High Priestess

by Wendy Hewlett

  Raven timed the walk back to the Stoles residence. It took exactly eight minutes and forty-three seconds. She looked at the mammoth red brick house for a moment, counting eight windows on this side of the house alone. Hayden could have killed Em and stuffed her in the trunk of his car long before she was supposed to leave. Rebecca probably hadn’t seen her since dinner. She’d just assumed she was still in the house. Or, someone could have gotten to her on her way home.

  “We’ve got a hit on ViCLAS,” Mick announced, holding her cell phone in front of her. ViCLAS, Canada’s Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System, matched similar crimes. “Three women with long, red hair and green eyes have been found in ditches in Central Ontario in the past year. All raped and drowned.”

  “Shit,” Raven said. So much for the Hayden theory. Sawicki would have received the ViCLAS hit, probably long before they had as he worked out of Headquarters where their ViCLAS database and analyzers were housed. It was probably why he hadn’t bothered to re-interview Hayden or the McMurtries. And it meant he was probably way ahead of them on this investigation.

  She tossed the car keys to Mick, the lack of sleep catching up to her again. “Let’s head home, kiddo.” She slumped in the passenger seat and pulled out her own phone to check the status of her warrants. When there was no notification, she used the Charger’s onboard computer to look into the other two murders from the ViCLAS hit.

  The first victim, twenty-five year old Charlene Brock went missing from Gravenhurst in September. Her body was found a week later in a ditch just outside of Solstice’s jurisdiction, on Savage Settlement Rd., just north of a town called Novar. The last victim, twenty-two year old Sandra Kelway, was reported missing from Barrie two months ago, in February. Her body was also found just outside of Solstice’s jurisdiction on Peter St. in Novar two weeks after her disappearance. Raven opened Google Maps on her phone and zeroed in on the locations the bodies were found. Another two hundred yards south and Sandra Kelway would have been Raven’s. Charlene Brock was only another few kilometres north east. All of the victims were found within a five kilometre radius in easy access of Highway 11.

  “He’s travelling to find his victims and dumping them close to home.” He was taking his victims somewhere, to his home maybe, and spending some time with them before he dumped them. It was worth travelling the distance to abduct them, but not worth travelling any distance once he was through with them. Raven continued to stare at the map. Where was he finding the vics? He wouldn’t be travelling all the way down to Barrie unless he had a victim established. He had to be finding women meeting his criteria – the red hair, green eyes, slim builds – in a common location and then travelling to stalk them. Facebook or a dating site was Raven’s guess.

  Your warrants are in.

  “Jesus.” The voice in her head startled her out of a deep concentration.

  “What?” Mick asked.

  “Nothing.” As if on cue, Raven’s cell phone chirped the arrival of a new email. Sure enough, it was the confirmation her warrants had been issued. “Warrants are in. Let’s pick them up.”

  Mick glanced over at Raven and offered a thin lipped smile before turning her attention back to the road. “You okay?”

  “You’re not going to be one of those people who are constantly asking that question, are you? Because it’s really annoying.” Of course she was okay. She leaned back and rested her head against the headrest. She probably shouldn’t have snapped at Mick. The kid was just being compassionate. “Look, I’m probably a bit grumpy from lack of sleep. Forget I just said that, would you?”

  Keeping her eyes on the road, Mick gave a short laugh. “If that’s your way of saying sorry, apology accepted, DC.” Mick spared another glance at Raven, but her eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. “Okay then.” She shook her head and laughed again.

  CHAPTER 4

  RAVEN’S FIRST STOP was Ena’s family doctor, Dr. Simone Wagnar. She presented the receptionist, who oddly resembled Dr. Tang’s receptionist with steely gray hair and coke bottle lenses, with the warrant. Once the receptionist got the go ahead from Dr. Wagnar, she pulled Ena’s file from among a wall of files in seconds. Impressive. Raven flipped open the file and scanned through the documents. The file was thin, with only annual check ups contained within. Ena Bowen was in great health right up until weeks before her death. “Was this the last time Ena was in?” Raven asked.

  The tiny receptionist stood to peer into Ena’s file then resumed her seat and tapped away on her keyboard. “Yes, that’s right. She was last in on February tenth for her annual physical. She did call a couple of weeks ago to make an appointment. Dr. Wagnar was away, so the earliest I could get her in was last Thursday. Obviously, she didn’t make the appointment.”

  “Did she say why she wanted to see Dr. Wagnar?” According to the file, Ena only came in on those annual visits.

  “Yes, she thought she had the stomach flu or something. She couldn’t keep anything down. I suggested she go to Urgent Care if her symptoms persisted.”

  “Do you know if she did?” Raven looked up from the file into the coke bottle lenses. “Go to Urgent Care?”

  “We would have gotten a report, so, no. It doesn’t appear she did.”

  “Could she have gone to another walk-in clinic, or the hospital emergency?”

  “We would still have been notified of the visit as Dr. Wagnar is listed as her family physician.”

  “Did you receive a notification from the hospital of her death?”

  “Yes. Dr. Wagnar must still have it as it’s not in her file yet.”

  Raven closed the file. “Thanks for your help. Is Dr. Wagnar available to see me for a few minutes?”

  “I’m afraid she’s not in the office this morning. I could have her give you a call.”

  Raven shook her head. She’d catch up to Simone later. “That’s okay. Thanks again.”

  She took the keys from Mick and settled into the drivers seat, moving it back to allow for her long legs. She took a deep breath and deflated as she released it. “What do you think? What’s your gut telling you?”

  Mick looked over with her lips pursed, eyes droopy. “That something is definitely not adding up. I mean, it’s possible for cancer to spread quickly. But, something just doesn’t feel right.”

  Raven’s smile was tight. “Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. It’s not something you can put your finger on. It’s just something you sense.” And that was supposed to be a gift, wasn’t it? One of the powers that she’d long ago suppressed. That sixth sense. Intuition. Gut feelings. Everyone had it. Not everyone tuned in to it.

  Finding a parking spot at their quiet little hospital was not an issue. Raven checked the time on the dash as she parked. If Riley was on afternoons, she’d be there. She really didn’t want to see her after embarrassing herself last night. She picked up the warrant and slapped it in her palm as she stared across at the emergency entrance. Nothing she could do about it. If Riley was there, she was there.

  Mick sat in the passenger seat watching her. Raven supposed she should give her some kind of heads up.

  “Uh, listen. This could be … um, well.” Shit. She didn’t discuss her personal life with anyone. Ever. Apparently not even with Riley. “The fact is that my ex, Riley, works in the ER and she could be here.”

  “Okay.”

  Raven had to laugh. Mick was so easy going. It didn’t phase her in the least. “Okay.” She opened her door and headed for the entrance, trying to keep her pace slow so Mick didn’t have to jog. They walked through the sliding doors and there was Riley, crouched down speaking to a little girl with blonde hair that was almost white flowing down her back in waves. The girl was leaning into her mother, her arms wrapped around her leg in a death grip.

  Riley’s eyes flicked up and she frowned, her eyes narrowed, then she returned her attention back to the little girl. And, if Raven wasn’t mistaken, her face had flushed.

  “Oh,” Mick said. “Sh
e’s definitely not happy to see you.”

  Raven gave her ribs a little elbow. “Shut up.”

  “Okay.” Mick hooked her thumbs in her duty belt and smiled.

  Since running out the door wasn’t an option, Raven stood stoically, waiting for Riley to finish with the little girl and her mother. The girl loosened her grip on mom’s leg and she slipped her small hand into Riley’s. Riley led them into the triage office and shut the door.

  Raven started pacing the hall, impatient to get Ena’s files and flee. Yes, she could admit that she was running away.

  You really love her.

  “Oh, for the love of God.”

  Mick reached her hand out and placed it gently on Raven’s arm. “I can handle issuing the warrant and getting your mother’s file for you.”

  Raven’s hands shot up, palms out. “I’m fine. Okay? Fine.” She dropped her hands, crumpling the warrant in her tight fist and began pacing again, out of Mick’s hearing range. Trying her best to blank out all thoughts, she whispered between gritted teeth, “You do realize this is a gross invasion of my privacy, don’t you?”

  I’m sorry, Rave. I’ve only felt love like that once in my life. It’s worth fighting for.

  Raven laughed. Her mother was the last person she’d take relationship advice from.

  I told you about him. Your father.

  “Shut. Up.” The father she’d never met left Solstice before Ena learned she was pregnant. So, he’d never known he had a daughter and she had no idea who or what her father was. Better that way if he was anything like Gregor.

  What’s Gregor got to do with your father?

  Fire burned up Raven’s neck, spreading over her face. Riley picked that moment to open the door to the triage office.

  “Out,” Raven growled, a little too loudly. All eyes turned to her. Her face had already been burning, so at least it hadn’t gotten any worse with the attention. Her palm slapped against her temple, her fingers curling in. “Sorry. I’ve just got a headache brewing.” As if that would cover her outburst. She didn’t lie about the headache though. Her head was pounding, in rhythm with her racing heart.

  Riley took a couple of cautious steps toward her. “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll get your blood pressure?”

  “I don’t need my damn blood pressure taken.” She slapped the warrant into Riley’s outstretched hand. “I need Ena Bowen’s records.”

  Riley blinked a the rumpled document in her hand then stared up at Raven. “I don’t understand.”

  “That’s a warrant for Ena’s records. Everything you have on Ena Amaris Bowen.”

  Riley continued to stare, mouth open. Then her eyes narrowed, her back straightened and her mouth closed, forming a thin white line. “What are you doing, Raven?”

  “Hey, Riley,” Mick said, stepping into the mix. “We have reason to believe there was foul play involved in the death of Raven’s mother. We’re executing this warrant for all hospital records regarding Ena Bowen in order to try to determine her actual cause of death.”

  “She had cancer.” Riley continued to glare at Raven. “I was here when she came in, Rave. She died of cancer.”

  Still in a state over the slip she made with Ena, Raven couldn’t keep the attitude from her voice. “If you were here and you’re so sure she died of cancer, you’d know where that diagnosis came from.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Were tests performed to confirm the diagnosis? Did a qualified doctor give you the diagnosis? Is there paperwork, CT scans, x-rays, something to confirm this diagnosis?”

  Riley’s eyes widened. “Am I in some kind of trouble here?”

  Really? Raven was getting sick and tired of everyone in the medical profession being more concerned about covering their own butts than trying to get to the bottom of what actually happened to Ena.

  “Just get us her files.”

  Riley unfolded the document, scanning it instead of reading through all of the legalese. When she finished, she folded the document and addressed both Mick and Raven. “If you’ll wait here, I’ll get you a copy of her records.” She walked away stiffly, with her head in the air.

  “She thinks you’re doing this to spite her,” Mick said.

  “Why?” She had no reason to think that. They weren’t doing anything to Riley. She hadn’t even known Riley had been here when her mother was brought in.

  “I don’t know. Did she do something to spite you?”

  Raven turned slightly, facing away from Mick and scratched her head. “Why are we discussing my relationship – oh, excuse me – ex-relationship?” She turned back, glaring at Mick.

  Mick put her hands up in defence. “Sorry,” she said as she backed up a couple of steps. “Off bounds. Got it.”

  Did she really look that threatening? Raven didn’t have time to ask, because a very stern looking grey-haired man in a slick business suit was barrelling towards her with Riley close at his heels. “Officer Bowen?”

  “Detective Constable Bowen. This is my partner, Constable Warren. And you are?”

  “Robert Stanson, counsel on behalf of Solstice General Hospital. What can we help you with?”

  “You can help me by supplying the records named in my warrant.”

  “Ah, yes. There seems to be a little problem. The records for Ms. Ena Bowen appear to be missing.”

  The blood racing through Raven’s veins felt like it had been set to boil. “Then we do have a problem, Mr. Stanson. You see, I had no intention of filing suit against Dr. Tang or the hospital. But, if this is the way you want to play it, I may be forced to change my mind. Those records were here this morning when Dr. Tang called over. So, they’ve only gone missing since you realized there was a problem with the way my mother was treated in this hospital.”

  “We treated –” Riley started, but was rudely cut off.

  “Ah, ah, Miss Gallagher, not a word.” Stanson actually wagged his finger in front of her face.

  “Your reaction to the warrant will give me grounds for the exhumation of Ena Bowen’s body in order for an autopsy to be performed. I don’t even need the records you’re withholding, Stanson. Your behaviour speaks volumes.” Raven headed for the exit, not looking back when he called ‘Miss Bowen’. Bastard didn’t even have any respect for her job or her rank. She was too riled up to sit in the car, so she paced back and forth beside it, trying to get rid of some of her excess energy and anxiety.

  Mick stood on the other side of the car, staring down at the ground with her thumbs hooked in her duty belt. Raven glanced at her every time she made the turn towards the front of the car again. She didn’t move. Just stood there patiently waiting. It would be so easy to lash out at her, but that would be her lack of sleep and anger getting the best of her and she wasn’t about to let that happen. Besides, Mick didn’t deserve it.

  Raven was still pacing when Riley breeched the doors from the emergency department wearing her colourful scrubs - some kind of cartoon character graced the top and the bottoms were a bright blue. She carried a manilla envelope. The records the warrant had specified, Raven assumed. The lawyer must be shaking in his boots by now. The coward sent Riley out instead of dealing with her himself.

  She didn’t stop pacing when Riley approached. Riley hadn’t even thrown a sweater on. With the sun going down, and the temperature dropping with it, it was getting pretty chilly.

  “Rave?” Riley held the envelope out.

  “So, what? Ena’s records have miraculously appeared?”

  Riley dropped her arm when Raven didn’t take the envelope from her. “Can you tell me what’s going on, Rave? Am I in trouble here?”

  That’s right, save your ass. “Why don’t you ask your counsel there, Riley? Ask him why he’s shitting bricks.”

  “I’m asking you.”

  Raven stopped pacing and turned to face Riley. Worry lines scored her forehead and that spot just between her eyebrows. And Raven was just angry enough to put a few more there. “Ena didn’t have
cancer, Ri. She was poisoned and instead of helping her or doing tests to figure out why she was so sick, you all fucked up. You made her ‘as comfortable as possible’,” Raven air quoted with two fingers. “And you let her die.”

  “No.” Riley gulped. “No, that can’t be right. The paramedics who brought her in said she was forth stage stomach cancer.”

  “And you didn’t do any tests to confirm that diagnosis? You took a paramedics word for it?”

  Riley’s brow furrowed again. “No, we must have confirmed it. We wouldn’t just let her lay there and die. We wouldn’t do that.”

  “So where’s the confirmation?”

  Riley looked down at the file in her hand. Raven stepped forward and took it from her. She opened the flap and removed three sheets of paper. As she scanned through the pages, Riley crossed her arms over her ribs. Raven wasn’t sure if she was shaking from the cold or the situation.

  “You didn’t run any tests. You gave her morphine and let her die.” Raven looked up, meeting Riley’s sad gaze. “Why?”

  “I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

  “No, of course not. Wouldn’t want you to risk your precious career.” Raven stuffed the papers back into the envelope and got in the car. While she fastened her seatbelt and started the car, she watched Mick walk over to Riley and take her hand. She said something and Riley nodded her head. Then Mick wrapped her arms around her and Riley clung to her, her body shaking. Raven looked down at her lap, unable to watch any more. She didn’t look up until she heard the passenger door open. When she looked out the windshield, Riley was jogging back to the entrance, arms hugged tightly around herself.

  She waited for the click of Mick’s seat belt and put the car in reverse, backed out of the parking spot, and made her way out to the street. “Want to tell me what that was about?”