Читать книгу The Benefactor - Don Easton - Страница 6

Nancy said goodbye to her sister and returned to her chair. Toby expectantly looked up at her and waited until she gave a welcoming pat on her knee before leaping up to lay on her lap.

She smiled, reflecting upon the visit with her sister before nodding off to sleep.

Mia got into her white Lexus and slammed the door shut. After pulling out of the hotel parking lot, she reflected upon how strange she felt for only having had one glass of wine. The ecstasy … did he? He wouldn’t dare.

She thought about the stress she was under as she drove. Is it my nerves reacting over what I must do tonight? The thought of it makes me sick … yet I must for the common good. She glanced at her purse containing the two bags of drugs and her thoughts returned to Mr. Frank. Whatever the reason I feel strange, never again will I accept anything to eat or drink from him. Mom would be so angry if she knew I drank from a bottle that I had not seen opened and poured. She taught me better.

She examined her face in the rear-view mirror and saw that her mascara was smudged under her eyes and used her fingertips to wipe it. A lurching jolt of her car and the sound of screeching metal brought her hands back to the wheel. She had sideswiped an oncoming car and her hands spun the wheel hard to the right. It resulted in an overcorrection and the right corner of her Lexus hit a parked car and came to an immediate stop.

Nancy immediately sat upright, startled from her sleep by the sound of a car accident in front of her house. The commotion caused Toby to bark excitedly.

“Toby! Hush!” she commanded, reaching for the phone while peering out her window. She hesitated when she saw a woman in a red blouse get out of a white car and run back to a silver car. Seconds later, the woman driver in the silver car also got out and was using her cellphone.

“Looks like they don’t need our help, Toby,” said Nancy.

Mia scrambled from her car and ran over to the woman driving the silver Nissan. “Are you okay? Are you injured?” she asked.

“I, I think I’m okay,” she replied. “You drove right into me.”

“I’m sorry. A bee flew into my face and —”

“Looked to me like you were putting on make-up,” snapped the woman.

“I’m going to check my car,” replied Mia, deciding not to engage the woman. “Then we can exchange driver’s licences and car registration. Don’t worry, insurance will cover the damages. The important thing is that nobody was hurt.”

Mia returned to the Lexus to get her documentation. She knew she would have to call a tow truck as well. The sound of the woman talking on her phone caught her attention.

“Yes, it’s an emergency! I was driven into by a woman who is drunk. She has booze slopped down the front of her … no there are no injuries, but … thank you. Please hurry. I’m in Richmond at —”

Shit! Breathalyzer? Arrest? Am I stoned? Mia didn’t wait to hear the rest. She grabbed her purse from her car and retrieved her own phone. As she pretended to make a call, she walked over to the sidewalk, conscious that the other driver was watching her.

Mia dropped her purse on the ground and turned her back to the woman as she bent over to pick it up. As she did, she quickly grabbed the drugs from her purse and stashed them under a flowering rhododendron.

Two police officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived in a patrol car within a matter of minutes. Mia was subsequently given a roadside breathalyzer test. The machine paused on pass … then flickered into the warning zone.

The policewoman hesitated. “You smell strongly of alcohol,” she said. “Your motor skills and physical appearance are also indicative of drug use. Do you mind if we search your car and belongings?”

Mia sighed. “I had one glass of wine earlier, but the man I was with wanted me to have more and poured another one. I refused and he tried to kiss me. I pushed him away and he ended up dumping wine down the front of my blouse,” she said, indicating her blouse. “If I’m acting strange it’s because I’m still really angry.” She looked at her car and added, “Then to have this happen … well, I feel stunned.”

The officer stared at her a moment. “Okay, relax. I know the type,” she said, rolling her eyes for emphasis. “Still, you’re lucky that no one was hurt. I’m going to write you up for driving without due care and attention.”

“I understand,” replied Mia. “Will it take long?”

“Officers!”

Mia saw an older woman standing on the front porch of the house with the rhododendrons. A dog was at her feet. “Can I talk to you?” she called.

Mia swallowed and felt the dread as the other police officer went to speak to the woman. Seconds later, the woman pointed to the rhododendron at the front of her house.

Oh, fuck …