4. Constable Maggie McKenzie
(Set a few days after 'Hunting Season')
Wow, I have a brother! I also have a Dad, but that's a little more complicated to explain, so I'll start with Benton.
When I first went to Chicago, on the trail of the killers of my husband, I went straight to the Consulate because I'd heard so much about Constable Benton Fraser. I'd heard that if you needed help then he would help you and I really needed help.
For some reason, a lot of our superiors at the RCMP seem to look down on Benton. They see him as some sort of a liability, as if the things he does, his methods, are somehow inappropriate behaviour for a Mountie. I read all his records before I left Canada, but I couldn't see what they thought he was doing wrong? I thought he had an excellent record, one that all Mounties should aspire to? I cannot understand why he doesn't get more recognition, more thanks for everything that he does? He risks his life every day to help people, total strangers. What more can you ask from an officer of the law?
Anyway, we instantly clicked. I couldn't understand it at first. It was as if I already knew him, even though we'd never met. I should have told him the truth from the start. I should have told him that I'd been suspended, but I was scared that he wouldn't help me. I needed to find the men who murdered Casey. I thought that I wanted to exact revenge in like kind, although when I finally got that opportunity I couldn't do it of course, I just wanted to hear them confess. When I realised what my husband had been involved in, I didn't want to believe it, but in the end I had to accept that I'd made a huge mistake. I don't make mistakes, it was hard to accept, but I suppose I was blinded by love. I can't imagine Benton ever doing something like that, something so stupid.
As for my Dad, I thought he was dead. Well, he is. What I mean is I thought another dead man was my father, but it turns out that my father is, in point of fact, Robert Fraser, or at least he was. I'd heard of him of course, every RCMP officer has heard of Robert Fraser, he is a hero among Mounties and I knew he was friends with my Mum, but I never realised that they were so close, so to speak. Anyway, if that wasn't hard enough to accept, I also have to accept that he is still around, that is to say, his ghost is still around. He's been haunting Benton ever since he came to Chicago, although 'haunting' is not the most appropriate word, that makes it sound like it's a bad thing, which is most definitely isn't. I really hope my Dad will still be able to visit me now I'm back home. It is strangely comforting.
Then of course there's Ray, Benton's best friend and partner at the Chicago PD. He's so different to anyone I've ever met. Oh and he's a great kisser! I think Benton was a little uncomfortable with that. I'm a grown woman and I can kiss whoever I like, but actually it was rather lovely to think that my big brother was looking out for me. He's going to come up to Inuvik soon and help me out with a few things that need fixing up at my place. I'm really looking forward to seeing my brother again. I hope he brings Ray.