BOILER

Chapter 3

New Beginnings was based at a community centre on Breech Street. Toland had made a call and was told by a polite woman they'd be meeting Thursday if he wanted to come along. He told her who he was and that he just wanted to talk to whoever led the meetings.

'Well, that would be Calvin. He'll be in this morning. Should I tell him you'll be coming?'

'That'll be fine. Thank you.'

For two nights a week, the centre gave kids a place to go for a few hours, get sped up on sugar, and play basketball, or whatever they wanted without having to do it in the rain. For the other four nights it was open, it provided space for counselling as well as community events. The outside walls were brick and everything inside was wood and drywall, and everything you stood on squeaked, and everything that made a noise echoed. The front doors were wood and glass reinforced with wires that made little boxes all the way through. There were posters taped on the inside of the glass advertising group therapy sessions, community markets, and an upcoming fun fair. They had Bingo on a Tuesdays. The doors groaned when they were pushed.

Toland stood in a hall that smelled like fresh paint. He checked each door along the hall and found New Beginnings about halfway down, near a donation box that was an eye-patched monkey holding a bucket. He managed to get one knock in before the door opened.

'Hi there, I'm Calvin. You must be James.'

'That's right. Can I come in?'

'Sure, come on in. Can I get you something?'

'I'm fine. Thank you.'

'No coffee or something?'

He almost said no again before seeing a bowl of hard candy on the desk. Calvin saw that and invited him to take one.

'Thank you,' Toland said, and took a red one. Calvin sounded worn out, but there was none of that in the way he carried himself. He was a short, round man with a face some called cherubic. He wore a green jumper that was slowly falling apart on him.

'The girl in reception said you'd be around. What can I help you with?'

Toland stood back from the desk and put his hands to the pockets of his coat. 'You got a Debra Mars in your group?'

Calvin smiled ever so briefly at hearing her name. Toland noticed but chalked it up to nerves.

'Debra's in my group, Calvin said. Is she in trouble?'

Toland didn't talk right away. He gave Calvin time to go through the different possibilities of what he might say next, always watching for any fault in his concern. But the concern seemed real.

'Well?' Calvin asked.

Toland waited a little longer before making up his mind. 'We found her body at her apartment last night.'

Calvin didn't seem to be processing anything. He looked blank. 'What are you saying?'

'She's dead.'

Calvin sat with his hands in his lap and his mouth open. He leaned forward on his elbows, going flat like a toy out of battery.

'Oh god. Oh god. That poor girl.'

'What'd you know about her?' Toland asked.

Calvin shook his head. 'God,' he said. He fished around in a draw and came up with a battered pack of cigarettes. He offered Toland one.