Once Mia got over her initial shock, she studied the enhanced photos carefully while matching them with the other photos taken twenty-five years previous. The pictures seem genuine … the same car … a far-off picture of the original car shows other vehicles … of similar vintage. Even the price of gas on the sign is really cheap. She stared at Jack in bewilderment and repeated, “He’s Chinese.”
Jack nodded. “Not unusual, though. It happened in Richmond, which has an ethnic Chinese population base of over forty-five percent.”
Mia shook her head as she stared at the picture. All my life we thought … this can’t be true …
“Are you okay?” asked Jack, sympathetically patting her on the back.
“Could I have a copy of one of these pictures to show my mom?” she blurted, then quickly added, “No, never mind.”
“All these years your mother thought the man responsible for her husband … your father’s death … was some mucky-muck the police refused to charge. Isn’t that right?”
Mia shrugged in response.
“Helps explain the chip on your shoulder,” said Jack. “Regardless of whether or not you co-operate with me, I’ll give you a copy,” he said, putting the photo into an envelope and holding it out to her.
“Why?” replied Mia, sullenly, folding her arms across her chest in refusal.
“Because it’s the right thing to do,” replied Jack. “Think how angry you’ve been all these years … for your mother, I am sure it was far worse. She has a right to know that everything was done to solve the case. Maybe when you tell her what you have seen and show her the picture, it will bring her some peace of mind.”
“It would bring more peace of mind if he was caught and charged,” said Mia, bitterly.
“I agree, but maybe this will help,” he said, holding the photo closer. When she shook her head he added, “From a police perspective, there is not a problem, any more than there would be putting out a wanted poster.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll show her later,” said Mia, accepting the envelope.
“You have no intention of showing it to her, do you?” stated Jack abruptly.
“What do you mean?” she asked defiantly.
“Let me guess,” said Jack, “you haven’t told her about your drug charge, have you?”
Mia took time to take a deep breath. She realized her anger was really at herself, more than at Jack for figuring that out. Okay … get a grip … She stared blankly at Jack for a moment, then grimaced and shook her head. “I don’t want her to worry.”
“She’s your mom. Don’t you think you owe it to her to tell the truth about the police investigation into your dad’s death?”
“That was a long time ago. My drug charge is current. Even though I’m innocent, it would still cause her to worry.”
“Does she know you were in a car accident?”
“Yes … and that I was charged with driving without due care.”
“Tell her you expressed anger when you were being charged that whoever killed your father was allowed to go free. Tell her you were brought in and shown the file. She would not need to know anything else.”
“But what if she checked or had questions of her own and called?”
“I could look after that. The file is still in the domain of Corporal Crane.” Jack stared up at the monitor and added, “I’m sure she wouldn’t deny doing something that was morally the right thing to do.”
Connie stared back at the camera monitor. Sure Jack … if it doesn’t involve someone being murdered …
Mia sighed and momentarily fiddled with the envelope holding the picture.
“Are you going to show her?” asked Jack.
“Yes … thank you.” Her thoughts were distracted when she heard her iPhone buzz in her jacket pocket.
“Go ahead and answer, if you like,” said Jack.
Mia remembered she hadn’t returned Wolfenden’s call. “No, I’ll get it later,” she said. The thought of being with him enhanced how sick she currently felt.
“So ask yourself,” said Jack, with a nod toward the file box, “you’ve spent hours reading the file. You’re a smart person. Did you see any gaps in the investigation or any reason to believe something was covered up? Would so many people have been interviewed and would the file still be looked at periodically if that were the case?”
Mia swallowed and didn’t respond.
“Who told you it was a political cover-up?” asked Jack.
Mia shrugged. “I don’t know. It was something somebody said to my mother. She believed it and told me.”
“People say stupid things,” said Jack. “However, I’m sure we could compare the photo to the politicians of the time. There are bound to be photos of them on the Internet somewhere. Can’t be too many Asians in government back then.”
“Don’t bother,” replied Mia. “I’m taking political science. I know my history and I’m familiar with their faces, both past and present. The photo doesn’t match anyone.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t,” replied Jack. “I do know of cases where there was political influence in the justice system, but that usually took place in court where politically appointed judges do a favour for someone. In my experience, the police file contains the truth. Between you and me, most Mounties outside of Ottawa don’t see eye to eye with too many politicians.”
Mia took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She felt conflicted and tried to refocus on the real reason she had been hauled in. My dad’s death has nothing to do with that.
“Didn’t your mother ever voice her concern to the police?” asked Jack.
Mia scowled. “She believed they were corrupt … so why bother,” she replied defensively.
“This isn’t China,” muttered Jack. By the glare he got from Mia he knew his utterance was a tactical error. “We seem to have gone off track” he said. “As far as you and Benny Wong go, I would strongly suggest you start to co-operate with me before Corporal Crane decides it’s time to charge you with complicity in Betty Donahue’s murder.”
Mia unconsciously bit her lower lip as she thought. Okay … the games are back on again. First of all, I didn’t know about the murder … the police are desperate … they can’t convict me … but what do they know about Mr. Frank? Do they think he is some peon who is working for Wong?
“I don’t see you as being a really bad person,” said Jack. “You’re a university student … tuition fees are always going up … someone offered you a chance to make some easy money and you probably never realized what you were getting yourself into. Now that you’re in this mess, help me so I can help you get out of it.”
“And how do you think I am connected to Benny Wong?” asked Mia.
It was a fair question, but one Jack had hoped he wouldn’t be asked. He had to speculate. If he was right, his knowledge might scare her into co-operating. If he was wrong, it would reinforce her belief that the police had nothing. “I should tell you that I’m not the main investigator on the Intelligence Unit who has been working on Wong,” he replied. “My facts might be a little off, but from what I understand, you have been passing on information to help Wong with his commercial and business investments.”
Mia felt uneasy. He’s close … but Wong has nothing to do with it …
“And, perhaps, hoping to give Wong an insider advantage with our federal government,” added Jack.
Oh, fuck … Mia tried to look puzzled, but had the feeling that Jack wasn’t buying it. “This all seems really preposterous,” she said. “How on earth would I get any information about those things, let alone have contacts in political office? Do you really think my profs who are teaching me political science are introducing me to politicians? That’s absurd!”
“I’m fully aware of who lives in the house with you,” said Jack. “The Rolstads both work for Maple Leaf Consulting, with offices in Vancouver and Ottawa. Let’s face it. They’re spin doctors. How much of their work do they bring home and talk about? With your majors at university, I bet you even volunteer to help them, perhaps on the pretext of being hired when you’re done university.”
Mia’s thoughts tumbled wildly in her brain.
“I haven’t approached the Rolstads yet to let them know what you’re up to,” continued Jack. “I want to give you the opportunity to co-operate first.”
Mia gave a pert grin to hide her fear. “Go ahead, but if you approach the Rolstads with false accusations about me, I’ll sue you and the RCMP for so much money that you’ll all be back riding horses.”
Jack acted like he didn’t hear her. “There is another reason you may wish to co-operate. Somehow Wong discovered we identified three of the people connected to killing Betty Donahue. His response was to have them all killed. What do you think he will do to you when he finds out what we know? He’ll look at you as another link to him. Another person who could decide to make themselves look good by testifying against him.”
Jack expected to see some alarm on her face … but he didn’t. She’s got nerves of steel …
Mia knew she had nothing to fear from Wong. He wouldn’t dare to cross paths with the benefactor … but what should I do? I will be finished as an agent … and so will Mom if they continue to probe deeper.
Jack had used up all his cards but one. “I’ll give you a moment to think about it,” he said, getting to his feet and reaching into the file box to retrieve the manila envelope containing the photos of her father taken at the scene of the hit and run. “These are the pictures of your father after he was killed. Take your time and look at them, but realize they are only photos taken of a man who to you is barely a memory.”
“A memory? He was still my father!” said Mia, hotly.
“Yes, but try to imagine how Nancy Brighton … that ‘old bag’ as you described her … felt when she was there in person to see her sister splattered along the sidewalk. Fortunately for you and your mother, you didn’t have to go through that experience.” Jack paused, then quietly added, “Actually, me saying going through that experience is wrong. I don’t think you ever do get through it.”
Mia stared at Jack, then quietly accepted the envelope.
“I’ll give you a moment alone to think about this, but if there is any shred of decency in you, I know that you will co-operate because in your heart, you know it is the right thing to do.”