I haven't disappeared it just has taken me forever to get this chapter done. Thanks to all those readers hanging in there. It feels like this fandom is shrinking but thank you to that loyal band of readers who keep reviewing. And thanks for the follows and favs.
I promised some reviewers that things would lighten up for Gail in this chapter but I am afraid that didn't quite happen. Next chapter though…
Let me know what you think. It makes my day to get your reviews.
…..
'So you're here to interview a witness,' Steve said.
'Yeah,' Gail replied. She hadn't meant to be curt but she wasn't comfortable about lying to Steve. It was Frankie's idea not to tell him why they were really there. She wanted to spring the visit on him, catch him out if he had something to hide. Gail suspected Steve was too wily not to figure out what was going on.
'Yeah,' Steve echoed, 'what's the investigation?'
'You know we can't tell you that,' Frankie's smile was relaxed. Dissemblance came a little easier to her.
'Aww you gotta give me something, Anderson,' Steve grinned. He was charming and smooth and his trademark swagger was back in place. Gail had always imagined the latter came from being the golden child and that prison would surely have dented it somewhat. Yet here he was smiling widely and with that easy self-assurance that would always elude Gail. According to Elaine, self-belief was the key to success. With barely concealed annoyance, she had told Gail if she didn't have it, she should at least fake it. Sometimes Gail felt like she had spent a lifetime faking.
After the trouble with O'Leary, Steve relocated to London, a two-hour drive west from Toronto, along highway 401. London was a mid-sized city, more like an oversized country town, full of green spaces and hiking trails but with all the amenities of a bigger metropolis. Dubbed the Forrest City, it was safe, affordable and consistently made Canada's most liveable city list, all of which made it popular among young families and retirees. Yet at one point it was home to the largest known concentration of serial killers in the world. To this day nobody had worked out why.
In Gail's experience it was often the most bucolic of places that harboured evil, as if of necessity perfection must always have an inverse, in this case a dark underbelly. Then again, the preponderance of serial killers could have something to do with the way London was surrounded by heavily forested areas, the perfect place to dump a body. On a good day you could be out in the woods in less than fifteen minutes.
Personally Gail preferred the bustle of a big city. She wondered if Steve missed that. It was hard to imagine him adjusting to the slower pace. After relocating from Hamilton, he had set up his own security company rather than go into partnership. Gail guessed her parents were financing it. Not that she resented that. Her maternal grandmother, knowing Bill and Elaine had cut her off, left her a generous bequest.
When she and Frankie reached the outskirts of the city, Gail called Steve and suggested they swing by his work and catch up if he could spare the time. 'For my baby sister, of course,' Steve had said, a little over eager. Was he really happy at the prospect of seeing her or was his job so dull their visit was a welcome distraction.
The address Steve gave for his office was in an industrial part of town. It was a non-descript two-storey brown-brick building that housed a handful of small commercial businesses. None of them looked flash and Gail suspected they were hanging on from job to job. The building had that air of slow neglect. Lettering on windows was peeling or missing altogether and the glass was covered in a film of grime. Only Steve's office had fresh signage. The words 'Arrow Security ' had been stencilled in silver. Weird name for an electronic security company, Gail thought as they pulled into the small parking lot out front.
Steve appeared at the door and gave them a half wave, half salute before turning back to say something to someone inside. Gail debated whether to get out of the car to greet him. Problem was it would be awkward. For most people the natural thing would be to hug but not the Pecks. God forbid if her family showed they cared. Chances were Steve would punch her in the arm. That was as close as they came to affection. Frankie put an end to her vacillation by shoving her in the shoulder and saying, 'Go on.'
Gail opened the car door and in her haste almost tripped over her feet. Steve grinned widely and she couldn't tell whether it was at her clumsiness or because he was please to see her. He took a step forward just as she did the same. Then they both stopped and Gail pushed up on her toes and back down again. Yep, it was awkward. She half expected Steve to call her garbage pail or tease her about her lack of grace, maybe even do that dumb high five thing where at the last minute he pulled his hand away.
'Found it okay,' he said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the office.
Gail nodded and bit her lip. Then they both stood there, each waiting for the other to speak. Gail had gone blank. She swallowed. The longer the silence dragged the harder it was to come up with something to say. If you didn't know about Steve's fall from grace, the drab office block said it all. Yet appearance-wise Steve didn't look shabby. He was dressed in a suit, which from its cut looked expensive, and a crisp white shirt with gold cuff links. Was the outfit intended to impress potential clients? It seemed a little overdone but she guessed it might work as long as clients didn't front up to the office. The suit was new and unless there was a freakishly high demand for alarm systems in London, Gail guessed her parents had paid for that as well.
'Are you two going to stand there all day or do you wanna get moving,' Frankie said from inside the car, leaning over to push the back passenger door open for Steve. It was hard to tell whether she spoke in jest or was irritable but it made the siblings move.
'Good to see you haven't changed Anderson,' Steve said once he was in the car.
Frankie chuckled. 'Can't say the same for you. What's with the facial hair.'
Since Gail had last seen him, Steve had grown a strange little goatee and moustache. It was more ginger than his hair and really didn't suit him.
'Don't you like it?' he said, stroking his chin. 'My girlfriend thinks it makes me look distinguished.'
Girlfriend? Gail's eye bugged at that but Steve didn't notice because by now she was in the front passenger seat with her back to him.
'You don't say,' Frankie said skeptically, 'does your girlfriend impress easily or is she a pathological liar?'
Steve laughed, not in the least perturbed by Frankie's ribbing. 'Where do you want to go? Coffee or something stronger?'
'Bit early to drink,' Gail said.
'Never bothered you in the past.'
'Coffee,' Frankie said before it turned into a squabble.
…..
'So,' Frankie said, sizing Steve up. 'You're looking well.'
'Better than the last time you saw me, huh',' Steve replied, absent-mindedly stirring his coffee. As he lifted the cup to his mouth, Gail noticed the slight tremor in his hand, a remnant from the prison bashing. He was thinner and his facial bones were more pronounced, giving him a slightly pinched look. Still handsome, but he no longer had that hint of boyishness women had seemed to fall for.
'And the domestic security business—how's that going?' Frankie asked. She emphasised the word domestic, which Gail was certain was deliberate.
'It's not just home security. I've got a new contract with one of the biochemical companies here.' It was said amicably but the words themselves were defensive. Gail guessed Steve was trying to save face. Pecks weren't brought up to install alarm systems. Better than being a mall cop, she supposed. 'But yeah, it's okay,' Steve shrugged, 'keeps me out of trouble.' He winced then and looked at them apologetically, like he'd brought up something that would unsettle she and Frankie. A faux pas except only in Steve's mind. It wasn't as if they had forgotten why he went to jail.
'London suit you?' Frankie said, clearly not interested in indulging his self-reproach.
'Yeah,' Steve looked around the coffee shop and then picked up a packet of sugar and started fiddling with it, repeatedly tipping the packet up and then back so the granules moved from one end to the other.
'What,' Gail asked, sounding harsher than she intended, but she knew him well enough to know the fidgeting meant something was on his mind.
'Um,' Steve coloured. His skin wasn't as impossibly pale as Gail's but he couldn't hide the blush that spread across his cheeks. 'I've met someone.'
'Duh,' Gail snarked. 'You already told us you have a girlfriend.'
'Yeah but I am getting married.'
'Married?' Gail was floored momentarily, and then rushed on to mask her surprise. 'What is it with everyone. So is Frankie.' It sounded mean and she hadn't meant it to. Not entirely anyway, but mean always worked to mask her real feelings. And what was she feeling right now? Stung? Hurt? Both of those emotions seemed melodramatic but Steve's unexpected confession had thrown her. Right now Gail wished they had opted for a bar and not a coffee shop. She should probably congratulate Steve or at least ask about his fiancé. If he was disappointed by her lack of curiosity or enthusiasm, he didn't show it.
'You married?' Steve looked at Frankie in astonishment.
'I haven't asked her yet,' Frankie said sounding annoyed Gail had brought it up
'You,' Steve repeated, 'love 'em and leave 'em Anderson getting married. Who tamed you? I'd like to meet them.'
'You have,' Gail said. 'She was your neuro doctor.'
'Man,' Steve whistled, impressed in that way of men who think a buddy has netted someone out of their league. 'Alannah Barrett. Classy.' He high-fived Frankie, who appeared to be completely unfazed by his behaviour. Was this how the two of them related when they worked together? Had they spoken about her like this? Gail shook her head. It was too hideous to contemplate.
'So tell us about your girl,' Frankie said, nudging Steve with her elbow. 'And hey congratulations.'
'Her name is Melody,' Steve replied and Gail had to practically stop herself from snorting coffee out her nose. 'What?' Steve asked, beginning to look annoyed.
'Sorry. I'm just coming to terms with the realisation that there are people who actually name their kids Melody. Does she sing a happy tune? Is she a melody maker.' Gail gave one of her saccharine smiles, so very sweet and so very insincere.
'Excuse her,' Frankie said, glaring at Gail. 'I think she left nice Gail on the highway.'
Gail rolled her eyes.
'So how'd you and Melody meet,' Frankie continued before Steve had a chance to question whether such a thing as nice Gail existed.
'Through work. Melody is an elementary teacher. I got called out to a job at her school. It was hit by vandals a couple of times and the school board finally decided it was time to invest in a security system.'
"What's her last name? Gail asked.
'Thinking of running a security check,' Steve said.
'Hasn't Superintendent Mom already taken care of that.'
'Um I haven't had a chance to tell Mom and Dad yet,' Steve admitted a little sheepishly. Well that explained why Elaine hadn't said anything, Gail thought. 'I want to tell them in person but mom's been too busy to make it own here. Anyway, I figure its best to protect Melody from the full force of Elaine Peck for as long as possible.' The last bit was said jokingly.
'Worried Melody will do a runner if she meets the future in-laws,' Frankie teased.
'Something like that.'
'And Melody's last name,' Gail pushed.
'Jesus, what is this an interrogation,' Steve grumbled.
You got that right, Gail thought but her face remained impassive. 'If you don't give me an answer soon I'm going to break out the thumb screws,' she deadpanned.
'Alright, alright. It's Allegro.'
This time Gail did snort coffee out of her nose.
'Jesus Gail,' Steve exclaimed, pulling out napkins from the dispenser on the table to mop up the mess. 'Melody's heritage is Italian. That's where it comes from.'
'And on musical scores it also means a quick, lively tempo,' Gail pointed out, and then, unable to help herself, asked 'Does she teach music?'
'What? No!' Steve was irritated now.
'What a waste,' Gail shook her head sadly as if this were indeed a tragedy.
'Have you got any photos?' Frankie asked.
Steve whipped out his phone. Melody had a heart-shaped face and long, light brown hair, which hung in loose waves around her shoulders. She was looking up adoringly, presumably at Steve as he took the photo, and her smile was open and guileless and you could just tell she had a sweet nature. She was probably too nice for Steve. He needed someone to call him out on his shit.
It struck Gail as strange that Steve had managed to make a new life when she still bore the scars of his old one. His actions and those of her father continued to define her. Gail knew that as long as she remained on the force the rumours would follow her. Tainted by association. Although she could she could deal with that. She was used to people making assumptions about her. No, the thing that still really cut deep was the betrayal.
Regardless of what her family had done to her in the past and no matter how much she had railed against being moulded into the perfect Peck, deep down Gail had believed they stood for something exemplary. That for the Pecks to serve and protect was not only a duty but a calling, and then to find that that legacy, which was the yardstick by which she was measured and which she had tried to live up to all those years, was just a sham. When Gail went to the Academy her mother told her three things—Always remember who you are, work harder than everyone else and don't screw up. It was an order rather than advice. Seemed like Steve never got that talk.
'She looks nice,' Gail said softly.
She's great,' Steve said, nodding so vigorously like one of those mechanical dogs you sometimes still saw on the parcel shelf in the rear of a car.
When Gail was six she had spied one such dog and, entranced, begged her mother to get one for their car. 'Don't be foolish', Elaine had chided, 'those idiotic things should be banned. They distract drivers.' Bill had demurred, asking Elaine for the proof that the bobbing dogs caused accidents and Elaine had pursed her lips in annoyance. Two days later when Bill drove Gail to school she noticed he'd installed a toy dog in the rear. He winked conspiratorially but after that Elaine always insisted they take her car on family outings. Then a few weeks later the dog was gone and Gail wasn't brave enough to ask who had removed it. Steve had kept very loudly insisting it was lame so it could have been any one of her family.
'Do you remember that toy dog?' Gail asked.
'What? ' Steve abruptly stopped nodding and looked confused.
Frankie, obviously thinking Gail was about to say something obnoxious, jumped in before she could reply. 'Well congratulations,' she said again with exaggerated bonhomie as if to make up for Gail's lack of enthusiasm, 'Pity we didn't go to a bar. We could toast you. When's the wedding?'
'Uh we haven't set a firm date but soon.'
'Soon,' Gail repeated, thinking it seemed awfully fast. Steve would have known Melody for no more than four months tops. Then again Gail had pretty much fallen in love with Holly that first day. It had just taken her awhile to admit or even recognise it.
'When you know it's right, why wait,' Steve grinned. 'You guys will come to the wedding?'
'Of course,' Frankie said and Gail knew she couldn't mean it. Gail might be forgiven for attending her brother's wedding but there was no way anyone else from 15 would be there. Besides, Gail wasn't even certain Frankie liked Steve very much.
'And you, Gail,' Steve prompted. It clearly meant a lot to him.
Gail bit her lip. 'Depends on whether you're inviting Dad.'
Steve blew out a breath in frustration. 'You two really need to bury the hatchet.'
'Yeah,' Gail drew out the word, tipping her head to one side as though giving the idea due consideration. She sensed Frankie tense, no doubt expecting an outburst. Even Steve shrank back a little as Gail took her sweet time replying. When she did it was with resignation rather than anger. 'Easy for you to say, Stephen. You haven't been disowned.'
'Dad regrets that.'
'You don't say,' Gail said skeptically. Did Steve ever stop to think how his actions led to her father freezing her? Or how fucked up it was that she became the outcast? Not that she begrudged Steve's relationship with her parents because what support did he have beside Elaine and Bill? None of his former friends or colleagues would give him the time of day. Even she avoided him. If he called, she tended not to pick up. On the rare occasions she did answer, pushed by guilt rather than a strong desire to speak to him, Gail always said she was on a job and would call back which they both knew was a lie. Eventually Steve pretty much stopped calling altogether.
'Just reach out to Dad,' Steve urged, not noticing that as he spoke Gail clenched her fists so tightly the whites of her knuckles showed. 'I think you'd find he'd be receptive.'
Gail stared at Steve in disbelief. She became conscious of a terrible tightness in her stomach. It was like wire coiled over and over until it was a tangled mess that pressed against her insides. She wanted to stand up, kick back her chair, march out of that coffee shop and find the nearest bar and down several shots of tequila. Steve was looking at her expectantly, waiting for a response but it was Frankie who broke the silence.
'Don't you think it is up to your father to make the first move,' she said, at the same time putting a hand on Gail's forearm. It was just a light touch and so fleeting that Gail doubted Steve noticed, but it calmed her. Which was odd because she and Frankie never touched. In fact, once they had stopped fucking, it was like they had an aversion to psychical contact. Although, even while they were sleeping together, they had only touched when they had sex.
'I suppose,' Steve half-heartedly conceded, finally registering Gail's disquiet. 'Will you at least think about it Gail,' he said, gentler now.
Gail dragged her teeth across her bottom lip with deliberate slowness and yet so forcefully it hurt. Not for the first time since they had sat down she was at a loss for how to respond to Steve.
'So Steve, back in Toronto, did you have anything to do with a detective called Palmer,' Frankie jumped in, mercifully changing the subject.
'Palmer,' Steve blinked in surprise but from the way he said the ex-detective's name it was clear he knew who she was talking about. 'Is that who you're investigating?'
'No, we, well at least Gail and Chloe, spoke to him in connection with the case,' Frankie shrugged casually and Steve seemed to accept the explanation. 'He didn't make a good impression though.'
'What'd you mean?' Steve asked sharply.
'He gave Gail a hard time.'
'What the hell. Was it because of me?' Steve asked, looking directly at Gail. He seemed genuinely concerned. 'What did he say to you, Gail?'
'He threatened her,' Frankie supplied.
'Because of me?' Steve said again, not taking his eyes off Gail. She nodded slowly. 'Fuck!' Steve hit the table with the flat of his hand so hard their coffee cups rattled alarmingly. 'Palmer's a creep. He's got no right. Jesus, I wish—', Steve trailed off but his meaning was clear. He wished he could sort out Palmer but he didn't have that kind of influence anymore.
It should have made Gail feel better that Steve's instinct was to protect her but it reminded her too much of the courtroom when he had stepped in to stop her perjuring herself. To this day Gail wasn't sure if she would have lied for Steve had he not confessed.
'I'm sorry Gail,' Steve said softly, for the first time looking at her properly. 'Did Palmer do that to you?' he gestured to her face. His voice was tight.
Trust Steve to notice. Most of the bruises had faded and Gail thought she had done a good job of disguising the rest with make-up. She had the feeling if she said yes Steve would hightail it to Toronto and confront Palmer and then what? Beat him to a pulp. She couldn't see Steve doing that. No, he normally used subtler methods to get even.
'No,' Gail shook her head. 'Another case. It's not important. Let's just say it won't happen again.' Clearly her mother hadn't told Steve about Francine or the IA investigation. Not that Gail wanted to get into that with Steve right now but why had her mother kept him out of the loop. Had she simply been too preoccupied to mention it or was there was a less innocent explanation? Like the fact that Elaine pushed Francine under the bus. Try as Gail might to supress it, that thought just kept popping into her head.
Steve was looking at her intently like he knew there was more to the story.
'What does Palmer have on you?' Gail asked before he had a chance to ask any more.
Steve swallowed. 'He worked for Chou. Probably still does. Ran protection for him. Palmer made evidence disappear and tipped Chou off if there was a warrant out for one of his boys. Stuff like that.'
Frankie nodded.
'If Palmer hadn't resigned from the force he would have been kicked out,' Steve added, 'but I guess you know that.'
'He should have been prosecuted,' Gail said.
'The Commissioner wanted to avoid a scandal. Palmer went quietly and they swept it under the rug. One bad apple.'
'And you knew he was bent?'
Steve nodded. 'To this day Palmer is convinced I sold him out to IA. He would have come after me if I hadn't been sent to prison.
'And he knew you worked for O'Leary?' Frankie asked.
Steve nodded again. 'We had a tacit agreement to turn a blind eye to one another's, ah, activities.'
'Those activities include murder?'
'Geez Frankie I swear to god I never killed anyone,' Steve protested.
'So Palmer wouldn't know where the bodies are buried,' Frankie said, repeating the words Palmer had used about Steve.
'Is that what he's saying. That I murdered people.'
'Insinuated,' Gail looked Steve directly in the eye. She had always thought she was pretty good at figuring out when he was lying to her, but then again for years he had had them fooled, including her. Still right now she believed him.
'Sounds like Palmer's stirring up trouble. If he's involved in your case maybe he wants to throw you off the scent by dragging me into it.' Steve paused when he noticed the two women looking at him with raised eyebrows. Did he think they needed to be taught to suck eggs, Gail wondered. 'Ah, you've thought of that, of course,' he said, realising his misstep.
'Would Palmer have killed on Chou's say so?'
Steve's expression was pained. 'I believe so.'
'And you turned a blind eye to that too?' Gail said, her voice soft again but the disgust in it unmistakable.
'I had no choice. By that time I was in deep,' Steve stuttered.
'Doing for O'Leary what Palmer did for Chou. You tipped off Leary's boys, you made evidence disappear and you guaranteed none of them were ever charged with their crimes.' Gail didn't know why she was compelled to list Steve's misdeeds—maybe it was masochism plain and simple—but she ticked each one off on her fingers.
'Or you framed someone else,' Frankie chimed in, with none of her earlier chumminess. After Steve's arrest, for some bizarre reason —most likely someone senior was fucking with her—Gail had been assigned to Frankie to review the cases the detective had worked with Steve. The convictions had all seemed watertight but of course lawyers had seized on Steve's duplicity to cast doubt and a number of convictions were overturned at retrial. It was something Frankie still felt bitter about.
Steve swallowed again and looked down at his hands and then back up again. 'I'm not justifying what I did. It was wrong. I know that but Gail,' he stopped and seemed to be considering what to say. 'O'Leary threatened to come after you and mom and dad if I ratted him out. He said he'd make you suffer and I believed him. I'd seen his handiwork.'
Steve picked up the sachet of sugar again and seemed about to tip it up to move the granules from one end to the other but then he stopped and placed the sachet back on the table. He took a deep breath before continuing.
'I thought about killing O'Leary. One evening I went to his house to do it. Then his little girl came in to say good night. She was just a toddler and I couldn't do it. I felt like a coward but I couldn't kill in cold blood. It was the only time I considered taking someone's life.'
The three of them were silent then. O'Leary was always surrounded by gang members. Had Steve shot the gang boss, he wouldn't have left the house alive. Chances are O'Leary's gang would have come after Gail and her family anyway. Retribution. Steve's admission should have made her less angry with him but Gail found she couldn't process it right now. It was as though her brain stuttered and stopped at every one of Steve's revelations. What she did know is that Steve should never have put she or parents in a position where he might have to make the choice between protecting them and murder.
'What can I do to help?' Steve held out his hands in a gesture of supplication. 'Do you want me to wear a wire and go talk to Palmer.'
'Did you ever hear anything about Chou being involved in sex trafficking?' Frankie asked, ignoring Steve's offer.
'There were rumours he had moved into that but—'
'You turned a blind eye,' Gail interrupted.
'They were just rumours. I had no proof,' Steve said. He tugged his tie and placed a finger in the collar of his shirt as if to loosen it. 'Are you going after Chou?'
'Maybe,' Frankie said.
'At the moment we're trying to solve two homicides,' Gail said.
'Melanie Fisher and Mitchell Cormann '
'You know about them,' Frankie asked sharply.
'Only what I've seen in the news,' Steve shrugged. 'How is Palmer involved?'
'Seems he ordered his partner not to look into Chou in connection with Melanie's disappearance.'
'So Melanie must have had something on Chou for him to want her dead.'
Frankie nodded but neither she nor Gail filled him in on the 'something'. If Steve was smart enough he would join the dots. Why else would Frankie ask about sex trafficking?
'You ever come across a Costa Dukas?' Frankie looked at Steve shrewdly.
'Costa Dukas,' Steve said slowly. Gail could see him doing that Peck thing where his eyes were focused on some middle point and it was as if he were shuffling the memory cards. 'The name sounds familiar,' he said, screwing up his face slightly. 'Could it have been someone I arrested? I know,' he clicked his fingers, 'I met a Professor Dukas at a forensics conference. Ah what was his first name? Tait. That was it. He was from,' Steve drew out the word from as he tried to recall. 'University of British Columbia. Top of his field.'
'When was the conference?' Frankie asked.
Steve drew back as if about to do a double take and then caught himself. 'Winter of 2011, I think.'
If he hadn't realised already they were actually here to interview him, that question just confirmed it, Gail thought. Steve was no idiot. He would know Frankie would only ask for details about the conference if she needed to corroborate his story. He flicked Gail a look and just for a second she caught something that looked like pure hurt and she felt like an asshole.
'Could have been the year before,' Steve continued. 'It was in Boston and the weather was freezing. I always missed out on going to conferences in tropical places. Has this Costa Dukas got something to do with the murders?'
'Maybe,' Frankie said. 'And then again he could just be some weird misfit. Claims to know you though.'
'Me!' Steve exclaimed with what seemed like genuine surprise. 'I swear I've never met him.' He held out his hands in a hopeless sort of gesture. His denial was convincing but then again Gail wasn't sure if she just wanted to believe him. 'What's really going on here? Is Palmer setting me up?' Steve's voice was harder now. Gone was the earlier charm.
'Would he do something like that?' Frankie asked calmly.
'Well, yeah. Like I said before, Palmer thinks I ratted him out. He's probably been waiting for an opportunity to come after me. Should I be worried about this? Do I need a lawyer?'
'No,' Frankie said. 'Not unless you think you do.'
'Jesus Anderson. What sort of answer is that?'
The kind you gave someone you hadn't entirely ruled out as a suspect. Steve would know that. Had probably said the same thing to any number of suspects. And if they choose to lawyer up, odds were they were hiding something. Or so police lore had it.
'Did Palmer ever mention Len Cormann?' Gail asked before Steve could get more worked up.
'I'm guessing he's Mitchell's brother.'
Gail nodded
'Palmer and I weren't exactly buddies. I really didn't have much to do with him,' Steve rubbed his chin, pulling a little at the odd goatee. 'There was a Len he hung out with sometimes. I never got his last name.'
'Okay, give me a minute,' Gail stood up from the table. Steve and Frankie looked at her quizzically. She walked out onto the sidewalk and put a call through to Dov. He picked up immediately.
'What's up?' he said through what sounded like a mouthful of food. Whatever it was, it was crunchy.
'Can you send me a photo of Len Cormann.'
'Yep.'
Gail heard Dov tap at the keyboard.
'Done. What do you need it for?' He started crunching again.
'A long shot. I'll let you know if it pans out.' With that she disconnected and headed back into the café.
'Yep. That's the Len I saw with Palmer,' Steve said when Gail returned to the table and showed him the photo
'Where and when?' Gail knew the station wouldn't count. Given Palmer was investigating the disappearance of Mitchell Cormann, he could simply claim he was updating Len on the progress of the case.
'It was before I went to prison. Palmer and Cormann were regulars at the Wang Shui.'
'The restaurant on Spadina Avenue?'
'You know it?' Steve sounded surprised.
'Only by sight. I've never eaten there.'
'Chou owns it. Likes to conduct business over a banquet.'
'So what were you doing there?'
'Being O'Leary's errand boy.'
She should have anticipated that response but still Gail grimaced. It hadn't become any easier to be reminded of the double life Steve had led. She held back a sigh. After this she should probably make an appointment with her therapist
'I only went to the Wang Shui a handful of times,' Steve said into the silence, making Gail realise she'd drifted off into her head. He sounded defensive. Probably thought her silence was judgmental.
'And you definitely saw Palmer and Cormann together there? Frankie asked.
'I don't forget a face,' Steve said. 'Cormann and Palmer were like permanent fixtures. Although Cormann seemed like a hanger on. Not a main player. He was nervous around Chou and horribly obsequious. I got the feeling Chou had something over him.'
'Like a gambling debt?' Gail suggested.
'It's possible. Chou runs illegal gaming. In fact, one of his gaming houses is at the back of the Wang Shui.'
'And how did Palmer and Cormann seem together?'
'Palmer was the dominant one. Len seemed to be following his lead. He'd jump to as soon as Palmer or Chou said something to him. Chou used to call him Lenny which he clearly hated but he couldn't very well object.'
'Would you be willing to testify to this,' Frankie asked.
'I,' Steve hesitated like he was having some sort of internal debate. Coming back to Toronto to testify against Chou or anyone associated with him would put a target on Steve's back. London would no longer be far away enough to hide. London, England maybe. Steve sighed. 'Of course,' he said heavily.
'You know what it might mean,' Gail asked, even though she had no doubt Steve understood what he was committing himself to but he flapped his hand to wave away her concerns.
'Listen I could help you with this,' he said, all of a sudden keyed up. 'I've still got some contacts. Just say the word and I could be in Toronto in a couple of hours.'
Gail wasn't sure what bothered her more—the fact that Steve still knew people in the underworld or his desire to be on the case. There was something almost desperate about his offer of help. She guessed it was hard to give up policing when it was literally stamped on your DNA. It was all she and Steve, or any Peck for that matter, were raised to be.
'You know that can't happen,' Gail said softly.
'Be careful around Palmer. He may have retired from the force but he's probably still doing Chou's bidding,' Steve looked directly at Gail then, his expression one of appeal. 'Gail, promise me you'll be careful.'
'What are you saying?' Frankie asked.
'Don't take Palmer's threats lightly.'
'Well, thanks for the tip.' Frankie looked at her watch. 'We should head back to Toronto before it gets too late. I'll go get the car. Meet you out front.'
Frankie probably thought she was being considerate giving the siblings some time alone but Gail wished she had stayed. It was only when Frankie left that Gail realised how much she had counted on her as buffer.
Steve watched as the detective made her way to the front of the café. He shook his head. 'Man, I can't believe Frankie is settling down.'
'Did you really suggest she should date me,' Gail said, remembering something Frankie had said when they first met. At the time it had made her wonder how well her brother knew her, which was a dismaying thought because out of all her family she thought Steve at least had some idea.
Then she had gone and slept with Frankie anyway, although that had only confirmed her initial impression that the two of them were not suited. And still she had kept sleeping with Frankie.
The first time it had been about not wanting to get a taxi home after Andy's wedding or so Gail convinced herself. By morning, when Frankie slipped out of her bed to grab a coffee from the kitchen, and Gail felt that now habitual sag of regret return, she had had to admit it was about missing Holly.
'I just thought you two would have some fun,' Steve grinned a little too lecherously for Gail's liking. 'You did, didn't you?' He waggled his eyebrows and Gail punched him in the arm.
How to explain to Steve what her liaison with Frankie had meant. At the time it was the best and the worst decision. Worst because Gail wasn't over Holly and instead of dealing with that she allowed sex with Frankie to distract her. Sex and alcohol worked a treat when it came to blocking out, even temporarily, the loss of Holly and everything that came after with Steve and her family. Best because without that distraction, without what eventually and surprisingly had became Frankie's friendship, Gail may not have survived the tough months that followed Steve's imprisonment.
'Mom said you were happy. That Holly's good for you,' Steve said.
'I'm not sure the seal of approval from Superintendent Mom is actually a good thing,' Gail arched an eyebrow.
'I think this time you should just take the win,' Steve smiled. 'Anyhow, I'm glad Holly came back. That you've got someone.'
'Sometimes I can't quite believe it's real. How did someone like me get so lucky.' It was said with a touch of hushed awe and as she spoke Gail realised this was the most candid she had been with Steve since they sat down. It made her suddenly self-conscious. Sometimes Steve was so careful with her vulnerabilities, perhaps recognising in them some of his own insecurities. Yet he could just as easily ridicule her, make her feel small and stupid. The pail fail. 'And you, are you happy?' she said because she needed to know that but also to divert his attention from her guilelessness.
Steve made a non-committal hmm sound and Gail could see he wasn't really listening anyway.
'How's Traci doing?' he asked abruptly, though there was a wistfulness to his words that immediately got Gail's back up.
'Um. Okay,' she said warily
'And Leo? Man, he must have grown.'
'Yeah.'
'And Traci—does she have, is there someone—'
'You don't get to do this Steve,' Gail interrupted. She was more disappointed than angry. He didn't have the right to ask. Traci had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him and that he was to stay away from Leo. Gail didn't blame her. She would have done the same thing if he had been her.
Steve coughed. At least he had the decency to look a little shamefaced. He pulled at the cuff of one of his sleeves to straighten it and then fiddled with the gold cuff link. 'I just want the best for them, you know.'
Gail didn't say anything but started to stand. Frankie was sure to be outside by now.
'Wait,' Steve said, motioning for her to sit. 'I've got more news. Your going to be an aunt.' He grinned.
Gail looked at him in surprise. Nope, she hadn't seen that coming. No wonder Steve was reluctant to tell her parents. They were liberal about a lot of things, including Gail's sexuality, but as far back as Gail could remember they had made it very clear Pecks didn't have children out of wedlock. That word had made Gail laugh the first time she heard it and imagine a bride and groom padlocked together, like this was what happened at weddings. Later she found out wedlock came from old English and a word that meant marriage vow.
'Jeez, that explains the hurry,' Gail said.
'It's not like that. I love Melody. This is a bonus. And I think I'll make a good dad.' The last bit came out more like a question as if Steve needed reassurance. When Gail didn't respond, he chuckled nervously. 'I can't do any worse than our parents.'
'Have you told Melody about your past?' Gail asked, ignoring the comment about their parents. 'That you've spent time inside.'
'A little,' Steve looked away from Gail. 'Enough anyway. This is my chance for a new start. A clean slate.'
'Jesus Steve, anyone in this town only has to Google the name Peck to find out.' Gail realised she sounded exasperated.
'I've changed it.'
'Changed it?' Gail asked, not understanding his meaning.
Steve held out his hand to her with a cheesy grin. 'Hi. I'm Stephen Carter. Nice to meet you.'
…
'You know I always got along with Steve when I worked with him but he was too focussed on impressing to be anything but a lightweight.' Frankie said.
Gail didn't know what to say to that. She and Steve had been raised to play a part. All the Pecks had. Was this all that was behind the police royalty bullshit? Self-aggrandizement. For the most part Pecks were puffed up with the self-importance and entitled. Once upon a time Pecks had been good cops. Elaine still was when she wasn't trying to schmooze the top brass or manage brand Peck. Gail, on the other hand, had swung between trying to conform and rebelling against the exPecktations. Where did she fit in now? Did Frankie regard her as a good cop or a lightweight?
'You're not like that,' Frankie said. It was rare either she or Gail said something heartfelt to the other but Frankie sounded like she meant it. It occurred to Gail that Frankie knew her better than Steve for the detective sensed exactly where Gail's thoughts had gone, had guessed from Gail's morose silence that she had turned in on herself. 'You are your own person Gail and your own kind of cop.'
The burst of gratitude Gail experienced at Frankie's words didn't make her any less overwhelmed and she couldn't help the glib retort. 'Good thing too. If I'd followed the Peck legacy I'd be behind bars.'
'There are more honest Pecks on the force than in prison,' Frankie said seriously, ignoring Gail's flippancy.
'For now,' Gail shrugged. After Steve and her father were exposed, Internal Affairs had launched a far-reaching review of all the Pecks, including Elaine. It was supposed to be covert but they all knew what was going on. Gail hadn't heard from so many cousins in years, panicked that they were about to be drummed out of the force and hoping Elaine had given her the inside scoop. Gail was as clueless as the rest of them.
Even though the review had been at her instigation, Elaine had placed herself at arm's length from it. At one point she told Gail, 'I know you have nothing to worry about'. It was said meaningfully, Elaine making sure she emphasised each word so Gail would be left in doubt that she was in the clear. Gail wasn't certain whether her mother was expressing faith in her integrity or giving Gail a heads-up about the findings of the review. It was at a time when they were barely speaking. Elaine had taken her aside at 15, delivered the information and then left before Gail could question her.
How clean was Elaine? Gail had wanted to ask Steve but then he had sprung that new name crap on her and the baby news. She didn't want to believe her mother was capable of murder but she couldn't stop the doubt creeping in. Was it just a case of her assuming the worst because sometimes it just felt like anything involving her family turned to shit? Maybe just like London, there had always been a sordid underbelly to the Peck family. She considered telling Frankie that Elaine may be the next Peck to go but decided against it, instead finding something guaranteed to draw the detective's attention away from her.
'So this proposal,' Gail said brightly, too brightly. 'What do you have planned?'
'Oh god. Nothing,' Frankie groaned in such a dramatic way it took Gail by surprise. 'That's why I need your help.'
'Don't people normally have a romantic dinner and then pop the question? Just don't put the ring in the dessert.'
'Too clichéd,' Frankie asked in a way that made Gail think she had entertained the idea.
'Well that too, but I heard a story of someone swallowing the ring by mistake before her boyfriend could stop her.'
'Has to be an urban myth,' Frankie said.
'Whatever,' Gail shrugged. 'Lisa swears it happened when she was on rotation in emergency.'
'Anyway I want it to be special.'
'Hey, maybe you could get the scrub nurse to hand Alannah the ring instead of a scalpel.' Gail grinned excitedly, certain she'd hit on the perfect plan.
'No, that would be weird. What if Alannah thought the scrub nurse was proposing. Anyway I want to be there.'
'Why?' Gail screwed up her face.
'I want to see her reaction.'
'What if she says no?' It slipped out before Gail had a chance to stop it
'Is that why you won't ask Holly. Scared she'll say no,' Frankie said with some of her usual combativeness.
'What? No!' Gail whipped her head around to look at Frankie. 'We've discussed it. Marriage isn't something we want right now. And for the record, Holly would definitely say yes.'
'Yeah, of course. God knows why Peck,' Frankie said, then turned serious. 'You still think Alannah will say no don't you?'
'Honestly I have no idea. I mean it's obvious she really wants to be with you but have ever talked about marriage?'
'I'm not exactly the type of person people discuss marriage with,' Frankie pointed out.
'Exactly. So this will come out of the blue and maybe Alannah needs time to think it through. You know adjust to the whole idea of Frankie Anderson as a wife. Which let's face it sounds like an oxymoron.'
'I'm prepared for her to say no. I won't be crushed. I'll just keep asking.'
'But why not have a conversation about it? Make the decision together. I hate this idea that one person in a couple does the proposing.'
'Well someone has to,' Frankie said. 'Just because you and Holly have this weird ability to be on the same page all the time. Fuck, sometimes you're so in synch it's like you can read each other's minds,' she finished a little irritably.
Gail laughed good-naturedly. 'Not always. It comes from being together for a while. God if we'd been able to read each others' minds I never would have ignored her texts or run that night at the Penny and Holly wouldn't have left for San Francisco.'
'Still,' Frankie insisted, 'I've never seen two people who were meant to be together as much as you and Holly. That's not to say you're not both weirdos.'
Gail laughed again. 'Okay, far be for me to offer you advice Anderson but it gets down to communication. Relationships don't work without it but you've also got to work at it.'
Frankie nodded soberly. Gail was surprised the detective was so willing to accept her counsel. Hell, Gail was surprised she was dishing it out.
'I'm still going to propose,' Frankie said. 'So I still need a plan.'
'A poem?' Gail offered doubtfully.
'Lame.'
'You could take Alannah back to where you first met and propose. Oh wait, that was at Steve's bedside in the hospital.'
'Face it Peck, we're crap at this.'
Gail laughed and then they didn't speak again for a bit. With Frankie silence was never awkward. Neither of them felt the need to fill it with superfluous chatter.
'You don't have to go to Steve's wedding,' Frankie said suddenly. 'It would be understandable if you didn't.'
Gail wondered if she should tell Frankie about the baby but for some reason she held back. She looked out the car window. They were passing through a densely wooded stretch that reminded Gail of the area around her parent's cabin. She felt a pang at that even though the cabin was tied up with some of the worst torments of her childhood.
Every day before breakfast, in the warmer months, and sometimes even as winter approached, her father would make she and Steve race to the island in the centre of the lake and back. It was a good two kilometres and Steve always won because he was bigger and stronger and older. Nothing about it was a fair contest. When you dived in the chill of the water made your brain freeze, even in summer. If Gail lagged behind or stopped at the island to catch her breath, Bill would make her swim the course again. Then there was the time she was left at the store and made to find her way back to the cabin in the dark.
There were good memories too. Taking the canoe out on a lazy afternoon to drift across the lake. Marathon battles of Risk that went on for days and tense games of seven-stud poker. Her mother was something of a card sharp and usually came out on top. Even though she normally disapproved of gambling, Elaine let them place bets with nickels she saved in a jar especially for the holiday.
On other nights they'd sit outside around the fire toasting s'mores (this was before Elaine started policing Gail's weight) and Bill would map out the night sky. Gail had a memory from when she was quite small of sitting on her mother's knee while her father pointed out constellations and planets. Bill had seemed so knowledgeable and wise and it had filled Gail with wonder and in fact pride. Then the magnitude of what was hidden in the night sky—whole other unknown and even unknowable universes—though thrilling became overwhelming, making Gail conscious of how insignificant she was when set against this vastness. Elaine's arms had tightened around her and she had immediately felt grounded. In those days she had believed her parents would always keep her safe.
Thinking back, Gail realised it was the one place her parents would allow themselves to relax. There was something quite magical about being up at the cabin. The sky was always so clear and even in summer the air had a purity to it and the landscape was so breathtakingly grand. It made Gail, even as a sullen teenager, feel lucky to be alive. If she and her father weren't estranged, Gail would have loved to take Holly there. She wondered if Steve still went or planned to take his child. Maybe it would become a regular summer thing. God knows her parents would be over the moon to have a grandchild. Another Peck to mould (even if the kid would have a different surname).
And that was the thing. Gail had good memories up until the age of six and then the ExPecktations kicked in. Only now did she become aware that ever since Steve told her his baby news this fact had been niggling at the back of her mind. Not that Gail could complain about her childhood. In her job she'd seen the unspeakable things some parents did to their own children. Neither Bill nor Elaine had ever raised a hand to her. Sure they were controlling and pushy but did that make them abusive? Gail's therapist thought so. Love in the Peck household was always conditional. Gail had quickly learnt it would be withheld if she didn't measure up. She grew accustomed to her parent's unforgiving scrutiny and accepted that no matter what she would inevitably disappoint. That feeling of failure, alongside their recriminations, became a constant. So inevitably she rebelled—pushed back against the strictures, was uncooperative and surly—which got her exactly nowhere because ultimately she did her parent's bidding and joined the force.
If you had a kid wasn't making sure that they were happy your main goal, wasn't it your job as a parent to them the tools to become the person they wanted to be? It was a question Gail had posed during a session with Leslie. The therapist had nodded slowly, treating it as a rhetorical question when in fact Gail had needed validation having no reference to draw on from her own childhood. It struck her now that she would need to be there for Steve's child if only to act as a counterweight to Bill and Elaine. She sighed more heavily than she meant to and Frankie shot her a concerned look.
'What is it? Frankie asked.
'You know between the 1950s and 1980s London had the highest concentration of serial killers in the world,' Gail turned away from the window and the blur of endless rows of trees to look at Frankie. 'They reckon as many as eight.'
'Yeah,' Frankie said in a way that indicated this was news to her. 'Must be because it's surrounded by all these forests. Perfect place to conceal the bodies. Did they catch them?'
'Some. There's a theory the others moved on to Toronto. That London was a kind of testing ground.'
'Man you know some weird shit Peck.'
…..
It was gone six when Frankie pulled into the lot at 15. Gail tried to call Holly several times on the drive back from London but the calls had gone to voice mail. Finally Holly had messaged to say she been called out to a car accident—a triple fatality—and hadn't had time to pick up. 'About to start the preliminary autopsy. Talk tonight,' she said. Holly messaged again to say she wouldn't be home until late and that her assistant Sally was ordering in dinner so she and Rodney could get a start on the autopsies.
Dov and Chloe were in the detective pen, looking glum. Gail guessed their day had gone about as well as her and Frankie's.
'Any luck tracking down Len Cormann,' Frankie asked.
Dov shook his head. 'Chloe and I spoke to Felicity again, you know the woman who worked in his jewellery store. She had no idea where he may have gone. Although it doesn't sound like he was the kind of employer who was very chummy with is staff.'
'Didn't exactly share personal information huh?' Frankie said.
'Yep,' Dov agreed.
'None of the shop owners in that strip had much to do with him either. And Cormann's neigbours haven't seen him for days,' Chloe said. 'The building super was singularly unhelpful but anyhow we didn't get the impression he knew anything.'
'He's a racist asshole,' Gail stated.
'Figures,' Dov said. 'And apart from his apartment and the lease on the store, Len has no other property registered in his name.'
'What about his brother or parents? Could he have inherited property from them which is still in their names,' Frankie asked.
'Nada,' Dov frowned.
'Could Chou have had Len killed?' Chloe asked.
'It's possible,' Frankie said. 'Although chances are we would have found a body by now. Chou likes to advertise his killings.'
'Advertise?' Chloe screwed up her face.
'Chou or at least his gang leaves the bodies where they can be found. Serves as a warning to anyone else who might be thinking of betraying Chou,' Gail explained.
'Oh,' Chloe nodded in understanding.
'So while Chloe and I have been wearing down our shoe leather chasing down Len Cormann, what have you two been doing,' Dov asked. There was something accusatory about his tone. His mouth was formed into a prim circle. Gail hated it when Dov got on his high horse like this. Did he imagine she and Frankie had scarfed off while he and Chloe got no with the investigation.
'We went to see Steve,' Gail said.
'Steve,' Dov said. He didn't seem overly surprised. Gail wondered if he already had his suspicions about Steve.
'Do you think he is mixed up with this?' Chloe asked. Her tone was cautious and she looked at Gail with concern.
'He confirmed Palmer was up to his neck with Chou. Len Cormann too,' Frankie began but Gail spoke over her.
'Can't rule it out.'
'That explains this,' Dov picked up a large brown envelope from his desk from which he extracted a photo. He silently laid it on his desk. The photo was grainy, taken with a long-distance lens but there was no mistaking Steve and Palmer. Len Cormann lurked in the shadows, partially obscured by Palmer's bulk. They were standing in an alleyway, in front of what looked like the rear of a shop. Gail could make out an old sign propped against the brick wall but the lettering was too faded to read.
'Where did you get this?' she asked.
'A file IA thought they'd buried,' Dov said. 'Matt Kennedy passed it on. It was taken when Palmer was under investigation just before he resigned.'
'Is Steve shaking Palmer's hand or handing him something?' Frankie asked, leaning in to get a closer look at the grainy photo.
'Looks like a package,' Chloe said. 'Money maybe?'
'Perhaps my brother was better acquainted with Palmer and Cormann then he is letting on.'
Frankie made a face. 'Jeez I hope not.'
'Any idea where the photo was taken?' Gail asked.
Dov shook his head. 'It was the only thing left in the file. I'd say someone has gone through and removed any evidence that could incriminate Palmer. For some reason this,' Dov tapped the photo with his finger, 'was left behind.'
'Okay. As far as I'm concerned Steve isn't in the frame but like Gail said it pays to keep an open mind. Let's work on the assumption either Len Cormann or Palmer or maybe both of them killed Melanie because she had information about Chou's involvement in sex slavery. Maybe Mitchell found out and Len had to kill him as well.'
'So Melanie's ex-husband is out of the picture?' Chloe asked.
'I think we've exhausted that line of inquiry. You and Gail were right. Everything seems to lead back to Chou.'
'So what now?' Dov asked.
'Tomorrow Gail and I will go back to speak to Palmer,' Frankie said. 'Dov you keep digging to see if you can find where Len might be hiding. Chloe, I want you to go talk to the CEO of Viscom, Tim Avanti. Maybe he knows where Len has gone. Take McNally with you. The guy is a sleaze. You don't want to interview him alone.'
'Avanti?' Chloe asked. 'I know Len sold him the club land but isn't he just a business acquaintance.'
'Avanti said he first met Len socially. So far he seems to be the only person who remotely qualifies as a friend.'
'He's wealthy enough to have a weekender or two somewhere. Maybe he's letting Len lie-low until it blows over,' Gail suggested.
'Chloe can you check that with Avanti,' Frankie asked.
Chloe nodded.
'I can also do a search,' Dov offered.
'Good. One more thing. Costa Dukas has been hanging around the crime scene at the club. Gail and I are going to have a word with him. It's probably nothing but no stone unturned,' Frankie gave a half shrug. 'And,' she paused. 'Dukas claims to know a Detective Steve Peck but Steve has no recollection of meeting him. Dov can you run a check. See if Steve may have arrested or interviewed Costa at some stage. Also look to see if Steve went to a forensics conference in Boston around 2011 and if so whether Professor Dukas also attended.'
'Corroborating Steve's story' Dov asked.
'Yep'
'Could Costa be linked to Palmer or Cormann?' Chloe said.
'He grew up a few blocks from the archery club. Chances are he knew Cormann,' Gail shrugged. 'Then again he's a weird guy. Maybe he gets his kicks out of hanging around crime scenes.'
'I'm just thinking could Palmer have told Costa his name was Steve Peck? I mean Steve used Oliver as a cover,' Chloe said.
'That's possible too. We'll know once we speak to Costa. Okay let's call it a night,' Frankie said, 'I think we need a drink at the Penny.
'You buying the first round,' Gail asked.
'If you insist,' Frankie pretended to sigh loudly.
…
'You look like you could do with a drink,' Chris said as Gail drew up to the bar. 'Tough day.'
'I've had better,' Gail admitted. 'Frankie said the first round was on her but she's disappeared.'
'Beer. Tequila?' Chris asked, leaning across the countertop to get the bar keep's attention. It was a busy night at the Penny and the crowd at the bar was three people deep in some places but Chris was served fairly promptly. One of the advantages of dating the bar keep, Gail supposed.
Soon after Frankie pushed her way to the bar.
'Too slow Anderson,' Gail held up her beer. 'Chris beat you to it.'
'Maybe you need to learn a little patience Peck,' Frankie snarked. 'Dov and Chloe have snagged us a booth.' She jerked her thumb in the direction of the two.
It was like old times. In the period after Holly left for San Francisco most evenings Gail would find her way to the Penny, rolling her eyes at the loved up Chloe and Dov, and Chris' hopeless attempts at picking up girls. Once when Chris was getting nowhere Gail stepped in to show him how it was done. Mainly she did it because of Dov's goading. 'Like you could do better,' he had said when Gail started teasing Chris. It took fifteen minutes for the woman to ask Gail if she wanted to get out of there. It had felt weird sleeping with someone Chris was attracted to. The woman had long, bleached blonde hair and even Gail could see the resemblance to her pre-haircut self. The woman wasn't even gay which for Chris just added salt to the wound. Mostly Gail ended up going home with Frankie. The sex was unsentimental which suited Gail just fine. They were often offhand with each other and even a little rough as if this might stop feelings getting in the way, because after everything Gail didn't want attachments and nor did Frankie or so Gail had believed.
Gail nursed her second beer until Frankie was ready to go home. By then the detective was unsteady on her feet and Gail took her car keys.
'Guess I'm the designated driver,' she said.
'You be kind to my baby,' Frankie slurred as she patted the bonnet of the car.
'Really, you call this heap of junk your baby. Does Alannah know about this?' Gail asked in amusement as she opened the car door for Frankie. 'You might need to tell her before you get married. You know full disclosure and all that,' she teased.
'Go on laugh but just you wait Peck,' Frankie waggled her finger in Gail's direction. 'I'm going to show you. I'm going to be the best wife ever. I'm going to totally rock wifedom. They'll give me fucking medals for it. I'll be on all the chat shows and there will even be a Wikipedia entry about me. Then you'll have humble pie on your face.'
'Don't you mean I'll eat it?'
'No need to get dirty,' Frankie said rather primly.
'Or did you mean I'll have egg on my face.'
Frankie put her fingers in her ears. 'I don't know what you're saying but I have a very strong suspicion it's perverted and I'm a detective, a damn good one and I can figure these things out.'
'Get in the car,' Gail sighed, giving Frankie a little nudge. Mildly drunk Frankie tended to be amorous but very drunk Frankie was either nonsensical or maudlin and sometimes both at once. 'And whatever you do don't puke on your baby because I'm not cleaning it up.'
…..
It was late when they got back to Alannah's apartment. On the way Frankie had fallen asleep with her head lolling forward and there was a little line of drool pooling on her shirt. She protested when Gail hauled her out of the car, into the lift and finally up the stairs to Alannah's room. Alannah was awake and if she was at all surprised by Frankie's state she didn't show it. It was unlikely she had seen Frankie so drunk. 'Thanks for looking out for her,' she said to Gail, putting a steadying arm around Frankie's waist but Frankie suddenly bolted for the bathroom and immediately they heard the sound of her throwing up.
'I'll take it from here,' Alannah said with a rueful smile.
'She's all yours,' Gail held up her hands.
Holly was in bed with the light off but she stirred when Gail slipped in next to her.
'You're back,' she said.
'Sorry to wake you,' Gail whispered, leaning over to kiss her cheek softly.
'No, it's okay. I wanted to talk to you,' Holly said, pushing herself up to lean against the headboard, drawing her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
'About Kramer?'
'She,' Holly began and then shook her head.
'What is it? What did she do,' Gail asked. Already she could feel herself getting angry.
Holly swallowed. 'Kramer asked if there was something going on with you and Gemma Lister.'
Gail felt dread like a chill weight settle inside her. 'I am not a cheater,' she said, earnest and a little afraid. The need to convince Holly of this fact overtook the rage that was building.
'I know.' Holly took Gail's hand and squeezed it.
'I mean I cheated on Nick that one time but,' Gail faltered. What did they say—once a cheater, always a cheater. She couldn't bear it if Holly believed that of her.
'There were extenuating circumstances,' Holly said, moving her hand to gently caress Gail's cheek. 'Nick and Andy didn't exactly behave well.'
Gail blinked and hung her head. 'But I'm capable of it.'
'Once,' Holly held up her index finger. She tilted her head and even in the dark Gail could make out the crooked smile. 'I trust you Gail and I know you. You are not a cheater.'
It was a idiotic and self-destructive impulse to sleep with Blackstone. Gail had hated herself for it but then self-loathing was a constant back then. The relationship with Nick was so fucked up and so volatile and he had hurt her so many times without seeming to care or even realise what effect his actions had on her.
Gail hadn't planned on going home with Blackstone. In that split second in the Penny it had presented itself as the only recourse. She didn't do it out of spite or for revenge. It came purely from the instinct to lash out first. She knew Blackstone would be up for it. Knew too that men like him weren't accustomed to being propositioned by women like her. He was one of those short guys, hairy too, with a perpetual scowl and an unwashed rumpledness to him. Nearly twenty years her senior too.
When it came to sex with Nick, what he lacked in finesse, he made up for in enthusiasm. Not one to be passive in bed, Gail had taught Nick a thing or two about what she liked. His subsequent girlfriends probably owed her a vote of thanks. Blackstone had none of that going for him. The whole act had been perfunctory. The detective tried to kiss her but his breath had smelt like onions and Gail turned her head. Then she had lain there while he laboured away, the bed squeaking with his every trust and when he came it was with a short and strangled noise. As soon as Blackstone rolled off her, Gail got up off the bed and dressed and left without a word. She felt grubby and repulsive. As she made her way home through the dark streets, Gail decided she deserved it if Nick fell in love with Andy. Even before he said it, Gail had sensed Nick never saw her as girlfriend material, much less the marrying kind. It was surely why he had skipped out in Vegas.
'That one time doesn't define you,' Holly said quietly. She put an arm around Gail's shoulders and drew her in close. 'And Nick, he didn't,' Holly hesitated and Gail sensed she was about to say something but wasn't sure she should. Holly didn't have much time for Nick but Gail knew she mostly kept that to herself because despite everything that happened Gail had remained friends with Nick. 'He didn't look after your heart,' Holly finally said, although Gail was certain she meant to be critical.
'He didn't understand me.' Gail's response was mild.
'Did he even try,' Holly sighed. She tightened her arms around Gail. 'Anyway, Kramer is just trying to cause trouble.'
It was exactly what Steve had said about Palmer. Why was it that people wanted to cause her trouble, Gail wondered, when all she really wanted was a quiet life? 'What else did Kramer say?' she asked, knowing there would be more.
'She suggested Gemma could have set fire to our house because you rejected her.'
'Jesus. Kramer is insane. Did she ask you anything about Elaine?'
'Elaine?' Holly looked puzzled. 'What's Elaine got to do with this?'
Now it was Gail who sighed. 'Maybe nothing.' She couldn't stop her shoulders sagging, something she was sure Holly noticed.
'What,' Holly asked gently.
'You know how my mother said she'd handle Francine,' Gail trailed off.
'Oh,' Holly said and then 'Oh' again as she realised what Gail was implying.
'Yeah, oh,' Gail said heavily, twisting her mouth.
'No. Elaine wouldn't do that.'
'How can you be so sure? Maybe she's as corrupt as the rest of them.'
'Because it's clear Steve and your father broke Elaine's heart. What they did went against everything she believes in and has worked for.'
'I hope you're right,' Gail said flatly. It was odd hearing Holly defend Elaine so vehemently. Not that Holly disliked Elaine but for the most part Gail suspected Holly found her overbearing and at times insufferable, which come to think of it was the way Gail generally felt about her mother too.
'I'm sure I'm right,' Holly said, leaning into Gail, and this small movement and the way she ran her thumb across the back of Gail's hand was enough to quieten Gail's fears a little. It had been a hell of a day and her head was literally bursting with all that had happened. Holly must have sensed that because she kissed Gail's temple and then motioned for her to sit between her legs.
Gail raised an eyebrow.
'I'm going to give you a massage,' Holly smiled.
'Oh,' Gail said in understanding, shifting over.
'Oh, you thought,' Holly didn't finish the sentence.
'Nah. Maybe for a moment. I'm too tired for sex.'
'I'm not sure if I should be offended by that,' Holly laughed. She began kneading Gail's shoulders and then the knot in her neck, before moving her fingertips to Gail's temple. It made Gail realise she'd had a tension headache all day. Scratch that—for weeks. Ever since Francine Hart had started stalking them.
'Tell me about Steve. Was that hard?'
'I think he guessed why we were there. Palmer knew Steve worked for O'Leary and Steve knew Palmer worked for Chou and they agreed to look the other way. A cosy arrangement,' Gail voice was bitter.
'What about Melanie Fisher? Did Palmer tell him anything about her.'
Gail shook her head. 'But,' she paused 'He said there were rumours Chou was trafficking girls and he confirmed Palmer ran a protection racket for Chou. And he said Len Cormann hung around with Palmer. He saw the two of them together at this restaurant Chou runs.'
'And he,' Holly stopped and frowned.
'And he turned a blind eye to it,' Gail finished for her. 'He's as culpable as Palmer.'
'Oh Gail,' Holly sighed.
'It is,' Gail said, sounding resigned, 'what it is. You know Steve's changed his last name.'
'He's no longer a Peck?'
'Nope. Steve Carter.'
'Is it a family name?'
'Nope. A random stab of the phone book apparently.'
'And do you feel okay about that?'
Gail started to nod and then stopped herself. She wasn't sure what to make of it. Clearly once the family name had become a liability, Steve had no qualms about sloughing it off and yet she still wore it like a millstone around her neck. Except it wasn't just the ease with which Steve gave up being a Peck that bothered her. In spite of everything, Gail had an attachment to the Peck name. She had lived with it long enough and it had once meant something.
'I don't know,' she finally confessed. 'But Steve wants me to make peace with my father.'
'Jesus,' Holly exclaimed. She stilled her hands against Gail's back. 'Is it wrong that right now all I want to do is punch Steve in the face.'
'Well, I wouldn't arrest you if you did,' Gail gave a little, mirthless laugh. 'There's more. Steve is getting married to someone called Melody. She's three months pregnant.'
'He's having a child' Holly said. 'Oh Gail, now you will have to stay in contact with him.'
'Yep,' Gail popped the 'p'.
…
In the morning Gail woke to find Holly's arm slung protectively around her waist. It was early still, not yet light, but Gail knew she wouldn't be able to fall back sleep. She tried to slide from under Holly's arm so as not to wake her, but as she began to move she felt Holly tighten her grip and pull her in closer.
'Too early,' Holly mumbled into her neck.
'Yeah, I know,' Gail said irritably and immediately felt bad. It wasn't Holly's fault she couldn't sleep but the lack of it was making her tetchy. Despite a weariness that should have overwhelmed her, Gail was wide-awake now. Holly had evidently fallen back to sleep quickly. Her breathing was even and steady.
Gail tried to lie very still but her thoughts bounced from the case to the question around Elaine's involvement in Francine's death and back again. What did Elaine mean when she said she'd take care of Francine. And why had she warned Gail not to talk to Steve about Palmer? Gail kept turning the questions over and over without ever coming up with a satisfactory answer or more to the point one she cared to accept. At least Frankie had finally agreed Chou was involved in the disappearance of Melanie and Mitchell and that it was likely that Len Cormann and Palmer were responsible for their deaths.
But where was Len? Unless he was found it would be hard to implicate Chou. Palmer was unlikely to rollover either. Not without some serious leverage. Gail guessed it was worth a shot, although after her last encounter with Palmer she wasn't looking forward to interviewing him again.
'I can hear you thinking,' Holly said softly, snuggling in closer to Gail.
'You know that's not possible,' Gail replied, her voice low and a little croaky from lack of sleep.
Still can't sleep?' Holly's tone was sympathetic. She moved her hand to Gail's stomach and started to rub lazily circles. Immediately Gail felt the tension dissipate. How did Holly always seem to know what she needed? For Gail, it continued to be a source of wonder and in no small measure gratitude.
'I'm getting up. Then I won't disturb you,' Gail said even though Holly's touch was soothing and nice and she'd like nothing more than to forget everything that was troubling her and just stay here cocooned in this bed with Holly.
'You never disturb me, Gail.' It was said seductively or that's how Gail heard it. Maybe her sleep-deprived brain was playing tricks on her. Holly was half asleep surely and it was far too early to even tease as they often did, the flirty banter sometimes a prelude to things that would come later or just as often simply because they couldn't help but be like that around each other. And yet there was a huskiness to Holly's voice that made Gail think she had more in mind.
Holly stopped rubbing circles on Gail's stomach and moved her hand to the underside of Gail's breast. She squeezed it gently but then flicked a finger across the nipple to pinch it. The contrast between the gentle and rough caress was enough to send a jolt through Gail.
'Is this—' Gail started to say but Holly broke in.
'It's a very good idea,' she said, biting down on Gail's earlobe.
Gail didn't demur anymore but turned in Holly's arms to face her. Even in the gloom she could see Holly was smiling. A little knowingly perhaps like there was never any doubt Gail would eventually yield. And it was true so she couldn't begrudge Holly that small victory, especially not when Holly was moved her hand lower, across the flat of Gail's stomach and lower still until she slipped her fingers beneath the band of Gail's boy shorts.
Gail had expected it to be a lazy fuck. A fumble in the half-dark given neither of them should be awake but Holly was apparently quite alert now. There was some teasing at first, touches they by now knew were guaranteed to elicit a response. It wasn't long though before they had discarded clothing and then Holly was thrusting her fingers in and out of Gail and kissing her fiercely, and Gail couldn't help but agree this was a very, very good idea. She was loud when she came. Too loud given Frankie and Alannah were in the room next door but it was like all the tension and heightened emotions of the day had been released with the orgasm and she couldn't keep it in.
Holly suggested they sleep again, and though Gail felt relaxed enough now to try, she shook her head. She pressed her thigh between Holly's legs and immediately felt how wet Holly was.
'Are you really sleepy?' Gail smirked, placing her hand on Holly's ass so she was pressed even closer against her thigh.
'Maybe not completely,' Holly gave a crooked smile and dipped her head to kiss Gail again.
For a while they stayed like that. Kissing languidly, Holly grinding against Gail's leg. Normally when they had sex Gail liked to draw things out but she sensed Holly was in no mood for that. She reversed their positions so Holly was now beneath her and moved down Holly's body, leaving a trail of hot, wet kisses.
The first time Gail went down on Holly she was nervous, afraid she'd be bad at it and disappoint Holly who was surely used to lovers who knew what they were doing. All the men Gail had dated had in the main been useless at it despite her instructions. But the taste and scent of Holly was so intoxicating that Gail forgot her nerves. Then Holly had made such appreciative noises and come hard, making Gail feel quite proud of her efforts. As Gail made her way back up Holly's body, Holly had caught her self-satisfied smile and teased her about gloating but was so clearly delighted that Gail decided not to threaten never to go down on her again. Anyway it would punish her just as much Holly.
Now Holly gripped Gail's hair tightly while Gail moved her tongue across Holly's clit, lightly at first so the tip of her tongue just flicked the hood and then more firmly before she wrapped her lips around Holly's clit and began to suck, pushing a finger inside her at the same time. After that it didn't take long for Holly to come, arching into Gail's mouth and calling out her name. Frankie had probably passed out but it would be a miracle if they hadn't woken Alannah, Gail decided.
Gail was far more refreshed when she woke for a second time. Holly was draped half across her, with her head snuggling into Gail's neck. She looked so peaceful that Gail didn't want to wake her but all of a sudden Holly's eyes flew open. She must have caught sight of the clock on the bedside table because she said 'oh crap, is that the time' and leapt out of bed before Gail could respond. 'I told Rodney I'd be at the morgue 10 minutes ago.'
'I'll text him and say you're on your way,' Gail offered.
'Could you,' Holly said gratefully and then leaned in to give Gail a quick kiss on the lips before heading for the shower.
…..
Frankie didn't seem too worse for the wear despite the amount of alcohol she had consumed the night before. Still she handed Gail her car keys and informed her she was driving.
'Trusting me with your baby again.'
'What the fuck?' Frankie curled her lip. Gail couldn't tell if Frankie genuinely didn't recall their conversation of the night before know but decided pursuing it wouldn't improve Frankie's mood. Frankie was mainly silent on the drive to Palmer's house and despite the overcast day kept her sunglasses firmly in place.
Palmer didn't appear to be home. Gail rang the doorbell and then rapped on the door.
'Enough already,' Frankie groaned. Maybe she wasn't quite as unscathed as Gail had thought.
As they came back down the concrete walk from the front door, a neighbour who was watering her front garden, and who had observed their arrival with interest, edged a little closer to the little fence that divided her property from Palmer's. A self-appointed Ms Neighbourhood watch, Gail surmised. Admittedly nosey neighbours were often useful sources of information so she plastered a smile on her face and was about to introduce herself but the woman beat her too it.
'I haven't seen him for days,' the woman said. 'He's probably up at his cabin.'
'Cabin?' Gail echoed. Why hadn't they thought Palmer would have a bolthole?
'Yeah. He takes his boat up there to fish.'
'Do you know where the cabin is,' Frankie pulled out her badge to show the woman.
'Yeah, figured you were cops. I saw the blonde one,' she pointed to Gail, 'around here a week or so back.'
'The cabin,' Frankie prompted, trying not to sound testy, 'any idea of its location.'
'Nah. Palmer keeps to himself. He's not exactly Mr Convivial. I don't know much about him. It's just hard not to notice when he's gone for a few days.'
'Do you know if he took the boat?' Gail asked
The woman shrugged.
Gail started to walk over to the garage but the woman called out 'careful you don't trip the alarm. Palmer has monitors all over the place. My son tripped it off when he kicked his football over the fence. Palmer went ballistic.'
'Is that normal around here to have that kind of security, ah,' Frankie said.
'Gloria,' the woman supplied. 'Nope. It's a safe neighbourhood. I know Palmer is a former cop but if you ask me he's paranoid. Most folks around here are pretty easy going, you know neighbourly but not Palmer.'
'If he comes back, will you call us,' Frankie fished a card out of her pocket and passed it to Gloria. 'And we'd appreciate it if you didn't mention to Palmer we dropped by.' She flashed Gloria a charming smile.
'Sure. Did Palmer break the law?' Gloria looked over-eager, like discovering Palmer was under arrest would make her day.
'He might be able to help us with our inquiry,' Gail fell back on the standard line.
'Yeah right,' Gloria clearly didn't believe her. 'I wouldn't be surprised if Palmer was up to something.'
'Why do you say that?'
'Just with Palmer being so distrustful and secretive. And he gets visits from people at really odd hours. I'm an insomniac that's why've I noticed.'
Sure, Gail thought. Nothing to do with being a snoop. 'Ever seen this guy?' she held out her phone to show Gloria the photograph of Cormann. The woman squinted at the photo and then nodded her head slowly.
'Yep. He turned up a few days ago. Mid-morning. Pounded on the front door. Seemed upset about something. Palmer came out and practically dragged him inside. I got the impression he wasn't too impressed by the commotion. Come to think of it that was the last time I saw Palmer.'
…
'Turns out Palmer owns a cabin. We don't know where. Can you do a search?' Gail asked Dov. He was alone in the detective pen. Presumably Chloe and Andy were out interviewing Avanti. Frankie had stopped by Oliver's office to catch up him on the investigation. Gail wondered how much she would tell him about Steve.
Dov nodded. 'Sure. But first there's something I need to show you.' He motioned to his computer monitor. 'From the day Dr Hart died.'
'You got the CCTV footage,' Gail asked. Did she really want to know what was on it? The tightness had returned to her stomach and she went very still. Dov looked grim. At least she thought he did but then again maybe she was projecting. 'Was it Elaine,' she asked softly.
'Take a look,' Dov pressed play. 'This is where we pick up Dr Hart. It's a couple of metres down from where she was run over. It was smart to think of looking at the footage from the other cameras.'
Gail nodded distractedly. 'And?'
'And look who is walking into the frame,' Dov said, pointing to the figure on the screen. There was no mistaking who it was. The camera had caught a clear shot of her. At one point she even appeared to be looking straight into the lens.
'Jesus,' Gail exhaled. 'Gemma Lister. I didn't think she had it in her.'
'Well, it's not conclusive. There is no vision of Gemma Lister pushing Dr Hart in front of the bus and no witnesses. A clever lawyer could cast enough doubt to get Lister acquitted.'
'She's the type to confess when confronted,' Gail said confidently. 'I can't see her living with a guilty conscience. Have you given this to Swarek.'
'Yep. He's going to pull Lister in for questioning. But that's not the only thing I wanted to show you.' Dov pulled up another video. 'This is from outside Lister's apartment complex. The building installed a security camera out front.'
'Yeah,' Gail said.
Dov sighed. 'It probably doesn't mean anything—'
'Just play the dam video,' Gail interrupted.
Dov pressed play again. 'It was taken about an hour before Dr Hart was killed.' As he spoke, Elaine came into view. She wasn't wearing a uniform and had pulled a baseball cap low over her forehead but it did little to disguise her. Elaine pressed the building's intercom and immediately was granted entry as if someone was expecting her. 'Five minutes later she comes back out again.' Dov fast-forwarded the video to the spot.
Fifteen minutes was probably all Elaine needed to persuade Gemma Lister to kill Francine.
'Did you give this to Swarek?' Gail asked, amazed at how calm she sounded.
'No. I wanted to show you first.'
'Swarek needs to see it.' It was said coolly even though all Gail wanted to do was put her fist through the computer monitor.
