“She says she wishes she knew more English,” Tony said.
“I wish I knew more Vietnamese.” Jay picked up a menu to hide behind, before he glanced across the table.
“Hi. This is my father, Hieng.” Rosie wore a white blouse and a gold chain around her neck.
“Hello,” Jay said, while thinking that Hieng must be close to sixty years old.
Hieng nodded at Jay.
Jay nodded back.
“My father is glad to meet you.” Rosie used her elbow to jab her father in the ribs. Hieng smiled obediently. The waiter arrived as soon as Jay set his menu down. He took a look around the restaurant and counted four empty chairs.
Food orders came and went. The air filled with the scent of noodles, chicken, beef, peanut sauce, peppers, ginger, curry, and salt.
“My Mom says you’re our guest today,” Tony said.
“Shouldn’t I be paying?” Jay asked before remembering he only had enough money for some gas and one meal a day until payday. He had been dreaming about tonight’s satay soup while studying in the university library.
Tony ignored his friend’s offer. “On a day like today, all of the money is put into an account. If anyone here has to make an emergency trip to Vietnam, then this money is used.”
“I should… ” Jay began.
Rosie said, “Auntie is very stubborn. Just smile. Say thank you.”
“Thank you,” Jay said.
Tony’s mother said something to her son. Tony said, “My mom asks why are you turning red?”
Who knows, Jay thought. Their orders arrived before he could be expected to answer.
He hardly looked up from the bowl. Jay used chopsticks to gather up noodles and fill his mouth.
The clatter of conversation and eating died away to a murmur. Jay looked up from what was left of his soup. A noodle reached from his lower lip to the bowl.
Tony’s mother smiled at Jay when he slurped up the noodle and wiped his chin with a napkin.
Rosie giggled.
Jay looked left.
Uncle Tran was standing right next to him.
Uncle Tran put his arm on Jay’s shoulder.
The restaurant was silent except for the voice of a toddler who said, “How are you? How ARE you! How are YOU!”
Even though he was sitting and Tran standing, Jay and Uncle Tran were nearly eye to eye.
Tran put a jeweller’s box in front of Jay.
Jay looked at Tony for help.
“Open it,” Tony said.
Jay found himself unable to speak. His fingers fumbled to open the box. In between two layers of white cotton, he saw a gold elephant on a gold chain.
Tony said, “Uncle Tran wants me to explain because you’re my friend and you have watched out for me, treated me like an equal. If you put the elephant on, it means you’ve accepted us, all of us, as your family. In one way or another, we’re all orphans, and you’re being invited to join this family.”
Jay’s fingers fumbled with the clasp. He dropped the chain. Panic gripped him. Even the children were quiet now. Jay shoved his chair back, fighting the urge to run.
He glanced at Rosie who glared at him.
Jay picked up the chain.
His fingers refused to work.
There was the soft touch of a woman’s hand on his. Jay looked up into the face of Tony’s mother. He recognized the emotions of grief and love. She took the chain and opened the clasp. He felt the cold of the chain at his throat, and the warmth of her hands at the back of his neck. She closed the link then rested her hands on his shoulders.
Jay used his right hand to touch the elephant at his throat.
“You’re family now,” Tony said.
Monday, October 19
Chapter 12
“ARTHUR? HARPER JUST called. Things are really hopping. I’m meeting him for coffee. Are you and Matt going to be okay?” Lane was just out of the shower, and he noticed a few damp spots coming through the front of his shirt as he was knotting his tie.
“I’ll drive Matt to school,” Arthur said.
Matt sat eating cereal, across the table from Arthur. The boy nodded at Lane.
The phone rang.
Arthur reached for it. “Hello? Lisa. Yes, we’re fine.
It has been interesting. Yes, I’m sorry too, but… Lane’s right here.”
Lane took the phone. “Hello, Lisa.”
“I just got a call from Dr. Fibre. You know, the forensics genius with absolutely no social skills. He looks like something out of a male model magazine but can’t pick a pair of pants to match a shirt or tie,” Lisa said.
“I met him once.” Lane took a sip of coffee.
“He said he got some fibres off of Kaylie’s clothing. A few were animal; canine. And some were consistent with the material used to carpet the trunks of latemodel cars. He’s confident he can make a match, if you can find the vehicle. Fibre confirmed that her upper body was wrapped in a plastic consistent with the material used to manufacture garbage bags.”
Lisa sounded better today, more optimistic, Lane thought. “The car’s a problem. Bobbie had her old car shredded. She’s already bought a new one.”
Lisa said, “The car was only a couple of years old. Sounds like a calculated move. Destroying evidence. Staying one step ahead of you.”
“Looks like it,” Lane said.
“Pretty damning when you think about it.”
“Damning but not the kind of evidence that would be damning in court,” Lane said.
“Probably not. I’ll keep you informed from this end. Something else may turn up.”
“I’ll keep you up-to-date on what we find,” Lane said.
“Good. Take care.” Lisa hung up.
Lane and Harper met twenty minutes later at a coffee shop on Kensington. A table by the window offered privacy.
Lane sipped a Rolo, with its delicious blend of espresso, chocolate and caramel.
Harper said, “We may have caught a break. Bobbie has a brother. Name’s Jay Krocker. He’s nineteen. Problem is there appears to be no fixed address. It may take a while to track him down. And get this, their parents died when Jay was fifteen. It was a house fire attributed to careless smoking. Jay claimed his parents had quit smoking. Still, the investigators couldn’t find a cause other than careless smoking. I’ve asked for the file so we can take a look.”
“That’s three,” Lane said.
“Three?” Harper asked.
“Two fires attributed to careless smoking and a burned-out cigarette butt in the camper. It’s beginning to look like a pattern.” Lane stirred the whipped cream and caramel into his coffee.
“I got two more messages from the vet. She wants us to call her,” Harper said.
“We’ve got to find the brother. He may be able to give us some insights into Bobbie. The vet may have to wait.”
“So, I hear you’ve got a big game tonight. First night as a ref. Nervous?” Harper asked.
Lane thought for a moment. He remembered he still had to get new skates. “Arthur’s buying me a referee’s jersey and a pair of pants. But I’ve got to get a new helmet and skates.”
“Have you ever skated without toe picks?” Harper smiled.
“No.”
Harper smiled some more.
Harper continued smiling for the rest of the day until nearly four o’clock. It was a day of phone calls, faxes, and computer searches. As planned, they met in a conference room to compare notes.
Lane set several folders down on the table. Harper did the same. They sat next to one another with sleeves rolled up and jackets on the backs of their chairs.
Harper opened his top folder. “I’ve got a driver’s license and photo of Jay Krocker. He’s fifteen years younger than his sister. Owns a twenty-year-old Lincoln. I phoned the address on his driver’s license. The woman who lives there said he drops by every month or so for mail. Apparently, he hasn’t lived there for several years. Another place we might be able to find him is the university. He’s registered there, and I’ve got a copy of his timetable. We should be able to wait around one of his classes, pick him out, and sit him down for a chat.”