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his wife were at the fishing lodge.”
    â€œYou must be mistaken. It could not be René at a garment factory. Now if you excuse me.”
    As Maggie left the house, she glanced toward the garage again. Jacquelyn was already climbing into the white sports car. I guess she really is going out.

CHAPTER FIVE
    B arbara was surprised to see her mother at the front door. “What’s wrong?” There was no “how are you” or “it’s so nice to see you, Mom.”
    â€œI was visiting a client close by so I thought I’d call in to see how you are.” Maggie followed her elder daughter into the large, sunny kitchen at the rear of the house. “It’s been quite a while.”
    â€œThat’s not my fault, Mother. You’re always so busy at that ridiculous job of yours. Have you spoken to Dad recently?”
    â€œA couple of days ago. Where’s Oliver?” Maggie’s three-year-old grandson was a source of joy to her, and she was still amazed that Barbara could have produced such a happy and contented baby.
    â€œHe’s napping. I suppose you’re too busy to stay for lunch?”
    â€œI would love to stay for lunch,” Maggie answered. “Is it okay if I go up and get Oliver?” Maggie was determined that she was not going to react to the usual unpleasantness about her job or leaving Harry, dating her boss, and most of all, downgrading from the large Kerrisdale house she had shared with Harry to her small one-person house in Kitsilano. It was hard to skirt around these subjects, but Oliver was so demanding of Maggie’s attention that the next couple of hours went by very happily.
    â€¢ • •
    â€œTHOUGHT YOU’D GOT LOST,” Nat greeted her later that afternoon. “Interview took longer than you thought?”
    â€œNo. I went to see Jacquelyn after I met with the Smiths, which I will tell you about in a moment. Then since Barbara lives so close to the Dubois house, I decided to pop in and see her.”
    â€œHow did that go?”
    â€œVery well. She’s much . . . I’m not sure how to put it . . . softer since she’s had Oliver.”
    â€œThat’s what motherhood does for you,” Nat replied with a grin.
    â€œWhat would you know about that?”
    â€œNot much, I guess, but I often wonder if things would’ve been different if Nancy and I’d had kids. Anyway, tell me about the Smiths and our client.” He listened and made notes as Maggie filled him in on the interviews.
    â€œThat man really gave me a scare, Nat. He’s huge and really menacing.” She paused for a moment, thinking back. “And something struck me as odd. The Smiths absolutely denied knowing Maurice Dubois before, but when I asked Jacquelyn if she knew the Smiths and their emporium, she said that Maurice had taken her there to ‘buy or pick up something.’”
    â€œDid she know what he’d bought?”
    Maggie laughed. “Well, I can tell you it couldn’t have been any of the Smiths’ treasures. I’ve never seen such junk! And you saw the wonderful antique furniture in Jacquelyn’s house. I’ll get Henny to type these notes up right away. You know,” she added, “we seem to be getting the same answers from everyone, and it makes me wonder if it’s worth going all that way to Delta to see that horse breeder. What’s the name of the place?”
    â€œTwin Maples Stud Farm. We might as well go, just to make sure we’ve seen everyone. Besides, it’s not so far now that the new tunnel is open under the river.”
    â€¢ • •
    LIAM MAHAFFY’S ACCENT WAS as Northern Irish as his name. “So what can I do for you?” he asked. Two of the biggest German shepherds that Maggie had ever seen stood beside him, daring Nat and Maggie to enter the office.
    â€œBeautiful animals,” she said, putting her hand out so each of them could sniff