Page 28 of Not a Word

It rang once, twice, a third time. When it got to five rings Catherine was ready to give up, but just then someone answered.

There was a moment of silence, and then a man’s voice said, “Hello?”

“It’s me.”

“I have caller ID.”

“I wasn’t even sure you’d still have this number. I wasn’t even sure you’d still be alive.” When he said nothing, she said, “Brent just died.”

“Condolences. Still at the same address? I’ll send a card.”

“I need to see you.”

“A bit soon to start dating again.”

“There’s nothing funny about this.”

“Forgive me.”

“I do need to see you.”

“I can’t imagine why.”

“Someone knows.”

No funny comeback this time. After a few seconds, he said, “If someone knows, someone talked.” Another moment’s silence. “I see.”

“You see what?”

“Brent couldn’t keep a secret any longer. My god, Catherine, do I have to clean up after you again?”

“Why would Brent say something now? It couldn’t have been him.”

“Well, that only leaves one other person.”

“No, it had to have happened some other way. But someone’s figured it out.”

“And you know this how?”

“Can I just see you? I don’t want to do this over the phone.”

She thought she could hear a sigh at the other end. “I’ll call you later,” he said, and he was gone.

Catherine still had the phone in her hand when it buzzed. That blocked number again. She didn’t feel she could put this off any longer.

“Hello,” she said.

“Catherine Chartwell?”

“Yes.”

“This is Detective Janice McCabe, with the Yorkton Hill Police.”

“I’ve been expecting your call.”

“Tell me where you are. I’ll send an officer to pick you up.”

“It’s okay. I’ll call Reece. He must be frantic by now.”