girl on the M10, a fight with Noel would have been Jasmine’s third confrontation in one day. She remembered Lou telling Jasmine that he’d never seen her lose it like that.
“Earlier that day, I heard Jasmine say she had plans for the evening,” she said. “Were they with you?”
“Yeah, I brought over burgers and fries. After Jasmine put Jeremy to bed, we started talking.” Noel began stroking Sam. “It turned into arguing.”
“Sorry if this is too personal, but I have to ask, what was the argument about?”
Noel stopped stroking the dog and clasped his hands in his lap. “I told Jasmine that I thought she was compromising her values to get what she wanted, and what she wanted was money for veterinary school.”
“How was she compromising her values?” Based on Ursula Gallenski’s theory about Jasmine’s business card collection, she thought she knew. Still, she wanted to hear his response.
“Jasmine liked to go to clubs, meet people. She swore she only had dinner with men, nothing more. Said the free meals helped her save money.”
So, the man had asked his girlfriend if she was a whore? “Jasmine went ballistic, huh?”
Noel’s mouth twisted the same way Marie’s always did when a topic made her uneasy.
“Yep. But why accept free meals from strangers when she had to pay her landlord for babysitting? She wasn’t gaining much and could have spent more time with Jeremy.”
“Maybe she wanted nights off from parenting.” Seeing the slight frown on Noel’s face, Casey added, “I’ve been legal guardian to a friend’s daughter for four months and I really miss my freedom. I mean, the job never ends. The best you can hope for is a break now and then.”
Noel rubbed his chin. “Jeremy’s a sweet-natured kid who smiles far more than he cries. Jasmine just liked to go out a lot.”
“I’m sorry if this sounds cold, but do you think Jasmine told the truth about these celibate dates?”
“I don’t know.” He watched an elderly couple meander along a trail next to the lake. “I stayed the night after one dinner together. She never asked me for money.”
That was more information than she had a right to know. “Have you ever taken pictures photos of Jasmine and Jeremy?”
“No, why?”
“Two snapshots were found in her locker. One was of Jasmine in her own bed, apparently asleep. The other was of Jeremy in a bathtub.” Given the way Noel’s jaw tightened, he didn’t like this. Was he was thinking Jasmine had slept with her dates after all? “My next question’s also personal.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did the thought of Jasmine sleeping with other guys make you jealous?”
“Yeah, it did.”
“Even though you were just good friends?”
It took him a few moments to answer. “I had strong feelings for her.”
The longer Casey watched him, the tougher he was to read. She usually interpreted body language well, yet Noel’s signals were muddled. Sorrow was there, yet something else. Regret? Guilt?
“Did anyone hear you two argue that night?”
“Probably not. We kept our voices low so Jeremy could sleep.”
“Marie said your van was stolen the night before the murder.”
He nodded. “I heard the engine start about three in the morning. The van was long gone by the time the cops showed up.” He shifted in his seat and glanced at his dog. “I knew I was digging a deep hole by telling them about the argument, but the truth seemed important. Naive, huh?”
“The truth
“She’d been grumpy most of the week. In hindsight, I should have picked a better time to confront her, but I’d been stewing about it for weeks and finally worked up some courage.”
“Do you think Elliott Birch killed Jasmine?”
“Good question. All I know is that Birch threatened to hurt Jasmine if he didn’t get more time with Jeremy. She was trying to obtain a restraining order because the jerk kept showing up outside her building.”
Interesting that he didn’t mention the part where he’d told Birch to get lost. “Marie wants me to check out Birch’s place to make sure Jeremy’s okay.”
Surprise and worry flashed across his face. “She’s probably hoping you’ll find a murder confession taped to Birch’s door.”
“I’ll settle for a quick peek through the window.”
“Don’t. Listen, Birch used to hit Jasmine. He’s violent.”
Alarm made her sit forward. “Violent enough to hurt Jeremy?”
“I don’t think so. But if he got wasted, he could forget about Jeremy, and who knows what would happen.”
“I’ve done surveillance work at dozens of bus stops. What if I used binoculars and took a quick peek at night?”
“Why would you do that when you’re so busy?”
“Two reasons. A colleague’s asked for help, and I’m worried about that little boy, too. I know how it feels to suddenly have an absentee mother, and I was much older than Jeremy when my mother left. A child feels the loss, regardless of age.” Casey turned to the window and watched three Canada geese nibble the grass in front of the trail. She thought of Summer.
“Sam brought Jasmine and me together, you know,” he said. “In early July, he got out and was hit by a car. After his surgery, Marie said she had a friend who wanted to be a vet. Jasmine helped me take care of him.”
A woman walked a chubby basset hound along the trail. The hound started after the geese, but the woman reined him in.
“We have a golden retriever at home,” Casey said.
“Marie mentioned that.”
“Did she?” What else had Marie had told him about her? “Noel, please don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t seem overly upset that someone’s trying to frame you.”
“I’m angry and scared; just don’t show it much.”
“You’re sure different than your sister.” She liked his smile. “Were you here when Jasmine died?”
“Yeah, I work at home; started my own company about six months ago, but it’s been tough.” The smile faded. “I design flyers, brochures and other promo stuff for people.” He nodded toward the notepad on the table. “I’m working on a logo for a company that wants to sell snorkelling and scuba lessons to kids.”
“That explains the goggles on the happy dolphin.”
“It’s all wrong. I’m supposed to target older kids. Off my game, I guess.”
Casey watched him. “Marie hasn’t told me much about you.”
“I’m probably a depressing topic right now.”
He seemed so resigned. Maybe she could help a bit; talk to people on Birch’s mail route. At least Marie couldn’t accuse her of selfishness or apathy then. What if new information led her back to Noel?
“Maybe I can find out if Birch really does have an alibi,” she said.
“Casey, really; I’d steer clear of him.”
“I plan to.” The question was how?
TEN
“HERE IT IS—PULL OVER.” Casey leaned forward as far as her seatbelt would allow and read “Cedarbrook Estates” on the sign. She stroked Cheyenne who sat between her and Lou. “Lofty name for a trailer park.”
Lou parked on the shoulder of winding, two-lane Dewdney Trunk Road. This was a quiet, residential area of Coquitlam. Casey scanned the tree-covered slope to her right. At the top of the slope, houses were built back from the road and overlooked the trailer park. A haphazard assortment of evergreens and bushes grew in front of the
