The Brutal Heart (25 page)

“That’s settled then,” Zack said. “Want to put on your suit and join us, Taylor? Your mother is counting my laps. You can distract her.”

“You always tell me to do what Jo says. Besides, I really, really want to get back to this painting I’m working on.” She gave him her winsome smile. “If it turns out, you can have it for your office.”

Zack groaned and pushed away from the pool’s edge. “We pay for our pleasures in this world,” he said. Then he began moving his powerful arms and propelling his body through the water. Unprompted, he did ten extra laps, but he beamed when I said it was time to towel off.

We took our drinks outside. When Zack took his first sip, he closed his eyes with pleasure. “That was worth waiting for.”

“Deferred gratification,” I said. “So any new developments in the case?”

“Nothing good. Ginny came over this morning. Her position is not enviable. She had a motive. She had the opportunity and, of course, the fact that she pulled the knife out of Jason’s chest and contaminated the crime scene doesn’t endear her to the cops. Plus her prints are all over the place, so it’s a real mess.”

“Any luck finding Francesca?”

“Nope. I’m batting zero for two.” He took another sip. “And the cops found $50,000 cash in Jason Brodnitz’s house.”

My heart sank. “So Jason is
3.”

“Yep. It appears that you’re the new owner of Margot’s red scarf.”

“I wish I wasn’t.”

“Me too. I’m not looking forward to telling Ginny. When she came over this morning, she was hopeful. She knows she’s in deep, but she believes in the system, and she’s really looking forward to being at the lake. She thought that while they were there, she and the girls could come up with some way to honour Jason.”

“And now they’re going to have to deal with this. Zack, this is going to be tough on Margot too. After our day in Wadena, we were both certain Jason wasn’t the man in Cristal’s life.”

“Mandy Avilia knew something?”

“In retrospect, I guess she didn’t. Mandy told us about a game Cristal played: she’d subtract the number of letters in her boyfriends’ names from the number of letters in her name. The remainder was supposed to be the number of children they’d have together. Cristal wanted three children.”

“So ‘three’ was her ideal.”

“Yes, and Jason Brodnitz, like Cristal, had thirteen letters in his name. Margot thought that was a good sign. But I guess the discovery of $50,000 cash in Jason’s house trumps his coming up zero in Cristal’s name game.”

“It’s not unheard of for evidence to be planted,” said Zack. “You and I both thought there was something fishy about the fact that Bree Steig was carrying around a piece of paper with Jason’s phone number written on it.”

“There’s a difference between a number on a paper and $50,000. That’s a pretty substantial investment.”

“Not if you want to frame somebody.”

“You really don’t believe Jason was the man in Cristal’s life, do you?”

Zack shook his head. “I didn’t know the guy at all, but sometimes you have to go with a gut feeling. I think Brodnitz had a lousy couple of years. I think his ego had been bashed around and I think he made investments for prostitutes because no ‘respectable’ clients would come within a hundred feet of him. I think it’s even possible he was laundering money, but I don’t think he was that sadistic creep Cristal was involved with.”

“Neither do I,” I said. “So we’re back to finding out who that sadistic creep really was. She never said anything to you about her past?”

“We didn’t trade life stories. I was with Cristal for one reason and we both knew the reason.” Zack put down his drink. “Now you have that ‘how-did-I-end-up-married-to-this-prick?’ look on your face.”

“That’s a lot to read into one expression,” I said. “I don’t think you’re a prick. I just think it’s an odd world where a man and woman can do something as intimate as make love and not know anything about each other.”

“Cristal and I didn’t make love, we had sex. That’s a whole different thing.”

“She was more than just a body, Zack. Today when we were in Wadena, I caught a glimpse of the woman Cristal was. If we’re going to untangle this mess, I think we have to go back to the beginning.”

“Which is …?”

“The man Cristal fell in love with in university.”

“I didn’t know Cristal went to university.”

“Well, she did, and she got pregnant in her first year. Margot’s sister, Laurie, was pregnant at the same time. Laurie told me that when she and Cristal talked about their lovers and the babies they were carrying, Cristal just glowed.”

“So what happened?”

“Laurie didn’t know. Cristal came back to Wadena when the semester was over without a baby and without a wedding ring.”

“But if the guy Cristal was with in university moved along, he wouldn’t be connected with her life here in Regina.”

“He would if he came with her. Zack, Mandy told us that her sister had only ever loved one man. She also said that Cristal did everything her lover told her to do, but it was never enough, and at the end she realized that and decided to get out.”

“And so he killed her, and if we find the boyfriend, my client will be off the hook.” Zack rubbed the bridge of his nose – a sure sign of weariness with him. “God, I wish it were that easy. Maybe it will be. The cops have the same information we have. Right now, their computers will be smoking. Debbie Haczkewicz won’t be satisfied until she knows everything about the men on that list.”

“The boyfriend’s name wouldn’t be on that list.”

“I know, but in my experience, if you throw enough rocks in the water eventually the bottom feeders come up to see what’s happening.”

CHAPTER
13

The first rock to hit the water was Cristal’s will. When Margot called to fill him in, Zack picked up a pen and paper and scribbled a heading. Thirty seconds later, he laid down his pen and just listened. He heard what he needed to hear, rang off, and turned to me. “So, do you want to know about Cristal’s will?”

“Is it ethical to tell me?”

“Sure. One of the two beneficiaries already knows, and the other one’s decided to make herself scarce. Anyway, it’s just a matter of timing. After the will is probated it’s registered on the Queen’s Bench file and anybody can see it.”

“Any surprises?”

“Enough. The will is dated two days before Cristal died. Blake did all the legal work. Cristal left $25,000 to Francesca Pope.”

“That doesn’t sound as if she was paying Francesca off to stay silent.”

“I agree,” Zack said. “It sounds as if Cristal was genuinely concerned about Francesca’s welfare. Apart from that bequest, everything was left to Mandy. Someone named Rhondelle Bakker is the executor. Does that name mean anything to you?”

“Rhondelle owns the hair salon where Mandy works.”

“Let’s hope Rhondelle has a good grasp of property prices in Regina. Cristal left some significant real estate. Blake appended the pertinent information. Mandy Avilia now owns Cristal’s condo and another two in the same building that Cristal sublet.”

“Those places cost three-quarters of a million dollars.”

“They do indeed.”

“According to Margot, when it came to real estate, Cristal didn’t make many missteps.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And that raises a very large question.”

“Why was Cristal involved with a man who terrified her when she had all that money?”

“According to Cristal’s journal,
3
said it was a way of proving her love for him.”

“You think this creep got off on terrifying Cristal?”

I bit my lip. “That’s exactly what I think.”

“So this prince among men is a power junkie.”

“Among other things. And Cristal spent the last fourteen years of her life trying to please him, but there was always another hoop for her to jump through.”

“Except at the end, she decided to stop playing. If Blake drafted her will two days before her death, he might know what was going on in her mind. Deciding who gets what in your will is a big step – clients have a way of justifying it to their lawyers.”

“Do you want me to call Blake?”

“Would you? It’s time my partner came home, and it’s best if I can truthfully say I haven’t known Blake’s whereabouts for the last few days.”

I found the number of Blake’s hotel in my address book and tapped it in. He answered on the first ring.

“It’s Joanne,” I said.

“Has something happened?”

“A lot. Zack thinks it’s time you came back to Regina. Are you up for that?”

Blake was silent for a beat, but when he answered, he sounded like the old Blake – open and hopeful. “I think I’m on top of it, but it’s weird, Jo. There are whole stretches of time I don’t remember.”

“For example?”

He laughed softly. “For example, I don’t remember getting to this hotel, and I couldn’t tell you how long I’ve been here. Remember when you were a kid just getting over the flu? That’s what I feel like. It’s hard to figure out what really happened and what was just the fever.”

“But the fever has burned itself out.”

He laughed softly. “Yes,” he said. “I think it finally has. Tell Zack I’ll be on the next plane home. I’ll come to your place straight from the airport.”

“It’ll be good to have you back, Blake.”

“It’ll be good to be back.”

I rang off and turned to my husband. “He’ll be here tonight,” I said.

Zack nodded. “Thanks, Ms. Shreve. I’m sorry to put you in the middle of this. You can have my onions at dinner.”

“You’d never give up your onions.”

“Wrong. I’m indebted to you, and I honour my debts.” He picked up his BlackBerry. “Just let me make one quick call. I want to see what Sean’s investigators have turned up about Jason’s business dealings.”

“What are you looking for?”

“I don’t know. What I’m hoping for is an innocuous explanation for that $50,000 the cops found at Brodnitz’s house.”

“You want Margot to win your tie?”

“Small price to pay for giving back Ginny’s daughters a father they don’t have to be ashamed of.”

Zack wheeled over and took my hand. “We’ve had enough for one day. Let’s get Taylor and eat some liver.”

The Chimney was a family restaurant in the strip mall next to Ginny’s condo, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to see Ginny standing at the cash register where customers wait for their takeout. She was wearing running shorts and a T-shirt, and her hair was slicked back. She looked pale and weary, but when she saw us, her smile was genuine.

“Friendly faces,” she said. “A welcome sight. I never realized waiting for a pizza could be so gruelling. Everybody who comes in gives me the eye.”

“The Chimney does deliver,” I said.

Ginny sighed. “You know, that possibility never crossed my mind. Our condo’s so close – we always just run in. I guess I’m not thinking very clearly.” She slumped. “The phone never stops ringing. And the media people seem to be taking turns leaning on the buzzer downstairs.”

I squeezed Taylor’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go ahead and see if you can score Zack’s favourite table?”

Taylor turned to Ginny. “He likes to sit near the fireplace even if it’s thirty-eight degrees outside.” Her face grew serious. “I’m sorry about all your trouble,” she said.

“Thanks,” Ginny said. “I appreciate that.”

We watched Taylor move through the dining room. When she claimed the table by the fireplace, she pumped the air in triumph.

“She’s a nice girl,” Ginny said.

“She is,” I said. “How are your girls holding up?”

“Not well,” Ginny said. “Chloe’s started cutting again. When I saw the blood on her stomach this afternoon, I wanted to scream. The whammies just keep on coming. I’ve got all these basketball clichés wired into my brain – usually, they do the trick, but ‘don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds’ seems to have lost its power. I’m used to the hits, but the girls aren’t. Two weeks ago they were the Incredible Brodnitz Twins. Now they’re just freaks. They’ve heard the same locker room talks I’ve heard: ‘How you respond to the challenges of the second half will determine what you become after the game – whether you’re a winner or a loser.’ But Em and Chloe aren’t getting a chance to regroup. Everything reminds them of what’s happened.”

Her voice was ragged. Zack wheeled closer. “Debbie Haczkewicz hasn’t got back to me yet about letting you go to the lake. Let me try her again.” He pulled out his BlackBerry and hit speed-dial.

It was clear at the outset that Debbie was turning down Zack’s request, but then he pulled out all the stops. When he mentioned that Chloe was reacting to the pressure by cutting herself, Debbie relented. She was, after all, a parent as well as a cop. Zack ended the call and gave Ginny the thumbs-up sign. “You can take off for the lake whenever you want.”

Ginny exhaled. “That is such a relief. The girls and I need to get some sleep so we can figure out where we go from here.” She turned to me. “I really can’t thank you enough.”

“We’re glad we’re able to help.” I took out a business card, wrote out the combination to the gate on the back, and gave Ginny my key to the guest cottage. “See you tomorrow night,” I said.

As we went into the dining room, I touched Zack’s shoulder. “You didn’t tell Ginny about the money the police found in Jason’s house.”

“That’s right,” he said. “I didn’t.” With that, we joined Taylor, ordered our liver and a bottle of Shiraz, and sat back as our daughter filled us in on her plans for the Farewell, the challenges of working on unstretched canvas, and a boy she’d met at the 13th Avenue Coffee House who had the most amazing hair.

Ready or not, life was moving on.

Blake’s taxi pulled up just as I came back from giving the dogs a run. I waited until he’d paid the driver. When Blake came up and took Pantera’s leash, I waited for the big mastiff to freeze. He was a rescue dog with a troubled history, and his reactions to strangers were unpredictable. But he just collapsed in a heap at Blake’s feet and gazed up, waiting for the next instruction.

“I’m impressed,” I said. “Pantera’s loyalties are pretty well reserved for Zack.”

Blake rubbed Pantera’s ear. “He and I know each other from the office.” He jerked Pantera’s leash. “Okay, big guy, time to talk to your master.”

Zack was in his office. When he saw Blake, he held out his arms. “Welcome home,” he said.

As they talked, I was struck again by the closeness between the two men. After a lifetime of friendship, they had a kind of shorthand that allowed them to get to the point economically and effectively.

Zack began. “So how come you didn’t tell Margot that you drew up Cristal Avilia’s will? She found out Falconer Shreve had the will when one of our summer students responded to her notice on the Law Society website.”

Blake had taken the chair facing Zack. He looked down at his hands. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

Zack sighed. “Fair enough. Had there been a will before this one?”

“Yes. I never saw it. Cristal said she had a will, but she wanted to make some major changes, so she thought it was best just to start over.”

“Did she elaborate?”

Blake nodded. “She said she and her boyfriend had split up and she didn’t want him listed as a beneficiary. I was relieved to hear she’d left him.”

“So she’d talked to you about him?”

“Only once. It was last month. She called me.” Blake smiled sadly. “The one and only time the woman I loved called me for a date. She was distraught. They’d had a fight and it turned ugly.”

“Was he abusive?” I asked.

Blake shook his head. “Not physically, but I had a feeling that was only because he’d found more effective means of keeping Cristal in line. And, of course, he didn’t want to leave marks that would get clients asking questions. In the last few days, I’ve been able to see things more clearly. You know, I really think the only kindness that animal ever showed her was to kill her.”

Zack’s voice was steely. “Don’t share that insight with the cops, eh?”

“I won’t.” He stood. “I’d better get home – spend a little time with Gracie.”

“Where did you tell her you’d been?” I said.

“Business trip,” Blake said. “Gracie’s used to that, and as long as Rose is there, helping her with her homework and making bannock, Gracie’s fine.” He smiled. “And so am I. From the day we brought Gracie home from the hospital, Rose has been there – the one consistent presence in our lives.”

“Joanne and I are going to the lake this weekend,” Zack said. “But you and I can talk more tomorrow before we leave. One thing you should know: I’m representing Ginny Monaghan.”

“So if I’ve left any bloody footprints, I shouldn’t count on you to explain them.”

Zack met his gaze. “That’s right.”

It had been a full day, and we decided to make an early night of it. Zack was already in bed reading when the doorbell rang.

There was no one there, but when I stepped out to investigate, I saw that Francesca Pope’s backpack with its cargo of Care Bears had been dropped inside the big planter on our porch. As soon as I picked up the backpack, Francesca came out of the shadows, her face streaked with tears. The night was warm, but Francesca, as always, was bundled in layers of clothing, protecting her against the demons outside and the demons within. When I called to her, she began to run. Her bicycle was lying on the front lawn. She righted it, jumped on, and rode off. I watched until she disappeared from sight, then I took the backpack inside. The bears smelled of mould and mildew, and the backpack itself was wet and muddy. I’d soaked the soil in the planter that afternoon to ready it for the Martha Washingtons. Inside the door, we kept a wicker laundry hamper with towels for the dogs. I dropped the backpack inside and carried the basket to Zack.

He removed his glasses when he saw me. “What’s going on?”

I came to the side of the bed and showed him the laundry basket. “Francesca left this on our doorstep,” I said. “Actually, she dropped the backpack in the planter; the laundry basket is ours.”

“Moses in the bulrushes.”

“In the mud,” I said. “I was planning to transplant the Martha Washingtons there tomorrow.”

Zack took the basket, looked down at the bears, and shook his head. “Leaving those here must have been agony for Francesca.”

“It was,” I said. “She was crying. I tried to talk to her, but she got on her bike and rode off.”

“So, we don’t know why she left the bears with us.” Zack frowned, reached into the outer flap of the backpack, removed a paper, and read the two words that were printed on it. “ ‘At risk,’ ” he said. He peered over his glasses at me. “That’s the phrase they use in family court to identify children who aren’t safe in their home situation.”

“Francesca feels threatened,” I said.

“If she’s abandoned her bears, she must be at the breaking point. If it were anybody else, I’d call the cops and get them to check into it, but Francesca’s terrified of the police.”

“So we do nothing,” I said.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll swing by some of Francesca’s haunts and see if I can find out what’s going on.”

I picked up the laundry hamper and carried the bears into the mudroom. The smell of mildew was heavy, and I opened the window to let in some fresh air. It was a moonless night, and as I flicked off the light, the room was plunged into darkness. I started up the hall, then, driven by an impulse that I’d given into many times in my years as a parent, I retraced my steps and opened the door a crack to let the light in.

I had planned to spend the next morning shopping and packing for the lake, but life intervened. Jill Oziowy called from Toronto to see how I was coming with the Ginny Monaghan project. When she said there were rumours that Ginny and her daughters had gone underground, I didn’t enlighten her, but I was more forthcoming when Keith Harris called. He was brisk, but his concern was palpable. “Jo, I’ve been trying Ginny’s cell all morning – no answer. Do you have any idea where she is?”