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If I charged the gas, the receipt would be in my wallet.”

      “Does Clinton drive your van?”

      “Yes, but he’s been away all week.”

      “Could someone have siphoned off the gas?”

      Susan’s eyes widened as if she remembered something. She closed them quickly and her breathing became more laboured.

      Kala stood and filled the water glass from a jug on the tray next to the bed. “Sip this,” she said. She helped to prop up Susan’s head so that she could swallow from the glass. Susan leaned back against the pillows.

      “Do you feel better or should I ring for the nurse?”

      “No, I’m fine.”

      “What bothered you just now?” asked Kala, sitting back down in the chair.

      Susan’s forehead furrowed in deep lines. “Tire tracks. There were tire tracks in the snow next to my van and footprints. I wondered who’d been there because I didn’t meet them on the trail.”

      Her strength was weakening and Kala touched her shoulder. “You should sleep now. I’ll be back to talk when you feel better.”

      Susan’s eyes had already closed as Kala backed away toward the door. She’d wanted to ask about Clinton and where he was that day but would have to wait until tomorrow for Susan’s response. In the meantime, she would try to find out on her own.

      Kala pushed the door open and almost collided with Hunter Underwood as he pulled the door open from his side.

      “Officer Stonechild,” he said, taking hold of her arm to steady her. “I think it’s time we talked.”

      24

      Thursday, December 29, 12:15 p.m.

      They left the hospital separately and met up at the New Edinburgh Pub on Beechwood. Hunter arrived ahead of her and secured a table near the back. The lunchtime crowd had thinned and they had a degree of privacy. She stood in the entranceway for a few moments and studied him. He was dressed in jeans and a navy sweater, his curly hair blown about from the wind. He’d begun growing a beard since she’d seen him last and it made him look even more appealing. She mentally kicked herself for noticing.

      Hunter spotted her and waved her over. A pretty blond waitress was at the table as soon as she sat down, her smile all for Hunter. She flipped coasters onto the table and asked what they’d like to drink. She stood close to Hunter as she waited for Kala to order.

      “Coffee please, and a club sandwich on brown,” Kala said.

      “I’ll have the Irish stew and a Guinness,” Hunter added.

      The girl took their menus and smiled one more time at Hunter before leaving.

      “You know her?” asked Kala.

      “I’ve seen her in here before, but not waitressing. She must have just started.” He shrugged and grinned back at her. He leaned forward, his smile disappearing. “So, it looks like Susan is doing okay. I could hardly take it in when I got the news. First my father and now her. I’m having trouble believing the two events aren’t linked somehow.”

      “Why do say that? Susan admitted that she forgot to check the gas before leaving home.”

      “Susan is one of the more competent women I know and it’s out of character. She’s had to be on her toes, married to Clinton.”

      “You don’t sound like you think much of him.”

      “Because I don’t. Susan’s changed the last few years. She’s less sure of herself and always rushing home for his phone calls. He keeps tabs on her like he owns her. She’s become scared of making him mad. I’ve seen it. We’ve all seen it.”

      “So what are you suggesting?” Kala waited while the waitress set down their drinks. She stirred cream into her coffee while Hunter took a sip of beer. He set his glass on the coaster and rubbed his fingers up and down its side.

      “I think someone did this to Susan. My first thought was Clinton. It makes me wonder if he killed my father too.”

      “Do you have any proof?”

      “No, but if it’s him, I’ll find the proof.”

      “You have to leave that to us.”

      “Yeah.” He grimaced before taking a long drink from his glass.

      She waited until he was looking at her again. “Did you know that your father was leaving you a million dollars?”

      Hunter laughed. “Is that what he did? First I’ve heard.”

      “Really?”

      “Really. He needn’t have bothered.”

      “I think he was trying to tell you that he was sorry.”

      “He told me that the last day I saw him. It was enough. You look like you want to say something.”

      Kala shrugged. “It’s just that you seem so bitter after all these years. Ten years is a long time to stay angry.”

      “Not angry so much as indifferent. I got over being mad that he married Laurel. It wasn’t even about her in the end. The thing that’s kept me from welcoming my father back into my life, if you really want to know, was the knowledge that he totalled my world without an ounce of remorse. I’m not a parent, but I would never want to make my own happiness at the expense of my child’s. I’m sure your parents wouldn’t have done that either.”

      “I never knew my parents.”

      His eyes filled with a compassion that surprised her. He began to apologize but she held up a hand and cut him off.

      “I’m sorry. That just came out. You couldn’t have known,” she said. “Besides, my life has nothing to do with you.”

      “I deserved to be put in my place. I was the one who made an assumption.”

      Their lunch arrived at that moment and they stopped talking, sitting awkwardly while the waitress set down their plates.

      “I’ll have to get back to the station so I have to eat quickly,” she said as soon as the girl left, “so I apologize in advance. Another officer is covering for me, but it means we may have to work late.” She bit into her sandwich and hoped that he took the hint. She wasn’t going to talk about herself and didn’t want him asking.

      He paused. “I know this isn’t on at the moment,” he said finally, “but maybe when this is over, you might like to go out for dinner or something. I’d like to have a chance to talk under less constrained circumstances.”

      “I’m not sure that would be a good idea.”

      “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”

      The disappointed expression on his face made her smile. “I didn’t say we couldn’t keep the possibility open, but I think you might feel differently about socializing with me when this wraps up. Murder investigations have a funny way of changing how people see each other. You might not be too fond of me when all is said and done.”

      Especially if you had a hand in killing your father.

      He lifted his head and smiled back at her. “Fair enough. You haven’t shut and locked the door, and that’s about all I can ask.”

      Her phone rang as they were paying the bill. She listened with her eyes on Hunter. She shut off the phone and said, “Your sister Geraldine has gone into labour. She’s at the General. Your mother’s been trying to track you down.”

      “God, she’s three weeks early. Did they say how she is?”

      “No, but that’s probably because she’s okay. You go and I’ll settle up here.”

      “Thanks.” He

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