Read Online Nothing Is Negotiable by Mark Bentsen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mark Bentsen
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awkwardly added, “and... I’m sorry about what happened in St. Mary. Bonnie didn’t mean to—”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I kind of lost my cool. I can be a real asshole sometimes,” Sonny said with a chuckle. “Let’s forget it.”
Luke smiled and nodded as he pushed the door closed. Sonny made a U-turn and headed back toward town.
When Luke walked into the lobby, an officer he hadn’t seen before took him back to Ernest’s office.
“Give me about six of those pictures,” Ernest said. “I’ll scan one and get it on the wire as soon as I can. Within an hour, every detachment in Alberta will have a copy of it. I’ll also get these others out to the officers on patrol.”
“What should I do now?”
“We’ll contact you as soon as we know anything. Where are you staying?”
“Our room is at the Red Eagle Lodge in St. Mary, but I’m not leaving without Bonnie. I’ll be in my car across from the clinic.”
“Okay. If she doesn’t show up, check back with me in the morning.”
Luke walked back to town; the sidewalks were deserted and the lights were turned off inside most of the storefront businesses. Just past Sonny’s store, he came to the diner. His omelet from early that morning had worn off hours ago. Just thinking about eating without knowing where Bonnie was seemed wrong, but he needed food. He ordered two burgers and two Cokes, to go. He couldn’t see getting something for himself without something for Bonnie. Just in case.
Fifteen minutes later, with a brown paper bag in his hand, he rounded the corner to the clinic. The Sebring was the only car left, and from half a block away, he could tell there was something different. The passenger window in the front seat was down. Bonnie must have come back... and somehow, gotten in. But, he didn’t see her anywhere.
He picked up his pace, breaking into a trot, a tinge of excitement lifting his spirits. But when he got closer, his stomach sank. Broken glass sparkled like diamonds beside the car. The window wasn’t down. It was broken out.
His pace slowed to a stop while he looked from side to side, as if whoever did this was still nearby or watching him from behind the bushes. But, there was no one in sight. He edged closer and peered inside. Everything appeared to be as it was when he was there an hour ago, except now there was a brick sitting on the console between the seats and small pieces of safety glass decorated the interior.
He checked the backseat. The ice chest, picnic supplies, and even the binoculars were still there. But when he looked back in the front seat, he realized what was missing. It was the camera he had carelessly tossed on the passenger seat, and his cell phone.
“Damn it,” Luke said, scolding himself for being careless. A camera and a cell phone sitting in plain sight were like Twinkies at a Weight Watchers meeting. The temptation was obviously too much for someone to resist.
Then he remembered that most of Bonnie’s expensive camera gear was in the trunk. To get it, all a thief had to do was use the trunk release beside the steering wheel. He went to the back of the car, held his breath and opened the trunk. Everything was all still there. He let out a sigh of relief.
Whoever did this was an amateur, an opportunist. Replacing the equipment Bonnie brought on this trip would have cost at least ten grand, probably more. The camera and the cell phone were not a tenth of that. He felt lucky.
But then he wondered if it might be more than a coincidence. Could it be related to Bonnie’s disappearance? Doubtful, but how did he know? He opened the glove compartment where Bonnie had put their passports and insurance papers. All still there.
But the more he thought about it, the more he felt like he needed to let the RCMP know about this.
Leaving the car behind earlier turned out to be a mistake, so this time he’d drive to their office. But, if Bonnie came back and found the car gone she’d panic. He looked in
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I kind of lost my cool. I can be a real asshole sometimes,” Sonny said with a chuckle. “Let’s forget it.”
Luke smiled and nodded as he pushed the door closed. Sonny made a U-turn and headed back toward town.
When Luke walked into the lobby, an officer he hadn’t seen before took him back to Ernest’s office.
“Give me about six of those pictures,” Ernest said. “I’ll scan one and get it on the wire as soon as I can. Within an hour, every detachment in Alberta will have a copy of it. I’ll also get these others out to the officers on patrol.”
“What should I do now?”
“We’ll contact you as soon as we know anything. Where are you staying?”
“Our room is at the Red Eagle Lodge in St. Mary, but I’m not leaving without Bonnie. I’ll be in my car across from the clinic.”
“Okay. If she doesn’t show up, check back with me in the morning.”
Luke walked back to town; the sidewalks were deserted and the lights were turned off inside most of the storefront businesses. Just past Sonny’s store, he came to the diner. His omelet from early that morning had worn off hours ago. Just thinking about eating without knowing where Bonnie was seemed wrong, but he needed food. He ordered two burgers and two Cokes, to go. He couldn’t see getting something for himself without something for Bonnie. Just in case.
Fifteen minutes later, with a brown paper bag in his hand, he rounded the corner to the clinic. The Sebring was the only car left, and from half a block away, he could tell there was something different. The passenger window in the front seat was down. Bonnie must have come back... and somehow, gotten in. But, he didn’t see her anywhere.
He picked up his pace, breaking into a trot, a tinge of excitement lifting his spirits. But when he got closer, his stomach sank. Broken glass sparkled like diamonds beside the car. The window wasn’t down. It was broken out.
His pace slowed to a stop while he looked from side to side, as if whoever did this was still nearby or watching him from behind the bushes. But, there was no one in sight. He edged closer and peered inside. Everything appeared to be as it was when he was there an hour ago, except now there was a brick sitting on the console between the seats and small pieces of safety glass decorated the interior.
He checked the backseat. The ice chest, picnic supplies, and even the binoculars were still there. But when he looked back in the front seat, he realized what was missing. It was the camera he had carelessly tossed on the passenger seat, and his cell phone.
“Damn it,” Luke said, scolding himself for being careless. A camera and a cell phone sitting in plain sight were like Twinkies at a Weight Watchers meeting. The temptation was obviously too much for someone to resist.
Then he remembered that most of Bonnie’s expensive camera gear was in the trunk. To get it, all a thief had to do was use the trunk release beside the steering wheel. He went to the back of the car, held his breath and opened the trunk. Everything was all still there. He let out a sigh of relief.
Whoever did this was an amateur, an opportunist. Replacing the equipment Bonnie brought on this trip would have cost at least ten grand, probably more. The camera and the cell phone were not a tenth of that. He felt lucky.
But then he wondered if it might be more than a coincidence. Could it be related to Bonnie’s disappearance? Doubtful, but how did he know? He opened the glove compartment where Bonnie had put their passports and insurance papers. All still there.
But the more he thought about it, the more he felt like he needed to let the RCMP know about this.
Leaving the car behind earlier turned out to be a mistake, so this time he’d drive to their office. But, if Bonnie came back and found the car gone she’d panic. He looked in
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