Bones to Ashes (25 page)

I nodded.

“Ciel des boss.”
Again, the air stirred.

I raised my lids, but didn’t trust myself to speak.

Dragging his eyes from the girl, Hippo voiced my thought. “This maybe ties Cormier to Bastarache.”

“You’ll arrest him?”

“You bet your ass I’ll arrest him. But not until I can nail—”

“Then do it!” Angry.

“Look, I want to take this sleaze down so bad it hurts.” Hippo waved the contact sheet. “But this isn’t enough.”

“She’s just a kid!”

“A low-rent photographer has dirty pictures of a kid that cleaned Bastarache’s daddy’s house thirty years ago? Hardly a smoking gun. Some pinstripe would have Bastarache walking before he needed to pee.”

Between my headache, my anguish over Évangéline, my fury at Cormier, and my frustration that Hippo wouldn’t collar Bastarache, I’m not sure how I got through the rest of that day. Adrenaline, I guess. And cold packs.

When I refused to go home, Hippo bought a bag of ice and a pair of socks. Every hour or so he’d mash a revamped compress to my cheek.

By five, we’d finished the last of Cormier’s cabinets. Between us we’d uncovered only one file of interest.

Opale St-Hilaire’s proofs showed a smiling adolescent with almond-shaped eyes and gleaming black hair. The envelope was dated April 2005.

Hippo and I agreed Opale looked Asian or First Nations, making her a candidate for the Lac des Deux Montagnes floater. Ryan’s DOA number three. Hippo promised to check her out on Monday.

Though Hippo’s ice therapy had minimized the swelling on my cheek, Harry spotted the bruise as I came through the doorway.

“I fell.”

“Fell.” Harry’s eyes narrowed.

“Down some stairs.”

“You just lost it and went ass over teakettle.” When suspicious, Harry makes the inquisition priests look amateur.

“Some jerk clipped me on his way by.”

Harry’s eyes became slits. “Who?”

“The gentleman didn’t stop to give me his card.”

“Uh-huh.”

“The incident is hardly worth mentioning.”

“Some Hun sends you sailing into tomorrow and it’s not worth mentioning?” Harry folded her arms. For a second I really thought she was going to tap one foot.

“The worst part was Hippo. He kept mashing ice-filled argyles into my face.”

I smiled. Harry didn’t.

“Any other
incidents
that are not worth mentioning?”

“All right. All right. I’ve had one odd phone call and one strange e-mail.”

“Strange? As in threatening?”

I waggled a hand. Maybe yes. Maybe no.

“Tell me.”

I did.

“You think it’s this same goober that knocked you off your pins?”

“Doubtful.”

A red manicured finger pointed at my chest. “I’ll bet it’s those weenies in Tracadie.”

“Cheech and Chong? That’s a stretch. Let’s eat.”

After leaving Cormier’s studio, I’d gotten smoked meat sandwiches from Schwartz’s deli on Saint-Laurent. Chez Schwartz Charcuterie hébraïque de Montréal. Cultural syncretism. A city specialty.

As we ate, I told Harry about the false ceiling and the contact sheet. Her reaction was an exaggerated replay of mine. How could Évangéline have done something so demeaning? I had no answer to that. Why would Cormier have the proofs? Nor to that. Why would someone break in to steal them? Or that.

To lighten the mood, I asked Harry what she’d done for the past two days. She described her visit to the Oratoire Saint-Joseph, and showed me the spoils of Saturday’s shopping trip. Two silk blouses, a bustier, and a truly extraordinary pair of red leather pants.

After I cleared the table, Harry, Birdie, and I watched an old movie. An evil scientist was creating female robots genetically programmed to kill men over forty. Normally, the film would have given rise to much laughter. That night there was little.

As we headed to our rooms, Harry surprised me by saying she’d made plans for the following day. No amount of cajoling could pry them from her.

“Well, stay out of deserted alleys and pay attention to what’s around you,” I told her. “Both the e-mail and the phone call made reference to you.”

Harry gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

Ryan was flirting with Marcelle, the LSJML receptionist, when I stepped off the lab elevator Monday morning. On spotting me, Marcelle’s brows shot to her hairline. I wasn’t surprised. My bruise was now the size of Morocco.

Ryan trailed me from the lobby. In my office, he grasped my chin and swiveled my face from side to side. I batted down his hand.

“Hippo told you?”

“In Technicolor detail. Can you ID this peckerwood?”

“No.”

“Anything strike you about him?”

“He’d make one badass linebacker.”

Taking my shoulders, Ryan maneuvered me into my chair, unpocketed several mug shots, and tossed them on the blotter.

Goon. Goon. Cheech. Subgoon. Chong.

“Bachelors number three and five.” My skin burned where Ryan’s fingers had touched my face. I kept my eyes lowered.

Ryan tapped the goons I’d chosen. “Michael Mulally. Louis-François Babin.”

“And the rest of the dream team?” I swept a hand over Ryan’s lineup.

“Bastarache muscle.”

“Have you seen the contact sheet from Cormier’s hidey-hole?”

“Yes.” Pause. “I’m sorry.”

I studied Mulally’s face. Scraggly hair framing dark-stubbled cheeks. Gangsta glare. Babin was shorter and more muscular, but otherwise a clone.

“The e-mail. The phone call. The staircase.” Ryan leaned a haunch on my desk. “Give me your take.”

“It would be pure speculation.”

“Speculate.”

“I’ve been poking around in Tracadie and talking to Bastarache’s wife.” A vision surfaced in my consciousness. Obéline’s face outside the gazebo. I felt a cold heaviness in my chest. Kept talking. “I’m looking at Cormier. Cormier is hooked to Bastarache, but he doesn’t think I know that. Bastarache dislikes my snooping, so he whistles up the dogs to chase me away.”

“Why?”

“I’m chaseable.”

Ryan’s look said he wasn’t amused.

“OK. Say Bastarache can’t understand why I’d make a sudden visit to Tracadie, and make straight for Obéline. This concerns him. He tells Cheech and Chong to find out what I’m up to. Or to scare me off.”

“Cheech and Chong?”

“Mulally and Babin. You’ve talked to them?”

“Not yet. But I’m familiar with their rap sheets. Impressive.”

“Hippo says it’s too early to arrest Bastarache.”

“Hippo’s right. We don’t want to move until our case is airtight.”

“You know his whereabouts?”

“We’re on him.”

Ryan studied his shoe. Cleared his throat.

“Call me Ishmael.”

Surprised by his sudden swerve to game playing, and the pansy lob, I identified Ryan’s quote.
“Moby-Dick.”

“The book’s about?”

“A guy chasing a whale in a wooden boat.” I smiled.

“The book’s about obsession.”

“Your point?”

“You’re being a pit bull with this Évangéline thing. Maybe you should ease back.”

The smile faded. “Ease back?”

“You’re acting obsessively. If the sister was on the level, the kid died over thirty years ago.”

“Or was murdered,” I snapped. “Isn’t that the point of cold case investigations?”

“Did you listen to what you said a few moments ago? Has it entered your thinking that Hippo may be justified in his concern for your safety?”

“Meaning?” I hate it when Ryan plays protector. I sensed him assuming the role, and it made me churlish.

“Obéline Bastarache is missing and presumed drowned. Cormier is definitely dead.”

“I know that.”

“Some asshole tried to take you out on a staircase yesterday. There’s a good possibility it was Mulally or Babin.”

“You suspect they sent the Death lyrics e-mail?”

“Everything I’m hearing says these clowns need instructions to use Velcro. The Internet may be beyond their learning curves.”

“Then who?”

“I’m not sure.” Ryan stood. “But I intend to find out. It’s very likely that more people are involved. People you wouldn’t recognize. So you ought not be setting yourself up as a target. Free for lunch?”

“What?”

“Lunch? Peanut butter and jelly? Tuna on rye?”

“Why?” Petulant.

“You gotta eat. After that, I know a good place to start asking questions.”

Over the weekend, a thirty-eight-foot Catalina had been discovered at the bottom of the Ottawa River, near Wakefield, Quebec. Bones littered the sloop’s V berth. The remains were believed to be those of Marie-Ève and Cyprien Dunning, a couple missing since setting sail in rough weather in 1984.

Following Ryan’s departure, I spent the day with the boat bones.

At ten, Hippo phoned to say that Opale St-Hilaire was alive and well and living with her parents in Baie-D’Urfé. The St-Hilaires had scheduled a sitting with Cormier on the occasion of Opale’s sixteenth birthday. They’d been satisfied with the experience.

At eleven, Ryan phoned to cancel lunch. No reason given.

At noon, Harry phoned while I was in the cafeteria. No message. I returned her call but got voice mail.

By four, I was outlining a preliminary report on the boat bones. One male. One female. All skeletal indicators pointed to Mr. and Mrs. Dunning.

Ryan phoned again at four thirty-five.

“Heading home?”

“Shortly.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

“Why?”

“Thought I’d float Mulally and Babin past your caretaker.”

“The pair that inquired about my condo. I’d totally forgotten.”

I heard the flare of a match, then deep inhalation. When Ryan spoke again, his voice had changed subtly.

“I came down on you pretty hard this morning.”

“Forget it. You’re frustrated with your cold cases. With the Lac des Deux Montagnes and Phoebe Quincy investigations. I’m frustrated over Évangéline.” I swallowed. “And you’re concerned about Lily.”

“She’s doing her part. Sticking with the program.”

“I’m really glad, Ryan.”

“How’s Katy?”

“Still in Chile.”

“Pete?”

“Engaged.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

I heard Ryan draw smoke into his lungs. Exhale.

“It’s hard to go back.”

Lily to sobriety? Ryan to Lutetia? I didn’t ask.

“Tempe—”

I waited out another long inhalation, unsure where this conversation was heading.

“I’d like to hear about Hippo’s buddy’s skeleton.” Ryan’s tone was all business again.

“Any time.”

“Tonight?”

“Sure.”

“Dinner?”

“I’ll have to check with Harry.”

“She’s welcome to join us.”

“Somehow, that invitation sounded deeply insincere.”

“It was.”

Whoa, something whispered from deep in my brain.

R
YAN WAS SITTING CROSS-LEGGED ON HIS JEEP WHEN I TURNED onto my street. Sliding from the hood, he flicked a wave. I returned it. His image flashed in my rearview as I plunged into my underground garage. Faded jeans. Black polo. Shades.

A decade down the road and the man still gave me that jolt. For once, Harry’s appraisal was perfect. Ryan was hot-damn good-looking.

All the way home I’d replayed our phone conversation. What was it Ryan had started to say? Tempe, I’m the happiest man on the planet. Tempe, I miss you. Tempe, I have heartburn from the sausage at lunch.

My neural factions squared off for their usual debate.

You were attacked. Ryan’s looking for excuses to keep you in his sights.

You’ve been threatened before. Your safety is no longer Ryan’s personal concern.

He wants to question Winston.

He could do that on his own.

He wants to know about Hippo’s girl.

The Rimouski skeleton is not his case.

He’s curious.

It’s an excuse.

Those were his words.

His voice said otherwise.

After parking, I checked Winston’s basement workshop. He was there. I explained what Ryan wanted. He agreed. I could tell he was curious about my bruised cheek. He could tell from my demeanor it was a bad idea to ask.

Ryan was in the outer vestibule when Winston and I arrived on the first floor. I buzzed him into the lobby.

“Nice shoes,” I said of Ryan’s red high-top sneakers.

“Thanks.” Ryan looked at Winston. “Undercover.”

Winston nodded knowingly.

I rolled my eyes.

“Dr. Brennan explained why I’m here?” Ryan.

“Yes.” Winston, solemn as a mortician.

Ryan produced the mug shots of Mulally and Babin.

Winston stared at the faces, brows furrowed, upper teeth clamping his lower lip. After a few moments, his head wagged slowly.

“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

“Take your time,” Ryan said.

Winston refocused, then shrugged both shoulders.

“Sorry, man. It was so hectic that day. These dudes bothering Dr. Brennan?”

Ryan pocketed the pictures. “If you see them again, do let me know.” Grave.

“Absolutely.” Graver.

Ryan dug a card from his wallet and handed it to Winston. “I feel better knowing you’re here.”

The men locked gazes, acknowledging responsibility for the womenfolk.

I’d have done another eye roll, but it would have bothered my head.

Ryan held out a hand. Winston shook it then left, a soldier with a mission.

“Undercover?” I snorted. “With whom? The Disney police?”

“I like these shoes.”

“Let’s see what Harry’s doing.” I headed toward my corridor.

Whatever my sister was doing, it required her presence elsewhere. A fridge note explained that she’d left and would return later in the week.

“Maybe she got bored,” Ryan suggested.

“Then why come back?”

“Maybe something came up that needed her attention at home.”

“She’d need a passport to go to Texas.”

Ryan followed me to the guest room.

Clothes were everywhere. Scrambled in suitcases, heaped on the bed, draped on the chair back and over the open closet door. Relying on memory, I lifted sweaters from the desk and opened the top drawer.