Flashback (28 page)

She was about to answer when the door to my office opened and the superintendent walked through. 'Pick what up?' he asked.

I knew him, a stickler for the book but a good copper. 'The kidnap car. This prisoner is going to take me to where the other two are staying. I want to go in his car.'
 

'Is that necessary? Why don't we head over there in force and take them? Are they armed?'

'Yes. Kershaw's got a shotgun and he's not afraid to use it.'

'OK. You and Walker go with the witness and take the car. We'll have back-up two hundred yards behind you.'

'Good.' I unlocked the cuff from Cy and snapped it over Hanson's other wrist. 'Let's move.'

Walker came with me, checking the load on his gun as we walked out to my scout car. I took the shotgun out of it and called Sam and we drove Walker's unmarked police car over to the Reserve and collected the Chev. I stuck Hanson in the passenger seat and Walker and Sam took the rear. By the time we got back to the bridge the other police car was waiting for us and we headed out up the highway to Honey Harbour.
 

'It's in about two hundred yards,' Hanson said. 'We rented it this morning.'

'That was dumb,' I told him. 'Why didn't you just run when you got a new car?'

'Kershaw wanted to pick up the boy. He said his ex-wife had money. He said she'd pay to get the kid back.'

'How come you got sucked into a dumb plan like that?'

'I had no choice,' he said carefully. 'They had enough on me that I couldn't get out.'

'That doesn't wash, Eric. He had no clout. And he was the guy who loaded you up with angel dust, right?'

'Yeah. We were both staying at the motel. I joined him there after I went to dinner with Ms Tracy. We had a party, celebrating the shit I'd created at your town, and he told me he had some good stuff. So I took some. But there's more to it than that.'
 

'You mean you were running drugs?' It was the logical question. Drugs had to be at the bottom of the whole case, I couldn't see any other explanation.
 

'Not me,' he said miserably. 'John Waites and Tracy and the Jeffries were all running drugs. They used to bring them in at Sault Ste Marie. They had a deal with one of the Customs guys. They used a special suitcase. Moira Waites would pick the case up when she came to visit and carry it back to Toronto.'
 

'And were you involved?'

'No.' He said it fervently. 'I've only been involved in this gang stuff as a favour to Ms Tracy. She said she would give me the part if I did it, to keep you busy. And to pick up Phil, get him involved.'
 

We were approaching the turn-off for Honey Harbour and I slowed and turned on the indicator. 'We'll talk some more later. When we get there, you run up to the door in a panic and tell them the kid's out cold, you had to hit him. Can he come and help carry him inside.'
 

'Right,' he said, then drew a deep breath, the way I've seen Fred do when she was rehearsing a part. I knew he was going over his business and said nothing as we pulled up at the door.
 

I got out quickly and pretended to be digging into the rear seat with the open door between me and the house. Walker took his cue and dropped down out of sight. He had his gun drawn and he was resting his head on Sam, who was looking at me expectantly. I waited thirty seconds and then Hanson came running out. 'He's gone,' he shouted. 'He's left the woman here tied up.'
 

'I'll check.' I called Sam and sent him ahead through the open door. He bounded in, barking. A woman was lying on the floor, her hands tied behind her, a tea-towel wrapped around her mouth. I left her there a moment longer while Sam checked each of the tiny bedrooms. They were empty. Then I holstered my gun and took out my pocket knife and cut her hands free. She fumbled with the cloth around her mouth and I checked her hands and undid the knot.
 

She was gasping with fright and anger. 'That bastard!' she screamed. 'He didn't have to do that to me.'

'Who didn't?' I knew but I wanted her confirmation.

'Kershaw,' she said, gasping, out of breath but becoming calmer. 'George Kershaw. He's the man who killed Moira.'
 

'You're not Moira Waites?' Now she had surprised me.
 

'No. I'm Carolyn Jeffries. Kershaw killed Moira and put her in the trunk of her car.'
 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 16

 

 

I looked at her stupidly. 'Waites told me that the woman in the trunk of his car was Carolyn Jeffries.'

'I'm Carolyn Jeffries,' she sobbed. 'They told you I was dead so that nobody would know Moira was dead. Waites would have said she ran away with Stu.'
 

'Well, why did you run away? And who helped you when you left your car up that side-road?'

'Questions,' she said bitterly. 'I've been terrorized and abused in every kind of way by an animal since last night and you ask me questions.' She was weeping uncontrollably. 'A man has been in prison for six years. Can't you see how horrible it's been?'
 

'I'm sorry. I'll get you to a doctor.'

She would talk later, she would tell us everything, but this wasn't the time to ask questions. I went to the kitchen for water and as I returned, Walker came in, breathless. 'I've looked all around outside. He's gone,' he said.
 

'Meet Mrs Jeffries. She's just telling me what's going on.' It was his cue to nod and say nothing while she talked.

Now, with a glass of water in her hands and the knowledge that the worst was over, she did. 'Waites got Kershaw out of prison. I don't know how. He brought him up here to kill Moira. Then we got a phone call, Stu did. We were just finishing dinner. And he said we had to leave right away. I wanted to know why but he just said we were in terrible danger. So we left. Then some woman lent us a car and checked us into a motel. And that's where that bastard found us.'
 

'But what were you scared of? Why didn't you just go to the police?' I knew the answer but I wanted confirmation. Walker and I listened intently wanting to hear and remember every word she said.
 

'Drugs,' she said bitterly. 'Waites and Stu had cooked up this scheme to bring in cocaine over the border at the Soo. I never realized until the last time Moira visited. She had begun to wonder why her husband encouraged her to come and see us so often. Then, last time, I found Stu repacking her case, putting her clothes into the duplicate case he had in his closet, the one he used when he crossed the border.'
 

That was enough for a start. It was time to do the difficult thing. 'Mrs Jeffries, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you,' I said.
 

She turned and picked up the tea-towel she had been gagged with and wiped her eyes angrily. 'Not news,' she said. 'I was there, wasn't I? I saw him doing it, killing Stu for that goddamn suitcase.'
 

She sat on the couch, sobbing. Walker looked at me. 'I'll get the superintendent. He can take over.'

The superintendent wasn't much bothered about public relations. He came into the room and spoke to Mrs Jeffries. 'We'll find this guy, he can't have got far.'
 

Not a word of sympathy for her loss or for the ordeal she had been through. Just business. It rang as clumsily as the old gag about 'Are you widow Jeffries?' but she took no notice and it reminded me that I had personal priorities of my own. I checked my watch. It was nine o'clock. I was supposed to be at the hospital, collecting Fred.
 

I spoke up. 'I've got to pick up my wife from hospital, sir. I'd like to leave my dog guarding my place in case Kershaw is after me. He threatened to try.'
 

'No need for that.' The superintendent was playing by the rules now, his rules. 'I'll send an officer to watch your place until you get home.'
 

'There's a neighbour woman coming in to tidy up for me. That's why I can't leave the dog on watch. Can you get someone over there right away?'
 

'I said I'd do it.' He was imperious now. I was nominally a chief but if I'd been in the OPP I would have been at best a sergeant. He didn't want discussions he wanted obedience.
 

'Fine. Thank you. I have to get her. When she's settled in, I'll come down to the station and we can tidy things up. Right now I need a ride back to my car.'
 

'Good.' He nodded to Walker. 'We'll take these people back to Murphy's Harbour for now. You look after Mr Bennett.'

So that was me, a mere citizen in his eyes. Walker said, 'We'll take the detective car, Reid,' and we went out to it and got in, with Sam in the back seat.
 

'Make sure he sends somebody,' I told Walker. 'This guy Kershaw swore he was going to get me and I don't want my wife and kid in danger.'
 

'It'll be done,' Walker said. 'I'll make sure of it if it should slip his busy mind.' Sarcasm dripped off the word 'busy'. I was glad once again that I didn't work for a big department. The politics are endless.
 

He let me off at the Horn house. Jean had already gone so I couldn't turn Sam over to her, which would have been the perfect answer. Instead I stuck him in the front seat and set off for Parry Sound.
 

Fred was dressed and waiting, with the baby asleep in her arms. She beamed when she saw me. 'I thought you'd forgotten us.'

'Sorry, love, it's been a busy morning but we've wrapped things up now, we can relax.' The OPP would soon find Kershaw, I thought, no need to alarm her.
 

She kissed my stubbly cheek. 'You're looking kind of lived-in, old thing,' she said. 'Been up all night carousing?'

'You're half right,' I kidded. 'Except the carousing part.'

She wrapped the baby a little tighter in her shawl and I went for a nurse. That meant we had to take a wheelchair which made Fred a little impatient. 'I'm going to have to walk when I get home,' she protested cheerfully.'
 

'All the more reason to sit while you can,' the nurse said and we all went out to the front door.

The nurse laughed when she saw the scout car. 'Hey, wonderful limousine service you've got.'

The one thing I'd forgotten was a car seat for the baby, so I took five minutes to drive into town and buy one. Then we strapped it in place and set the baby in it, her head close to the shotgun in its front seat bracket. Fred smiled. 'I'll tell her about this when she's older. Her very first ride was in a police car.'
 

I strapped Fred in neatly and set off down the highway, travelling at the limit, scaring a whole line of drivers into unusually good driving manners. It was a beautiful morning, blue skies, warm, perfect high summer and I tried to relax. The only missing link in the chain was Kershaw and he wouldn't stay loose for very long. But his threat still bothered me. And he was in striking distance of the house. It made me cautious as I drove up the last half mile from Murphy's Harbour to the house. Fred was sitting up, bright and talkative. If she sensed I was on edge she said nothing about it. And then we reached the house and I saw Elaine Harper's OPP cruiser in the yard, next to Horn's pickup.
 

'Company so early?' Fred said. 'What's the occasion?'

'Jean Horn offered to come over and freshen the place up,' I said. 'And the OPP car is Elaine Harper's, you've met her. I guess she's stopped off to see the baby.'
 

I pulled in on the far side of the other cars, still cautious.

'Stay here a moment, I'll get the camera,' I lied. Something wasn't right. Two women in the house and a baby arriving on the doorstep. One of them should have come to the door.
 

'We can get pictures later,' Fred said, but I said, 'Please, I want to catch this moment.'

She leaned over and kissed me. 'You're a sentimental s.o.b., Bennett, and I love you.'

I patted her hand and got out, letting Sam out of the car. I whispered 'Seek' and pretended to tie my shoe lace as he ran around through the bushes, finding nothing.
 

I straigtened up then and headed for the house. Nobody came to the door and I felt my skin draw tight with tension. Something was wrong, I was sure of it.
 

At the door I hesitated. If Kershaw was inside, threatening the women with his shotgun he would kill me the moment I opened the door. If he wasn't, I was being a fool. But I had to be sure.
 

I thought for a moment, then pretended to fumble in my pocket for keys. I turned to look at Fred who was craning down to see through the window of the other cars to the door. I made a turning motion with my hand and mouthed, 'Forgot my key.'
 

Then I stopped off to one side of the door and reached across to tap it with my knuckles, withdrawing my hand at once.

Instantly the door blew apart, the shotgun load shredding it in a shocking burst of sound. I gave a shout and slammed both feet hard on the floor, like a flamenco dancer, still standing off to one side.
 

It seemed like a year and then the muzzle of the gun stuck out through the hole in the door, pointing down to where my body should have been lying.
 

I grabbed the muzzle, feeling it hot in my palm, and snatched it towards me. He hung on but I wrenched him against the inside of the door and I had the muzzle turned from me. Still holding it with all my strength, I threw my weight against the broken door and it gave, sending the door back against the wall. He was in there but not trapped. He let go of the gun and tried to get out. I didn't hesitate. I drew my revolver and reached around the door to shoot him through the body. He gave a grunting cry and went slack. I hooked the door away from him with one foot and stood over him, gun trained on the middle of his chest.
 

It was Kershaw. His hair was greyer then in his photograph but unmistakable. He was holding his side and blood was oozing through his fingers.