at the Immigration Consultant Agency. Veronika wanted to come to Canada as live-in caregiver, but her skills with children no good. She had good English, but childcare experience not so good.”
In her distress, Odessa’s English became broken, the accent thicker.
“I help her pass exams,” Odessa continued. “They promised next time would be my turn. But Veronika, she comes back from Canada, and says I have to give her my visa, that she needs,” Odessa took a deep shuttering breath, “to be me.
“I said no, but she slapped me. Took my visa. She shut me in a closet. I couldn’t get out. I was so scared, and worried for my family. What they think? She left me there in the dark for two days. No food or water. No bathroom or heat. Then this man, he comes for me,” her voice stumbled over the words, “horrible man. Veronika, she called him the Wolf. She says the Wolf get me to Canada if I do what he says. The Wolf, he very bad man, Jamee. Veronika say they gather secrets together. If I don’t do what they say, I’ll be one of their secrets, and no one will ever know what became of me.”
The Big Bad Wolf, thought Jamee just like in a Grimm’s fairy tale. Most likely the same Wolf they were looking for.
Odessa’s sobbing had ceased, and she seemed rushed to get the rest of the story told.
“The Wolf said Veronika needed to pretend to be me. I help or he kills my parents. He says, then of course I wouldn’t be any good to him either. I believed him Jamee, I believed.”