EIGHT
“SEE, CASEY, ALL IT TAKES is a little patience.” Lou sat on the cushioned window seat in her living room and stroked the guinea pig in his arms. “They’re real friendly when you give them a chance.”
Since the most recent bite on her finger still stung, Casey had her doubts. “There might not be many more chances. Marie’s dropping by any minute, so maybe she’s found homes for them.”
“You said she sounded upset on the phone.”
“Yeah, but that’s normal for her these days.”
With any luck, the visit would be short. Summer was at her weekly Sunday brunch with her grandmother, and Lou, having stayed the night, would be leaving soon. All the activity and extra shifts since Jasmine’s death had put Casey seriously behind on homework. She glanced at the library books and research notes on the kitchen table.
The intercom rang. Seconds later she was telling Marie she’d be right down.
“I should go too.” Lou returned the guinea pig to its cage, then zipped up his hoodie.
This was one of those times when Casey didn’t mind having to go downstairs to let visitors in. She hated the idea of Marie finding her way up here and invading her refuge. On her way down, Casey heard Summer’s golden retriever bark from what sounded like the kitchen. When she and Lou reached the ground floor, Cheyenne jogged down the hall toward them, wagging her tail. Rhonda had promised Summer a dog for her birthday a few weeks back. During a trip to the SPCA, Summer fell in love with a four-year-old golden retriever. She’d made a good choice, though living with a dog still took some adjusting.
Casey opened the door and stared at Marie’s nervous, blotchy face. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything.” Her voice trembled. “Someone fired a bullet through my son’s bedroom window.”
“Oh, no!” How could someone do that to a twelve-year-old? “Is he all right?”
“Yeah, Kyle wasn’t hit, but he’s still shaken.” Marie stepped into the foyer. One look at Lou and her mouth fell open. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I usually am,” he replied. “Where did the bullet land?”
“In the wall above his head.” She wrung her hands together. “It happened at three this morning. The breaking glass woke Kyle, and he was still dazed when he came to my room. He wasn’t even sure what had happened.”
“The poor kid,” Casey said.
Cheyenne, who’d been sitting quietly, lifted a paw to Marie who gently shook it.
“He was telling me about the glass on the floor when a bullet hit my window.” Her eyes glistened. “I pulled Kyle onto the floor and waited. God, he could have been . . .” She knelt down and started to stroke Cheyenne, but lost her balance and landed on her butt.
Casey and Lou helped Marie to her feet.
“Sorry. Still shaky, I guess.”
They ushered her to the sofa in Rhonda’s living room. Casey sat beside her, grateful that Lou did the same. She wasn’t sure she wanted to deal with Marie alone.
“At least the girls weren’t targeted. Their room’s across the hall. Kyle’s window is next to mine.” Marie grasped Lou’s hand. “Before I could call the cops, the phone rang, and a whispered voice told me to stop investigating Jasmine’s murder or the bullets would hit my kids next.” She slumped against his shoulder.
“I take it the cops haven’t found the shooter?” Casey asked, watching Lou free himself from Marie’s grasp.
“No.” She straightened up. “The kids are at staying my mom’s until the shooter’s caught. I think it was Birch. The asshole must have found out that I’ve been checking into his alibi.”
Cheyenne settled on the floor by Casey’s feet. In a way, she was glad Marie was investigating on her brother’s behalf. The cops’ interest in Noel was troubling; using his own vehicle to murder someone mid-morning and abandoning it near his house was too stupid to believe. On the other hand, angry people did stupid things. Had Noel been angry with Jasmine about something?
“I talked to a couple of retired folks on Birch’s mail route,” Marie said. “They saw him at ten in the morning on the twenty-eighth, but so far I haven’t found anyone who saw him at ten past eleven, when Jasmine was shot.”
“I wonder if the bullets in your house came from the gun that killed Jasmine,” Casey said.
“They couldn’t have.” Marie wrung her hands together. “They found a handgun under a bush near Noel’s place the day after the murder. No word yet on whether it’s the murder weapon.”
Casey glanced at Lou. Marie hadn’t told her this at the reception on Wednesday.
“Birch is trying to destroy my brother’s life because Noel caught him stalking her a couple of times and told him to get lost.”
“You think Birch took a break from delivering the mail to shoot his ex-wife?” Casey asked. “Then planted the gun and abandoned the van he stole the previous night?”
“Absolutely. He could have hidden Noel’s van by the church and dumped it near his own car after the shooting. Traffic wouldn’t have been heavy at that time of day, and he could have thrown a jacket over his uniform. The whole thing probably took less than twenty minutes.”
Lou crossed his arms. “It would have required a hell of a lot of luck, what with traffic and potential witnesses.”
“Maybe someone did see something, only we haven’t found that person yet, which is why I’m here.” Marie turned to Casey. “I need your help clearing my brother’s name.”
“He hasn’t been charged with anything, though.”
“I know that, but they’ve questioned him twice now. I have a horrible feeling that it’s only a matter of time.”
Casey frowned. “How do you know?”
Marie gave her an impatient look. “You’re not the only one who knows people in the police department. Anyway, we really need your help.”
Alarm ricocheted through her. A loud knock on the door offered a quick escape. Casey left the room, opened the door, and saw David Eisler jiggling car keys in his hand. What the hell was Mainland’s VP doing here? How did he even know where she lived?
“I apologize for not calling first, but I was in the area.” His Adam’s apple bounced up and down. “There’s something I wanted to ask you.”
He couldn’t do it at work? “Come in.” She led him into the living room, where Marie was leaning close to Lou and murmuring something undecipherable. “We have a guest.”
As Eisler entered the room, Marie and Lou’s expressions froze. Surprise and displeasure flickered across Eisler’s face. Cheyenne wagged her tail and sniffed Eisler’s pant leg. Eisler looked at the dog with disdain and edged away.
Casey said, “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” He nodded to Lou and Marie and sat without letting his back touch the chair. “I apologize for not attending Jasmine’s funeral.” His tan developed a reddish hue. “I heard it was a nice service.”
“It was,” Marie said, scrutinizing him.
Eisler lowered his head. Casey caught Lou’s puzzled face and returned a haven’t-got-a-clue expression.
“I’m looking after some of Jasmine’s pets,” Casey said. “Would you like to adopt a hamster, gerbil, or guinea pig?”
“My wife’s not an animal person.” He glanced at Cheyenne who had again settled down. “She’s at a tennis tournament near here, so I thought I’d pop by to ask you where Jasmine is buried.” He paused. “I’d like to send a wreath.”
“She’s in Parksville, where her mother lives,” Marie answered, and gave him the name of the cemetery.
“Thanks.” Eisler cleared his throat. “I was shocked to hear about your brother’s arrest.”
“He’s not been arrested, just questioned,” she answered, glancing at Casey.
“Yes, well, I understand that Jasmine associated with volatile people,” Eisler remarked. “Apparently, one of them is a Mainland driver.”
