Page 94 of Carver’s Craving

“Are both Black?”

“Uh, well, yeah. I was going to say…I don’t know. I tried to talk to Carver about his family back then. Shooting the shit, you know? And he shut me down. I just thought maybe he and Baxter had that in common.” I scratched my chin. “Anyway, we never did hear from Baxter’s dad again. I guess the restraining order worked.”

“Or he felt guilty about what he’d—”

I gave a harsh and nasty laugh. “Nope. Not a chance. The man was an asshole. A brute. I also got the sense Baxter was a disappointment.”

Seth nodded. “Not that it’s relevant, but what was Baxter going to study at U of T? Well, if he’d gone?”

“Nuclear engineering. Well, engineering first, and then a certificate in nuclear engineering. I figured he might do a Master’s degree and then a PhD. What?”

The cop’s jaw had dropped.

“I hope you’re not reacting—”

He waved me off. “I honestly don’t care about someone’s skin color. I just…don’t know anyone who’s, like, a nuclear anything.”

“Not much use for it in British Columbia. You guys are all about hydroelectric with your massive dams that harness water.” I waved my hand around. “Baxter explained it all to me on the drive out. He’s really keen on environmentalism—which made our choice to drive that old van bad for the environment. Truthfully, though, it was all we could afford. Baxter’s super smart. Without a degree, though, it’s hard to find a really good job. So he was working in selling fragrances while I sold walk-in bathtubs.”

“An important job. I think my mom will eventually need one.”

“I can get her a discount.” Again, I waved my hand. “Baxter.”

“Any chance his father tracked him down? Wanted another shot?”

I squinted. “After five years? I mean…I guess? But how would he even find us? And isn’t the restraining order good forever?”

Seth shook his head. “Depends on the jurisdiction and the circumstances. Generally one to three years. That can be extended if the perpetrator still poses a risk.”

“That’s dumb. Baxter’s dad will always be a threat. Well, like, until he’s too old to beat Baxter. Because Baxter’ll never fight back. He’s not that kind of guy.”

“Okay, so we’ll keep Baxter’s dad on the list. Anyone else important in his life?”

I shrugged. “Well, Arlene. But she’s not going to follow him across the country. And do what? Kidnap him? Kill him? There’s nothing in it for her, that’s for sure.”

Seth adjusted.

“You sure you don’t want to sit in the recliner? Or even on the couch? If you don’t mind the dogs.”

He shook his head. “Just a long shift. I’m fine.”

Not really. He looks tired. All because of Baxter? I wasn’t going to ask.

Seth asked, “So you don’t think Arlene is coming here?”

“I mean, how would she track us? And why? Yeah, married young, volatile relationship, acrimonious divorce…but Baxter owes her nothing. Neither of them had anything of value. So he moved out of the apartment they shared and came back to the basement I shared with Frank. I mean, we hadn’t even bothered to rent his room because we knew he’d be back.”

“That bad?”

Again, I squinted. “Uh…yes?” I flopped my hand in the air—my go-to in this conversation, apparently. “I just…I never liked her, you know? Too manipulative. Always playing the victim. She claimed she had a shitty childhood. Played that up with Baxter.”

“Not true?”

“Who knows? She grew up in one of the most affluent areas of Oshawa. Went to a private school. Had everything she could ever want. She claimed her parents never loved her and were verbally abusive. Which might’ve been true. Except—” I rubbed my hands on my jeans.

“Except?”

“Well, she did have it rough, according to Arlene’s older sister. But apparently Arlene was boasting about slumming it with a down-on-his-luck musician. Except, like, we were going places. Better gigs. Bigger venues. Selling our records. Making some money in digital streaming. Baxter was busy trying to give her the best life he could and—” I hesitated.