Outside Forces

by R E Swirsky

CHAPTER 3

  Friday 18:10 Canmore, Alberta, Canada

  Richard Crowder pulled the chair back for his new wife. She slipped her delicate yet lean athletic body easily into the wicker seat on the patio that overlooked the eighteenth hole.

  “A gin and tonic please, Richard.” She adjusted her sunhat and sunglasses to shield her eyes from the evening sun.

  Richard nodded. He didn’t wait for the waitress and headed inside to the bar to place the order. His cell phone rang as he returned to the table. It was his daughter.

  “Tawnie. Are you on your way?” he asked.

  “I’m just leaving.”

  “Oh good. I was hoping you hadn’t changed your mind about coming.” She had never accepted an invitation to come camping or hiking with him since the divorce. This weekend, she agreed to do both: camping at Bow Valley Provincial Park and hiking with him and Michelle up one of the mountains in the valley.

  Tawnie sighed into the phone. “I said I’m coming, Dad, so I’m coming.”

  Richard forced a small laugh.

  “Sorry,” he said. “Did you remember to bring your good shoes? It’s gonna be a tough climb up the mountain tomorrow.”

  She laughed. “I’m the one that’s done the Heart Mountain Loop before. You have no idea what you two are even in for. I hope you’ve both been keeping up at the gym.”

  “Well, sort of….”

  She laughed again. “You are going to be sore when we get back if you haven’t been on the treadmill. What site number are you booked into?”

  “C-11. Right on the river.” Richard liked to hear his daughter laugh, and he looked forward to seeing her tonight.

  “Are you there now?” she asked. “It shouldn’t take me much more than an hour to get out there.”

  “We’re in Canmore at the moment. At Silvertip.”

  “So you did make it out golfing after all. How was it?”

  “It’s a really nice course and a great day to enjoy it. Not a cloud in the sky. We’re just grabbing a quick drink on the patio and then we’ll head back to the campground. You’ll probably get there before us, so make yourself at home, grab a beer, snacks, whatever. Spare key is in the cooker outside.”

  “C-11,” she repeated. “I’ll see you in a while.”

  “Love you, Tawnie.”

  “I love you too, Dad. See you soon.”

  Richard set the phone down just as the drinks arrived. He looked at his new wife. They had only been married eight short months. It was her striking beauty that had attracted him to her when he first spotted her at one of his seminars. Her eyes, deep pools of Caribbean blue, had made it difficult to pull his eyes away from her as he spoke before the small crowd. He didn’t know at the time she was wearing coloured contacts, but it was enough to capture his full attention. Today, her eyes were a mottled emerald green, currently hidden beneath her oversized designer sunglasses.

  “This will be a first for Tawnie,” he said.

  “It’s about time, Richard. I don’t know why she dislikes me so much.”

  “She doesn’t dislike you.”

  “She doesn’t come over to dinner when invited and never drops by.”

  “That’s not exactly true.”

  “Oh, you’re right. She’ll drop by when she knows I’m working late or out on assignment.”

  “And that’s not fair, either. We’ve been over this many times. She took the divorce very personally. She felt like she had to take sides and, of course, took Ashley’s side.”

  “She still doesn’t have to be a little bitch to me. I didn’t do anything to her. I’m always reaching out to her and I never get anything back. How many times have I invited her to dinner or lunch? She hasn’t ever accepted. Not once.”

  “The word bitch is a little strong, don’t you think? And she is coming out tonight and staying for the whole weekend.”

  Michelle huffed and adjusted her sunhat. “We’ll see if it works out that way. She’ll probably pack up and leave an hour after we get back.”

  Richard sighed. “Well, don’t push her buttons. You know what I mean.”

  “I’m not holding back, Richard. If she gets defensive because of me, I’m not holding back from saying something I’d say to anybody else.”

  “I’m not asking you to. I’m just asking you to be sensitive.”

  “Oh come on, Richard. She’s twenty-one already. What she really needs sometimes is a good slap.”

  Richard took a long sip of his drink. Rebutting her comments would only escalate things. No need to stir up an argument. This was supposed to be a happy weekend away in the mountains.

  “You and Michael get along well,” he said.

  “Now there’s a sweetheart. And that boy doesn’t talk back like you-know-who does.”

  “He’s three years younger than Tawnie. He was thirteen when all the shit went down with Ashley. He was too young to remember.”

  “Thirteen? Oh, he remembers. It’s just that he’s a boy and he’s just like his father.”

  Richard chuckled. “He is a good kid.” But Michael was not like him at all. He tried not to think of how difficult Michael’s early teen years were.

  “Is he even coming at all this weekend?” Michelle asked. “Out to the campsite?”

  “I don’t think so. He’s almost done with his first-year exams. He said he was heading to the coast for a few weeks on Sunday with some new girl he met. I think her name is Lucy, Lucy Carter. He’ll be staying with us for the summer once he gets back. I’m supposed to meet up with him next Friday to pick his things up from the dorm.” He scratched his head, confused by what he just said.

  “Lucy? He’s got a girl now? You never told me about this.”

  “He called me yesterday. The last of his finals is today….” He looked down at his watch—“…was today. The two of them are heading out to the island to do some hiking.”

  “Island. What island?”

  “Vancouver Island. She’s from Victoria.” Michael’s conflicting statements had him thinking again. But then again, girls do strange things to young boys’ minds.

  “Then they’ll be going right by the park if they’re driving out to the coast. Surely they’ll stop in?” Michelle suggested.

  “He said they were flying. Her dad’s picking up the fares.”

  “Her dad is paying to fly them both out to Vancouver Island?”

  “It surprised me, too.” He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Michael said her dad’s loaded and offered to pay for both of them.”

  “She sounds like a keeper.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh at her perception. “Just because her father has money doesn’t mean she’s a keeper.”

  Michelle reached over and patted Richard on the arm. “But it’s a good starting point, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  His thoughts drifted to his own recent success as a media consultant. One book on the best sellers’ list for Educational Literature and a fully booked speaking tour were his results. Another book was due out next month. He leaned back and let the unusually hot June sun bake down on him as he rested his eyes.

  But what about Michael? Michael’s plans over the next few days didn’t quite make sense. How could he pick up Michael from the dorm next Friday if Michael was leaving on Sunday to go hiking along the coast this weekend for ten days with this new girl of his? He must have misunderstood Michael.

  Michelle sipped at her drink as she people-watched. Two gentlemen slipped into the seats at the table next to them. One was elderly, large, heavyset, and wore a black cowboy hat, paisley-patterned shirt, and jeans. The other was younger; a thin man, Asian, late forties, with short hair that was greying on the edges. He appeared nervous, and was dressed in full business attire, complete with a blood-red tie. The hot sun beat down on him, making him appear uncomfortable enough to move his chair around to catch part of the shade from the umbrella at the next table.

  Michelle tapped Richard on the arm.

&n
bsp; “I know them,” she said. “Well, at least the one with the cowboy hat.”

  “What? Who?” Richard lifted his sunglasses and looked around. He recognized nobody. He replaced his glasses, leaned back, and closed his eyes to rest a bit.

  “Those two across from us,” she whispered.

  Richard opened his eyes, took another look but kept his glasses on. He shook his head.

  “I know who that is—the one with the hat. It’s…um, that Senator.”

  Richard frowned. The man with the cowboy hat had a dark and weathered complexion. His deep brown eyes were daunting and powerful with a determination that remained riveted in every stare.

  “He’s native,” she added.

  Richard nodded. “I don’t recognize either of them.”

  “Senator Diamond, that’s his name. He always wears that black hat.”

  Richard studied the large man across from him. “How do you know him?”

  “Senator Nathaniel Diamond,” she repeated. “He’s a Senator from Alberta now, but he used to be in the Alberta government up north as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Wood Buffalo. Twenty years I think he spent as an MLA before becoming a Senator.”

  Richard frowned. Who’s who in politics was a matter that he had no interest in whatsoever these days.

  “Wood Buffalo’s up northeast of Edmonton,” she added after catching the puzzled look on his face.

  “I know where Wood Buffalo is,” he replied.

  It was interesting to watch the Senator and his guest. The Senator appeared agitated and the two seemed to be in a debate about something. Parts of the conversation caught his ear as he sipped back on his drink.

  “But this one isn’t routine anymore, Kaito!” The Senator’s voice was raised. “That’s the problem!”

  The man in the suit, Kaito, dropped his head and loosened his tie at the same time. He mumbled something that sounded like I’m sorry and turned his gaze south towards the mountains.

  Michelle grabbed Richard’s arm again. “I think I know the other one, too. I’ve seen his face before, but I’m pretty sure he’s not in government. He does something else.” Her finger shook in the air as she tried to place his face. “Kaito…” she whispered.

  Richard rarely read the news and tried his best not to follow politics.

  The one named Kaito stared down at the cell phone he held in his lap. The waitress stepped out onto the patio and a huge smile erupted across the Senator’s face. He immediately waved her over in his direction.

  “I should go over there,” Michelle said.

  Richard frowned. “What? Go over? Why?”

  “He’s a Senator, and I’m a reporter. It’s what I do.”

  “You’re on vacation. So is he, probably. Please don’t bother the man.”

  Michelle grabbed her purse and began shuffling through it until she found her cell phone. Her Nikon camera and professional gear she used for work were back at the campsite.

  Richard grabbed her arm. “No pictures.”

  “But, Richard.…”

  “No!” he said sternly. “You’re not working. Just leave it alone. And you’re a food and restaurant reporter for Christ’s sake. What are you going to do, take a picture of the Senator eating and downing a few drinks?”

  She looked hurt as she slipped her phone back into her purse, but she continued to watch the Senator and his guest. A few words drifted their way whenever their voices were raised.

  Kaito stopped fiddling with his phone and shot a bewildered look up at the Senator before looking back down again.

  The Senator appeared very impatient and eyed Kaito and Kaito’s phone.

  Kaito suddenly looked up and gave his head two short shakes.

  A heavy sigh came from the Senator as he leaned back in his chair, looking very discomfited. He removed his hat and ran his hand through his hair once before returning it to his head.

  He mouthed the word “Shit!” What he said after was whispered and indiscernible.

  The two men talked quietly for a few minutes until the Senator became agitated again and slammed his fist onto the table. He thrust one finger out at Kaito. “You can’t do this kind of thing, dammit!”

  “There’s no stopping it,” Kaito replied. His accent was strong, making some of his words difficult to understand. “They had the go for two days already. You know what that means. I still don’t know why you felt you had to fly all the way out here today. It’s too late. The first one begins tonight. The one on the mountain.…”

  “Shut it!” The Senator shouted and thrust his hand forward towards Kaito, palm out, fingers pointed up. “No details, remember!” A number of heads on the patio turned at his raised voice. He faked a smile.

  The Senator’s drink arrived and he chugged down half of it in one swallow. He pointed at Kaito again, lowered his voice, and talked forcefully.

  Kaito shrugged at him as the Senator’s voice dropped down to almost a whisper.

  “You never tell anyone details. You know that. And what in hell’s name gave you the idea that it would be okay to pick your own?” The anger ran deep and the veins at his temples bulged with each breathe. “Damn you, Kaito. You think I like flying all the way out here from Ottawa to sort out this shit? You have to find a way to stop it.”

  “You know I can’t.”

  “The Summer Session barely finished closing yesterday, and I have to hop on a goddamned economy flight across the country. I’m supposed to be on a flight to France with Diane and the girls today. You know how Diane can be. She’s not the least bit happy about flying off alone ahead of me.” He polished off the rest of his drink, forced a smile at the waitress, and motioned for a refill.

  Kaito shook his head and shrugged pompously again at the Senator. “I did tell you not to come, Nate.” He glanced once around the patio at the other guests before pulling a single finger up in the air towards his lips and holding it there, hoping to hush the Senator’s volume.

  Senator Diamond waved his large hand across at Kaito, dismissing him. He finally settled his eyes on the huge wall of mountains lining the southern side of the Bow River Valley. He pointed at one of the rugged peaks of the Three Sisters.

  “So, which mountain is it?”

  Kaito shook his head. “It’s not that direction and you can’t see it from here. Grotto Mountain is in the way.” His hand was pointed east towards the mountain at the far end of the golf course.

  Both Richard and Michelle knew where Grotto Mountain was. They had hiked Grotto Canyon just last summer.

  The Senator moved his stare down the valley and held it. “Down that way, huh?”

  Their voices became indiscernible again. “…you away…,” was all Richard caught.

  The waitress arrived and set down another drink for the Senator. Kaito suddenly appeared nervous and looked deliberately at every person seated out on the patio. He stopped his gaze on Richard and Michelle, who sat closest to Kaito and the Senator, and studied them for a moment.

  Richard stared back at him, the focus of his eyes shielded by his sunglasses. He tried not to smile.

  When Kaito finally looked away, Richard turned to Michelle. “Creepy, huh?”

  Michelle nodded. “They’re up to something.”

  Richard shrugged. “So are we. We’re on vacation, remember?” He motioned to the waitress for the check.

  The waitress came over. “Our portable debit machine is broken. You’ll have to pay up at the bar.”

  Richard stood up. “I’ll just be a minute,” he said to Michelle.

  Michelle drained the last of her gin and tonic and waited for Richard to return. She eavesdropped again on the Senator and slipped her hand into her purse. After a quick glance to the bar to see Richard fussing with the debit machine, she pulled out her cell phone and snapped two quick photos of the Senator and his guest.

  “…the morning,” she heard Kaito say.

  “…relax until I’m on that plane,” the Senator replied.

 
“…gone by the time the body’s dis…” Kaito said causing the Senator to become upset again.

  She only caught fragments of their conversation. “…your son in the mid…it’s not like he’s murdered anyone.…”

  Richard returned from inside and motioned for Michelle. “Let’s go. Tawnie’s probably nearing the campsite.”