Under Cold Stone A Constable Molly Smith Mystery by Vicki Delany Page B
Authors: Vicki Delany
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Tracey?”
“Matt’s girlfriend, apparently. At least she thinks she is, although I got the impression she’s not very secure in the relationship.”
“Lucky…”
“Sorry. She’s a waitress at the restaurant. The one where we ran into Matt yesterday. She called me earlier, called you, actually, at the hotel, looking for Matt. She’s been calling him, but he doesn’t answer. She doesn’t know where he is, but she says he’s a keen backcountry camper. Goes into the wilderness by himself when he needs some down time. I thought…I thought that might be a possibility.”
“I swear, Lucky, you can get more out of people in a casual conversation than any officer in the interrogation room. They’ve been trying to get ahold of someone who phoned Matt this morning, but they’re not answering, and the phone company hasn’t come back yet with a name or address.”
“Her phone battery died. I get the feeling she’s not too well organized at the best of times.”
Paul chuckled. “Trust Lucky. Where’s this girl now?”
“At the Lighthouse Keeper.”
“Okay. Officers will be there shortly. It might be nice if you happen to be hanging around, if you think this Tracey trusts you.”
“Is it important, do you think, about the camping?”
“It might well be, my love. It might well be.”
Chapter Twenty-four
HIGHWAY OUTSIDE INVERMERE, BRITISH COLUMBIA. SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Smith pulled over at a rest stop to let Sylvester have a break. The dog ran about, head down, nose twitching, searching for exactly the right spot, while she made a call. So far the drive had been easy. The road on the mountain pass between Salmo and Creston had been recently groomed and cleared of snow, visibility was good, traffic light. The weather was supposed to stay dry for the remainder of the day until she crossed the Yoho Pass into Alberta.
“I’m outside Invermere, Mom, and thought I’d check in. I should be there in another two hours or so, all going well. Any updates?”
“A few, although no sign of Matt. Acting on a tip that Matt’s a keen wilderness hiker, the police had one of his roommates check his things. He says some of Matt’s camping and hiking equipment might be gone.”
“They think he’s gone into the wilderness, then?”
“Looks like that’s a possibility. The roommate couldn’t be sure. He said he hadn’t been in Matt’s room for weeks, and it’s possible Matt sold some of his stuff. He was always short of money. They all are while waiting for ski season to begin. Paul was relieved to hear it. If Matt had time to get his things…”
“Then he wasn’t coerced into leaving. What did this roommate have to say about the death? Was he there?”
“His name’s Alistair and he’s a musician of some sort. He played at a bar last night and the band members went to someone’s place after closing for a few drinks and to hang out. He came home to find the police crawling all over his apartment. The other roommate says he spent his night at a girlfriend’s.”
“All possible, Mom. How’s the chief doing?”
“The Mounties are letting him tag along, although they’re not telling him much. As long as Paul’s kept in the loop, and kept busy, he’ll be okay.”
“And you, Mom? How are you?”
“I’m fine, Moonlight. I’m dreadfully worried about Paul, but I don’t have a personal involvement in this. I’ve only met Matt once since he was a child and it wasn’t a very promising encounter. I’m glad you’re coming, dear. If I have to support Paul…”
“You need someone to support you. See you in a couple of hours. I’ll call as I’m coming into town and you can tell me where to meet you. Oh, I’ll need someplace to stay. Is town very busy, are there likely to be any motel rooms free?”
“I’ll check you into the Banff Springs.”
Smith sputtered. “I can’t afford to stay there.”
“My treat. I’m heading back to the hotel now. There doesn’t seem to be much more I can do.” Lucky let out a
“Matt’s girlfriend, apparently. At least she thinks she is, although I got the impression she’s not very secure in the relationship.”
“Lucky…”
“Sorry. She’s a waitress at the restaurant. The one where we ran into Matt yesterday. She called me earlier, called you, actually, at the hotel, looking for Matt. She’s been calling him, but he doesn’t answer. She doesn’t know where he is, but she says he’s a keen backcountry camper. Goes into the wilderness by himself when he needs some down time. I thought…I thought that might be a possibility.”
“I swear, Lucky, you can get more out of people in a casual conversation than any officer in the interrogation room. They’ve been trying to get ahold of someone who phoned Matt this morning, but they’re not answering, and the phone company hasn’t come back yet with a name or address.”
“Her phone battery died. I get the feeling she’s not too well organized at the best of times.”
Paul chuckled. “Trust Lucky. Where’s this girl now?”
“At the Lighthouse Keeper.”
“Okay. Officers will be there shortly. It might be nice if you happen to be hanging around, if you think this Tracey trusts you.”
“Is it important, do you think, about the camping?”
“It might well be, my love. It might well be.”
Chapter Twenty-four
HIGHWAY OUTSIDE INVERMERE, BRITISH COLUMBIA. SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Smith pulled over at a rest stop to let Sylvester have a break. The dog ran about, head down, nose twitching, searching for exactly the right spot, while she made a call. So far the drive had been easy. The road on the mountain pass between Salmo and Creston had been recently groomed and cleared of snow, visibility was good, traffic light. The weather was supposed to stay dry for the remainder of the day until she crossed the Yoho Pass into Alberta.
“I’m outside Invermere, Mom, and thought I’d check in. I should be there in another two hours or so, all going well. Any updates?”
“A few, although no sign of Matt. Acting on a tip that Matt’s a keen wilderness hiker, the police had one of his roommates check his things. He says some of Matt’s camping and hiking equipment might be gone.”
“They think he’s gone into the wilderness, then?”
“Looks like that’s a possibility. The roommate couldn’t be sure. He said he hadn’t been in Matt’s room for weeks, and it’s possible Matt sold some of his stuff. He was always short of money. They all are while waiting for ski season to begin. Paul was relieved to hear it. If Matt had time to get his things…”
“Then he wasn’t coerced into leaving. What did this roommate have to say about the death? Was he there?”
“His name’s Alistair and he’s a musician of some sort. He played at a bar last night and the band members went to someone’s place after closing for a few drinks and to hang out. He came home to find the police crawling all over his apartment. The other roommate says he spent his night at a girlfriend’s.”
“All possible, Mom. How’s the chief doing?”
“The Mounties are letting him tag along, although they’re not telling him much. As long as Paul’s kept in the loop, and kept busy, he’ll be okay.”
“And you, Mom? How are you?”
“I’m fine, Moonlight. I’m dreadfully worried about Paul, but I don’t have a personal involvement in this. I’ve only met Matt once since he was a child and it wasn’t a very promising encounter. I’m glad you’re coming, dear. If I have to support Paul…”
“You need someone to support you. See you in a couple of hours. I’ll call as I’m coming into town and you can tell me where to meet you. Oh, I’ll need someplace to stay. Is town very busy, are there likely to be any motel rooms free?”
“I’ll check you into the Banff Springs.”
Smith sputtered. “I can’t afford to stay there.”
“My treat. I’m heading back to the hotel now. There doesn’t seem to be much more I can do.” Lucky let out a
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