Alex Barclay - Harm's Reach

‘From time to time,’ said Delores. ‘They’re the type of kids who are drawn to boundaries...’

‘And do they ever cross them?’ said Robbie.

‘Not that I’m aware of,’ said Delores. ‘But, of course, that means nothing. I sleep with the blinds down, the door locked, my eye mask on and my earplugs in. I’m guessing were these kids to make a move, it would be under cover of darkness.’

‘Well, not necessarily,’ said Ren. ‘Did you notice anything yesterday? Were there any kids around?’

‘No,’ said Delores, ‘not that I saw.’ She paused. ‘I heard about that poor lady. How cruel life is.’

‘You believe that life is cruel...’ said Robbie.

Boldly go, Robbie.

‘Oh, no,’ said Delores. ‘I should have said how cruel life can be . I do believe that life can be cruel. I’m sure you see evidence of that every day. I pray for the world every single day.’

‘Yes, it can be dark out there,’ said Ren. She took out her card and placed it on the table. Robbie did the same.

‘If anything occurs to you,’ said Robbie, ‘please call either of us.’

‘Thank you so much for the coffee,’ said Ren.

Delores picked up the cards. ‘Good luck with your investigation.’

Ren and Robbie made their way to the Jeep.

‘She is very sad about the eyes,’ said Ren. ‘I wonder what “cruel life” she ran away from.’

‘Maybe it was more about the life she ran away to,’ said Robbie. ‘Don’t you ever want to get away from everything? It’s all in-your-face, technology, being bombarded with images, scrolling bars, banner ads, commercials that start playing when you’re trying to watch the news and it’s just this... assault.’

‘Oh, I agree,’ said Ren. ‘And our job is helped by technology. The only thing I will say is that at least we’re of the generation that might scrape through without the utter obsession with it that teenagers have now.’

Robbie shrugged.

‘It’s the reach that technology has,’ said Ren. ‘If it was a horror movie, it would be like an octopus that has millions of tentacles — a megapus? — a creature that goes into every single home on the planet and sits down right in the middle of the hallway. Then, its tentacles begin to slide out and crawl into every room, up onto the sofa, right between people, into their hands, up onto the dinner table, into their beds, sometimes right up their asses. And then, it sucks and sucks and sucks the lifeblood out of them. And then it does a big shit right there in the hallway, but no one can get near it to clean it up. And no one can eliminate the stink. Or the hideous creature. And then they realize that they can’t imagine a time without him. And then they realize, “Hold on a second, I don’t even have a life any more. I don’t have a life to save — he’s got us all. So if the creature goes, well, we’re all gone too.” And so he stays and feeds and shits.’

Robbie stopped walking. ‘I think that might just be the most depressing thing you have ever said to me.’

‘So to answer your question,’ said Ren, ‘yes, I could totally see myself moving into a remote cabin and cutting myself off from the world. I have one million reasons. I might go back, see does her sofa fold out...’

Robbie smiled. ‘Me too.’

‘See, you get it,’ said Ren.

You are a sweet, innocent soul.

Ren and Robbie arrived back at Janine’s office just after lunch.

‘Well, speaking to the Faules and Delores Ward has thrown the investigation wide open...’ said Ren.

‘Really?’ said Janine. Then she looked up at Ren. ‘Ah... you got nothing.’

‘ Yet , fine lady, yet !’ said Ren. ‘Can I grab a desk?’

‘Sure — go ahead,’ said Janine.

Ren took her laptop from her bag. ‘Now...’ She did a search on Kenneth and Kristen Faule. Robbie sat beside her.

‘OK,’ she said, ‘I have not found a trail of slaughtered children... goddammit.’

He smiled.

‘The closest the Faules have been to badness was back in 2002 when Kenneth Faule’s ex-Bronco’s-teammate and best bud, Derrick Charles, allegedly went off the rails, beat the crap out of his wife, strangled her, and shot their two children...’

‘Ooh, I read about that,’ said Janine.

‘Well, he’s in Stateville,’ said Ren, ‘but is adamant he’s innocent and that he was framed. Kenneth Faule still visits him twice a year, good Christian that he is.’

‘Bet you’re thinking that Faule framed him, aren’t you?’ said Robbie.

‘Well, I was,’ said Ren, ‘until I read the next bit... Faule says he mounted a campaign to raise finances for Derrick Charles’ appeal. Apparently, Charles is one of those broke playas; the prosecution used his financial troubles against him at trial... suggested his wife confronted him about his gambling and he lost it.’

Ren’s cell phone rang.

‘Gary,’ she said.

‘Ren,’ said Gary, ‘are you alone?’

‘I can be,’ she said, standing up.

She turned back to Robbie and Janine. ‘Talk among yourselves...’

She walked into the hallway.

‘Are you on your way back?’ said Gary.

‘No, I’m in Golden... Kohler’s having a briefing at six o’clock.’

‘You know you have an appointment with Dr Lone after work,’ said Gary.

My eyes are now alight. I can feel them. They would burn through you if you were here. Hold your tongue. Hold it.

‘Sometimes I get the feeling you might be looking for cases to take you away from your appointments,’ said Gary.

‘OK, it was me,’ said Ren. ‘I robbed the bank and murdered the girl...’ Stop now. Gary does not joke about your mental health.

‘Ren, I shouldn’t have to tell you—’

‘You’re right, Gary.’ You shouldn’t fucking have to tell me. Her heart was suddenly pounding. ‘I’m sorry,’ said Ren, ‘but would it be OK if you left my treatment in my hands? Can you just trust that I’m doing this?’

There was a lengthy pause. ‘OK, Ren. I will.’

Ren was bound by Gary to attend a psychiatrist and to take medication. Gary had taken away her fast pass for the rollercoaster ride. And he monitored with a height restriction sign — she couldn’t be too high or too low. She had to bang her head on it.

Over and over.

Kohler stood outside the doorway of the conference room, herding the crowd.

‘Can you give me one second?’ said Ren, pointing to her phone.

‘Sure,’ he said, ‘go ahead.’

Ren moved down the hallway and dialed Dr Lone’s office. She leaned into the wall.

‘Dr Lone?’ she said. ‘I didn’t expect you to answer...’

Fuckity fuck. Grow up, Ren.

‘It’s Ren Bryce here — I’m so sorry I can’t make it today. Can we reschedule? I’ve gotten caught up in an important case.’

And I don’t feel like talking today. And I want to stay in Golden. And I want to have pizza later with Robbie and Janine in Woody’s. And, let’s face it, I’m on mood stabilizers, so there’s only so much therapy-worthy shit going on in my life right now.

‘That’s not a problem,’ said Dr Lone, ‘can you do six thirty a.m. tomorrow?’

Eh, no. Way...

‘Perfect!’ said Ren. ‘See you then.’

She dashed into the conference room where Kohler was just starting.

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he said. ‘Thank you all for coming. And thank you to our friends at Safe Streets for being here.’

‘Pleasure,’ said Ren.

‘OK,’ said Kohler. ‘I’m going to start with the preliminary autopsy report we just got from Dr Tolman. No major surprises; cause of death: GSW to the head at close range, second wound to the chest. Bullets indicate a large caliber weapon was used. Ballistics are on that. Judging by the angle, the shooter was likely in a standing position outside the passenger door. No trace of the weapon.