Edward Slocum and Janet Thompson landed at Lester B. Pearson Airport from Ottawa shortly after 6:00 p.m. On a half-full plane, disembarkation was made that much easier for them since they had only carry-ons to worry about. By-passing the baggage carousel, they went directly to the set of sliding doors that led into the air terminal.
Edward peered in one direction then the other. “Do you have any idea Janet which way we should go to find car rentals?” he asked, scratching his head. “Because it sure beats me.”
“We’ve got a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right. You go that way and I’ll head in the opposite direction. One of us is bound to find it. Whoever it is, phones the other,” she replied. “Do you hear that? I’m sure someone is calling our names.”
They rotated on the spot searching for the location of its source. Their gaze settled on a broad shouldered, stocky-built man frantically waving at them.
“Well I’ll be damned,” Edward said. The man left his location and navigated his way through the crowd to their location. “This can’t be a coincidence, James.” They shook hands. “Well? Are you going to tell me?”
He smiled. “Your wife in a roundabout way.” With a slight bow he shook Janet’s hand. “Nice to see you again too, Janet. My vehicle is parked out front. We can do catchup while I drive.”
“Have you got any word back on Julia’s condition?” Janet asked, as they entered the revolving doors and exited outside.
“Nothing, yet. That Honda Odyssey is mine. Throw your stuff in the back and climb aboard.”
“It’ll be late when we arrive at the hospital,” Edward said.
James glanced at his side mirror and drove away from the curve. “We’re not going to the hospital.”
“We’re not?” Janet replied.
“Nope,” James said. “We’re going to my sister’s place.”
Edward turned to face James. “Kenenstatsi’s?”
“I only have one sister, Edward,” he chortled. “Whatever she sees in you, I do not know.”
“Pardon,” Edward replied.
“I like carrot cake…I LOVE carrot cake. She rarely makes it for me, but when you’re coming—”
“I hope with lots of icing?”
Janet leaned forward from the backseat. “It sounds yummy.”
“It is,” James replied with a deadpan face, pushing down on the accelerator.
Three hours later the four sat in Kenenstatsi’s living room. A lull in conversation, they watched James finish his third piece of cake.
Edward remembered the first time he met James in the same living room. When Kenenstatsis introduced him to James, her brother had just nodded without saying a word. He hadn’t even proffered his hand. He wore sandals, no socks, faded jeans and a buttoned shirt with the top three buttons undone, revealing an amethyst at the end of a leather necklace. As he peered at him, it felt like déjà vu. The only difference was he wore Dockers. He recalled him saying at the time, “I don’t travel two hours to have a meeting…unless it happens to be an item of interest to my investigation.” Edward noted the extra coffee mugs on the tray. He cleared his throat. “James. Why are Janet and I here?”
James finished his last morceau of cake and placed his plate on the coffee table in front of him. He picked up his mug and was about to speak when there was a knock at the door. “You’re about to find out,” he said with a grin on his face.
Charlotte’s voice was the first Edward heard and he stood almost knocking over his coffee. He had barely taken two steps, when she poked her head into the living room and rushed into his arms. His nostrils drank in the freshness of her satin-black hair. Though it had not been long since they were last together, their brief separation felt like an eternity. At arms length, he stared at her milky-white skin and large hazel eyes. He never thought he could be so lucky twice. For a brief surreal moment, he was unaware of the others in the room. The spell was broken when he heard his name and a hand touched his shoulder. “Julia?” He turned and hugged her.
“I certainly hope you’ve got more of that for me, you big lug,” Zoe said.
“Of course, I do,” Edward replied. And he folded his arms around her.
“The only one you and Janet don’t know here is Beatrice Loffler.” They shook hands.
A trim, petite, rosy-complexioned lady with short white hair, her eyes were like silver lightening. Edward placed her age late forties early fifties.
“Ms. Loffler is our Head of Library services,” James snickered. “But we’ll get to that soon enough. Where’s Blackwell and his sidekick, what’s his name?” He turned to his sister.
“Leonard,” Kenenstatsis replied.
“The Premier thought it best we meet with him at a later time, once all the parts are in place,” Zoe said.
Kenenstatsis, with arms raised to elicit their attention, stepped away from the group. “Help yourself to fresh coffee in the kitchen, and what James left of the carrot cake on the dining table.”
From the scornful look fired at James by his sister, Edward surmised that James would get an earful once everyone left. In the meantime, he was surprised to see James sitting on a dining-room chair just outside the perimeter of the group.
Julia sat forward on her chair and stared at Edward and Janet. “First you deserve an explanation and an apology for this charade.” Several minutes passed as she tried to explain what forced her to make the decision. “Well that’s the reason for the ruse. Growing concern over right-wing extremism, especially white supremacists, and with recent homicides, the reality is our landscape has shifted dramatically.” She stretched her neck to get James’s attention. “Pull your chair between Zoe and Beatrice.” Once he was settled, she continued. “James is on loan to us from Toronto’s 23rd Division. Any news on Juarez?”
“Ramon Zdunczyk spent two hours alone with him. No one was allowed to listen in or watch.”
“Most interesting,” Julia replied, massaging her chin. “Where’s Juarez now?”
James peered at his watch. “He should have been released three hours ago.”
Julia stared into empty space. “By morning news, communication with Juarez may be impeded.”
“In what way?” asked Kenenstatsis.
Julia took in a deep breath. “You see, I was his only contact and tomorrow, all the news stations will report that I am dead.”