Queen's Park

Saturday, August 12
CHAPTER 28

“V Channel morning news.” The anchor’s face was somber. “Reporter Ralph Devine has some shocking updates related to his ongoing coverage of the Swatsky saga.”

Cut to a head and shoulders shot of Ralph Devine with the airport terminal in the background. “An exclusive interview with Lisa Swatsky, daughter of missing Red Deer Mayor Bob Swatsky, resulted in some startling revelations.”

Cut to video tape of Lisa leaving the funeral home and waving at the camera.

Devine’s voice-over continued, “Yesterday, a reporter talked with Ms. Swatsky as she waited for a flight to the Cayman Islands. Ms. Swatsky claims, and I quote, “I delivered a bag of cash to the Premier. My Dad told me it was part of a business deal.” When asked how much money was involved, she said, “$900,000, I think. I didn’t count it all.”

Cut to a head and shoulders portrait of a smiling Bob Swatsky. Devine said, “Lisa Swatsky is the daughter of Bob and Judy Swatsky. Judy recently divorced her husband and now lives in a million dollar mansion on the Cayman Islands. Officials believe Swatsky and his partners used money from an illegal land deal to buy real estate near this petrochemical plant.”

Cut to a shot of smoke stacks and concrete buildings. “Investigators believe Swatsky bought the land after receiving insider information on plans for plant expansion. The land was sold for an estimated 15 million more than its purchase price.”

Cut back to Ralph Devine, “When confronted with these allegations, the Premier replied… ”

Cut to the Premier saying, “I want to know why Lisa Swatsky left the country only days after her father disappeared!”

Back to Devine. “We may never know what happened to Mayor Bob Swatsky and the missing money. Ralph Devine.

V Channel News.”

Arthur sat at his kitchen table and said, “Did you read this?” He dropped the folded front page of The Calgary Herald on the kitchen table. Its headline read PREMIER IMPLICATED IN SWATSKY SCANDAL.

Lane glanced at the clock on the stove. Just back from an early two hour walk around Glenmore Reservoir with Riley, he used a napkin to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Then he poured himself a cup of coffee. He glanced at the headline and said, “Not yet.”

“The reporter maintains Lisa Swatsky told him she gave the Premier a plastic shopping bag. And the bag contained close to $900,000.”

Lane’s eyebrows shifted, “Beth said Lisa had rolls of thousand dollar bills in her handbag. I wonder if the Premier’s shopping bag was a little short?”

“Lisa’s statement about not counting the money was kind of odd.”

“Lisa is odd,” Lane said.

“Ernie might end up being a small part of a much bigger scandal.”

“Or a bigger part, it’s hard to tell.”

“What do you mean?” Arthur said.

“You know how it goes. Some reporters like to speculate.

The Premier has already survived three scandals. Suspicion could easily shift to Ernesto, Leona, Beth or Ernie. Who knows, somebody might even get the story right.”

“Still, Judy living in the Cayman Islands in a million dollar mansion is sure to send some suspicion her way.” Arthur rubbed Riley under the chin with his toe.

“Too early to tell. I’m heading for the shower.”

The phone rang.

Arthur reached for it. “Hello? He’s right here.” He covered the mouthpiece and handed the phone to Lane, “Harper.”

Lane took the phone, “Good morning.” He listened intently before before saying, “Thanks.” He handed the phone back to Arthur.

“Well?”

“He says the medical examiner may not be able to determine the exact cause of Bob Swatsky’s death.”

“The body was only there for two weeks,” Arthur said.

“The body was covered with lime,” Lane said.

“Lime?”

“If you choose the right kind of lime and know how to use it, it accelerates decomposition. They had to use dental records for a positive identification on the body. Very little was left except for bone, 13 centimeters of zipper, spare change, a tie clip, cuff links and a wrist watch.”

“Ernie’s off the hook?” Arthur said.

“Even discounting self-defense, how could the Crown prove Ernie, Ernesto, Leona, or even heart failure was the cause of death? Apparently, Bob’s heart wasn’t in great shape. All we may have is interfering with a body and the people responsible for that are already dead. The Premier has suggested Lisa may be responsible for her father’s disappearance. Next, she’ll be accusing the Premier. It looks like Beth and Ernie are last week’s news.”