“Sit down, Osborne. You too, miss.”
“My name is Shu-li Waterman.”
It felt absurd for Noel and Kyra to introduce themselves at this stage, but they did, Noel adding, “Please, both of you, sit.”
They each took a chair. Austin said, “Okay, what?”
“We’re concerned about Shane Cooper,” Kyra said.
“His bones will heal.”
“It’s not his bones that worry us, Austin. It’s his career.”
“He’ll have a career.”
“If he does what you tell him.”
“Of course. I don’t—”
“If he doesn’t want to do what you tell him, like falling on purpose in competition, or something worse, what then?”
“I would never ask him to do anything wrong.”
“Never?”
“You have my word.”
Kyra and Noel smiled, at Austin, between themselves. Kyra said, “Not good enough. He needs your support, not your control. Control comes off the table right now.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means you place in escrow a cash deposit, the amount to be set this coming week by our lawyers, to cover Shane’s annual expenses. The money stays in that account until he can support himself through endorsements and other independent income.”
“This is ridiculous. Anyway, I don’t have that kind of money.”
Noel glanced about, the deck, the garden, the house. “Nice home you have here. One of many? Write them off as a business expense?”
“You can’t be serious.”
Noel sat forward, leaning across the table. “Very.”
“What if I refuse?”
“The police may have to take a closer look at Randy’s death.”
Austin leaned back in his chair. “Complete self-defense. The Mounties are satisfied. Even you two said it was self-defense.”
“We may have said so. We might have been wrong.”
“Change your story? Lie?”
“We wouldn’t lie, Austin. Not after we’ve looked more carefully at the photos I took. And shared them with Sam Mervin.”
“What photos?”
“On the cliff. The two of you shoving Randy off the cliff.” He took the camera from the pouch on his belt, flicked it on and showed Austin the final picture: Randy over the edge holding on to Austin’s arm, Shu-li slamming the poker against Randy’s hands. Noel turned the camera so Shu-li could see the photo. “Good work, Miss Waterman.”
Austin lunged across the table for the camera, missed as Noel withdrew it. Austin said, “That doesn’t prove a thing.”
“Maybe not, but it sure would make good press. The great Austin Osborne, exposed to the world. Along with Shirley Waterman. Put that together with the story of Osborne demanding that for Shane Cooper to receive Osborne’s support he would have to throw competitions. Because Osborne wanted to bring disgrace onto Harold Arensen. However that would have worked. Get it?”
Austin stood slowly. He pushed the chair back. “Give-me-that-camera.” A growl.
“Sit down, Osborne. I emailed the pictures to two separate secure locations ten minutes ago. No one ever needs to see them. Put the money in escrow, nothing changes.”
Osborne started around the table toward Noel.
Kyra bolted up, purse in hand, finding and grabbing her can of Mace. “Don’t even think it, Osborne.” She turned quickly as Shu-li lunged forward. Kyra’s finger depressed the spray-guard and a waft of grey haze hit Shu-li in the face. She gasped and shrieked. She fell back against her chair.
Austin ran around to Shu-li’s side and cradled her against his chest.
Kyra drew a package of tissues from her purse and tossed them on the table. “Use those. Then get some water. You’ll get your instructions by registered mail. Look at me!”
Austin looked up.
“You’ll follow the instructions. Sign where you are told to sign. Understand?”
“This is blackmail. You can’t—”
“We play our part, you play yours. No further contact with Shane. Except the hands-off allowance from the escrow fund. The administrators of the fund will be Linda and Jason Cooper. You got that?”
“I can’t—”
“You can and you will.” She pointed the Mace at Osborne. “Tell us that you will.”
“I—will.”
“Don’t ruin your reputation, Osborne. Some people respect you. Keep it that way.” Noel stood. “Get some water for her eyes!”
• • •
Noel and Kyra were back at the Cooper house before the family and Alana returned from Campbell River.
“I’m for a hot bath and stiff drink,” Noel said.
“Ditto drink, but shower and clean clothes. Let’s go to the B&B.”
Half an hour later, vodkas with a little tonic in hand, they sat on the patio outside their rooms.
“The more I think about that scenario, the more risky it was,” said Kyra.
“Is. Still.” Noel took a hefty sip. “How much do we tell the Coopers?”
“Randy is dead, Shane’s career is guaranteed?”
“Yeah. No details?”
“No.”
“Just—done.”
“Yeah.”
The view was stunning, a ridge of trees, a pasture with sheep. Or alpacas? A sweep of island-dotted bay.
“I had the shakes in the tub.” Noel glanced sideways. “I always do, after.”
“It was risky, but you pulled it off.”
“If anyone finds out—“
“We won’t let anyone.”
Her tone reassured Noel. A bit.
She took out her phone, poked in Alana’s number, talked. Cut the connection. “On the ferry,” she announced. “Drink up and we’ll get to the next act.”
• • •
Tim took Randy’s death harder than the rest of the family. “I didn’t like him, but I didn’t wish him dead.” He blinked against tears, bit his lip, fumbled for his cap that wasn’t there. “Tell me again how it happened.”
“He got too close to the edge and slipped,” Kyra said.
“That’s a huge cliff,” Noel added. “Austin needs to put up a fence.”
Shane worried: “I still don’t get how you convinced Austin to not make me toss a competition again.”
Kyra shrugged. “From what he said, he’d half decided you didn’t need protecting anymore. We helped him decide the other half.”
“We can’t thank you enough,” Linda gushed.
“Yeah!” Jason enfolded Noel in a bear hug.
• • •
Next day, after a long, celebratory breakfast, another conversation with the Mounties, a visit to Derek—Kyra and Noel’s first since he’d become non-comatose—then they and Alana started back to Qualicum. There’d been no point in rushing off early since Seth and Jan and Astrid had taken Paul for his chemo in Victoria. Noel elected to mosey back on the Old Island Highway, two lanes winding through picturesque towns on the edge of the Strait. They stopped for a long beach walk and lunch in Fanny Bay where Alana had her first-ever oyster. She wasn’t sure, but tentatively ate another and then declared them her food find of the summer.
On the road again, Alana launched into a paean for Triple I. “You guys were awesome! How did you figure it out so quickly? I can’t wait to tell my friends about this. And you’re keeping Shane skating! Wow!”
Kyra and Noel both said, “Alana!” at the same time. Noel braked and pulled over. Kyra turned around to face the back.
Noel said, “You cannot tell your friends about this. You can’t tell anyone. Clients’ confidentiality is paramount. Do you understand?”
“But you were so great! Can I work on another case with you? Next summer?”
Kyra said, “We’ll see. You were a big help. But the primary thing about this business is professional discretion. Do you know what that is?”
“Not saying anything? Even to my best friends?”
“Not saying a
nything that would identify the clients, right, Noel?”
“Right.” He started up again.
“I think you could tell your friends,” Kyra continued in an Uncle Noel voice, “that you met Shane Cooper because he was skating in Campbell River this summer, that he’s broken his leg and won’t be in these Olympics, but he’ll be back. You may not say anything about the family or the case. Got it?”
“The rest is client confidentiality, Alana. Got it?”
“A secret?”
“A secret with grave consequences if you break it . . .”
Alana digested for a moment. “If I don’t say anything, can I work another case with you sometime?”
EPILOGUE
First thing Monday morning Noel had phoned his lawyer for a recommendation of a colleague in Campbell River, someone to sort out Shane’s escrow account. His lawyer recommended Brian Sommers.
Noel had discussed the arrangements with Linda and Jason the evening before. They’d wanted more information. Noel and Kyra explained: with the work pressure at his factory, Austin agreed this was easiest. The four of them explained it to Shane. He was still afraid that Austin would have control over him despite the pact Noel outlined. “If he so much as tries to contact you, phone me immediately.” Shane acquiesced. No more hypnosis from Austin, his leg would have to heal of its own accord. No participating in the trials for the Vancouver Olympics, no chance to skate for Canada in 2010—this was the heavy price Shane was paying.
A quiet Tuesday and Wednesday with Noel’s family. Thursday Noel and Kyra headed to Nanaimo, inviting everyone to come down for dinner. He’d treat them to the best restaurant in town. On the trip he tried to convince Kyra to spend a couple of days at his condo, the guest room was going begging. They could take walks, eat good food together, something they did so well. They’d sit on his balcony above Nanaimo harbor at vodka-tonic time, take in a schlocky summer movie. She should rest, do nothing for a while, be checked by his physician and deal quietly with the trauma of the miscarriage after the distractions of the case. Noel wanted to go for a picnic to Newcastle Island just across the bay from his condo; he and Brendan had spent good times there and he couldn’t make himself take the ferry over by himself.
This last argument convinced her. She would stay until after the weekend.
Friday afternoon Brian Sommers called to say Austin Osborne had just left a signed statement accepting the financial responsibility for Shane Cooper’s career, the papers for opening an escrow account for Shane, an additional document which recognized Linda and Jason Cooper as the sole trustees of that account, and a check for the agreed-on amount. The arrangement would stay in place until Shane was twenty-five.
Noel put the phone down. “Well, it’s done.” He called Jason who, overwhelmed, said he’d be forever in Noel’s debt.
Noel disconnected and plunked the phone on the table. “I have a bottle of Verve Clicquot. We can celebrate.”
They sipped the bubbly on the balcony, overlooking the port. A small soft breeze tickled the warm air. Kyra said, “You were right. I’m glad I stayed on. Thanks. It’s been fun.”
He raised his glass. “To enjoying ourselves.”
“We’re pretty good at that.” They both drank in silence. Then Kyra said, “Noel, I do want to have a child.”
He couldn’t tell, was she serious?
“Very serious,” she said.
Not really?
“Believe me, sincerely serious. I’ve given it some thinking, and it’s what I want.” She raised her glass. “And with every passing day I get more serious.”
He made a wry face. “You going to try another speed dating session?”
“I don’t think so.”
“So what, then? Pick up some guy in a bar and let him impregnate you? Shit, Kyra, you wouldn’t. Would you?”
“No.”
“Well that’s something at least. So?”
“I think, artificial insemination.”
“Oh, go to one of those sperm banks, find yourself a genius father for this kid?”
“Not that either.”
“What’s this, some sort of quiz show? Who’re you getting as the lucky dad?”
“You.”
“No way!”
Kyra smiled, and sipped.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank a number of people who helped us with their expertise. First, for many important insights into the world of competitive figures skating, Marilyn and Ian Wood; they spent hours with us, answering our questions and watching tapes of figures skating championships as they explained the meaning and quality of various moves. Also for her skating knowledge, Tina Leininger, who answered questions about the daily world of skaters. Thanks as well to Stacey and Peter Wisiorowski, for sharing with us their experiences as they underwent the complexities of speed dating—unlike Kyra’s, their venture proved highly successful. Heather and Rolf Kellerhals, together with their daughter Erika (who appears as herself in the novel, the island’s physician), provided us with valuable insight into the social texture of Quadra, and corrected some factual errors. And thanks to Dr. Barrie Humphrey, who taught us about the medical side of people in a coma. Finally, we much appreciated our conversation with Constable Mike Reid of the RCMP, who gave us a number of astute glimpses into police procedure on islands.
In addition, a number of people bought their—and others’—places in the novel by contributing to the Gabriola Commons (gabriolacommons.ca; check it out); the names they made their contributions for appear as characters. Dorothy Betts bought three characters: Bertina Anderson, Dorothy Bryan and Sam Mervin. Alison Douglas bought a place for Steve Struthers. Christine Gagnon and David Soy bought characters who now bear their own names. To all of you, our thanks and the thanks of the Commons.
We took artistic liberty with parts of Quadra Island and Campbell River. The Quadra ambulance takes seriously hurt people directly to the Campbell River hospital and not to the Island clinic. Do not travel the areas looking for certain fictitious roads and structures.
SANDY FRANCES DUNCAN is the author of ten award-winning books for children and adults, including Gold Rush Orphan, which was nominated for a 2005 BC Book Prize. Her articles have appeared in numerous literary journals, magazines, and newspapers.
A National Magazine Award recipient and winner of the Hugh MacLennan Prize for fiction, GEORGE SZANTO is the author of half a dozen novels, his most recent being The Tartarus House on Crab and The Conquests of Mexico trilogy: The Underside of Stones, Second Sight and The Condesa of M. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Please visit his website at georgeszanto.com.
Together, Sandy Frances Duncan and George Szanto co-author the Islands Investigations International Mystery series, which includes the titles Never Sleep with a Suspect on Gabriola Island and Always Kiss the Corpse on Whidbey Island.
ALSO IN THE ISLANDS INVESTIGATIONS INTERNATIONAL MYSTERY SERIES:
Always Kiss the Corpse
on Whidbey Island
978-1-926741-05-5
$24.95, Hardcover
Never Sleep with a Suspect
on Gabriola Island
978-1-894898-89-8
$14.95, Paperback
Kyra Rachel from Washington State and Noel Franklin from British Columbia form the Islands Investigations International team. Together, they solve mysteries on the charming, but dangerous, islands off the west coast of North America.
In Never Sleep with a Suspect, Kyra and Noel are on Gabriola Island to investigate the murder of an art gallery groundskeeper. The island is spinning with rumors about the murder, but not everybody is telling the investigators the truth. As each falls prey to those they need to trust, Kyra and Noel learn that even charming island communities have deadly secrets.
In Always Kiss the Corpse, a Whidbey Island General Hospital nurse has supposedly died of a heroin overdose, but when his mother views the body at the funeral, she cries out, “That’s not my son!” Kyra and Noel are on the
case to find the missing nurse and figure out the truth behind the mysterious body in the casket.
Copyright © 2011 Sandy Frances Duncan and George Szanto
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (access Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit www.accesscopyright.ca.
LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION
Duncan, Sandy Frances, 1942–
Never hug a mugger on Quadra Island [electronic resource] / Sandy
Frances Duncan, George Szanto.
Type of computer file: Electronic monograph in HTML format.
Issued also in print format.
ISBN 978-1-926971-50-6
I. Szanto, George, 1940– II. Title.
PS8557.U5375N46 2011a C813'.54 C2011-904165-0
Editor: Frances Thorsen
Proofreader: Lenore Hietkamp
Cover image: Els van der Gun, istockphoto.com
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support for our publishing activities from the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, and the province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
TouchWood Editions
www.touchwoodeditions.com
Never Hug a Mugger on Quadra Island Page 29
