LITMIR.BIZ

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that vibe off the guy. Why kill his child?”

      “No idea, Stonechild, but people do crazy stuff all the time.”

      “So, we just leave him here tonight?”

      “Nothing more we can do. I’ll check in with Rouleau and we can be on our way.”

      “I suppose we don’t have any other choice. Let’s hope they turn up by morning and Ivo’s dire prediction that something is wrong proves unfounded.”

      Chapter Four

      Kala pulled into her driveway just past eight thirty. She was relieved to see the lights on. The feeling of having someone inside waiting for her return was still strange. Of course, Taiku awaited her return, but this was different. Dawn was somebody she had to interact with and learn how to mother. Kala wasn’t sure the responsibility suited her. She had no role model to draw from. Sometimes, in the middle of the night when she couldn’t sleep, having a thirteen-year-old girl in the house felt like a noose around her neck.

      She opened the truck door and jumped onto the ground. The night air was even foggier here, so close to Lake Ontario. The stars and moon were hidden from view and the darkness was absolute this far from town. She started up the driveway and heard the back door slam as loud as a pistol shot in the evening’s stillness. A soft thudding of paws and then Taiku was upon her, jumping up and licking her arm and face. She laughed and pushed him down, then bent and rubbed his head all over while his tail thumped against the pavement.

      “That’s my good boy,” she said and looked up as Dawn ran around the corner of the house. The girl stopped a few feet away and stood silently watching Kala with Taiku. She was tall for her age, long straight hair braided, black staring eyes. Her body language was unsure, neck bent, arms wrapped around her stomach. Kala wanted to reach out and hug her slender frame but resisted. The last time she’d tried, Dawn had stood frozen with her arms stiff at her sides. The counsellor had said to give her time and space. The past year’s events had made her fragile, untrusting.

      Kala settled on a neutral greeting. “How was your day?”

      “Fine.”

      They started walking toward the back deck, Taiku between them. “Sorry I’m so late. The case was at a house the other side of Kingston. How was school? Bus on time?” She stole a sideways glance. Dawn’s eyes were fixed on the ground as she walked.

      “Yes.”

      Inside the brightly lit kitchen, Kala glanced over to the table. It was filled with Dawn’s school books. A pencil lay on a half-filled lined sheet in an open binder. “How’s the homework going? All done?” She mentally kicked herself. Dawn’s one word responses were turning her into an inquisitor.

      “I just have to finish my story.”

      “Well you do that and I’ll get supper heated up. Stew okay?”

      “Yes.”

      Another question. She’d done it again. Shit.

      The stew was soon bubbling away in a pot on the stovetop. Kala cut thick slices of multi-grain bread and poured Dawn a glass of milk. She poured herself a glass of iced tea and set bowls of the thick beef stew on the table. Taiku stretched out at Kala’s feet.

      “I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” Kala said when they were nearly done eating. “You have an appointment with Dr. Lyman that’ll run until five. I’ll be waiting in the parking lot.”

      Dawn nodded, head down.

      Kala resisted reaching out to brush back Dawn’s bangs from where they fell into her eyes. “If you want to go watch TV before bed, I can clean up,” she said instead.

      Long after Dawn had disappeared into her bedroom and shut the door, Kala sat outside watching the band of lake from her spot on the deck. She’d wrapped herself up in a wool blanket and tucked her feet under herself. Taiku was off chasing shadows in the woods. She’d received a call that morning that Gil Valiquette, Dawn’s mother’s boyfriend, had been sentenced to ten years in Millhaven Pen. Her mother, Rose, would be doing five years in Joliette prison outside Montreal. Armed robbery and a police chase through Manitoba with Dawn in the car. When Kala had taken custody, Dawn was nothing like the girl she’d met twice in Ottawa. The light in her eyes had died and been replaced by something flat and lonely. She hadn’t even asked when she’d see her mother again. Compounding the misery, her father, Paul, was already in prison and not due out for four years. He’d been friends with Valiquette and while they’d been partners in crime Valiquette had managed to stay out of jail … until now. Kala found out that Paul had been moved to Millhaven when Kingston Pen closed. She wondered if the two men would team up inside. Her main concern at the moment was deciding the right time to tell Dawn this latest news. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to give Dr. Lyman a call in the morning to seek her advice. Even better if she could convince the counsellor to break the news to Dawn herself.

      Kala stood and called for Taiku to come. A cold wind blew back her hair and made her shiver inside the blanket. She could hear the distant roar of waves slapping the shore at the far end of the property. This guardian role that she’d agreed to take on was filled with landmines. One wrong word, gesture, look could topple the delicate relationship she’d managed to keep going the past few months since the night she’d picked up Dawn from the police station. In some ways, that night felt like a lifetime ago; in other ways, the sight of Dawn’s bruised face and terrified eyes could have happened yesterday.

      “There you are, Taiku,” she said as his nails clattered up the cedar steps. “Let’s get some sleep before the night gets away. We have another busy one tomorrow.”

      Sergeant Jacques Rouleau hefted his father’s battered leather suitcase into the trunk of his car and hurried around to the driver’s side. His father, Henri, was already inside, belted into the passenger seat.

      “All set,” Rouleau said. “Got your train ticket?”

      “I do.” His father patted his breast pocket. His thick white hair was newly trimmed and he was wearing his good black coat. He’d tucked a silk cravat the colour of a robin’s egg around his neck. “And it’s not too late for me to order a cab. You need to get into the office.” He squinted through the front windshield. “Nice to see some spring sun for a change.”

      “Work can wait half an hour, Dad.” Rouleau put on his sunglasses before pulling out of the condo parking lot. He turned right onto Ontario Street then left onto Brock, a one-way that would merge onto Division. Division was a main road that led past the police station to the train depot closer to Highway 401. The trip would take under half an hour this time of the morning. He put the heater on low to take the chill out of the car. By mid-morning the temperature would climb and he’d have the windows open.

      “Will I be seeing you on the weekend?”

      Rouleau felt that he should nod, but knew he had no way of knowing. “We got a report yesterday about a woman and her daughter gone missing. It could be nothing or it could turn into a major case. I might not be able to get away this weekend.”

      “Well, I’ve taken a suite at the Delta on Lyon in case you can make it.”

      Rouleau felt the weight of his father’s sharp blue gaze without turning his head. “You really need to spend the next few weeks rooting around in Library and Archives, Dad? I worry that this might be too much so soon after your surgery.”

      “I do, and you shouldn’t worry because I don’t. The doctor says I’m fine to resume my normal routine.” He paused. “Since I’ll be in Ottawa anyway, I’ll probably go visit Frances. Anything you want me to pass along?”

      “No.”

      His father’s voice got softer. “You can’t keep pretending this isn’t happening, Jacques. She’ll want to see you.”

      Rouleau felt the tightening in his chest that would soon have him sucking in air like a fish. He worked to control his breathing. He checked the rear-view and glanced

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