I skim through the paperwork. The position pays way more than I make. Ruby could have moved Erin into a better home and got her the care she needed if she was still alive. This revelation saddens me, and the more I think of what I believe has happened, the sicker I become.
I have to check one more thing. I go out into the hallway and look at the coat pegs at the front door. I never use it. I hang my coat upstairs in my bedroom closet so the area won’t be cluttered, but Dad always keeps his wool jacket, the Macintosh, and the Inverness on the pegs. His boots are usually there as well. Sure enough, there are two garments in the usual spots. A tan jacket and the Inverness with a burn hole in the cape. Dried red marks are on the sleeve and the front. The boots are muddy, but there’s a flat plastic pan to keep the dirt off the floor. I’ve walked into this house countless times, going right by the pegs without a thought. I knew he had an Inverness. I knew he wore it from time to time, but it never crossed my mind that it was Dad wearing that same coat when I saw the video footage from Hyde-Chapman Station.
This is hard to accept, and it’s going to break Mum’s heart. Meaning to tell her, I walk into the living room. I’m going over what I could say to lessen the blow, but there are no words in the English language to make this better.
“Mum,” I remark.
She’s laughing so hard she can’t hear me.
“MUM!”
“What!” Startled, she turns down the television. “Stop yelling. What is wrong with you, love?”
“I need you to call Dad. He has to come home.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” She realizes the situation is worse than she thinks and turns off the television. “Is everything okay?”
“Call him. Right now.”
She grabs her phone from inside her robe pocket and dials his number with a shaky hand. Dad answers. While staring at me, she asks him to come home. Dad wants to know what’s going on, but Mum doesn’t know. She tells him to hurry and hangs up.
“You’re scaring me, Victoria. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“We probably should wait until Dad gets here.”
“No, I want to know now.” Mum reads my subdued panic. She knows my sadness. She can feel my anxiety. She offers her hands. I take hold of them and sit on the ottoman. She says with worry and compassion, “Tell me, honey. It’s alright.”
“There’s no easy way to say this. I want you to keep calm.”
“What is it? Spit it out.”
“Okay, well…um…Dad has done something bad. It’s awful.”
“What has he done, Victoria?”
“He’s killed someone.”
With what looks to be shame, she releases my hands and slips back into the chair.
“Mum?” I ask, trying to gauge what’s going on in her mind. She’s supposed to be angry, spitting mad, and not accepting what I’ve said, but she’s perfectly calm. Concerned, I ask, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes, Victoria, I heard you.” She means to say more but falls silent.
“What is it?” I ask her.
“Victoria, I think we need to move on from this.”
“We can’t just move on. He’s killed someone.”
“Your dad, with all of his flaws, is a good man. He loves and cares deeply for this family. He’ll give his life for us. His love, Victoria, is unconditional. Honey, he’s human. You know. He makes mistakes. Can’t you just cover this up?”
“No, I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“When you find someone that loves you unconditionally, you learn to look beyond the mistakes and the bad choices.” She takes my hand once again. “Victoria, honey, you have a job to do. I understand it’s important, but we’re family. We have to look out for each other.”
“Mum, stop it.” I stand up to get away from her.
“Honestly, Victoria, there must have been a reason. What if whoever he killed was going after him or after us?”
“Mum, she was a college student. She was close to my age. She was taking care of her sick sister. He bashed her head in with a baseball bat and left her body in an alley overnight. Her sister is dead now too because she had to move out. The landlord wouldn’t allow her to stay in Ruby’s apartment. She froze to death. Two lives were destroyed because of him.”
Mum lowers her head. Tears fall to her lap.
“And he hit a homeless woman,” I remark sadly. “Mum, he’s destroyed lives.”
“So, what does this mean? Are you going to arrest him?”
“I have no choice.”
“You don’t have to,” she says with desperation. “Whatever you have on him, just get rid of it. Please, just don’t tell the police. You have to protect this family, Victoria.”
“I can’t. I’ll lose my job. The wrong person will be sent to jail.”
“You can get another job. You can get a better one. What about college? Your dad and I can scrape up some money, and we’ll help you pay for it.”
“Mum, he killed a harmless young girl. She was trying to better her life, and he took it away. If I just let this go, how am I supposed to live with knowing he got away with murder?”
“The same way I do. One second at a time.”
I get the loyalty. I understand her love. Dad is such a charm, and he’s been a great husband to her. But two lives were taken because of him. My job is to ensure justice when this happens, no matter who it is. I wish I had the mindset to let this die, but too much is lost. He must face the consequences.
Chapter Forty.
Dad runs directly into the living room. He’s out of breath and panicked. Mum is calm, but she’s fighting back tears. She doesn’t even look at him or acknowledge that he’s in the room.
I feel like I’m responsible for the breakup of this family. I didn’t commit the crime. I didn’t bash some girl’s head in. But the weight of this situation is heavy, knowing what’s about to come.
“Victoria!” Dad says breathlessly. “I thought when I saw the cop cars outside that something had happened to you. Is everything alright?”
“No, it’s not,” I respond coldly.
Dad glances at me and then at Mum with confusion. She still refuses to look at him.
“What is it?” he asks with desperation. “Someone say something, please.”
“She knows,” Mum replies flatly. “She knows what you’ve done.”
“You told her?”
“Why would I? I don’t know what happened.”
Dad grabs hold of my arms and replies, “Victoria, you have to understand. I tried my best.”
“You tried your best? What are you talking about?”
“Listen to me for a minute. Just listen, okay?”
“Alright, I’m listening.” Not wanting him to touch me, I back out of his grip.
Dad appears to be hurt, but he says, “I used to work for this company that heard about the silver ore deposit on the Nendikinto tribal lands.”
Totally lost, I ask, “What are you talking about?”
“JUST LISTEN TO ME!” he snaps.
“Jamie.” Mum is trying to get his attention.
“No, Phoebe, I have to explain what happened.” He turns back to me and continues, “Okay, so, Victoria, I used to work for the Britin Mining Core Group. We were sent a notification by one of our contacts who was traveling to the west coast that there was a possible deposit of silver ore where the Nendis lived. We sent experts out there to survey the land the following year. Turns out, the silver ore deposit was real, but the Nendis were living right on top of it. The Britin Mining Core Group was instructed by the BEAC to negotiate with the Nendis. The plan was to buy their land, help them relocate, and rebuild. We promised medicine and manufactured goods. The deal was sweet. The chief shouldn’t have said no, but she did. We kept trying, coming back with better terms each time, and I tried to get her to understand that she was better off accepting our terms. She kept on refusing.
“Eventually, the soldiers arrived. The BEAC sent them. I tried to stop them from coming, but the government was demanding immediate results. The soldiers were there to scare the Nendis into an agreement, nothing more, or so I was told. But I knew their mission. That’s why I worked harder to negotiate a deal. I went every day for weeks until the BEAC lost patience. I tried to speak with the generals and the lieutenants. No one would listen. Then one day, I’ll never forget it. The soldiers went to the Nendis, and they…they…Well, you know. I really tried to stop them, Victoria. I tried my best to save your people, but no one would listen.”
I’m about to die ten thousand deaths. My heart is thumping in my chest. My face is hot as fire. This is not the confession I expected to hear.
“You slaughtered my people?” I ask through clenched teeth. “It was you?”
“It wasn’t really me. I was the one who was trying to save them, but the chief, she was so stubborn. That’s all she had to do was say yes. That’s it, and they would have…” Dad sighs and rubs his face. “Damn it. No one would listen.”
“Oh my god,” I sob.
“Victoria.” He reaches out to me.
I slap his hands away and reply, “Don’t you dare touch me!”
I rush out of the living room into the entryway. Dad grabs at my arm, but I slip out of his grasp. I open the door and yell for Sam and Robinson. They’re inside the house in no time, but they stop short, unsure of what to do next.
“Victoria, what are you doing?”
“You’re going to jail.”
“I can’t be arrested. I was working for the BEAC during that time. Let’s talk about this, please.”
“I’m not arresting you for that!” I respond with gut jolting rage. “I’m arresting you for the murder of Ruby Taylor.”
The color flushes from his face as he stares at me in utter shock.
Sam cites his rights while handcuffing him. I move out of the way when he marches Dad out the door. When they’re gone, Robinson asks me to wait outside, and informs Mum to remain in her seat. He’ll be bagging the evidence from the house.
Without saying a word, I walk out. More detectives and community support officers arrive, pouring in around me into the place I’ve known as home.
I’ve been with the Kipling’s for fourteen years. They saved my life, plucked me from the wilderness, but they were the very reason I needed to be saved. How cruel.
I should have known better. All those years ago, they weren’t out there for the scenery. When I found them on the road, it wasn’t a coincidence that they were out there. How could I have been so foolish and blind all this time?
This family was always on borrowed time. I don’t feel so bad about having him arrested, but I feel bad for leaving my people and living with the enemy.
My situation is about to change. For good or bad, only time will tell.
Chapter Forty-One.
Robinson and I go over all the details of the case. He will be interviewing my dad. Due to the relationship, I’m not allowed near him, and I can’t speak to him either. Even though I solved the case, DS Green doesn’t want to chance a conflict of interest beyond this point. The decision is sound. I don’t think I can handle being in the same room with him anyway. The disappointment is already too much.
After Robinson is confident he understands the case, he goes into the interrogation room and sits with his back to the viewing glass. Sam stands in the corner, facing Robinson. Sitting quietly and upright, the murderer is handcuffed and on the other side of the table. I’m in the viewing room. DS Green is to my left, only a few feet behind me. Mum is in the squad room. A detective is keeping her company.
“Mr. Jamie Kipling,” Robinson begins, “I’m required to inform you that our conversation is being recorded and that you’re entitled to a solicitor before we continue. Do you wish to have one present at this time?”
“No,” he answers solidly.
“Do you plan on answering all of my questions, or are you going to be difficult?”
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“Good. You’re here as a primary suspect for the murder of Ruby Taylor. Based on your statement this evening, you could be formally charged by the Sovereign Prosecution Service. Do you understand so far, Mr. Kipling?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll begin with you writing down what you sent to Georgia Knight, and don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Robinson pushes a pen and a piece of paper across the table. “Word for word, do it.”
My dad’s hand shakes as he writes. When he’s done, he pushes the paper back.
Robinson reads the note aloud, “Ruby is dead in Sable Alley.”
Dad keeps his head high. Robinson stares at him, either sizing him up or disgusted. Eventually, he moves on.
“Let’s get to the business at hand,” he says plainly. “What happened the evening you killed Ruby Taylor?”
Dad clears his throat and shifts in his chair. He remains quiet while blankly staring at the viewing window. He sees only his reflection, but he knows I’m watching. He wants to talk to me instead of Robinson. He thinks I’ll save him, just because he saved me once. He really didn’t. He had no idea who I was back then, and I was no more different than the other individuals in my tribe. If I would have been with my parents, the soldiers would have killed me too.
“Mr. Kipling, tell me what happened the night you killed Ruby Taylor.”
He comes out of the trance, giving Robinson his full attention. Still hesitant, he begins, “Sunday night. It was on February 18, 2018, around eleven or thirty minutes after, when I followed Ruby from the train station. I caught up with her in Sable Alley. I was talking to her, reasoning with her. She wouldn’t listen. She was rude. She pissed me off, and…and I killed her.”
“And what did you use to kill her?”
“A baseball bat.”
“Where did you hit her?”
“On the…On the head.”
“How many times did you hit her?”
“What kind of question is that? Why would I keep count?”
“I have to ask, Mr. Kipling.”
“I don’t know.”
“Which train station did you follow her from?”
“I believe it was Hyde-Chapman.”
“How did you get to that station? Did you walk or drive?”
“I drove. I left my car at the corner of Hyde Road and Knutsford.”
“How did you know Ruby was getting off at that specific stop?”
“It’s close to where she lives on Sunny Brow.”
“How do you know where she lived?”
“I followed Ruby for about a week.”
“When did you first meet or see her?”
“We didn’t exactly meet, but I saw her in a parking garage two weeks ago on a Friday afternoon.”
“What was the date?”
“February 9th.”
“Where was this parking garage?”
“Next to Hunt Projects.”
“Did you speak to Ruby Taylor in the garage?”
“No, but I noticed that she was talking to Georgia Knight, Hunt Projects human resource officer. They were having what looked to be an intimate conversation.”
“Why were you there?”
“I had a job interview at Hunt Projects.” He tenses up before continuing. “And much to my surprise, so did Ruby. She showed up and sat down in the same waiting room.”
“You mentioned Georgia Knight. Did she interview you and Ruby?”
“Yes, but not at the same time. I went first.”
“Were other people there to be interviewed?”
“Yes, just one more person.”
“During your interview, Mr. Kipling, did you tell Miss Knight that you saw her with Ruby in the garage?”
“No. There were other Hunt executives present, and I didn’t want to ruin my chances of getting the job.”
“Ruin your chances,” Robinson laughs. �
�You just admitted to seeing them all cozied up. You knew what that meant the moment you saw Ruby waiting to be interviewed. You could have landed the job with that bit of information.”
He doesn’t reply, but the grinding of his jaw speaks volumes of his anger.
“I get it. If you would have said something to the executives, they probably would have guessed you were a troublemaker. Someone who was trying to strongarm their way into their firm by foul tactics rather than merit. I mean, who needs that kind of person in their company, right? The most damage you would have done to Miss Knight was embarrass her at the most, but you knew, ultimately, it wouldn’t look good for you either. You had much more to gain than to lose, and you were willing to swallow what you saw. But you had to know you weren’t going to get the job. You knew right? I bet it ticked you off.” Robinson moves on when Dad doesn’t confirm or deny his statement. “So, when did you find out you didn’t get the job?”
“It was Monday of last week. Miss Knight called me, told me the bad news.”
“Did you mention you saw her and Ruby in the garage during that conversation?”
“I did, and I also told Miss Knight that I knew she hired her.”
“What did she say in response?”
“Miss Knight said that I needed to be careful of the accusations I was making.”
“I assume, Mr. Kipling, you started following Ruby after that. How did you locate her?”
“I waited for Miss Knight to get off work on Monday.”
“What was the date, please?”
“Friday was when I had my interview. That was on February 9th. So that Monday was February 12th.”
“Go on.”
“I followed Miss Knight first. She went home, stayed there for a while, and then Ruby showed up. It wasn’t long after that they went out for dinner, and she took Ruby home.”
“How long did you follow them around?”
“I followed Miss Knight the one time, but I tailed Ruby most of the week after that.”
Sable Alley Page 19