Queen's Park

CHAPTER 13

Lane’s radar activated the moment he opened the gate to his back yard. Bees buzzed feverishly around the flowers on either side of the sidewalk. He stepped cautiously to the corner of their home.

Three dirty plates were stacked on the glass topped table. It was then Lane remembered about the guests they’d invited for dinner.

Beyond the table, Arthur peered over the fence and into Mrs. Smallway’s yard. He stood on the rung next to the top of their six foot aluminum ladder. Lisa supported one pair of the ladder’s legs and Loraine the other. All three were dressed in shorts and cotton tops.

“You’re right,” Arthur said. The ladder shifted south and he fell north, clutching for the top of the fence.

Loraine (the Peter Pan look-alike) fell backward onto the grass.

At six feet, Lisa looked almost as strong as she was. She peeled Arthur off the fence, then helped him step around the patch of orange tiger lilies.

Arthur rubbed at his scuffed hands. “You’re sure that contraption means she’s a swinger?”

Lisa bent and took Loraine’s hand. They had been utterly devoted to each other since meeting in Vancouver eight years ago. They made an unlikely couple. Lisa the RCMP officer and Loraine the child psychologist. “That’s right,” Lisa said. “Got called to a noisy party one night. When we opened the front door, there were half a dozen couples having sex in the front room. The music was so loud, they never heard us knock. One couple was using a swing just like that one. They told us it meant they were swingers.”

Lane laughed, remembering Mrs. Smallway’s comments about their ‘unnatural’ lifestyle.

“Some detective you are. You don’t even know what the next door neighbour is up to and it’s right under your nose!” Loraine said. When the laughter died down, she said, “What are you going to do when she has one of her little get togethers? Are you going to call the cops?” More laughter.

Five minutes later, they sat down around the table in the fading light while moths circled the electric bulb above the back door. “We have an early start tomorrow. Do you want to know what I found out about Robert Swatsky?” Lisa said.

Lane put down his cup of tea, “You know where he is?”

“Your job is finding the missing person. They’ve got me tracking the money and that’s where this case gets very interesting.”

“How’s that?” Arthur said.

Loraine listened closely while rubbing Riley behind the ear.

“So far, we know for certain that Mr. Swatsky diverted two million belonging to the City of Red Deer. He used the money to buy up land around a petro chemical plant east of town. Somehow, he’d got wind of the plant’s planned expansion. He got a couple of his partners to buy up the land in specific locations around the plant. Since the company had nowhere else to go, they bought the land at a much higher price,” Lisa said.

“Who were the partners?” Lane pulled out a notebook.

“A pair of brothers by the name of Lester and Marvin Klein. Apparently they are long time acquaintances of Mr. Swatsky.”

“Who else is in on the three million dollar deal?” Arthur said.

Lisa said, “Actually, I’d estimate the amount is closer to 13 million. I can’t prove it yet, but it looks like insiders from the plant, the provincial government and Red Deer’s accounting department were in on the scam.”

“How did you get wind of the deal?” Lane said.

“A guy from Red Deer’s accounting department walked into our detachment. He said he wasn’t sure who was in on the deal and he was pretty scared because he figured someone from the province was in on it. He had a pretty good idea about the amount of money involved. The guy was scared. The Klein boys can be brutal.”

“For instance?” Arthur said.

“Lester Klein has been convicted of assault and charged with dangerous use of a firearm. He got off because his brother gave him an alibi.” Lisa reached over to pet Riley.

Lane circled $13 million on the page of his notebook.

“Any idea where the money is now?”

Lisa said, “It looks like 13.5 million was transferred electronically to a bank in the Cayman Islands.”

“Isn’t that where Swatsky’s wife ended up?” Arthur said.

Lisa said, “Actually, she’s his ex-wife. They got divorced a month ago. She made six trips to the Caymans in the last ten months. She also bought a house on a beach for nearly 1.3 million US. The purchase was finalized a week after her divorce with Bob.”

“The dates of the divorce and purchase seem pretty convenient,” Loraine said.

Lisa nodded, “They might have figured the divorce would be a good way to hang onto the money and the new house if news of the scam got out.”

“Judy Swatsky has much to gain if Bob doesn’t surface,”

Lane said.

“Don’t forget about Judy’s daughter. There is evidence to suggest she’s also involved.” Lisa said, “What about what you’ve learned? You know, tit for tat.”

Lane explained about Ernesto, the doll and the airport.

When he was finished, Loraine said, “Seems like everyone has forgotten about the boy. What is his name?”

“Ernie,” Arthur said.

Arthur took Riley’s leash in hand. Lane’s antenna went up.

Loraine said, “It’s been my experience that when young people are attacked like that, there can be some pretty nasty emotional and psychological after effects. Is anybody looking out for the kid? And speaking of psychology, Lane, are you finished talking shop?”

“What’s going on?” Lane said.

“You and I are going to talk while Lisa and Arthur take Riley for a walk,” Loraine said.

“As a shrink?” Lane said as Arthur and Lisa stood.

“As a friend,” Loraine said.

Riley was already at the gate with his tail wagging. Lisa and Arthur followed.

“You planned this,” Lane said.

“Arthur’s worried. He sees you shutting down emotionally as you get deeper into this case. He thinks it brings old memories to the surface,” Loraine said.

back beneath the surface. “Then he should have asked me himself.”

“Would you have listened?

“No.”

“Will you listen to me?” Loraine said.

Lane’s hand nervously twirled an empty glass on the table.

“A case like this can bring old memories back. Just like Ernie is going to have to face what happened to him, you’ll have to deal with what happened to you.”

“Lots of people have difficult childhoods,” Lane said.

“Often it’s a matter of sensitivity and degree.” Loraine looked him right in the eye and said, “The sensitivity that makes you successful in your work also makes it harder for you to deal with what you’ve experienced. You have to deal with it some time. More often than not, when we reach a certain age we have to face the trauma’s that have shaped us. Arthur told me about some of the things that happened to you.”

“So, what are you saying to me?”

“Listen to Arthur when he says you need help,” Loraine said.

Lane forced a smile and thought, Arthur, you bastard.