Page 46 of The Woodcarver's Model
“I’ve never seen you work the customers before. Is Frances sick today?”
“Not sick. Pissed about somethin’, though. Been pissed better part o’ the past few days. Best stay away from her if I were you,” said the gentle giant, who then sauntered back towards the ferry preparing to board the other passengers.
Rob looked forward. His new pig friend stared at him and slowly began to shake his head from side to side. The pig was no longer smiling. Perhaps he had realised that the blue ribbon was for more than being beautiful and that sometimes a triumphant day meant being one step closer to the dinner table.
Twenty minutes later, Rob pulled up to Mitch’s house and leapt out. He was anxious to tell him the news about his meeting with Cedric. He came into the kitchen where Mitch stood alone at the counter staring out the window. Rob could sense the tension.
“You would not believe the trip I’ve had. I’ve got great news,” Rob said, throwing his arms around Mitch and going in for a kiss. Mitch’s shoulders and back were like iron, his lips like stone. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“We had visitors this morning,” Mitch said.
“Oh? Who?”
“The RCMP. Were you ever going to tell me you murdered a man or was that not part of your plan?”
“What?” Rob was in shock. He hadn’t imagined facing up to this on his return, if ever.
Kevin entered the room. He had changed out of his sloppy clothes into a neat shirt and khakis. He stood to the side and observed.
Mitch’s eyes were as cold as ice. “The police seem to think you’re involved in the murder of some guy named Abdi Mohamed.”
“My God, that was Abdi? I had no idea. Things happened so quickly.”
“So, you admit it? You killed a man!” Mitch yelled.
Rob tried to stay calm. “No…I was just there when it happened. It was an accident. I swear it.”
“It was an accident that you were there when the nephew of the President of Somalia was murdered?”
The telephone in the kitchen began to ring.
“No. Abdi was my driver,” Rob continued, “not the President’s nephew. He wasn’t even a great driver. He robbed me and I chased after him.”
“Is that why you killed him? Because he robbed you?”
Irritated by the ringing phone, Kevin answered it. “Hello? …Yeah, he’s here. Who’s calling? …Okay. Hang on.”
“No,” Rob tried to explain. “He just ran into a gun battle in the street as I chased him.”
“Hey, Robby, there’s a call for you. Some guy named Cedric Craddock.”
“It’s my publisher. Tell him I’ll get back to him.”
“Wait a minute. Cedric Craddock. You’re working for Craddock?” Mitch demanded.
“Yeah.”
“Cedric Craddock is the head of Peak Capital Developments.”
“No. This Cedric Craddock is a magazine publisher.”
“On Broughton Street in Victoria?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe you’re working for him of all people. Craddock is the one in charge of the development that’s going to ruin the island. Was it the money? Is that what made you do it?”
“No, I was doing it for my agent, and then when I met you, I was going to do it to help you.”
