Chapter 24
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Getting into bed that night, Doreen had to admit her nerves were wearing on her.
She had to remind herself that she could easily be that next victim.
And, with that worrisome thought in mind, she double-checked the security system, then wrote Mack a handwritten note, just in case.
The fact that she was even doing this was silly.
She groaned, knowing how angry he would be if he found her the next morning. So, she phoned him, and when there wasn’t an answer, she phoned the captain.
The captain answered and explained, “We’ve got an incident downtown. That’s where he is.”
“Okay. Not in the restaurant district at all, was it?”
“It is actually. A break-in at that Rocking Horse restaurant.”
“Why was Mack sent?”
“He just happened to be on the roster,” the captain noted. “Don’t worry. Everybody is pitching in because we’re so short-staffed.”
“And because it was that location.”
“Of course.”
“I still think there’s likely to be another murder.”
“For what though?” he asked in confusion. “The place has shut down. Nobody was there working, so it’s not as if anybody will be hurting anything.”
“Maybe not.”
“Doreen, what are you thinking?” he asked in a warning tone.
“I don’t really want to say, just in case it sounds foolish.”
“And, if you sound foolish, you know that I’ll tell you.”
“I’ve already warned two people about being the next victims.”
“Good God,” he muttered. “What do you mean, the next victims?”
“I believe two other people in this scenario could end up dead,” she replied, “and I suspect it will be sooner than later.”
“And who are these two?”
After she quickly explained the two, he took a moment to write down the information.
Doreen sighed. “There is a third possible victim as well.”
“So, who is the third potential victim?” When she hesitated, he growled. “Doreen,” and there was that all-too-familiar warning in his tone.
“Me,” she admitted.
“Oh boy,” he muttered. “You’re thinking that one of them is coming after you?”
“Yep, I sure am,” she said.
“I’m calling Mack. You stay right where you are and keep your doors locked.”
“Yeah, that’s why I was trying to get a hold of him. … He’ll be pretty mad at me.”
“Ya think?” the captain roared into the phone. “Don’t you move.” And, with that, he ended the call.
When Mack called her a minute later, he yelled, “What the heck?”
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m totally fine.”
“The captain doesn’t seem to think that you’ll stay that way.”
“I may have given him the wrong impression.”
“I don’t think so,” Mack growled in that same warning tone that the captain had just used. “I got a bit of a garbled message from him.”
“Yeah, the whole mess is garbled anyway,” she noted, “but I did warn some people that they could be next, and then realized that, if I’m right, I could be on that list as well.”
“Jesus,” he snapped. “I’m on the way.”
“You didn’t want to work that case anyway?”
“No, I didn’t,” he admitted, “but neither do I want to have nightmares about somebody coming after you again. Just tell me that you’re locked in?”
“I’m locked in. It’s fine.”
“Really? We’ve seen any number of people get around security systems, and yours isn’t as good as I would like it to be. I swear to God, we’ll fix that after this.”
“As soon as I get money.”
He snapped, “You’ve got money.” Doreen heard his thumping footsteps audible in the background. “We’re fixing it no matter what.”
She smiled. “So, you’re coming?”
“Yes, I’m coming, but you knew I would be.”
“No, I didn’t know you would be,” she argued. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a while.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s been crazy. Is that why you’ve been calling me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m already on the way.”
“Good. … By the way, when you drive up, keep an eye out.”
“For what?”
“For somebody, anybody.”
“You want to tell me who?”
“No, it will probably be better if you just come.”
“I’m already in the vehicle,” he snapped, his tone deepening with both fear and anger. “But if you don’t tell me what I’m walking into …”
“I don’t know what you’re walking into,” she stated. “That’s why I’m warning you ahead of time.” It made perfect sense to her, but, to him, it seemed as if she was just trying to irritate him. “I’m really not, you know.”
“Not what?” he roared.
“Trying to irritate you.”
“You could have fooled me,” he snapped, “because, honest to God, it seems as if that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“I’m not,” she snapped back. “I’m really not.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear that,” he yelled, “because you’re not making any sense.”
“Where are you now?” she asked, as she walked around her bedroom, looking out the window.
“What difference does it make?” he asked. “I’m on the way to you.”
“I just wondered how long until you get here.”
“You’re really worried, aren’t you?”
“Maybe. … It just hit me.”
“Are you okay? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Anyway, I’ll wait until you get here.”
“No, you’ll stay on the phone.”
She looked out the window and could have sworn she saw a shadow walking by the creek. “Looks as if people are out on the creek,” she muttered.
“It is 11:30 at night, Doreen. There shouldn’t be anybody down at the creek.”
“Yeah, but it looks to me as if people are at the creek.”
“You mean, having a party?” he asked hopefully.
“I don’t think so.”
“Of course not,” he muttered. “Doreen, you sure do know how to get a fire lit under people.”
“We just weren’t getting anywhere,” she muttered.
“I know we weren’t getting anywhere, but that doesn’t mean you nudge people in order to get things to happen.”
“But, if I don’t do that, nothing seems to go anywhere.”
He groaned. “We’ll talk about it when I get there.”
“Probably not,” she said cheerfully. “Chances are, you’ll be a little busy.”
“Do you see somebody?”
“No, not yet. I’m thinking it won’t be long.”
“For crying out loud,” he muttered, “why won’t you tell me who?”
“Because I don’t want to put a jinx on it.”
“A jinx?” he repeated. “You’ve got me racing toward you at warp speed because you’re thinking that you’ll get attacked, yet you won’t tell me who to look for?”
“No, because I’m really not sure.”
“Yes, you are. You’re sure, and you know it. You’re just hoping you’re wrong.”
She sighed loudly. “I just really don’t like it when people act like jerks.”
“Ya think?” he snapped. “But the fact is that they’re mean, and they will still be problems. You can’t fix that.”
“I know. I was just trying to fix some things before it all blew up.”
“Fixing some things often means everything else goes to pot.”
“Yeah, … probably so,” she muttered. Just then the shadow became visible, creeping up along the trees. “How far out are you?”
“I’m coming very quickly, maybe about four minutes.”
“Hmm. Yeah, you should meet him just right then.”
“Are you telling me that he’s out there?”
“Somebody coming up along the tree line from the river,” she shared.
“How did they find out where you live?”
“It’s not that hard. We’re even on the blooming tour bus for the gardening and tourist spots now, remember?”
“Right,” he noted bitterly. “How could I possibly forget that detail?”
“The shadow has just detached from the back,” she added, striving for disinterest, aware that her heart was slamming against her chest. “And he’s coming up to the front, so maybe turn off your engine lights and sneak up the driveway.”
“Good God,” he muttered, but he did just as she asked. “Done.”
“Now, he should be checking out the front door.”
“You put the security on?” he asked.
“Yes, I did, but as you mentioned,”—she sighed—“he’s inside now.”
Mack sighed. “I’m right at the house, and I’m racing inside.”
“Yeah, good luck with that. I’m about to head downstairs, and I’ll meet you at the front door.”
“You stay where you are, for crying out loud,” he muttered. “You just said somebody entered your house.”
“Yep, they sure did, and they won’t make it easy on us.”
“They’ll never make it easy on us, honey. I know you want to believe in people, but, at the end of the day, they are really just trying to save themselves.”
“I know. … I was really hoping I was wrong.”
“No, you thought you were right the whole time,” he muttered, “and, one of these days, we’ll have to talk about you sharing that information with me before we get to this point.”
“You wouldn’t believe me without any proof,” she replied in a reasonable tone. “I had to get you proof somehow.”
He groaned. “Where are you?” he whispered.
“At the top of the stairs,” she whispered back.
“I’m at the bottom of the stairs, and I don’t see anybody.”
“No, but you know the security was off, right?”
“Yep, it was off,” he confirmed in a very soft whisper.
“I’m coming down the stairs, so I’m hanging up now.”
She quickly disconnected from the phone and crept down the stairs, and there was Mack—big, solid, steady Mack at the bottom of the stairs. She reached out a hand to grab his, then she smiled at him and whispered, “Kitchen.”
“Why?” He raised an eyebrow, and they tiptoed into the kitchen.
She held Mugs back and then turned on the big overhead light.
And there before them was Uncle Zev. He stared at her in shock, then turned to look at Mack and frowned.
“Did you get into the wrong house somehow?” Mack asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Doreen looked at him. “I’m so sorry, Zev. I so hoped it wasn’t you. I really did.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied stiffly. “You weren’t sharing any information, so I just couldn’t resist. I had to come in and see.”
“Of course you did,” she said, with a smile, and then pointed to his side. “So, there doesn’t happen to be a kitchen knife in your pocket, does there?”
He paled ever-so-slightly.
She nodded. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to put that down. I’m not really interested in facing off against someone wielding a kitchen knife.”
“How did you know?” he asked, staring at her.
“Because of all the reasons for you to do this, it was the motive that got me. I just couldn’t figure it out. But then, Danny, your painter sibling, more or less confirmed what I was dealing with.”
“What are you talking about? He’s a useless painter, and what’s that got to do with anything?”
“He’s a very talented artist,” she countered, “but he pointed out how his wife really wanted to be with you, but, with you going back to Alberta, that wouldn’t happen.”
“You think she killed everybody?” Zev asked, staring at her.
But Doreen caught that gleam in his eyes. “No, I’m pretty sure I know exactly who killed whom. I’m still a little murky on motive, but that’s okay. I’m sure the cops will figure it out.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with that,” he pointed out.
“Yes, you did,” she stated. “Not only did you kill Jillian’s mother ten years ago, but you also killed her fiancé, Barry.”
He blanched. “What?”
“Yeah, and then you killed Alice, your other sister. I’m also pretty sure you’re about to make a deal with your brother, Danny, for the restaurant, maybe even buy it, since they have no family for it to go to afterward.
So, this way it could become your niece’s, but here’s the best part, right, Zev? She’s not your niece, is she?”
He was shocked into silence.
Mack turned and looked at her and asked, “What?”
“Jillian’s his biological daughter,” Doreen stated. “You must have had some agreement in place, even after all these years, to never tell Jillian that you were her biological father.”
Zev shrugged. “Katie wanted children but couldn’t have any.
My long-term girlfriend was pregnant but didn’t want to keep the baby.
She was much younger than me and wasn’t ready to settle down.
So I made a deal with her and with Katie, and we agreed to a private adoption.
Part of the terms were that Jillian could never know the truth.
But Katie wanted to break that agreement.
I couldn’t let her tell Jillian. My daughter would hate me.
So I did what I had to do. And now, when Barry and Jillian’s long friendship developed into an engagement, I realized that I would lose her to Barry, who would take her away from me. ”
Doreen sighed. “They were going somewhere else, weren’t they?
Things weren’t going that well here in Kelowna.
Jillian wanted to stay, but Barry didn’t.
Yet Jillian was in love with Barry, and she would have gone with him.
You would have lost her, even after you spent all these years staying nearby to remain in Jillian’s life. You didn’t want to lose her.”
Zev stated, “She is everything to me. You don’t understand.”
“I do understand because it’s all about family.” She turned to Mack and added, “As we know all too well, families are messy.”
“So messy,” Mack agreed, with a sigh. “Did you really have to kill them though?”
Zev stared at Mack. “Sometimes it’s the only option, when nobody would listen to reason.”
“Maybe nobody would listen to reason,” Doreen acknowledged, “but generally nobody thinks to commit murder afterward.”
He stared at her, and, instead of a knife, he pulled out a small snub-nose revolver.
She sighed again. “Of course. That makes sense, doesn’t it? You can’t knife me to death or it’ll just link my murder instantly to Barry’s and Alice’s and even Katie’s, right?”
“It would. I’m so sorry.” He looked at Mack. “I’m sorry for you too because I can’t let either of you live.”
Doreen snorted. “I’m afraid you’ll be the one who’s sorry.” She looked behind him where Thaddeus was now wide awake on the kitchen table, and she asked, “Right, Thaddeus?”
Zev turned around, expecting somebody to come up behind him, just as Thaddeus flew into his face, beating his wings at him.
Mack moved forward as well. And Goliath was already there, jumping onto Zev’s shoulders, letting his weight carry him down the man’s chest, the cat’s claws digging deep.
Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Mugs hit Zev in the back of the knee, and he fell like a huge tree and landed on the kitchen floor.
Mack quickly took control of the gun and secured Zev on the floor.
She looked at Mack and nodded. “Families are messy.”
He burst into laughter, then asked, “You knew, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I knew,” she muttered. “I really hoped I was wrong, but I wasn’t.” With a smile, she asked, “Now can we plan that Vancouver trip? I really need a holiday.”