Stonechild and Rouleau Mysteries 5-Book Bundle. Brenda Chapman

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СКАЧАТЬ Perfect. Labour was easy, only three hours. I just wish my father could be here to see her.”

      “He’d be so proud and I know he’s somewhere up there smiling down on you both.”

      “I hope.” Geraldine took Susan’s bandaged hand in hers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

      “No, it’s just that so much has gone on this week. I’m not feeling like myself.” Susan dabbed at her eyes with the end of the sheet. She hated to cry in front of Tom’s daughter. It should be the other way around, her offering comfort.

      “I wanted to ask your advice on something, but now isn’t the time. Maybe I could come visit you when we’re both home,” said Geraldine.

      “I’d like that. I’m sorry that I’m so weepy these days. I really don’t know what’s come over me.”

      “Well, we have one thing to be thankful for. Laurel isn’t having a service for Dad. He asked in his will to be cremated and no funeral. She’s decided to respect his wishes. I think that considering the state of our family, it’ll be for the best if we aren’t all in the same room.”

      “It might have been nice if his death brought everyone together.”

      “Nice, but a reach. It will take more than Dad’s death to get Mom and Laurel to be civil with each other.”

      After Geraldine returned to her room, Susan got out of bed and began slowly packing her few things into the overnight bag Clinton had brought earlier. Her bandaged hands made movement awkward, but not impossible. Clinton had been solicitous and hovered around her as if he had nowhere else to be. She’d finally sent him home to get some work done and to give her room to think.

      Should she believe his story about being in transit when she was stranded in the Quebec woods? Why hadn’t he called to say that he was coming home? He’d never been one for surprises or deviations from a schedule. Why was he being so damn nice all of a sudden?

      She looked at the empty chair next to her bed and thought about Geraldine and the change in her eyes the last few times they’d met. It could have to do with Tom’s death, but it wasn’t just grief she was seeing. Something had shaken her. She should have asked Geraldine what was on her mind when she came into her room. Instead, she’d cried about Tom and lost the chance. She wasn’t a woman who believed in wicked beings, but it felt like something evil was brewing. It had begun even before Tom’s murder, like a palpable malevolence encircling them.

      They had been so careful. Surely, nobody knew?

      A shiver travelled up her spine just as Clinton stepped into the room. She lifted her head to smile at him.

      “All set to go home?” he asked.

      26

      Thursday, December 29, 7:30 p.m.

      “He’s not someone I’d pick for a business partner,” Rouleau commented, glancing sideways.

      “He seems somewhat shady,” Kala agreed.

      They stood side by side, watching J.P. Belliveau through the one-way mirror. Belliveau’s stocky body was slouched in the chair across from Grayson and Malik, his mouth set in a belligerent line, his eyes narrowed inside pouches of loose skin. They could hear the interview thanks to a strategically placed microphone. Acoustics were crystal clear.

      “Grayson’s circling around him, preparing to zoom in on the lie,” said Rouleau.

      Kala was grudgingly impressed with Grayson’s technique. He’d gotten Belliveau to repeat that he hadn’t met with Underwood the morning he went missing, then lulled him with innocuous questions about the division of work between the partners. Both Kala and Rouleau leaned closer to the glass, as if that would speed things along. After a pause, Grayson slid a piece of paper across the table and Belliveau picked it up. He read what was on it and shrugged.

      “Yeah, we were supposed to meet, but I talked to him at the party and said since it was a late night, we’d reschedule for another day.”

      “Did anyone hear you reschedule.”

      “Not that I know of. We were alone at the time and it wouldn’t have interested anyone else. Is this why you called me in? Over a postponed meeting?”

      “Why didn’t you tell us about this meeting when we asked earlier this week and again a few minutes ago?” Grayson’s voice was puzzled, non-believing.

      “Because we’d cancelled it. There was nothing to tell, and to be honest, it slipped my mind. It was almost Christmas and we were rescheduling meetings all week. If you hadn’t just shown me the email, I would never have remembered. Do you know how many meetings I attend in the course of a week? At least thirty. Do I need a lawyer?”

      “That’s up to you. You’re not under arrest.”

      “Good.” Belliveau’s voice rose. “’Cause for a minute there, it sounded like you were getting ready to make an accusation.”

      Kala looked at Rouleau. “They’re not going to get anything out of him, are they?”

      Rouleau fixed his stare on Belliveau a while longer before turning to look at her. “No. He’s sidestepped the lie with something impossible for us to disprove even if it is hard to believe he wouldn’t have remembered they were supposed to have a meeting the morning Underwood went missing.”

      “He knew how it would look. His word against a dead man’s. He probably thought we’d never find out.”

      “And he’d already planned what to say if we did.”

      “Well, I’ll push off then. It’s been a long day.” Kala stepped away from the glass. Rouleau stopped her at the door.

      “How’re you doing with the Underwood clan? Anyone standing out?”

      “They all seem to have a secret or two. I may never learn the full truth of their tangled relationships.”

      “If you had to guess?”

      “Susan Halliday … not that I think she killed Tom Underwood, but I think she knows something. I also worry that her empty gas tank wasn’t an accident.”

      “I’d like you to interview her again. Tomorrow, if possible.”

      “She’s going home from the hospital today. I’ll swing by in the morning.” She took a step closer to Rouleau. “Does this mean you don’t think Underwood’s death is work-related?”

      “At this point, I have no idea. I agree though that Susan’s near-death experience could be linked and you should pursue it.”

      “I heard that Vermette’s hoping to close the file today.”

      “He’s not alone, but we haven’t got enough to charge anybody, let alone go to trial. Keep in touch tomorrow and enjoy your evening.”

      Kala nodded and left before he could ask how she intended to spend it.

      She returned to the YWCA and put on her navy parka, jeans, and knee-high СКАЧАТЬ