Descent (A Stone Mountain Mystery Book 1)

by Kristina Stanley

  Melanie shook her hair loose from her ponytail and raked her fingers through it. “I’m not ready for that. Have you talked to Mom?”

  “No. You?”

  “No. Maybe you should,” Melanie said.

  “You’re worried about her?”

  “I have my issues with her, but I want her to be okay.”

  “You could call her,” Ian suggested.

  “I don’t think so. Maybe sometime, but not yet.”

  Ian shoved fries around his plate. “I’ll go see her. I’m going to stick with Dad, but I can’t cut her off completely.”

  Ian wanted to talk about her note but wouldn’t bring up the topic unless she did. He told her about his disgrace in Fernie. He wanted her to know he had problems too. That she wasn’t the only one who screwed up. He admired her for what she’d done to get better. He admired his dad for standing up to his mom. It was time he did something himself that could be admired.

  He didn’t know why, but he said, “I’ve done it again.”

  “Done what?”

  “Have you met Nora Cummings?”

  “Your freckles are turning orange. Why are you blushing?” Melanie squinted her eyes at him. “You didn’t. Is she your girlfriend?”

  “She was dating Steve McKenzie, but we had a night.”

  Melanie put her burger down and looked at him with sympathetic eyes. “She’s pregnant?”

  Ian lowered his head into his hands. “Yes.”

  “How do you know you’re the father?”

  He rested his elbows on the table and put his chin in his palms. “She said I am.”

  Melanie laughed. “Not to be cynical, but you believe her?”

  “Yes. The thing is I like her.”

  “Then tell her.”

  “I don’t want a baby, and I don’t want a serious relationship.”

  “If it’s yours, it doesn’t matter what you want. You have a responsibility.”

  “When did you grow up?” Ian swallowed the last of his burger. No matter how upset he was, he was always hungry and could eat. He reached across the table and shoved a few of Melanie’s fries into his mouth.

  She swatted him. “Hey.”

  He grabbed her hand and held tight. “I’ve missed you. I’m glad you’re back.”

  “Me too. Now go make things right with Nora.”

  * * *

  Nora was about to open her front door when Constable Miller pulled his RCMP SUV into her driveway. Go away and find a real criminal.

  Miller approached her. He pulled his notebook from his jacket pocket and held a pen between gloved fingers. “You know I spoke with Jeff this morning?”

  The metal from her earrings made her ears cold, and Nora wished she’d worn a hat. “Yes. He didn’t mean anything.”

  “Did you ask him to frighten Kalin?”

  Nora put her hands over her ears, trying to warm them. “Why would I do that?”

  Miller wrote in his notebook, but his eyes never left Nora’s. “You tell me.”

  Without meaning to, Nora stepped away from Miller, but the door blocked her path. She had nowhere to go. “I haven’t done anything. Jeff got mad at Kalin because he thinks she’s going after Donny for Steve’s murder. It has nothing to do with me.”

  “Do you think Donny killed Steve?”

  “No.”

  “Did you see Donny at the resort on the morning of Steve’s murder?”

  Nora couldn’t stop the heat rising into her cheeks. She jutted her chin and straightened her legs. “No.”

  “I think that’s twice you’ve lied to me about that. What time did you see him?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Things seem complicated with you, Donny and Jeff. You’ve quite a past together. Is there anything you know that might help me with the investigation?”

  “I told you, I don’t know anything.”

  “When was the last time you had contact with your mother?”

  “With Lisa?”

  “No. Your biological mother.”

  What the fuck? How did he know about her? Cold air blew inside the material of her green and black cargo pants, but it was the icy fear that made her freeze in place. “My mother died before I was two.”

  “Nora, you’ve lied enough to me. It’s time for you to be honest.”

  Nora took a deep breath. “I’m telling you my mother is dead.”

  “How did she die?”

  His jacket sleeve rustled against his side when he shifted position. Too bad it wasn’t loud enough to drown out his voice. She’d never questioned how her mother died. She’d taken it for granted what Lisa said was true. She put her hand on the doorknob, thinking if she could just get inside, she could slam the door in his face.

  “Nora?”

  “In a car accident.”

  “How did you end up with Lisa Hudson?”

  Nora’s cell vibrated in her pocket, and she ignored the caller. “Lisa was my mother’s best friend. She adopted me.”

  “So you’ve known Jeff and Donny since you were adopted. That must make you pretty close to them. Close enough to make sure they aren’t charged with murder.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Are you trying to protect them so they’ll keep your secret?”

  “What secret?”

  “Since Lisa and your mother were best friends, Lisa must know your mother’s family. Where are they?”

  Nora remained silent, her face flushed. She was breathing hard. Something isn’t right here. “I have no idea.”

  “Who told you your mother died?”

  “Lisa, of course. Why are you asking me about her?”

  “I think it’s time to end the lies. You know your mother is alive, and since you’re lying about that, I’d like to know what else you’re lying about.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Kalin was still shaking after the encounter in the parking lot. She left Ben waiting outside and returned to close her office. She needed a few moments away from him. Fighting with Jeff was not the answer.

  Dusk was a short experience in the mountains, and she missed Ottawa’s long transition from daylight to darkness. She tested the light on her headlamp, satisfied the battery was charged enough for their walk home, and began to tidy her office for the night. They’d agreed to meet in fifteen minutes. Ben shouldn’t interfere, but how could she be mad at him for standing up for her?

  The sound of someone clomping up the steps to the second floor disturbed the silence of the empty offices, and Kalin waited to see who was entering after hours. Her security team wouldn’t lock the outer doors until seven. She reached for her cell, remembered it was broken and called Ben using her desk phone. She was talking with him when Lisa Hudson walked in.

  “Hi, Lisa,” she said and then to Ben, “It’s okay. It’s Lisa.”

  “I’ve brought my snowshoes. Do you have time for a loop? I’d planned to go with Nora, but she’s not answering her phone. Something must have come up,” Lisa said.

  Kalin hesitated and cupped her hand over the phone. “I’m meeting Ben. We usually snowshoe home together.”

  “I was hoping we could talk. Do you think Ben would mind?”

  “You can come with us, and I could drive you back to the resort later for your car.”

  Lisa shook her head. “I want to talk with you alone. About Jeff.”

  Kalin said to Ben, “Do you mind if I do the loop with Lisa? I’ll be home in an hour and a half.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “It’s fine. I won’t be alone, and Lisa can drive me home after.”

  “He’s worried about you,” Lisa said.

  “Typical guy.” Kalin pulled a pair of snow pants on top of her jeans and stepped into her winter boots.

  Outside the administration building, they each strapped on snowshoes. Kalin checked the metal blade on the bottoms of the shoes by stomping backward and feeling the blade grip the snow. The loop she wante
d to take meandered around the village, starting at the Alpine lift station, circling through the forest and ending at the edge of the parking lot. It would take an hour and fifteen minutes of steady snowshoeing to complete the beginner trail. The advanced trails ascended the mountain, covered rugged terrain and were meant for hardy athletes.

  Lisa put on a silver hat with a fur border. Combined with her tailored ski jacket and shapely ski pants, she exuded elegance. Kalin laughed at her own pants, more like what a snowboarder would wear, and guessed she looked like a jock. Maybe she should dress more like Lisa. Then she could compete with the Goddess. She laughed out loud. Who was she kidding?

  “What’s so funny?” Lisa asked.

  “I was just thinking about Ben.”

  Forest surrounded them by the time Lisa brought up Jeff. “I talked with Jeff earlier. Did he call you today and apologize? He promised me he would.”

  “I haven’t heard from him, but I don’t have a cell right now.”

  “Why not?”

  “I dropped it in the snow this morning and was too frightened to search for it.” Kalin didn’t mention Ben had found the soaking and now useless phone.

  “I’m sorry about Jeff’s behavior. I don’t know what he was thinking.”

  Kalin stepped over a tree that had fallen across the path and pointed her headlamp at the obstruction to show Lisa.

  “Jeff’s overprotective when it comes to Donny,” Lisa said. “Maybe a bit like Ben is with you.”

  “Why does he think I’m a threat?”

  “Donny didn’t kill McKenzie.”

  “I don’t think he did. Is that what Jeff’s worried about?”

  “I think so. There are some things you should know about Jeff. I’m not excusing his behavior, but—”

  “There’s really no excuse for what he did.” Kalin figured Jeff hadn’t had a chance to tell Lisa about the fight he’d had with Ben, and she didn’t want to bring it up.

  “I know that. I want you to understand where he’s coming from. He’s under a tremendous amount of pressure.”

  “I don’t see how scaring me will help him.”

  The two trudged in silence for a few moments.

  “Jeff’s family situation is not the greatest,” Lisa finally said.

  “I met his dad the other day. I gather he’s got a mean streak.”

  “Jeff’s been protecting Donny for a long time. It’s second nature to him.”

  “Is he violent?”

  “Jeff? No. His dad can be. I worry sometimes he’ll push Jeff too hard one day.”

  “Are you worried that Jeff killed McKenzie?”

  “No. I know he’s my nephew and I’m biased, but he doesn’t have it in him. He’s not vengeful. I think if you understood what happened, you wouldn’t think either of the boys killed McKenzie.”

  “What I think doesn’t matter. The RCMP will find out who did.”

  “You can influence them.”

  “I don’t think so. I give Constable Miller information when he asks. He doesn’t ask for opinions, only facts. Wasn’t Jeff angry that Nora and McKenzie dated?”

  “That happened gradually. They spent time together after Rachel died. I think he wanted to ease his guilt about her, and he grew on Nora. A year had gone by before they started dating.”

  Lisa had to know about Jeff and McKenzie fighting. The incident had been in the local paper, so why was she lying about Jeff’s feelings now? Maybe Lisa believed Jeff killed McKenzie and wanted to downplay his emotions. “I’m not sure I’d be as understanding if I were Jeff.”

  “I love all the kids. They worked things out. I had to accept their relationships too, whether I understood it all or not.”

  “How did Nora deal with what McKenzie did to Donny?”

  “The car crash? It was an accident. Nora knew that. It almost destroyed all of them. I’m amazed they came through so well. Especially Donny. I don’t know who killed McKenzie. I do know it wasn’t Nora or the boys. Their home life is a mess, and you’re making things worse for them by questioning Donny and Nora all the time. Can’t you leave them alone?”

  “Do you want me to talk with Jeff and tell him I don’t think Donny’s the murderer?” It was the only thing Kalin could think to offer that might ease Lisa’s burden. She didn’t care what Jeff thought or what his problems were.

  “That would help.”

  They came to a split in the path. One direction led to the parking lot by the administration building and the other kept going on the loop. They’d only been out for fifteen minutes, but the snowshoe outing hadn’t turned out to be much fun. If they stopped now, Ben would just be getting home, and she could surprise him. “I’m a bit tired. Let’s head back.”

  They reached the parking lot just as the security SUV parked in front of the mountain operations building. Kalin indicated she wanted to speak to the driver and asked for a ride home, relieving Lisa of the responsibility.

  The SUV stopped in front of Kalin’s home, she said thank you for the lift and hustled up her driveway, eager to be with Ben. She opened her front door and heard muffled voices coming from the back of the suite.

  She turned the corner from the hallway toward their bedroom, and her heart fumbled. Ben had his back to her, with his long-sleeved T-shirt hanging loose over his jeans and his brown hair messy.

  The Goddess stood in their bedroom doorway. The problem was she wore only a bed sheet, draped elegantly off one shoulder. Her hair hung loose around her face. Her bare feet showed off a fresh pedicure.

  * * *

  Jeff parked in his driveway and stared at the garage. His dad must have opened the door, waiting for him to come home. He hated the garage, the spot his dad had chosen to corner him. An easy place to clean up blood. A place his mom never entered. His dad was careful, knowing when his mom was out of the house, hiding his rage until he was alone with Jeff.

  Anger was growing inside Jeff the way a snow mound grew at the side of a road when a plough went by, getting harder on the inside with each passing sweep of the blade. The interview with Miller played repeatedly in his head, the scene unfolding the same way each time.

  He’d thought Miller would be aggressive, come at him full on about hassling Kalin. Instead Miller had been relaxed, talking about how stressful life was and the difficulties he must face taking care of Donny. How Jeff must feel guilty about skiing so well when his brother couldn’t ski at all.

  The interview was almost over by the time Jeff understood Miller thought Donny killed McKenzie and Jeff was protecting him. His gut burned at the thought. If he had to, he’d confess before letting Donny go to jail.

  He slammed his hand onto the steering wheel, accidentally hitting the horn. He closed his eyes with regret. Talk about announcing to his dad he was home. The inside door to the garage opened.

  Jeff slid his butt sideways across the truck seat, dropped his feet onto the concrete floor and faced his dad. Sometimes he was so stupid.

  “Well?” his father said.

  “Is Mom home?”

  A wicked grin smeared across his father’s face. “She’s not here to protect you. What happened to your cheek? Just like your old man, getting into fights, eh?”

  “I’m not like you.” Jeff clenched his fists and swallowed hard. Fighting Timlin had been an annoyance, nothing more. He wanted to do more than punch his dad. He wanted to bash his head in, but that would make him the same. He’d rather be beaten than be the beast.

  “You relax your fists, boy. I just want to talk to you.”

  Jeff wondered if his dad had sensed his desire to kill him and if some basic instinct had warned him to back down. He dropped his shoulders and let his arms drop loose by his sides, hands un-fisted and unthreatening. “What’s up?”

  “My buddy, Don, has a son who works at the police station. He was on duty this morning.”

  So his dad knew. “I can explain.”

  “You better.”

  “Kalin Thompson was fingering Donny for McKenzie�
��s murder. I told her to back off. She needed to be put in her place.” Jeff caught what might be a look of pride in his father’s expression, and it embarrassed him how much that meant to him. What he’d done to Kalin was wrong, but Donny had to be protected. If he played this right, his dad would approve. Being a bully to protect the family would be something his dad could support.

  “Did you scare the piss out of her?”

  He forced a laugh, showing his dad he’d enjoyed toying with her. “I don’t think she’ll go near Donny again.”

  Donny drove his van into the open spot in the garage. They waited for the automatic ramp to slide to the floor and for him to join them.

  “Am I interrupting something?”

  “You know what happened this morning?” his father asked.

  Donny flexed his biceps and clenched his fists. “Nora told me.”

  “You can relax. Jeff did a good thing, protecting the family.”

  “I didn’t kill McKenzie, and both of you need to get that.” Donny turned his back to them and wheeled away.

  “Get back here and clean the floor.”

  “No.” Donny wheeled into the house and let the door slam.

  Jeff felt the shift as if something had fundamentally changed in the power structure. Donny had never stood up to their old man before. Their old man had never backed down before. Maybe he could pin the murder on him. If Jeff could do that, his dad would go to jail and be out of their lives.

  * * *

  Nora sat on Lisa’s front porch, waiting for her so-called adoptive mother to come home. She had a key, but it wasn’t her home anymore. Miller had shattered that illusion. How could Lisa have done this?

  Janet Wood. Miller had at least shared her birth mother’s name. He’d looked as if he felt bad about telling her something so big once he realized she hadn’t known. She used his guilt to force him to tell her Janet Wood was in prison for killing her infant son.

  After Miller left, Nora had driven to Lisa’s, wanting to confront her.

  Lisa arrived and invited Nora in.

  Nora backed away from her. She shook all over, and her stomach performed somersaults. “How could you lie to me all my life?”