Nothing Is Negotiable

by Mark Bentsen

  “Next door to the clinic, Dr. Duncan has an apartment. There’s a door from his office that goes into the apartment. I found what looks like blood on the bedspread and a trail of blood on the floor leading back to his office.”

  “How’d you get into his apartment?”

  “It wasn’t easy, but I did.” For the next minute he spelled out his suspicions.

  “Aw, come on.” Sonny grinned and leaned closer. “You think someone had Bonnie rolled up in that blanket?”

  “That was the last place anyone saw her,” Luke said as he pointed toward the clinic half a mile away. “If she walked out of that clinic voluntarily, she’d be here right now.”

  “Are you saying you think Dr. Duncan’s involved in this?”

  “No, not at all. I’m saying there are some things down there that don’t add up.”

  “Does Ernest know about this blood you found?”

  Breakfast arrived and as Luke spread jelly on a piece of toast, he looked at Sonny, “Not yet, but when he gets to work I’m going to go tell him about it.”

  “Good luck. It sounds like you’ve really made some progress,” Sonny said. He pushed the coffee cup away, stood, and dropped a couple of bills on the table. “I need to get going. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Luke nodded as he dug into the eggs.

  ***

  Luke got back to the detachment at eight but Ernest still hadn’t made it to work. The receptionist said they expected him soon. After waiting for almost an hour, the receptionist hung up the phone and said, “That was the chief and he’s on his way.”

  “What’s taking him so long?”

  “His daughter teaches at Lethbridge High School. Someone called and said she was in an accident and on her way to the hospital.”

  “Is she okay?” Luke asked.

  “Yeah, she’s fine. There was no accident, it was some kind of prank,” she said. “He couldn’t even find out who called the police. He’ll be here in about an hour.”

  Luke dropped heavily into a chair and pushed back his cap. He had no choice but to wait.

  It was after ten by the time Ernest got there. The receptionist led Luke back to his office and it was obvious he wasn’t in a sociable mood.

  “Okay, what now?” Ernest said, looking over his glasses.

  “I told you the last place Bonnie was seen was in the clinic and no one really remembers seeing her leave. I have a source who told me there is blood on the floor in Dr. Duncan’s office and droplets of blood on the floor in his apartment that leads to his bed. There is blood on the bedspread and sheets. The big Indian blanket that is usually on the bed is missing. I spoke to Marinel Hayes, who said she saw some men carrying what looked like a large, rolled-up carpet out of the back door of the apartment on Tuesday just after noon. I think there’s a good chance that the blood could be Bonnie’s. And I think it’s possible that what Marinel saw was someone carrying the Indian blanket with Bonnie rolled up inside it.”

  “That’s the biggest bunch of baloney I’ve ever heard. Doc Duncan is at least seventy-five years old, for God’s sake. What in the world would he want with your wife?”

  “I’m not accusing him. All I’m saying is that the clinic was the last place Bonnie was seen and it needs to be checked out.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “I’ve got a source at the clinic who told me in strict confidence. They said they’d get fired if I exposed them,” Luke said. “But I really wish you’d check it out.”

  Ernest sighed deeply and shook his head. “Okay. Let me call Doc Duncan and see if he’ll let us in. Wait for me out front.”

  Twenty minutes later, Luke followed Ernest and two officers to the clinic. They all entered through the front door and went back where Dr. Duncan was waiting for them in his office. Luke waited just outside the office while Ernest talked to him.

  “You said this was about that woman who disappeared. What does this have to do with me, Ernest?”

  “Doc, I know you’ve talked to Luke Wakefield. The last place anyone saw his wife was here in the clinic. Now someone said they saw blood on the floor here in your office and in your apartment. Do you mind if we check them out?”

  “Blood in here? Who said that?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, glancing at Luke. “But if we could just check it out, I’m sure we can clear this whole thing up before it goes any further.”

  “That’s fine. Just do what you have to.”

  “Okay.” Turning to Luke, he said, “Come in here and show me where this blood is supposed to be.”

  Luke stepped into the office and stopped in front of the leather armchair where the red smear had been the night before. He couldn’t see it so he leaned down to examine the floor more closely. But the floor was clean. Everything he’d seen the night before was gone.

  He pointed at the floor, encircling an area as big as a basketball. “It was right around here.” Not seeing anything, he walked over to the door on the opposite wall and pointed. “And over here.”

  Ernest and one of the officers pulled out their flashlights and bent over so they were a couple of feet above the floor. They moved along the path slowly following Luke until they got to the door.

  “I don’t see any blood.”

  “On TV I’ve seen them spray something on the floor that makes the blood more visible,” said Luke.

  “That’s on TV, not here,” Ernest said. “What about the other stuff you told me about?”

  “The bedspread was in the apartment.” Luke looked at the doctor who watched from behind his desk and said, “Can we take a look inside your apartment, Doc? It won’t take but a minute.”

  The doctor went to the filing cabinet and got the key. He walked over and unlocked the door. As the door swung open, Luke stepped inside and walked slowly toward the bedroom, his eyes searched the floor for the drops of blood he had seen the night before, but saw none. His heart sank when he noticed a brown bedspread now covered the bed. And across the foot of the bed was a beautiful handmade Indian blanket.

  “Is this the bedspread where the blood is?”

  “No, the bedspread was red. It’s been changed?”

  “Doc, have you changed the bedspread lately?” Ernest asked the doctor.

  “No. I don’t think anyone’s been in here for at least three months, maybe more.”

  “Do you have a red bedspread?”

  “I might, but I don’t pay attention to those kinds of things, Ernest. It’s been years since I’ve slept in this bed.”

  Ernest walked over and picked up one corner of the blanket. “Is this the Indian blanket you’ve always had here?”

  “Mrs. Aponi gave me that back in 1986. Been on this bed ever since.”

  “Ever send it out to be cleaned?”

  “No reason to. It just lays on the foot of the bed.”

  Before he spoke Ernest gave the other cop and Luke a look that told them they were done. “Doc, I’m sorry about all this. Don’t know where we got such mixed-up information. Thanks for letting us barge in on you like this.”

  After they got back outside, Ernest turned to Luke and said, “Are you satisfied now?”

  “No, because that’s not the way it was yesterday.”

  “How do you know it wasn’t?”

  “I just know,” Luke said adamantly. He’d seen the blood with his own eyes but it was gone today. The bedspread was changed and the Indian blanket was back. Even if he gave up Mitzi, who could confirm his story and admit they were in the apartment less than eight hours earlier, it wouldn’t help. They had no proof.

  “Darnit, Luke. You’ve got to tell me how you know this if you want me to believe you.”

  Luke looked at the ground and shook his head. He came up with an outstretched hand. “Can you get that stuff and come back and check to see if blood had been on the floor?”

  “Listen to me son,” Ernest said as he stepped over and stood nose to nose with Luke. “Doc Duncan is a friend of mine. I’ve kno
wn him for over fifty years. He didn’t have to let us in there because we didn’t have a search warrant. There is no way I’m going to humiliate myself by doing something that asinine when you won’t even tell me how you got your information.”

  Luke stepped away and shook his head. “Something’s not right here, because I know that blood was there yesterday.”

  “How do you know? If you can prove it, then prove it,” Ernest seemed to have lost his patience. “Otherwise, you got nothing. Understand? Nothing.”

  As Ernest got in his cruiser his cell phone rang. He answered and listened for half a minute, then said, “That was Paul. The bus driver confirmed it was your wife. Said she was wearing sunglasses and remembers seeing a brace on her arm.”

  “There’s something wrong here.” Someone is trying to make it look like she’s not missing. Why?

  “Luke, go home,” Ernest said as he started the car. “There’s nothing else we can do for you. We have no evidence of foul play. Everything we have says she’s left on her own.”

  “What about Willy? Have you asked him about the earring?”

  “No, and I’m not going to.”

  Ernest backed out and pulled away, leaving Luke standing alone across from the clinic.

  Luke open the door of the Jeep, but remained standing, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Again, what appeared to be solid evidence turned into a disaster. Someone had obviously cleaned up the scene. The question was, who?

  It had to be Mitzi.

  He closed the door of the Jeep and ran back into the clinic.

  “I need to talk to Mitzi,” he told the receptionist.

  “She’s running late today, but I expect her any minute now. Do you want to wait?”

  Without answering, he left and ran to the Jeep. Her apartment was only blocks away. As he rounded the corner he saw her getting into her Miata. The Jeep skidded to a stop behind her car. When he jumped out of the Jeep he saw her look back over her shoulder.

  He stomped up beside her. “Who did you tell about what we found last night?”

  “No one,” she said. “Why?” She appeared puzzled by his irate tone.

  “I just left your office. The cops went down there to check out the blood we found, but guess what?”

  “What?” she asked, confusion in her voice.

  “The blood that was on the floor last night is gone. The bedspread’s been changed, and even that Indian blanket you said was missing is back. Right where’s it’s supposed to be. Somebody found out about it. Who’d you tell?”

  “No one,” she said defensively. “You saw me go home and as soon as I got in bed, I passed out and didn’t wake up until an hour ago. I over slept and the only one I’ve talked to is Monica, the receptionist, and all I told her is that I was going to be late.”

  “Then how’d they find out?”

  “How would I know?” Her response was defensive but sincere. “Really, I don’t. I’ve got to get to work right now. You didn’t tell them I let you in, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t tell anyone anything.”

  “Good. Could you move your Jeep? I’ve got to get to work? I’m late... but check with me later and I’ll let you know what I hear down at the office.”

  As Luke drove away, his mind was reeling. How did anyone find out they went down there? But there was no one else who knew.

  Then it hit him.

  Sonny. He told him everything at breakfast. And Sonny drives a van, a silver van.

  His thoughts flashed back to the confrontation Bonnie and Sonny had in his camera store in St. Mary. Sonny had a good reason to be mad at Bonnie; she had cost him a three thousand dollar sale. But, surely not mad enough to go to this length.

  He made a quick U-turn and headed for Rocky Mountain Photography.

  The closer he got the more his fury grew. All this time Sonny’s been acting like a good friend, when in reality, he’s been behind it all. He’s been using me to follow the progress of the RCMP.

  When Luke pulled up to the stop sign at Main he could see the studio across the street. Through the windows he saw Sonny moving around inside.

  While he waited for an opening in the traffic, he saw a silver van approach from the south and pull into a parking space in front of Sonny’s store. A lady with long brown hair jumped out and scurried up the steps into the store.

  She was quite animated while talking to Sonny. After a moment, Sonny grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close. She wrapped her arms around him and they kissed.

  As she left the camera store Luke reached down to the floorboard on the passenger side and pulled the binoculars out of the backpack. Even without her green smock he recognized her. It was Rita, the nurse from the clinic. Quickly Luke’s mind connected the dots between Sonny and the clinic. But it still didn’t make sense. What would they want with Bonnie?

  Rita got into Sonny’s blue BMW parked next to the van and as she drove away Luke decided his confrontation with Sonny could wait. For now, he would follow Rita. He put on his left turn signal and pulled into traffic, about half a block behind her.

  * * *

  After Rita left, Sonny went back into his office where he had a view of the street. While he watched Rita back out, he noticed a black Jeep sitting at the stop sign across the street. In it the driver held a pair of binoculars pointed at Rita. When he lowered them Sonny recognized Luke at once.

  When Rita pulled away, the Jeep fell in behind her.

  Sonny pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed.

  Rita answered.

  He said, “Looks like our plans just changed.”

  Chapter 25

  “What do you mean?” Rita asked.

  “Look in your rearview mirror. Black Jeep? That’s Luke.”

  “Is he following me?”

  “I think so. When you left the studio, I saw him watching you through binoculars. I’m afraid he’s on to us.”

  “What do we do?”

  “I’ve got to make some changes, but it will actually make the next step easier.”

  “So what do you want me to do?”

  “He’s probably going to follow you, so kill a few minutes then go to the Home Center. Park in the middle of the parking lot where there are a lot of other cars around you. Go inside and watch for him.”

  “Okay.”

  “He’ll probably try to stay out of sight but watch what you are doing. I want him away from the front door so he can’t see the parking lot. Go to the back of the store and mill around until I call you. At that point I want you to leave, and make sure he doesn’t follow you. Go to your apartment and get what you need, then come to my place. We’re leaving as soon as you get there.”

  ***

  While Luke followed Rita, he thought about his conversation with Sonny. Other than Mitzi, he was the only other person who knew about the blood. Luke ruled out Mitzi because she wouldn’t have let him in the doctor’s apartment if she were involved. That left only Sonny. And now knowing he was in a relationship with Rita, it all made sense.

  Sonny was probably the one who called in the false alarm about Ernest’s daughter being in an accident. This would delay him and give Rita time to clean up the blood and change the sheets and bedspread before the cops got there.

  Luke clenched his jaw as he thought about how stupid he had been to trust Sonny. Sure, Bonnie had pissed off Sonny the day they arrived in Montana by costing him a huge sale, but was he the kind of guy who would do something like this for revenge? Or was it something else?

  Luke focused on the BMW in front of him thinking she might lead him to Bonnie.

  Halfway through town when Rita pulled into the Husky Food Store, he parked half a block away where he could watch her. Five minutes later she was back on the street but made it only a block before she pulled into the drive thru of Perk and Go Coffee Shop. Her next stop was at Alberta Discount Lumber and Home Center on the north side of town. It was a huge warehouse store and the parking lot was busy. From a distance h
e watched her park between a minivan and a motor home with Arizona plates.

  After she was inside, he parked a few rows over and trotted over to check out the BMW. Other than a brown leather organizer in the passenger seat, the interior was spotless.

  He went inside and spotted Rita as she browsed through an assortment of light fixtures near the back of the store. From there she stopped and talked to a sales person about mini-blinds and shutters until her cell phone rang. After a short conversation she flipped her phone closed and walked quickly out of the store.

  Luke got to the parking lot about ten seconds behind her and ran to the Jeep. By the time he got the engine started he saw she was almost to the highway.

  But when he started to back out, a metallic blue Cadillac had him blocked in. The Caddy was the size of Noah’s Ark and the driver was a little blue-haired lady who could barely see over the steering wheel. He followed her gaze and saw she was waiting for a parking space where a couple of guys were loading some lumber into a pickup.

  He checked for Rita and saw her pull onto the highway and accelerate into traffic. Luke laid on the horn for a full second, but evidently Miss Daisy wasn’t wearing her hearing aid, because she never acknowledged the annoying blast of noise.

  By the time Luke made it out of the parking lot, he was at least a minute behind Rita. He cruised through town, looking for the BMW in parking lots and on side streets. At Second Street he cruised past the clinic and checked the parking lot in front and in the alley, but it wasn’t there.

  After circling the block he pulled back onto Main and headed south. When he got to Rocky Mountain Photography he noticed Sonny’s van was gone. The big windows across the front of the store made it easy to see that the only person inside was the teenaged employee he had met earlier in the week.

  As he continued south he watched for the van or the BMW. He reached down to grab the bottled water in the console and noticed a large brown envelope on the passenger seat beside his backpack.

  He didn’t remember it being there before. He picked it up and noticed on the front, handwritten in block letters, LUKE WAKEFIELD – IMPORTANT.