Dark Places

by Krista Cairn

  “Hey, friend. When did you get here? Are you working today?” she asked.

  Simone stared at Karen, then shook her head. “Neil, this is Karen. Karen, this is my best friend, Neil.”

  Karen reached out to shake his hand.

  “Boyfriend, actually, but I’ve been gone a while. We may have to renegotiate,” he said giving her hand a quick shake.

  “Ah, I see.” Karen said, not dissuaded. “So, not serious then. Interesting.” She stood up. “I’d better get ready for my shift.” She winked at him before turning away, causing Simone to slump back in her chair with a sigh.

  Neil watched Karen a moment as she left then leaned forward on the table. “Your life has become weird without me around to guide you,” he whispered to Simone. “Carol seems charming, Karen is harmless, but that Asian guy won’t stop staring.”

  Simone looked over and saw it was true. She raised her eyebrows at him. He looked away. Neil laughed. “That was almost telepathy.”

  Simone drained her coffee and stood. “Let’s get you something decent to wear.”

  Walking to the counter, she pulled out her wallet and spotted a credit card Rene had given her for emergencies. He hadn’t shown up yet, but that made him late. He was supposed to be here already.

  “Carol, can we get some more of those biscuits to go?” She called out, figuring she was in the back room since she was out of sight.

  “Wait.” It was Rene’s voice. “I’m up. Wait a minute.” He came out of the back with his hair messed up as he straightened his suit. “Fell asleep waiting for you.”

  “We took five minutes to get here, maybe,” she chided. “You haven’t been skipping food too, I hope.”

  He snorted lightly. “Look who’s being the grown up. Get back to your table. We need to figure something out. Part of that information you gave me was impossible, so I need to pick your brain.”

  Carol appeared by their table and refilled the coffee cups as she put one down for Rene.

  “Hey, I know you,” Neil said. “You’re the one who gave me the note saying where to find… her.”

  “It’s okay, he knows my real name,” she whispered.

  “Right, yes. It was on the note.” Neil nodded. “Thank you.”

  “So, what was wrong with the information?”

  “Frank was on the cruise, like he was supposed to be. Both his and his wife’s tickets were used, and their identities confirmed via CCTV.”

  “That’s not possible,” Mitch said.

  They all looked up, surprised to see him standing at their table.

  “Really? Have a seat. Tell us why,” Rene said.

  Mitch stayed standing, looking a little flustered. “I saw him there. I work in the kitchen and when I was on a break I saw him sitting with Sid.”

  He hadn’t mentioned that part to Simone. Unimpressed, she stared at him, hoping he could tell what she was thinking.

  “You’ll see him on the lobby security camera that day.”

  “So you have a doppleganger. Twins, maybe? What is this about?” Neil asked.

  Ignoring him, Mitch looked at Rene. “I’ll get you the clip.” He turned and left.

  Rene got up so fast he nearly knocked his chair over. “Wait. I’m coming with you.”

  He jogged after Mitch, suddenly wide awake.

  There was a silence at the table while Simone pondered how to explain what was happening. “Um, there was a murder at the hotel where I work. The boss was stabbed to death.”

  “And Mitch works there too.”

  “I only just started. He’s been there a month or so. And, hello, murder. Isn’t that a bit more interesting than who’s working where?”

  Neil tapped his foot under the table a couple times then leaned back. “Since you didn’t go running off with them, maybe.”

  This was getting annoying. He’d just got back and already he was annoying. She wrinkled her nose at him. “Don’t judge my life, and I won’t judge yours.”

  He nodded. “Fair enough.”

  She looked towards the exit. She wanted to go, but there was no point. Until Rene gave her something concrete to look into, she was done.

  Karen stood at the till, watching them.

  “It’s getting creepy in here,” Simone said. “Let’s go before they get back.”

  “Agreed,” Neil picked up the dishes on the table and moved them to tray near the kitchen.

  Her cellphone beeped less than two minutes later and she pulled it out. Rene. She bit her lip, wondering if she should read it. It wouldn’t be urgent. She put the phone in her pocket again.

  “Wise choice,” Neil said, scooping her hand into his. “Let’s not waste this beautiful day.”

  “I’m just wondering, what if he’s texting because he can’t call?”

  Neil stopped, face emotionless. “Look, I know I don’t have the right to drop in on you and demand your time, so why don’t I go to the college, and you get this done?”

  “Are you okay with that?”

  “I wouldn’t suggest it if I weren’t.” He seemed sincere. “And you’ll be home later. I’ll meet you there.”

  Relieved, Simone gave his hand a quick squeeze. “We’ll meet up for supper, then we can watch a movie or something.”

  “Okay,” he smiled as he let her hand go and turned.

  “Don’t be late,” she said.

  “Don’t you be late,” he replied.

  Just like old times, she smiled.

  Chapter 6 // Together

  Simone hurried toward the hotel, pulling out her phone to read Rene’s message.

  ‘Do you know how to work the Closed Circuit TV monitor? Apparently Sid didn’t let anyone else touch it,’ his message said.

  ‘Yes, on my way now,’ she replied. A lot had changed since she worked there, it seemed. Every new manager put their own touch on a place, she supposed.

  Amber was at the front desk again. She gave a friendly little wave. “They’re waiting for you in the back. Can I watch you do it?”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  At the computer in the back office, Simone tried the password she knew from two years ago. To her surprise it worked. “You’d think he would change the security password once in a while.”

  It took a few minutes to find, but Mitch was right. Sid and Frank did in fact have coffee earlier that day in the restaurant. So, who went on the cruise with Frank’s wife?

  Amber came into the back office, hands clasped together. “Did you find a clue? Is it really murder?”

  René turned, a soft look on his face telling her what she didn’t want to hear. “This is a good lead. We can find the guy who did this now.”

  While they talked, Simone printed two copies of the moment when Sid and Frank were closest and facing the camera. It was puzzling. Nothing in their body language implied conflict. Simone let the video continue. It was only a couple hours before her interview, and a couple more before the attack. What if they had to look back further? What if she needed to go back days? Good thing she had a job here now. Solving his murder was the least she could do, right?

  She paused the video and backed up to the point just before the snapshot she took.

  There used to be CDs around for recording snips of video, just in case something need to be kept for legal reasons. Simone opened the cupboard underneath and found them in the back left corner under a bunch of carelessly thrown letter-size paper.

  She would record as much of the video as the disc would hold. She shot a look over her shoulder to see if René was keeping Amber distracted. The poor girl was in tears.

  “Who are all these people?” A voice boomed from the side office. Sid’s father.

  Simone’s pulse jumped. She had forgotten him. The temptation to panic and run, she turned to face him, blocking what the camera recorder was doing. She touched Mitch on the elbow. He turned to look as the man barrelled forward out of the office.

  “Excuse me sir,” René said, stepping into his path. “The po
lice have requested video footage from the morning of the incident.” He extended his hand to shake. “Please accept my condolences. Sid was a good friend and he will be missed.”

  So, that’s how he got back here. Simone made a mental note. She turned back to the video recorder. That must’ve been a blank DVD, not CD. It was still saving footage, currently at 42%.

  Hurry, hurry. Please. She fanned her face with a hand. Why is it so warm in here? 58%

  done. “Can we talk in your office? I have a few questions.” René turned the handshake into a gentle shoulder and elbow clasp and turned the man back to his office.

  Suddenly nauseous, Simone put a hand on her stomach and swallowed hard. No, no.

  Don’t do this. Not right now.

  “Hey, are you doing okay?” Mitch asked, brow furrowed.

  She turned and looked for a dark spot in the room. There wasn’t any. “Stay here until it’s done. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  The only spot she could think of was the locker room. With the lights off, it would be perfect. No windows. Hiding in the dark, she wondered why the old man affected her that way.

  Fading, she immediately felt relief. How long she could hide here before someone came looking? Not long. And it’s not healthy. When ghosted she went with her instincts.

  Survival. If her primary thought was more than “Calm down,” she’d probably be thinking about running right now. Escaping.

  Two minutes. Times up. She moved toward the light in the hall. The sense of dread threatened to come back and she stepped back. She hovered in the dark, wondering how she knew the old man. That had to be the problem. She could wait for a sense of peace, but it wouldn’t happen. Not as long as he was there.

  She hovered as close to the door as she dared, hoping to hear what was being said outside. A few light footsteps approached then stopped. “Hey,” Mitch whispered as he leaned in. “It’s done.”

  “Can you eject the disk and shut the screen off?” She asked.

  He reached forward and touched her elbow. “It’s okay. They have the door shut.”

  She inhaled deeply as the light from him flooded in. Oddly, that made her calm. Why?

  She stood a moment, frowning at him.

  “Okay, okay.” She took another deep breath. “Okay.” She walked toward the back office.

  “Wait,” Mitch caught her by the elbow. He reached up and fixed her hair on one side.

  “Now.”

  She nodded, puzzled but pleased by his action.

  Amber stood on the threshold between the front desk and back office, facing the lobby, arms crossed. Simone walked over.

  “Amber, you okay?”

  The woman startled and turned, wiping a tear away. “I guess so. I wanted really wanted it to not be foul play. Sid’s been good to me. He pays well, you know. Most hotels give you barely over minimum wage, but he said he wanted us to have a living wage.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll be fine. It’s just a shock. I didn’t think about what could happen now that he’s gone.” She looked back toward the side office. “At least I still have my job. Are you okay? Is it weird that you and Mitch and the detective guy are a group, or do you two work for the detective?”

  “We’re helping him, ya. Don’t tell, okay? We’re kind of like his undercover people.”

  Might as well include Mitch, since he’s volunteering, she thought.

  Mitch snorted, earning him a light jab in the ribs. Amber would make a reasonable informant, if he didn’t blow it.

  “We haven’t been much help, so far. Maybe if anyone comes in asking about Sid, you can let me know?” Simone asked.

  Rene was still in the back office when there was a loud crash and the sound of a struggle. Simone ran to the door and opened it. Rene had Sid Senior pinned to the ground but was moving to let him up, holding a hand gun in his off hand.

  “Someone call the police. This lunatic just tried to shoot me,” he called out.

  Amber gasped and darted to a phone, dialing 911.

  “You two, get out of here,” he said, looking at Simone and Mitch. “I’ll text when this is done.”

  “What is going on around here?” Amber whispered. “This is crazy. How am I going to explain this in the book?”

  How indeed, Simone scowled, head to one side, watching as Harold struggled to get up.

  “I said go,” Rene said, softer, staring straight at Simone.

  That got her attention. She turned, grabbed Mitch’s hand ignoring the strange tingling in her fingers, and bolted for the back door.

  Outside the back door, she stopped and turned to face Mitch. “Tell me you have the disk.” He held it out for her to take.

  “Perfect. You’re amazing. That’s get this to a computer.… Unless you have somewhere else you need to be. Sorry, I guess some getting used to you being around.”

  “Here, you take it. I’m supposed to go meet a guy in District 3. He says he has a lead on Melody.”

  Simone stood, torn between the two directions. She promised she would help him find his sister, but René was hot on the trail of a murderer. Then again, René would be a while, and she really didn’t know what she was looking for on the disk. It can wait, she smiled.

  “A promise is a promise,” she said, happy with her decision. “I’m coming with you.”

  Mitch didn’t move, looking off into the distance.

  “What?” Simone wondered.

  “How well do you know Rene?”

  “Well enough. Why?”

  “Did it look like he’d disarmed that man, or was he threatening him?”

  She thought about it a moment, suddenly not sure.

  “He wouldn’t call the police if he was the perpetrator,” she said.

  Mitch shook his head. “Shell games. You know what those are, right?”

  “Sure, one bead under three cups. You guess where the bead is after someone shuffles it around.”

  “He seems like he’d be good at that game, as the shuffler.”

  Simone frowned, understanding but uncomfortable with the idea. Yes, police were permitted to lie to get to the truth, but they couldn’t entrap. As a former cop, Rene had no such constraints, and his past as a cop probably left him with a “hit list” of people he’d like off the street. But still, no. She shook her head.

  “That is a matter of ethics, and his code wouldn’t let him do that to an innocent person,” she said. “Don’t we have a meeting to get to?”

  “Unless he were setting up a trap.”

  “Another good reason to trust him.” She crossed her arms. “Any other questions?”

  He gave a half-smile then started walking.

  Simone accepted that as settled and fell into step beside him.

  “Who are you meeting?” she asked.

  He pulled a note out of his pocket. “I found this under my door yesterday.”

  Simone took the note, puzzled by the sender’s choice to use newspaper cut-out letters. “Info on your sister. Rand’s Pub, 5 pm. $1000.”

  “They want a thousand dollars just for info? This better be up-to-the-minute accurate,” she scoffed. “You have it?”

  He nodded, but his tension was up so she wasn’t sure what to believe. Better to be on her guard too.

  “Do you have a car? This is going to be a long walk,” she said.

  He pulled out a bus pass and shrugged.

  “Bus? Really?” Simone sighed. It was logical, since he wasn’t planning to stay. “I don’t have change.” Maybe Jenna would loan hers, just for the next week or so, until this settled down. “Hang on.” She pulled out her cellphone and hit Jenna’s speed dial number, hoping it wasn’t awkward to ask for a favour from a friend she hadn’t seen in a month.

  Ten minutes later Jenna pulled up in her dark blue Dodge Charger and rolled the passenger window down.

  “Hey, stray!” she called out.

  Jumping up, Simone ran over.

  “Thank you, thank you!” Simone turned and waved Mit
ch over. “This is Mitch. His sister is missing.”

  “Get in before traffic gets cranky,” Jenna said, smiling.

  Mitch frowned, not moving.

  “Do you want to meet this guy or not? You don’t have time to wait for the next bus,”

  Simone snapped at him.

  “I’m just here to help.” Jenna, a Canadian raised in Korea, switched languages. “I work for Rene too, on occasion.”

  Mitch looked even more surprised but walked over and got in the back seat.

  “Yeah, what she said. And don’t you two go talking in Korean in front of me. I don’t speak it, remember,” Simone said as she pushed the seat back and took the passenger seat, putting the disk in the glove box.

  “Well, it worked, so what’s the problem?” Jenna laughed as she hit the gas and merged back into traffic.

  Rand’s Pub sat on the opposite end of the city, in an area that was being ignored by city planners and improvement projects. A small, smoky place, with a row of tables on one side and a long bar counter on the other, it was one spot in the city where Simone felt safe.

  She’d done a delivery here once, and remembered because they paid her double the usual rate.

  She wouldn’t be recognized, and if she was, she could ghost. Jenna could handle herself here too. Being an acrobatically gifted fourth-degree Taekwondo black belt helped, but the bar would know her from her side job as a volunteer with the Community Patrol.

  This was in her district.

  But what about Mitch? Would his lighting up like a twenty-thousand-watt search light help or hinder? There were more than a few mirrors lining the wall behind the bar.

  As they approached the door, Mitch reached out almost casually and held Simone’s hand a moment. Good thinking, Simone thought. No one would think twice about a couple holding hands and he could discharge any light he’d built up on the way here. And she should appear solid until trouble started, at least. It was still weird to her that they could do that.

  The bar was a little over half full. Patrons barely gave the trio a glance. The one that did look over was suddenly very nervous. Simone pulled on Jenna’s cuff, hinting they should trail behind Mitch sitting at the bar, leaving Mitch to attend his meeting alone.