Blaze (A Stone Mountain Mystery Book 2)

by Kristina Stanley

  “Why is it so bad she’s alive?”

  “She was in jail for eighteen years.”

  “Holy shit. What did she do?”

  “She killed her son. My half-brother. That’s where the name Ethan comes from.”

  “How do you know his name? Did Lisa tell you?”

  Ian was getting agitated. His cheeks reddened underneath the spattering of freckles, turning them orange. She hadn’t even told him the worst yet. Ethan stirred and cried. Nora reached for him. “Maybe he’s hungry.”

  She placed Ethan on her chest and covered him with her shawl. “I’m telling you this because you’re Ethan’s dad, and I think you have a right to know what’s going on. Not one other person knows.”

  “Knows what?”

  “She came here.”

  “What do you mean, came here? Like, your murdering mother showed up in Holden?”

  “She showed up at the hospital the day after Ethan was born.”

  “Did you tell her to get lost?”

  “I did. Can you calm down a bit? I think Ethan’s picking up on your stress. He won’t eat if he’s upset.”

  “I thought my mother was shit, but yours is worse than shit. What kind of mother kills her own child? You can’t let her near Ethan.”

  Nora rubbed her free hand through her spiked hair. Maybe she shouldn’t have started this conversation. She could stop there and not tell him about Janet entering her house, but what if he found out? “There’s more.”

  Two people walked by. Their springer spaniel pulled them forward, sniffing at invisible scents on the ground, keeping the leash taut. Nora waited until their poorly trained dog hauled them out of hearing range. She told Ian about Janet breaking into her house and holding Ethan. She told him about her second visit to her home. “She frightens me.”

  “Go to the police.”

  “I don’t want to. Then it becomes public she’s Ethan’s grandmother. You don’t know what it’s been like, knowing my mother murdered my brother. I’ve had so many nightmares. I can’t even keep track of them anymore. I keep thinking, what if it’s genetic? What if I have the same tendencies?”

  Ian stroked her arm. “You don’t. You never have to think that. If you don’t want to go to the police, what do you want to do?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I think I should move in with you,” Ian said.

  “I don’t know what to say to that.” Except that I really want you to.

  “Just say you think it’s good for Ethan, having both of us in one home. It’s not like we’d be living as a couple. But at least if I’m around, Janet might not come over.”

  “The only time I see her is when I’m in town. I’ve been thinking about moving back up to the resort again.”

  “Can I move with you? I’ll sleep on the couch. You and Ethan can share the bedroom. We could do that until we know she’s gone.”

  Being a father had changed Ian. He’d lost a bit of his hostility. “You’re sweet. Let’s do it.”

  Ian’s cell rang, and he looked at the display. “It’s Melanie. I’ve got to answer.”

  Ian turned his back to her and whispered. Nora had difficulty thinking of Melanie as Ethan’s aunt. Nora barely knew her, but Ian seemed to care about her. Nora might not have parents, but Ethan did, and he had an aunt and one decent grandparent. She planned to make sure Ethan stayed tight with Ian, Melanie and Gavin.

  “I’ve got to go,” Ian said.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “No. I think Melanie’s using again. She asked me to come get her.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  An uneasiness about Susan was growing within Pete. Something was going on with her that he didn’t understand. He enjoyed his time with her. The loneliness that had accompanied him for years was diminishing. They went to the same church, they enjoyed dining out, they read literature, and they cooked together. She didn’t seem interested in Farley, but he could live with that. She’d been abandoned by her family and held a grudge, and who could blame her? She’d have to be an ice queen not to be affected by the loss. But most importantly, she was Ethan’s grandmother, and for that alone, he would protect her.

  Her relationship with Ian and Melanie made him uncomfortable, but maybe he could help her. For whatever reason, her children had taken her husband’s side in the breakup.

  Pete slid shrimp onto skewers and poured olive oil over them. He grated parmesan cheese to add after he grilled the shrimp. He marinated the B.C. wild salmon in a brew of soya sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and fresh oregano and put the fish to the side to rest. He was proud of his kitchen. He’d designed it himself. The island in the center was his favorite place to prep food. With his back to the fridge, stove and sink, he faced a view of the Purcell Mountains. His backyard sloped down to the neighbor’s, and he could see clear over their rooftop. The view was part of the reason he’d bought the lot.

  The doorbell rang. He wiped his hands on a tea towel and raced Farley to the front hall. Of course, Farley won.

  He made Farley sit, knowing Susan wouldn’t like him jumping on her.

  She arrived with a bottle of Amarone, a box of dark chocolates and a bone for Farley.

  “I hope it’s okay. I had the butcher cut it for me.”

  Pete’s throat tightened. She had no idea how much it meant to him that she made an effort for Farley. He cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

  He led her to the backyard where he had a bottle of champagne chilling on ice.

  Pete slowly poured the champagne into flutes and passed one to Susan. They settled on the deck in cedar Muskoka chairs. Farley hustled with his bone to the far corner of the yard to chew.

  “Any news on the fire?” Susan asked.

  “The RCMP has been by a few times, but I don’t think they know who started it yet.”

  “Have they given any hint of who they suspect?”

  “Me, I think.”

  “You’re kidding. Why you?”

  “Someone’s spreading rumors I’m paying suppliers to deliver to me ahead of other contractors. Then the fire started at one of my building sites. There’s also Jason Tober’s accident. His family thinks his death is my fault and that I was taking shortcuts in the building process.”

  “They have to blame someone.” Susan sipped her champagne and watched the bubbles. “Did they mention anyone else?”

  “No. You have someone in mind?”

  “Not really. I’m just curious.”

  Farley nuzzled his head onto Pete’s lap, and Pete rubbed his ear. A slight breeze distributed the scent of lilac. “Have you talked with Nora again?”

  Susan frowned. “She won’t return my calls. I’ll bet Ian persuaded her to ignore me.”

  “Do you want me to talk to her?”

  “I didn’t know you knew her?”

  “I don’t really. Kalin and Ben introduced me to her. I thought she might talk with me since I’m not directly involved and I’m dating you.”

  “Are you sure there’s not more to it?”

  The question startled Pete. Susan couldn’t possibly know. He hadn’t told anyone. “What’s that mean?”

  “I didn’t mean anything.” Susan’s voice softened, and she rested her hand on top of his.

  Sometimes she pushed until she got a reaction, then backed off. The personality trait was frustrating but did make her interesting. “You hungry? I could start the barbecue.”

  “Sure.”

  While Pete lit the barbecue, Susan removed her high heels and walked around his backyard enjoying his garden, wiggling her toes in the grass. He’d designed a garden full of perennials. He added annuals for a splash of color but kept the yearly work to a minimum. Farley followed Susan, keeping a foot behind her and holding his new bone tight in his jaws.

  Susan’s cell rang. She walked to the corner of the yard and answered. He could see by her mannerisms she wasn’t happy.

  When she finished, he waited for her to tell her who’d been o
n the phone.

  “They’re all ganging up on me.”

  Pete suspected Susan was way more fragile than she’d ever admit to him. “What happened?”

  She ran one finger underneath her bottom eyelashes. “Gavin asked me to leave Ian and Nora alone. He said Ian called him and told him I was bothering them and they don’t want me involved with Ethan. Can you believe that?”

  “Here. Let me help.” Pete removed mascara from underneath her eye with his thumb. “Can I make a suggestion?”

  Susan eyed him, and he took that as a yes.

  “Maybe you should work on your relationship with Ian before trying to get involved with Nora and Ethan.”

  “What do you know about raising children?”

  Pete went quiet. That was nasty and not a part of Susan he liked. Maybe he was blinded by the sex. Maybe it was that she was Ethan’s grandmother. If she spoke to Ian in the same manner, he could understand why he didn’t want her around.

  “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for,” Susan said.

  Pete put the metal flipper beside the grill and took Susan’s hand. “There’s something you should know about me.” The gentler side of Susan presented itself and he continued. “I was married and I had a daughter. They were…”

  Susan pressed his hand.

  “They died in a car accident. My daughter was eight. I do know something about raising children. Maybe not about adult children, but I know what it’s like to lose one. Don’t let that happen with Ian and Melanie.”

  * * *

  Kalin eased her foot off the gas pedal. She’d experienced losing someone in an accident, and she should be able to help Ben. He still wasn’t sleeping, and he still wouldn’t get professional help.

  Driving into the lower part of the mountain, the slope’s incline decreased and leveled off into farmland. The river changed course and flowed away from the road.

  An oncoming car approached her, disappeared, and a dust cloud blossomed where the car should have been. Kalin slowed to a crawl, found skid marks leading off the road and pulled over. She was on her way to Holden to represent Stone Mountain at a Bear Aware meeting. Abandoning her usual resort wear, she’d dressed for town and wore a pencil skirt, a blouse and high-heeled boots. Even with a slit at the back, the skirt was too confining for tromping off the road in search of a car.

  Considering her tight skirt, she scrambled quickly to the side of an overturned car. It had flipped off the edge of the road, slid down the embankment and landed against a tree. Road dust worked its way into her nostrils and her mouth. Her stomach lurched.

  Connor Olsen hung upside down in the driver’s seat. The impact crushed the passenger side and the back, leaving no room between the vinyl seats and the roof.

  “Is there anyone else in the car?” Kalin asked.

  Connor moaned and shook his head.

  She checked her cell signal strength and by the lack of bars knew they were in the dead zone between Stone Mountain and Holden.

  “Get me out of here.”

  Kalin yanked the door handle several times before giving up. “Can you open it from your side?”

  “The handle won’t budge.”

  She reached through the smashed window and tugged the inside handle but failed to open the door. Shards of glass shredded the sleeve of her blouse. “I’m going to see if I can get help.”

  “Wait. Get me out of here first. Don’t you smell that?”

  Smoke. Something in the back of the car had ignited. Her pulse sped up, and her heart hammered against her breastbone. “I’m going to support you. Try to undo your seatbelt.”

  Connor dug his fingers underneath the buckle but nothing happened. “It’s stuck. I can’t undo the clasp.”

  “I’m going to my truck.”

  Connor grabbed her wrist. “Don’t leave me here. There’s not enough time.”

  Kalin wrestled her arm free. “My fiancé’s toolbox is in the truck. Maybe there’s a knife or something. I’ll be right back.”

  She hurried to Ben’s Ford pickup, scrambled through the toolbox and found a pair of heavy-duty scissors.

  “Christ, hurry up!”

  When she reached his car, flames broke through the backseat and licked the inside of the rear door. She almost bolted.

  Connor hung upside down with sweat dripping into his black hair. The veins in his neck bulged, and he clenched his teeth.

  She cut the shoulder strap first, and Connor lurched toward the roof but didn’t drop. With his full weight hanging on the seatbelt, she struggled to get one blade between the strap and his leg.

  “Come on. Come on,” Connor said through gritted teeth. His face turned an ugly red, and his cheeks scrunched toward his eyes.

  The blade slid underneath, snapping the belt. Connor fell with a thump onto the inside of the roof.

  As best she could from her angle, she pulled him sideways. Connor crawled through the opening and rose to his feet.

  “Get away from the car.” He pulled Kalin by her hand, dragging her back to the highway. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

  Connor got in Ben’s truck. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  “What are you so worried about?”

  “Hurry up. There’s gas in the backseat.”

  Kalin jumped in the truck and shifted into first gear. They were two hundred meters from the car when the explosion erupted.

  * * *

  Constable Miller stood at the edge of the highway. The skeleton of the burnt out vehicle remained. The fire department had doused the flames but left the car. Kalin had phoned 911 when she reached cell range and reported the accident. She’d called Miller after she dropped off Connor Olsen at his place and was alone in her car.

  She told him about the crash. She said she was angry Connor hadn’t mentioned the gas when she’d found him. Miller was certainly interested in why Connor would be driving around with gasoline in his car.

  He left the site of the accident and drove to Connor’s house. He found Connor’s red Ford pickup in the driveway and lights glowing from within the house.

  Connor opened the door, and Miller smelled marijuana. He guessed Connor was trying to calm himself. “Can I come in?”

  “Nope.” Connor left the door ajar and stepped onto the porch, and Miller caught the shadow of a person.

  Miller focused behind Connor, keeping an eye out for the hidden person. “You weren’t injured?”

  “No. I guess you’re here about the accident.”

  “Seems odd that the car would explode.”

  “These things happen,” Connor said.

  Miller examined the truck parked in the driveway. He pointed to the Ford F-150. “That your truck?”

  “What of it?”

  “Who owns the Dodge?”

  “My cousin, Neil.”

  Miller assumed it was Neil Olsen who was in the house. He’d check the plates later. “You have a car too? You must be making a good wage.”

  “It wasn’t my car.”

  “Whose was it?”

  “My boss’s. I was driving up to a site.”

  “In the evening and in Chambers’ car. Why wouldn’t you use a company truck or your own?”

  “Mine has a flat, and it’s closer to walk to Pete’s than to the office. What’s the big deal?”

  Miller made a note in his book. He curbed his smile when he noticed Connor trying to read his writing. “Why did you have gas with you?”

  “I didn’t know it was in the car. Chambers must have had it there for some reason.”

  “Does he know you borrowed his car?”

  Music pounded from inside the house. “No, but he keeps the key on top of the rear tire in case any of us need wheels. I don’t usually tell him when I take it.”

  “If you didn’t know the gas was in the car, how is it you told Kalin about it while you were running away?”

  “I didn’t tell her that. She must have assumed it when the car blew up.”

  * * *

  Mill
er heard classical music coming from Pete Chambers’ backyard and instead of ringing the doorbell, he strode around the side of the house. Chambers’ house was in a high-end neighborhood, and Miller decided to check just how profitable his business was. The house was custom made, probably designed by some architect Chambers knew, and was a league above the others on the street.

  He found Chambers and Susan Reed waltzing on the back patio. The outdoor table was littered with dinner remnants, and an empty bottle of wine sat amongst the dishes. Miller read the label. Not a bottle he could afford.

  Miller cleared his throat. “Excuse me.” Farley ran to his side, and he squatted and rubbed the dog’s head.

  He nodded at Susan. “Sorry to bother you.”

  Chambers wore a short-sleeved dress shirt and black jeans. Susan out classed him by wearing a silk summer dress and a pearl necklace.

  Chambers walked to an iPod player and lowered the volume of the music. “No bother. I take it by your uniform this is not a social call.”

  “There was a car accident this evening.”

  Chambers tensed.

  “You own a 1992 Ford Taurus?” Miller asked.

  “Yes.”

  Miller wrote in his book. “Did you give anyone permission to use it tonight?”

  “No, but I leave it in the driveway. My guys know they can use it whenever they want. It’s a beater, but comes in handy sometimes. What happened?”

  “Connor Olsen crashed your car.”

  “Is he hurt?”

  Miller didn’t miss the look of concern on Chambers’ face. “He’s fine. Your car is totaled. It exploded.”

  “Why would it do that?”

  “Apparently you keep full gas cans in the car.”

  “I do not. The car is kept empty, so the guys can haul small stuff. They know not to carry flammable materials. That’s what the trucks are for.”

  Miller continued to question Pete, but didn’t get any more useful information except to determine he liked the guy. He just wasn’t sure if someone had it in for Chambers, if the man had really bad luck or if he was a criminal.