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Hamilton, November 3
12:55 p.m.
A pre-boarding announcement for flight 532 to Halifax came over the airport intercom, inviting passengers with small children and people requiring help to begin boarding.
“Regular boarding will begin in ten minutes’ time,” the voice said.
Allan checked his watch. “That’s our flight.”
“So I guess this is good-bye,” Denis said.
Audra gave him a big hug.
“Oh no,” he said, “you’re going to make me all teary eyed.”
“Not a good-bye,” Audra told him. “Just a see-you-later.”
Denis nodded. “Most definitely.” He turned to Allan and stuck out his hand. “Detective Stanton.”
Allan shook it. “Detective Gagnon. It was a pleasure working with you.”
“Pleasure’s all mine. I made two friends out of this.” He wrapped his free arm around Allan’s shoulder, slapping him twice on the back. “Get that help. Please.”
As they pulled away from each other, Allan felt a sudden ache at the back of his throat. He dropped his gaze to his shoes then lifted it back up to Denis.
“I will,” he said softly.
“Think about bringing the family out for a visit next year,” Denis told him. “We can go to our cottage on Lake Muskoka. Enjoy a few cold beers. Have a barbecue. We can even take your son out on the boat. Great walleye fishing there in the summer.”
“I will definitely consider that,” Allan said.
“Don’t consider. Just do it. We’ll have fun.” Denis turned to Audra. “You too, Detective Price. Bring your husband and daughter up for a visit.”
“I’ll run it by them.”
“We got a nice spot on the lake. My wife makes amazing barbecue sauce. You mention cold beers, barbecue, and lake fishing to your husband, and he’ll come out. I bet on it.”
Audra smiled. “I’ll talk him into it. Just don’t ask him to cook anything.”
Denis chuckled. “He’s one of those guys, is he? Last time he cooked, he burned the salad.”
Audra laughed. “That’s him.”
Denis reached over and nudged her arm. “If he’s not good in the kitchen, he must be good somewhere else.”
Audra tossed her head back. “Oh, Jesus.”
Denis threw a wink at Allan.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” he prodded jokingly. “Tell me I’m right.”
Smiling, Audra shook her head. “You really are a character.”
Another announcement came over the intercom, saying flight 532 was ready for boarding.
“We better go,” Allan said.
Denis lifted his hand in a wave. “You two have a safe flight. We’ll talk later.”
“You bet,” Audra said. “See ya.”
Allan nodded him a good-bye then rushed off.
When they boarded the plane, Audra took the aisle seat. Allan took the one by the window.
“I can’t wait to get home,” Audra said. “The first thing I’m doing is taking a hot bath. Then I’ll probably sleep for a week.”
Allan nodded. “You and me both.”
Within minutes, he could hear Audra’s deep, even breathing. He looked over and saw her fast asleep.
Allan leaned his head back, shutting his eyes. As tired as he was, sleep just would not come.
His brain ran rampant about the looming visit he had to make.
