by Liz Turner
“You know that’s a sign you’re having one too many cupcakes, don’t you?” Amanda teased. “Go on, Victoria, push yourself!”
Victoria swatted at her, laughed, and then heaved herself up again. “Alright, only for you.”
“I loved when Steve proposed to me on the top of the mountain,” Amanda said. “It was the cutest idea ever. So I’ve decided that with my maid of honor, I’m going to do the same.”
“Excuse me?” Victoria raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll ask her on a mountain top, to be my maid of honor.” Amanda giggled. “If, that is, my best friend can manage to get there.”
“Oh, you owe me a dozen cupcakes, but fine, I’ll make it.”
Laughing, joking, the two climbed up the trail, unaware of the horror that awaited them.
Their jokes eventually turned into reminisces about life in Larch Hot Springs, and Amanda said, “Growing up, I always envied your family, you know. After ma and dad divorced when I was 12, I thought you were the luckiest girl in the world, to live with your mom and dad and own the nicest, warmest café in town.”
“It wasn’t all easy,” Victoria said. “Mom was never, never an easy person to love.”
“You fought with her so much,” Amanda said. “As a teen, I couldn’t imagine doing that. With my mom, I was always super obedient.”
“It used to irritate me, and amaze me.” Victoria laughed. “A teenager who wasn’t rebellious. You were a real unique case, Amanda.”
“Well, here we are,” Amanda said, as they overcame the final climb and reached the top. “Wow.” She whistled, and Victoria, unable to speak, only nodded.
Below them, the town of Larch Hot Springs was visible, with its crystal lake and its cover of velvety green. Below them, the whole world seemed to stretch out and here they were on top. Victoria raised her hands above her head and gave a whoop. “We are the Champions!” she shouted.
Amanda laughed. “You’ll have an avalanche on our heads, Vic.”
“There’s nothing that can fall on us now!” Victoria laughed, feeling suddenly refreshed and energetic. “We’re on top of the world!”
Her words seemed to echo, and a wind made the trees below her flutter and bow. Looking straight down, Victoria shivered, wondering what it would be like to fall an endless distance, with spiky rocks to break you as you hit them.
Then, giving a cry, Victoria pointed. “Amanda, do you see that? There, that flutter of red cloth down there?”
“What is it?”
“Get your binoculars out,” Victoria said, a sudden dread filling her. “I think we’ve found the body of a hiker.”
Chapter 5
Unlike when Boyd’s body had been found, Spring Hopes Café wasn’t abuzz with news of the hiker’s body. In fact, as Victoria stood behind the counter twenty-four hours later, she thought that people were surprisingly cool about it all.
Sure, it was tragic but in a town, this close to Banff National Park, news of a hiker who had made a grave mistake wasn’t really news. It was an inevitable part of life. There was some speculation about whether the death had been due to suicide or accident but most townies felt that it was just another typical case of bad luck.
Most townies except, that is, for Victoria.
When she and Amanda had caught sight of the body below them, they had called emergency services and then, fearing that the hiker was still alive, Victoria had climbed down to where the body had fallen.
It had been a stupid, risky thing to do, perhaps but Victoria had felt that if there was any chance the hiker was still alive, she ought to do her best to help. As it was, by the time Victoria had scrambled down there, she knew in her heart that it was too late.
The woman’s mouth had been slightly open, her eyes large with shock, and her mouth open in a scream. But a wave of unease had swept through Victoria as she saw her.
The woman had on a red overcoat.
The same overcoat Victoria had seen on her last night when she’d served her water.
This was no accident. Victoria knew it the minute she saw the clawed hands of the woman. This woman had struggled. This woman had been thrown off the cliff. Victoria hadn’t touched the body of course, but even looking at the woman, she could tell that something was suspicious.
For one, instead of being dressed in sneakers and sensible clothing, as any hiker out here would, the woman had bare feet with only stockings on. It was possible, of course that her shoes had somehow gotten thrown off, but Victoria thought it unlikely.
For another, there was the frozen expression on her face. The expression of betrayal and of shock.
As she sat behind the counter of her café, Victoria remembered that expression and felt a shudder climb up her body.
The bell jangled as Karen, Victoria’s sister walked in. A tough, no-nonsense woman, Karen was nevertheless very sensitive and protective of her family. As soon as she’d heard about what Victoria had discovered, she’d been hovering over her, ready to battle away any negative thoughts. Victoria smiled as Amanda came in right after Karen.
“Both of you, you have your own jobs to look after. I’m alright,” Victoria said as they slid into a booth.
“Well, who says we’re here for you?” Karen asked. “What an ego you’ve got, Vic! No, personally, I’m here for the pancakes special and some hot coffee.”
“I’ll have a mushroom omelet.” Amanda said, “and a smile from you would be good too, Vic. I know how shaken you were yesterday.”
“She’s shaken in the head,” Karen said, suddenly furious. “You better never pull a stunt like that again, Vic! You had no business clambering down there.”
“She might have needed my help, Karen,” Victoria said.
“There was no one who could help her by the time you reached her,” Karen said, looking upwards. “No, Victoria. You were just being your usual moronic, heroic self. You’ve got two kids to think of, and a business to handle. We can’t afford heroism.”
“What I like best about you is your dedication to higher causes,” Victoria said, rolling her eyes.
“Raising a family is the highest cause there is,” Karen said. “You had no reason to risk your life for that stranger, Vic.”
“It’s a lost cause, Karen,” Amanda said. “I tried reasoning with her too, but she wouldn’t listen. She never did. Remember when we were all in school and the science teacher used to bully little Alan? I told Victoria not to speak up and that it would only get her in trouble. So what’s the first thing she did?”
Karen sighed. “Speak up, of course. I remember it. Old Mick Bergan got an earful the next time he picked on Alan unfairly and Victoria got a week’s suspension.”
“Well Bergan got fired soon after, so it was worth it,” Victoria said.
“He only got fired for stealing school funds,” Karen said.
“...but since Victoria was the one who discovered he did it, I’d say she won that round,” Amanda replied.
“Fine. But she hasn’t won this one. Vic, the next time you do something foolish, try and picture little Annie, and how devastated she will be if something happens to you. Or Byron, and how his life will become one of misery. Ok?” Karen asked.
“Karen, I can’t do that,” Victoria said, with some heat. “I’m trying to teach my kids to be the best people they can be. To do that, I have to be the best person I can be. If someone’s in trouble, ever, it’s my duty to help. That’s the Armstrong Code, isn’t it?”
“It’s useless arguing with you.” Amanda sighed. “Just get us our coffee Vic and if you need us, we’re right here. And we love you.”
Victoria bent down and hugged Amanda. “You’re the best.”
“Yeah yeah.” Karen said, “Get me some coffee sis.”
“You too.” Victoria gave Karen a hug.
“Hey!” Karen protested, hiding a smile.
The bell jangled again as Corporal Jager came in, with his partner Constable George Keeney.
“Heya Karen.” The Constab
le slid in next to her, as Corporal Jager headed to the counter.
“Hey, George,” Karen smiled. “How’s the day?”
“The day is full of paperwork and phone calls,” George said. Looking over his shoulder at Randolf, he lowered his voice. “Between us, something’s odd about the hiker we found yesterday.”
Interested, Victoria leaned over. “How’s that?”
“Well, her fingerprints were sanded off,” George said. “As for her dental work, even though she’s so young, she has no teeth! She had a complete set of dentures instead!!”
“What!” Victoria exclaimed.
“It’s true,” George said. “There’s no way to identify her, really.”
“That’s fascinating.” Karen bent over, closer to George. “Do you have any theories?”
“This early in the case, no,” George said. “Corporal Jager likes to keep an open mind to avoid contaminating the evidence with our assumptions.”
“Well go on. You must have some theories, even if they’re only personal ones,” Amanda said.
“Well…” George hesitated, took another look at Corporal Jager, and said. “I think she’s a spy.”
“A spy!” Karen gasped. “What on earth would a spy be doing all the way out here?”
“She’s not from around here, that’s for sure,” George said. “We’re unsure what her race or nationality is. She’s dark enough to be middle-eastern, but also fair enough to be from Europe or even America. Her fingerprints were sanded off. There are no dental records and that’s highly suspicious. But there are other things too. Like the fact that she was dressed really expensively but her clothes labels have been torn off. Plus, in her pockets, we found a cigarette stub of a Norwegian brand of cigarettes. So she might just be European!”
“Does no one have any idea who she is?” Amanda said.
“Not a clue,” George said. “A lot of people saw her at the party yesterday but LeeLee Brunt says she’s never seen the woman before in her life.”
“So it could be one of the guests’ wife or girlfriend,” Karen said.
“Could be,” George said. “Or it could be that she’s a spy.”
“You get an A+ on imagination and an F on discretion, George.” Corporal Jager said, making everyone jump. “If you’re going to tattle, at least, be less obvious about it.” He said.
“Oh don’t be a spoilsport, Randolf,” Karen said. “Tell us all about it. You know it isn’t one of us who did it.”
“Do I?” Randolf asked, looking at every one of them in turn.
“Well! I’ll be,” Karen was cut off when Victoria said, “Isn’t there anything you could tell us?”
“Only that I’m not allowed to divulge information until it has been processed through official channels,” Randolf said. “Come on, Victoria, you know better than to ask.”
“What happens to the body?” Victoria asked. “If you conclude forensics and no one knows who she is?”
“She gets buried in a pauper’s grave,” Randolf said, with a shrug.
“I found her,” Victoria said. “If, after forensics, she has to be buried, I’d like to pay for a decent burial.”
Karen looked at her like she’d gone mad. “Victoria, why are you doing this?”
“I found her.” Victoria said, “And I found her too late. I feel responsible for what happened to her, in a way.”
Randolf smiled. “Unless you were the one who pushed her, Victoria, you are not responsible in any way.”
Chapter 6
With thoughts of the murdered woman still floating in her head, Victoria headed over to LeeLee Brunt’s mansion later that evening. At the mansion, clean-up was still in process, but Victoria was surprised to see Corporal Jager’s car parked outside.
Inside, the Egyptian Hall that had been the highlight of the party now crawled with workers dismantling decorations. Like ants on the dead body of roadkill, they worked industriously, in perfect sync with each other. In one corner, Victoria’s own sister Karen was dismantling a glass display that they had created for the party. In another, Amanda’s Steve was dismantling a complex mosaic that he had pasted on a wall.
Pausing to greet them both, Victoria noted how stressed they seemed. “LeeLee’s in one of her moods,” Karen said to Victoria, and Steve nodded.
“When she’s like this, you can just expect to be yelled at, sooner or later.” He said. “Then she becomes all friendly and repentant and buys you things to make you forget her anger. It’s downright childish.”
“Why is she angry?” Victoria asked.
“She’s made up some story about a missing CD,” Steve said. “But really, I think she’s furious that the murder took attention away from her party. Can you believe that? She was so smug yesterday.”
“I can’t believe you missed the party.” Karen teased. “Amanda’s really done a number on you if she convinced you to stay home and babysit with her.”
Steve blushed. “Oh come on Karen.”
“When’s the happy day again?”
“A month from now, hopefully. At least, the court marriage will be done by then. After that, we’ll plan out some really fun party. I don’t want anything overly decorated so I was thinking a nice hilltop ceremony.”
“Oh don’t make me climb again.” Victoria groaned. “My legs are still sore from my last hike.”
Immediately, all three grew sober as they remembered that the last hike had involved finding the body.
Victoria bid them goodbye and moved into an adjacent room, where LeeLee and Declan sat holding each other’s hands, as Corporal Jager took notes.
“Well, it’s a travesty,” LeeLee said. “What’s the use of having security if … if just anybody can get inside?”
Corporal Jager nodded.
“I felt absolutely horrible,” LeeLee said, putting a hand to her forehead. “You cannot imagine my mental trauma, Randy.”
Victoria stifled a smile as she saw Corporal Jager look thoroughly disgusted at being called Randy.
“I’m sure it was hard on you.” He murmured, his face immediately transitioning back into its usual blank cheerfulness.
“Terrible. That man is your uncle, I know, but he deserves to go to jail for a very long time.” LeeLee said. “The kind of accusations he made. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were him who stole my CD.”
“Stole a CD?” Corporal Jager raised an eyebrow.
“We had a CD detailing the working of all the artists who contributed to creating my party,” LeeLee said. “It had interviews with local artists like Karen Armstrong and Steve Boonsbury. We were supposed to send it to Vogue and Better Homes.” She sighed. “But now, it’s vanished.”
“I’m sure there’s a backup copy, dearest,” Declan said, soothing her.
“It’s no use having a backup copy. I insist on originals!” LeeLee declared.
“Yes, well it was shot with a digital camcorder, so there’s no such thing as original, really,” Declan replied.
“That’s the problem with life today,” LeeLee said. “It’s this digital age everything’s a copy. There’s just no originality left. Look at art. Youngsters these days focus on online paintings, can you imagine? Well, what value does that have? Does it have the spirit, the life, of an original painting? Of course not! Fashion is the only thing left that’s original, don’t you think so, Corporal Jager?”
“All I know of fashion is blue jeans and a black T-shirt.” Corporal Jager said. “Hardly any originality there.”
“I see what you mean.” LeeLee looked impressed. “We’re all becoming used to creating uniform looks in fashion. There’s no embrace of the inner self anymore. It’s all so plasticized and commoditized.”
Victoria stifled a smile again. Poor Corporal Jager looked absolutely mystified.
“My question, though,” He said with a cough, “Was whether you knew this lady or not.”
“She’s a spy, isn’t she?” LeeLee asked. “Well I had three diplomats, and two senators present yest
erday at my party. It has to be one of them that killed her.” She waved her hand dismissively. “You’ll probably find out soon enough unless someone asks you to stop investigating.”
“I think not,” Victoria said out loud.
All three turned, seeing her for the first time.
“What do you mean?” Corporal Jager asked.
“I mean, I don’t think it could be related to politics,” Victoria said. “I think it was a local who did it.”
“Oh don’t be silly dear,” LeeLee said. “It has to be a politician. Either that or she’s a tourist. No one in Larch would be involved with a woman like that.”
“A woman like what?” Corporal Jager asked her.
LeeLee blushed. “Well, she was… classy, you know? That coat of hers for example. Don’t think I didn’t notice it. Clearly European. It was clearly bespoke, probably created by some small but upcoming designer in Milan. It was a good coat. Rich.”
“It had no labels.” Corporal Jager said.
“Of course not.” LeeLee laughed. “Still, if you bring it to me, I shall know whose it was. I once saw a coat on the other side of a crowded hall and immediately knew it was the work of Gerardo Issiterma. Another time, Wilmagelda Massini herself asked me to guess the origin of a piece of velvet while I was blindfolded. I could tell her exactly which third rate Chinese factory it originated from. Oh, the look on her face! But I might be wrong about this woman’s coat, of course. You’ve probably never heard of Gerardo or Wilmagelda, of course?”
“I haven’t, no.” Corporal Jager said. “Then again, I’m no expert at fashion. It’s going to be really convenient to have someone as knowledgeable as you, madam.”
“I’ll probably help you break the case,” LeeLee said, looking proud. “Won’t I, Corporal?”
“You actually might.” Corporal Jager said. “We have no way of finding out who she is, but you might give us a very good lead.”
“Of course, I still think she’s a spy,” LeeLee said. “She has to be. An attractive woman wearing bright red lipstick? She might as well have wandered in from a movie set.”
“Did you by any chance happen to see who she came or left with?” Corporal Jager asked.