In the Shadow of the Glacier (39 page)

BOOK: In the Shadow of the Glacier

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Lucky said, “Duncan. Of all people. I could see that he had an inflated belief in his own importance, as well as a bit of a temper, but he kept it under control. I never would have thought it went so deep as to bludgeon someone to death.” She fluffed pillows behind Smith’s back, and her daughter felt the shiver running through her. Smith had no desire to be fluffed, but she let her mom help. She wasn’t the only one fooled by Duncan.

“How did Montgomery’s watch get into Harris’ truck?” Lucky asked.

“We may never know, but I suspect Duncan planted it. Probably didn’t have anything to do with his obsession with Molly. We found a picture on his computer—you, Lucky, talking to Harris in what looks like the Safeway parking lot. I think Duncan saw him threatening you and wanted to help you out. And get rid of some evidence at the same time.

“Chief told me,” Winters continued, “to let you know that he’ll be around for a visit later. He’s at a meeting of town council.”

“Meeting’s over. They’ve decided.” The Chief Constable came into the room. He carried a bouquet so large he could barely see out from behind it.

“More flowers, Paul,” Lucky said, taking them from him. “You sent some already.”

“These aren’t from me.”

“I haven’t heard anything about the meeting yet,” Lucky said, surprised that she wasn’t ahead of the news.

“The council’s decided, with the approval of the estate, that the park lands will be dedicated to the memory of Larry O’Reilly. Instead of a fountain, there will be a children’s wading pool. The park will have a plaque mentioning O’Reilly’s contributions to the town of Trafalgar, but nothing about his background as a draft dodger. An art gallery in San Francisco wants to continue with the commission of the statue, and the sculptor’s agreed.”

Smith expected her mother to puff up in anger and rush to the phones. Instead Lucky clutched the bouquet and opened the card that came with it. She glanced at it before handing it to her daughter.

Get the hell back on the job. Adam Tocek.

Smith felt the edges of her mouth turning up. They were all watching her. “From the Mounties,” she said. “Nice of them.”

Lucky gathered tea cups. “That situation isn’t exactly what I would have liked. And not what Larry wanted. But a sensible decision, in the circumstances. Larry would have been most distressed to see violence breaking out over his simple bequest. I wouldn’t have thought Linda Patterson to be capable of such a degree of common sense.”

“Surprising what a whisper in the ear of an ambitious politician can achieve,” Keller said. He gave Lucky a look that Molly Smith decided she would never attempt to decipher.

“Would you like a cup of tea, Paul?” Lucky said. “Or something stronger?”

“Tea will do. Thanks.”

“So everyone can say they’ve won,” Smith said, after her mother had left for the kitchen, “and not lose face.”

The Chief Constable settled into Andy’s chair. “We, the Trafalgar City Police, are the biggest winners of all. I need you back, Molly. Soon as you’re able.”

Smith wiggled her toes, wrapped in bandages. “I’m fine, sir. Except that I can’t take a single step.”

“I heard that.” Lucky ran into the room. “You leave my daughter alone, Paul Keller.”

Constable Molly Smith wanted to fall through the floor. Her mother was arguing with her boss. That would help her maintain the image of a tough, dedicated cop.