LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Jeez, a lot of people use my phone. What night you say?”

      “Tuesday, around eight o’clock.”

      Behind Hélène’s heavy breathing, Shania Twain belted out one of her latest hits. “Yeah, I remember she was here all right. Seemed kinda upset.”

      “Did she say anything to you?”

      “Nope, not that I remember. Just came in, used the phone and left.”

      “Any idea where she went, even the direction she took?”

      “Hmmm, let me think. It was kinda busy.” She expelled a rush of air into the phone. “Nope, don’t know.’

      “Well, thanks for your—”

      “Don’t hang up! I remember something. Louis’s old heap went by about that time. He probably picked her up. Ask him.”

      “You’re sure? He was supposed to be in the bush.”

      “Yup, can’t miss that blue pickup of his.”

      I hung up, feeling sick. It was confirmed. Louis had been there. And he’d been with Marie. No doubt drunk, he’d taken her home and beaten her up. What happened afterwards, I could only guess. I just knew she hadn’t gone to work the next day and wasn’t home the previous night when I’d gone looking for her.

      If only I’d heard the damn phone. Eric was right. I had to cut back on my drinking.

      I decided to return to their cabin and search the grounds. Maybe she really was lying hurt somewhere on their property. No doubt Tommy would be obnoxious when I turned up again, but I didn’t care. This time I fully intended to interfere.

      However, before I had chance to climb into my truck, Tommy’s dirty Honda rumbled to a halt at my doorstep in a swirl of dust and amber leaves. Tommy looked considerably more amenable than he had less than an hour ago.

      He rolled down his window and shouted, “I’ve found Mooti!”

      “Thank God. Please tell me she’s okay?” I asked, hoping she hadn’t been lying injured outside in the cold all this time.

      “I assume so,” he answered. “She’s with Papa at his hunting camp near Lac des Bois. Left a note in the bedroom.”

      I felt my antenna go up. “You haven’t talked to her then?”

      “No, but I’m sure she’s all right.”

      I wasn’t convinced. “How do you explain the mess in the kitchen?”

      “Papa did it. Mooti probably didn’t have time to clean up before they left.”

      “Yeah, I suppose, but what about her dream scarf? You know she would never leave it behind.”

      He stopped smiling. “She does have other ones, you know. Probably put one of those on.”

      I supposed it was possible, except that I’d never seen her wear anything other than the red one.

      “Seems kind of sudden, this trip. At least, she didn’t mention anything to me,” I said.

      Tommy stiffened. “You may be her boss, but that doesn’t mean you have to know everything.”

      “Hey, don’t get defensive. I just want to ensure your mother’s okay.”

      “Ms. Harris, let’s get one thing straight. You Harrises may be white, and you may be rich, but you don’t own us. Not any more. So back off.”

      And I did. I was so startled by his attack that I stepped back and almost fell into the bushes behind me.

      How dare he? After all my family had done for his. And not only his family, but the entire Migiskan Band. Why, it was Great-grandpa Joe who had kept them from starving. Not only had he established the Fishing Camp to give them jobs, he had convinced all his friends to use it. And Aunt Aggie had started the Migiskan school, which Indian Affairs eventually took over. She had provided all the money and even devoted time to teaching them how to survive in our world. Who did Tommy think he was to talk to me like that?

      Hey, wait a minute. What was I thinking? I was sounding like some nineteenth century mogul. Maybe Tommy did have a point.

      By the time I was ready to respond, his car was disappearing behind a bend in the driveway. I remained rooted to the ground, confused. Surely I didn’t treat Marie as if I owned her?

      I was still standing in the drive thinking, when Eric bounded up the stairs from the lake.

      “Ready for Whispers Island?” he called out.

      But I wasn’t thinking about finding gold. Instead I asked, “Eric, what am I doing here? I don’t belong. My mother’s right, I should go back to Toronto.”

      “Wait a minute. What’s brought all this on?”

      Sergei, who was asleep under a nearby tree, woke up, sauntered over and stuck his muzzle into Eric’s waiting hand.

      “Something Tommy said,” I replied and told him the gist of our exchange.

      “What do you think?” he asked when I finished. He scratched Sergei under the chin while the dog moaned in ecstasy.

      “I don’t know. Maybe I do come across as patronizing. But shit, I don’t mean to.”

      “If it’s any consolation, you don’t. But don’t forget your family, particularly your aunt, has been the single greatest force in the lives of Tommy and his mother. In fact, Tommy wouldn’t be a lawyer without your aunt’s money. Bound to be some kind of resentment.”

      “What money?”

      “You don’t know?”

      I shook my head. First I’d heard of it.

      Eric continued. “Your aunt set up a small trust fund for Whispering Pine, which was passed on to Marie when she died.”

      Mother was wrong. Aunt Aggie had given Marie some money. Good for her.

      “But what did Marie do with the money? Look at how she lives. No electricity, no indoor plumbing, and a shack that probably leaks like a sieve.”

      “Louis. He drank some of it and squandered the rest on various hair-brained schemes. Before it was completely used up, Marie came to the band council and asked them to take it over.” He gave the dog a particularly vigorous pat, who in turned nudged his arm for more.

      “This has nothing to do with me. No reason for Tommy to lash out at me.”

      “Because of Louis, he tends to be somewhat protective of his mother,” Eric replied. “Maybe he thought you were interfering too much.”

      “I was only pushing him because I’m really worried about Marie.”

      “And he’s very worried too. Told me as much. That’s why he’s decided to go to Louis’s hunting camp to make sure she’s okay.”

      “He’s going? Why didn’t he tell me that? I thought he didn’t care. That’s why I kept asking all those questions.”

      “You can relax now. Nothing you can do until Tommy gets back in a couple of days time. It takes that long to hike in to the isolated camp and back out again.”

      “I hope to God Louis hasn’t done anything to her. But you’re right, it’s in Tommy’s hands now.” I replied, not completely comfortable with the situation, but there really was nothing I could do other than wait for Tommy’s return.

      I started walking towards the verandah stairs. “Come on in the house, while I put on some other clothes.”

      “Meg, please don’t take Tommy’s words seriously. For what it’s worth, I think you belong here. I wouldn’t want to see you leave.”

      Not sure I’d heard right, I turned around and looked

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