Blaze (A Stone Mountain Mystery Book 2)

by Kristina Stanley

  “Does Miller know all this?” Nora asked Kalin.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Can you tell him? Maybe he’ll investigate someone other than Pete.”

  “Sure. I’ll call him later.”

  “Thanks,” Nora said. “I can’t believe all this started with that stupid fire.”

  “Have you been back to Silver Lake?” Melanie asked Kalin.

  “No. Ben and I picked up my truck, but we didn’t walk up the trail.”

  “You didn’t want to see it again?”

  “It’s not that. It takes an hour to hike from where I parked.”

  Nora elbowed Kalin. “You were so great. I’d like to go back and show Ian where Ethan was born, but I’m too afraid of running into a grizzly.”

  Kalin shuddered at the memory. “I can’t believe we got trapped by the fire and couldn’t get to the hospital. We got lucky Ethan’s birth didn’t have complications.”

  Melanie paled.

  What’s with her? Withdrawal symptoms? Nora frowned. “Can we change the subject? This is depressing me.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Ben studied the ashes of his burnt out building site. He hadn’t told Kalin he was in the area, and even though he missed her, he wasn’t ready to see her yet. He’d driven half way to Manitoba and turned around. Running away to a fishing cabin wasn’t going to help, so he’d come back to Holden and taken a room at the Motel 8.

  From his place on a log, Ben watched Constable Miller drive his SUV into the spot that would have been the driveway of his new house. He’d lost a home, but Cindy had lost a husband. He had to stop thinking about her. Her loss didn’t mean he’d lose Kalin.

  Miller walked toward Ben, surveying the area. “What are you doing here?”

  “Thinking.”

  “About?”

  Ben passed Miller his copy of the Holden Press. Pete’s photo filled a quarter of the front page. “What to do with the house. With Pete in jail, we either wait to see what happens to him or get a new builder.” Or we sell the lot if Kalin won’t have me back.

  Miller sat on the log beside Ben. “Do you have anyone in mind?”

  Ben rested one elbow on his knee and used his free hand to draw a squiggle in the ashes with a twig. Ashes found their way under his fingernails and turned them grey. “Neil Olsen is trying to pick up Pete’s clients.”

  “You don’t want Neil to take over your contract?”

  “I don’t trust him,” Ben said.

  “Why not?”

  The site smelled like a rained out campfire, and Ben didn’t want to think about what the debris reminded him of. “I don’t know. There’s something about him. He could’ve started the fire just to bring Pete down. Do you really think he’s guilty?”

  “You know I can’t answer that.”

  “Did you come looking for me or are you just nosing around?”

  “Has Neil bothered you or Kalin since he took Chica?”

  Ben straightened his back. “What are you talking about?”

  Miller whistled, a long low-pitched whistle.

  Fear turned Ben’s palms sweaty, and he wiped them on his jeans, leaving a streak of ash. “Neil took Chica? Is she all right?”

  “Kalin didn’t say anything? I told her to tell you Neil threatened her.”

  “I haven’t seen her in a while.” Ben let that hang without explanation.

  “Chica’s fine. Neil took her from Kalin’s truck, but he returned her unharmed. I think he was trying to intimidate her. He may think she suspects him of the hit-and-run.”

  “What hit-and-run?”

  “How could you not know about that?”

  Panic bubbled inside of Ben. “Who was hit?”

  Miller told Ben about Kalin, and that she had minor injuries.

  Ben felt sick. He should have been there to protect her. Get your shit together.

  Miller pulled a lighter from his pocket. “Do you know anyone who carries a lighter like this?”

  “Nope. None of my friends smoke. Why?”

  “It’s unique, and I’m hoping someone recognizes it. It came from this site. We found a set of prints but haven’t been able to match them to anyone.”

  “So they’re not Pete’s.”

  Deflecting the comment, Miller said, “I’ve been thinking about the gas cans.”

  “I told you what happened.”

  “Did Pete ever touch them?”

  “Yeah,” Ben said. “I lent them to him. His crew had left theirs in town, and he needed to fill the chainsaws. He only had them for less than an hour.”

  “When was that?”

  “I don’t remember exactly.”

  “The day before the fire started?” Miller persisted.

  Ben thought for a moment. “Earlier. I noticed they were missing the night before the fire. He might have borrowed them two days before that.” Ben gave Miller a lopsided smile. “Are you having second thoughts about arresting him?”

  “Just being thorough.”

  “Maybe Pete was setup, not me.”

  Miller shifted on the log. “By Neil Olsen?”

  “Maybe. With Pete out of the way, Neil can rebuild his company. He’s scum, and Pete doesn’t seem like the type to start a fire.”

  “How long have you known Pete?”

  “Since January. Kalin and I met him when we decided on plans for the house.”

  “Do you know him well?”

  “Not really. Our interaction has been about the house. We don’t have a personal relationship with him, but still, I don’t think he’s guilty. Do you think Jason Tober’s death was an accident?”

  Miller scratched the side of his face, and Ben wondered if he was deciding how much to tell him.

  “We’re still investigating.”

  “But you’re not convinced either way.”

  “What do you think?” Miller asked.

  “A lot has happened, and I can’t make sense of it. The fire, Jason, the car explosion. We’re missing something. I just can’t figure out what it is.”

  * * *

  “I have something to show you.” Janet Wood stood at the entrance to Black Bear Drive. The stone pillars guarding each side of the road made the area seem elite without blocking off the street to visitors and had the effect of making Janet’s scarecrow frame seem fragile pitted against the massive stonework.

  Nora pushed Ethan’s carriage as if to pass Janet without speaking. Farley pulled his leash and strained to reach Janet.

  “I waited here so you wouldn’t feel threatened by me,” Janet said.

  Nora bit her bottom lip. “Can’t you leave me alone?”

  Janet put her purse on the ground beside Nora. “Did you read the file Pete gave you?”

  “I did.”

  “Couldn’t you give me a chance?”

  “You broke into my house.”

  “That was a mistake. I’m sorry.” Janet held out a photo album. “This is from the first two years of your life. Your half brother’s in here too.” The album trembled in her hands. “It’s the only thing I kept from that part of my life.”

  Nora didn’t know if she wanted to see the photos. She had photos from the day she arrived at Lisa’s, photos of herself, her adoptive mother and her adoptive sister, Rachel. She had thousands of photos of her life. According to her collection, her life started at the age of two. She had to admit she’d like to see pictures of her half-brother, even if they were only baby pictures. There was a blood link, and she was drawn to him, but accepting the album meant letting Janet get closer to her. “I don’t know if I want to look at them.”

  Janet kept the album in front of Nora, refusing to put it away. “These are your roots.”

  “If I look at the photos, it doesn’t mean I want you to be part of my life.”

  “I know that. This is for you, not me.”

  Nora nodded quickly and took the album. Farley used the moment to get close to Janet. He lifted his leg and peed on her purse.

&nb
sp; Nora grabbed Farley’s collar. “Oh my God. Farley, stop that.” She pulled him away. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why he did that.” When Nora looked up at Janet, she was surprised to find her laughing.

  “He’s protecting you.” Janet squatted and pet Farley’s head. “Goofy dog.”

  Nora could see Janet’s affection toward the dog. “You’re not mad?”

  “How could I be?” Janet stepped back and walked away from Nora. “Thank you for taking the photos.”

  Nora sat on the stone wall and let sunshine warm her. She rocked Ethan’s carriage and watched him sleep. His eyes scrunched and his fingers curled around his thumbs. His lips moved, making sucking noises. Nora ran her finger along the bridge of his nose, careful not to wake him. The album sat beside her, unopened. A squirrel chirped at her, then ran up a tree, jumping from one burnt branch to another, crossing the road without touching the pavement.

  Finally, she opened the album.

  She recognized a younger Janet in the first photo. She was holding a baby while sitting in a hospital bed. The caption said, “Nora - taken by Lisa.” So Lisa was there the day she was born. Seeing Lisa made her heartsick. She must have been pregnant at the time with her own daughter. Now Lisa and Rachel were dead, and Nora and Janet were left behind.

  She flipped through the album quickly at first, wanting to get the feel of her first two years of life before looking at anything in detail. On her second pass, she stopped at every photo showing Lisa, drinking in the sight of her, letting emotions swamp her.

  She removed a photo of Lisa walking confidently with Nora on her hip. In the photo, Nora fisted Lisa’s hair. She wanted to keep the photo, to add the history to the ones on her mantel.

  Near the end of the album a new baby appeared. Her half-brother, Ethan. There was no mention or photo of a father. Her heart stung when she studied the last photo. Janet was holding Ethan, and Nora poked her finger into a dimple on his cheek. Nora was laughing.

  Back in the present she traced her adult finger along the photo. She’d touched her brother. Of course she would have, but the photo made him real. Naming her son Ethan had been the right thing to do. Ethan Forest Cummings. Ethan for his past. Forest because he was born surrounded by a forest fire. Cummings because it was her last name…Why was her last name Cummings and not Wood? Another lie.

  The photos were full of love. Anyone could see that. So how had their lives turned to tragedy?

  * * *

  When Nora arrived home, she phoned Kalin and asked her to stop by after work. She needed to talk about the photos. While she waited, she studied the album, examining every picture, trying to understand what had happened.

  Around six, Nora led Kalin to her living room. “Sorry about the mess. It’s a bit crowded, and I’m sick of tidying up every day.”

  Ethan slept on the quilt Kalin had given him, and Farley curled up beside him on the floor.

  “So what’s up?” Kalin asked.

  Nora handed Kalin the photo album and gave her time to peruse the pictures. Kalin’s eyes were red and puffy, her face lacked energy and Nora shouldn’t be bothering her with her own problems. “Janet gave it to me.”

  Kalin seemed as if she was at a loss for words. She flipped through the pages, glancing at each picture.

  “I don’t know what to think,” Nora said.

  “Maybe she wants you to know where you came from.”

  “Maybe. Don’t you think they look awfully normal? The pictures, I mean. If you didn’t know what happened, they’d seem like an ordinary family.”

  “They? You’re in the photos too.”

  “I know, but I can’t relate to that little girl. My life started with Lisa.”

  “Why are you showing me this?” Kalin asked.

  “Pete thinks she didn’t kill her son. What if that’s true?”

  “Then her life’s been wasted. I can’t imagine losing a child, then spending all that time in prison.”

  “How old do you think she is?”

  Kalin shrugged. “Fifty-five.”

  “If you look at the dates on the photos, I’d say she’s about forty-five. I think prison aged her.”

  Kalin placed the album on the coffee table. “Are you feeling sorry for her?”

  “She’s my birth mother. I can’t help myself.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. Of course you’re going to have feelings.”

  “Pete said he had a private investigator look into her case. He gave me a file, but I made Ian give it back to him. I wish I hadn’t.”

  “Why?”

  “If she’s innocent, I want to help her.”

  “What was in the file?”

  “Pete’s investigator found out the forensic expert who testified at her trial is in some sort of trouble. I guess some of his cases have been overturned. I think Pete was deciding if he wanted to take it further.”

  “I have an idea. You know my friend Charlotte? She works at the Holden Press. I could ask her to look into Janet’s past and the expert’s. She has sources.”

  Nora’s doorbell rang, and Amber pushed Donny inside, bumping his wheelchair over the lip at the entrance. Ten days ago, Nora had been living with them in Holden in Lisa’s old house. She loved the way Amber’s cheeks always looked like small red apples, but what was really great was the way Amber made Donny happy.

  “Nothing like waiting for me to answer,” Nora said.

  Donny flipped his blond bangs to the side of his head and laughed. “I’m your cousin. That gives me rights.”

  Amber and Donny reached the center of the living room and neither of them said anything. After a moment, Amber put her hand on Donny’s shoulder. “Go ahead. Give it to her.”

  “Give me what?” Nora asked.

  Donny had an envelope resting on the arm of his wheelchair. “A letter from Lisa.”

  Nora’s chest pinched in on her heart. Lisa was dead. “How can there be a letter from her?”

  “I was moving the bedside table to make more room for Donny. I found the envelope leaning against the wall. It must have fallen there before…” Amber’s round eyes widened.

  “Before Lisa died.” Nora held out her hand. “Give it to me.” The envelope was sealed and addressed to her. Her pulse pounded at her throat. The last time she’d met with Lisa, she’d argued with her. She’d never had the chance to say she didn’t mean to push her away. She’d been angry about discovering her birth mother was alive but more so that Lisa had kept the fact a secret.

  “Do you want to be alone?” Kalin asked.

  Nora shook her head. She slid her finger underneath the flap and pulled out the letter. Lisa’s beautiful handwriting covered the page. It was dated the day after Nora fought with her.

  * * *

  My Lovely Nora,

  Your mother was my best friend, and we worked out a plan together. I’m sorry you had to find out from a stranger.

  I think you’re too angry with me to speak, but maybe after you’ve read this, we can talk. I have only ever wanted what was best for you. I made a promise to Janet, and I’ve kept it. Now that you know about her, we can talk about whether you want to meet her. I think she’d want to meet you.

  It all happened so long ago, but I’ll tell you what I know.

  I broke off contact with her when I adopted you. It would have been too much to hide from you if I were communicating with her. I thought one lie at the beginning and then no more. We changed your last name, so you would never make the connection to her. That was our agreement.

  In my heart, I know she didn’t kill her son, but she was convicted, and we had to deal with the situation. We didn’t know if she would ever be released from prison. We thought it would be best for you to start your life fresh, not wondering if your mother was a murderer. She gave you up to save you heartbreak. She loved you.

  When you’re ready, please, please call me.

  I am your mother too.

  Love Lisa.

  * * *

 
Nora’s heart was about to implode with regret. She dropped the note on the coffee table for the others to read and left the room. She needed to grieve for Lisa in private.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Time to fire Fred, Kalin thought. Her heart wasn’t in it, but Reed had been clear. She surveyed the dining area. The Mountain Chalet Restaurant was located at the base of the Alpine Tracks ski run and a five-minute walk from her office. Six months ago, Kalin had tried to resuscitate the director of security, Fred’s previous boss, and failed. Anyone looking at the floor space where he’d collapsed would never be able to tell something tragic had happened there.

  Kalin shook off the sad memory, sat at a corner table and ordered lunch. She didn’t often eat in the restaurant but needed comfort food to boost herself before she met with Fred. She ordered an oven baked penne and a green salad.

  Fred entered the restaurant, and she caught his eye and waved him over. “Join me?” she asked. “My treat.”

  “Sure.”

  Kalin had taken every opportunity to keep on track with Fred. Their fragile relationship was getting better, and she found being open with him helped. She hadn’t sugar coated Reed’s message about Fred’s performance, and he seemed to appreciate that. She could make things better and didn’t want to fire him.

  Fred ordered a steak sandwich. “Has Reed said anything more to you about me?”

  “Let’s wait till after lunch. We can go for a walk and talk privately.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “I don’t want to discuss this where people can overhear us.”

  “Any more news on the truck that hit you?” he asked.

  “I haven’t spoken to Miller in a while. He took my bike as evidence and is going to try to match paint chips. He’ll let me know when they have something.”

  Connor Olsen, wearing ripped jeans that displayed the elastic band on his white underwear, strolled across the restaurant and took a seat at the bar. He swiveled his chair to face the room and scanned the clientele.

  With a tray resting on her shoulder, Melanie walked past Connor without seeing him. Kalin noticed Melanie had removed her facial piercings and pulled her hair in such a way that it hid the purple streaks. She was trying hard to fit in.