“Marie also said you saw a woman with Birch in that trailer.”
Casey rested her head against the chair. “Yes.”
“About a month ago, Jasmine called and said she’d seen a woman in Birch’s car.”
“Did Jasmine recognize her, by any chance, or describe her to you?”
“No, but she did say that Birch used to flaunt his girlfriends in her face, although he didn’t this time. Anyway, I have a very special request to make, dear.”
“Oh?” She didn’t like the sound of this.
“Since you worked with Jasmine and would therefore know many of the people she mentioned in her letters, would you read them?”
“I, uh, don’t quite understand why you’d want me to.”
“If Birch truly is innocent, then someone else shot my daughter.”
Casey’s head pounded and she felt queasy. “I don’t—”
“According to the letters, Jasmine had conflicts with a few people, and one or two of them were from Mainland Public Transport.”
Casey gazed at the rodent cages in front of her bookshelf. She envied those little guys, eating, resting, and playing; no complicated decisions to make. As she headed for the bathroom, she said, “Did Jasmine mention anyone she was especially worried about?”
“No one, other than Birch.”
“Shouldn’t you give the letters to the police?”
“Marie said the RCMP suspect her brother, so why would they listen to me? And I just can’t believe Mr. Merryweather killed her. Jasmine wrote so many kind things about him.”
Presumably, Hannah hadn’t heard about the returned engagement ring. Hadn’t it occurred to her that Jasmine had only written what she’d wanted her mother to know and that her viewpoint might be biased?
“Mrs. O’Reilly, Noel told me that he and Jasmine argued the night before she was killed. You see, he proposed to her and she turned him down.”
The line was silent a few moments. “I still don’t believe he shot her,” Hannah replied. “Birch wanted custody of Jeremy and now he has it. This is what matters. Has anyone considered the possibility that his mystery girlfriend shot my daughter? Even if I’m wrong, some other clue could be in those letters.”
“Couldn’t Marie read them?” Casey removed two pills from a bottle in the medicine cabinet. “She knows the same people I do.”
“I asked her, of course, but she said it would be too upsetting. She’s also very worried about her brother and the threat to her children.”
Yet Marie had no qualms about putting her and Summer in more danger. “Did she mention that we were also threatened, my child and me?”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry.” Hannah sounded close to tears. “I know this is asking too much, but Marie assured me you’re an excellent investigator, and I’m desperate, Miss Holland.”
“What about a private investigator?”
“I need someone who knew Jasmine and her colleagues.”
“Okay, well, how about you mail the letters to me?”
“I couldn’t! Birch works for the post office and the letters could go missing. A courier could also lose them. They’re are all I have of Jasmine, and they musn’t leave Parksville.”
Great. Wonderful. Casey swallowed the pills and some water.
“Miss Holland, I know this is a lot to ask, but could you come here and read them? I’ll pay all your expenses.”
Was she kidding? “Wouldn’t it be cheaper to have the letters photocopied and the copies sent to me? Or you could fax them.”
“I don’t have access to a copier, nor do I want anyone at this facility to know about my private life. Oh, my god!” Hannah said. “She’s here, I have to go.”
“Who’s there?”
“Please come to Grantwood Manor.” She sounded panicky. “You must take the letters before she finds them!”
“Before who finds them?” What in hell was going on? “Hannah? Are you all right?”
“Gabrielle will destroy the letters if she sees them. Please come as soon as you can.” The line went dead.
The daughter? How was Casey supposed to drop everything and leave? Rhonda would be calling tonight. Surely Hannah could hide the letters from Gabrielle. She’d done so up to this point. Why did she have to, though?
Should she even go to Parksville? Summer was safe at Barb’s, and Stan had told her she could take a break from the M10 after tomorrow. What about the rockhound assignment, though?
Casey slid under her comforter, then phoned Barb. Each ring sent shock waves through her skull, forcing her to hold the phone at a distance. Finally, Barb answered.
“It’s Casey. How’s Summer?”
“She’s great. In fact, she’s playing pool with my youngest right now.”
“Good. I need to tell her that Rhonda called and left a message. She’s calling back between seven and eight tonight, and wants to talk to Summer.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get her there safely.”
“Thank you. May I talk to her?”
“Sure, and while I fetch Summer, you can talk to Lou. He just dropped by.”
Should she tell him about Hannah? He wouldn’t want her traipsing off to Parksville, but to leave without telling him would make things worse between them.
“How are you feeling?” Lou asked.
“I took meds and I’m in bed, so I’ll be fine.” She hesitated. “Listen, I just got a call from Jasmine’s mother. She asked if I’d read some letters Jasmine wrote her.”
“Why?”
After Casey explained, she said, “She wants me to come to Parksville to read them.”
“Are you going?”
“Still deciding, but she practically begged me.” She didn’t want a lengthy debate about it.
“Here’s Summer,” he murmured.
“Did Mom really phone?” She sounded excited.
“Absolutely. Barb’s going to bring you over.” Casey closed her eyes. “Remember, I’d like to talk to your mom first, okay?”
“I guess. So, are you gonna tell her about the freak who wants to hurt me?”
“I have to be honest, Summer. Besides, your mom always helped me sort things out.”
“You won’t talk forever, right? I have tons of stuff to tell her.”
What if Rhonda changed her mind and didn’t call? What if she called and it went badly? “You know, something could come up and she might not be allowed to phone us.”
“I suppose.” She paused. “Lou just left the room and he seems kind of down. Is he mad at you?”
Summer had her mother’s way of probing into personal issues. “Not that I know of.”
“But he didn’t stay with you tonight.”
“I have a migraine and I just had a strange phone call from the mother of the lady who was killed. She wants me to come see her in Parksville, but I don’t feel right about leaving you for a whole day.”
“You should go; maybe even stay overnight. I’m fine here.”
Casey smiled, but even this made her head throb. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No, but Barb’s totally awesome, and this place is cool.”
Meaning better than here. Casey felt a pang of jealousy. “Good.”
“If someone needs help, you shouldn’t turn your back on them,” Summer said. “That’s what you and Mom taught me.”
She thought about Hannah and little Jeremy. “Even if it means endangering yourself and those you love, like I’ve done to you?” Not to mention turning colleagues into enemies.
