“Uh oh, I’m not dressed for it,” said Sue.
“You can scoot home and change. I’m going to wear this, I’m on duty.”
“OK, right after our coffee?”
“Sure.”
They left for Sue’s house fifteen minutes later.
“Do you know the name of Winter’s friend, the one who was her maid of honour?”
“No. I can find out though.” Sue pulled into the driveway of a tiny, well-kept bungalow.
“Here we are. Come on in.”
Sue’s house was tidy and cozy. Jennifer sat at the small kitchen table and waited for her.
“You look great,” she said as Sue came into the kitchen. She wore an ivory pantsuit with a coral blouse and coral heels. “You’re going to be taller than William,” laughed Jennifer. “You really dress up well.”
“Thanks. I just bought this outfit. Haney wants me to meet his family.”
“Hmm, sounds serious.”
Sue smiled. “Let’s just say he called me ‘honey.’ My dry spell is over.” Her phone cheeped. “It’s from my buddy in Toronto with Winter’s friend’s name and number. I’ll send it to your phone, you can pass it on to Mr. Wisener.”
“Thanks.”
Back at the funeral home Jennifer was restless, eager to see what Mr. Wisener had to say. She and Marcia chatted briefly, Marcia agreed to cover the phones until Jennifer returned. At 12:15 sharp, the black Acura pulled up and William opened the back door for them.
“William, this is Sue, one of the officers who works with Jim.”
“Nice to meet you Sue,” said William pleasantly. “How are you Jennifer?”
“This meeting is giving me butterflies. How are you?”
William smiled. “It’s a good day for all,” he responded. His response gave Jennifer the sense that Winter’s ordeal was nearly over. She found herself relaxing as they drove to the hotel.
Once again, the hostess led her to the private dining room. This time Mr. Wisener was waiting. He rose, greeted her, and held her chair.
“How are you John?” He was so hard to read: if he was fatigued, or disappointed or eager to meet Winter, it didn’t show.
“I am well, thank you Jennifer.” The waiter entered with salads. “I took the liberty of ordering lunch. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, I appreciate it.” They ate quietly, a comfortable silence between them. As the waiter left to get coffee, she studied his face. He returned her gaze and smiled.
“I guess I should answer your question, it’s written all over your face. Winter is my daughter-in-law. I spoke to her psychologist just before you arrived. He’ll be getting back to me to arrange a meeting with her. He takes private patients so Winter will continue to see him for a while. I may also attend with her as needed. I want her to understand I made a mistake when I pushed Aaron away. If Dr. Janssen approves, she’ll be coming home with me and a private nurse until she feels safe.” He rose and walked to the window.
“Aaron had the right to live his life as he needed to. I interfered and it cost me my son, and nearly my daughter-in-law and grandchild. I build and run companies and corporations—I had no right to carry that mindset into managing my son’s life.”
He looked out the window at the falls.
“Of course, if Winter isn’t ready to accept me, I will understand. I can only ask her forgiveness.” He turned back to Jennifer. “I’d like you there when I meet her if that is convenient for you.”
“I’ll be there if at all possible,” she replied. “A new chapter is beginning. I’m so happy for you.”
Before he could answer, there came a knock at the door. William entered and handed a phone to his boss.
“It is the psychologist, sir.” Jennifer pointed at herself and at the door and got up to leave so he could talk privately. John shook his head no and waved her back down. Instead, she walked over to the chairs at the window and sat. The waiter arrived with coffee. “Over here,” she said. He placed the cups on the coffee table.
“Thank you,” she said. John took his coffee black, so she fixed hers. Sitting back, she studied his profile. He was listening intensely to what the psychologist had to say, his face inscrutable.
John disconnected, then joined her at the window.
“Dr. Janssen has arranged a meeting for Winter and me at the hospital later today, at three-thirty. He spoke with Winter this morning and doesn’t want to delay telling her about Aaron any longer. Can you join us? Please?”
“Will Chaplain Salinas be there?”
“Dr. Janssen will ask her to join us. He doesn’t want Winter overwhelmed, so it may just be you and me after he introduces me to Winter, if you can stay.”
He exhaled slowly, relaxed his shoulders, and studied the view of the falls.
“This could be one of the most important meetings of my life.”
As Jennifer nodded in response, her phone buzzed and she checked it quickly.
“John, I have to go, shall I meet you at the hospital at the Chaplain’s office at three-twenty?”
He rose and walked her to the door.
“I almost forgot, I have the name and number of Winter’s friend in Toronto.”
He pulled his phone out and took the details from her.
Smiling, Jennifer touched his arm. “It’s a good day for you and Winter,” she echoed William’s earlier words. “I’ll see you later.” This time she stood on her toes and kissed him on his cheek. He held her gaze for a few seconds and she could feel herself blushing. Her heart skipped a few beats. She opened the door and slipped through. William and Sue were seated at the same table Officer Jim and William had occupied previously. William rose.
“Ready Jennifer?”
“Yes.”
She turned to Sue. “Marcia texted me, Warren has been released. His parents asked me yesterday to call once he was. I’ll do that when we get back to the funeral home. I’ll be meeting Mr. Wisener and Regina at the hospital later this afternoon, Dr. Janssen has arranged a meeting with Winter.”
“Officer Ziegler told me about her colleague’s death. I understand he was one of the officer’s who worked on your protection team. I’m so sorry,” William said.
“It’s been hard on his team,” said Jennifer sadly.
They walked in silence to the waiting car. Sue and William conversed quietly on the trip back, Jennifer was lost in thought about transferring and prepping Warren and the meeting with Winter.
She said goodbye to William at the funeral home and immediately headed to the garage to do the transfer. As she double-checked the van she turned to Sue.
“If you want to wait in the van at the hospital I shouldn’t be too long.”
“I think I will. It’s hard just thinking about it.”
“I understand.”
At the hospital, Jennifer completed the process quickly and loaded Warren’s body into the van.”
“I didn’t think this through,” she said to Sue as she climbed into the van’s passenger seat. “We could have driven the van to the hospital, parked out back and when we finished with Winter I could have done the transfer. Mind you, I prefer to do it this way, it helps the time pass. Having to tell Winter that Aaron is dead is not going to be easy, and she may not warm up to her father-in-law.” Picking up and prepping Warren isn’t going to easy either, she thought.
She called Marcia on the way back to the funeral home. “Thanks for letting me know about Warren’s release,” she said.
“I knew you’d want to know right away and get it taken care of,” responded Marcia. “Do you want me to prep with you?”
“You sure?”
“Of course, that is, if you want my company.”
“I would like you to come, thanks Marcia.
“OK, I’ll text you at five.”
“We should be back from visiting Winter by then, we can have supper and then go downstairs and prep.”
“Yeah, Ryan is tied up all evening apparently. See you then.�
�
Sue stood quietly in the garage as Jennifer moved Warren’s body from the van and into the prep room. She didn’t enter the prep room with Jennifer, unable to view her autopsied colleague. Once Jennifer had completed her initial work, she called Regina and discussed the meeting with Mr. Wisener.
Conscious of Warren lying on the prep table in front of her, Jen stood beside him for a long time, letting herself to feel the pain his death brought her. Tears slid down her cheeks she put her hand on his hand, allowing herself to feel how cool and empty his body was.
Once she felt she had her emotions in check, she left the prep room quietly and went to the garage to compose herself. She called Warren’s parents to tell them he’d been released. Walking around to the hallway mirror she checked her appearance before entering the lounge. Sue was sitting in one of the chairs, staring into space.
She made them tea, then took a seat across from Sue. They sat quietly talking about Warren. Jennifer didn’t rush the conversation, she waited for Sue to switch the discussion to Winter.
“We’d better get going,” Sue said as she placed her cup in the sink. “Do you have any idea how you’re going to broach the subject with Winter?”
“I think my best strategy is to sit back and let it unfold.” The two women got into the car. “It’s between Winter and her father-in-law. I know he wants a positive outcome, so do we. As far as Regina goes, the jury is out. We all want this to be new beginning for Winter.”
Regina had arranged for a family meeting room, a comfortable location with couches and chairs in a quiet section of the hospital, since men were not allowed into the shelter. Mr. Wisener arrived a few minutes after Jennifer. As they greeted each other and made introductions, Jennifer studied his face carefully. Once again he was inscrutable.
“Winter is waiting with one of the shelter staff and Dr. Janssen, shall we proceed?” Regina led them to another section of the hospital.
Sue scanned the hallway. “Will this door be locked?” she asked Regina as they arrived.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll go to the coffee shop and wait. Text me when you’re done,” she said to Jennifer. She and William quietly walked away.
Jennifer caught Regina’s eye. Regina sensed her nervousness and came over to stand beside her. Looking up at Mr. Wisener, Regina touched his arm. “Ready?” she asked softly.
He nodded.
Regina knocked gently and opened the door. Dr. Janssen rose. “Hello Chaplain, hello Jennifer. You must be Mr. Wisener.” The two men shook hands. Dr. Janssen turned to Winter. Jennifer noticed she had washed her hair and that her clothes were not wrinkled. She didn’t look at them as they entered.
“I will be in the Chaplain’s office if you need me Winter,” he said. He and the shelter worker left the room, closing the door gently behind them.
“Hi Winter,” Jennifer said as she found a seat beside her. “Chaplain Regina and I kept our promise.”
Winter looked at Jennifer, then Regina.
“Aaron. Where is Aaron?”
Mr. Wisener, who had been standing nearby, stepped in and sat on the same couch as Winter. He reached over and took her hand. Jennifer felt her throat constrict.
“Winter, my name is John.” Jennifer looked at Winter’s small hand folded in John’s. “Your husband, my son, Aaron, died a few months ago.”
Jennifer felt as if the air in the room had been sucked away. The silence was horrible as Winter processed John’s statement. Jennifer didn’t move, she couldn’t look at John or Winter or Regina.
A small sound escaped Winter’s lips. It grew, evolving into sobs. Winter did not pull away from her father-in-law, she moved toward him. As Jennifer and Regina watched, Winter threw her arms around him. John reciprocated, they held each other close.
Jennifer mustered her courage and looked at Regina, who was watching Winter and Mr. Wisener intently. Regina caught Jennifer’s eye and nodded toward the door.
Winter and John did not notice them leave.
In the hallway the two women embraced. Winter’s deep, unspeakable pain, was now shared, and in the sharing, diminished.
“I must go. Please, can you call me later with updates?”
“I will.”
She texted Sue, who met her at the hospital entrance.
“It’s a happy ending,” said Jennifer. “And by that I mean they bonded immediately. They needed each other. It couldn’t have happened without you.”
“I take little credit,” said Sue. “Regina and you and I made a good team.”
At 5 p.m. Jennifer had dinner ready. Marcia arrived a few minutes before Sue locked the funeral home up for the night. The three of them had a quiet meal, content with the outcome of Winter’s meeting with her father-in-law.
“I’ll do the dishes,” said Sue.
“Thanks,” responded Jennifer as she and Marcia went down to the prep room. Warren’s dress uniform hung on a hook on the back of the door. Jennifer resolutely put on her lab coat and gloves and started laying out the instruments. Marcia stood watching for a few minutes before joining her.
“This isn’t easy for me and I barely knew Warren,” Marcia said. “It must be really hard for you.”
Jennifer looked up at her friend. “It hurts terribly. I’m just glad you could be here. Thank you.”
Together they worked to get Warren ready for his family and colleagues. They didn’t speak again until they left the prep room hours later.
19
Jennifer opened her eyes, rolled over and picked up her cheeping phone. It was 7 a.m. Detective Sergeant Gillespie had texted to notify her that the team was assisting with the suspects round-up and he would be there to update her as soon as they’d completed the arrests.
It could be over.
Travis could be in custody by now.
With a light heart she took care of her morning chores and went downstairs. Warren’s parents would be coming in later in the day and she needed to catch up on her regular business. She wanted to focus all her attention on them. Today, the business of death carried on. Elaine would be back tomorrow; Marcia would be coming in around nine.
Yesterday had been full and joyous as Winter and her father-in-law bonded. Regina had called her back with more details: Winter and John talked for several hours. Winter had asked to leave the shelter today after a final meeting with Dr. Janssen and move back to Toronto. John had arranged for her to connect with her friend, the one who’d been her maid of honour. She was going to stay at his home, in Aaron’s old room, with a private duty nurse until she was ready to move on. Winter could not have had a better outcome. She and John needed each other.
Jennifer made coffee and went to her office. By 8:30 she’d taken care of the business side of her funeral homes. She unlocked the front door, poured herself another coffee, and sat quietly in the front office thinking about the details of Warren’s funeral. The liaison officer would be coming with Warren’s parents to discuss the police protocol for his funeral. She put her cup down and went to the prep room. Her throat clenched, eyes stinging with tears, as she looked at Warren lying on the prep table in his dress uniform. She did not approach the table; she stood at the door, her chest tight as she thought about her protection team. Each one had imprinted themselves on her life and she felt a rush of gratitude.
A few minutes before nine she quietly closed the prep room door and went back to the front office. She’d barely sat down before the front door opened. She rose, picked up her cup and walked into the lobby, thinking it was Marcia. A man stood just inside the door. He turned and locked it behind him.
“Hello Jennifer.”
She barely recognized him, although the sound of his voice sent a cold shiver down her spine.
“Hello Travis.” She was surprised at how calm she her voice sounded. Those were the first words she’d spoken to him since the day she took over the funeral home. Her funeral home. He had no right to set foot inside; he did not belong.
She studied him cl
osely, feeling a little detached from the situation. She wasn’t afraid; she should be, he’d come here to kill her, of that she was certain.
He was disheveled and dirty. His hands and face were scratched and he looked like he hadn’t slept for a long time. He had several days’ growth of beard.
Marcia is on her way. I have to stop her from entering, she thought.
“Come Travis, there’s no one here but you and me. Let’s go to the lounge, I’ll make you coffee. We can talk.”
Surprisingly he complied and followed her into the lounge. He limped, unable to fully bear weight on his injured foot, the one she’d damaged hitting him with the rock.
Maybe if I can get him talking and distract him, when Marcia comes she’ll hear him and get away. Otherwise he’ll kill her too.
“What do you take in your coffee?” she asked as he sat down heavily, grimacing in pain. She placed her coffee cup on the counter and reached into the cupboard for a mug.
She’ll be here any second.
Jennifer’s senses heightened as tentacles of fear gripped her. She heard the key turn in the front door. She counted to three, giving Marcia time to step into the lobby, then brought her arm down, deliberately brushing against her mug, watching as it smashed on the floor.
She looked over at Travis sitting behind her. He was watching her every move, malevolence radiating from him.
“Darn, that was my favourite mug. Sorry Travis, I didn’t mean to startle you. Back to your coffee, what would you like in it?”
“Cream.”
She poured his coffee and took it to him.
“I’m just going to clean up this mess, the broom is in this cupboard. She walked over to the cupboard slowly, showed him the broom and swept up the remains of her cup. She used paper towels to clean up the spilled coffee. She did not want to make any sudden moves, afraid it might make him angrier.
She poured herself another coffee and sat down across from him. He didn’t speak. She studied him closely. This was the person who had controlled whether she could go out, who she could see, what she could do, when she could do it, all from a distance. He stared back at her, malice and hatred filling the air.
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