when i was seven my mother and grandmother took me to vancouver. we were walking along the street one day when these two men ran past and snatched my grandmother's purse right from under her arm. right from under her arm. that night a police officer came to our hotel room to ask us questions. stood the whole time.
you know this glacier moves a quarter of an inch every day?
i stood right behind you. i saw you look right into his eyes and shoot him.
then why lie about it?
no game.
i figured we're partners on this one. i mean, after what i saw.
i research my novels. i know the procedures. you'd have cuffed me back at the ferry. you'd have called for back- up, read me my rights, and gotten a search warrant for my apartment. you're a well-respected detective. there's no reason for you to be talking to me right now.
i'm sorry?
oh?
thought you might find that.
down at the station?
okay. okay. brought in for questioning. good. i can write this.
next ferry's in forty-five minutes.
you'll know. at the questioning.
you'd have done the same thing, will. i know you would.
yes i was.
she was, not quite a "fan." more an avid reader of my detective novels.
a year ago. at one of my signings.
that's right.
she flattered me about my writing. asked if she could visit me. to talk about my books.
yes. not that much at first. but then she became more comfortable. started visiting me every week.
what do you mean, detective dormer?
she was only seventeen.
i suppose.
no.
i was a mentor to her.
yes.
yes.
i gave her things she didn't have. couldn't have.
she wasn't happy. i was someone to talk to.
that boyfriend. randy.
that's right.
he. well, he.
well. he hit her.
she'd come to me, sometimes in the middle of the night. bruises all over her back, her upper arms. i pled with her to let me call the police, but she wouldn't hear it. wanted to keep it a secret.
he has a terrible rage. kay even said he carried a handgun around with him.
could i have some more coffee, detective burr?
hi, will.
i figured we should touch base. compare notes. i think it went well. what did you think?
told you i could write an ending.
i thought maybe we could talk some more.
but we work so well together.
you run on two settings, will. i've noticed that.
kay told me. she comes to me, you know. tells me things. about you. about me.
then so was mine.
i didn't want to kill her, will.
it was when i went to kiss her. she started laughing. i got angry. after all i'd given her. all i'd shared with her. i just wanted to make her stop. that's all.
yes. like that.
if you want it to be.
i have a summer house up by kgun lake. i'm going to write my next novel there. it's about a famous detective who goes bad.
here to visit me?
where's your back-up?
you're not following procedure.
we're on the same side, will. you know that. after what we've been through together. we're partners. bound by a secret.
will.
you give the police a bad name, will.
wild card.
that jammed the last time, remember?