by J. Valentine
“Can you explain more please?” He begged.
“I will explain on the way!”
She threw her bags in the car, and got inside. Max drove. Fast.
“Get to the police station, I gotta call him now.”
She dialed the phone. She still had his number memorized.
He answered after a few rings, “Olivia.”
“Brad! I think I figured it out. I’m not sure yet. The Cartwright’s had insurance documents for a side by side at their cabin. If Anna and Layla killed Maryam, they could have used it to transport the body.”
“Oh my God! And what would they have done with the side by side?”
“Exactly, what would they have done with a side by side? I can only think of one way to get rid of it where no one would notice. Park it on a lake somewhere in the wilderness, and hike back to the cabin. Come spring, the ice melts, and the side by side disappears into the depths.”
“Can we meet up?” Brad asked her.
“Definitely. Meet at Max’s place?” She looked over towards her brother, asking him permission with her eyes. He nodded right away.
“Okay I’ll head there now.”
“See you soon,” she hung up the phone.
“How are you going to find it?” Max asked.
“I don’t know. Rent a chopper maybe?” She suggested.
“You think he’s gonna be pissed you broke into the cabin?” Max asked her.
“Definitely.”
***
Brad was standing outside of his cruiser when they arrived back at the house, pacing back and forth. He walked up to the car to greet Olivia. They awkwardly looked at each other, both thinking about how things ended. Maybe solving the unsolvable murder could bring them back together.
“How’d you get into the cabin, Olivia?” Brad asked her.
She smiled, “I really hope you can keep that secret. I didn’t mean to let that slip.”
“We can’t tell them. We’ll have to find another way to get them to talk. Maybe you can set them up someway. It’s been some time now, maybe they’d talk to you again.”
“Can we go inside please, it’s freezing out here?” Max asked the two conniving investigators.
They nodded.
“Hey boy, I didn’t think I’d see you again,” Olivia reunited with Alvi, petting him, and riling him up before letting Max take him outside.
They headed down to the basement. Olivia had taken down her pictures and notes and strings from the corkboard in a dramatic tantrum, but quickly started hanging everything back up. Everything she had printed off, she left in one of her father’s old office storage boxes, packed away on one of his wire framed shelves.
She put up the picture of Barry:
Former Prime suspect
Alibi: buying coke
Motive: inheritance
Now in jail
Bitcoin thief
She put a big X over his face in sharpie.
“We can agree he didn’t do it now?” Olivia asked him.
“Agreed,” said Brad.
She put up the picture of Layla next, and began writing notes:
Suspect 1
Alibi: Cabin
Motive: Maryam beat her, and had her on multiple psych medications (that she didn’t always take)
Currently free and living with mother off of inheritance, and bitcoin.
Next she put up the picture of Anna, and wrote:
Suspect 2
Alibi: Cabin
Motive: Husband transitioned, beat her.
Currently free and living with daughter off of inheritance, and bitcoin.
She put up the picture of Maryam, noting:
Victim
Night of murder: Upset about daughter and wife going to cabin without her.
Murderer, alcoholic, generally unstable
“What do you make of it?” Brad asked.
“I think they did it for sure. We just have to find out exactly what happened to that side by side.”
“What if…” Brad paused, unsure how to continue.
“What if what?” Olivia looked at him.
“This may sound insensitive,” he hesitated again.
“Just tell me, it’s okay.”
“You haven’t talked to them since you found out Maryam was the hit and run driver right?” Brad asked her.
“Right?” She agreed.
“What if you call them, and tell them you want to discuss the situation with them. Say you want to clear the air, and find closure. Before you left town.”
Olivia looked down at her feet, reminded of what happened, and saddened by it. She had to admit the plan could work though. That would at least get her in the house. Maybe.
“Let’s try it. It could work, you’re right,” Olivia told him, reaching out to touch his arm. Oh how I’ve missed feeling his body, her mind raced.
The two sat down and began to plan. They went over every detail. What she’d say on the phone to get in the house, how she would sneak the pocket recorder in, the questions she planned to ask the two possible murders, and how to proceed after getting the confession.
If she got the confession that is, and that’s a big if. And if she were to manage to get the confession, she had to have a safe way out of there, as things could get hostile quickly. Brad would be close by, listening nearby to protect her.
They both enjoyed the time spent together. Laughing, and being close to one another. Plotting their ruse, and interrogation. They both missed each other dearly, but both knew this wasn’t the time. They were too close to solving the impossible murder.
Chapter 29
“Hello?” Anna answered the phone.
Olivia had Brad standing by, recording everything, just in case something were to happen, and the conversation needed to be added to evidence. Which was perfectly legal as Canada has single party consent laws for recording conversations nationwide. Olivia was nervous, but kept her cool, knowing she had to say the exact right thing, to have her request accepted. If Olivia’s suspicions were correct, they had a lot to hide. And a lot to lose since receiving Maryam’s bitcoin harddrive from Barry after he signed the deal his lawyers got him.
“Good evening Mrs. Cartwright, this is Olivia Guilbault, sorry to call you late, I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time,” she began. Olivia and Brad figured that she’d be more likely to accept later in the evening since she would likely be already a bottle or two of wine deep.
“Oh no worries, I wasn’t doing anything. I don’t really want to talk though. I thought you already left Red Arch?”
“I actually rescheduled my train trip. I wanted to spend more time with my brother, and maybe do a few other things in Red Arch before I leave. It’ll only take a minute to talk, if you don’t mind,” Olivia told her. There was a pause. Like buying a used car, the first one to talk now would lose.
…
“Okay, what do you want?” Anna Cartwright asked her.
Brad made a fist, excited by the response. It was going well.
“Well I feel like we left things on a bit of a sour note, and I don’t like the way things ended,” she did her best to sound casual and honest. “I was wondering if I might be able to come by and talk… clear the air.”
“We can’t just do that over the phone?”
“Well, I’d like to see Layla as well if possible. I try my best to be a good Christian. I want to forgive Maryam for what happened to my mother. I’d just like to talk with you both, and get some things off my chest.”
Anna let out a long sigh through the phone. Layla and her were both Christian as well, thought they hadn’t been to church in some time. Hard to blame them. “Well okay then. When did you want to come by?”
“Could I come by tomorrow afternoon? Maybe 2 o’clock?”
“Yeah that’s fine. I’ll let Layla know,” Anna hung up the phone.
Olivia and Brad gave each other high fives, ecstatic with the result of the phone call. That was the first step of the pl
an completed. It wasn’t enough for Brad. He looked into Olivia’s deep eyes, smiled and leaned in to give her a passionate kiss on the lips. Olivia wanted to pull back at first, but she missed this too much. She reciprocated. He pulled her in closer. The warmth from his body was intoxicating to Olivia, she wanted him again more than anything. She actually felt happy again for the first time in a month.
Things were still awkward between the two after the kiss, they both loved it, but were hesitant to go any further. They needed time, after the previous blow up when the relationship ended, and they thought Olivia was leaving to go south. They loved each other too much, and couldn’t face that their time together would be coming to a bitter end whether they solved the murder or not.
“I should go,” Brad told her sadly.
“Yeah that would be for the best. Meet here tomorrow at noon? We can go over everything then head over to the lake house?”
“Okay.”
***
Progress, Olivia began in her blog. She didn’t plan to post anything just yet, but she wanted to be prepared to give an update to her readers, if things panned out the way she thought they would.
Just when I think I’m out… they pull me back in. A random off comment my brother made, and everything just makes sense. The side by side, the cabin, the lake. It could be true. It was a good working theory, now we just have to prove it true. Without getting me thrown in jail, that is. I may have had to bend the rules a little bit to get the information I needed. If it solves a murder though… it was worth it.
Max was busy coding the next morning, and didn’t make breakfast. That was okay though. Olivia had to keep up appearances in town and keep her story straight. A lot of people knew she was leaving. They’ll be confused when they find out she’s still in town. News travels quickly in Red Arch, and she didn’t want anything too important let out of the bag.
She had to make sure Stephanie knew she was still in town, and why. She would spread the news quickly, and quash anyone’s suspicions. Olivia and her had become a lot closer since Max and Stephanie started dating. She hoped that she wouldn’t mind the white lie.
“Hey Stephanie! I decided to stay in Red Arch a bit longer. Want to meet for breakfast this morning?” Olivia texted her.
“Yeah that sounds nice, why’d you decide to stay?” She replied.
She can’t wait until breakfast? Olivia laughed, “it’ll be easier if I tell you at breakfast. Donato’s?”
“Yeah I can meet you there now if that works,” she said eagerly.
“Perfect, see you in fifteen!”
***
The smell of fresh coffee and donuts filled her nostrils. She wanted to lift off the ground, and go to it like a looney tunes character after a pie. Stephhanie was already there, sitting down at one of the small coffee shop tables. Olivia took a seat, after ordering her dark roast with milk, and a cruller. She sunk into the vinyl of the semi uncomfortable chair. Stephanie looked at her sadly. Clearly thinking that Olivia was staying in Red Arch for, not so happy, reasons.
“How is everything?” Stephanie asked her.
“Good, I just had some unfinished business in Red Arch, some things best left not unsaid.”
“Like what?” She sipped her coffee.
“I felt kind of bad blaming the Cartwrights for what happened with my mother. I just want to clear the air with them, make everything right,” Olivia explained.
“Yeah I understand,” she nodded.
“I think it will be good for Max too.”
“He needs the closer,” Stephanie agreed, “is he going with you over there?”
“No, that will be too hard on him, I think.”
“Yeah I could see that.”
“How are things between you two?” Olivia inquired.
“They’re going really good, we're getting along great, we have a lot of chemistry. We just love spending time together.”
Olivia thought of Brad. How she too felt they had good chemistry with one another, how much they got along, and loved spending time together. It is always hard for Olivia to say goodbye, when she moved on to the next town. That’s her line of work though, the nomadic lifestyle of going from place to place, to solve new mysteries. Her inbox was already filling up. It was almost time to start going through them, to look for the next case she wants to take.
“That’s really good to hear,” Olivia told her.
“I was sorry to hear about Brad and you, but I guess you have to move on eventually.”
“Yes, it’s been hard. I wish we had more time. I haven’t gotten along with someone that well since leaving my ex fiance.”
“Max told me about Jacob. They both got along pretty well. Do you ever look him up?” Stephanie asked.
“Sometimes. Just to see how he’s doing. He has a new girl now, and they seem really happy. She’s a bit younger than me.”
“Ugh, men can be the worst sometimes. The audacity,” Stephanie did her best to get Olivia going.
“Yeah they can be like that sometimes, but hey, I left him, so I can’t blame him for whatever choice he makes after that.”
Stephanie nodded.
The young blonde pretty waitress, with… clearly enhanced assets, came over and asked them if they wanted a refill. They both agreed. After she began to walk back to the counter the two looked at each other and laughed, knowing this was exactly the kind of girl any guy on a rebound after a five year relationship would pursue.
“So what are your plans long term with Max?” Olivia inquired.
“Well I’d definitely like to stay with him long term. I don’t know about anything else though, it’s still all too new. I want kids one day, but I’m not sure if Max does. We haven’t talked about that.”
Olivia nodded, knowing full well that Max did indeed want kids, but she chose to keep that information hidden, not wanting to start any arguments between the happy couple. “Would you stay in Red Arch?” She asked, instead.
“I love Red Arch. It’s such a great place to tend bar, and I love working with my dad.”
Olivia nodded, knowing that the constant drama of the town would keep Stephanie here for a long time. Stephanie didn’t realize that Olivia knew that she was a frequent poster on the concerned citizens facebook page.
“Yeah I like it too,” Oliva agreed.
They finished their coffee, and continued the pleasant chat. Olivia was certain she didn’t give away too much information. If word got back to the Cartwright’s they’d have no ideas. Still she was nervous about the coming afternoon.
“I should get going. I have some stuff to take care of at the house before I meet with the Cartwrights.”
“Okay. It was really nice seeing you Olivia. I’ll miss this when you leave,” Stephanie embraced her in a hug before leaving the coffee shop.
Chapter 30
Olivia got back to the house to see Brad waiting for her. He stood outside his cruiser again. Oh how she missed him, and his body. She loved every minute she got to spend with the man of her dreams. She thought back to highschool, and how far she had come since then. A dream job, and being intimate with the man her teenage self had fawned over. She had to keep moving forward though, and remember each precious moment they spent together.
“Are you ready, Olivia?” He asked her. Olivia loved hearing the way he said her name.
“Yes sir,” she smiled at him.
They went back inside to go over their notes once again, and cement their plan. It would take a lot of improvising, but they were sure that once the side by side was mentioned, or a few leading questions were put out there, Layla and Anna would be caught off guard and panic. And when criminals panic, they make mistakes.
***
They left the house at 1:30pm. Brad wanted some extra time to get set up. They drove separately down the backroad branching off from the main street adjacent to the lake. They got to the long driveway. Olivia drove down it, and Brad stayed behind in his cruiser to listen to the conversation on a secret transm
itter that Olivia would have hidden in her purse.
I never thought I’d step back onto this property, Olivia thought to herself, while walking up the steps to the door of the beautiful home. The door was large and intimidating, making Olivia feel small. Her heart rate increased, as she knocked on the door.
She heard footsteps walking towards. Anna opened, wearing the same bathrobe as before, cleavage showing, and a glass of red wine in her hand. Perfect, Olivia thought.
“Good afternoon, Olivia,” Anna said, stumbling through the words, already half in the bag for the day.
She’ll sober up soon enough, once she realizes why I’m really here, the thoughts raced through Olivia’s mind. “How are you today, Mrs. Cartwright?”
“I’m good. Come on in,” she ushered her through the door.
Olivia left her shoes by the door, jacket in the closet, and kept her purse close to her side, before entering into the living area.
“Thank you,” she told Anna.
“Layla!” Anna called her daughter from upstairs.
Olivia watched as she walked down the stairs and into the main entry to join her mother and her. She wondered if she had taken any of the myriad of drugs prescribed to her. Was she up to day? Had she been taking them over the last week? Has she had more prescribed, or script changes since Olivia first saw the drugs in their medicine cabinet? All important questions about her state of mind. Olivia knew in her heart one of them was the killer, but she wasn’t sure who.
Olivia hoped the transmitter was working properly, and Brad was hearing everything, keeping a watchful ear over her. She was worried things could go south quickly, and issues could arise, needing his help. They tested the device, but anything can go wrong with technology. Olivia instinctively held on to her purse, where the backup recorder, and transmitter laid. Anna and Layla brought her into the living room, where they had previously had their conversations. The stuffed moose head overtop of the dry unlit fireplace watched their every move.
***
“I was so sorry to hear about what Barry said,” Anna began.
“I wasn’t sure if I believed him at first either, but the mechanic confirmed that he repaired the car,” Olivia told them.