by Diane Wood
One name caught Nathalie’s eye straightaway—Jacqueline St. Clare.
“I know one of these women,” Nathalie stated, looking up from the list. “She’s lesbian and she could fit the description we’ve been given.” She didn’t mention Jackie’s connection to Bella.
“A personal friend?” he asked seriously.
“More of an acquaintance,” she answered vaguely. “A friend of a friend.”
“Then we’ll put her at the top of the list. But we still need to check everyone that fits the age range.
Detailing two more of the team, they split the list and began making phone calls. Nathalie rang Jackie, but the phone went unanswered. Her only address was a post office box. Obviously she was going to have to talk to Bella or let Josh know of the relationship at some point, but as all Jackie had done at this point was apply for a job, she decided not to mention it to Bella just yet.
Over the next two days Nathalie tried continually to get hold of Jackie, even trying Bella’s number when she knew Bella would be at work. Other than Jackie, only two other women even vaguely fit the description of the woman seen at the club arguing with Renee Young and Stephanie Cameron. Both denied being anywhere near a lesbian club, but this still had to be investigated.
Nathalie knew that she couldn’t postpone telling Josh about Bella’s relationship with Jackie much longer. Before that, however, one of the other detectives accidentally spilled the beans to Bella.
As she often did, Bella popped in on Thursday morning to see Nathalie, who was out doing an interview. And also as usual, Bella asked one of the detectives how the investigation was going. Intimidated by her rank, he had updated the strange-looking inspector. Later, when Nathalie returned, Bella took her aside and asked why Jackie’s name was on the list of people to be interviewed.
“We’re checking all the women who applied for work at a certain hotel,” Nat answered, annoyed at being ambushed. “It was a tip we got from someone at the clubs. It just happens that Jackie’s name was on the list and she fits the description of someone seen arguing with one of the dead women at the club.”
“Well, thanks for telling me,” Bella responded sourly. “I thought you were supposed to be a friend.”
“I am, Bella,” Nathalie answered tiredly, thinking that all she needed was one more person being pissed off with her. “But it would have been irresponsible of me to divulge critical information to the partner of a person of interest. You know that as well as anyone. I haven’t told Josh of your connection to Jackie yet. I planned on seeing you today to tell you and get you to come with me to talk to Josh.”
“You don’t really think Jack’s involved, do you?” Bella asked, slumping into a seat near Nat’s desk. “Christ, what’s her connection to these people anyway?”
“Well, that’s what we don’t know, Bella,” she said. “At the moment the only link we have is that, if it was her, she was seen arguing with Renee Young and Stephanie Cameron, a couple of days before Young was killed. It could be something or nothing. The problem is we haven’t been able to get hold of her at either your place or hers. Do you have a mobile number, or know where she’s working at the moment?”
“I haven’t seen her since Saturday morning,” Bella said flatly. “She was supposed to be staying for the weekend, but she changed her mind and went home after lunch. I tried ringing yesterday, both at home and on the mobile,” she continued. “I got no answer, but I didn’t try her job. To be honest, even I could figure out that the relationship is well on its way out.”
“I’m sorry, Bella, but we need to see Josh,” Nathalie said reluctantly. “Your connection with her needs to be made official, and it would be better coming from you.”
Scowling, Bella followed Nathalie to Josh’s office.
Josh wasn’t happy. “You should have let me know immediately,” he told Nathalie angrily, after she’d finished her explanation. “It could have compromised the investigation.”
“Are you accusing me of something, Sergeant?” Bella demanded. “Because I only found out an hour ago that Jackie St. Clare was a person of interest, and it wasn’t Nathalie who told me.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything, Inspector,” he replied evenly. “But Nathalie has known of the relationship between yourself and a person of interest for two days without making it official. A defense lawyer would have a field day with that if we ever had to charge Ms. St. Clare.”
“Surely you can’t seriously think she killed these people?” exploded Bella.
“That’s the whole point, Inspector, at this time we don’t have a clue if Ms. St. Clare was even the person at the club and if she was, whether there’s any connection between that meeting and the deaths. But suddenly the woman is missing, which only makes it look worse.”
“Well, I didn’t know you were looking for her until an hour ago, and she’s obviously been missing a few days. If you’re suggesting the difficulty you’re having contacting her is related to the crimes, how would she have known you were looking for her?”
“If that’s the reason we can’t find her, and we’re not saying that it is, perhaps she was warned by someone we’ve questioned at the clubs,” argued Nathalie. “We’ve probably given her description to a hundred people by now.”
Josh took down the work and mobile number that Bella had for Jackie. “I’m going to tell my commander that you discovered we were looking for someone you’d had a friendship with and that you made that friendship known immediately,” he stated. “Apart from supplying us with a list of anyone you know Ms. St. Clare is friendly with, or any place she might frequent, I must ask you not to visit this office again while this investigation is ongoing. And you will, of course, be given no further information about the case. You can supply the information we need to me directly, and please contact me immediately if Ms. St. Clare makes contact.”
Bella looked stunned, but she said nothing as she left the office.
“So, did your inspector friend really only find out about the possibility of St. Clare’s involvement an hour ago?” Josh demanded when she’d gone. “Or had you mentioned it to her before this?”
“What do you want me to say?” Nathalie answered, annoyed at his inference. “I’d hardly admit it if I did pass the information to her, so you’re going to have to take my word for it that I didn’t.”
“Yes, I am,” he said firmly. “Therefore I’m going to ask you again, officially—Detective Senior Constable Duncan, did you at any time, prior to this afternoon, inform Inspector Bella Pittolo that Jacqueline St. Clare was a person of interest in an investigation?”
“No, I did not,” she answered truthfully.
“Good. Then let’s get on with the job. I’ll go and see the boss now, so that everything is covered. And I’ll reallocate investigating St. Clare to Mark and Lorna. I want you right out of that side of it.”
As it turned out, Jackie hadn’t been at work since the previous Friday, failing to fill two shifts on the weekend and another on Monday. And nobody on the short list that Bella supplied had seen or heard from Jackie all week.
* * *
All day Friday, Nathalie was haunted by the knowledge that Alex would be at the center that night. It wasn’t that her thoughts were ever far from her, but today seemed particularly bad.
It was past six o’clock before she left work, and instead of heading to her mother’s, which had been the arrangement when she’d left on Monday, she drove slowly to the Courtside Women’s Crisis Center. It wasn’t a conscious decision—the car just seemed to lead her in that direction.
Parking opposite the entrance and noting that Alex’s car wasn’t already there, she sat and waited. Fifteen minutes later the charcoal Volvo pulled up on the other side of the road. For a moment or two Alex sat in the car, staring blankly ahead—as if trying to focus on the task in front of her. Then, straightening her hair and reaching for her briefcase, she climbed from the vehicle and made her way inside.
It hurt Nat to watch. Alex
was thinner and the energetic bounce that was so much a part of her personality was gone. She’d caused this, and guilt flooded her, while anger at what she’d lost made her want to lash out and hurt someone. If there was one thing she struggled with as a police officer, it was the need of most criminals to blame others for their actions. Right now, though, Nathalie longed to find someone to blame—for Alex’s sadness and her own bitter loss. Right now she wanted it to be anyone’s fault but her own.
Starting the car as Alex disappeared inside the center, Nathalie drove home. Mother and George could go to hell. If she saw them now, she’d never be able to control her temper. Without doubt, they’d deny any knowledge of the break-in at Alex’s and without doubt she wouldn’t believe them. Perhaps tomorrow she could deal with the situation better, but right now all Nathalie wanted to do was get totally smashed and sleep for twelve hours.
Mother wasn’t at home when she arrived at lunchtime the next day, but George was and he appeared miserable.
“Mother was expecting you last night,” he said grimly. “She had a client here.”
“I had to work,” she lied.
“She made me ring your work,” he said hurriedly. “And the house and mobile.”
“I was exhausted, I turned them off. But I’m sure she coped.”
“Jesus, Nat, you know she’ll make you pay for that.”
“And how will she do that?” she asked angrily. “By making me have sex with people of her choice or perhaps by telling me once again what a miserable specimen I am? Or will she send someone to wreck Alex Messner’s house again?”
By the look on his face, she knew he was involved.
“Was it you, George, you bastard? Did you do that?”
“No,” he replied, unable to look her in the eye.
“But you knew about it?”
“Only afterward—she’s still convinced Christine passed the journal to someone. She’s in a paranoid spin since she found out about you screwing the sister.”
“And now—is she satisfied that she doesn’t have it?”
“Not really,” he answered, shaking his head. “The cards keep telling her that it’s close by. She thinks perhaps with Christine Martin’s mother,” he finished lamely.
“Then you’ll have to admit you have it.”
“I can’t do that” he spluttered, his eyes hardening.
“Can’t you, George? I’m not offering you a choice.”
“You don’t understand,” he said angrily. “You don’t know what you’re playing with.”
“Then give her back the fucking diary, so she’ll go home. Or go with her…I don’t care. But Christine’s family is not going to suffer any more because of us, and if I have to tell Mother you have it, then I will.”
“Don’t threaten me, Nathalie,” he growled. “If you knew what was in that journal you wouldn’t even suggest dropping me in it.”
“Then find a way to ensure that she leaves Alex and her family alone. If one more thing happens to them, I guarantee she’ll know exactly who’s had the diary all this time.”
As she attempted to leave the room, he grabbed her by the top of the arms. “You’re choosing this woman and her family over me,” he hissed. “I thought you were supposed to love me.”
The look in his eyes stopped Nathalie dead. It was a mixture of anger and hurt and something else she couldn’t put her finger on. It was a look she’d seen at times in Mother’s eyes—an icy coldness that made her shudder.
“I came back here so that Alex would be left alone, but you didn’t keep your part of the bargain,” she snapped, trying to shrug him off. “Now I have nothing to lose.”
“Mother’s right,” he sneered. “You have no loyalty.”
“Is that what she said?” laughed Nathalie bitterly. “Is that why you won’t let me see the journal—you don’t trust me?”
Letting go of her arms, he said, “I’ve done what you wanted all along. By next week I won’t have any access to the kids, unless it’s supervised, and they’ll be out of Mother’s reach. I thought that would make you happy, but you still want more. What have I got to do to make you love me?”
“I thought you did that for the children,” she said, staring at him in disgust. “I thought you wanted them to be safe.”
Shaking his head as if to bring himself back to reality, he mumbled, “Yes…you’re right. I did do it for them. I don’t want to fight with you, Nat,” he said almost sadly. “We’re family. We have to stick together.”
“Then keep Mother’s thugs away from Alex Messner and her family. That’s all I want, George. You know they don’t have the journal, so do whatever it takes to stop anything else happening.”
“I’ll do it, I promise,” he said desperately. “Just don’t leave me again, please. I need you.”
Nathalie left the room.
“So you decided to grace us with your presence,” Mother said coldly when she arrived back at the house an hour later. “This isn’t a hotel where you can come and go as you please. You have commitments to this family, you know.”
“And I thought we had an understanding that you’d stay away from the Martins if I rejoined the family,” she stated evenly.
“What are you talking about?” Mother snorted. “I haven’t been near those people.”
“But you had Alex’s house burgled. Didn’t you, Mother?”
Glaring at George, she turned to face Nathalie, “You seem to think I’m some sort of Ma Barker who sends her boys out to break the law. Why would I want to do that? What could that woman possibly have that I’d want?”
“I don’t know, Mother,” she lied, casting a quick glance at George, who was grim-faced and pale. “But I don’t believe it was a coincidence.”
“You know what, Nathalie,” she replied. “I don’t care what you believe. When the cards advise me to take a certain course of action, then that’s what I do. But why would you care? Didn’t you tell me it was just a fling between you and the Martin bitch?”
“I’m going home, Mother,” Nathalie stated as calmly as she could. “We have an agreement. Please don’t break it again, or I’ll have every government agency I can think of onto you in seconds.”
The blow came from behind, knocking her to the ground.
“Don’t talk to Mother like that,” George screamed down at her. “You are supposed to stay until you go back to work. That’s what Mother wants.”
“Thank you, George,” said Mother, bemused by his attack. “But I don’t need you to defend me. I’m sure she’ll be able to give us her full attention on her next days off.”
George’s face was livid, his eyes blazing a strange mixture of fury and pain. This wasn’t the boy who’d tried to protect her or the young man who’d covered for her with Mother. This was a frightening stranger on the brink of insanity.
“Get up,” he demanded, making no move to help her. “You said you were staying. You’re supposed to stay.”
The blow had had more shock value than pain, and she was quickly on her feet.
“I won’t be back,” Nathalie stated emphatically. “If you harm Alex Messner or her family in any way, I’ll destroy you by whatever means at hand. Leave me alone and leave them alone and you’ll never hear from me again. Don’t, and I won’t be responsible for what happens.”
“You ungrateful little bitch,” Mother spat furiously as she moved directly in front of Nathalie. “I gave you a second chance to prove the cards wrong. All you had to do was be part of the family. But you couldn’t…you’re just like…” Instantly, she stopped herself, fear entering her eyes and turning swiftly to anger.
“Like whom, Mother?” snapped Nathalie, suddenly feeling brave. “Like my father? He scared you, didn’t he?” she said, stunned at her own discovery. “I’m like someone who scared you and that’s why you’ve never been able to cope with me. That’s it, isn’t it, Mother?” she finished, moving closer to the woman who’d terrified her all her life.
Just a hint of the
fear remained in the beautiful woman’s eyes, an uncertainty Nathalie had never seen before, and it gave her hope. But it was fleeting.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Charlotte spat, pulling herself to her full height again. “If it wasn’t for my generosity you wouldn’t even be alive today. If you want to turn your back on this family, I won’t stop you, but don’t ever try to hold me to ransom again. Now get out.”
“What do you mean, I wouldn’t be alive today?”
“This discussion’s over. I want you to leave my house now.”
“No,” interrupted George desperately. “It’s not your house, Mother. It’s mine and I want Nat to stay. We’ve got a deal,” he said, turning to Nat. “You can’t leave me again. I won’t allow it.”
“It’s over, George,” Nathalie said quietly. “I’m going to tell Alex who I am, so there’s nothing else you can do to me. But you know what will happen if the Martin family are hurt in any way.”
“What deal are you talking about, George?” spluttered Mother. “Are you betraying me as well…my own son?”
Ignoring his mother, George followed Nathalie as she made her way toward the front door. “But you love me,” he said, grabbing her arm and pushing her against the hallway wall. “I had plans for us. We could even get married, bring up the children. We could really be a family.”
“Let me go, George,” she said, trying to shake free. “You’re my brother, for Christ sake. Mother’s got you so confused you don’t even know how to think like a normal person anymore.”
“George. Let her go now,” demanded Mother from the doorway. “You’re making a fool of yourself.”
“You don’t understand,” he whispered into Nathalie’s ear, attempting to ignore his mother. “You’re not really my sister. We can love each other. We can marry.”
“George!” The voice was close now—strong and desperate. Pushing between them, Charlotte hit George across the face, forcing him to let go of Nathalie. “Have you lost your mind?” she hissed at him. “Listen to yourself. Nathalie doesn’t love you. She can’t love anyone. It’s in her blood. Now leave us.”