The Caspian Wine Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Series

by Maggie Thom

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Chapter Sixty

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Chapter One

  She opened her eyes. Or at least she thought she had, that was her intent... but everything was black. Maybe it was still dark out. She tried again, and this time there was a fuzzy blur... a shadow... a stray bit of light... and a voice... but as quickly as it all came, it disappeared.

  Sometime later, she became aware of sounds and sensations. Everything was still dark. She had no sense of who or where she was. There was a feeling of being but not of knowing anything else. It was just blank. Something brushed over her body that was light and delicate. She recoiled inside, pulling back, trying to shrink more into the deep, dark hole that seemed to be her companion. Fear wrapped her in its cloak like a living, breathing monster, capturing her in a net she felt unable to escape.

  A very distant part of her brain screamed at her to get the hell away... to move... to do something... but it was so far away, so faint. She could feel the desperation but could barely grasp what it was telling her to do... or why. She tried to wade through the enveloping darkness to reach it, but she couldn’t move. She was trapped in a tiny black cave with nowhere to go... nowhere to hide... with nothing to see. The panic which had been so remote a moment ago was suddenly all there was. The harder she fought it, the more she plunged down the dark well. She had no sensation of self, no meaning of who she was. There was heaviness but she didn’t know anything beyond the little gloomy hole that she seemed to inhabit.

  She made a sound—or at least she thought it came from her but when she couldn’t repeat it, she wasn’t sure. Something moved, maybe even touched her. She couldn’t be certain. There was a tiny sense of pain but then it receded, taking the anxiousness with it... then there was nothing.

  Sounds filtered into her little world.

  “Now... do it.”

  “She’s...”

  Only snippets of their words drifted into her consciousness. She wanted to ask what the two men were talking about. Who they were talking about? And where was she? Who was she?

  She wanted to call out but remembered the last time she’d attempted a sound, everything had disappeared. She kept quiet. She waited. Slowly more things started to come to her.

  She was lying spread-eagled on a bed... at least that was her assumption as underneath her was something soft and cushiony. Cool air brushed over her skin. It was the first time she actually knew she was naked. Her first instinct was to cover herself but when she tried to lift her arms, they felt pinned... weighted. They wouldn’t move. Everything felt fastened down, although she couldn’t feel any restraints. Her entire being felt heavy, lethargic.

  Her mind yelled at her to do something... to think... to remember... to figure out what was going on. She tried but everything was a blur. Had she gotten drunk? Passed out? As hard as she tried to remember, anything that might have had any meaning seemed to dance at the far edges of the darkness that was all she could see... all that she could grasp.

  Then something caught her attention. Some sound... a noise. Excited, she focused everything on it, hoping to catch anything that would tell her what was happening to her.

  “...leave...”

  “Why... seen her...”

  “Go.”

  “... just... pregnant.” Who? Taking a chance that this time she’d be able to see, she opened her eyes. At first there were shadows but then something moved into her line of vision. It was a shape—no, a blob, a blurry blob. She tried hard to focus her eyes. Since everything about it was whitish gray, it was hard to tell if that was part of the thing or the only color she could see. It was a body... a big shape... a man? The strain of looking was too much. Her heavy eyelids closed.

  There was a prick of something in her hip. It hurt but the words wouldn’t come so she was unable to tell him. Then there was an odd impression of something cold... sterile... entering her body... something not natural... something that shouldn’t have been happening. She tried hard to fight but she felt locked in place. She needed to move. Her mind nattered at her to run but it didn’t matter what she thought or how much she begged, nothing happened. Her body felt as though it was something separate from her. It was no longer under her control.

  “Ssssh. It’s okay. It’s okay. You’re not alone. Casp... 2011 814 CW. Got that?”

  Whether that’s what the man really said to her, she wasn’t sure but she held onto the kindness of those words as her world went dark once more.

  ~~~~

  “So?”

  “So it’s done.”

  “Good. Good. This time it had better be a boy.”

  “You have a son.”

  “He’s gay.”

  “He’s eight.”

  “He’s gay.”

  “You have several daughters.”

  “Not the same. I need a son. There will be no question what role my heir will get to play in this world. Old school still trumps modern times. An heir is always male. Don’t worry; I won’t make the same mistake twice. The child will be with his mother until he’s two and then he’s mine. I’ll raise him and teach him. He’ll know right from wrong. And he will right all the wrongs that have been done against me.”

  The doctor gathered up his belongings and strode to the door.

  “If you’re successful this time, this should be our last meeting, Doctor. I should have a healthy baby boy by spring.”

  The doctor left without a word.

  ~~~~

  Vancouver Sun, June 25, 2012

  Doctor Simon Bretton, a well-respected and dedicated obstetrician/gynecologist, died in a freak accident yesterday...

  Chapter Two

  “Bobbie? It’s Tarin.”

  “Tarin? Oh my god. Where are you? How’d you find me?”

  Sobs were all she could hear. “Oh Bobbie. I’ve missed you.” Tarin fought hard to keep her emotions in check. It had been so easy to locate her, thanks to social media. She’d hunted down her old friend on Facebook. She hadn’t even had to look anywhere else. It made her flinch to think she hadn’t reached out to her for so long. She’d wanted to but hadn’t been sure how she’d be received. It hadn’t mattered that they’d been best friends as kids; sometimes things couldn’t be forgotten... or forgiven. If she hadn’t been desperate, she wasn’t sure she’d ever have contacted her. She needed help and had no one else to turn to. It made her sad and angry to think she was calling someone whom she hadn’t seen in almost twelve years to ask for her assistance. She was asking so much from Bobbie and was going to share so little with her—not that she could tell her much anyway, because there was still so much she didn’t know herself.

  Pushing away her depressing thoughts, she pulled her attention back to her friend and her rapid-fire questions.

  “Where are you now? I’ve thought of you so often, wondering what happened to you. What have you been up to? How’s your father? You’re still working for him? He doesn’t know you called me though, right?
I’m still in Toronto. Well, in that general area. God I’ve missed you. I’ve wanted to call you so many times but well you―”

  “I know and I missed you too. I wasn’t sure whether you’d want to talk to me.” She could clearly picture her beautiful, big brown eyes that had always made her feel so warm and welcome.

  “Oh, Tarin.” There was an attempt at muffling sounds.

  “Bobbie?”

  “Where are you now?”

  She bit her lip. “Hey, I’m coming out eas—uh, there and was wondering if you knew of a place I could rent? A two bedroom would be great.”

  “Uh... where exactly do you want to live? I’m sure there is something in Forrest Hill, Bloorwest Village—”

  “Nope, too ritzy. I want something low-key, nice, cheap rent. Well, you know something reasonable for a good, quiet neighborhood.”

  “Oh? Really? What’s going on? Your dad will have a fit when he finds out.”

  “I don’t intend for him to find out.”

  “Things finally blew up between you. I figured this would happen one day. I knew you’d blow a gasket when you found out. In fact, I can’t believe you’re talking—”

  “What are you talking about?”

  There was a moment of complete silence. “Well... nothing... I mean... I’m sorry to hear about your dad’s problems.”

  Tarin was certain she’d changed the subject but she sure had gotten her attention. “What problems?”

  “His business is being audited. He’s spitting mad about it.”

  “You keep in touch with him?”

  There was a bit of hesitation before Bobbie answered, “Uh... no. He was ranting in the newspaper about your family, especially your grandfather.”

  “Oh that. I think the threat of audits happen in big business, right?” Though she had no idea what Bobbie was talking about, she’d check the news for stories about his business. At one time, she’d read everything there was to know about C-Lite Hotels. She’d planned on being in charge of them one day but that had all died a quiet death.

  “I don’t know. Anyway, I’ll see what I can find for you. Nothing is really cheap but Richmond Hill and Pickering are probably your best bet. Is there any place in particular...?”

  “Just some place I can rent. Affordable.”

  “Uh... I have a house in Vaughn with a basement suite that’s going to be available soon. Would that work? At least for starters?”

  “That would be great. I need it by the end of the week, though.”

  “No problem. I’ll make sure it’s ready by tomorrow.”

  “If it’s going to cause—”

  “It’s not. Don’t worry, softy, the person moving out will be fine. Glad to see some things haven’t changed. I’ve so missed you.”

  “Thank you. Me too.”

  “I guess, well, I figured when your dad yanked you from school and refused to let me see you that you—”

  “Let’s not go through all that old stuff. So, how are you doing?”

  “Good. Life is good. Nothing to complain about as my grandmother would say. You never met her, did you? She passed away a few years ago. I still miss her; she was quick as a whip at ninety-three.”

  “No, I never met her. She sounds nice. How’s your mom?”

  “Oh, good. She’s Mom. Doesn’t change. Busy. Still trying to look eighteen at fifty-eight. Still dating men half her age and flipping through them like underwear.”

  Tarin burst out laughing. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t find that funny...” Her mom’s need to look years younger was why Bobbie had always been a little heavier than she needed to be, and at only five foot two, it hadn’t taken much for her to appear overweight.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not offended. I’ve about had it with cleaning up her messes. Anyway, forget about her. How about you; what are you up to? Did you ever find your moth—sorry; forget it.”

  “My mom? No, but I’m still looking.” She didn’t bother sharing that she had checked into adoption and government agencies in the off-chance that someone might be looking for her.

  “Do you really think she’s alive? Your dad said—”

  “He said she died when I was born, but it wouldn’t be the first lie he’s told me. Forget it. It’s dumb, I know.” Tarin grabbed a strand of long hair and tugged on it. It was odd talking with someone whom she’d once shared every secret but now felt as if she couldn’t—and she didn’t know why. “I’m, uh, changing careers. I’m looking at... some data entry. Should be a good challenge for me, you know me and computers.”

  “Isn’t that the truth? Remember in school, I had to hack into your English exam to change the mark and give you the one you deserved.”

  “I do.” Bobbie had always been there for her. “I’m leaving day after tomorrow. I’m going to rent a car in Montreal and drive out—”

  “So you’re in Montreal. It’s six to maybe an eight-hour drive—depending on how you drive. It’ll give us plenty of time to catch up.”

  “I can’t—”

  “You can and I will.”

  Tarin chuckled along with Bobbie. It had always been that way between them. Bobbie always got her way. “Okay. But I need a car seat for a two-year-old.”

  “Awesome. You have a child? Boy or girl?”

  “Boy.”

  “Does your dad know?”

  “Uh—no and I want it to stay that way.”

  “When he finds out—he always wanted a son.”

  “I know. He just can’t find out. Not right now.”

  She didn’t ask any more questions but Tarin knew that she would, eventually. For now, it was enough to know she was okay with it. Time dropped away and they were two teenagers at boarding school experiencing true friendship. The lack of contact hadn’t changed the bond they had.

  “Remember Anna and Stacy?”

  “Oh my god. Those two tormented me every day. I know it was that witch Stacy that put gum in my hair.”

  “Yeah I think so too but putting those frogs in her boots was priceless.”

  They reminisced about many of the silly things they had done. It felt good, especially since she hadn’t thought about any of it since the day she’d left twelve years before.

  “So what are you doing now?” Tarin asked.

  “Oh, nothing much. Mom keeps me busy.”

  “Did you ever get married?”

  “No. Well... there are some things you need to know but I’ll share all that when you get here. I don’t want to bore you with my news. So what’s new with you? I guess that was a stupid question. Obviously something or you wouldn’t be coming out here on the sly with a young child.”

  “Uh, yeah. A few things happening in my life, too. I guess we have a bit to catch up on.”

  “It’s been a while. Almost half our lives have been apart.”

  “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

  They talked for a few more minutes but it had become somewhat strained as the years apart started to show. Tarin really didn’t care to share what was going on in her life and she had the feeling Bobbie was holding back too. After she hung up, she wondered why she hadn’t told her the truth about her career or where she lived. Or why she’d felt the need to fly into Montreal, when it would have made more sense to fly straight to Toronto. From the moment she’d made the decision to leave, a niggling voice cautioned her to be careful and to keep her true plans quiet, at least until she knew who she could trust.

  Setting down her phone, the tears she’d been holding back poured down her face. Silently, she watched her son dance like his favorite cartoon characters were doing on television. He was grinning from ear to ear. It warmed her heart to see him so happy. Maybe he could teach her about having fun.

  Chapter Three

  “Hey, how are we doing with that ad to hire a new tech assistant?”

  “Just fine there, boss. Hyuh. Hyuh,” Graham said.

  “Oh man, who knew when we went into business together I’d have to deal with the Bugs Bun
ny troop, well, at least Goofy.” Guy shook his head.

  “Well, one of us has to stay sane, the other one’s getting hitched.”

  “Happily getting married.”

  “Yeah, I don’t know if those two words go together.” He laughed outright when Guy flipped him the bird. “All right, I’ll quit ribbing you. I really am happy for you. Bailey’s a hell of a catch. Not sure she got the same deal.”

  He grinned at Guy’s response. Figuring he’d bugged him enough, he got back to business. “We have a few applicants but nothing very exciting. I haven’t checked in a couple of days, been busy going back through that ingenious tax fraud scam we looked into a year or so ago.”

  “Do the cops have enough to charge him?”

  “Yes and no. He’d been doing taxes for the past eight years in this little out-of-the-way town, a place small enough that everyone was thrilled to have him plus close enough to other towns to draw in a large customer base. And it was far enough north to tap into a region with high-income people that needed income tax expertise. So when this guy came along and greatly reduced their tax liabilities, no one looked too closely at how he was doing it. He had a huge client base. They figured he made about four million, although they’ve only been able to track about three and a half. Not bad pay.” Graham showed Guy his report.

  “Christ. So he was doing their taxes, filing them on time but then claiming he’d received a government notice that they owed a bit more because of some new law or some such thing. He skewed the tax laws just enough for each client. He always had the cheques sent to himself. He’d then cut them a cheque, minus about ten percent. Crazy. Do the cops need more evidence to tie him to it?”

  “Yeah. He was selective in the ones he embezzled—obviously the ones who knew little about tax law. Reminds me of someone else. You?”

  “Yeah, it sounds like something my dear old Uncle Geoff would have been involved in if he wasn’t dead. Anyway, let’s not go there. So let’s get to work, see what we find.”

  Graham opened the website for Knights Associates. Then he logged into another more secure site to check out new requests. They worked closely with the police, other government agencies and sometimes a business or two. They primarily investigated cyber fraud but also cases of abuse, prostitution, or child pornography, and truth be told, almost any illegal activity involving the internet was likely to involve them.