Blaze (A Stone Mountain Mystery Book 2)

by Kristina Stanley

  “You have to admit, that was interesting.”

  “What’s interesting is us. I don’t want to talk about them. I want to set a new date.”

  Kalin squeezed his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. “Me too. We could get married without inviting anyone. Then we won’t have to wait as long.” Jason would have been Ben’s best man, and she wanted to have the wedding without bringing up that Ben had to find someone else to stand for him. She wanted to be Ben’s wife. The party was for everyone else. As long as he was there, she didn’t care who else was.

  “What about your parents?”

  “I want them to come, but what if we got married and had a reception later? They could come to that. There’s nowhere at Stone Mountain to hold the reception anyway.” Without a venue that held meaning for them, Kalin thought the date was more important than the location.

  “When?”

  “As soon as we can book a ceremony.”

  Ben’s eyes crinkled, and he grinned. “Okay.”

  “You’re so romantic,” she teased.

  They walked for a while, holding hands and leaning into one another. Living together was fine, but she wanted a lifetime commitment. She’d had that with Jack and lost it in an instant. She could’ve lost Ben in the fire, and she would not waste their time together.

  Connor drove by on the road parallel to the lakeshore and stared at Kalin through his open window.

  “So what do you think about Tessa and Connor?” she asked.

  Ben laughed. She could tell he was trying not to. “You just can’t help yourself. I think Connor was being a jerk.”

  “But why?”

  “How do I know? They might have a history.”

  “We should find out.”

  “No, we shouldn’t. This has nothing to do with your job. You can’t use the ‘I’m the director of security’ excuse.”

  “I read on the Internet that Neil used to own Timber Construction. The article hinted that he went out of business because Pete took his customers. Maybe he started the fire to get back at Pete.”

  “Don’t,” Ben said.

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t investigate. I can’t take it.”

  They reached the pebble beach, and Ben let Chica off her leash. He threw a ball for her, turning his back to Kalin. The conversation was over.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Can you stay a minute?” Gavin Reed asked Kalin as the rest of the directors shuffled out of the conference room.

  Kalin said nothing while the room emptied. Two framed posters hanging on the wall illustrated the lower village before flames had ripped through the condominiums. Once the insurance companies stopped arguing about who was responsible for financing the rebuild, the charred structures would be given life again. One insurance company covered the structure of the condominiums, but each owner held their own policy for the interior of the building.

  Reed had been pressuring the condo association to get the cleanup started. Every guest drove by the eyesore when they entered the resort, and the mess wasn’t good for business. She guessed he wanted to talk about more downsizing—and whether she’d talked with Fred yet about his performance issues.

  “What I have to say is confidential,” Reed said.

  Kalin rolled her chair closer to the table and sat straight.

  “It’s a personal matter.”

  Reed was hesitating, which was unusual for him. Kalin waited, letting him control the conversation.

  “First, I’d like to thank you for giving my daughter a chance and hiring her. I think Melanie’s been working out well.”

  Although he hadn’t asked a question, his voice had risen at the end of the sentence, so Kalin answered. “Melanie’s the best server at the restaurant. I know her manager is happy.”

  “Melanie told me when you interviewed her, she was honest with you about her past problems with drugs.”

  Kalin hoped he wasn’t trying to confirm Melanie’s drug use by making statements about it. Maybe he wasn’t sure about her drug history and was probing. She didn’t think he was that devious, so she answered truthfully. “She was.”

  “It must have been hard hiring her under those circumstances, and I know you did so as a favor to me.”

  “Partly, but honestly, with the young age of most of our employees, she’s not the first person we’ve given a second chance. There are others who’ve made mistakes, then come back later to be great employees. I’m sure Melanie will do fine.”

  “Do you know Connor Olsen?”

  Thunder boomed, shaking the poorly constructed building, and Kalin jumped. “I know he’s Pete Chambers’ supervisor.”

  “Do you know anything else about him?”

  “A little. He used to work in Holden, then moved to Kicking Horse, and came back here about seven months ago. Why? Does he want to work for Stone Mountain?”

  “Not that I know of. He dated Melanie.”

  “Oh.”

  “Melanie’s been through a lot. Once she got out of rehab, she worked for six months to prove to me she was clean and could come home. She dated Connor for a while, and the relationship didn’t end well. I was hoping you had some insight.”

  Kalin thought it must be difficult for Reed to share personal information about his daughter, and she respected that. “Is he bothering her?”

  “She’s a recovering addict. She broke up with him a few days before the fire. I think she was worried he’d get her into drugs again.”

  “And you’re thinking he might have started the fire to get back at her? Because she’s your daughter and you run the resort?” Black clouds filled the sky from peak to peak, and the room darkened. Kalin reached toward the wall and flicked a switch. “Is there something specific you want from me?”

  “I’d like you to ask your security team to keep an eye on him. If he gets up to anything, let me know.”

  Kalin had her own reasons for finding out who started the fire, but now she had official sanction. “They’re going to ask why. I don’t usually direct them to watch someone without giving them a reason.”

  “Tell them it’s because he works for Chambers, and the fire started on one of his sites.”

  * * *

  Pete Chambers cranked his steering wheel hard to the left, forcing his Silverado around a U-turn, and followed the old Chevrolet. He’d only caught a glimpse of the driver, but he was sure it was her. When he thought about why she must be in Holden, her reasons terrified him. He’d thought about going to the RCMP, but what would he say? She hadn’t done anything, and he didn’t want the cops connecting her to him.

  After he’d seen her on the street the other day, he’d called the private investigator he’d used once when he was living in Toronto and asked him to find out what he could about Janet Wood. He should have some information soon.

  She pulled into the grocery store, and he drove into the lot behind her. He parked, grabbed a cloth grocery bag and followed her. She was too skinny and pale to be healthy.

  He had trouble remembering what she used to look like, but there was no mistaking who she was. He’d kept her letter from years ago and reread her nasty words last night.

  She turned into the bread aisle. He stopped at the end, pretending to read the label on a cracker box, but watched her out of the corner of his eye. Curiosity beat cautiousness. He put the box down and marched up to her.

  He reached across her for a loaf of whole wheat. “Excuse me.”

  She nodded and smiled at him. He was so close to her he could smell the soap she used, and goose bumps covered his arms. He didn’t see any recognition in her eyes. He picked up the loaf and walked away.

  Back in his Silverado, he waited for her to leave the store. He didn’t know what his plan was. He just knew he had to keep an eye on her. Whatever she was up to, there was only one reason for her to be in Holden, and no good could come of it.

  She turned left out of the lot and drove to the Motel 8. She parked, carried her grocerie
s and entered a ground floor room. Located near the highway connecting Holden to the rest of the valley, the Motel 8 allowed for easy access to the highway, and a quick getaway if anyone needed one. He sat watching for over an hour and still didn’t come up with a plan.

  He checked his rear-view mirror before pulling away from the curb and was shocked to see Susan sitting in her car, further back on the street. Why would she follow him? Was she jealous of another woman? She couldn’t have known he’d be there. He hadn’t known. He put his car back in neutral but left the engine running.

  He chewed the side of his thumbnail and mulled over what Susan being there meant. He watched her in his mirror, thinking she’d be looking in his direction. Instead, she watched the Motel 8. He began to wonder if she knew he was there, but what other reason could she have for staking out the motel?

  Dollops of rain splattered his windshield. He switched on the wipers and shifted into gear. Instead of making a U-turn that would take him past Susan, he drove straight ahead.

  She didn’t follow.

  * * *

  Kalin wasn’t looking forward to telling Fred that Reed was considering firing him. During their last conversation, Reed had been focused on his daughter and Connor Olsen. He hadn’t mentioned Fred and neither had she, but he would soon.

  She met with Fred and toured the lower village, discussing what the damage meant. The security team had hung “road closed” signs from the sawhorses they’d placed at both ends of the single road that passed through the lower village. The smell of burnt wood mixed with garbage permeated the area.

  “How long do you think it’s going to stink for?” Kalin asked.

  Fred continued to walk and survey the area. “I guess until the debris is cleared out.”

  They paused in front of the ruins of what used to be a general store. The rain had abated, leaving mud and puddles covering the sites. Kalin’s capris stopped midway down her muscled calves, high enough to stay clean. She’d given up on keeping mud off her sandals. No matter how hard she tried, dirt always flecked up the back of her legs. Fred wore shorts, and his shoes and legs were clear of mud. Somehow he always managed to stay spotless, a skill she’d never acquired.

  “Has Reed said anything about building a new store?” Fred asked.

  “There’s all kinds of talk about what to do. It was depressing laying off Stephen. He’s been the general store manager for nine years. We said we’d hire him back when we rebuild but couldn’t give him a date. I doubt he’ll wait around.”

  “Wasn’t there anything else he could do?” Fred asked.

  “Not really. He’s not the only one we had to let go.”

  Fred cleared his throat. “Has Reed mentioned downsizing the security team?”

  He’d given her an opening. If I don’t talk to him now, I never will. “Yes. I persuaded him not to reduce the staff yet, but there is something I need to speak with you about. Reed thinks your performance has suffered over the last year. He asked if I still needed you.”

  “What did you say?”

  “That I did. Honestly though, I think you need to find a way to impress him. He let the issue drop, but I said I’d talk with you.”

  “What’s wrong with my performance?”

  “Your attitude has changed since I was promoted. I know you’ve tried to hide your feelings, but they show.”

  Fred’s expression froze. He straightened his shirt collar and checked the top button. “You want to keep me around?”

  “I do. I’m impressed with your knowledge and how you deal with issues. Your team respects you. I remember how you were before I was promoted. These things are all important. You need to accept I’m your boss and move forward.”

  Fred swallowed and marshaled his expression into a smile. “I’ll work on it.”

  “Reed’s main concern right now is finding out who started the fire. He wants to know if it was directed at the resort and asked for your team to look into Connor Olsen.”

  “Why him?”

  Kalin bent and picked up a piece of scrap metal and threw it onto the nearest lot. “He didn’t say, except that Connor works for Pete as a supervisor, and the fire started on one of Pete’s sites.”

  “Interesting. Did you know Connor used to date Reed’s daughter?”

  “Yup. It might be related, but Reed is worried about who started the fire. If it was directed at the resort, the person might do something else.”

  A wooden sign with Creek Side Restaurant carved across it lay on the steps to the burnt out restaurant. “Let’s carry that back. We can hang it on the wall when the restaurant is rebuilt.” Kalin and Fred each grabbed a side of the sign and lifted.

  “So is Melanie keeping her job?” Fred asked.

  “She’s been transferred from the Creek Side to the Mountain Chalet.” The Mountain Chalet Restaurant was nestled at the base of the ski hill in the center of the upper village.

  “Did someone else get laid off instead?”

  “No. We hadn’t brought everyone on board for the summer yet. Melanie wants to train as a chef, so maybe we can give her extra hours that way.”

  “Did Reed mention anyone else we should keep an eye on?”

  Kalin shifted the sign to get a better grasp. “No.”

  “There must be other suspects.”

  “I’m sure there are. Have you talked with Constable Miller about it?” Kalin asked.

  “Not really. Maybe Susan Reed did it.”

  Kalin stared at Fred.

  “Well, she hasn’t kept it a secret how much she hates the resort. What harm could be done, mentioning it to Reed?”

  Fred made her laugh hard enough she almost dropped her side of the sign. “True. So you talk to Reed.”

  Fred chuckled. “No thanks. There’s also Amber Cristelli. It’s not much of a jump to go from flooding staff housing to starting a fire. She has a history of damaging buildings.”

  “We never proved she flooded staff housing. Besides, she seems happy right now. She’s living with Nora’s cousin Donny Morley, and I’ve gotten to know her a bit, but I guess it’s possible. Reed will want an update on Connor. See what you can find out and let me know.”

  * * *

  “What’s with your mother?” Nora asked Ian.

  “She’s a prize. I try not to have much to do with her.”

  Ian and Nora strolled along the lakeshore by Holden. Nora held the handlebar of Ethan’s carriage, and the wheels bumped along over the gravel path. The thermometer hanging over the back of the carriage showed twenty-five degrees Celsius, and a slight breeze rippled the lake. Nora thought it was too bad she wasn’t in love with Ian. So far, he was doing great in the father department, regardless of what his mother was like. Must be his dad’s influence.

  “I saw her on the street the other day. She wants me to come to dinner,” Nora said.

  Ian groaned. “What did you say?”

  “I said I would check with you first. That I wouldn’t feel right going without you.”

  Ian’s grey eyes sparkled. “Good answer.”

  “What’s with the sinister laugh?”

  “I can’t imagine my mother was happy with that. She’ll want to control the situation.” A Jet Ski sped past, pulling a tube. Ian’s eyes followed it until it was out of sight.

  Nora thought about her birth mother. Should she tell Ian about Janet Wood? She hadn’t come around in a while, and Nora hoped she’d left town. Somehow she doubted she’d be lucky and get her wish. “How come you don’t like your mom? I mean I don’t like her much, but it would be good for Ethan to have a grandmother he could be close to.”

  “It’s a long story, but I’ll give you the short version. She’s mean, grumpy and never happy with anything I do. She treated Melanie like dirt when Mel got into drugs. Instead of supporting her, she kicked her out of the house. I didn’t see my sister for years. My mother has religion and thinks everyone else should too. She likes to talk about sin. Blah, blah, blah. She’s miserable.”

&
nbsp; Nora smiled at him. “So you’re saying she won’t make a good grandmother.” And I’m right to call her Devil One.

  “She’ll be horrible. I’d like to minimize how much she sees Ethan.” Ian lifted Ethan from the carriage and rested him on his chest, and they continued to stroll along the lake. The surface was littered with powerboats. Even though the day was calm, the boats rocked continuously from the wakes caused by other boats.

  “Are you going to tell her that?”

  “I already have. That’s probably why she talked to you and doesn’t want me invited to dinner. She knows I’ll say no.”

  “I’ll ignore her. Maybe she’ll take the hint and leave me alone.”

  “Not likely. Let me know if she bugs you. I’ll see if my dad can help.”

  Nora didn’t know Gavin Reed well, but he’d been kind to her. Friendly but not pushy. She got the impression he wanted what was best for Ian and maybe he was a little happy about having a grandson. “At least Ethan has one decent grandparent.”

  Ian was being open about his crappy family situation, and she was hiding hers from him. Her mother might even be a danger to Ethan. “I think I should tell you something.”

  “Wanna sit for a bit?” Ian asked.

  They grabbed an empty bench facing the lake. Ian settled with Ethan sleeping against his chest.

  “I need you to keep this private. I don’t want anyone to know. Promise?”

  “Sure. Whatever.”

  “This is serious. It’s something I don’t want Ethan ever to find out about. So if this gets out, there’s a possibility he’d know.”

  “Nora, you’re spooking me.”

  “Just promise, okay?”

  “Okay. No matter what you tell me, I won’t repeat it.”

  “When I was old enough to understand, Lisa told me I was adopted and my birth mother died in a car accident. Well, she didn’t. She’s been alive all this time. I found out from Constable Miller last year when he was investigating Steve’s murder. I confronted Lisa, and she told me it was true. We had a big fight right before she died. I still feel horrible about it. After everything Lisa had done for me, I treated her like crap. I was angry and didn’t realize I was being unfair to her. I’ve had a ton of time to think, and Lisa did the right thing, not telling me about my mother. I wish I hadn’t found out about her, ever.”