Stone and Roberts entered the interview room with Janet Gourneau. Stone stopped Gourneau as she entered the room.
“Before you get comfortable, we need your jacket, gloves, and boots.”
“Why?”
“We need our lab to check for something. Hand them over.”
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds you’ll sit here until I get a search warrant and then I’ll take them.”
Gourneau glared at him and took off her jacket and then her boots.
Stone took her jacket, gloves, and boots. He exited the room and, after a few minutes, returned. Roberts and Gourneau were sitting, separated by a functional table designed to handle abuse.
Stone sat next to Roberts. “Do you know why you’re here?”
“I was waiting for you to tell me.”
“Well, people die on occasion. Some by natural causes and others by decidedly not natural causes. You’re here because of the latter. Does that help you figure out why you’re here?”
Gourneau shrugged. “Maybe you have to be more specific.”
“Just how many people did you kill?” He scribbled on his notepad. “Does Jacob Carlton mean anything to you?”
“I don’t know. His name is vaguely familiar.”
“I thought a man you murdered would ring a bell. How about Travis Moore?”
“No, not a thing. I’ve met a lot of people, so maybe he’s someone I met once.” She eased back in her chair and crossed her arms.
“Okay, how about Paul Church?”
Her arms dropped. “What? You can’t be serious. I didn’t kill him.”
“Why not? You murdered Carlton and Moore.”
Gourneau took a deep breath. “You can’t prove that.”
“That’s not a denial.”
“It’s not an admittance either. But if you think I harmed Paul in any way, you’re dead wrong.”
“An interesting choice of words. Why should we believe you?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
“I hate to disappoint you but you aren’t a person I would trust right now to speak the truth.”
“Screw you.”
“Nice. Insulting someone who’s investigating you for a triple murder.” He stood. “I’m getting myself a cup of coffee. Do you want anything?”
“Water.”
“How about you, Anya?”
“Tea.”
Stone left the room, leaving Roberts facing Gourneau.
Roberts waited almost a minute before speaking. “Janet, if you didn’t kill any of these people, maybe you should be a little more forthcoming with information.”
“Whatever I say may be used against me...” Gourneau didn’t finish the sentence, crossing her arms once more.
“And saying nothing isn’t exactly proving your innocent. Your call.”
Gourneau frowned. “Okay, this Jacob Carlton. What happened to him, how did he die and when?”
“He was shot in the west end of Edmonton on August eighth.”
“Then, this may be of interest to you.” Gourneau produced her wallet and extracted a yellow receipt. “Here, my plane ticket from Vancouver to Edmonton. I landed in Edmonton on August fourteenth.”
Anya examined the ticket. “Interesting.”
Stone returned, passing a bottle of water to Gourneau and setting down two cups for Roberts and himself. Anya passed the airline ticket to Stone.
“Her plane landed in Edmonton several days after Carlton and Moore were murdered.”
Gourneau added, “It’s hard to be in two places at once.”
Stone sat, drinking his coffee. “You want to keep with that story?”
“It’s the truth.”
“Then you have a doppelganger. We have your image in the Dragonhead’s bar the night Carlton was murdered.”
Gourneau looked at him, her jaw slack.
“I think it’s safe to say that you lied to us. Want to try the truth?”
“Okay, I was in Edmonton. But you can’t prove I killed anybody.”
“That remains to be seen.” He stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Roberts studied the nervous face across the table. “Detective Stone is pretty smart. If there’s a way to tie you into any of those murders, he’ll figure it out.” She watched Gourneau fidget with her hands, take a quick drink of water, and resume her fidgeting. “It’d be easier if you confessed.”
“I want a lawyer.”
“I’ll get you one, but it may be a while for one to show up. In the meantime, you may want to consider your options. If you make it easier for us, we can talk to the prosecutor for you.”
“I’ll take my chances waiting for the lawyer.”
Roberts finished her tea. “Tell me about New Zealand. What did you do there?”
“I wrote pieces for a newspaper and waitressed in a bar. I toured around the country as much as I could.”
“I hear it’s a beautiful country.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Why did you decide to move to New Zealand from here?”
“Warmer weather.”
Roberts sighed. “I’m just trying to have a conversation with you while we wait. What happened that made you want to leave? I’m sure it isn’t a crime to want to leave Edmonton.”
Gourneau tapped her fingernails on the table. “I left Edmonton because I needed to get away. I was upset and needed a change.”
“Relationship problem?”
“No, that was good. In fact, I almost stayed anyway because of her. But I was miserable and it would have affected us eventually. I left before I became the problem.”
“What were you upset about?”
Gourneau stared at her for a moment. “Let’s just say I had an anger issue.”
Stone entered the room. “Sorry about the delay. I had to check a few things.” He pulled out a chair and sat. “You’ll be pleased to know I found out a bunch of things. I traced your movements since you arrived in Vancouver.”
“Really?”
“Really. At Vancouver airport, you rented a Ford Fusion. According to the car rental company, you returned the car eight days later with approximately twenty-four hundred kilometres travelled on it. That is the distance between Vancouver to Edmonton and back. So what did you do in Edmonton? Don’t tell me. I think I can guess.
“You didn’t want to use your rental car to do what you came here to do. There was too much of a chance a car with a BC licence plate would be noticed. So you bought a motor bike. No one usually remembers another bike on the road. And if they did, the bike wouldn’t even be connected to you. I checked with the original bike owner. He sold it to a young woman with dark hair for cash. The thing is, you never went to the registries office to change ownership.”
“I don’t have to register the bike under my name for a week.”
“True, but you had your reason for never registering the bike. That reason being the murder of Jacob Carlton with a gun and later Travis Moore with a pipe or a bat.”
“Prove it.”
“There’s gun powder residue on your gloves and blood on your jacket sleeves and the soles of your boots. Care to explain that?”
“No. Why would I kill them?”
“Your newspaper article titled ‘Divided Highway.’ You were angry with them for the hurt they caused. You went to New Zealand to leave it behind but their crimes haunted you. You thought you had a perfect way to kill them and not get caught. But one thing went wrong.”
Gourneau crossed her arms. “What was that?”
“Tanya.” He pointed toward the door. “She’s here. She came to see if you’re all right. I talked to her and it turns out you two were very close at one time. So much so, you couldn’t resist but see her again. That was your downfall. If you hadn’t visited her, we never would have been able to find you. I do have a question still. Why did you murder Paul Church? Was it because of his car accident where a little girl died? Or was it because he was going out with Tanya and you were jealous. I’m sure Tanya would like to know that as well.”
“I didn’t kill Paul.”
“No? You weren’t jealous he was going out with your former lover?”
“I wasn’t jealous. I was actually happy she found someone. Paul was a good man.”
“Yet, like Carlton and Moore, he hit and actually killed someone while driving his car.”
“Tanya explained to me it was truly an accident and he showed remorse.”
“So that was your criteria. The men you murdered didn’t show any remorse after they killed or maimed someone.”
“I’m not admitting anything.”
“No? I think we have enough evidence to convict you anyway. You can make it easier for us if you want by telling us where the gun is that you used on Carlton. Or the weapon you used on Moore.”
“Why would I do that?”
“So I’ll let you have some time with Tanya. Heck, I’ll even tell her you’re not a suspect in Paul’s murder.”
Gourneau frowned.
“No? Well, let me know if you change your mind.” He stood. “I’ll tell Tanya to go home.”
“Wait. Please let me say hello to her. Please.”
“I don’t see why I should be doing you any favours.”
Gourneau’s eyes began to tear. “I just want to tell her I love her.”
“Hmm. I’ll bet Carlton’s parents and family would like to tell him they love him one more time. Actions always have consequences. Your actions may mean never seeing Tanya again and her believing you killed Paul.”
“Damn you!”
“Where’s the gun? Dropped in a garbage bin? In the sewer?”
The door opened, revealing a man in a dark blue suit.
“You must be her lawyer,” Stone announced.
“I’m her appointed lawyer, yes. My name is Spencer Thomas.”
“Okay, just so you know, we have blood and gun powder evidence on her clothes pointing to her as the killer of two men. We have motive and all we’re looking for are the missing weapons. Even if we don’t find them, we have enough for a conviction.”
“I best talk to her alone.”
Roberts and Stone left the room. A worried-looking Conner got up from her chair when she saw them.
Roberts shook her head. “Sorry, you can’t see her yet. Her lawyer is speaking with her.”
Conner nodded. “Did she have anything to do with Paul’s death?”
Roberts looked at Stone.
He answered. “I don’t believe so.”
“But she did kill someone else?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“I want to see her and offer my support. I still see her as a good person.”
“Commendable. We’ll consider a visit after the lawyer talks to her.”
“Thanks.” She sat again, looking exhausted.
“I’ll get you a coffee.”
The interview room opened and the lawyer signalled Stone and Roberts to enter.
The blue suit spoke. “Are you open to a deal?”
The four sat around the indestructible table. Roberts waited as Stone opened his writing pad, scribbled a note, and asked, “Okay, what’s the story here? A confession?”
“My client is prepared to offer a statement, providing she is awarded some concessions.”
“Do tell.” Stone tapped his pen.
There was a moment of silence as Thomas read from a sheet of paper. Roberts looked across at Gourneau; her eyes were red and puffy. She was clutching a wad of tissues.
“Ms. Gourneau is willing to make a statement concerning the death of Travis Moore, providing you would tell the prosecutor of her great cooperation. She will divulge the location of the weapon used and details of their altercation.” The blue suit cleared his throat. “She also wants you to inform Tanya Conner that Ms. Gourneau is not a suspect in the death of Paul Church. Ms. Gourneau also wants fifteen minutes with Ms. Conner.”
“Interesting.” Stone responded. “So, your client is willing to admit killing Travis Moore but not Jacob Carlton? I’m not sure, in good conscience, I can say she isn’t a suspect in Paul Church’s death. I tell you what. If your client will admit to also killing Jacob Carlton and provide the location of the gun used, I will give her fifteen minutes with Tanya Conner. And I will tell her she is not under suspicion of the murder of Paul Church.”
“Could I have a few more minutes alone with my client?”
“Why not?” Stone stood. “It’s time for another coffee anyway.”
Conner watched Stone and Roberts leave the room, quickly moving toward them. “Well, what’s going on?”
Stone spoke to Roberts. “I’m getting a coffee. You tell her that her friend will be going away for a long time.”
Roberts watched the back of the departing Stone. “Thanks, that’ll be fun.” She touched Conner on the arm. “Tanya, I have some difficult news for you. It appears Janet is ready to confess to killing two men, Jacob Carlton and Travis Moore. She’ll be going to prison for a long time.”
Conner took several deep breaths. “But she didn’t kill Paul?”
“We don’t believe so.”
“Can I see her?”
“Maybe. It depends on what she and her lawyer agree to tell us.”
“Okay. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I’m relieved she didn’t kill Paul but worried about what will happen to her.”
Stone came back with a coffee just as the interview door opened.
Thomas poked his head outside the door. “I think we can come to a deal.”
Once the four sat around the table, Thomas initiated the conversation.
“Ms. Gourneau will agree to provide the location of the gun as well as the weapon used on Travis Moore. She will sign a confession to committing the murders. In exchange, she wants those fifteen minutes with Tanya Conner. Plus, the assurance that she is no longer a person of interest in the death of Paul Church.”
Gourneau blurted out, “I didn’t have anything to do with his death. I swear.”
Stone asked, “So she will confess to two murders?”
“Yes. I informed her the two murders will likely be served concurrently and thus not increase actual prison time. Her cooperation will also help reduce sentencing time.”
“Fair enough. After we have her statement signed, she can see Tanya. But first, tell me about your killing spree.”
Gourneau bit her lower lip, released it, and spoke in a rush. “When I was in New Zealand I kept thinking how these drunk drivers kill people without hardly any repercussions. If you knife someone to death while you’re drunk, you get years in prison. Kill someone in a car, a fricking suspended licence and a fine. I thought I knew how to serve justice without getting caught.
“I bought a gun in Vancouver. It’s not hard to find one if you know your way around shipyards and I figured them out in Auckland. I rented a car and drove to Edmonton. I bought a bike for cash and used that instead of the rented car. The bike wasn’t registered to me, so I figured I could ditch it afterward and it would appear I was never here. I looked up where Carlton lived and followed him for a couple of days. I caught him walking home one night and shot him.” She shrugged. “I ditched the gun in a sewer through a grate in the sidewalk. I didn’t want to use the gun again. The same gun could connect me if I used it on Moore, so I used pepper spray and an iron bar on him. He let me into his house, leering at me. I sprayed him and then I used the iron bar on him. I hesitated with the first hit, but I thought of what he had done, and that was enough for me to finish him. I tossed the bar at a rest stop on my way back to the city.”
Stone wrote in his notebook. “Do you feel guilty about what you have done?”
Seconds passed. “I feel bad for Carlton’s parents and family. When you said they were upset that he had died, I realized there are no right ways to fix what he had done. I screwed up my life. Hurt Tanya. All because I couldn’t stop thinking of revenge. I wish I could turn back the clock.”
Roberts glared at Stone. “So, I have to supervise Tanya and Janet when they get to spend fifteen minutes together, separated by a table, hold hands and say nice things to each other. Meanwhile, you will sit at your desk drinking coffee.”
“Essentially, yes. I would sit in but probably some sort of protocol requires a woman to watch two women say goodbye.”
“Yeah, makes sense. You’d probably find it interesting. So while I’m on guard duty, maybe you can start figuring out who murdered Paul Church.”
“Hmm, there is that loose detail.”