Blaze (A Stone Mountain Mystery Book 2)

by Kristina Stanley

Kalin was sick of losing people. “Jack was cautious and he died. Being cautious won’t make me safe.”

  Ben shook his head. “I know you can’t change. I’m not asking you to be cautious against your nature. It’s me who has to change. I just don’t know if I can. I need time to think.”

  Kalin put her hand on his chin, just above his scar, and twisted his head toward her. His stubble scratched her skin. “I love you.” She wanted to remind him of that. The thought of being apart from him was unbearable, but she’d give him space if that’s what he needed.

  “I love you too.”

  Ben’s last serious girlfriend had hurt him and maybe that made his fear of losing someone he loved difficult. She dreaded the answer to the next question, but asked, “Are you coming back?”

  “I don’t know.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Kalin needed to get her mind off Ben. She’d spent most of the morning thinking about him and not working. Instead of going home to empty rooms, she would stay late and work until she couldn’t sit up anymore. Staring at the walls in her darkened bedroom hadn’t been her idea of a great way to spend the night. She thought he’d call. She’d waited. He’d only been gone for one day, and she could barely function.

  She shoved her office chair backward and stood. Enough of feeling sorry for herself. She loved her job, and she was going to use her work to keep busy. And she was going to find out who started the fire.

  Something about Connor Olsen bothered her. She wanted to ask Tessa about her interaction with Connor on her last day working in the deli. All she had to do was get Tessa alone for a while. A trip to Kicking Horse would take two hours each way by car and would provide time to work Connor into the conversation. She would spend an hour there at the most and be back by three. She made a couple of phone calls, then took the stairs two at a time to Tessa’s office.

  “Hey,” she said to Tessa. “I’m taking a drive to Kicking Horse to meet with their employment center. Want to come along? I’d like to introduce you.”

  “Sure.” Tessa grabbed her purse and followed Kalin to her truck.

  “Are you friends with Connor Olsen?” Tessa asked.

  “No. Why?” Kalin hadn’t told Tessa the full reason for their visit to Kicking Horse and was surprised she’d picked up on her intentions.

  “I was wondering why you’re driving his truck.”

  “I’m not. This is Ben’s. He was parked behind me this morning, so I took his.” The lie burned. Ben had taken her Jeep to Manitoba. His truck was a pig on gas. He left his Ford for her to drive, and she hoped that meant he was coming back.

  “Huh. It looks just like Connor’s.”

  Kalin got in the driver’s side, and Tessa stepped up into the passenger seat. They drove through the burnt out remains of the lower village.

  “What a mess,” Tessa said. “Any idea how long before the lower village is rebuilt?”

  “Who knows, but bulldozing the area would be an improvement.”

  The odor of smoke lingered until they reached the exit of the resort and turned onto the highway to Holden.

  “Do you know why the damage was so extensive?”

  “Ben said it was the way the wind was blowing and with where our place was located—you know it started there, right?” Kalin waited for Tessa to nod. “Whoever started the fire knew what they were doing. Whatever the wind direction, the fire would have taken out a significant portion of the resort and surrounding area. The person set it early enough in the morning, so the flames had time to spread before anyone was awake. Whoever it was, intended for the fire to be a disaster.”

  “Not necessarily. They might not have known how much damage would be done. How come you asked for Connor’s file?”

  “We’re looking at anyone who might have a reason to hate the resort.” Kalin turned the barely working air conditioner to high. “Can I ask what happened at the deli? He looked pretty angry.”

  “It’s personal. I’d rather not talk about Connor. He’s bad news.”

  Kalin signaled left and turned onto the connecting highway between Holden and Kicking Horse. They followed the river that flowed between the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges. Small, weather-beaten, junkyard homes lined both sides of the highway.

  “Did you hear about Connor’s car accident?” Kalin asked.

  “Who hasn’t?”

  “Do you know him well?”

  “I’ve known him a long time. How long have you lived at Stone Mountain?”

  Kalin accepted Tessa’s change of subject, and they chatted about HR policies and problems the HR team had dealt with before Tessa started. Tessa was curious, and Kalin answered any questions she asked.

  They reached the small town near Kicking Horse. Kalin pulled into the employment center parking lot, and they entered the office.

  The meeting took half an hour, and Tessa left with a bundle of pamphlets and business cards.

  “Do you mind if we make one stop before heading back?” Kalin asked. Even though she was Tessa’s boss, her ingrained politeness dictated her behavior.

  “Not if we can grab a coffee before we hit the highway.”

  “Caffeine junky?”

  “I worked in the deli for years. Coffee was always on the go.”

  Kalin drove to Mountain Terrain Builders. She wanted to see Tessa’s expression during the next conversation. They entered the small lobby and asked to see Stan Blakeford.

  The receptionist sat behind a stainless steel desk. “Do you have an appointment?” she asked in a husky voice. A barber must have cut her hair. No self-respecting hair stylist would cut thick blonde hair into a man’s haircut.

  She hadn’t anticipated this question and looked sideways at Tessa. “I do. Please tell him Kalin Thompson is here.”

  Kalin and Tessa were led along a plush carpet into a back office. Photos of building sites in various stages of completion decorated the hallways.

  Stan waited for them in the entrance to his office. His broad shoulders touched each side of the doorframe. He had the physique of a man who’d worked hard all his life. Probably spent more time with boots on working at a construction site than in his office.

  Kalin introduced herself and Tessa.

  Stan offered coffee and both accepted.

  “You’ve driven a long way just for a reference check.”

  If Tessa was surprised, she remained expressionless and Kalin said, “We take any year-round position seriously, and we were in Kicking Horse already for another meeting.”

  “You must be hiring Connor for an important role. I’d never take this long to hire anyone.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your boss called me a couple of months ago, asking about him. I’m surprised you’re still undecided.”

  Kalin didn’t let her face show she hadn’t known about the call. Reed must have phoned because of Melanie. Interesting. “How long did Connor work for you?”

  Stan opened a file and read the dates. “He was with us for five years.”

  “Did you ever have any problems with him?”

  “Not usually.”

  Kalin sipped her coffee and waited for Stan to expand. When he didn’t she asked,” Would you rehire him?”

  “Maybe.”

  Stan was cagey, and Kalin wanted to know why. “Was his performance consistent over the five years?”

  Stan twisted a pen in circles using only his thumb and middle finger. “No. He was great for the first four. During his last year, he’d started slipping. His cousin kept coming to town. The two of them would hit the bars. Connor’s work suffered.”

  Kalin asked a series of questions. She took notes, but really wasn’t interested in the answers. The meeting had been a waste of time.

  “What are we hiring Connor for?” Tessa asked the second the truck doors slammed shut.

  “We’re not. I never told Stan that. He assumed that’s why I wanted to talk with him. I said I was from Stone Mountain, and I wanted to speak with him about
Connor.”

  “Why?”

  “Reed asked me to help the RCMP with the investigation into the fire. It’s part of my role as director of security.”

  “He really thinks Connor started the fire?”

  “I don’t know. Do you think it’s possible?”

  Kalin pulled onto the highway. Both women had drunk enough coffee in Stan’s office and had decided not to stop for more. Horses grazed the fields that spanned from the highway to the foothills. The mountains here hadn’t been charred by fire, but the pine beetle was doing its own damage, and the trees were suffering.

  “Yes,” Tessa finally said.

  “Can you tell me why you think that?”

  “I’ve known him since grade school. Connor’s problem is that he’s insecure. He blames anyone and everyone but himself if something doesn’t go his way. I could see him blaming the resort if it got in the way of something he wanted.”

  “Like Reed telling Melanie not to date him?”

  “Maybe.”

  * * *

  Pete Chambers hunched on his couch, holding his head in his hands. His investigator had found some interesting information, and Pete needed to decide what to do next. Did Janet Wood know about the information he’d been given? He hadn’t seen her in over twenty years. Either she hadn’t recognized him at the deli the other day or she’d been acting.

  He was wearing his quick-dry cycling shorts and shirt, and sweat dripped down the back of his neck. He’d gone for an early morning cycle, using the time to think. Something about the even tempo of pumping the pedals relaxed his mind, and he could usually get a grasp of whatever he was struggling with. Cycling had saved him after his family died.

  As usual, Farley sensed his vibes. His expressive brown eyes rolled up at Pete as if daring him to understand his thoughts. He placed his paws on Pete’s knees and leaned his head into his lap. His rump wiggled furiously.

  Pete pushed Farley aside and spread the file’s contents on the coffee table. Reading printed documents helped him organize his thoughts. He guessed that made him part of the older generation. The younger generation didn’t seem to print anything. Everything they needed could be found on their phones or tablets or whatever nifty gadget they owned.

  There might not be a connection between the details on the top page and Janet Wood, but there might be. If she’d killed her son, then he wanted her out of town. If she hadn’t, she had a right to know what he’d found out. Even if she knew about the information his private investigator had delivered, he doubted she had the resources to act. He’d received the package yesterday and had decided to think about it overnight, meaning he’d spent his night tossing from one side of his empty bed to the other.

  Then there was Nora. If he acted on this, he’d have to tell her. She wouldn’t understand why he hired an investigator, and he didn’t want to break the thread-like connection he had with her. He’d been lucky the night he’d shown up at Kalin’s, and Nora had been there with Ethan.

  “Life’s crazy,” he said to Farley. The RCMP had Pete on the suspect list for the fire. He knew they were investigating Jason’s death. They were also scrutinizing his business practices. And there he was, focusing on something unrelated.

  His coffee had gone cold, but he drank it anyway. The bitter taste matched his mood. Pete thought of himself as a decent man. He’d been a good father and husband and didn’t believe he deserved what had happened in his life.

  He shaved, showered and put on an ironed dress shirt and dark pants. He tossed his cycling clothes in the laundry room. Christ, he was more nervous than when he’d asked out Susan. Maybe he should talk with her about this, except she had her own issues to deal with. He didn’t want to burden her. But he was kidding himself; he didn’t trust her with his problems. Not yet, anyway.

  Half an hour later, he found himself standing outside the deli but unable to go in. He watched Janet through the window. She’d had a hard life. He could make her future better, but only if his gut instinct was correct, and the court ruling wasn’t. And what were the odds of that?

  He took a deep breath and entered the deli. The lunch crowd was thinning, and Janet didn’t seem too busy. Pete followed her to an empty table.

  He ordered a burger he didn’t feel like eating but managed anyway. After his meal, he asked for coffee and waited until he was the last person sitting in the dining area.

  Janet came over. “Refill?”

  “Sure. Do you get a break soon?”

  Her stiff smile didn’t make him feel welcome. “I thought I told you I’m not interested.”

  “My name is Pete Chambers.”

  She froze.

  “So you recognize my name.”

  “I used to know a Pete Chambers, a long time ago.”

  She looked as if she might throw the coffee pot at him. He gave her his most disarming smile, the one where his set of dimples showed. “That’d be me.”

  “You look different.”

  “I used to have a lot more hair.”

  “What do you want? I’ve done my time.”

  He felt bad about the panic on her face. “I only want to talk to you.”

  * * *

  Pete waited for Janet on the bench outside the deli. He was afraid she might run. Farley lay beside Pete’s feet with his head resting on his front paws.

  At five minutes after three, Janet met him outside. The summer breeze blew a few strands of hair free of her ponytail, and she tucked them behind one ear. She’d gotten a bit of a tan since the last time he’d seen her, and the color suited her. “I’m not here to cause trouble. Can we talk?”

  She hadn’t moved from the entrance stoop. Her fists rested on her hips, and she squinted her eyes. “Why?”

  “I’d like to talk about Nora. Please.”

  Janet’s chest rose and fell with each deep breath she took. She exhaled from the side of her mouth as if she was exhaling cigarette smoke and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Can we go for a walk? Farley hasn’t been on one yet today.”

  Janet crouched to pet Farley. She let him lick her face, and the joy she felt shone through her skin. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a dog. I used to…” Her voice trailed off as if she were thinking of a time, long ago, before her life took a dark turn.

  Pete wished Susan had the same reaction to Farley. He wasn’t going to give up Farley for anything or anyone. Farley was his family. Farley kept the madness at bay.

  She straightened. “I’ll talk with you, but I’m leaving if I don’t like what you have to say.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Pete led her across Main Street and toward the lake.

  “How did you find me?” Janet asked.

  “I wasn’t looking for you. You bumped into me one day, not far from here, and I recognized you.”

  “Does Nora know who you are?”

  “No. I’ve spent hours thinking about how to talk to you about this. There’s just so much.” Pete pulled a battered paper from his pocket and handed it to her. He watched her as she read. He knew the words by heart.

  * * *

  Pete

  I guess you have a right to know you have a daughter. I’ve given her up for adoption. I’m not telling you where. I’m going to prison for a long time. I don’t even know if you care or are interested, but at least you know. What you do with this is up to you. She is going to a good place. Someday, maybe, you might want to find her.

  Janet Wood

  * * *

  She handed the paper back to him. “I don’t understand why you kept the letter if you weren’t going to contact Nora.”

  “I guess I thought if I needed it, it would be proof I’m her father. I’ve been hoping she’d look for me.”

  “How long ago did you come here?”

  “I was married. My wife and daughter died in a car accident. Afterward, I needed to move. I’ve been here eight years.” Pete couldn’t believe how hard it was to tell this woman about them. This woman who might h
ave killed her own son. He needed to know the truth about her. “Who was Ethan’s father?”

  “No one important. Some guy in a bar.”

  “Is that why you killed him?”

  Janet walked in silence for a while before she said, “I didn’t kill my son.”

  “Really. You spent eighteen years in prison, but you’re innocent. Why would I believe that?”

  “I don’t have to take this. I’ve done my time, and now I want my life back.”

  “Have you talked to Nora?”

  “She hates me. She doesn’t want me here.”

  “Would you if you were her?”

  “No, I guess not. I’d like to get to know her and Ethan and don’t know how to do that.”

  “That’s a lot to expect from Nora. It must have been quite a shock for her to see you. Can you tell me how she ended up with Lisa Hudson?”

  “Did you know Lisa?” Janet asked.

  “A little. I built an atrium on the back of her house. Nora wasn’t living with her anymore, so I never saw them together. How did Lisa end up adopting Nora?”

  “She was my best friend and believed I was innocent. Once I was convicted, we decided Nora was better off if she thought I was dead. Lisa adopted her and told Nora I died in a car crash.”

  What Pete would give to have another crash be a lie. “Why did you send me the letter?”

  “I thought you had a right to know. I was angry. I guess I wanted you to suffer too. I don’t know. Maybe I wanted you to find her. I told Lisa you didn’t know about Nora. I didn’t want her to worry you might show up. I was very confused at the time. How did you find her?”

  “When I got the letter I was already married, and I thought what kind of crazy woman sends something like this? I didn’t want to believe you, so I hid the letter and moved on with my life.” He’d had one meaningless night with Janet before he shipped out and hadn’t thought about her again once he got on the plane.

  Pete ran his hand over his smooth forehead. He was finding this harder to talk about than he anticipated. “After my family died, I started thinking about her again. I’d lost everything, and the thought that I might have a daughter out there kept me going. I hired a private investigator and asked him to find out anything he could about you. He discovered Lisa Hudson had stood by you throughout the trial, so he tracked her to Holden. It wasn’t hard after that for him to find out about Nora, her age and her birthdate. Then I knew.”