“Harry, you’re not responsible for the actions of others. You are only responsible for what you do. And you’re fortunate to be in a position where you can do a lot of good, protect a lot of people.”

Was this his way of telling me to smarten up?

“I want you to go back to Ottawa, Harry. That’s where you belong. But it would be really nice—” Tears choked his voice. “It would be really nice if you kept coming home like when Ma was sick.”

“I want you to come with me to Ottawa.” And as Harry said the words, he realized it was true. He wanted his father near him. And thanks to Detective Ellis, the police had decided not to lay any charges with a mandatory prison sentence. Mel could serve his sentence in the community.

“Ottawa is so far away,” Mel said. He gazed at the picture of Salma.

“It’s not that far. Look how far Ma came so she could live in Canada.”

Mel exhaled. “I suppose I could go. But just until my leg heals.”

A tear fell onto Salma’s picture.

It wasn’t Mel’s.

Chapter 64

Chapter 64

9:10 a.m.

Kate ran through the gates of the upper parking lot at Point Pleasant Park. Alaska loped beside her, a smile on his face. It was their first Sunday morning run in a month.

They had run along the water. With the exception of a more conspicuous police boat presence, it appeared as immutable as ever. The sun had performed a hat trick, shining for the third day in a row, and the water undulated under a silvery cloak.

The feel of her body aligning itself until every step was a tour de force of synchronized muscle, blood, tissue and oxygen elated her. She sprinted up Serpentine Hill, knowing without a doubt she would regret it later, but uncaring.

Because it felt damn good.

She slowed down to let a car pass as they reached the intersection of Point Pleasant Drive and Young Avenue.

And then her feet decided to turn down Randall’s street.

Or was it her heart?

She hadn’t seen Randall since yesterday, after they climbed out of the police boat. Detective Ellis dropped them each home. Randall told her that he needed to collect his children from his mother’s house in Prospect. They both knew that Lucy would be distressed by what had transpired, and Randall would need to spend the rest of the day with her.

Alaska began to pull on his lead when he saw Randall’s house. “You guessed right, boy,” she said. They jogged up the stone steps, Kate admiring the full-blown roses that billowed by his front porch.