Broken Faith

by Lois Cloarec Hart

  Marika was about to rebut her friend's assumptions when she saw Rhi and Jan walking their way, carrying trays of food and deep in conversation. Deciding she'd leave it for a better time, she whispered hastily, "Don't embarrass her, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, she jumped to her feet and went to help, relieving Rhi of the soft drinks.

  Lounging under a tree on the far side of the lunch area, Gao set the digital camera at his side, feeling a muted satisfaction. Added to the pictures he'd dispatched to Vancouver the previous night, he was sure that his boss would be pleased with the photographic record of the lawyer's weekend.

  Digging an energy bar out of his waist pack, Gao surveyed the lawyer's party glumly as he ate it. Tired of traipsing around after the women and children, he hoped that his target would soon have her fill of the zoo and leave. Because of this assignment, he'd had to leave disposition of the Chameleon's latest shipment in the unreliable hands of the King brothers, and he fretted about what might be happening in his absence. He was glad that he'd assigned Perry the evening surveillance shift, deciding that after he'd sent the daily report and pictures, he'd find his hapless subordinates and demand a detailed report of their activities. Gao smiled slightly. It would also be an excellent opportunity to pump the King brothers about their neighbour, the lawyer's small companion.

  * * *

  Liang parked the limo and circled around to open the door for the DeAndres. Poker faced, he offered Mrs. DeAndre a hand and was acknowledged with a brief nod.

  Palmer followed his wife, stretching slightly as he extracted his tall form from the car. Taking Sandra's hand, he tucked it lightly over his arm as they approached the door, held open for them by a formally clad servant who bowed his head slightly as they entered.

  "It was a lovely service, don't you think, my dear?" Palmer asked as he escorted his wife into their home.

  "Yes, darling. I thought Reverend Grant outdid himself today," Sandra agreed. "He asked me after the service if we'd be interested in supporting their inner-city teen-retrieval project this fall. I told him to send the information to the foundation office, and I'd take a look at it."

  "That's nice," Palmer said absently.

  Sandra chuckled, knowing her husband's mind was most likely already on his golfing plans for the afternoon. "Are you going to the club right away, dear?"

  Looking apologetic, her husband asked, "Do you mind? I'm meeting Harvey and Peter for lunch first before our tee time."

  "Not at all, darling. I still have arrangements to make for the trip next week, so you run along and play this afternoon. Perhaps I'll join you later for drinks, and we can go out for dinner."

  Palmer kissed her cheek lightly. "You are the best, my love. I'll see you at the club then."

  Sandra watched him quickly climb the long winding staircase before turning to the hovering servant. "Tell Liang I want to see him in my office," she instructed brusquely, before following her husband at a more sedate pace.

  She'd barely arrived at her office when her chauffeur presented himself at the door, bearing a large envelope under his arm. She waved him in and took the envelope. "Wait outside," Cass ordered coolly, not bothering to glance after him as she settled behind her desk.

  Setting aside Gao's written report for the moment, she fanned rapidly through the stack of colour photos, her visage growing darker by the moment. Ignoring the incredible mountainous beauty in the background, she focused solely on the two women together in almost every shot, intently studying their expressions and body language.

  What she saw infuriated her. Selecting three of the photos, she pushed the others aside and set them in front of her. The first was of Marika and her companion emerging from an old-fashioned diner, laughing together. The second was of the small woman pointing at something in the distance while Marika regarded her with a look of open affection and delight. It was the third though, that set Cass' blood boiling.

  The women stood at the railing of a mountain observation point. Checking Gao's report quickly, Cass discovered it was at the top of the gondola ride up Sulpher Mountain. They were facing each other, and Marika's companion was reaching out to tuck a lock of wind-whipped blonde hair behind the lawyer's ear. The look passing between the two was of such tenderness and caring that Cass furiously ripped the picture into small pieces.

  Calming herself with a mental image of hurling the interloper's small body off the side of that mountain, Cass drew in deep breaths until she'd quieted herself enough to read Gao's report. Curiously, she noted that although Rhi had stayed with Marika the previous night, the women apparently did not share a bed. Frowning, she quickly ran through the remaining pictures again.

  Cass was relieved that the women were apparently not sexually intimate yet, but she had no illusions based on the photos and transcripts that it was only a matter of 'when' not 'if' they'd be lovers.

  Leaning back in her chair, she let the old familiar rage warm and exhilarate her. Her eyes half-closed, she wished this were one problem she could take care of personally. However, even as she ignored the rational inner voice that warned her just to walk away from Marika, she couldn't entirely abandon the caution that had served her so well all these years.

  Taking her cell phone out of the drawer, Cass quickly punched in a number. When her call was answered, she said without preliminaries, "Eliminate the lawyer's companion. Make it look like an accident." Waiting just long enough to secure acknowledgement of her order, she closed the connection and picked up the photo of the women emerging from the restaurant. A cold smile crossed her face as she studied the laughing duo. Very deliberately she tore the picture in half, crumpled one half and stared at the other. Tracing her finger over the lawyer's image, she said softly, "You and I are overdue for a...conversation."

  Chapter Twenty

  LEE AMBLED DOWN the hallway, a familiar face now to many of those she greeted cheerfully. Rounding the corner to Marika's office, she saw the lawyer and Rhi conferring over something at the assistant's desk. She took a moment to appreciate the body language between the two, as the blonde rested her hand on the back of Rhi's chair, brushing against the small woman's shoulder. For her part, the assistant leaned toward the lawyer, keeping her eyes fastened intently on her boss' face.

  Clearing her throat loudly as she approached, Lee was amused to see the two jump apart, a slight flush rising on Marika's fair skin.

  "Hey, wage slaves! The day's over. It's time to play," Lee boomed, grinning at her friends.

  "God, Lee! You scared me out of a year's growth," Marika complained good-naturedly, even as she smiled a welcome.

  "Aw, you don't want to be any taller anyway," Lee observed with a smirk, eyeing the lawyer and her smaller assistant who was now standing beside her. When Marika rolled her eyes, she chuckled and asked, "So how's it going, Lady Mouse?"

  "Great. You're in a good mood today, considering it's Monday," Rhi observed.

  "And why not? It's been a beautiful summer day in the best city in the country. Danny's with his Dad on their annual fishing trip, so Dana and I have the house to ourselves this week; and I even talked her into going out for a nice long ride on the Suke yesterday. Really, can life get any better?" Lee perched on the corner of Rhi's desk, hazel eyes sparkling with joie de vivre.

  Marika eyed her with affectionate suspicion. "Uh huh. And you just came by to share the joy?"

  "Nope. Came by to see if you two would like to join me at the Tudor Rose for a bite and a brew." Lee looked hopefully at her companions.

  "What happened to you and Dana having the house all to yourselves?" the lawyer asked with a smile. "I wouldn't think you'd want to waste any of that free time."

  Lee scowled momentarily. "Well, she got stuck on evening shift until tomorrow, but after that, we have four days to play." Her face cleared, and she asked, "So? What about it? Can I tempt you into joining me?"

  "Sure, I'd love to," Marika said. "Rhi?"

  The assistant shook her reluctantly. "No, thanks, but I brought my gea
r with me and I'm heading over to the Y."

  Lee pouted a little. "Aw, are you sure? I was going to tell you guys all about the wedding plans." She shook her head in amusement. "Dana's got everything planned down the nth degree." A thought occurring to her, she sat straighter. "You do know you're invited, right, Rhi?" She saw the quick exchange of glances between her friends.

  Rhi turned to her with a shy smile.

  "Um, actually, Marika asked me to go with her a couple of weeks ago, and I said yes."

  Beaming, Lee looked at the lawyer teasingly. "Couple of weeks ago, eh? My, wasn't that remarkable foresight on her part." She nodded approvingly as Marika just shook her head and turned to her office.

  "I'll shut down my computer, grab my purse and be right with you."

  Lee looked back at Rhi who sat down at her desk and began to close her files in preparation for leaving. "Are you sure you won't come?" she wheedled. "You could always go to the Y afterwards."

  Rhi shook her head slowly. "I'd like to, Lee, but I'm meeting David at seven thirty, and I'd really like to get a swim in first. Feeling a big sluggish after these weeks off." Looking up, she smiled apologetically. "Can I take a rain check?"

  "Sure," Lee reassured her. "No problem. We can even walk partway together."

  Marika returned then, and the three women left the office, taking the elevator to the street level. They walked down the sidewalk, chatting casually as they maneuvered around the five o'clock crowds disgorged from their cubicles and offices. They'd just reached the corner, when Lee heard her name called. Turning, she saw a familiar face as a foot patrol cop approached her with a friendly wave.

  "Hi, Al. How's it going?" Lee said amiably. She and the cop had served together as military police officers at CFB Calgary years before, then left to enter civilian life within six months of each other.

  "Good. Hey, it's great to see you," Al said. "Me and the Cap'n were just talking about you the other day, wonderin' how the hell you were doing."

  Lee's ex-commanding officer, Marc Manion, had also jumped ship shortly after she and Al had left, and transferred directly across to the Calgary police. The big woman remembered him with affection. He'd come to her quietly one day, warning her--in those less enlightened days--that she was about to be investigated as to being a lesbian, and giving her a chance to put in her release voluntarily.

  She knew he'd pulled strings to protect her, and she'd never forgotten his kindness or his genuine regret that he was losing one of his best people. Lee had always suspected that was one reason he'd left the Forces: he was unable to square his conscience with the periodic anti-gay witch hunts his department had to conduct, now a lamentable part of military history. He'd even tried to recruit her for the city police, but she'd preferred the independence of the private sector. They occasionally still had a beer together, though, and she'd watched with approval as he rose through police ranks.

  "How is Marc doing?" Lee asked with genuine interest. As Al launched into a description of their ex-CO's current activities, Rhi tapped her lightly on the arm and jerked her head down the street. Lee nodded and smiled her farewell as the small woman left the trio and walked to the corner.

  The big woman broke into Al's monologue long enough to introduce Marika and was quickly absorbed back into the officer's reminiscing, when all of sudden she heard the squeal of tires and a scream from the lawyer, who was staring horror-struck beyond her.

  Spinning, Lee saw Rhi sprawled on the sidewalk, people rushing to her side as a large tan car sped off down the street. Marika took off running, reaching her assistant as she struggled to sit up.

  Instantly, Lee turned to Al, who was already on his radio, calling in a description of the car and the direction the careless-or drunk-driver had fled. Nodding in approval, she hastened to where her friends were both sitting on the sidewalk, Marika tightly clutching a shaken Rhi.

  "Are you sure you're okay?" Lee heard Marika ask frantically.

  "Yeah," Rhi mumbled. "He just missed me."

  "Damned fool came out of nowhere!" The businessman helping Rhi to her feet shook his head in disgust.

  An incensed young woman who'd retrieved Rhi's gym bag for her, added, "Never even slowed down. The bastard just kept going!"

  Al strode up, his radio chattering. Surveying Rhi, standing in the protection of Marika's arm, he said, "They've sent a unit after him, ma'am. Do you need me to call EMS?"

  Rhi shook her head, glancing ruefully at the raw palm of her right hand where she'd hit the pavement. "No, thanks. It's nothing a bit of home first-aid won't take care of."

  Al began to gather statements from excited onlookers, as Lee moved close. Gently she asked, "Can you tell me what happened, Rhi?"

  The small woman shuddered, and Lee saw Marika's arm tighten around her shoulders, offering her comfort and support. "I'm not sure I know, Lee. I'd started across the street-I had the light," she stated firmly, looking a trifle defiant. When Lee nodded her understanding, she continued. "I was thinking about you guys going to the Tudor Rose, and I suddenly made up my mind that I wanted to go too. So I turned back, and I kind of sprinted for the sidewalk because the crossing light was stale and I was worried about you guys leaving without me. The next thing I knew, I heard the sound of a car right behind me, and I jumped without thinking. Geez, I felt the wind as it roared by."

  Suddenly pale, Rhi looked up at Lee with wide eyes. "If I hadn't changed my mind, he would've hit me!"

  Lee soothed her. "But he didn't, Lady Mouse. You're all right, and that's all that matters." She brushed a hand affectionately over Rhi's cheek and smiled at her. Getting a shaky half-smile in response, she looked up into angry, slate-gray eyes. She could see that Marika was struggling to contain her own fear and fury for Rhi's sake, and she laid a hand briefly on the lawyer's shoulder before making her way over to where Al was talking to witnesses and taking notes.

  Waiting patiently until he was done, she looked at him expectantly.

  He sighed. "Dunno, Lee. This is a weird one. One witness is sure she saw the car parked just down the block before the accident. Says it looked to her like it was deliberate. Another guy says the driver was weaving all over the road, and he's sure he was drunk. Hopefully the guys will nab him. Got a partial plate on him, anyway; but the description of the driver was pretty vague. Dark hair is about all everyone agrees on. Guess he was hunched over the wheel."

  Lee nodded. It was a start. "Al, will you do me a favour, and let me know what happens with this. The victim is a very good friend of mine." She handed him her business card and he took it, tucking it in his shirt pocket.

  "No, problem, Lee. Now, I gotta talk to your friend for a few minutes, so if you'll excuse me." He made his way back to where Rhi and Marika were talking quietly. Lee watched the lawyer straighten at the officer's approach, keeping one protective arm over Rhi's shoulders.

  She turned and gazed speculatively down the street that the tan car had used as an escape route. Turning the events over in her mind, she tried to make sense of it. She wanted to dismiss it as a simple, barely avoided, hit and run, probably by a drunk driver, but the witness' statement about the apparently deliberate nature of the near accident bothered her. Who would try to hurt Rhi? And why?

  Pushing the thought to the back of her mind for the time being, she went to rejoin her friends, the fine summer day having lost all its lustre now.

  * * *

  Gao pulled smoothly into the metered parking spot, turned off the engine and exited the tan Pontiac without a second glance. Unhurriedly, he strode away, subtly peeling off thin, latex gloves and tucking them into his pocket. Blending with the pedestrians, he heard the sirens over his shoulder as he moved briskly away from the stolen car.

  His blank face and unremarkable appearance gave no indication of the thoughts roiling in his mind. The hit and run had been a spur of the moment plan based on the Chameleon's orders the previous day, and he regretted that in his desire to execute her orders swiftly, he hadn't fully thought th
ings through.

  He shook his head slightly, stepping around a middle-aged woman walking a leashed Pomeranian. Gao wasn't an executioner by profession, but he'd accepted the boss' instructions without qualm. He hoped that once the small companion was out of the way, the Chameleon would lift the surveillance order for the lawyer, and his life could return to normal. His only regret was that the hasty plan had failed, but as he walked down the sidewalk and turned the corner, the glimmers of a new plan began to form...one that would keep him from direct involvement.

  * * *

  Doubling up her thin pillow, Rhi propped it behind her head as she stretched out on her narrow bed. She rubbed her tired eyes and yawned. After her near miss earlier that evening, Marika and Lee had insisted on walking her over to the downtown clinic that Dana worked in. There, the stocky nurse had cleaned and dressed Rhi's scraped palm, even as she teasingly chided her young friend over her recent propensity for getting wounded.

  Once Dana had finished, her two guardians had insisted on taking her for dinner at the Tudor Rose. She'd excused herself long enough to call David from the pub and explain why she'd be postponing the evening's driving lesson. He'd been horrified to hear of the accident, but she'd assured him it was just a case of a careless driver not watching the streets.

  When Rhi had hung up the pay phone and turned to walk back to their booth, she'd been amused to see two sets of eyes fastened unblinkingly on her. She'd chided her babysitters for worrying too much, but in truth, she'd been warmed by their concern. Marika had driven her home several hours later, and had insisted on waiting to watch her go in her back door. Rhi had just shaken her head in exasperation, but hadn't protested. Thankfully, Hettie had been out with her friends, so Rhi hadn't had to run the gauntlet.

  She'd read until her eyes were too heavy to stay open and then gotten washed up for bed. Now dressed in her threadbare pajamas, she relaxed as she opened her bankbook for the umpteenth time. Rhiannon reread the numbers she knew by heart, then set the passbook down and picked up her passport. Flipping idly through the pristine pages, she imagined the stamps of many countries there, but this time it was just a small, blue booklet-not the magical key to freedom and distant lands it had always been for her.