Shallow End

by Brenda Chapman

  “It’s so good to see you,” Kala said, needing to reach past the animosity to the child she’d once known. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Caroline said to tell you she’d be back to get me in an hour.” Dawn looked past Kala and waited motionless, her mouth in a straight line, her eyes defiant.

  I deserve your anger. “Would you like to get a drink and then we could walk down by the water?” Kala didn’t dare touch her even though she wanted to take her in her arms. There was a time not so long ago that she would have.

  A shrug and head nod, and Kala went inside for iced drinks while Dawn waited outside. They walked toward the lake at the bottom of Princess Street without talking. Kala was willing to wait for Dawn to find her way, but after the silence stretched into minutes, Kala reminded herself that Dawn had never been one to talk much. She was going to have to initiate conversation or there wouldn’t be any.

  “How are they treating you in the foster home?” she asked when they were standing at the railing looking out over the whitecaps beating against the seawall and sipping iced coffee through straws. A fine spray dampened their hair and faces. She had to speak loudly to be heard above the sound of the wind.

  “Fine. They don’t bother me.”

  “Are you still playing baseball?”

  “No.”

  “That’s too bad, but I guess school takes up a lot of time.”

  “I don’t care about school.”

  Kala wasn’t sure she’d heard right at first. She didn’t want to ask her to repeat the words in case she had. It was too early to probe. “Let’s go sit out of the wind.”

  They fought their way back against the wind until they rounded a bend in the path, but there was no relief from the cold dampness gusting off the lake. They crossed the lawn and started up a side street where the limestone buildings gave some protection. Traffic was heavy with people heading home after a day’s work but few were on foot. The weather was bad enough to curtail all but the hardiest.

  They waited at the stoplight at Clarence and King, and Kala could see that Dawn wasn’t holding herself as rigidly as she had been. She reached over and touched Dawn’s shoulder without speaking. It felt too soon, too precarious to share more than this. Dawn didn’t pull away and Kala was grateful for the small concession.

  Dawn kept her eyes on the opposite side of the road. The light turned green, but she stayed rooted in spot. Kala took a step forward but then stepped back to wait beside her.

  “Why are you doing this?” Dawn asked, glaring at Kala. “You said that you didn’t want me with you anymore.”

  Kala understood this anger. She’d lived it most of her teenage years. She leaned closer so that her mouth was close to Dawn’s ear. “I always wanted to see you. I only said that I didn’t want you living with me because I thought it would be easier for you to leave. I had no choice but to let you go.”

  The light turned red and a group of boys jostled up next to them, their voices boisterous above the wind. Kala and Dawn waited until the light turned green a second time and the boys had passed them by. They trailed across the street behind them.

  “I have new friends,” Dawn said when they reached the curb. “They don’t ask where my parents are or why I’m living in foster care. They think I’m okay.” She’d huddled deep into her jacket so that her chin was buried under the collar.

  “Of course you’re okay. You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone.” Kala had never felt so helpless. She’d failed this girl and she didn’t have any idea how to make it better. “I was wrong to let you go so easily. I promised to fight for you and I didn’t.” Her words were taken by the wind and she wasn’t certain that Dawn had heard them.

  Dawn began walking a few steps ahead of her and Kala let her have her space, keeping a short distance behind without letting it get any wider. They continued up Clarence and kept going on Brock as far as Barrie when Kala checked her watch. An hour had sped by as if pushed forward by the pummeling wind and Kala didn’t dare keep Caroline Russell waiting. This visit had been a test and she was determined to pass it. “We have to head back,” she said to Dawn pointing toward the lake. Dawn nodded and they turned right, starting down the hill, this time walking together. They reached the Starbucks parking lot a few minutes late, but ahead of Caroline.

  “Taiku misses your walks,” Kala said. The window to make headway was quickly disappearing. “Maybe, I could bring him next time.”

  Dawn opened her mouth to say something but stopped when Caroline wheeled her car into the parking lot. She parked next to them and leaped out of the driver’s seat, leaving the engine running. The wind swooped under her coat and blew it over her head before she trapped the cloth with her hands. “My goodness, this weather.” She tried to smooth her hair but it would not be tamed, tossing about her face and whipping into her eyes. “Sorry I’m late. How did your visit go?” she asked, smiling at Dawn and questioning Kala with her eyes.

  “We had a walk by the lake.” Kala wasn’t sure what more was expected.

  Caroline put an arm around Dawn’s shoulders as the silence lengthened. “We’ll be on our way, then. Thank you for coming by, Officer Stonechild. Perhaps, we can do this another time. Maybe when the wind dies down.”

  Dawn stared at Kala but didn’t say anything. Caroline searched Dawn’s face before directing her toward the passenger door. She said to Kala, “I’ll be in touch.”

  Kala nodded and turned to walk up the street to where she’d parked her truck. This visit had been a terrible failure, but had she truly expected it to be anything else? Would she have acted any differently than Dawn in her situation?

  She picked up speed until she broke into a jog, trying to escape the force of the wind and the knowledge that Dawn was lost to her. All that was left was the gaping emptiness in her heart and the glaring fact that she hadn’t fought hard enough to keep this from happening.

  Gundersund pulled into Stonechild’s driveway at seven thirty the next morning. He hoped he didn’t look as rough as he felt. He’d driven Fiona into Ottawa to catch a flight to Calgary after work the day before when she called him last minute. She’d be gone for five days and then back to finish out one last week of work before beginning her four-month teaching stint. He hadn’t gotten to bed until close to two a.m. By then, the steady wind had lessened to a cool breeze and the stars had been visible. The moon had grown slightly larger than a sliver and shone a pale light that he gazed up at while waiting for Minnie to do her dog business before bed.

  Stonechild came out of the house thrusting one arm into her leather jacket while talking into her cellphone, tucked between an ear and shoulder. Her long black hair hung wet and loose about her face. She slammed into the passenger side and cursed.

  “I left Bennett waiting for me at the charity event last night. I totally forgot all about it.”

  For one guilty moment, Gundersund was pleased that she’d stood up Bennett. He tried to sound sorry. “That’s too bad. Did he say how it went?”

  “Yeah, good. Vera was expecting Rouleau, and Bennett said she looked disappointed when he didn’t show either. At least they had each other for company.” She buckled herself in. “I need coffee.”

  “My first destination.” He backed onto Old Front Road. “There’s a truck stop restaurant on Sydenham Road that has good coffee and it’s not far out of our way. We should be in Ajax in just over two hours if traffic is good.”

  “Have you got Ivan Bruster’s home and work addresses?”

  “I do, and the Ajax police received a courtesy call to let them know we’re coming. A buddy on the force checked and Bruster spent the night at home.”

  “Good to know we aren’t on a fool’s mission then. It crossed my mind this morning that he could be away on business.”

  She stopped talking and Gundersund knew better than to engage in conversation before she’d had caffeine. They decided
to eat in the diner before getting on the road since they were both hungry and muffins weren’t going to do it. Kala ordered fried eggs, sausage, home fries, and a double order of toast, and Gundersund said to make his the same. Two coffee refills and a cup each for the road and they were on the 401 to Ajax by eight thirty. Stonechild appeared relaxed and the dull ache behind Gundersund’s eyes had almost disappeared.

  When they’d passed the exit to Napanee, Gundersund broached the case. “Have you uncovered something that we should discuss?”

  Stonechild kept staring through the front windshield. She took a sip of coffee. “No. I’ve been going over Jane Thompson’s interview tapes but haven’t anything more than a feeling.”

  “What’s your feeling?”

  She appeared to ponder the question before saying, “I don’t want to lead us on the wrong track and prefer to wait until I have something more than a gut reaction to share.”

  “Fair enough.” He’d learned that this was how she worked best and he needed to step back and give her space, but not too far back. “Let me know when you need my help.”

  “I will.”

  He had one more bit of probing to do, and this would likely not be well received either. “How did your meeting with Dawn go yesterday?”

  She turned to look at him. “How did you know?”

  “I’d say a gut feeling, but I overheard your last call with the court worker.”

  Stonechild looked back at the road and sighed. “Not good. She’s angry like I was at her age. A teenager with all the shit that goes along with that and then believing she’s been abandoned. Not a good combination.”

  “Will you see her again soon?”

  “It will be up to Dawn. I made overtures but she wasn’t all that receptive. She tells me that she has new friends who accept her as she is. I intend to find out who these friends are and make sure they aren’t into anything they shouldn’t be.”

  “I’d be happy to help with that.”

  “I might take you up on the offer. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe.”

  Gundersund had Stonechild place a call to his police friend as they pulled off the highway into Ajax at close to ten o’clock. The cop answered right away and reported that Bruster was working from home, it appeared, and his BMW was still in the driveway. Stonechild confirmed directions, and ten minutes later they pulled up in front of a two-storey, faux grey brick building with a three car garage in a new subdivision. The houses were large and closely spaced with saplings planted in the postage-stamp size front yards. Very little differentiated one house from another. He could tell by the look on Stonechild’s face that living here would be her idea of hell.

  “Well, let’s go find out what Devon Eton was doing in this man’s hotel room the afternoon that he went missing,” Stonechild said, opening her door.

  “Sounds rather ominous when you put it like that.”

  A pretty blond woman in her thirties opened the door. She had a two-year-old with playdough on his hands riding on one hip and another baby growing in her belly. Gundersund wasn’t an expert, but he guessed she was due any day. “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “We’re here to speak with Ivan Bruster about a police matter.” Kala held up her badge. “Would he be home?”

  The woman’s face crinkled in puzzlement. “Are you sure you’re wanting my Ivan Bruster? He’s not done anything wrong.”

  “We only have a few questions about a person he came across in Kingston two Mondays ago while he was there on business.”

  She opened the door wider. “Oh, yes, at the conference. He’s in his study at the back of the house. Down this hall to the end. If you don’t mind finding your way, I have somebody’s hands that need cleaning up. My name’s Katie, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you, Katie.”

  If Ivan Bruster was surprised to see them, he didn’t let on. He stood and shook their hands and invited them to sit in two leather chairs in a space that looked out over the small backyard. A young maple stood starkly empty of leaves in the centre of the space. The room smelled of cigarettes and air freshener. He pulled over his desk chair and sat facing them. “Can I get you coffee? Tea?”

  “No, thank you. Do you know why we’re here?” Stonechild was taking the lead as they’d agreed in the car. Gundersund tried to make himself blend into the furniture so that Bruster wouldn’t feel intimidated. A tough feat, given Gundersund’s size.

  For a moment, Bruster looked confused. “I thought you were my new clients.”

  Kala took out her badge. “I’m Officer Stonechild and that is Officer Gundersund. We’re with the Kingston police investigating a homicide. We’re hoping you can help us to track the final movements of Devon Eton last Monday, October third.”

  The confusion turned to shock. Bruster stared at her as if she’d grown another head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Devon Eton is dead?”

  “I’m afraid he died that Monday night. He was seen entering your room at around seven o’clock on the evening he went missing. Can you tell us about that?”

  Bruster ran a trembling hand through his hair until it stood on end. “Good God,” he said. “Dead?” He shook his head. “Who saw him entering my room? I don’t understand.”

  “Someone who works in the hotel.”

  “Okay.” Bruster took a deep breath and seemed to get his bearings. Some of the colour returned to his face. “His father is a friend of mine. I met Devon the day before by chance and invited him to come by to talk about a possible summer job.”

  “Summer is quite a ways off.”

  “Yeah, but it never hurts to line someone up. The computer market is competitive and good interns aren’t that easy to find, believe me. His dad asked me as a favour to consider Devon and I was following up since I happened to be in town.”

  “Did Mitchell know that his son met with you last Monday?”

  “No, unless Devon told him, but I think Devon wanted to keep our meeting under wraps for the time being. He didn’t want to raise his father’s hopes … you know, about getting a job.” His voice was stronger now, more confident. Gundersund could imagine him running a business of like-minded geeks. Round rimless glasses and floppy brown hair made him look bookish but this impression was countered by a strong jaw and direct grey eyes.

  Stonechild asked, “Do you own an IT company, Mr. Bruster?”

  “I do. I have a staff of sixteen and am looking to bring the number up to twenty next year. Business is booming.”

  “What was Devon like?”

  “Seemed fine. Type one personality, I’d say, which is linked with intelligence. Why, what have you heard?”

  Gundersund found Ivan’s response oddly worded, and so did Stonechild, by the sharp way she focused on him. “I believe that I asked you the question.”

  Bruster laughed as if caught in a joke. “Yeah, so you did, but I didn’t know him that well. He was a football player and bright, verging on genius when it came to math — not the stereotypical jock by any means. I’m sure you’ve heard that he had a bit of trouble with his teacher in middle school, but that didn’t impact my decision to hire him. Everyone deserves a do-over.”

  “Now that you’ve had a few minutes to take in his death, do you have any idea why somebody would want to murder him?”

  “None. None whatsoever.”

  Gundersund asked, “Did you speak on the phone with Devon that afternoon?”

  “No, we ran into each other at the mall on the Sunday…. Wait, he did call now that you mention it. He wanted to make sure our meeting was still on. I was working on a project and told him just to come up to the room for his interview.”

  “The interview was at seven? Wasn’t that late?”

  Bruster looked confused. “He came to my room at four thirty.”

  “Are you certain about the time?”

&nb
sp; “Yes. Whoever said they saw him must have been mistaken.”

  “How long was he in your room?”

  “Maybe half an hour. Forty minutes tops. I told him that he could start after term ended in the spring and he was happy about that. I’m glad his last day was a good one.” Bruster paused and frowned. “How did he die?”

  “He was found near the lake. Did anybody see him leave your room?”

  Bruster shook his head. “I wouldn’t know. He might have run into somebody in the elevator or outside the hotel. I just don’t know.”

  Stonechild shifted the direction of her questions. “When’s the first time you met Devon?”

  “His father came to Ajax on business a year or so ago and brought Devon only because they were on their way to Toronto to a Jays game and some guy time. Devon spent most of the day at my offices and worked with one of the other programmers.”

  “What was your impression of him when you met?”

  “Seemed like a nice kid. As I said, highly intelligent.”

  Stonechild looked at Gundersund. “Anything else before we leave?”

  “I think that covers it. We’ll be back if anything else comes up.” He liked that Ivan Bruster looked uncomfortable. He added, “Don’t bother seeing us out. We know the way.”

  “What do you think of his story?” he asked Stonechild once they were back in his car.

  “Sounded plausible.” She kept talking almost as if working through her train of thought out loud. “But hard to believe he didn’t know Devon was dead since he’s friends with Mitchell. I im-

  agine the community isn’t so large that the death of another business owner’s kid wouldn’t spread quickly. He sounded rehearsed. Did you have that sense, too?”

  “No. He put on quite an act, if so. I’m wondering if it was Narendra Ahujra or Bruster who got the time wrong?”

  “We can go back and speak with Narendra.”

  “Somebody should check. The time has a bearing, although we don’t know what Devon did before or after his interview with Bruster.”