Roper smiled. “Getting too hot in here for you, officer?”
Buck kept his voice low. “We have a witness,” he said, “who will testify that you said, ‘I taped the bomb to her fuel tank. It was easy. And the pipe bomb worked like a charm.’” Roper and Lesley leaned forward.
“As a result of the witness statement, we followed the procedures for tapping and taping.” Buck passed copies of documents to Lesley and Roper. “You can read along with your lawyer if you like, Mr. Stockwell.”
Lane glanced away from the screen to see Keely’s reaction. “Now this is getting interesting,” she said.
Buck pulled more documents from his file. “We have transcripts of taped conversations between Mr. Stockwell and another member of the police service. I have one part of a conversation highlighted for you.” Buck slid copies to Lesley and Roper.
Roper read the page and looked sideways at Stockwell as he passed the page to his client.
“According to the transcript you said, ‘After what Saliba did to Smoke, she needed to be taught a lesson. The bitch is a rat. I’m glad the second explosion put her in the hospital. Maybe her and her fag partner will find another line of work now.’ Copies of the taped conversations in their entirety will be made available to the three of you.”
Buck closed his folder and stood. “I need to inform you, Mr. Stockwell, that the next step is to have you removed as a member of the Calgary Police Service. Also, the crown prosecutor has been made aware of the charges against you. You are to appear in court in two days’ time. When you leave this room, you will be processed and have the specific charges explained to you.”
“I had nothing to do with the second bomb!” Stockwell crossed his arms.
“Shut up!” Roper said.
Buck stood, picked up his folder, and left the room. A minute later, Lane heard a knock on the door. Keely opened it. “May I come in?” Buck asked.
Lane saw that the knot of Buck’s tie was once again tucked neatly at the top of his collar.
Buck shut the door.
“Loosening the tie was part of the performance.” Lane said.
“Mr. Roper was hoping to make me sweat, and I didn’t want to disappoint.” Buck stood with his back to the door.
“Very nice work,” Keely said.
Buck smiled. “I’ve debated whether to speak with you. I wanted you both to hear and see the evidence we have against Mr. Stockwell. There is more information, however.”
Lane looked at Keely.
“Like what?” Keely asked.
“There are a series of conversations on the transcripts.” Buck set his file on the table, leaned back against the door, and crossed his arms. “Two names – a pair of detectives – are mentioned quite often. A former police chief offered a two-hundred-dollar bottle of Scotch to anyone who could discredit or intimidate either of the detectives. Am I being clear enough with my generalizations?”
“I think so,” Keely said.
“Apparently the former police chief was upset for two reasons. First, a female officer uncovered some disconcerting facts about a club the chief belonged to, and he was embarrassed as a result. Second, the chief felt his reputation was tarnished by a male officer who discovered the illegal activities of a close associate.” Buck looked at the floor for a moment. “It’s important to understand that the former chief put great value in his reputation and his position.”
Lane said, “Isn’t that kind of ironic?”
“Not if you understand that we’re talking about a sociopath. Then it almost makes sense, and it makes Stockwell’s actions predictable considering the social environment.” Buck watched Lane and Keely and waited for a reaction.
“I wondered sometimes if there were only a few of us who saw, really saw, what was going on,” Lane said.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit presumptuous to assume that only a few police officers could be intelligent enough to see that a very unhealthy climate was created by the network of male officers who advanced each other’s careers based on their membership in a misogynistic drinking club?” Buck looked at Lane and Keely in turn.
“Are you assuming there weren’t a few women who saw what was going on?” Keely asked.
“Point taken. Please understand that I am just explaining this to you, and I am asking you not to discuss this matter with anyone else.” Buck moved away from the door.
“We hear you,” Keely said.
“Thank you,” Lane said.
Buck picked up his file and left.
Arthur was waiting for Lane when he came through the front door. “Daniel is here. Behave yourself.”
Lane smiled. “It’s great to be home.”
“You seem pleased with yourself.” Arthur led the way into the kitchen.
“Well?” Lane asked.
“Well what?” Arthur asked.
“What’s new on the hospital front?”
“I have a series of medical tests starting tomorrow. And the operation is on for Friday. I can’t eat after lunch on Thursday, and I need to be at the Foothills at eight o’clock in the morning.” Arthur tried to smile. “So, come on. Tell me what happened.”
“You remember Stockwell?” Lane breathed in the scent of salmon baking in maple syrup and ginger.
“Hard to forget someone like that. Is this a time for celebration?”
Lane reached into the fridge and pulled out a beer. “You want one?”
Arthur nodded. “You sure this isn’t a wine celebration?”
Lane looked at the beer. “No, this is definitely a cold beer celebration.” He reached into the fridge for a second beer, fetched two tall glasses, and poured. “Cheers.”
There was the sound of feet taking the stairs two at a time. Daniel landed on the kitchen floor and took in the beer, Arthur, and Lane. His smile flatlined. “Just came up to get a drink.”
“Would you like a beer?” Lane asked.
Arthur smiled.
“Sure.” Daniel tried on his best smile.
Lane got up, pulled a beer out of the fridge, and poured. “Cheers.” He handed the beer to Daniel.
Daniel hesitated, took the glass, and sipped tentatively. “Good stuff. What’s the occasion?”
“Things are coming together. I can feel it.” Lane smiled at Arthur.
Daniel went downstairs. “You’ll never guess what just happened,” he said to Christine, trying to keep his voice low.
“What?”
“Nice work.” Arthur smiled. “And what about Stockwell?”
“He’s being charged with the first bomb.” Lane took a sip of beer and sighed.
“What about the second bomb?”
Lane closed his eyes, savouring the beer. “He says he had nothing to do with that.”
“Do you believe him?” Arthur asked.
“I don’t know.” Lane thought for a moment. “I really don’t know.”
“How did Keely handle it?”
Lane smiled. “Like a pro.”
“Did you tell her that?”
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29
chapter 15
“Take another bow for your work.” Lane lifted his coffee in a salute to Keely. They sat at Central Blends, where the coffee was smooth, the food was cooked fresh on the premises, and the atmosphere was rustic.
Keely smiled. “The best part is that since Stockwell’s been charged, we moved back home yesterday. Dylan couldn’t have handled much more of living with my dad.”
Lane nodded, then sipped his coffee.
“Now all we have to do is figure out who killed Branimir,” Keely said. She tried to find a comfortable sitting position but couldn’t. “Could we walk?”
Lane picked up his coffee. “Good idea.” He followed her past the dessert display, the tables, and the landscape photographs for sale. The original wood floors announced the progress of their steps through the café and to the front door.
Outside, Keely rolled her shoulders back, closed her eyes, and felt the sun’s warm hands. “Which way?”
“Left. There’s a great house over here.” Lane led the way.