Dan Sharp Mysteries 3-Book Bundle. Jeffrey Round

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СКАЧАТЬ to slam the door with its glass plates and risk breakage or just close it loudly on his way out. His cuff caught on the knob and he effected what was, all things considered, a very prissy exit for a very large man.

      Gloria Philips leaned over the desk. She stabbed at the file with a buffed fingernail. “Find my kid. You find my kid and bring him home or I’ll have you taken off this case!”

      Dan sat rigid. “You’re welcome to request another investigator at any time, Mrs. Philips. Just as I’m free to pass the file along to somebody else.”

      “I don’t like being told off,” she said icily.

      “Neither do I. But I probably know more about finding missing teenagers than anybody else in this town. I’ve already made some progress on Richard’s case and I may make some more. If I do, I’ll let you know what I turn up.”

      “You do that, buster.” She stood and walked out of the office.

      Scary, Dan thought, wondering what reasonable chance any kid with those parents would have to grow up to be anything other than fucked up.

      Sally opened his door and peeked in. “Are they gone?”

      “It’s safe.”

      “Thank goddess!”

      “What were you saying about people not being colourful anymore?”

      “Sometimes white trash is too colourful.” She slapped something down on his desk. “Sorry to spoil your afternoon, but the fun’s over,” she said.

      Dan saw the name Daniella Ballancourt in capital letters. He opened the file. Her death was no longer being considered suspicious. The coroner had determined the bump on her head was caused during her fall from the boat. The skin around it contained traces of paint consistent with samples taken from a lifeboat strapped directly below the upper deck where she was believed to have fallen. More importantly, a couple had come forward and testified they’d observed Daniella alone on deck moments before she disappeared. She’d been bent over the rail, vomiting. When asked if she needed help, she’d turned them away. The account had been given by a respected judge and his wife. Dan recalled the older couple who’d seemed annoyed by the fright they’d had. He thought they’d said they were on the lower deck when she fell, but perhaps that was another couple. He was on the phone with Saylor again.

      “It just showed up on my desk, too,” Saylor said. “Damn!”

      “Why did it take so long for them to come forward?” Dan asked.

      “I’ve got the inside scoop on that. From what I heard, they didn’t want to be associated with the whole event, from the gay wedding right on down.”

      “Then what were they doing there in the first place?”

      “They were Lucille Killingworth’s business associates. Apparently she pressured half the Canadian establishment into going to the wedding.”

      “I heard that, too.”

      “Anyway, it looks like the case is closed. I guess that’s that.”

      “So it would seem,” Dan said. He paused. “Did you bring up the fact that Lucille Killingworth had paid for the girl’s abortion?”

      There was a hum on the line. “I did,” Saylor said. “It wasn’t well-received. Everyone here was eager to accept the verdict of accidental death. Say no more.”

      “Seems odd,” Dan said.

      “That’s what I thought.” Saylor seemed anxious to be off the phone. “Well, better luck next time. If you’re out this way, drop in and see me.”

      “Will do.”

      For once, Dan was on time to pick Ked up. His friend the “ruffian” was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they’d had a falling out, though Ked didn’t really fight with other kids. Maybe he’d decided the boy wasn’t friendship material. Probably better than finding out the hard way. They made it home without hitting any traffic snarls. No annoying neighbours or dog turds on the step. The universe had stopped targeting him with booby traps. Dan was a little surprised, but grateful nonetheless. He plucked a bundle of mail from the box as he entered. Bills, flyers, restaurant menus, lists of services available, items for sale, requests for donations to build a water filtration plant in Namibia, feed the hungry in Libya, stop the proliferation of landmines, and put an end to the seal hunt. A thousand plans for saving the world. None asking whether it was worth saving.

      An envelope caught his eye — parchment yellow, good quality paper. He flipped it over and caught the name: L. Killingworth. Surely it wasn’t a thank-you note for his presence at the wedding. He opened it and a cheque for $10,000 dropped into his hands. On the memo line were the words “For services rendered” next to Lucille Killingworth’s signature.

      He carried the envelope and cheque upstairs to his office and laid them on his desk. His first instinct was to call Bill, but he knew there’d be no response. He picked up the cheque and dialled the number under the address. To his surprise, Lucille answered. Her voice remained unchanged when he identified himself. Dan thanked her for the cheque and explained that he wouldn’t be able to accept it.

      Her voice expressed concern, with a tone of annoyance shaded in. “But you did some valuable work for me — important work. I simply wished to express my gratitude for your loyalty to my family.”

      “Actually, Lucille, I never considered it work. As for loyalty, I simply did a favour on Bill’s behalf.”

      “Yes, I understand that.”

      “I can’t accept it. It would look bad.”

      “Nevertheless, I am grateful,” she said with quiet insistence.

      “And I accept your gratitude,” Dan said. “But there’s no need to pay me for what I did.”

      “Well, then I guess I will have to respect your wishes,” Lucille replied with reluctance. “Though it seems silly you won’t accept it.” She gave pause. “What about a charity? I could donate it to some cause of your choice.”

      “Thank you — it’s not necessary. I’m happy to know the case turned out all right.”

      “Yes, it has, hasn’t it?”

      And all so very neatly, Dan thought. He wondered for a moment if the judge and his wife had received a cheque in nice yellow parchment paper as well. “I’m just wondering, though….”

      “Yes?”

      “When we spoke the other day, I told you Daniella was pregnant.”

      “Yes. A dreadful thing.”

      “You seemed surprised.”

      “I was — shocked.”

      “But you didn’t mention you’d paid for her to have an abortion.” The pause was long enough. “So I take it your shock was actually on learning that she was still pregnant.”

      The voice remained unchanged. Dan admired her cool. “It was between me and the girl. It had nothing to do with СКАЧАТЬ