Читать книгу Birds of a Feather - Don Easton - Страница 12

On Monday night, Jack and Natasha, with Mikey in an infant car seat in the back seat, drove out to Liz and Ben’s farm in Chilliwack. Jack hadn’t told them he was coming, as he wanted to be with Marcie and console her if need be, when he updated her on the investigation.

When they arrived, Ben, Liz, and Marcie came out of the house to meet them.

“What a nice surprise,” said Ben. “What brings you out here?”

“Have you eaten?” asked Liz.

“We already ate, but thanks,” replied Natasha.

“What about you, Mikey? Want me to throw on a steak or something?” Ben joked.

“Think we better wait until he grows teeth,” suggested Natasha.

Jack saw the worried look on Marcie’s face as she looked at him. He shook his head and said, “No sign of her yet, but I want to talk to you.”

While the others went inside, Jack walked with Marcie down the long driveway as he told her about the murder and that Porter had been suspected of being involved with cocaine trafficking.

“Oh, no,” cried Marcie. “I knew it! I knew something was wrong. Lily … you think … what? What do you think happened to her?”

“I know it doesn’t look good, but there is still no sign of her. Whoever murdered Porter didn’t try to hide his body. The fact we haven’t found Lily yet could be a good sign.”

“But where could she be?”

“I don’t know. Maybe tied and gagged and in the trunk of some car. Porter may have ripped off some dope dealers. Maybe she was taken as a hostage to get him to return the drugs or something.”

“But now that they’ve killed him …”

“I know it doesn’t look good, but don’t give up hope.”

“So what’s going to happen?

“VPD Homicide have arranged an interview with one of Porter’s associates tomorrow afternoon to see if they can come up with some leads. The guy is also suspected of being involved with cocaine trafficking. I’m sure he knows something.”

“Why are they waiting until tomorrow? Talk to him now,” urged Marcie.

“He lawyered up. That was the soonest the lawyer would agree to.”

“What if he clams up?” asked Marcie, sounding panicked. “What then?”

“Then I’ll do my thing.”

“Oh … I see,” she replied, calming down. They took a couple of steps in silence as Marcie thought about it before adding, “Guess he better hope he talks to the cops tomorrow.”

Jack frowned. Marcie was a smart kid. She had picked up a lot about certain things over the years. Things he wished she knew nothing about.

Marcie saw his face and said, “Sorry. That was stupid of me. I mean, you know, I meant you would do your undercover stuff or whatever.”

“Yes, I know what you meant. Do you think Lily’s mother is home? I would like to meet her and update her, as well.”

“They only live about fifteen minutes away by car. Want me to take you there?”

“Yes, but we’ll take my car. Save your gas money for university.”

Jack pulled up to a small, single-level ranch-style house and parked. The home had a ramp leading up alongside the stairs to the front door. A flower garden bordered the front of the house and there was a small cedar wishing well in the front yard beside an apple tree. The home was being well cared for, with the exception that the lawn was in dire need of cutting and a few weeds had sprung up in the flower beds.

Marcie rang the doorbell. She saw Jack looking at the flower beds and said, “Lily always looked after that stuff.”

Jack was introduced to Eva Rae and quickly told her he had nothing new on Lily’s whereabouts, but there was something he thought she should know.

Eva looked up at him from her wheelchair with a face that expressed relief she wasn’t being informed of her daughter’s death, but at the same time, disappointment there was not good news. She invited them into the living room and Jack watched as she manipulated the toggle stick on her wheelchair with one hand. Her other hand was crippled and she held it close to her body.

Once seated, Eva offered them a beverage. Both Jack and Marcie declined.

Jack updated Eva on the investigation and Jack could see the shock on her face when she learned about Porter’s murder.

“You knew!” exclaimed Eva, looking at Marcie. “You tried to warn her he was no good. She told me you two had a fight … that you were jealous, but … Oh, God,” she cried, raising her hand to her mouth as the tears ran down her cheek.

“I should have tried harder,” said Marcie. “I’m sorry. I —”

“No, don’t you be sorry,” sobbed Eva. “I thought he was no good, too. He was so much older … I should have talked to her, but I was afraid.” She looked at Jack. “I was afraid I would drive her away. When she said she was going away with him for a couple of days, I didn’t like it … especially when she wouldn’t tell me where. I was upset, but she’s almost a grown woman … I was afraid to say anything about it.”

“Any thoughts or guesses where she might have gone?” asked Jack.

“I had a hunch they were eloping to Vegas to get married. I think she wanted it to be a surprise. I’m only guessing.”

“Sounds reasonable,” said Jack, watching as Eva manoeuvred her chair beside him and grabbed his hand.

“She is all I have,” said Eva, emphatically. She bit her lip for a moment before adding, “She is my only reason for living.”

“Hindsight is twenty-twenty,” said Jack, giving her hand a squeeze. “Sometimes kids need to find things out on their own … but don’t give up hope. We are exploring avenues to come up with a lead. I am confident one of Earl’s associates will know something to help us with our investigation.”

“Promise me you will do everything you can to find her,” said Eva, staring intently at Jack’s face.

“I promise,” replied Jack. “You have my word on it.”

Eva nodded solemnly. “Thank you,” she said, letting her hand slip from his.

“One more thing,” said Jack. “If Lily has a computer, I would like to take it. It might identify someone else for us to interview.”

“She has one in her bedroom,” replied Eva, still fighting to regain her composure. “Go ahead and take it. I’ve already gone through the rest of her stuff. I didn’t find anything, but you’re welcome to look and take whatever you need.”

Eva led Jack to Lily’s bedroom and Marcie followed. As Jack unhooked the computer, he glanced around the room. It was immaculate and consisted of a single bed that was made up and had a stuffed green frog on the pillow. Pictures on a dresser showed happy times with Lily and her mother.

One picture in particular caught Jack’s attention and he didn’t understand why. It was a portrait of Lily’s face. Her features looked soft and he thought there was a certain wide-eyed innocence about her. Forced at such a young age to look after her only parent … her life can’t be easy, yet she looks serene.

As Jack carried the computer out of the room, he looked back at the picture again. Something about Lily’s eyes fixated him. It’s like she’s trying to reach out from the grave for me to help her. He felt his stomach knot as an intense feeling of dread overtook his mind. Something very, very bad has happened to her …