Nothing Is Negotiable (6 page)

“No, she didn’t say anything. We barely had a chance to talk.” Rita leaned against the wall and studied Luke’s face. “When I saw her it was all routine. I got her information and found out what was going on. She told me about getting sick and falling down the side of the cliff, which sounded really scary. I’m glad she didn’t get hurt any worse than she did. Anyway, we took an X-ray and gave it to Dr. Duncan. The clinic was busy, I doubt if I talked to her for more than five minutes. Maybe Dr. Duncan can tell you something. Let me see if he has time to talk to you.”

Luke followed her down to the end of the hallway where she stopped at a brown paneled door and knocked softly. When there was no answer, she pushed it open and they walked into a spacious office. In the middle of the room was a massive mahogany desk. Across from it were two arm chairs.

“Have a seat and I’ll go get him.” Luke sat down and she walked out, closing the door behind her.

Behind the desk numerous plaques and diplomas decorated the wall. Below them on a credenza were a number of framed photos. In one, a tall, gray haired hunter knelt beside a fallen elk. In another, the same man knelt beside a dead bear.

About ten minutes later, the hunter in the photos walked in, wearing a white lab coat with R. C. Duncan, M.D. monogrammed above the chest pocket.

“Rita told me you can’t seem to find your wife,” the man said as he walked over and perched on the corner of his desk.

“Yes, sir and I don’t know exactly what to do. I thought maybe you might give me some help, or at least an idea where to start looking for her.”

“I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. I’ve never heard of anyone disappearing around here before. I’m sure everything will be okay.” Under normal circumstances, the doctor’s voice and demeanor would have been comforting.

The doctor laced his fingers in front of him as he recounted his visit with Bonnie. “Rita gave me the X-ray of her thumb. It wasn’t broken, but it is sprained pretty badly. That’s a common injury when people fall forward like that. So, I put a splint on it and told her to wear it as long as she feels she needs it. Then she said she’d been sick, vomiting. But it didn’t sound too bad to me. I think she’ll be over it by tomorrow, but I gave her some antibiotics to take. The drug companies send us lots of free samples, so I gave her some of those. I told her to drink lots of liquids. And just in case she’s not better by tomorrow, I wrote her a prescription for something a little stronger. And for her thumb, I told her to just take some Tylenol or Advil.”

“How long were you with her?”

“Oh, about five minutes.”

“When you finished, where’d she go?”

“After we finished, we walked out of the exam room and I remember watching her walk back toward the front desk. People who haven’t been here before get turned around in the hallways, so I usually watch them to make sure they go the right way. Which she did.”

Nothing sounded the least bit unusual. Now it seemed clear to Luke that whatever happened to her, happened after she left the clinic.

“I guess I just have to keep looking,” Luke said as he stood up. He walked over and pulled the door open. “Thanks for your time.”

“I wish there was more I could tell you.”

“There is one thing. Can you tell me how to get to the police station?”

Luke was a bit confused. “RCMP?” he asked.

“I forgot you’re from the states,” Dr. Duncan said. “Here in Canada, we have the RCMP. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It’s our federal police force. You can find their office out past the grocery store about half a mile.”

Something about taking the car made him feel like he was abandoning Bonnie, so again, he walked. He found their office with no problem and when he entered the small lobby it was empty and quiet. Through an open door on the back wall he saw a long deserted hallway. He heard faint laughter and the sound of footsteps and a few seconds later, a very pregnant Native American woman in orange pants and a paisley blouse rounded the corner with her head down as she rummaged through her purse. As she got closer she stopped at one of the doors in the hallway.

“Chief, remember, I won’t be in until noon tomorrow since I’m going to the doctor in Lethbridge.”

When she started toward the waiting room she saw Luke and turned back down the hallway, and to no one in particular, said, “There’s someone at the counter.” As she walked toward Luke, she smiled and said, “Someone will be right with you,” then walked past him and out the front door.

A few seconds later, a man with a gun on his hip stepped into the hallway. He was short, robust, with gray hair and a bushy mustache. He was wearing khakis and a white short-sleeved shirt and looked to be in his late sixties or early seventies.

“Can I help you?”

Luke took a deep breath and said, “I hope so. My wife is missing.”

The man hooked his thumbs in his front belt loops and let his arms rest. He furrowed his brow and said, “What do you mean, missing?”

Luke wasn’t sure where to start, so he started talking. “We were at the clinic, and while she waited to see a doctor I ran a couple of errands. Came back about an hour later and she was gone.” He looked at his watch and said, “That was about noon and I’ve been looking all over town since then and I can’t find her. I don’t know what to do. We’re from Texas and here on vacation, it’s been over four hours and—”

“Hold on, son,” the lawman said, holding up his hands. “Come back to my office.”

Luke followed him into his office and sat across the desk from him.

“Where in Texas?”

“Lampasas. A little town northwest of Austin.”

“What are you doing here in Cardston?”

“We were over at Glacier and my wife got sick, so we came over here to the clinic. Being from Texas, I’m a little confused on what to do here in Canada.”

“I see.” The man reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a cigar. As he unwrapped the cellophane wrapper, he spoke. “It’s a little different here but not that much. I’m Ernest Oliveras, the commanding officer of this detachment, kind of like the chief of police where you’re from. You can call me Ernest.” He stuck the cigar in his mouth briefly, then pulled it out and examined it a few seconds before wrapping his index finger around it.

“Now, start from the beginning and tell me what happened since you got to Cardston.”

As Luke talked, Ernest nodded, and interrupted a few times asking for more details. After a minute Luke stopped and Ernest asked a few more questions.

“You didn’t have a big fight, did you?”

Luke shook his head, “No, sir.”

“And before you came up here, things were good at home?”

“Yes sir, everything’s perfect.”

“Um hum,” he said. “You folks got a bunch of oil wells back in Texas? Lots of money?”

“No oil wells. Not much money.”

“Got any enemies back home? Anyone who’d like to get even with you for something you did to them?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Made any enemies here?”

Luke thought about that guy at the camera store, but was sure that wasn’t anything to worry about. “I don’t think so?”

Ernest leaned back and stuck the cigar in his mouth again but didn’t make any move to light it. He looked out the window and appeared deep in thought then said, “What did she have with her the last time you saw her?”

“All she had was her purse, with the normal stuff in it. You know, billfold, make up, a little cash, a cell phone. But nothing else I know of.”

“Is she on any medication?”

“Nothing much, maybe some allergy medicine, but nothing I know of. She’s real healthy.”

“Is she bipolar? Suffer from depression or anything like that?”

“No sir, about as normal as any woman can be, I guess.”

Ernest smiled and gave a silent chuckle. “I hear you. Does she have problems with her health? You know memory, fainting spells, does she get confused easy?”

“No sir. Like I said, she as healthy as a horse. Even training to run the New York Marathon in November,” Luke leaned forward. “That’s what I’m saying. She’s perfectly normal. I just can’t understand—”

“She ever do anything like this before?”

“No. Never.”

The chief asked, “Do you have any friends in Cardston or anywhere else in the area?”

Luke explained about Rita, the talk Bonnie gave at the workshop, and also about his conversation with Dr. Duncan.

“Did they see her talking to anyone else at the clinic?”

Luke shook his head. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask that question.”

“But they did say they saw her leave alone?”

“No, they didn’t say that.” Luke looked down at the floor and shook his head. “I’m not sure how well the receptionist or anyone else can see the door from where they sit. There’s a little window between them and the waiting room. When you’re in there, you can’t see the receptionist until you walk up to that window.”

“Yeah, I know how it is,” Ernest said. “I’ve been in there a hundred times myself.” He turned his wrist to see his watch. He stood up and said, “It’s been about four and a half hours. Ordinarily, we usually don’t get started on a missing person this quick, but I think we should. Let me get you a form to fill out with all the information and I’ll need a picture of her. Do you have one that’s recent?”

Luke nodded, “No, not with me.” Then he remembered he took some pictures of her the day they arrived. “Wait a minute. I took some pictures of her yesterday. If I bring in that memory card from my camera, can you print some pictures?”

“Not really. The printer we use for pictures is on the blink, so it would be best if you go to the camera shop on Main Street. They can do them while you wait.”

For the next half hour, Luke filled out forms and answered more questions.

“I’ll get those pictures made and get back here as soon as I can.”

Ernest followed Luke as he made his way to the front door. “Luke, I’m sure she’s okay. I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone kidnapped or abducted in Cardston. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for this.”

“That’s the same thing Dr. Duncan said. I hope you’re right.”

***

Luke hurried back to the car, hoping to find Bonnie there waiting. But she wasn’t. He grabbed the camera, ejected the memory card, and headed for the camera shop. Rocky Mountain Photography was a few blocks away and as soon as he stepped inside the teenage girl behind the counter pointed to a clock that said 5:35. “I’m sorry sir, but we close at five-thirty.”

“I understand, but this is an emergency,” Luke said. He held out the memory card to the girl and said, “The police have asked me to get some pictures made for them as soon as possible.”

“All of our equipment has been turned off for the day. I don’t know...”

“This is very important. My wife is missing and the police need some pictures printed now. I’ll pay whatever it takes.”

She backed away and said, “I’ll have to talk to the manager.” She walked around the corner and disappeared in the back.

While Luke waited, he looked out the big window across the front of the store and watched people walking by, hoping to see a redhead.

“Can I help you?” came a voice behind him.

When Luke turned around he recognized the tall man with long blond hair. Sonny Diamond, the man Bonnie had argued with in St. Mary. Sonny recognized Luke and his expression hardened.

Luke sighed and regained his composure. “I’m Luke Wakefield from Austin, Texas. I... we met yesterday at—”

Without emotion Sonny said, “At my camera store in St. Mary. I remember you. What can I do for you?”

“You own both stores?”

“I don’t own them, but I manage both of them. How can I help you?” he asked impatiently.

“My wife has disappeared and I need to have some pictures of her printed to give the police.”

“What do you mean, she disappeared?” he asked. “Was she hiking or something?”

Luke explained.

“That’s the strangest thing I’ve ever heard,” Sonny said. “Who’d you talk to at the RCMP?”

“An older man named Ernest. I think he’s in charge over there.”

“Yeah, Ernest’s the one to talk to. He’s been the commanding officer here in Cardston as long as I can remember. He’ll find her.” Sonny reached for the memory card Luke was holding. “Give me that and I’ll make some prints for you.”

Sonny told the teenage girl she could go, then stuck the card into the machine, and the photos Luke and Bonnie had taken the day before came up on the monitor. Luke pointed to the photo that showed Bonnie’s face the best.

A moment later, Sonny slipped a stack of 4 x 5s, and some 8 x 10s into an envelope and slid them across the counter to Luke.

“There are plenty of prints in there. Give some to the police and you might post some around town.”

“Thanks. How much do I owe you?” Luke asked as he pushed a fifty-dollar bill across the counter, but Sonny slid it back.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I appreciate that,” Luke said, and the two men headed to the door.

“What are you going to do now?” Sonny asked.

Luke looked back down the street in the direction of the police station, “I’ll take these back to the police and then, I don’t know. Just wait at the car, I guess.”

“Where’s your car?”

“I left it parked in front of the clinic. When Bonnie comes back, I want it to be there.”

Sonny nodded and said, “C’mon. Let me drop you at the RCMP office.”

They got into a dark blue BMW that smelled of new leather and as they started down the road, Sonny asked, “Where are you staying?”

“At the Red Eagle Lodge in St. Mary, but I’m not going back without Bonnie. She’s here somewhere and I’m not leaving without her.”

“I don’t blame you. I’m going to see some friends tonight,” he said. “Give me a couple of those pictures and I’ll pass them around.”

Luke handed him three of the photos.

“It’s a small town. You never know who might have seen something, and the more people looking for her the better.”

A few minutes later Sonny rolled to a stop in front of the police station.

“If you haven’t eaten, the diner next to my store has excellent home cooking.”

“I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I’ll try it.” Then he extended his hand to Sonny. “Hey Sonny, thanks for everything,” Then awkwardly added, “and... I’m sorry about what happened in St. Mary. Bonnie didn’t mean to—”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. I kind of lost my cool. I can be a real asshole sometimes,” Sonny said with a chuckle. “Let’s forget it.”

Luke smiled and nodded as he pushed the door closed. Sonny made a U-turn and headed back toward town.

When Luke walked into the lobby, an officer he hadn’t seen before took him back to Ernest’s office.

“Give me about six of those pictures,” Ernest said. “I’ll scan one and get it on the wire as soon as I can. Within an hour, every detachment in Alberta will have a copy of it. I’ll also get these others out to the officers on patrol.”

“What should I do now?”

“We’ll contact you as soon as we know anything. Where are you staying?”

“Our room is at the Red Eagle Lodge in St. Mary, but I’m not leaving without Bonnie. I’ll be in my car across from the clinic.”

“Okay. If she doesn’t show up, check back with me in the morning.”

Luke walked back to town; the sidewalks were deserted and the lights were turned off inside most of the storefront businesses. Just past Sonny’s store, he came to the diner. His omelet from early that morning had worn off hours ago. Just thinking about eating without knowing where Bonnie was seemed wrong, but he needed food. He ordered two burgers and two Cokes, to go. He couldn’t see getting something for himself without something for Bonnie. Just in case.

Fifteen minutes later, with a brown paper bag in his hand, he rounded the corner to the clinic. The Sebring was the only car left, and from half a block away, he could tell there was something different. The passenger window in the front seat was down. Bonnie must have come back... and somehow, gotten in. But, he didn’t see her anywhere.

He picked up his pace, breaking into a trot, a tinge of excitement lifting his spirits. But when he got closer, his stomach sank. Broken glass sparkled like diamonds beside the car. The window wasn’t down. It was broken out.

His pace slowed to a stop while he looked from side to side, as if whoever did this was still nearby or watching him from behind the bushes. But, there was no one in sight. He edged closer and peered inside. Everything appeared to be as it was when he was there an hour ago, except now there was a brick sitting on the console between the seats and small pieces of safety glass decorated the interior.

He checked the backseat. The ice chest, picnic supplies, and even the binoculars were still there. But when he looked back in the front seat, he realized what was missing. It was the camera he had carelessly tossed on the passenger seat, and his cell phone.

“Damn it,” Luke said, scolding himself for being careless. A camera and a cell phone sitting in plain sight were like Twinkies at a Weight Watchers meeting. The temptation was obviously too much for someone to resist.

Then he remembered that most of Bonnie’s expensive camera gear was in the trunk. To get it, all a thief had to do was use the trunk release beside the steering wheel. He went to the back of the car, held his breath and opened the trunk. Everything was all still there. He let out a sigh of relief.

Whoever did this was an amateur, an opportunist. Replacing the equipment Bonnie brought on this trip would have cost at least ten grand, probably more. The camera and the cell phone were not a tenth of that. He felt lucky.