High Priestess

by Wendy Hewlett

  Raven started up the path as Mick and Sawicki hung back, letting her take the lead. She rapped her knuckles against the door, three solid knocks.

  “Mom. Door,” a young boy’s voice rang out from inside.

  Raven’s stomach roiled as she listened to heels on hardwood approaching. The door swung open and Caroline McMurtrie shouted over her shoulder for someone to turn the TV down then looked up at Raven with a smile and kind green eyes, red curls hanging loose around her shoulders.

  “Mrs. McMurtrie? I’m Detective Constable Bowen with the Ontario Provincial Police.”

  The smile dropped away, the eyes became weary. Caroline McMurtrie’s entire body seemed to sag. “You’ve found her. You’ve found our Emmy.”

  “Yes, ma’am. May we come in?”

  Caroline’s knees buckled and Raven reacted quickly. She shot her arms under Caroline’s and supported her weight. Sawicki stepped up just as Caroline got her feet under her again. “I’m okay. I’m alright. Steven. Please, someone get my husband. He’s in the kitchen.”

  Raven kept an arm around Caroline’s waist and escorted her to the sofa in the front room, easing her down then sitting beside her. Sawicki stayed by the door while Mick went to find the husband.

  Steven McMurtrie was a good foot taller than his wife and lean like a runner. His dark hair was slicked back and greying at the temples. He wore black dress pants and his crisp white shirt was open at the collar, the sleeves rolled up to mid forearm. “Is this about Emmy?” He paced back and forth, twisting the tea towel in his hands.

  There was never an easy way to do this. Quick was best, so Raven jumped right in. “I’m sorry to inform you that your daughter, Emily, was found dead last night in Solstice.”

  “Solstice?” Steven asked. “That’s up near Hunstville, isn’t it? What was Emmy doing up there?”

  Raven didn’t answer his question. How do you tell a parent it was the dump site? “Late last night snowmobilers found her body near a trail. We believe she’d been there since her disappearance last fall.”

  Caroline sobbed and Steven sat next to her, wrapping her in his arms.

  “Did she … did she suffer?” Caroline asked.

  Raven looked her in the eye, hating this question. All mothers wanted to know their children hadn’t suffered when they passed. “I want to tell you that she didn’t, but it’s better if you know the truth. Emily was raped before she died.”

  Caroline howled, dropping her head into her husband’s shoulder. His free hand cupped the back of her head.

  “It appears that her cause of death was drowning,” Raven continued. “The coroner will confirm that when he does the autopsy.”

  Back outside, Raven turned and looked up at the house again. It still looked warm and inviting. “I’d like to go and talk to Emily’s boyfriend.”

  “I know Emily was found in Solstice, but the case is still ours, Bowen.”

  Raven glared at Sawicki. “You used us to do your dirty work and now you want us off the case?”

  “I invited you along as a courtesy.” His arms crossed over his chest again.

  Grabbing the keys from Mick’s hand, Raven walked to her vehicle, got in and shut the door.

  When Mick settled into the passenger seat, she said, “He can’t do that, can he?”

  “We’ll see what DS LaCroix says in the morning.” She wanted to stomp on the gas and squeal down the street, but managed to refrain. She wasn’t about to give Sawicki the satisfaction of seeing how much he’d pissed her off.

  CHAPTER 3

  A PIZZA IN one hand and a six pack of Coors Lite in the other, Raven took the stairs to the third floor of the three story yellow brick apartment building. She used her boot to tap on the door of apartment 306. It had been a crap day and she didn’t want to be alone for once in her life. She wanted to be with someone who understood without judging or thinking she was crazy.

  Riley opened the door a couple of inches, leaving the security chain in place. “What do you want, Rave?”

  “I just want to hang out. Have some pizza and a beer with me then I’ll leave.”

  Riley shook her head as her pale green eyes glistened. “I can’t do this anymore.”

  “Then take me back, Ri.”

  “Rave.”

  Knowing that she was responsible for the pain so evident in Riley’s eyes seared Raven right down to her soul. “I made a terrible mistake, but that mistake taught me that I don’t want anyone but you, Ri.”

  “How many people have you slept with in the past month, Raven?”

  “None.” Raven felt like she’d just been slapped. Riley really had no trust left in her and she couldn’t blame her. She leaned in closer to the gap in the door, her lips inches away from Riley’s, hoping Riley would see the truth in her eyes. “I don’t want anyone else, Ri. I only want you.”

  Riley shook her head again, her soft red curls bouncing over her shoulders. “There’s more to it than you sleeping with Jaxon. I can’t do this anymore, Rave.”

  “Can’t do what? Talk? I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  “But, you don’t talk. You tell me you slept with Jax, but you won’t tell me why or how you’re feeling. You’re so closed off I’m not sure I know you at all.”

  Raven leaned her head against the doorframe and whispered, “You know me better than anyone.”

  “We were together nearly four years and you won’t even think about moving in together. We can’t build a relationship like this. I can’t be in a relationship like this.”

  “Riley, I love you. I need you.”

  “Do you? Then why did you sleep with Jax, Rave? Talk to me?”

  How could she explain something she didn’t understand herself? She dropped her eyes, trying to think of something to say, but she had no explanation for her behaviour.

  The door closed in her face. Gently. Raven stood there staring at the closed door and huffed. “I just wanted some company.” She thought about sitting down on the floor right there in the hall and eating her pizza. How sad would that be?

  She got back in her car and drove a few blocks to Front Street, to a small bungalow with white clapboard siding and green shutters. She pulled into the driveway behind Jaxon’s black Dodge Ram. The living room lights glowed around the edges of the drapes as she walked up the path. Balancing the pizza box and beer in one hand, she knocked on the door.

  Jaxon Lang opened the door wearing faded blue jeans and a white t-shirt stretched tight across his wide chest and bulging biceps. Jaxon had nordic blonde hair, straight as a ruler, and brilliant blue eyes.

  “Hey, Rave.”

  “Hey yourself. Hungry?” She raised the pizza box. “I’ve got beer.”

  Jaxon crossed his arms over his chest and asked, “What’s on it?”

  “Pepperoni and cheese.”

  “That’s it?”

  With a laugh, Raven asked, “Do you want some or not?”

  He exhaled an exaggerated breath. “You’re doing my head in, Rave. You know I want more. I’ve always wanted more with you.”

  Raven stared into Jax’s sad blue eyes. “Please don’t tell me I’ve screwed up our friendship, Jax. I can’t lose you, too. I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself.”

  “I don’t regret making love with you, Rave. For a few glorious hours I had everything I’ve ever wanted. But, you regretted what happened between us from the moment you left my bed and, in that moment, I lost everything.”

  Jax loved her, but she just didn’t have the same feelings for him. Her heart belonged to Riley. When he just stood there looking lost, she decided to save what little dignity she had left. She started back to her car. He called after her, but she didn’t turn to him. She had ruined her relationship with Riley and her friendship with Jax. Now she had no one. She lost everything that mattered, too. All for a few hours of passion.

  She walked into her little cottage on Fairy Lake, put the beer in the fridge, and left the pizza on the counter. She picked up the clothes s
he’d stripped out of that morning and put the duvet back on the bed. Then she just plopped down on the edge of the bed and dropped her face into her hands.

  You can talk to me, Rave.

  Her head shot back up. “I thought you were gone.” Silence. “You’ve got a hell of a lot of nerve saying that to me now. Fifteen years ago I needed to be able to talk to you.”

  Fifteen? Raven, you were only twelve years old then.

  At twelve years old her jet black hair hung down past her waist and she’d taken scissors and chopped it all off. Ena barely noticed.

  I noticed, sweetie. I just thought making a big deal out of it would have been traumatic for you. It broke my heart to see you cut off all of that gorgeous hair.

  “Get. Out. Of. My. Head.” Her hands sank into her still short hair and fisted. She was too beaten down to mask what was hidden in her mind and she couldn’t risk Ena discovering what was buried there - like the reason she’d chopped off her hair.

  I’m sorry. Figure out who killed me and I’ll be gone from your life, and your head, forever.

  “Did it ever occur to you that being in my head is a massive invasion of my privacy?” It wouldn’t have, because Ena only ever considered her own needs and wants.

  There was no response and Raven considered it was when she hurt Ena’s feelings that she left her alone. She’d called her mother a slut, but Raven was the one who cheated on her girlfriend. Could she be any more of a hypocrite?

  She spent the night tossing and turning, thinking about the way she treated Ena and trying not to think about being rejected by both Riley and Jaxon in one night. Things would go smoother if she was able to deal with her mother without all of her resentments getting in the way, but she just didn’t seem to be able to help herself. As soon as she heard Ena’s voice, her back went up.

  * * *

  At eight o’clock in the morning, Raven was in Detective Sergeant LaCroix’s office reporting the details of their trip to Orillia and requesting to stay on the case. He put in a call to Sawicki’s Sergeant and they agreed that Raven and Sawicki would both work the case in the interests of solving Emily McMurtrie’s murder quickly.

  Raven and Mick filed their reports from the previous day and headed out to Raven’s car. The sun was shining and the temperature approached the mid-teens. Raven tilted her face up to the sun for a moment, enjoying it’s warmth. The winters were long and cold here. It really made you appreciate spring and summer. She slipped on her aviator sunglasses and headed for the driver’s door, clicking the door remote. “I’ve got a stop to make before we head down to Orillia.”

  “Sure you don’t want me to drive? No offence, but you look like you still haven’t slept.”

  “Is that a polite way of saying I look like shit?” Raven slid into the driver’s seat. Despite the restless night, she didn’t feel too bad. Still, the first place she was going was the Solstice Café for her second large coffee of the day.

  “Well, you do.” Warren adjusted her duty belt before doing up her seat belt. She wore a long sleeve uniform shirt, but no jacket, her aviator sunglasses almost identical to Raven’s.

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t take it as an insult. If I looked like you do right now on my good days, I’d be ecstatic.”

  Raven grinned. “Are you coming on to me, Constable?” She glanced over at Mick and her face was turning the colour of Santa’s suit. She was sure Mick was straight, but maybe she had a bit of a girl crush going on.

  “Ha, ha.” Mick shifted in her seat. “Oh, coffee shop. Yay.”

  With their caffeine fix satisfied, Raven pulled up to the entrance of the Solstice Medical Centre. She put the car in park and handed the keys to Mick. “I shouldn’t be too long.”

  “Oh, okay.” Mick studied her as if she was looking for something. “Does this have to do with why you’re not sleeping? I mean, are you okay?”

  Raven laughed. “I’m not seeing a doctor. I just need to talk to someone.” Mick’s eyes widened. “Not about me,” Raven added. “There’s nothing wrong with me.”

  Mick nodded and Raven got out of the car rolling her eyes. She found Dr. Tang’s office on the third floor. The grey-haired receptionist sat behind a grey counter and stared up at Raven through thick white-framed glasses. Raven held up her badge and ID. “I’m Detective Constable Bowen. I need to speak with Dr. Tang for a few minutes.”

  “He’s booked up today. If you want to have a seat, I’ll try to fit you in.”

  Raven glanced over her shoulder at the empty waiting room. “Is he in the office? I just have a few questions about my mother, Ena Bowen. She passed away just over a week ago and Dr. Tang saw her when she was brought into emergency at the hospital.”

  The big blue eyes behind the glasses softened. “I knew your mother, dear. I was so sorry to hear she passed. She was too young.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Let me see if Dr. Tang has a few minutes,” she said and disappeared behind a wall.

  While she waited, Raven checked her iPhone for messages. Nothing from Riley or Jaxon, but that wasn’t a surprise, just wishful thinking. There was a missed phone call from Adara and that was it. She stuck her phone back in her pocket and leaned her elbows on the grey counter. The receptionist stuck her head around the wall and waved Raven back. She followed the woman into Dr. Tang’s office. The young, Asian doctor sat behind a big mahogany desk with his phone at his ear.

  Raven took a seat facing the doctor and the view from the window at his back overlooking the downtown core of Solstice.

  “And you’re sure no tests were ordered? None?” Dr. Tang’s brow creased. He glanced at Raven then averted his gaze. “Could you fax the file over to me, please? Thank you.” He hung up the phone with a frown.

  “Dr. Tang? I’m Detective Constable Bowen. I’d like to ask you a few questions about my mother’s passing. You saw her in emergency the day she died.”

  “Yes, I’ve just been on the phone with the ER. There seems to be some sort of error here. The diagnosis on your mother was stomach cancer. She became ill very recently and went downhill fast.”

  Raven leaned forward. “What’s the error?”

  “I don’t know where that diagnosis came from. There’s no mention of your mother seeking medical attention prior to coming into the hospital. I would have run tests, but there were no tests ordered. I don’t understand.” Tang scratched his head, staring off into space.

  “Do you remember treating her?”

  “Yes. We made her as comfortable as possible. We treated her as if she was in the final stages of stomach cancer, but I wouldn’t have done that without running tests to confirm the diagnosis.”

  “Had you seen Ena as a patient before she came into the ER?”

  “No.”

  “You asked the hospital to fax you something. What was that?”

  Dr. Tang stood, rubbed his hand over the back of his neck with his eyes focused on the carpet. “I think I should contact my lawyer.”

  Because Tang was standing, Raven rose to her feet. He was a good head shorter than her. “I’m not looking to file a malpractice suit or press criminal charges here, Dr. Tang. What I want to do is confirm if my mother had cancer, or if it’s possible she was poisoned. Was there an autopsy or a toxicology report?”

  Tang’s eyes flicked up to Raven’s and back down again. “I really think this needs to go through my lawyer. I don’t understand how this could have happened.” He dropped into his chair as if his legs couldn’t hold him up any longer.

  “You’re not in any trouble, Dr. Tang. I think there may have been foul play involved. I think someone may have murdered my mother.”

  Tell him it wasn’t his fault, Rave. I think someone hexed him.

  Oh, Jesus. Great. Now we’ve got hocus pocus involved. “Dr. Tang? Would I be able to have a copy of Ena’s file?”

  “I’m sorry. You’ll need a court order.” Tang answered, dazed, as if he was somewhere else.

  “Do you really want to p
lay it that way?”

  His eyes were slow to move up to Raven’s and then he nodded slowly. Raven pursed her lips, her brow pinched. There was nothing she could do except to try to get that court order and really, she had nothing to support it. She made her way back down to the car, sat down in the driver’s seat and then just stared out the window. She didn’t have proof. Not yet. But, she knew. Ena was poisoned.

  “Is everything okay?” Mick asked.

  Raven shook her head and started the car. “No. It’s really not.” Her eyes burned and she told herself it was the lack of sleep. Slipping her sunglasses on, she said, “We’ve got to go back to the detachment. I need to try to get a warrant.”

  “For?”

  It was time to bring Mick into this. She would find out soon anyway. “For Ena’s medical records. That will hopefully be enough to get her body exhumed and autopsied. She didn’t have cancer.”

  Mick’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, um … I’m not sure I follow.”

  Be careful, Rave. McHaela’s mother is a member of the coven.

  Raven ignored Ena’s warning. As hard as it was for her, she had to trust someone.

  “I think she was poisoned. They didn’t run any tests to confirm that she had cancer. The doctor doesn’t even know where that diagnosis came from. They just made her as comfortable as possible and let her die. The doctor’s in shock, scared shitless, and crying for his lawyer.”

  As she drove, Raven tried to figure out how she was going to spin this. She couldn’t say her mother told her posthumously about the chalice from an admirer that had gone missing and that it somehow was the source of the poison that killed her. When she got to the detachment, she beelined to LaCroix’s office with Mick quick stepping to keep up with her long strides.

  “What about Emily McMurtrie? Are we still going to talk to her boyfriend?” Mick asked.

  “Let’s get the ball rolling on the warrant and we’ll head down to Orillia.”