“Are you still in Parksville?”
“Yes, which is why I’m worried about Summer. Could you ask the Vancouver police to keep an eye on the house?” She gave him Barb’s address. “Do you know if Gabrielle has an alibi?”
“That comes under the none-of-your-business heading, Miss Holland. I’ll do what I can for your ward, though. Meanwhile, I suggest you return home and stay out of our investigation.”
“I’ve been trying, Corporal, but people keep dragging me into it.”
“Try harder.” He hung up before she could give him the name of Gabrielle’s employer.
Casey tossed her phone on the bed. He was the one who should be bloody trying harder. She picked up a phone book from the table’s bottom shelf and flipped through the yellow pages, looking for management consulting firms with four names. One company fit that description. Casey jotted down the company name and phone number on a hotel notepad.
If she called the company and came up with a good reason for asking if Gabrielle was working the morning of September twenty-eighth, a receptionist might be able to help, but it would be tricky. Casey checked her watch. Twenty past five. She wanted to call Hannah and tell her about Gabrielle right now, but Gabrielle might still be there. Casey called the employer. A perky recorded voice announced they were closed for the day and would re-open at 9:00 AM.
Casey picked up a brochure that boasted about Parksville’s beaches, parks, golf courses, and nature walks. Several resorts offered special romantic getaway packages. She thought of Lou and loneliness overwhelmed her. Might as well grab a meal, read some letters, and try to understand a complicated woman she really hadn’t known at all.
• • •
BY THE TIME Casey had poured over five heart-wrenching letters about Jasmine’s childhood and marriage, she’d lost her appetite. Understandably, Jasmine hadn’t gone into graphic detail about the sexual abuse she’d suffered, yet her pain was clear, and because of this Casey felt like a sleazy voyeur.
“After my adopted parents died,” Jasmine had written, “I was afraid I’d never have a family again and didn’t think the depression would ever end.”
A feeling Casey knew all too well. After Dad’s passing, medication and therapy eventually got her through months of depression. Jasmine’s remedy had been to marry Elliott Birch, which only made things worse. Refusing to be victimized again, she’d left him.
Casey pushed away her half-eaten clubhouse sandwich. She’d been sitting in the hotel’s restaurant for what felt like ages, and it was now dark outside. With any luck, Gabrielle would have left Hannah by now. She’d already called Barb back and had updated her on recent events.
Casey picked up her phone, took a calming breath, and called Hannah. When Hannah answered, Casey said, “Are you alone?”
“Yes, thank heaven.” Hannah’s voice was strong again. “God, I hate her surprise visits. Two in one week. She probably lost another boyfriend.”
“I don’t think so,” Casey replied. “I have something to tell you about your daughter, and it’s not good.”
Hannah hesitated only a moment. “Go on.”
“Gabrielle was the woman I saw with Birch in his trailer. I recognized her right away.” She waited for a response. “Hannah?” Oh no. Was the poor woman having another stroke? “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Her voice was quiet. “Just surprised.”
“I’m sorry, I had no idea who Gabrielle was until you introduced us.”
“I understand, Miss Holland, and I respect your honesty.”
Back to last names. Hannah was ticked and Casey didn’t blame her. “If you confront her about it, I’d appreciate it if you left my name out of this.”
“She’ll want to know how I found out.”
“Please understand that I’m not accusing Gabrielle of anything,” Casey said. “I simply saw her kissing Birch in his trailer the night I went to check on Jeremy.”
“When was that, exactly?”
“Eight days go, on the twelfth.” Casey stared at her iced tea. “Maybe they’ve split up since then.”
“I’ll have someone look into it. If she’s still with Birch, I’ll know soon enough.”
Would Hannah confront Gabrielle before then? “Do you still want me to read the letters?”
“Yes, of course.”
Twenty-five more to go. Part of her wished Hannah had said no.
“I’m glad you told me,” Hannah added. “The more I know, the better I can protect my grandson. Goodbye.”
Casey picked up letter number six.
• • •
WHEN SHE RETURNED to her hotel room an hour later, she didn’t know whether to feel angry, sad, or relieved that she finally knew why Jasmine had hated her.
“I like to help people,” she’d written. “My friend Marie said a girl named Casey stole the man she was in love with. Casey puts on a nice act, but Marie says it’s phony. Casey always acts like she owns the place.”
Apparently, Marie had convinced Jasmine that Stan gave Casey better assignments because she was his favorite. Casey tossed the letters onto the bed. The rest would have to wait till after she’d had a long hot bath. She removed her runners and socks, then started to pull off her T-shirt when someone knocked on the door.
Who the hell was that? Only Lou knew where she was staying. She’d drawn the curtains when she came in, but they weren’t heavy enough to keep the room’s lights from showing through.
The second knock was louder and more insistent. Worry sent a shiver through Casey. Pulling the shirt back down, she tiptoed toward the door and peered through the peephole. Gabrielle. Adrenaline surged and goose bumps rose on her arms. She stepped to the side, away from the door. Had the woman seen her drive away? Had Gabrielle scoured parking lots in search of an old red Tercel?
“What do you want, Gabrielle?”
“I need to talk to you. Please, it’s urgent.”
“Has something happened to your mother?”
“She’s fine. Could you open the door?”
Casey didn’t want to see those cobra eyes again. “I was about to take a bath. Can you phone me in an hour?”
“I’m here now and this won’t take long.”
Not long at all to fire a Glock twenty-seven. “I don’t see why it can’t wait.”
“I’m not leaving until we talk. I’ll camp outside this door all night if I have to.”
Crap. Threatening to call security would be pointless. This was a small, cheap place, probably without security. Casey grabbed her cell phone, stuffed the letters in her bag, and then shoved the bag in a drawer. She peeked through the drapes on the right side of the door. Gabrielle appeared to be alone and empty-handed, but this didn’t mean a companion wasn’t waiting nearby, or that she wasn’t hiding a weapon.
“You can’t contact my mother again!” Gabrielle yelled through the door. “She was so upset after you left that I thought she’d have another stroke. What did you say to her?”
Hannah hadn’t sounded upset on the phone. “Ask Hannah.”
“She’s already forgotten most of it.”
Sure, right.
“She might ask you about Jasmine again,” Gabrielle went on. “Don’t tell her anything, understand?”
“Casey will talk to whoever she wants,” a familiar voice said loudly.
Oh god, it was Lou! If Gabrielle was armed he could be in trouble. Casey opened the door, barely aware of the cool, salty air wafting into the room.
“Hey, darlin’.” Lou stepped past Gabrielle.