The Frailty of Flesh (26 page)

If she’d smacked him across the face he couldn’t have looked more stunned. “Good night, Ashlyn.”

He opened the door and shut it behind him and she listened to the sound of his footsteps moving away from her as she sank down on the bed. For the first time in days no tears threatened to spill over. She felt too numb to cry.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Despite the early hour, Craig knew Lisa would be up. The girls would need to get ready for school.

He stepped out of his Rodeo and removed the materials he had in the back. As he walked up to the house he could hear the fighting from inside.

“As long as you live in this house you’ll do what I tell ya to do!”

Someone started to cry.

“I mean it. You better smarten up. How many times do I have to smack some sense into you before it sticks?”

Silence.

A minute later the door opened. Destiny and Desiree appeared, heads bowed. They came down the steps one at a time, careful to skip the broken one, and then Lisa stepped out on the porch.

“You walk your sister right to class, Destiny,” she said, the threatening edge still in her voice.

The older girl took her sister’s hand and barely glanced at Craig as they walked by. What he saw in her eyes was a hollowness, reaching up from inside her and threatening to swallow her whole. She had a mark on her cheek, as though she’d been slapped across the face.

He looked up at the house. Lisa had seen him, and started to pull her housecoat closed. He’d already seen enough to know she didn’t have much on beneath it.

“I remembered your broken step, thought I could fix that for you.”

Lisa stood speechless for a moment, then said, “Thanks. That’s really nice of you.”

“No problem.”

It didn’t take him long to pry up the rotted boards, and since he had a good eye for measurements, in part because of his job, he had wood that was almost a perfect fit, just a few millimeters short on one end.

“There. A fresh coat of paint this spring and nobody will know the difference,” he said after he’d nailed it in place.

“Really, that’s very nice of you,” Lisa said. She hadn’t moved from the porch while he’d worked. As Craig gathered his tools she said, “Guess you heard us fightin’.”

He didn’t want to make a big deal about it, or draw attention to the seed of doubt taking root in his mind. “Families argue. It’s normal,” he said. “I’m sure you argued with Hope.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She was a teenager. Isn’t arguing with your mother part of the teenage girl job description?”

Lisa stared at him for a moment. “I…I guess. Not that anyone likes to talk about that when their kid is dead.”

“No, I suppose not. Did you get along with most of her friends from school, or were there some bad influences?”

There was a slight hesitation before she said, “Her friends were good kids. I liked them.”

“I guess that explains why you’d been visiting Donny at the prison.” He watched her eyes widen, a look of pure shock settling on her face. “Funny, when we first talked, I got the feeling you never wanted to see him again.”

She didn’t answer, just stared at him.

“I made a few calls on the weekend.”

“Look, I just wanted to get him to say sorry for what he’d done, make him see how much he’d hurt me.”

It was the first time Craig was absolutely sure Lisa was lying to him. She’d visited Donny regularly for the full ten years.

According to the guard he’d spoken with, she’d even taken her daughters with her.

“I can understand, Lisa,” he said softly. “He was the last person to see Hope. And Donny wasn’t such a bad kid. There probably hadn’t been a single day since her death that you didn’t blame yourself.”

“Yes, that’s right,” she said as she turned away from him. “It’s like it’s my fault.”

“Look, I have to go out of town today,” Craig said. “I should be back sometime tomorrow. With Donny out now just be careful.”

She turned her head to the side so that he could see the profile, but didn’t face him. Lisa nodded. “Thanks. I will.”

When Ashlyn opened the door the next morning she almost walked right into the person coming up the steps, and almost spilled her ginger ale on the woman.

“Sorry.”

“I wasn’t expecting anyone to be there.” Ashlyn took a breath of icy air. She knew who her unexpected visitor was, and would have described her as cute, in a nauseating way. There was an aura of innocence that Emma Fenton projected, but something about it struck Ashlyn as being contrived.

“I, uh, I’m looking for Craig.”

“He’s not here, Ms. Fenton.”

The reporter flashed a smile. “Okay, I’ll call him.” Emma Fenton’s eyes narrowed just a bit. “Didn’t I see you the other night?”

“Where? At the police station or at the mall?”

Emma’s cheeks were already rosy, but the color deepened. “I’m sorry I bothered you. I’ll try his cell.” She turned and started walking to her car.

“He’s driving. You likely won’t get him for hours.” Ashlyn could have kicked herself. Emma Fenton had made the classic move, told Ashlyn she had direct access to Craig, and how had Ashlyn responded? By taunting her with information she didn’t have. As much as she regretted it, it stopped Emma in her tracks.

“Do you…?” The reporter hesitated as she turned around. Her expression was serious, partly apologetic, but there was curiosity there as well. The carrot Ashlyn had dangled was too tempting for Emma to resist. “Can I ask where he’s gone?”

“Of course you can ask,” Ashlyn said as she walked to her own car. She set her travel mug down on the roof as she unlocked her door. “Just don’t expect an answer.”

The reporter grew an inch and she turned around and walked behind Ashlyn’s car, smile gone. Emma glared at Ashlyn through narrow slits, her wide-eyed-innocent routine clearly over. A gloved hand swept her hair back over her shoulder, and Emma’s chin jutted out.

“I’m trying to help Craig.”

Ashlyn opened her car door and picked up her mug. “I’m sure you are.”

She got in her car and for a moment thought she was going to have a problem. The rearview mirror betrayed the fact that the reporter remained behind the vehicle, her gloved hands clenched into little fists. Ashlyn looked back, as though to shoulder check, and gestured for Emma to move. Finally she did.

The drive south to New Westminster didn’t take long. New West was an interesting city, with a high population density and a high crime rate to go with it. Access to the Pattullo and Queensborough bridges was through New Westminster, and the Port Mann ran right past a major exit to New West as well. The volume of traffic that went through the small city every day was staggering.

The name Sims had given her was for a Liam Kincaid, a detective constable in the Criminal Investigation Section. She stopped at the front desk and asked if he was in and didn’t realize until she heard the front desk officer say there was a woman there to see him that she hadn’t identified herself.

A few minutes later a man entered the lobby, and the desk officer pointed at Ashlyn. Liam Kincaid was easily six feet tall, fit, with dark hair, brown eyes, and a dimple on his cheek that needed no encouragement to show itself off. She smiled apologetically as she held up her ID.

“Constable Ashlyn Hart, Coquitlam RCMP. I was hoping you might be able to help me with something I’m working on.”

The easygoing smile didn’t waiver. “Sure. Sign in and come on through.”

They went through the formalities, and he led her to a desk that was what she’d call semiprivate. Plenty of other people visible, but distant enough to not be able to overhear their conversation without making an obvious attempt.

“Would you like a coffee? Tea?”

“No, thanks. But don’t let me stop you.”

“You’re sure? Well then, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He leaned back and smiled.

She set the folder down on his desk. “Richard Reimer purchased these properties and brought in a security firm to clean up the area. I understand he made a few enemies.”

Liam picked up the maps and nodded. “The rent-a-cops usually do. Heavy-handed tactics. It isn’t that they stop the criminals, they just move them over a few blocks, displace them temporarily.” He looked up at her and smiled again. “But you don’t need me to tell you that.”

“I’m investigating the murder of Jeffrey Reimer.”

“Didn’t the papers name his sister as a suspect?”

Ashlyn nodded. “Shannon’s still missing, but we’re pretty sure she didn’t kill Jeffrey. Yesterday someone called claiming they kidnapped Shannon. I’m not convinced it’s legit, but right now, we can’t afford to ignore any possible lead. The family’s hiding behind their lawyer, Byron Smythe—”

“Smythe.” Liam’s face clouded. “Doesn’t he usually represent organized criminals and drug importers?”

“That’s why we were suspicious. We arrive at the family home to notify the parents, tell them their son is dead, and the first thing they do is call their lawyer. We’re left wondering why they have a lawyer like Smythe on speed dial. So far all we can turn up is more cash than he should have and a trail of what seems to be valid real estate deals.”

“And you’re wondering if anyone Reimer might have pissed off would threaten his family.”

“Not just him. Someone worked over Reimer’s lawyer.” Craig wasn’t the only person with motive, and if she found out someone else was guilty it might help her mend fences with him.

“I heard. Banged up pretty good, sprained wrist, dislocated knee.”

Ashlyn felt her cheeks flush. “I dislocated his knee.”

Liam grinned. “When word gets out you’ll be a hero around here. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if I can help you. Most of the players in this part of town are pretty small time, not well organized. In New West we have three basic types of criminals: organized, disorganized and just plain stupid. This part of the city is where the disorganized and stupid overlap.”

“You can’t think of anyone?”

“We can go ask around, see if anyone was holding a grudge.” He sat forward in his chair, as though he was about to stand. There was no hesitation in his movements. Liam was prepared to hit the streets with her on a hunch and a thin thread of hope.

“I actually have to follow up on a few other things this morning, then check up on the kidnapping angle.”

His smile dimmed. “Well, I can make the rounds myself.”

She stood. “Or if you have time this afternoon we could go then?”

“Tell you what.” Liam passed her the file. “Meet me for dinner and I’ll fill you in. If you think there’s anyone worth looking at, we’ll pay them a visit tomorrow. Deal?”

All she could see was the look on Craig’s face the night before, when he’d said good night. Something about his expression had knocked the wind right out of her. It would be good for her to go out, instead of spending the evening at the house alone. A welcome distraction from her problems. “Okay. When and where?”

“You’re in Coquitlam? How about Charlie’s in Port Moody? Mexican.”

“It’s close to where I live. Seven?”

“Sounds good.”

They traded cards. Once she was out of the building she opened her cell phone as she walked back to her car and dialed Tain’s number. “Having fun?”

“Laugh a minute. You?”

“So far, Richard Reimer’s business dealings aren’t looking promising, but someone on the New West department is going to dig a bit deeper for me. I’ll have a better idea tonight.”

“There was no activity on the phone here last night, and I called Sims. Nothing there either.”

“How’s our friend doing? Is he nosing around?”

“Not yet.”

“Let me know if he gets ambitious. I’m on my way to the schools now.”

After Ashlyn hung up, Tain closed his cell. As he slid the phone in its holder he caught sight of Luke watching him. Undeterred, Luke walked over to him.

“Is there any background you want me to run down, anything else you want me to follow up on?”

“We’ve got it covered, thanks.”

“Seems like overkill to have so many of us standing around. If I was you I’d be anxious to get out there, chase down more leads.”

“Ashlyn can handle it.”

A shadow flickered in Luke’s eyes. If Tain had blinked he would have missed it, but he’d seen it, despite the fact that Luke turned to look over his shoulder at the other officers monitoring the equipment.

“Look, I know she’s your partner and I’m sure she’s a good cop, but, well, her and Craig have been having some problems, and she’s seemed…”

Tain felt his shoulders stiffen and didn’t try to hold back the scowl. “Constable Hart has my full confidence, and her personal life is none of your concern.”

“It is if it’s going to get me killed.”

Tain leaned forward. “Nobody’s keeping you here. You don’t want this assignment, there’s the door. I’m the one who goes out on the streets with Ashlyn, and I trust her with my life.”

“You know, maybe if you weren’t all so closed off about what happened the rest of us wouldn’t feel so nervous about it.”

“The rest of who? The only person I see who’s still obsessing about what happened is you.”

“Maybe because it was Craig’s partner who got killed,” Luke said, “and I got to fill the vacancy.”

“Lori was a danger, to herself and others. She wasn’t even supposed to be there, and she killed a suspect and shot her own partner before Constable Hart returned fire. She saved Craig’s life.”