'I know better than to interfere with an investigation, especially one concerning family members', Elaine said evenly.
'You should know that,' Elaine added when neither Gail nor Dov spoke. She was sitting ramrod straight, not a hair out of place, her uniform as crisp as it was when she arrived at work that morning. Her bearing was so imperious that an outsider happening upon the scene would assume it was Gail and Dov who were being questioned.
They were seated across the desk from the superintendent. It was an overly large piece of furniture and this, and the fact that Gail was certain the chairs she and Dov occupied were lower than Elaine's—was a not so subtle reminder of their place as subordinates.
The desk itself was spartan. In addition to a computer, Elaine had papers neatly arranged in two trays marked 'in' and 'out', three folders stacked carefully one on top of the other and a $900 Mont Blanc pen in its holder. The pen was ostentatiousness, and at odds with the austere aesthetic Elaine favoured for the rest of the office. Gail's father had given it to Elaine to celebrate her elevation to superintendent. 'Oh Bill, you really shouldn't have, the promotion is gift enough,' Elaine had smiled coquettishly, making Gail feel as though she'd vomited a little in her mouth.
If Gail had hoped that turning up unannounced might fluster Elaine it hadn't worked. The superintendent was as poised as usual, her professional mask firmly in place (although Gail had long ago decided that her mother's real self and that mask had fused in perpetuity). It gave Elaine an implacability that made her particular fearsome. More so because it was matched by an innate toughness that people on the force in equal measure either admired or loathed, but which Gail had no doubt was the reason her mother had risen through the ranks at a time when women weren't exactly getting promoted.
It might have been smarter to bring Elaine down to the station. Take her out of her domain but Dov had convinced Gail they should give Elaine a chance to explain before making this official. Gail always found Elaine's office to be airless and faintly oppressive, recalling as it did the many times she had been summonsed here to be reprimanded for whatever misdemeanour she had committed to bring the Peck name into disrepute.
'Did you select the furniture in this office or is it department issue?' Gail wasn't sure what possessed her to ask this. The words had tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. Elaine looked at her like she was slightly unhinged.
'Are you here to do a furniture audit?' Elaine forced a laugh.
Gail shrugged as if it was of no importance but inwardly she was kicking herself for unthinkingly ceding some control to her mother. Going off on seemingly (okay, mostly) unrelated tangents was something Gail had always done. Holly just went with it, in fact appeared to find it entertaining and even at times beguiling, but Gail was aware that most people, and most especially her mother, thought it weird. Sure enough Dov was frowning at her. He was probably trying to figure out whether this was part of her interview strategy.
'Gail', Elaine said, sharply this time. It made Gail feel like she was ten years old again and being scolded for not coming up with the correct answer. At that age she was still eager to please and would sit up straight in her chair, desperately trying to think of a response that would satisfy her mother. Adolescent Gail, however, slumped in her chair, arms crossed and her expression surly, and no amount of threats or coaxing on Elaine's part could make her break her silence. The urge to do one of those two things now took her by surprise. Something else she'd need to raise with her therapist. Maybe she should get Leslie to bill her mother.
As she looked back at Elaine, Gail noticed a new addition to the office on the bookcase behind her mother's chair. It was a framed photograph taken the day Gail received the award for her undercover work in Vancouver. She was standing between Holly and Elaine. Holly had slipped an arm through Gail's, and her face was turned away from the camera to smile at Gail, her gaze open and affectionate. Gail's head was inclined toward Holly's, her lips quirking in the beginning of an answering smile.
On Gail's right side Elaine stood as if to attention, slightly puffed up with the self-importance that seemed synonymous with being a Peck. It made her appear at a remove from Gail and Holly —she could have been posing for a different photo altogether—and while this had not been their intention, Gail wondered if that disconnect, which over the years had become a constant in her relationship with her mother, was too indelible to alter. Patterns can be broken Gail could hear Leslie saying but then her therapist had never met Elaine.
'I've always maintained my integrity. You know that Gail,' Elaine said again, bringing Gail back to the present.
Did she know that? What about when Bill told her to lie on the stand for Steve? Gail had never been completely convinced her mother was ignorant of that particular attempt to pervert the course of justice. She hadn't asked Elaine about it, assuming her mother was probably in on the plan, hell maybe even devised it, and somehow it was better not to know.
'I only found out later that your father asked you to perjure yourself.' Elaine's voice was softer now and less insistent.
Fuck, Gail had forgotten how good her mother was at reading people. Not exactly a mind reader but Elaine immediately knew where Gail's thoughts had gone. And even though this admission—which had the feel of a peace offering rather than a justification—raised more questions than it answered (why, for example, had Elaine sided with Bill and shut her out for so long), Gail still said nothing.
Dov started to clear his throat and then stopped himself. As the silence stretched uncomfortably, Gail had a flash of herself as a child and the endless hours spent waiting for her mother in whatever office she occupied, the boredom mind-numbingly absolute. She was supposed to sit completely still. Be seen and not heard. Invariably Gail would kick her feet against the bottom of the desk, knowing it irritated her mother and that she'd be castigated for it but then she was pretty much in trouble for everything she did so what the hell did it matter.
It was like a compulsion, Gail told her therapist. Lindsey didn't buy that. 'Were you perhaps hoping that one day your mother might react differently?' She asked. 'Differently?' Gail had scrunched up her face as though such a thing was difficult to imagine. 'Less judgemental,' Lindsay offered, 'more loving.' 'Ah,' Gail had replied but not in a way that indicated sudden understanding. No this 'ah' was that pause before you delivered an unpalatable truth. For once, Lindsay, who normally maintained a professional demeanour, looked at Gail so sadly Gail was almost moved to comfort her.
Had her mother's tendency to always believe the worst of her in turn made Gail too quick to judge Elaine? Had a pattern indeed been established? Elaine's gaze began to waver. It was almost imperceptible but enough that Gail knew she had her.
'I realise what you're doing,' Elaine said.
'And what would that be, Elaine?' Gail asked, deliberately using her mother's first name. It was a basic trick she had learnt practically at her mother's knee. If you want a quick way to disempower a suspect, don't use their title, Elaine had told her. Needless to say Gail's choice of address wasn't lost on Elaine who smiled shrewdly.
'I taught you how to do this.'
'Yes.' It sounded more like a question than as if Gail was acquiescing. No need to admit the use of her mother's first name was more to steady herself than to disconcert Elaine. The words superintendent and mother were loaded, no matter how irreverent she was about Elaine.
'You've got CCTV footage of me outside Gemma Lister's apartment,' Elaine said, catching Gail off guard with the quick change of tack. It wasn't an omission yet.
In truth it had surprised Gail that her mother hadn't seen the cameras. It was sloppy for someone who was normally so careful.
'And?' Gail prodded.
'And what?' Elaine sighed impatiently.
'Did you visit Gemma?'
'Well, you have the footage, you tell me.' It was said mildly. There was no hint of challenge or of obduracy. She was fishing to see what they had on her, Gail realised.
'Superintendent,' Dov said, 'what were you doing at Gemma Lister's apartment.'
'Would you believe me if I said I was checking out real estate. There is apartment for sale in that complex. A good investment opportunity.'
'So in the middle of a major investigation when you yourself have been pulled in by IA, your own team, for questioning, you had time to look at real estate.'
Elaine shrugged in much the same way Gail had earlier. 'I've always prided myself on my ability to multitask,' she smirked.
'You didn't spend much time looking at the apartment. 15 minutes tops.'
'If a place is a dump you can pick it straight away,' Elaine said, not directly answering Dov's question.
'And do you normally look at real estate with a cap pulled down low over your face?'
'So you did get the CCTV. Well done,' Elaine smirked again. 'Last I looked wearing a baseball cap wasn't a criminal offence, even for a woman of my age.'
'But have you committed a criminal offence?' Gail asked so softly as if reluctant to ask.
'Would that make you happy, Gail? Every one of us Pecks corrupt but you?' Elaine didn't sound angry. No, if anything she sounded resigned and strangely, or so Gail imagined, hurt.
'No,' Gail protested, wishing she didn't sound quite so much like an adolescent, but then her mother seemed to bring that out in her.
'Why else tail me?'
'We weren't tailing you,' Gail said, not understanding why her mother might think such a thing. Then it dawned upon her. 'You don't know do you?'
'Know what?'
'We found CCTV footage of Francine Hart right up to the moment just before she died.' It was Dov who spoke.
'And?' Elaine asked.
'And Gemma Lister was following her'
'Oh,' Elaine said, her voice almost as quiet as Gail's had been moments before, and then 'oh' again. She didn't need to be told this made her visit look suspicious.
'Yeah,' Gail nodded, 'oh.'
Unusually for someone who masked her emotions so well, Elaine had become quite pale. A visage of steel, Steve used to joke with Gail behind their mother's back, making his own face completely immobile but widening his eyes exaggeratedly so Gail couldn't help but laugh. More a snigger if Elaine was anywhere in the vicinity.
No telltale signs, Elaine had instructed a six-year old Gail, fretting that Gail's fair skin would betray her. Somehow Gail was made to feel that was her fault, even though she hadn't exactly had a hand in selecting her gene pool. At the time it was one in an already growing list of shortcomings her mother regularly touted up. Six and already Gail felt like a failure. Still that impassive face had come in handy to hide the hurt and disappointment that had seemed a constant in her adult relationships. Well, at least until Holly came along.
'Has Gemma admitted she killed Francine?'
'Swarek's interviewing her now,' Dov said.
'This looks bad,' Elaine said.
'You think,' Gail said.
Elaine looked at her sharply. 'I've just unwittingly given Kramer more ammunition to use against us. She's convinced you, me or Holly or indeed all three of us are in the frame for Francine's death.'
'And are you in the frame?' Gail said again so quietly that Elaine had to lean forward to hear.
Elaine stayed like that for a moment, not saying anything but with an almost quizzical expression. Eventually she sat back in her chair. 'I went to see Gemma at her request. Gemma contacted me. Ask my admin assistant. She put the call through to me.'
'Why would Gemma want to speak to you?'
'She wanted to warn you and Holly that Kramer was gunning for you. Kramer made it clear to Gemma that she believed Francine Hart's story that it was Holly who had harassed her, not the other way around.'
'Warn us? So why call you?'
'Gemma didn't think you'd want to speak to her after setting your house alight but she felt she owed you and Holly. She and I had spoken when Holly was in hospital and she figured I might listen. Apparently Kramer was pretty forceful—tried to get Gemma to agree to a whole bunch of lies, including that she was having a relationship with you.'
'Yeah. I heard about that,' Gail said.
'You did?'
'Kramer told Holly the same thing.'
'I'm sorry, Gail,' Elaine said. It sounded sincere. 'Holly didn't believe—' she broke off.
'No,' Gail said firmly, wondering that Elaine even needed to ask.
'No of course not,' Elaine said quickly.
'So Superintendent are you suggesting Gemma Lister killed Dr Hart to protect Gail and Holly? Perhaps out of some kind of misdirected guilt?' Dov asked, not sounding at all convinced.
'It sounds far fetched doesn't it,' Elaine agreed, 'but I suppose it's possible.'
'So Gemma gave no indication she was going after Dr Hart?'
'Detective Epstein, do you think if I had had even the faintest inkling of Gemma's intentions I would have left the apartment? In any case as you saw from the CCTV footage I was in the apartment for ten minutes. I can be persuasive but I guarantee I need more than ten minutes to convince someone to commit murder.'
'So nothing was said that could have triggered Gemma?'
'Apart from the fact that Francine Hart had ruined her life and was hellbent on destroying Gail and Holly's as well,' Elaine stopped abruptly.
'Is that what you told her,' Gail asked.
'Well, no,' Elaine said. And there it was. The tell. As she spoke, Elaine shook her head like she was disagreeing with what was coming out of her mouth. It was a classic sign of lying and a rare slip up for Elaine, who stilled her head mid-shake and may have said no more had she not realised Gail had caught her out. 'Gemma didn't know Dr Hart had altered the hospital records,' she admitted.
'And you told her,' Gail asked, not able to keep the incredulity out of her voice.
Elaine flicked her eyes across to Gail. 'I assumed she had been informed. It has a bearing on her case.'
'And was she angry when she found out Dr Hart had framed her?' Dov asked.
'Yes of course.'
'Angry enough that she'd kill Dr Hart?'
'No. If anything when I left she seemed resigned. More bitter than angry.'
'So you didn't suggest to Gemma that revenge might be a good idea.'
'I wondered when you'd ask that. No I didn't tell Gemma to murder Dr Hart.'
'And yet you told me not to worry about Francine,' Gail said, 'that you were going to fix it.'
'I didn't mean this.'
'What did you mean?'
'I don't know. I wanted...' Elaine trailed off.
'Wanted what Elaine?' Gail pressed.
The superintendent hesitated for a fraction and looked across at Dov. Clearly she didn't want him to hear whatever it was she about to say. Was it possible she was about to confess she had a hand in Francine's death? It was unlikely, Gail decided, knowing her mother would put up more of a fight before caving. Perhaps Elaine was assessing whether she could convince Gail and Dov not to tell Swarek about her visit to Gemma. The superintendent bit her lip and then she reached to adjust her starched collar, its stiffness as uncompromising as Elaine herself.
'I wanted,' she hesitated again before continuing. 'I wanted to protect you and Holly. But it seems I no longer have the power or influence I once had so I had no idea how I could fix this. When Gemma asked to speak to me I jumped at the chance because I thought she might be the key to getting Francine to back off,' Elaine sighed. 'It was stupid. I miscalculated. I'll inform Swarek.'
'Is that necessary?' Dov asked, looking worried. 'As you said it could be disastrous if Kramer gets hold of this information.'
'A cover-up would land us in more trouble and I don't want either of you compromising yourselves to protect me.'
'I was more concerned,' Dov started and then stopped before he put his foot in it.
'About Gail and Holly,' Elaine finished for him. Dov went bright red and began to stutter but Elaine held up her hand. 'I wouldn't expect anything less. They are your friends. We just have to hope Swarek isn't tempted to take the easy way out.'
There didn't seem to be much more to say after that. Gail felt distinctly uncomfortable. She had more or less made it clear she thought her mother capable of murder. As Dov said his good byes, Gail gave a quick nod in her mother's direction but when she reached the office door she turned around.
'One more thing, mother,' she said, 'why didn't you want me to talk to Steve about the murders of Mitchel Cormann and Melanie Fisher. '
'If their murders were gang related, as I believe you suspect, then Chou will be watching you, hoping you'll lead him to Steve. Whatever you do, don't go visit Steve.'
It was Dov rather than Gail who shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.
'But Steve worked for O'Leary,' Gail said quickly, before Dov blurted out that she and Frankie had made the trip to London or her mother figured it out for herself.
Elaine winced. 'Exactly and he made a lot of arrests when he headed guns and gangs. That's why none us suspected he was in league with O'Leary. Of course O'Leary fed Steve information about the activities of other gangs, particular Chou's so Steve's arrest sheet would look good tally. If only we'd twigged earlier that Steve never arrested any of O'Leary's crew. Anyway I suspect Chou believes he has a score to settle.'
'Surely he's moved on. That was years ago.'
'Gang bosses have long memories and they like to make examples of people who rat them out. Besides, O'Leary and Chou did some business together and Steve was their go-between. Chou would be worried too about what Steve has on him.'
'And does Steve have anything on Chou?'
Elaine looked pained. 'If we made a case against Chou, Steve's testimony could help. But there's no point endangering him unnecessarily, not without solid evidence against Chou.'
'That business Chou and O'Leary did together, did that include sex trafficking?'
'Not as far as I'm aware. Guns and drugs. There have been rumours about Chou, but no solid evidence to link him to sex trafficking.'
…
Dov and Gail were silent in the elevator and as they made their way back to the car. It was only when they were on the road, stuck in lunchtime traffic, which was maddening slow, that Dov spoke.
'Why didn't you tell your mother you went to see Steve?'
Gail shrugged. She didn't want to admit how much her mother's warning had rattled her. Dov peered at her curiously.
'Should you alert Steve?'
'I would have noticed if Frankie and I had been followed.'
'Yeah,' Dov said sceptically. 'You didn't see Francine coming.'
Gail didn't say anything but went very still, gripping the steering wheel and staring straight ahead as if her life depended on it. She didn't notice the traffic had started moving again until the car behind her honked its horn.
'Shit,' Dov said, his expression pained. 'I didn't mean, aw shit.'
'I was drunk the night Francine attacked me. It was stupid and careless,' Gail said in such a monotone it was as if she were mindlessly reciting something she had been made to remember.
'Is that what your mother thinks? That you were careless.'
Gail screwed up her face. 'Probably, yes. I dunno know,' she admitted. 'That's what she said when P—,' Gail stopped abruptly. It was weird enough talking to Dov of all people about the perils of being a Peck but to bring Perick into it, now that was careless.
Gail still worried about giving people, even her friends, ammunition that could be used against her. It was a wariness—some might say paranoia—her mother had repeatedly impressed upon her (no one ever got ahead by over sharing Elaine claimed) and which had been reinforced through bitter experience. Leslie had asked what happened when she let her guard down and Gail laughed derisively and said 'people generally can't get away fast enough.'
But Holly had stayed. Maybe that was the reason Gail found herself letting slip little details of her life she normally kept private, snippets and even her doubts, which in the past she'd held close because she didn't trust what people might do with that information. This candour wasn't exactly deliberate and nor was it sudden. When Leslie had asked her to pinpoint when it began, Gail decided it was her confession to Holly in the precinct hallway that day Holly returned the thumb.
Before Gail knew it she was asking Dov whether she'd make a good mother and confiding in Chris that she feared she wouldn't be judged worthy enough to adopt Sophie. Then there was the time Gail had returned to Traci's apartment to salvage their friendship, despite Traci's rebuff that very morning when she questioned whether she could believe Gail's claim that she hadn't colluded with Steve. But Gail knew Traci was hurt and bitter and lashing out. Which come to think of it was normally how Gail behaved but instead she had gone back to see Traci and they had made their peace.
'And what has been the consequence of being more open with people?' Leslie had quizzed in one of their sessions. 'Well, the sky hasn't fallen in,' Gail replied acerbically. The therapist had smiled just slightly and in that way Gail found maddening, as if Leslie knew Gail better than Gail knew herself. 'So your friends are still there for you?' the therapist said, ignoring Gail's tone. 'I guess,' Gail looked down at her feet. And it was true. In fact right now Gail had to admit Dov was doing his damnedest to be there for her.
'It wasn't your fault, Gail,' Dov said. 'Not this time and not—'
'No, don't say it,' Gail shook her head vehemently.
'Don't be too hard on yourself.' It was said gently and with such care that Gail didn't trust herself to respond. She could feel tears pricking at her eyes.
Had Elaine been there she would no doubt have told Gail not to indulge in self-pity. According to the superintendent such 'displays' were defeatist and indulgent and not how a Peck should conduct themselves. There was a second cousin who became a social worker who Elaine, when she spoke of her (which was not often), was disparaging. 'Too soft' and a 'bleeding heart' by Elaine's reckoning. It was left unsaid but the clear inference was that this woman was not a true Peck
Do you think your mother was telling the truth?' Dov asked, clearly sensing he needed to steer the conversation in a different direction.
'About Gemma? Yeah, but I don't know if that's because I want to.'
'For what it's worth I believed her,' Dov said, 'and I'd seriously think about warning Steve.'
'Okay, okay I will. But do me a favour. Steve's hooked up with a woman called Melody Allegro—'
'Melody Allegro,' Dov broke in, grinning now.
'Yeah, yeah I know it sounds like a porn name. Can you do a background check?'
'Sure,' Dov said. He paused as if considering what he wanted to say. 'You know I used to wish I was a Peck or at least had the privileges that I thought went with being legacy.'
'Yeah,' Gail said quietly, 'but not anymore huh?'
'No,' Dov scratched his chin. 'For what it's worth Gail I think the Superintendent was trying to protect you. Seems to me she's actually trying to be a mother to you.'
'Yeah,' Gail drawled, 'I guess there's a first time for everything.'
….
By the time Gail and Dov reached the station they had been gone a little over an hour, longer than Gail had anticipated. Hopefully Frankie hadn't noticed their absence, although the chances of that were fairly slim. Would Frankie be angry with her for taking personal time without clearing it with her first? It wasn't exactly intentional. Frankie was with Oliver in his office and Gail didn't want to have to explain where she was going. So she had told the rookie at the desk who had looked at she and Dov gormlessly making Gail very much doubt he'd pass the message on to Frankie.
As Gail and Dov came around a corner and into the corridor leading to the detective pen, Holly was making her way towards them with a blue folder in one hand. In spite of her glumness, Gail smirked. Surely Holly no longer needed a ruse to come see her. As it turned out it wasn't Gail who had brought her girlfriend to 15. Still the way Holly smiled at her immediately lifted Gail's mood.
It was that smile where Holly's head was tilted a little to the side and the smile itself was so broad and warm and the look on her face so full of love it made Gail feel like she was the most important thing in Holly's life. 'But you are,' Holly had said when Gail confessed this once, giving her the exact same smile. It had made Gail at once bashful and overwhelmed and, even though she didn't understand what she had done to deserve this good fortune, it had filled her with a joy so indescribably large she was sure Holly could actually see it. Perhaps she had because before Gail could decide whether to explain that until Holly she had never felt like anyone's most important person, Holly had drawn her close and whispered, 'they were idiots, every single one of them.' Then Holly said it was lucky for her they were idiots because it meant she got to be with Gail. After that there was a lot of kissing, which naturally had led to a lot of sex.
'Holly hey. What are you doing here?' Gail asked as Holly drew level with she and Dov.
'The trial date for that case I worked with Traci has been brought forward to next week. Traci and I have been going over the evidence with the prosecutor,' Holly explained.
'It's a straightforward case isn't it,' Gail asked.
'Yep. About the only thing that is in my life right now.' It was supposed to be light-hearted but Holly's voice cracked a little on the final word.
'I'll meet you in the pen,' Dov said to Gail. 'Frankie is probably wondering where we got to.'
Gail nodded at him gratefully. 'Are you okay,' she asked Holly once Dov had gone.
'Oh god. I'm sorry. I'm just,' Holly sighed and looked at Gail ruefully, 'I don't know.'
'Overwhelmed? Sick of the drama that seems to plague us.' Like Holly, Gail tried for levity but it also fell flat.
'I wish I could go back in time and not sleep with Francine. Actually strike that,' Holly said earnestly, 'I wish I had never gone to San Francisco. No, that night at the Penny I wish I had told Lisa where to shove her elitist ass.' Holly's voice began to gather speed as she continued. 'Better still I wish I'd never introduced you to Lisa, and I wish I had banged down your door until you listened to me, I,' she stopped abruptly, suddenly self-conscious.
'That might have been considered stalking,' Gail pointed out and then immediately regretted saying it. After all they were in this mess because of an actual stalker.
'This isn't helping,' Holly said.
'What?' Gail asked, not understanding what Holly was referring to.
'This, my, my rambling I guess,' She looked at Gail. Normally Gail found Holly's rambling adorable and would test how long she could hold out before interrupting Holly—most often with a kiss or a teasing remark—and bringing the word vomit to an end.
'No,' Gail said. It came out tersely even though she hadn't intended it to. Holly blinked. 'I'm sorry, it's just,' Gail flapped her hands about aimlessly.
There were so may what ifs and yet Gail's friends didn't appear in the least surprised when she and Holly got back together , the general consensus being it was inevitable. Geez Gail wished they had told her that when the only thing that seemed inevitable was the ache that lodged in her chest once the day was done and she was alone in her room with nothing to distract her from missing Holly.
Sure she could have called Holly or even caught a plane to San Francisco. Even now Gail could recite the departure times for flights between Pearson and San Francisco. She knew there were 166 non-stop flights every week or an average of 25 a day and it was cheapest to fly on a Wednesday. She also knew that each day that passed represented 25 missed opportunities to go to Holly. And 25 stabs to her heart, each one a reminder of her cowardice.
Always something held her back. It wasn't exactly fear of rejection because Gail was certain Holly would let her down gently. At the same time she wasn't sure Holly would welcome her overtures, would in fact find them bothersome and even pitiful and Gail would hate for Holly to think of her like that. Worse still was the possibility Holly had moved on with someone else. If anything was inevitable that surely was.
Gail became aware that she was still flapping about her hand and that Holly was peering at her worriedly. 'I should have come to you,' Gail said, abruptly stilling her hand. 'I thought about it so often but—' she broke off and sighed.
If not for Lisa something else would have made her run. Back then creating emergency situations was her thing after all, and just maybe Lisa had sensed that. Still Holly couldn't let go of the conviction that they could have worked things out if only—'What,' Gail had interrupted when Holly brought it up once, 'If only I wasn't so emotionally stunted'. 'No,' Holly had shaken her head slowly, 'if we'd had more faith in us.'
After Holly moved to San Francisco, Lisa had spied Gail at various gay bars and taken some delight in telling Holly that Gail was a regular lesbian girl about town. It was enough for Holly to shut down any hope of reconciling. For Holly it wasn't hard to imagine that to others Gail would be—'lesbian catnip' Gail had piped up teasingly, repeating something ridiculous Elaine had once said and waggling her eyebrows to show she was joking. Holly laughed at the reference because of course Gail had told her the 'lesbian catnip' story and then stopped mid guffaw to nod glumly. 'Seriously', Gail had shrieked and said Holly should know better than to believe anything Lisa said.
What if Lisa hadn't told Holly that she had seen Gail and inferred she was sleeping around? What if Gail had stopped overthinking everything and called Holly in San Francisco? What if she'd returned Holly's calls in the first place, instead of pretending Holly didn't matter? What if she'd spent less time trying to conform to the Peck ideal and realised she was gay sooner? What if she had actually married Nick?
There were a million things that might have set her on a different course. Sliding doors. If she could go back in time she wouldn't change any of it—well, the kidnapping yes and Jerry's death and Steve's betrayal, which admittedly was already something of a list, and she'd tell her rookie self to search that guy for a weapon and she'd get to Sophie's mother sooner—and yet all those things, even the constant disapprobation of her mother through the years, had brought her here to Holly and that part she would never change.
'Oh Holly,' Gail said. The words came out in a little sigh of despair.
'What's happened?' Holly asked, her focus all at once completely on Gail. Where only an instant ago she was anxious she now calm. How did Holly do that, Gail wondered, like someone had flicked a switch. She was still getting used to being with someone who was so unstinting in their support of her. Holy took a step toward Gail so there was little distance between them.
Gail swallowed. She wanted nothing more than to let Holly pull her into a hug, but it was shift change and the corridor had all at once become full of people. This wasn't exactly the ideal place to tell Holly she was afraid Elaine might have incited Gemma to commit murder. 'Holly, I can't talk about it here,' she said quietly. Before Holly could respond, someone came skittering by, jostling Gail so she fell against Holly, who grabbed her by the elbows to steady her. Before Gail could turn to unleash her fury on the offender—because actually she was looking an excuse to let off some steam and this clumsy ass probably deserved it—Chloe beat her to it.
'Duncan, you idiot,' she chastised.
Duncan scrambled to his feet and mumbled an apology, bobbing his head ingratiatingly and if he had had a forelock Gail swore he would have tugged it. Chloe gave him a less than gentle shove in the direction of the sally port 'Aren't you due out on patrol?' she said. Duncan backed away from them, still mumbling apologies, and Gail looked at Chloe in confusion. When had she decided to be a mean girl?
'Frankie's on the warpath. She's been looking for you and Dov everywhere,' Chloe said a little breathlessly. 'Just so you know,' she added, before following Duncan's retreating figure.
Oh that explained it. When Frankie was stressed she ether internalised it—and eventually ended up at a bar getting shitfaced drunk—or she took it out on everyone around her. Gail suspected Chloe had borne the brunt of the Frankie's wrath when it was discovered she and Dov had skipped out.
'Come on,' Holly took Gail's hand and pulled her into interrogation room. 'Has something happened? Are you in trouble?' Holly asked as the door to the room closed behind them.
Gail shook her head. 'No, not me but,' she bit her lip.
'Your mother?'
This time Gail nodded. 'Dov found CCTV footage. It shows Gemma following Francine right up until just before she was killed.'
'Has Gemma confessed to killing Francine?' Holly asked
'Swarek is interviewing her now.'
'But what's that got to do with Elaine?'
'My mother visited Gemma yesterday afternoon an hour before Francine died.'
'You think this proves Elaine told Gemma to kill Francine?'
Gail bit her lip. 'She denies it.'
'And do you believe her?'
'I think I do. Shit I dunno. Maybe I just want to believe her. She said Gemma asked to speak to her. She wanted to warn us that Kramer was coming after us. My mother said Gemma gave no indication she wanted to harm Francine. Except,' Gail stopped.
'Except what, honey?' Holly asked gently.
'Except my mother let slip that Francine had altered the medical records. She claims she assumed Gemma knew.'
'So basically Gemma found out she wasn't responsible for the death of that patient and she ruined her career for nothing.'
Gail nodded again. 'And is facing possible jail time for burning down our house.'
'Was that enough to make her go after Francine?' Holly mused.
Before Gail could reply, the door to the interrogation room was wrenched open, flooding the darkened room with fluorescent light from the corridor. Frankie stood in the doorway and from her stance Gail could tell she was angry.
'Oi Peck. I've been looking for you. Where have you been,' she said, taking in the way the two women were standing with Holly holding Gail's hand and both of them frozen. Much like two naughty children caught in the act, thought Gail.
'I took some personal time,' Gail said.
Frankie smirked and looked down at their joined hands. 'Personal time, huh.'
'I had to go to the big building.'
'Yeah, the Superintendent summon you.'
'Something like that.'
'And you needed Dov there because?'
'We took an early lunch break.'
'Uh huh,' Frankie nodded slowly, 'fine by me if you don't wanna share but in future tell me if you plan on skipping out when you're working on the taxpayer's dime. We've got clearance to interview O'Leary. They're expecting us at the jail so we need to hustle.'
'Can you give us a minute,' Holly said.
'One minute,' Frankie held up her index finger, 'I don't imagine that's gives even you two enough time to get up to hanky panky.' With that Frankie turned on her heel and left.
'Jeez what's with her?' Holly asked, as the door clicked shut. 'Wait, you told her about that?'
'Um, seems like a lot of people know,' Gail said, avoiding the question. Fact was she had told Frankie in unguarded moment but it was at a time when Gail was convinced she'd never see Holly again. 'You know I should get going. Don't want to make Frankie madder.'
'Wait' Holly tugged on her hand and then pulled her into that hug Gail had wished for. They stayed like that for much longer than a minute. Just holding each other. Gail felt a calm begin to settle upon her. Then there was a harsh banging on the door.
'Uggh Frankie,' Gail made a face. 'I really have to go.'
Holly leant in and kissed her. She took her time not caring that Frankie might burst in at any moment. It was a gentle kiss and yet so filled with love that it made Gail feel lighter somehow. Perhaps it came from knowing she and Holly were in this together, that she didn't have to face it alone, which in turn gave her hope that they'd get through this.
'Stay safe,' Holly said as the kiss ended.
'Always,' Gail promised, unable to resist kissing Holly one last time.
'And Gail,' Holly said as Gail reached the door, 'I don't mind that you told Frankie.' She gave Gail that lopsided smile again and so of course Gail had to step back into the room and kiss her again. If only life was so uncomplicated that sneaking into an interrogation room to make out was the only thing on her mind.
…
Frankie already had the car engine running as Gail got into the passenger seat. She pulled out of the lot with a screech of the tyres and a scowl on her face.
'Watch out—if the wind changes you'll stay like that,' Gail knew she was being provocative but figured Frankie deserved it considering she was being such a hard ass.
'What the fuck are you on about?' If anything Frankie's scowl deepened.
'Your expression,' Gail indicated her own face with her index finger, 'you know you'll be stuck with that expression if the wind changes. It's a saying.'
'Yeah, whatever Peck,' Frankie said and then lapsed into silence.
The sooner Frankie proposed to Alannah the better, Gail decided, for she was one hundred per cent certain that this was what was behind Frankie's foul mood. But what if Alannah said no? If history were anything to go by, Frankie would probably go on an indefinite bender, making her even more insufferable at work and they'd all get their asses kicked until Christmas.
When Gail put a stop to their arrangement after realising Frankie was developing feelings she could never reciprocate, Frankie would arrive at 15 each day bleary-eyed and still smelling of alcohol and sometimes even sex. Gail had tried to let her down gently. That mainly consisted of avoiding Frankie, which was hard to do given they worked together and Frankie was no fool. She figured it out soon enough. In the months that followed she rode everyone else's asses but treated Gail like a vague acquaintance and was unfailingly polite. Which meant everyone knew she was the reason Frankie was behaving like a tyrant and held her responsible or Frankie's bad behaviour. It was said in jest but Gail couldn't help wondering if at some level they actually meant it.
It got so bad that one night when Gail and Dov were on a stakeout he suggested she should sleep with Frankie again. Gail looked at him incredulously. Dov squirmed a little in his seat (good to know she could still have that affect on him, Gail noted). Still he blundered on. 'You wouldn't consider taking a hit for the team,' he ventured.
Gail glared at Dov icily and he began to falter and the tips of his ears went red. 'I guess, I guess I shouldn't tell you who to sleep with,' he stammered.
'You think,' Gail said sarcastically, which only caused the flush to spread across Dov's cheeks. 'What if I told you to sleep with Sue Tran for the,' Gail did air quotes, 'good of the team.'
Dov coughed. 'Um that's different. I'm with Chloe and you're,' he trailed off.
'Keep going,' Gail urged, 'I'm sure you can dig this hole deeper.' She gave him that fake smile.
'And you're still in love with Holly.' Dov's eyes widened as he spoke, like he was shocked at his daring. He so resembled a rabbit caught in headlights that for a moment Gail wanted to laugh but if she laughed she might not stop and it would quickly turn into something quite hysterical. It was the first time in the year since Holly's departure that anyone had acknowledged her feelings for Holly and. It felt like Gail had been suckered punched and just for a moment she had to turn away from Dov to compose herself, afraid she would actually gasp for air as if she had indeed been struck below her ribs.
'And,' Dov continued, perhaps sensing that having hit a nerve he now had the upper hand, 'and Frankie is just a diversion.'
He was right of course. Gail hadn't felt bad about using Frankie as such while she believed they were both on the same page—when it was purely about sex and convenient and a way to avoid commitment. Fucking Frankie distracted her from thinking about Holly. At least until Gail found herself alone again in her bed, staring at a crack in the ceiling where the paint was discoloured with damp, and desperately trying to push down the empty feeling that crept over her.
After that first time post Andy's wedding when Frankie had stayed over, neither she nor Gail wanted to stay the night. That's what made Gail realise Frankie's feelings had changed. She didn't get up and go home after sex. The first few times Gail figured Frankie was tired—they'd been working long hours—but then she started inching closer until one night she placed an arm around Gail's waist. Gail froze. She could tolerate it (barely) if Frankie remained on her side of the bed. Frankie's arm felt heavy and hot and just for a moment Gail imagined that in the morning she'd find a scald mark across her belly. As Frankie's breathing grew more even, Gail had sucked her stomach in and tried to extract herself by wriggling sideways. She knew then she had to end it.
Frankie's funk lasted two months. Then one day she showed up at work and acted like nothing had happened. Neither she nor Gail mentioned their arrangement again. Holly maintained that falling for Gail had made Frankie realise that loving someone was possible and ultimately led her to Alannah. 'So you did good,' Holly had grinned and Gail snorted.
But Gail always felt she had somehow let Frankie down. Not that she had wanted a relationship with the detective but when Frankie reached out, Gail had run and in so doing feared she had left Frankie a little more damaged. When you didn't feel worthy of love, it was hard to give it. Gail knew that. In that sense she and Frankie were very alike. She had owed Frankie an explanation but they didn't do feelings. It wasn't the way they communicated. So Gail had convinced herself that Frankie must realise they were too broken to be together and that their shared cynicism, which often as not was directed at each other, was not the stuff of relationships. It was one way of justifying her behaviour.
Later Gail would tell her therapist that she had been a coward, that Frankie deserved better, was in fact better than Gail because once the bender came to an end she became Gail's friend. It was done without any fanfare and Gail had gradually come to appreciate that Frankie had her back and not just at work. It explained why Frankie had given Holly such a hard time when the pathologist had shown up at that Chicago conference. There was an absoluteness to Frankie's loyalty which Gail had could not recall having ever experienced with anyone she might classify as a friend. Holly was the exception, of course, but then she and Holly had never actually been just friends.
None of these things occurred to Gail that night she sat in the car on stakeout with Dov. Those insights would come later. No, as Dov looked at her expectantly, taking her silence as tacit agreement, Gail felt irritated. Irritated with Frankie whose behaviour had made the fact that they were no longer sleeping with one another so public. Irritated with Dov for thinking this was something he could talk to her about but more so because he sometimes seemed to know her too well.
'You should call Holly,' Dov said. Jarringly it took Gail back to the day of the Ford shootings when Chris said the exact same thing. She was formulating an acerbic retort—why was her brain so sluggish, usually a retort ripped off her tongue before the object of her scorn had finished speaking—when she found herself saying in a small voice, 'what if Holly doesn't want to speak to me.'
'Gail we saw the way she looked at you. Not that I was you know checking you out. It was just impossible not to notice.'
'Yeah, whatever. Although Dov I'm beginning to suspect you have an unhealthy obsession with Holly and me.'
Dov sighed. 'Just call her, Gail.'
Then Frankie came over the radio ordering a raid on the premises they had under surveillance.
'Saved by the bell,' Dov said as they exited the car.
Gail looked at him witheringly but could find nothing to say.
The journey to the new detention centre was relatively short—just under half an hour but after their initial exchange neither woman spoke again. They had nearly reached the prison when Gail spoke again. 'Just ask Alannah. At least it would you out of your misery, Frankie.'
Frankie snorted and seemed about to say something when Gail's phone rang.
'Steve, hey,' she said, trying to make her relief not so obvious. She had tried ringing him before leaving the station but he hadn't picked up.
'What's up?'
'Um,' Gail shot a look at Frankie. She seemed to be in her own world. It probably wouldn't matter if she heard the conversation, 'Mom's worried Frankie and I were followed when went to London.'
'You told her you saw me?'
'Not exactly. She warned me not to visit you. She thinks Chou has got some sort of vendetta against you.'
Steve laughed. 'He'll have to take a ticket and join the queue.'
Gail winced. 'I'm sure we weren't followed but have you noticed anything, I dunno, out o the ordinary.'
'Nope,' Steve popped the 'p'. 'It's Hicksville here. I think a mobster would stand out.'
'Will you be careful. You know watch your back.'
'You don't think I already do,' Steve said with a bitterness that shouldn't have surprised Gail but made her miserable, which seemed to happen anytime she spoke to Steve. 'I sleep with one eye open,' he laughed cynically.
Guilt. That's what Gail always felt round Steve. 'Are you responsible for Steve taking bribes', Leslie had asked her, and Gail had hesitated before saying no, but pointed out she could have had his back. 'And at what cost to you', Leslie had said. Regardless of which course Gail took there was always going be a price to pay. Having failed to protect Steve once, now it seemed she might have brought him more trouble. At the very least she could try to keep him safe.
'Maybe you should take some time off,' she suggested. 'This case we're working has stirred things up. Go on vacation. Let the dust settle.'
'I'll be okay,' Steve said, 'look I gotta go. I'm at work. I'll call you later.'
Steve disconnected before Gail could reply.
'Everything okay?' Frankie asked, her concern real. At least she had stopped scowling.
'Yes,' Gail said defensively, then 'no, not at all.' Then she explained everything that had happened—the visit to her mother, her suspicions about Elaine and Elaine's warning about Steve. By the time Gail finished, Frankie was pulling into the lot outside the prison.
'I don't think we were followed to London. Do you?' Frankie asked, 'I mean you're hyper vigilant about that stuff.'
'No, but I'm starting to doubt myself.'
'I hate to say it but you and the Superintendent have a lot going on right now. She's probably being an overly protective mother.'
'I guess,' Gail didn't sound convinced.
'Look, when we've finished with O'Leary I'll give Steve a call. See if I can persuade him to lie low for a while but I'm sure its nothing. And for the record Gail, your mother would do practically anything to safeguard you, but murder isn't one of them.'
…...
'No,' O'Leary shook his head adamantly, 'not sex trafficking. Ask Detective Nash. I wasn't involved in prostitution.'
'Why not?' Frankie asked.
'Doesn't sit right with me. Guns, drugs, yes but not prostitution.'
'Strange kind of morality,' Frankie sneered.
O'Leary shrugged, apparently unperturbed by Frankie. He looked surprisingly good for a man who had lost virtually everything—there was nothing left of the empire he built, members of his gang were either dead, serving time or had fled Toronto, his house and assets had been seized and Gail had heard his wife and child had moved away, possibly to the US.
'I've found God again,' he said noticing Gail's appraisal.
'Again?' Frankie cocked her eyebrow, 'and what? He absolve you for all your sins.'
Gail shot her a warning look.
O'Leary laughed. 'Don't worry detective, I'm sure there's a special place in hell for both of us.'
Frankie curled her lip. Gail hoped she wasn't going to take O'Leary's bait. They needed him to cooperate. O'Leary seemed faintly amused by Frankie hostility, which was guaranteed to piss her off even more.
'So, what about Chou?' Gail said hurriedly before Frankie could respond.
'What about Chou?'
'Is he involved in sex trafficking?'
O'Leary leaned back slowly in his chair and regarded Gail as though assessing her but she wasn't sure exactly what for. 'Chou killed some of my best foot soldiers once I was inside.'
Frankie snorted. 'You mean he wiped out most of your gang.'
'You know what, detective, it was nice of you ladies to visit but I'm feeling a bit tired now. I think I want to go back to my cell.'
The guard who was seated in the corner of the room started to rise from his chair.
'Wait,' Gail said, hoping she didn't sound as desperate as she felt. 'If Chou killed your people wouldn't you like to see him put away?'
'But what's to say I'm not trying to frame him? Seeing as you say I've got incentive.'
Gail looked at him impassively. 'Was Chou involved in sex slavery?' she repeated evenly.
'Up to his eyeballs,' O'Leary said.
'If that's the case how come we're only just hearing about it?' Frankie asked.
'See,' O'Leary jerked his thumb in Frankie's direction, 'I said you wouldn't believe me but hey maybe you would have found out sooner if you did your job better.'
'Is that so,' Gail quirked an eyebrow. Maybe O'Leary didn't know anything.
'Nah, Chou had protection on the force.'
Gail went very still. She half expected O'Leary to say Steve. And then what? It was too awful to contemplate.
Frankie leaned forward. 'Yeah, who?'
'That detective—Palmer. A complete meathead. He made Chou's ah problems disappear. Kinda ironic given he was from Missing Persons.'
'Disappear—you mean murder.'
'Among other things. Yep.'
'Ever hear of Melanie Fisher?' Gail asked.
'Nope.'
'Len Cormann?'
'Cormann, yeah. He was Palmer's sidekick. Weird guy. Rumour was he owed Chou a lot of money which is how Palmer got him to help with the dirty work.'
'What about Mitchell Cormann? Heard of him?'
O'Leary shook his head. 'I'm guessing he's related to Len. Look I rarely dealt with Chou directly. Steve was my go-between.' He smiled smugly.
'So any reason Mitchell Cormann turned up dead with his toes sliced off?' Frankie asked.
'I don't know anything about that.'
'It's your signature.'
'Yep and you cops weren't the only ones who knew that. Could've been someone trying to make me take the fall.'
'Was Steve mixed up in sex slavery?' Frankie asked.
'Nah. Steve was my boy and as I said I didn't touch that shit and nobody who worked for me did either.'
O'Leary didn't have much more to add after that and Frankie brought the interview to a close.
'We may need to speak to you again,' she said.
'Okeydokey, always here to help the boys and,' O'Leary paused, 'girls in blue.' He stood and gave a nod to the guard to indicate he was ready to go. Then he looked at directly at Gail. 'By the way how is Steve enjoying London?' he asked.
