by J. Valentine
“Can you blame him?”
“I guess it looks better than making videos screaming about your innocence. Believe me, I’ve seen it all from both the innocent, and the guilty,” Olivia explained to him.
They stepped inside the house, kicked off their snowy boots, and hung their jackets in the closet. Olivia took a moment to admire the stitching around the Canada Goose crest.
“Alvi!” Olivia shouted as the black lab jumped up on her.
“He definitely missed you,” Max laughed, “He’s definitely my favorite out of all my hunting buddies.”
“Oh who’s a good boy? You are! You are!” She praised the dog, rubbing his cheeks and petting his back.
“Let me put him outside, before he pees everywhere!”
Max let Alvi out, and went off to look for old yearbooks. Olivia went to the kitchen. Max had been a coffee connoisseur for years and she knew he had the good stuff. She found beans, the grinder, and his beautifully glass blown french press. The aroma from the bag of fresh beans was intoxicating. She carefully watched the bubbles rise, as she slowly pressed down on the plunger, then poured the coffee into a mug she found in the cupboard. Adding a touch of milk and sugar, the coffee was one of the best cups she’d ever had.
“Enjoying that?” Max asked her as she took a sip.
She nodded.
“That’s the Etheopean blend. You know all coffee originated in Ethiopia?”
“Yes, I think you may have mentioned that to me before. Is that the yearbook?” She asked, gesturing to the book under his arm.
“It is.”
They sat down on the couch, and started flipping through the pages. So many unrecognizable faces. People who only lived in Red Arch for a few years, their parents flying them across the country, putting them in the local school, while they worked in the mines making more money than they ever had in their lives. Mixed in were many familiar faces.
“There he is. Barry Dillon,” Max pointed.
“Ohhh.”
It all came back to her in an instant. Barry Dillon. They had known each other. How could I have forgotten, Olivia was shocked with herself.
“You remember him?” Max asked her.
“I do. We had french together.”
***
The school bell rang, and Olivia closed her locker door. She looked on at Brad Wilson. Team captain of the Red Arch High Wolverines. Olivia thought back to last night’s game when he took center ice, won the puck drop, and led the W to a 3-0 victory over the Drysden Penguins. She wanted him bad. She admired his long dark hair, forming little wings at the side of his head. All the teachers loved him, the girls wanted him, and the guys wanted to be him.
“You don’t have a chance!” Barry joked with her.
“Oh fuck off Barry,” she told him.
“Voulez vous coucher avec moi… ce soir?” He asked her in his best sexy voice.
“Your accent is terrible. Don’t let Mademoiselle Birchwood hear you say that smut.”
“Smut?”
Olviia shook her head, he didn't even know what it meant. “Let’s get to class.”
***
“He was pretty funny, and dumb. We weren’t super close, but we definitely knew each other. His accent was terrible.”
“Oh remember Brad, what a tool that guy was?” He pointed towards the tall, muscular student athlete.
“Yes I do remember him,” Olivia smiled, also remembering thinking about him while using her hairbrush back in highschool.
“You know he’s a detective now?” Max asked her.
“Yeah I do remember hearing something about that. I hope he’s doing well. Maybe I’ll run into him while in town,” she smiled with a devilish grin.
“Yeah maybe,” he looked at her with an inquisitive look.
“Okay,” she slammed the yearbook shut, “This is supposed to be a vacation, what do you want to do?”
“Wanna go into town, get some lunch?”
“Sounds great! Marks Diner?” She offered.
“Just what I was thinking.”
Chapter 3
The drive was beautiful. Winding, hilly, roads were all over in Red Arch. Perilous in the winter, and fun in the summer. They travelled around the main road, adjacent to Red Arch Lake. Some of the richest families had homes here, including the Cartwright’s. High class luxury boathouses, with docks stretching out over the frozen water were common. People needed room to park their boats, yachts, and seaplanes. Olivia looked out over the frozen lake, and hoped no one would get trapped out there this season. Some kid would get drunk, or high and end up where he shouldn’t be, out on the thin ice, every few years. Always a tragedy.
They pulled up and parked at Mark’s Diner. Parked the old Honda in a lot with lines covered by a layer of snow. Everyone did their best, parking straight and in between the lines was not for this season. They fell out of the car and went inside.
“Good afternoon, just the two of you…” the hostess paused. “Olivia Guilbault?”
“That’s me!” She replied, smiling to the nice young hostess. Olivia thought she’d be great for her brother if the girl was a bit older. She hoped he’d find a good girl up here.
“Are you up here to… oh I shouldn’t pry, I’m sorry,” the hostess said, sensing Olivia’s uncomfortableness.
“Just on vacation. Visiting family,” Olivia told her.
“Oh of course. Just the two of you today?” She smiled.
“Yes please,” Max stepped in.
“Sorry about that,” Olivia told Max, after sitting down at the table the hostess brought them to.
“You’re quite the celebrity around here aren’t you?” Max asked her.
“I guess you could say that,” Olivia noticed Max checking out the waitress as she walked away. “A bit young for you I think, but she is very pretty.” Olivia had noticed the petite blonde’s ass as well. Fit, probably a member at the local gym, Olivia considered. Maybe I should try to get a workout in while here… no I’m on vacation she continued in her internal debate.
Max blushed, “Of course,” giving an awkward laugh.
Olivia looked back towards the hostess desk. The girl was making a phone call. Their eyes met for a second, and she quickly broke eye contact. Strange, Olivia thought.
They both ordered a burger. Olivia with sweet potato fries, Max with onion rings. Mark’s Diner was a quaint little diner, a staple of the community. Olivia remembered boys bringing her here on dates back in the day. It was also a great place for girls to work as waitresses. There wasn’t a strip club in town, so Mark’s was where you could make the most tips. She thought many of the girls here would have been better suited to a club with the way they dressed and held themselves.
Their food arrived and looked amazing. Mark was an amazing chef, and integral member of the local business community in Red Arch. He’d do anything he could to keep big corporate owned businesses out of the beautiful little town. He only lost to Tim Horton’s. There were always rumors in the town that he actually loved their coffee, and had been spotted a few times there early mornings. Mark even ran for mayor once, and lost by under a hundred votes. Olivia had wished she was still living in Red Arch during his run, she would’ve been another vote in his favor.
A pretty woman, another brunette like Olivia, walked over to greet them at the table. She wore a slim fit black dress shirt with a smock overtop. The bartender.
“Olivia, it’s so good to see you, I didn’t realize you were back!”
“Stephanie! It’s good to see you as well. Are you going on break? You can sit down, we can catch up,” Olivia asked, knowing that Mark’s daughter, and bartender of the diner could take a break whenever she wanted.
“Yeah that sounds nice. Max,” she nodded to the scruffy man.
Olivia always thought they would have made a great couple. They had dated for a time years ago, but things ended when Max moved from Red Arch to go to college down south. An amicable split… according to them, that is. Olivia thought it would be n
o big deal for them to sit down and chat for a few minutes.
“It’s nice to see you again Stephanie, you look great!” he interjected. The woman had aged gracefully into her 30s. Surely because of the high paced bartending job, and love that she got from the community and her father.
“That’s so nice. Wish I could say the same for you, ya mountain man!” Stephanie laughed, “I’m only kidding, I know there's a handsome young man under all that hair.
He awkwardly touched at his hair for a moment before saying, “Thanks,” giving a friendly laugh.
“So what are you doing back in town Olivia?” she asked. The two girls were friends in high school, introduced through Max. They haven't talked much since the both of them left Red Arch. Olivia could tell how happy Stephanie was to see them.
“Oh just visiting family. A nice mini vacation,” Olivia explained.
“Really?” Stephanie gave a look, “I thought for sure you’d be investigating the Maryam Cartwright murder. Make sure you look at Barry first, if Layla and Anna hire you for the case. Or should I say… when.”
“No one’s contacted me yet. It was really just a coincidence that I showed up shortly after the case got big. Really, I’m just here for a vacation,” Olivia explained. Though, she knew in her heart, she wanted to solve this case more than anything.
Max gave her a knowing look.
“So Max, how have you been. We haven’t had a chance to catch up since you moved back to Red Arch last summer. What are you doing here for work?” She asked him, reaching to stroke his arm gently. Olivia noticed, and realized perhaps there was a spark that needed kindling.
“Well I’m actually still working for the same programming firm that I was down south. I just work remotely now from my workstation at home. Since Red Arch got fiber internet, that became a possibility,” he explained.
“That’s really interesting Max,” Stephanie told him.
“Please, you guys. You know there isn’t enough time to catch up over a short break from work. You two should go out for dinner some time,” Olivia offered.
The two smiled at each other.
“I’d like that, but I don’t want my ex boyfriend’s sister asking me out on a date for him,” Stephanie laughed.
“I think dinner sounds nice,” Max nodded to himself, “How about Antonio’s? Tomorrow night at 7?” He asked her.
“It’s a date,” Stephanie smiled, “I gotta get back to work.” She stood up, taking their plates from the table, and went back behind the bar.
“I’m really glad you’re back Olivia,” Max told her, smiling at his sister.
“I’m happy to be back.”
Bells chimed to alert the staff someone had walked into the restaurant, and silence took over. Every head turned towards the door. Max’s mouth was left agape. Olivia’s eyes narrowed at her brother, and excitement took hold of her. A case. The newcomer’s eyes scanned the restaurant. The hostess, awkwardly greeted them. They saw who they were looking for and approached the table where the great private investigator sat.
“Olivia Guilbault?” He said. More of an exhausted statement, than a question.
She sipped her coffee, and looked to her right to see a man in his early 20s. The glasses suited his face beautifully. His sharp facial features suited his slender frame. The dark grey cardigan matched the dark blue of his dress shirt, with the top button undone. Brown hair long on top, short on the sides blending seamlessly with the fade of his facial hair. Barry certainly has grown up, she thought to herself.
“Barry Dillon, I was hoping maybe I’d get to talk to you when on my vacation,” she smiled towards Max. “Join us?”
Chapter 4
“I’d love to,” Barry told them, and proceeded to sit down at the table.
“I thought maybe Layla, or Anna would contact me about the murder, not you,” Olivia aske the attractive man inquisitively.
“I’m lucky I got to you first I guess,” through all the trauma, he was still charming. Did the boy I knew in french class all those years ago really grow up to be a psychopathic murderer? She considered.
“So you do want to hire me… before I decide if I want to take the case, tell me why,” she demanded of the socially accused man.
“Well obviously, I know I didn’t do it. Everyone in town, including Layla and Anna are convinced, even though the police have ruled me out as a suspect.”
“How have they ruled you out if you don’t mind my asking?”
“I think I’ll leave you guys to it,” Max said, standing up from the table, and leaving his sister to her beloved work.
“Well,” he looked over towards the hostess, “I have an alibi.”
“The hostess?” She asked plainly.
He nodded, “she can vouch for my whereabouts on that night.”
“Rachel right?” Olivia thought back to the girl’s name tag.
“That’s right.”
Olivia jotted down everything into her notes app on her iphone.
“Do you have any theories about that night?”
“I have no idea what could have happened to Maryam,” there was sadness in his voice. Olivia knew never to make snap judgements about potential suspects, but she believed him. Perhaps I’m being foolish, she thought to herself.
“So let me ask you this, why not leave? You have plenty of money, the police don’t think you’re a suspect. You can always just move somewhere?”
“I’m not going to be run out of Red Arch. I love this town. And I know I’ll be proven innocent soon. Hopefully with the help of you,” he smiled at her. Olivia felt a bit sick by how attractive the man was to her. She knew she wanted him. He had an air of sexuality to him that was incredibly intoxicating to her.
“Okay fair enough. Besides as you know, these kinds of allegations have a way of following you wherever you go. Even if the real killer is found, this accusation is something you’ll have to deal with the rest of your life,” she explained to the man.
“Exactly. I understand that well enough. I’ve had accusations against me before. Nothing that got me this much heat though.”
“What do you mean by that?” Olivia asked him.
“Back in college a girl accused me of sexual assault. I almost got expelled too, but the girl came forward and admitted to making up the allegation. A lot of people thought I did it even after she came forward,” he explained.
“I’m so sorry, that’s horrible.” Was he trying to garner sympathy? Olvia considered the possibility.
“Yeah it was.”
“So.. this is always awkward, but are you aware of my rates?”
“So you’ll take my case?”
“I will,” she told the excited, and relieved man.
Barry reached into his pocket and pulled out a check book. He had already had all the necessary information filled out in Olivia’s name, and his name signed at the bottom. The ‘amount’ section was left blank, for Olivia to fill out at the end of her work.
“Thanks, Barry, I hope I’ll have some answers for you soon.”
Olivia Guilabult stepped outside the diner shortly after Barry had left her. She jotted down everything she knew so far about the case. There were many problems to solve, and many questions to answer. Writing in her blog, always helped her with getting her thoughts sorted:
I wanted to spend time with my brother, still stricken with grief, and sadness after the passing of our parents a few years apart from each other. Little did I know I’d soon be thrown into the middle of the most prominent murder in my home town of Red Arch’s long history. I know people will be looking at this case for decades to come. I just hope and pray that history will shine lightly on my actions, and the actions of the common towns folk that have grown to become my friends and family. Was Barry innocent? What exactly happened to Maryam Cartwright?
Upon exiting Mark’s Diner, she scanned the parking lot, and saw her brother’s car empty. Strange. An air of worry and paranoia washed over Olvia. Was he okay? Where was he?
“Sorry to interrupt,” Olivia said to the flirting exes.
“No worries,” Stephanie said.
“You’re ready to head out Olivia?” Max asked her.
“Yeah. Maybe I should look into renting a car when I’m here, I feel like I’m taking advantage now.”
“Oh please, It’s no big deal, I like spending time with you,” Max explained, “Alright Stephanie, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Looking forward to it. Good luck on the case, Olivia!” Stephanie said, giving Olivia an embracing hug.
***
“You really don’t have to worry about renting a car, Olivia. I am really happy to drive you around while you’re here,” Max told her after the drive back home, sitting in the driveway.
“Okay Max, you don’t have to tell me again,” she smiled at her brother. She thought it was strange how adminant he was about this. Was he up to something? She considered.
Olivia stepped out of the car, and waved goodbye to Max who ‘had something to take care of” he said, but was unwilling to specify exactly what he was doing. She stepped inside the beautiful family home, after walking up it’s beautiful masoned steps.
“Alvi!” She shouted as the young and healthy black lab jumped up to greet her. “I missed you too buddy.” She let him outside and filled up his food bowl. A mix of canned wet dog food, and dry kibbles that Max had ordered online. Olivia was proud of how well her brother treated the dog. The fancy dog food, ordered from some boutique online, and crate full to the brim with various toys was enough evidence for her.
She found her dad’s old corkboard in the basement, connected her laptop to the printer, and got to work. Pictures of everyone were pinned up. Maryam at the top, below her were pictures of Barry, Anna, and Layla.