by Garry Ryan
“Amazin’ what you can do when you got kids. The job gave me time to spend with my wife and Miguel. I like gettin’ my hands dirty.” Ernesto made a broad sweep with his arm to indicate the garden and flower beds surrounding them.
“You’ve got a green thumb,” Lane said.
“The secret is a little bit of lime.” Ernesto looked at Nonna. “She says you must have a question. That’s your job.” He wiped stubby fingers on a paper napkin.
Lane watched the eyes behind Ernesto’s hooked nose. “I was at the airport today.” He watched for a reaction. Nonno looked at his wife. Watch me, not her, Lane thought. “I’ve got a witness who saw an elderly gentleman carrying a woman matching Nonna’s description. It was a week ago today.”
“We were there. Took a drive to the airport.
“The witness says you got into a taxi.”
Ernesto put his hand on his wife’s. “We wanted to pretend we were goin’ on a trip. Like when we went to Italy. So we took a taxi.”
“Do you know where Bob Swatsky is?” Lane said.
“She says disappearing suits him,” Ernesto said.
Lane felt so close to the answer it was a sweaty shirt sticking to his skin. “What do you say?”
“After what he did to my grandson, I shoulda killed the son a ma bitch myself!”
“But you didn’t?”
Ernesto’s said, “No, but I shoulda.”
CHAPTER 11
There was a familiar ache in Ernie’s elbow.
Scout wheezed but refused to surrender to the pressure of the collar around her neck.
“Heel!” Ernie said. They followed a six foot fence running along John Laurie Boulevard.
Scout turned, glanced up at him and sat.
Dropping on his knees, he got eye to eye. “Look, when we get to the park I’ll take the leash off.” Ernie stood, felt the unfamiliar familiarity of a head spin, and shook his head to clear the dizziness. “Shit!”
It took another five minutes of the pair working against the leash until they reached the opening in the chain link fence. Just inside the gate was a sign with the silhouette of a dog in a green circle and the words OFF LEASH AREA across the bottom. To the right of the sign sat a garbage can. The combination of heat and its contents filled the nearby air with the earthy scent of, “Shit! Scout! Sit still and I’ll take off the leash!”
Upon release, Scout was instantly at full speed. Ernie followed along the pathway; a shallow hollow worn into the prairie grass. It curved through the trees and down a gully.
Ernie heard the wind chime clinking of dog tags as Scout scrambled in the half hop, half lumbering gate she adopted when running downhill. She disappeared beyond the layers of grass, brush and trees. She barked twice.
At the sound of the dog’s whimpering, Ernie ran ahead and turned right into an area where the trees opened into ankle high grass.
Scout was on her back, paws clawing the air.
Red hair fell forward, covering the face of the person scratching Scout’s belly. Ernie took in the sandals, black shorts and white, sleeveless cotton shirt.
“Better watch out,” he said.
She stood. He caught a glimpse of cleavage. The recognition in her blue eyes turned frown into a smile.
“She ..”
Scout peed.
“Ohhh!” She stepped back.
Green was definitely her colour, Ernie decided. “Sorry, Lesley.”
She checked her legs and sandals, “No problem, she missed me.”
“It’s just that she gets so . . . ” Ernie said.
“Excited. I remember what she was like as a pup.”
“Glad to see you, that’s all.”
Scout sat as if in apology.
“Has to be the sweetest dog around.” Lesley said.
The dog raised up on her back legs, and snapped her front teeth on a passing bee.
“She eats bees?”
“And never gets stung,” he said.
“How’ve you been, Ernie? I haven’t seen you for at least a month.” Both knew what she was asking.
He thought about the answer, went to say something and stopped, afraid it might trigger a flashback.
“Sorry.” She reached out to brush her hand against his shoulder. “I shouldn’t have asked. It’s just, you know, we used to be able to talk to each other.”
“I can’t remember much and what I can remember. . . .”
Lesley took her right hand and pushed fingers through her hair, pulling the red back from her face. “It’s so hot and I thought it might be cooler down here in the trees.”
Then the words came out of Ernie’s mouth in a rush. “I get flashbacks. He put a knife to my nose.” He tapped a forefinger over the scar on his nose. “I hit him and we fell.” No that’s not all of it, he thought. Tell someone all of it! Maybe it’ll help.
Her eyes were on him, waiting.
“Onions. He had onions on his breath. Every time I smell them, every time I think of the smell of them, I get a flashback.” Ernie could see the blade of the knife. Uncle Bob’s threat came back to him. ‘I’ll cut your friggin’ nose off and then carve out your heart. Now, on your knees!’ Ernie felt his index and middle fingers corkscrewing themselves into a weapon. There was the sound of a zipper being opened. Ernie’s right hand struck out. He remembered the feel of that soft, fleshy ‘V’ at the base of his Uncle’s throat.
“Ernie?” Lesley said.
Scout barked.
“Ernie!?”
He opened his eyes.
Lesley’s hand touched the side of his face. Her perfume reminded him of raspberries and summers past.
“What’s the matter, Ernie?”
“Flashback,” Ernie said.
“What did he do to you?”
“He . . . ” How do I tell her? How do I say it? “He was telling me to get to my knees and he was undoing his zipper.”
“God!”
“I hit him. We fell and I don’t remember anything else till I woke up in the hospital.”
“Did they catch him yet?”
He shook his head.
“What does your grandfather know about it?” Lesley said.
“What?”
“The police are there and two guys have been parked in front of my house watching his place for most of the day.”
“Lesley says the police were here. And there were two guys watching your house.” They sat in Ernesto’s kitchen at the oak table. Lesley sat next to the doll.
Nonno said, “Don’t know ‘bout a grey car, and neither does Nonna. Asks if you want some iced tea, though.”
Ernie looked at Lesley. Then he looked at Scout, who had her chin between her paws and belly cooling on the hardwood floor. “Sure.”
Ernie and Lesley sat across from one another as the old man stood. Nonna sat with her hands resting on the table.
Ernie glanced at the photographs in the front room. He’d counted them countless times; sixteen framed portraits. It was a record of his growing up. He hoped Lesley hadn’t noticed one in particular.
She pointed and laughed, “Look at those cheeks!” It was a bare backside photo of him on a white rug with two broad smiles running at right angles.
“Nonna says it’s her favourite picture.” Nonno slid the pitcher of iced tea to the center of the table. Ernie poured and watched as Lesley carefully set one glass in front of Nonna.
Nonno smiled. “You understand.”
“You miss her. I understand that,” Lesley said.
Ernie watched the smooth flesh on Lesley’s arms and the way the muscles moved when her hand gripped the glass.
“Those guys in the grey car looked like ex-wrestlers or football players,” Lesley said.
“Uncle Bob’s friends.” Ernie looked at his dog.
“The ones who kicked Scout?” Nonno said.
Ernie nodded.
“They still there?” The old man pushed his chair back.
“We already checked,” Lesley said. “T
hey’re gone.”
“What did the police want?” Ernie said.
“Just asking questions.” Nonno sat back down.
“About what?” Ernie said.
Lesley pointed at the doll. “Did you see that?”
“What?”
“She blinked,” Lesley said.
Nonno said, “She does that when she’s mad at me.”
“What kinds of questions?” Ernie shook his head. Why can’t I have a normal family? he thought.
“Don’t ask,” Nonno said.
They waited.
Nonno said to Nonna, “But we can’t tell him everything.”
He leaned back in his chair.
Lesley looked at Nonno, then at Ernie.
“Nanny told me if it wasn’t for her, I’d be in jail. What did she mean?” Ernie said.
Nonno shrugged. “She’s gotta big mouth.”
“And you said you have to protect me.” Ernie waited but his grandfather said nothing. “From what?”
“Look, your Uncle was a son a ma bitch.” Nonno hesitated as if inviting disagreement. “Ever since he met your Aunt Judy, he’s been trouble for your family.”
“I know that.”
“He tried to hurt you, said he’d cut off your nose and you defended yourself,” Nonno said.
“I know that.”
“What more do you need to know?”
“What happened to Bob!?” Ernie said.
Nonno turned his back on the doll and crossed his arms. “What does she say?” Lesley said and put her hand over her mouth.
Nonno looked at the wall behind Lesley.
“Well, what does she say?” Ernie said.
“I’m not talkin’ to her.”
“How come?” Lesley said.
“We’re arguin’.”
“And you won’t tell us what she’s saying?” Lesley leaned her elbows on the table.
“No.” Nonno raised his hands over his head and said to the doll, “Non me’ rompere i coglioni!”
Lesley turned to Ernie, “What’d he say?”
“Don’t break my balls.”
CHAPTER 12
“Get me one of those no fat cones,” Marvin sat on the bench outside of Buster’s Ice Cream Shoppe.
“You’re kiddin’, right?” Les said.
“Nope. Tangerine. Get me tangerine.”
“Suppose you’re gonna join Weight Watchers too!”
“Maybe,” Marvin said.
“You make me sick!” Lester said.
“Hmmmm.”
“You get so damned optimistic when life’s in the toilet.”
Marv hooked his thumbs in his suspenders and smiled at the cool feel of sweaty fabric against cooler wood. He leaned his head to the right and sniffed an armpit. “We gotta go to the cleaners.”
“We’re nearly outta money. Remember?”
“We got enough for ice cream, right?”
Les reached inside his jacket pocket, made a fist and opened his palm. Four twoonies lay there. Three polar bears and one Queen’s head. “This is just about it.”
“Got a good feelin’ today. Things are gonna turn around.” Marvin interlocked fingers across his belly.
Les opened the door to Buster’s and stepped inside. The words of an Elvis tune seeped out, “Return to sender, address unknown, no such number, no such zone.”
Marvin looked east. A pair of cars eased around the corner. He focused on the headlights, watching for that electric blue of luxury cars.
There!
A silver car with two blue electric lights. The car rode low. It had the look of solid confidence and pride. A 500 SL Mercedes coupe!
A good omen! Marv smiled.
CHAPTER 13
Lane’s radar activated the moment he opened the gate to his back yard. Bees buzzed feverishly around the flowers on either side of the sidewalk. He stepped cautiously to the corner of their home.
Three dirty plates were stacked on the glass topped table. It was then Lane remembered about the guests they’d invited for dinner.
Beyond the table, Arthur peered over the fence and into Mrs. Smallway’s yard. He stood on the rung next to the top of their six foot aluminum ladder. Lisa supported one pair of the ladder’s legs and Loraine the other. All three were dressed in shorts and cotton tops.
“You’re right,” Arthur said. The ladder shifted south and he fell north, clutching for the top of the fence.
Loraine (the Peter Pan look-alike) fell backward onto the grass.
At six feet, Lisa looked almost as strong as she was. She peeled Arthur off the fence, then helped him step around the patch of orange tiger lilies.
Arthur rubbed at his scuffed hands. “You’re sure that contraption means she’s a swinger?”
Lisa bent and took Loraine’s hand. They had been utterly devoted to each other since meeting in Vancouver eight years ago. They made an unlikely couple. Lisa the RCMP officer and Loraine the child psychologist. “That’s right,” Lisa said. “Got called to a noisy party one night. When we opened the front door, there were half a dozen couples having sex in the front room. The music was so loud, they never heard us knock. One couple was using a swing just like that one. They told us it meant they were swingers.”
Lane laughed, remembering Mrs. Smallway’s comments about their ‘unnatural’ lifestyle.
“Some detective you are. You don’t even know what the next door neighbour is up to and it’s right under your nose!” Loraine said. When the laughter died down, she said, “What are you going to do when she has one of her little get togethers? Are you going to call the cops?” More laughter.
Five minutes later, they sat down around the table in the fading light while moths circled the electric bulb above the back door. “We have an early start tomorrow. Do you want to know what I found out about Robert Swatsky?” Lisa said.
Lane put down his cup of tea, “You know where he is?”
“Your job is finding the missing person. They’ve got me tracking the money and that’s where this case gets very interesting.”
“How’s that?” Arthur said.
Loraine listened closely while rubbing Riley behind the ear.
“So far, we know for certain that Mr. Swatsky diverted two million belonging to the City of Red Deer. He used the money to buy up land around a petro chemical plant east of town. Somehow, he’d got wind of the plant’s planned expansion. He got a couple of his partners to buy up the land in specific locations around the plant. Since the company had nowhere else to go, they bought the land at a much higher price,” Lisa said.
“Who were the partners?” Lane pulled out a notebook.
“A pair of brothers by the name of Lester and Marvin Klein. Apparently they are long time acquaintances of Mr. Swatsky.”
“Who else is in on the three million dollar deal?” Arthur said.
Lisa said, “Actually, I’d estimate the amount is closer to 13 million. I can’t prove it yet, but it looks like insiders from the plant, the provincial government and Red Deer’s accounting department were in on the scam.”
“How did you get wind of the deal?” Lane said.
“A guy from Red Deer’s accounting department walked into our detachment. He said he wasn’t sure who was in on the deal and he was pretty scared because he figured someone from the province was in on it. He had a pretty good idea about the amount of money involved. The guy was scared. The Klein boys can be brutal.”
“For instance?” Arthur said.
“Lester Klein has been convicted of assault and charged with dangerous use of a firearm. He got off because his brother gave him an alibi.” Lisa reached over to pet Riley.
Lane circled $13 million on the page of his notebook.
“Any idea where the money is now?”
Lisa said, “It looks like 13.5 million was transferred electronically to a bank in the Cayman Islands.”
“Isn’t that where Swatsky’s wife ended up?” Arthur said.
Lisa said, “Actually,
she’s his ex-wife. They got divorced a month ago. She made six trips to the Caymans in the last ten months. She also bought a house on a beach for nearly 1.3 million US. The purchase was finalized a week after her divorce with Bob.”
“The dates of the divorce and purchase seem pretty convenient,” Loraine said.
Lisa nodded, “They might have figured the divorce would be a good way to hang onto the money and the new house if news of the scam got out.”
“Judy Swatsky has much to gain if Bob doesn’t surface,”
Lane said.
“Don’t forget about Judy’s daughter. There is evidence to suggest she’s also involved.” Lisa said, “What about what you’ve learned? You know, tit for tat.”
Lane explained about Ernesto, the doll and the airport.
When he was finished, Loraine said, “Seems like everyone has forgotten about the boy. What is his name?”
“Ernie,” Arthur said.
Arthur took Riley’s leash in hand. Lane’s antenna went up.
Loraine said, “It’s been my experience that when young people are attacked like that, there can be some pretty nasty emotional and psychological after effects. Is anybody looking out for the kid? And speaking of psychology, Lane, are you finished talking shop?”
“What’s going on?” Lane said.
“You and I are going to talk while Lisa and Arthur take Riley for a walk,” Loraine said.
“As a shrink?” Lane said as Arthur and Lisa stood.
“As a friend,” Loraine said.
Riley was already at the gate with his tail wagging. Lisa and Arthur followed.
“You planned this,” Lane said.
“Arthur’s worried. He sees you shutting down emotionally as you get deeper into this case. He thinks it brings old memories to the surface,” Loraine said.
back beneath the surface. “Then he should have asked me himself.”
“Would you have listened?
“No.”
“Will you listen to me?” Loraine said.
Lane’s hand nervously twirled an empty glass on the table.
“A case like this can bring old memories back. Just like Ernie is going to have to face what happened to him, you’ll have to deal with what happened to you.”
“Lots of people have difficult childhoods,” Lane said.
