Scattering by Sandra Hilliker

Author:Sandra Hilliker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sandra Hilliker

Chapter 18

Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia

Mack wasn’t sure what he’d expected in the form of Tara Kingsley, but it wasn’t the woman in her late fifties who stood, waiting on the front porch for Mack and Nancy to alight from the car and make their way up the driveway. Her hair was long and chestnut-coloured, greying at the temples and caught up loosely at the back in a colourful bandanna. She wore baggy denim overalls with a battered cardigan sweater and she’d apparently thrown on a pair of big, brown rubber boots to walk out onto the porch; a real bohemian.

But it was her face that caught his attention most – she had large, round chocolate pools for eyes and a wide mouth, currently turned up at the corners in a broad, welcoming smile.

He knew that mouth; he knew those eyes - even if they were highlighted by a few wrinkles on this particular face. There was no way this woman wasn’t related to his mystery woman. He quickly glanced at Nancy and figured by the way her lips had formed into a surprised O, that she’d also spotted the woman’s similarities to the self-portraits they’d just been studying.

“Hi, there,” the woman said in greeting. “Are you looking for a place to spend the night? I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I can certainly make up a room for you.”

“No, Ma’am,” said Nancy, positioning herself ahead of Mack on the porch step, taking the lead and surprising Mack with her politeness. Had she just used the word Ma’am? “We’re with the Vancouver Police Department and we’d appreciate a little of your time…if you’re Tara Kingsley, that is. Nancy took out her badge and showed it to the woman. Mack did likewise. The smile slid off the woman’s face, but she nodded in acknowledgement of their credentials and they tucked their badges away again.

“We just have a few questions, if you don’t mind,” Nancy added.

“Questions?” The woman frowned worriedly. “About what?”

“If we could come in, Ma’am?” Nancy pressed. Twice in a two-minute span? Mack was amazed and impressed.

The woman reluctantly stood back and allowed them through the door. Kicking off her clunky rubber boots and placing them on the front mat, she waited until Nancy and Mack had done the same before inviting them to follow her to a sitting room just off the front hall. It was one of those over-stuffed sitting rooms, with a faux-Persian throw rug, a ton of spindly furniture and a lot of knick-knacks – not in keeping with her denim overalls and ratty cardigan, but Mack could see why she’d wanted their dirty boots removed.

“Have a seat,” she said, a polite smile back on her face as she waved them towards a floral patterned couch while she took the matching arm chair across from them.

Nancy quickly introduced herself and Mack, and then thought to confirm the woman’s identity. “You are Tara Kingsley, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she said with a slow nod of her head, the confusion evident in her faltering smile.

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