“Ernie,” Arthur said.
Arthur took Riley’s leash in hand. Lane’s antenna went up.
Loraine said, “It’s been my experience that when young people are attacked like that, there can be some pretty nasty emotional and psychological after effects. Is anybody looking out for the kid? And speaking of psychology, Lane, are you finished talking shop?”
“What’s going on?” Lane said.
“You and I are going to talk while Lisa and Arthur take Riley for a walk,” Loraine said.
“As a shrink?” Lane said as Arthur and Lisa stood.
“As a friend,” Loraine said.
Riley was already at the gate with his tail wagging. Lisa and Arthur followed.
“You planned this,” Lane said.
“Arthur’s worried. He sees you shutting down emotionally as you get deeper into this case. He thinks it brings old memories to the surface,” Loraine said.
back beneath the surface. “Then he should have asked me himself.”
“Would you have listened?
“No.”
“Will you listen to me?” Loraine said.
Lane’s hand nervously twirled an empty glass on the table.
“A case like this can bring old memories back. Just like Ernie is going to have to face what happened to him, you’ll have to deal with what happened to you.”
“Lots of people have difficult childhoods,” Lane said.
“Often it’s a matter of sensitivity and degree.” Loraine looked him right in the eye and said, “The sensitivity that makes you successful in your work also makes it harder for you to deal with what you’ve experienced. You have to deal with it some time. More often than not, when we reach a certain age we have to face the trauma’s that have shaped us. Arthur told me about some of the things that happened to you.”
“So, what are you saying to me?”
“Listen to Arthur when he says you need help,” Loraine said.
Lane forced a smile and thought, Arthur, you bastard.
CHAPTER 14
“How come you’re not coming downstairs?” Beth sat a plate of spaghetti on the night table in her mother’s bedroom.
Nanny sat in the high-backed oak chair by the window. “See that car there?” She pointed past the T intersection to the road leading to Ernesto’s house. She handed binoculars to Beth.
Beth took them and said, “Which one?”
“The grey one.”
Beth studied the binoculars. “Weren’t these Dad’s?”
“Brought ‘em back from the war.”
Beth lifted the glasses to her eyes. Two men sat side by side in the front seat of a Ford. “Who are they?”
“Marv and Lester. Bob’s friends.” She spat the names out like they were clots of phlegm.
“How do you know it’s them?” Beth said.
“They’re the ones who came to the door the other day. They dropped off the letter to scare me off. Saw ‘em drive up yesterday and earlier today.” Nanny’s hand was a river system of veins caressing the back of Beth’s blouse. “Didn’t think they’d give up. They don’t think I’m serious. I knew they’d be back after the dirty letter.”
“What do you mean about them not taking you seriously?” “I told them I’d protect my own.”
“We’d better call the police.”
“Then what?” Nanny said.
“What do you mean?”
“What are the police gonna do?”
“Chase them off.” Beth felt a familiar tightness in the muscles around her ribs. Life was spinning out of control again and she was the same terrified kid whose sister ran away just before her Mother fell apart.
“Those two’ll just find another way to do what they’re gonna do. They did before. Remember?”
“What do you want me to do then?” Beth sat on the edge of the mattress.
“Nothin’.”
Beth opened her mouth and stopped, then changed the subject, “It’s your birthday tomorrow. We should go out for dinner. Somewhere nice.”
“Ernie comin’?”
“I’ll ask him.” Beth sensed something disheartening in her mother’s behaviour. “Let’s go somewhere nice.”
“Sonny’s.”
“But.”
“Got a two for one coupon.” Nanny picked up her purse.
“How about trying another restaurant?”
“I like chicken.” Nanny opened the purse and pulled out a coupon.
“Lots of other places have chicken.”
“It’s my birthday.” She put the coupon back.
“But… ” Beth knew she was losing but once she’d stopped swimming with the current it was hard to quit. She realized she liked being a fighter and thought, with a shudder, I’m becoming my mother.
“Wanna cup of tea?”
“Sure,” Beth said.
“Me too.” The old woman lifted the binoculars. “I warned those two and they didn’t listen.”
“I still think we should call the police.” Beth thought about going downstairs and dialing 911.
“Nope.”
“Remember what those two did last time?”
“I’ll never forget,” Nanny said.
“They spread those rumours around town till Dad had to sell the business and school, it was hell.”
“Things are different, now.” Nanny looked at her daughter. “How?”
“I’m not afraid of them anymore.”
Wednesday, August 2
CHAPTER 15
“What, exactly, is bothering you about the Swatsky case?” Arthur said. He bent to hook fingers around Riley’s collar.
Lane had spent most of his day off sorting through the details of the case in his mind. Finally, after a supper of silence, Arthur had insisted they take Riley for a walk.
Lane looked across the prairie grass bearding Nose Hill. Below, in the river valley, Bankers Hall and Petro-Canada skyscrapers stuck their long noses out of the urban forest. To the west were the newer houses, where the land was mostly stripped of trees and the Rocky Mountains formed a backdrop. Soon, the peaks would be silhouetted by the sun.
Riley galloped away with glowing coat and tail held high.
Lane wore running shoes, shorts and T-shirt. He felt free of the tiny prison the tie and pistol imposed upon him during work days. He smiled at the simple pleasure of an evening where the air was warm at sunset.
“Something is out of place?” Arthur said.
“It’s too much of a coincidence. Ernesto at the airport on the same day Swatsky’s car was found.”
“What else?” Arthur said.
“He’s a great cook.”
“So?”
“The old guy’s a real charmer. It’s hard to imagine him as a killer,” Lane said.
Riley barked and headed for deeper grass where only his tail was visible.
“A better cook than me?” Arthur pulled sweaty cotton away from his belly.
“No, but he needs a shrink and you think I need one too.”
Arthur ignored the sarcasm, “You like him?”
“Yes and he knows more than he’s telling.”
“You think he’s got something to do with Swatsky’s disappearance?” Arthur said.
“Will you let me finish a thought?”
Arthur put his palm over his mouth till only eyes and nose were visible.
“He’s so damned nice, and… ” Lane watched Arthur remove his hand from his mouth.
“And?”
“And innocent.”
“Of the crime?” Arthur said.
Lane shrugged and looked to see what Riley was up to. The dog pranced through the shorter grass with his nose low to the ground.
“The old woman called Ernesto a pervert. That hit a nerve?”
“Yes, but that’s not the only reason,” Lane said.
Arthur waited.
“You know what I’m talking about. He’s so lonely he gets himself a doll. He’s not hurting anyone. Someone labels him a pervert. Sound familiar?”
Arthur said, “Of course.”
“Maybe getting a love doll is not what it appears to be. Maybe its got nothing to do with sex. Maybe it’s just about being lonely.”
“Maybe it’s more,” Arthur said.
“You don’t understand.”