Unknown Diners

Chapter Forty-Eight

"Computer, phone, wallet. Passport; we may need it. Basics; a few changes of clothes. We can buy stuff. We can send them back for things." Lorne paused and looked at Catherine. "We could be over-reacting, but the consequences are too severe to not do this."

"Yeah, my feeling too. We need to shuffle some items around in the garage for the car. You do that, I'll pack. The door's the last one along that hallway."

Less than twenty minutes later, they were seated at the kitchen island when Lorne's phone pinged. He read the text message. "They're outside."

They went to the garage, she pushed the button, and the door lifted. After a van drove in, she closed the door behind it.

Two uniformed Mounties stepped out and introduced themselves as Staff Sergeant O'Brien and Constable Yuen. They shook hands and O'Brien said, "We've a place in Surrey we can take you to unless you have other ideas."

"We have a secure place across the Cambie Bridge." He felt his pocket again to confirm he had the fob and keys. "We can unload in the underground parking, next to the elevator."

"Sure it's safe?"

"Yeah, I've been hiding there for many years now. I moved there after my last trial appearance. Yeah, it's safe."

They loaded the three bags, Catherine picked up the remote clicker from the shelf, and they all climbed into the van. She clicked to open the garage door. "I love these tinted windows."

Lorne gave O'Brien the address.

"Know it well. My husband and I are on the third floor — in the new side. You in the old or the new?"

"Top floor, in the old side. Small world."

"Your groceries — what do you do when you hide? I could shop for you."

"That'll save wear and tear on my niqab, hijab and chador."

"You don't?" She laughed.

"Can you think of a better disguise?"

"A burka." They all laughed.

Constable Yuen remained in the van in the parkade while O'Brien escorted them up the elevator to the loft, helping them with their bags. Lorne stopped in front of his door and extended his hand to shake. "Thank you, Staff Sergeant O'Brien. Very kind of you to assist."

"Denise, call me Denise. I mean it with the shopping. From the little I was told about your situation on the way over, it's not safe for you outside."

"This is my wife, Catherine. I'm Lorne." They shook hands and smiled.

"I was going to do groceries this evening, anyway. Put together a list. Be pleased to do it for you." Denise wrote his phone number as he gave it to her. "I'll call around seventeen thirty." She headed along the hall toward the elevator.

Lorne unlocked and opened the door, set the bags inside and motioned for Catherine to enter. She stood still, staring at him, head tilted to the side. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

He smiled at her, then shrugged. "A kiss? A hug?"

"Those are good for a start."

He bent to kiss her, wrapped her in a hug, released her and motioned his arm into the loft. She stood and shifted her eyes from his face to his extended arm, to the threshold and back to his face, and tilted her head again in question.

He stared at her. "What?"

"Some vague clues for you: Wife. Threshold. Carry."

He swept her into his arms and stepped across the threshold. "That was the third, wasn't it?" He continued into the loft, laid her on his bed and began undressing her.