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Sunday rolled around to a happy ending—for Gibson. He got to go home. Not so much for the suspect. He got to go to jail.
Gibson phoned Scottie on his way down the highway.
“I’m done here. Meet up with you tomorrow. We have to get on with it before all is lost.”
“You bet. Nothing happened here.” A faint tone of disappointment crept into her voice.
* * *
Monday morning the darkened clouds fought with the sky for priority. They skittered across the blue and blocked out the sun. Where the hell did they come from? It was a typical autumn morning—more white than blue.
“Hey.” Scottie slumped into a chair at Gibson’s desk. “I’m ready for the next round.”
“Me too.”
“Get Gunner in here. Let’s see what we have.”
Scottie took off across the hallway and nabbed the constable.
“Jeff owes money. Lots of it. His business is failing too.” Gunner placed a folder on the desk. “It’s all in here.”
“Okay. That gives us something.”
After the constable headed back to his office, the two detectives knew they had better find a money trail to somebody before the chief called again. So they buried their heads into more paperwork, trying to snuff out what they could without warrants. That would come later when they had probable cause. It was a balancing act with the judges and the DA.
“I give up. Let’s kick some ass instead.” Gibson threw back his head in a fit of laugher, tears running down his cheeks.
“Are you losing it?” Scottie stared at him.
“No. I’m just in a good mood. Tomorrow is Katherine’s graduation.” Gibson beamed. “That’s where I’ll be.”
“Oh, so you want me to kick ass.”
“Right.”
“Want me to haul Jeff into the station tomorrow?” she asked. “He’ll be more cooperative in an interview room.”
“The small, stuffy one.” Gibson chuckled.
Scottie didn’t comment, but she put on her Cheshire smile.
“Depending on how that goes, bring Nick in after that,” Gibson paused. “Even Jason. None of these guys has a credible alibi. Let’s squeeze them. We’re running out of time.”
“Let’s get tough.”
They bumped fists.
Chapter 30
Katherine’s smooth, clear notes rose above the rich vibrato of the violin, its raw and harrowing undertones in contrast to her sweet and pure voice. Birdsong flowed freely through the open window. The aria beckoned Gibson. Its gradual crescendo was almost a summons. He glided down the hallway in stocking feet, his footfalls making no sound at all. He watched her dance with liquid grace across the tile floor. Her hair was lazily ruffled. The warm chestnut hues had a hint of red when the sunlight came in at just the right angle. Today was her moment. After so many years and considerable anguish, she had reached the pinnacle of her dreams. She whirled around and saw him leaning against the door frame. She let her smile widen into a brilliant grin. A sparkle that had started at the corner of her mouth advanced upwards to her brown eyes. He shifted toward her and pressed his torso into hers. Her body was supple. She yielded to his touch. He skimmed his lips against her willing mouth. He could feel her aura of tranquillity like a thin veil of translucent colour.
In their surreal sway, only a sharp knock on the door could have brought them back. Gibson lingered for barely a moment before he released his hold. He pulled the door open to a grinning Andrew who stood on the porch with his hands behind his back.
“We just made a pot of coffee.” A blush hid behind Gibson’s fading tan.
“We should go to the café,” Andrew said. “My sister needs to do something with her hair.”
“Bum.” Katherine poked his shoulder. She closed the door softly behind them.
The sun shone with an autumn dullness that warned of winter coming. The air was crisp with a bite of cool from the ocean and a faint woody fragrance of fireplace smoke. They drifted down the ramp to the Seaside Café. Gibson was surprised his buddy wasn’t in the usual spot by the window. The waitress brought over two coffees before she was asked.
“Jesse left in his kayak early.”
“Lucky guy.”
She laughed and spun away at the tone of a bell chiming.
Gibson fingered his mug absent-mindedly, peering into the depth of the liquid.
“May I finish my story from the other day?”
Andrew nodded.
“My brother died when we were teenagers.” He stared into the past. Trees, tire swings and swimming pools. “I was a teenager. Richard was twelve.”
Andrew sat still.
“While he was being bullied, I was trying to pick up girls. He was my little brother so I ignored him. Stupid me.” Gibson shrugged.
Andrew wanted to reach out and bring light where there was darkness.
“Richard committed suicide.”
A small squeal escaped from Andrew. He sucked in his breath and splayed his fingers out in a fan against his chest, feeling the strong beat of his existence drumming rapidly.
“I wish I had listened. I should have believed him.” Gibson felt the pain. “My mother…she wasn’t there anymore, not in spirit. Just a meaningless passing of time.” The thoughts that followed he kept to himself because it was too much to share. Not even now, not ever. The grief had changed his dad too. His eyes had sunk into his face, had lost their spark. Did his dad drink more? He hid it well. Gibson dropped his head into his palms and squeezed back the tears that took cover behind his smiling eyes. The longing for what could have been never leaving his heart.
Andrew remained silent.
“I’ve never revealed my secret,” he said.
Andrew waited.
“Not even to Katherine.” Gibson’s shaky chuckle broke the uneasiness. “Don’t tell her.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Hopefully one day we’ll be old men sharing a bench and a coffee.” Gibson shoved the sorrow back in its place. The steam that had arisen from his coffee had disappeared long ago, when he had drifted to another time and place. Through the window, he saw the sun was at its zenith, tracking lower in the sky than in the summer. What warmth it shed had radiated outwards and touched him. But the hot sun was powerless to eclipse the compassion he felt toward Andrew. And Andrew to him.
They walked back to the house different men.
Katherine bounced to the front when she heard the door slam. She blushed, enhancing the bloom on her cheeks. Usually she hid from the limelight, but today she bathed in its luminescence.
Gibson dressed quickly and rejoined his companions.
“Ready?”
